Abstract: A nutrient concentrate for stimulation of growth for the accelerated cultivation and growth of hydrocarbon-consuming microorganisms as well as a process for their use in bioremediation is disclosed. The concentrate is an admixture of water-soluble and/or oil-soluble compounds of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) and other components. The concentrate is in the form of a liquid water-based preparation and contains an ester of phosphoric acid as both an emulsifier and a P source. Further, from 10 to 40% by weight urea is contained in the concentrate as a N source. The invention also relates to the treatment of polluted soils, waters, and articles using a diluted aqueous solution of the concentrated admixture.

Abstract: The invention is a cleaning solution for degreasing metal articles which contains at least one chlorine-free nonionic surfactant with an HLB in the range of 6.5 to 9.5; a second chlorine-free nonionic surfactant with an HLB in the range of above 9.5 to about 14; a chlorinated nonionic surfactant, and an alkalinizing agent and optionally also one or more of anionic or amphoteric surfactant; hydrotroping agents; solubilizers; organic builders, and corrosion inhibitors. The preferred composition of the invention can replace a vapor degreasing process for cleaning oil, grease, and waxy-type contaminants from metal articles to the level of cleanliness required in the aerospace industry.

Abstract: Alkyl polyglycoside products having improved color properties are produced by a process which involves reacting a reducing sugar with an alcohol to obtain an alkyl polyglycoside reaction product containing unreacted alcohol which is removed in a thin film evaporator wherein the alkyl polyglycoside product film is contacted by liquid water which cools the film and reduces the amount of color bodies in the product.

Abstract: Coating compositions based on waxes, wax-like compounds, drying oils or alkyd resins are improved in their running behavior by the addition of additives which gel at elevated temperature. Other positive properties of the coating compositions, such as for example wetting, penetration (creepage), sprayability, are not adversely affected.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing impurity elements, such as arsenic, and if necessary antimony, iron or bismuth, from valuable metal containing, such as copper containing, strongly mineral acid solutions by way of solvent extraction with organic solutions of hydroxamic acids, and for selectively stripping the impurity elements therefrom. Antimony, iron or bismuth are stripped with complexing acids, and arsenic is stripped with an aqueous solution containing valuable metal ions at a pH value in the 1.5 to 5 range, a higher pH than the original valuable metal containing aqueous acid solution.

Abstract: A process for making nonionic emulsifiers involving the steps of: (a) performing an acid-catalyzed acetalization reaction on a mixture of (i) sugars or water-containing starch degradation products and (ii) primary alcohols in a molar ratio of (i):(ii) of from 1:2 to 1:8; (b) terminating the reaction at a conversion ranging from 60% to 90% of the theoretical to form a reaction product; (c) neutralizing the reaction product to form a neutralized reaction product; and (d) purifying the neutralized reaction product by back-mixing the product through at least one coarse filter until the product becomes clear.

Abstract: Personal cleansing bars having a relatively high moisture content are made by forming a soap composition comprised of a neutralized tallow-free fatty acid mixture having an iodine value of less than about 7 and an alkyl polyglycoside of the formula IR.sub.1 O(Z).sub.a Iwherein R.sub.1 is a monovalent organic radical having from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms; Z is saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; a is a number having a value from 1 to about 6. The soap composition is then finished to produce a bar having from about 15% to about 30% by weight of water.

Abstract: Hair treatment compositions containing a combination of a zwitterionic polymer and a derivative of 2-pyrrolidone. Such preparations improve the condition of the hair, in particular the moisture retention and curl retention capability after cleaning or cosmetic treatment. In addition, the preparations are better tolerated by the skin.

Abstract: Alkyl polyglycoside containing industrial and institutional liquid cleaning compositions which provide for the elimination, or the reduction in the amount, of stabilizing agents.

Abstract: A process for producing granules having reduced tackiness by forming granules in a fluidized bed apparatus and then adding a granule stabilizer to the discharge air stream of the apparatus after the granules have emerged from the apparatus.

Abstract: Detergent compositions comprised of an alkyl polyglycoside and an ester quat corresponding to formula (II) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.2 CO is an aliphatic acyl radical containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms and 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds, n=2 or 3 and X stands for halide, methosulfate or methophosphate ion are provided which are useful for the production of surface-active agents and for the enhanced recovery of crude oil.

Abstract: A process is provided for simultaneously recovering tocopherol and sterol from a mixture containing tocopherol, fats and/or fat derivatives, more particularly fatty acids, and sterol and/or sterol derivatives, more particularly from a steamer distillate of natural oils and fats. The steps of said process comprise:free fatty acids present in the mixture are esterified with a lower alcohol, preferably methanol, 0.4 to 1.6 and more particularly 1 to 1.

Abstract: An acidic substitutional plating bath for zinciferous surfaces, particularly zinciferous metal-plated steel sheet, with which sludge production and equipment corrosion are inhibited and which has an improved heavy metal ion deposition efficiency is provided by an aqueous composition that has a pH of 2 to 4.5 and that contains 1.5 to 40 g/L of at least one heavy metal ion selected from nickel, iron, and cobalt; 0.5 to 10 g/L of phosphate ions; 1 to 250 g/L of sulfate ion; and 1 to 20 g/L of organic acid.

Abstract: A self-dispersing curable epoxy composition is prepared upon contacting (a) 1.0 reactive equivalents of an epoxy resin, (b) between 0.005 and 0.5 reactive equivalents of an amine-epoxy adduct, and optionally (c) from about 0.01 to 1.0 reactive equivalents of a polyhydric phenol, wherein the amine-epoxy adduct is formed upon contacting 1.0 equivalents of an aliphatic polyepoxide and greater than 1.0 but no more than about 2.5 reactive equivalents of a polyoxyalkyleneamine. The self-dispersing curable epoxy resin forms an aqueous dispersion upon mixing with water. When cured, the dispersion is useful as a coating composition.

Abstract: Provided are polymers having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an aromatic group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is a fatty alkyl group having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and R.sup.5 is a hardening alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.2, R.sup.4, and R.sup.6 are each independently hydrogen or methyl, and y, is chosen in relation to x and z such that a film of said polymer has improved alkali resistance. Also provided is a method of coating a substrate comprising (i) contacting a surface of a substrate with an aqueous dispersion composition comprising a polymer as defined above, and (ii) drying said surface to form a film of said polymer in contact with said surface. In preferred methods, said polymer in aqueous dispersion is supplied to said surface by a hydrophilic cylindrical transfer roll. These polymers are particularly useful as the binder for an ink composition, or an overprint varnish, having good alkali resistance.

Abstract: The omega-hydroxylase activity in the yeast Candida tropicalis is increased by amplification of the P450ALK and P450RED genes. The specific productivity (grams of dicarboxylic acid/liter/hr) of substantially pure alpha, omega-dicarboxylic acids is increased by culturing C. tropicalis strains having amplified P450ALK and P450RED genes.

Abstract: Hydraulic oils containing a biodegradable base oil comprising eithera) the product of the ethoxylation and/or propoxylation of glycerol with from about 0.5 to about 3 moles of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide and subsequent esterification with a saturated or unsaturated C.sub.6-24 fatty acid, or mixtures thereof; orb) the product of the insertion of from about 0.5 to about 3 moles of EO and/or PO into a natural oil or fat other than castor oil.

Abstract: Provided are aqueous dispersion consisting essentially of high-molecular weight polymer prepared by aqueous suspension polymerizing a blend of monomers, said blend consisting essentially of: (i) a plasticizing amount by weight of a monomer selected from the group consisting of plasticizing alkyl acrylate monomers and mixtures thereof, (ii) a hardening amount by weight of a monomer selected from the group consisting of hardening alkyl acrylate monomers and mixtures thereof, and (iii) a crosslinking amount by weight of a monomer selected from the group consisting of di-ethylenically unsaturated monomers and mixtures thereof, in an aqueous suspension comprising a polymer component consisting essentially of a low-molecular weight, water-soluble, acrylic polymer having carboxylate functionality.

Abstract: A process for the continuous production of a granular detergent composition comprising:(a) pregranulating at least 40% by weight of a mixture of solid and liquid detergent components, based on the total weight of the solid and liquid cleaning components, in a first low-speed mixer/granulator having mixing tools contained therein, to form a pregranulated detergent mixture; and(b) granulating the pregranulated detergent mixture in a second high-speed mixer/granulator to form a final granular detergent composition.

Abstract: A process for drying water-containing materials in a closed-circuit system using a vertical drying tower having inlets located at a lower portion of the tower, the inlets circulating superheated steam in countercurrent to the water-containing materials descending through the vertical drying tower thereby drying the water-containing materials, the improvement being:(a) providing an auxiliary fluid having a temperature below that of the superheated steam entering into the vertical drying tower;(b) providing a double jacket having a permeable inner wall wherein the double jacket surrounds the lower portion of the vertical drying tower below the inlets; and(c) introducing the auxiliary fluid through the permeable inner wall of the double jacket and into the vertical drying tower in a tangential or radial direction relative to the permeable inner wall.