Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of a fuel composition having a NACE corrosion rating of between 0% and 25%, comprising the steps of: (i) contacting a fuel with a corrosion inhibitor of formula (I) to provide an initial fuel composition wherein m and n are each independently an integer from 0 to 10; wherein R1 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group; wherein either R2 is OR4 and R3 is OR5, wherein R4 and R5 are selected from hydrogen and hydrocarbyl-OH and wherein at least one of R4 and R5 is hydrogen; or R2 and R3 together represent —O—, and (ii) contacting the initial fuel composition with a caustic material to provide the fuel composition without subsequent addition of a corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for dosing a fuel with a fuel additive comprising (i) passing the fuel from a fuel container through a dosing apparatus (ii) dosing the fuel with additive in an amount based on the fuel passing through the dosing apparatus and independently of the concentration of the additive in the fuel (iii) returning a portion of the fuel to the container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel composition comprising a fuel and a film-forming additive wherein the fuel comprises diesel and a fuel alcohol and wherein the film-forming additive is present in the fuel composition in an amount of less than 0.1 wt %.

Abstract: There is provided use of a thermal stabiliser for increasing the thermal stability of a cetane improver in a fuel composition comprising (i) a fuel, and (ii) the cetane improver wherein the thermal stabiliser is a compound of the formula H—R1 wherein H is a group comprising a heterocyclic group and R1 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 10 to 200 carbons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of fuel additives in the regeneration of particulate filter traps, e.g. diesel particulate filter traps. The invention further relates to fuel additives suitable for use in such a process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a chelant or chelating agent complex of the formula L•B•M. L is an amino acid derivative including two optically active amino acids are linked via a (CH2)n group, wherein the (CH2)n group is attached to a nitrogen of each optically active amino acid, the optically active amino acid may be the same or different; and wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10; B is a base; and M is a metal. The process comprises the steps of (i) providing a reaction mixture comprising L and B and having a pH of less than 7.5; (ii) contacting the reaction mixture with M to provide a first complex mixture; and (iii) contacting the first complex mixture with a further amount of B to provide a second complex mixture. The second complex mixture can further be sequentially contacted with further amounts of M and further amounts of B. Alternatively, the second complex mixture can be heated.

Abstract: This invention provides improvements in certain processes for alkylating amino acids whereby yields based on amino acid are improved. More specifically, the invention provides a process for the preparation of amino acid derivatives in free acid or salt form, in which the nitrogen atoms of two or more amino acid molecules are linked by a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, which comprises reacting, in an aqueous medium at a pH in the range 7-14, a compound of the formula X-A-Y where X and Y are halo atoms which may be the same or different and A is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, in which X and Y are attached to aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms, with an amino acid (or salt thereof), wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of dissolved cations of an alkaline earth metal or of a transition metal and/or wherein the unreacted amino acid is recovered and recycled.

Abstract: This invention provides improvements in certain processes for alkylating amino acids whereby yields based on amino acid are improved. More specifically, the invention provides a process for the preparation of amino acid derivatives in free acid or salt form, in which the nitrogen atoms of two or more amino acid molecules are linked by a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, which comprises reacting, in an aqueous medium at a pH in the range 7-14, a compound of the formula X—A—Y where X and Y are halo atoms which may be the same or different and A is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, in which X and Y are attached to aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms, with an amino acid (or salt thereof), wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of dissolved cations of an alkaline earth metal or of a transition metal and/or wherein the unreacted amino acid is recovered and recycled.

Abstract: There is provided use of an amino acid derivative in free acid or salt form, in which the nitrogen atoms of two or more amino acid molecules are linked by a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, as an anti-fungal compound.

Abstract: An alkylation process is described. The process comprises reacting at least a first nitrogen compound and a second nitrogen compound with a carbonyl compound in the presence of a reducing agent to form a product comprising at least two nitrogen groups; wherein the carbonyl compound comprises at least two carbonyl groups, the first nitrogen compound comprises a first nitrogen group reactive with one carbonyl group of the carbonyl compound and the second nitrogen compound comprises a second nitrogen group reactive with the other (or another) carbonyl group of the carbonyl compound, and wherein at least the first nitrogen compound or at least the second nitrogen compound comprises at least one other functional group. The process is especially suitable for the preparation of (S,S)-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) of formula (1).

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is a C.sub.10 -C.sub.32 alkenyl group and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are --(--OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --).sub.n OH, --(--OCH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.3 --).sub.n OH or --OCH.sub.2 CHOHCH.sub.2 OH in which n is an integer from 1 to 10 are lubricity and corrosion-prevention additives for fuels.

Abstract: This invention provides improvements in certain processes for alkylating amino acids whereby yields based on amino acid are improved. More specifically, the invention provides a process for the preparation of amino acid derivatives in free acid or salt form, in which the nitrogen atoms of two or more amino acid molecules are linked by a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, which comprises reacting, in an aqueous medium at a pH in the range 7-14, a compound of the formula X-A-Y where X and Y are halo atoms which may be the same or different and A is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, in which X and Y are attached to aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms, with an amino acid (or salt thereof), wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of dissolved cations of an alkaline earth metal or of a transition metal and/or wherein the unreacted amino acid is recovered and recycled.

Abstract: A process of improving the oxidation of carbonaceous products derived from the combustion of fuel and improving combustion of a fuel is described. The process comprises adding to the fuel before combustion thereof a composition comprising at least an organo-metallic complex of a Group I or Group II metal characterized in that the concentration of the complex in the fuel before combustion is 30 ppm or less.

Abstract: A process of improving the combustion of fuel and/or improving the oxidation of carbonaceous products derived from the combustion or pyrolysis of fuel is described. The process comprises adding to the fuel before the combustion thereof a composition comprising a mixture of organo-metallic complexes, characterised in that the organo-metallic complexes only consist of Group I and Group II organo-metallic complexes and wherein the composition comprises at least one Group I organo-metallic complex and at least one Group II organo-metallic complex.

Abstract: A metal cleaning composition comprising EDDS is described. Preferably, the compositions comprise optical isomers of EDDS, such as (s,s)EDDS. The compositions are particularly well suited for cleaning iron, zinc, aluminum, and copper. De-icer compositions comprising EDDS are also described. Also disclosed are processes for using the compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides improvements in certain processes for alkylating amino acids whereby yields based on amino acid are improved. More specifically, the invention provides a process for the preparation of amino acid derivatives in free acid or salt form, in which the nitrogen atoms of two or more amino acid molecules are linked by a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, which comprises reacting, in an aqueous medium at a pH in the range 7--14, a compound of the formula X--A--Y where X and Y are halo atoms which may be the same or different and A is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, in which X and Y are attached to aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms, with an amino acid (or salt thereof), wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of dissolved cations of an alkaline earth metal or of a transition metal and/or wherein the unreacted amino acid is recovered and recycled.

Abstract: An adduct of a lanthanide (yttrium) .beta.-diketonate and a donor ligand (N-oxide), the adduct being suitable for use in a metal-containing material deposition process, wherein the ligand has Lewis base characteristics that match the Lewis acid characteristics of the lanthanide .beta.-diketonate in the absence of the ligand is described.

Abstract: Novel organometallic complexes of aluminium, gallium and indium are disclosed, having improved stability and volatility for use in CVD processes. These are donor ligand complexes of the formula MR.sub.2 L where M is the metal, R is an alkyl group and L is a ligand containing an amidine (R'N. . . C(R'). . . NR') group, where R' is H, alkyl etc.

Abstract: An electroless metal plating solution comprising metal ions to be reduced for plating onto a substrate and a chelate for the metal to prevent or reduce metal hydroxide precipitates forming and to buffer the amount of metal ions available for reduction, wherein the chelate is at least ethylene diamine disuccinic acid (EDDS).

Abstract: The emission of particulates and unburnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas emissions from liquid hydrocarbon fuels, especially diesel fuels and fuel oils is reduced by incorporating into the fuel an effective amount of an oil-soluble alkali, alkaline earth or rare earth complex of the formula:M(R).sub.m.nLwherein M is the metal cation of valency m, R is the residue of an organic compound RH containing an active hydrocarbon atom, preferably a beta-diketone, n is an integer usually 1, 2, 3 or 4, and L is an organic donor ligand molecule, i.e., a Lewis base.