Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating products, which may contain cellular material of eukaryotic and/or prokaryotic origin and in particular micro-organisms, by bringing the product in device comprising two electrodes connected to an electronic circuit such that in said device and in said product a pulsating electrical field is created, characterized by the rise time of each imposed voltage pulse which is less than the electronic relaxation time of the product. Preferably the rising edge of each cycle starts within the relaxation time of the product and even more preferably each electrical field pulse has a duration shorter than the relaxation time of the product.

Abstract: Diesters of dianhydroglycitols can be prepared by esterification of dianhydroglycitols, anhydroglycitols and/or glycitols with alkylcarboxylic or arylcarboxylic acids in the presence of an acid catalyst, the acid catalyst being a macroporous acid ion exchange resin. If glycitols or monoanhydroglycitols are used as the starting material, the reaction temperature is initially of the order of 120° C. and after the dehydration is approximately 140° C.

Abstract: A process for producing biopolymer nanoparticles is described, in which the biopolymer is plasticised using shear forces, a crosslinking agent being added during the processing. After said processing. After said processing, the biopolymer can be dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium to a concentration between 4 and 40 wt. %. This results in starch nanoparticles which are characterized by an average particle size of less than 400 nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure device (1) having a cylindrical high-pressure vessel (3) and prestressing means in order to exert an axial pressure on the vessel. The vessel (3) can have been formed from a number of layers of composite material, such as glass, carbon or aramide fibers which are oriented in the peripheral direction and are embedded in a matrix of epoxy resin or polyurethane. By applying the axial prestress to the pressure vessel (3), the tangential stress is distributed more uniformly over the wall thickness of the high-pressure vessel (3), the stress decreasing at the inside of the wall and increasing at the outside thereof. As a result, the innermost fibers of a high-pressure vessel (3) made of composite material are subjected to appreciably less stress, which has a beneficial effect on the life of the high-pressure vessel (3), and all fibers of the wall are utilized effectively.

Abstract: The use of isosorbide esters, isosorbide polyesters, isosorbide ethers, isosorbide carbonates, isosorbide thioethers, isosorbide thioesters, isosorbide amides, isosorbide (thio)urethanes, isosorbide urea, isosorbide phosphates and isosorbide phosphonates as a plasticizer is described. Instead of isosorbide it is also possible for corresponding diols such as isomannide and similar compounds, in which the ring oxygen atoms of the isosorbide have been replaced by carbon or by other heteroatoms, to serve as a base. In particular, this relates to C3-C11 alkanoates of isosorbide, isomannide and the like. In particular, the compounds are used as a plasticizer inpoly(vinylchloride), optionally in conjunction with usual plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalates.

Abstract: Microspheres having a particle size of 50 nm to 1 nm and a polydispersity of less than 40%, consisting of a chemically cross-linked starch shell containing an active ingredient, are obtained by preparing an oil-in-water emulsion of the active ingredient in a hydrophobic phase and starch or a dispersion of a solid active ingredient and starch in water, incorporating the oil-in-water emulsion or solid dispersion in an outer hydrophobic phase, particles of the oil-in-water emulsion or solid dispersion being formed in the outer hydrophobic phase, cross-linking the starch or derivative thereof and removing the outer hydrophobic phase if desired.