Abstract: A composition for use as a polymer electrolyte, wherein said composition includes one or more polar materials and one or more polyesters of formula III, wherein each unit A may be identical or different and is of the structure IV, wherein each unit B may be identical or different and is of the structure V, wherein R and R1 are each, independently, hydrogen, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group; a process for preparing said composition; the use of said composition as a polymer electrolyte in coulometers, displays, smart windows, cells or batteries; and a cell and/or battery having said composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogenation catalyst effective for hydrogenating 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde to 1,3-propanediol. The hydrogenation catalyst comprises an ?-alumina support, nickel, ruthenium, and a promoter. The nickel is deposited on the ?-alumina support, and the ruthenium and the promoter are deposited on the nickel and the ?-alumina support. The ?-alumina support comprises at least 92 wt. % of the catalyst, and the nickel comprises from 1 wt. % to 6 wt. % of the catalyst. The present invention also provides a process of hydrogenating 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde to 1,3-propanediol with the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1,3-propanediol comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an aqueous mixture of 3-hydroxypropanal, (b) passing said aqueous 3-hydroxypropanal mixture to a hydrogenation zone wherein the hydrogenation zone is comprised of at least two stages wherein the hydrogenation in the first stage is carried out under hydrogenation conditions at a temperature in the range of about 50 to about 130° C. in the presence of a fixed bed or slurry hydrogenation catalyst and wherein an acidic co-catalyst is added or present in at least one of the later stages and the hydrogenation in said later stages is carried out under hydrogenation conditions at a higher temperature than that of the first hydrogenation stage and in the range of about 70 to about 155° C. to form an aqueous solution of 1,3-propanediol; and (c) recovering said 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the in situ purification of aquifers contaminated with ethers and/or alcohols using a bacterial culture, a method of delivering the culture to the subsurface, and an oxygen delivery system.

Abstract: A process for the production of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), wherein the process comprises: (i) one or more esterification steps, wherein terephthalic acid (TPA) or an alkyl diester of terephthalic acid is reacted with 1,3-propanediol (PDO); and (ii) one or more subsequent polycondensation steps, wherein the process further comprises the addition of a protic acid, other than terephthalic or isophthalic acid, before and/or during the one or more esterification steps, wherein the protic acid has a dissociation constant of at most 4 (pKa measured in water at 25° C.), and wherein the total amount of protic acid added before and/or during the one or more esterification steps is in the range of from 0.001 to 10 millimole of acid per kilogram of polytrimethylene terephthalate produced.

Abstract: This invention is a process for synthesizing aliphatic 1,3-diols in one step by hydroformylation and hydrogenation of oxirane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen employing a catalyst comprising a cobalt carbonyl compound and a cocatalyst metal compound ligated with a ligand in a ligand to cocatalyst metal atom molar ratio in the range of 0.2:1.0 to 0.6:1.0, optionally in the presence of a promoter, where recovery of product is preferably accomplished via water extraction of a diol rich phase from the bulk reaction mixture. The process modifications can, particularly in combination, be beneficial with respect to product recovery, catalyst recycle, and overall economics of a one-step process for producing aliphatic 1,3-diols.

Abstract: A method for producing trimethylene carbonate poly(trimethylene carbonate which comprises (a) introducing liquid poly(trimethylene carbonate) and an optional catalyst into a wiped film evaporator reactor under a vacuum about 15 kPa or less, said reactor having walls heated to at least about 230° C. and an internal condenser heated to a temperature above the boiling point of trimethylene carbonate, (b)spreading the poly(trimethylene carbonate) into a thin film and allowing it to flow down the interior surface of the heated walls, (c) depolymerizing the poly(trimethylene carbonate) to form trimethylene carbonate which is driven to the internal condenser and residue poly(trimethylene carbonate) which continues down the reactor, and (d) collecting the trimethylene carbonate in a cooled distillate receiver.

Abstract: A bioreactor for microbial conversion of at least one conversion substrate, which has a treatment zone to accommodate when in use a solution of at least one conversion substrate, a culture holding zone to accommodate when in use a microbial culture capable of metabolizing at least one conversion substrate, a source of primary growth substrate for the microbial culture, a first permeable membrane forming an interface between the treatment zone and the culture holding zone, and a second permeable membrane forming an interface between the source of primary growth substrate and the culture holding zone, the first permeable membrane being of a material which will allow passage of the at least one conversion substrate from the treatment zone to the culture holding zone whilst being impermeable to the microbial culture, the second permeable membrane being of a material permeable to the primary growth substrate but substantially impermeable to water; and a process of operating said bioreactor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a transglutaminase-coupled vegetable protein composition and a process for preparing said composition. Further, this invention relates to soy fish and meat products and analogs thereof and a process for making the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein stabilizing agent for stabilizing a protein suspension in an aqueous acidic liquid such as a juice. The protein stabilizing agent is comprised of a high methoxyl pectin and a propylene glycol alginate. The present invention also includes compositions for suspension in an aqueous acidic liquid comprising a protein material and a protein stabilizing agent that contains a high methoxyl pectin and a propylene glycol alginate. The invention further includes aqueous acidic protein suspensions and methods of producing such suspensions, where the suspensions have a pH of from 3.0 to 5.5 and contain a stabilized suspension of a protein material and a protein stabilizing agent containing a high methoxyl pectin and a propylene glycol alginate therein.

Abstract: A health supplement composition is disclosed. The health supplement composition contains a solid health supplement material that is separated from a soy molasses material. The solid health supplement material contains at least two isoflavones where one of the isoflavones is either glycitein or glycitin.

Abstract: A method is provided for separating and recovering protein and isoflavones from a plant material. A clarified protein extract of the plant material is prepared and contacted with a polar ion exchange resin, such as an anion exchange resin allowing the isoflavones in the extract to bind with the ion exchange resin and depleting the extract of isoflavones. A protein extract which has been depleted of isoflavones is separated from the ion exchange resin, and an isoflavone depleted protein material is recovered from the isoflavone depleted extract. After removal of the isoflavone depleted extract from the resin, the isoflavones are separated and recovered from the ion exchange resin. Recovered isoflavone glycosides and isoflavone glycoside conjugates may be converted to their corresponding aglucone isoflavone form.

Abstract: A novel meat product is provided. The meat product contains a blend of at least one meat and an unrefined plant protein material. In one embodiment, the unrefined plant protein material of the meat product has a nitrogen solubility index of from about 30% to about 80% and at least one of the following properties: a salt tolerance index of from about 30% to about 80%; a water hydration capacity of at least 3.75 times the weight of the unrefined plant protein material; or a viscosity of at least 500 centipoise at a temperature of 15° C. to 25° C. In another embodiment, the unrefined plant protein material of the meat product has at least one of the following properties: a gel weight of at least 30 grams at a temperature of from about 15° C. to about 25° C. in a 5 fluid ounce mixture containing 5 parts water per 1 part of unrefined plant protein material, by weight; or a refrigerated gel strength of at least 50 grams when combined with 5 parts of water per part of soy material, by weight.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an aglucone isoflavone enriched vegetable flour or grit from a vegetable material containing isoflavone glucosides. A vegetable material containing isoflavone glucosides is slurried in water and the isoflavone glucosides are contacted with an enzyme effective to convert isoflavone glucosides to aglucone isoflavones. A vegetable flour or grit containing the aglucone isoflavones is recovered from the slurry.

Abstract: A composition is provided comprising a plant sterol and a soy protein material and/or and isoflavone selected from genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochanin A, formononetin, and their naturally occurring glycosides, where the plant sterol comprises at least 0.49% of the composition, by weight. The present invention is also a method for decreasing the blood concentration of total and LDL cholesterol in a human in which the plant sterol and a soy protein material and/or an isoflavone are co-administered to the human, where the plant sterol comprises at least 0.49%, by weight, of the combined weight of the plant sterol and the soy protein material and/or the isoflavone. Also provided is a method for preventing or minimizing the development of atherosclerosis in a human in which a plant sterol and a soy protein material and/or an isoflavone are co-administered to the human, where the plant sterol comprises at least 0.

Abstract: A composition is provided comprising a plant sterol and a soy protein material and/or and isoflavone selected from genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochanin A, formononetin, and their naturally occurring glycosides, where the plant sterol comprises at least 0.49% of the composition, by weight. The present invention is also a method for decreasing the blood concentration of total and LDL cholesterol in a human in which the plant sterol and a soy protein material and/or an isoflavone are co-administered to the human, where the plant sterol comprises at least 0.49%, by weight, of the combined weight of the plant sterol and the soy protein material and/or the isoflavone. Also provided is a method for preventing or minimizing the development of atherosclerosis in a human in which a plant sterol and a soy protein material and/or an isoflavone are co-administered to the human, where the plant sterol comprises at least 0.

Abstract: A composition is provided comprising a plant sterol and a soy protein material and/or and isoflavone selected from genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochanin A, formononetin, and their naturally occurring glycosides, where the plant sterol comprises at least 0.49% of the composition, by weight. The present invention is also a method for decreasing the blood concentration of total and LDL cholesterol in a human in which the plant sterol and a soy protein material and/or an isoflavone are co-administered to the human, where the plant sterol comprises at least 0.49%, by weight, of the combined weight of the plant sterol and the soy protein material and/or the isoflavone. Also provided is also a method for preventing or minimizing the development of atherosclerosis in a human in which a plant sterol and a soy protein material and/or an isoflavone are co-administered to the human, where the plant sterol comprises at least 0.

Abstract: A vegetable protein flour or grit is provided which is rich in aglucone isoflavones. In one embodiment, the vegetable protein flour or grit contains at least 400 parts per million of genistein and 400 ppm of daidzein. In another embodiment the vegetable protein flour or grit contains at least 50% genistein and daidzein relative to all genistein family isoflavones and daidzein family isoflavones, respectively.

Abstract: Isoflavone compositions derived from soy molasses are provided. In a first embodiment, an isoflavone material derived from soy molasses containing at least two isoflavones is provided, where at least one of the isoflavones is genistein. In a second embodiment, an isoflavone material derived from soy molasses containing at least two isoflavones is provided, where at least one of the isoflavones is daidzein.

Abstract: Processes for producing a novel soy functional food ingredient are provided. A soy material containing less than 65% soy protein by weight on a moisture-free basis is hydrated. In one aspect of the invention the soy material is hydrated with at least 2 parts of water per 1 part of soy material, by weight. At least a portion of soy protein in the hydrated soy material is then partially denatured. In one aspect of the invention, a hydrated soy material containing at least 2 parts of water per 1 part of soy material, by weight, is denatured by treating the hydrated soy material at a temperature of from about 75° C. to about 160° C. In another aspect of the invention, a hydrated soy material is denatured by subjecting the hydrated soy material to shear at a temperature of at least 40° C.