Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of low-calorie polysaccharide derivatives, obtained by feeding a worm shaft reactor, operating at elevated temperature and under elevated pressure, with a mixture of at least a saccharide, a polyol and a food-grade polycarboxylic acid. The products obtained may be added as low-calorie bulking agent to (diet) foodstuffs like puddings, cake etc..

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purifying crude products containing esters of a non-reducing sugar like sucrose, and one or more fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid etc. by subjecting the crude esterification products to an extraction treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide. After carrying out this extraction treatment a residue comprising the fatty acid esters of non-reducing sugars, the unreacted sugar and the salts as well as an extract comprising the fatty acids, fatty acid alkyl esters and also any solvents, if present, are obtained. The unreacted sugar and the salts, present in the obtained residue, can be removed from the residue by, for example, a washing operation resulting in a final product of pure esters of the non-reducing sugar and one or more fatty acids. This last removal step concerning the unreacted sugar and salts may also be carried out before the application of the above indicated extraction treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the fermentative preparation of lactic acid, by allowing a sterilized growth medium to be continuously fermented in a reaction vessel by a culture of bacilli of the genus Bacillus, which form lactic acid, keeping the pH of the reaction mixture at 3 to 9 with an aqueous solution of XOH (where X is NH.sub.4 or a metal whose hydroxide and whose salt of lactic acid are watersoluble), subjecting the fermented reaction mixture to an ultrafiltration, recycling the retentate to the reaction vessel, and concentrating the permeate and subsequently subjecting it to an electrodialysis wherein bipolar membranes are used, in which process the lactate is decomposed into the lactic acid and XOH.

Abstract: To improve the yield and/or reduce the energy cost in carrying out a microbiological or enzymatic process in a reactor and to make the reaction conditions essentially independent of the size of the reactor, it is proposed to make use, as a reactor, of an endless circulation tube in which the reaction components are circulated essentially according to a plug flow and in this process are fed through one or more in-line mixers fitted inside the tube. This method and reactor are suitable in particular for the preparation by fermentation of polysaccharides, especially xanthan, in which water, a production medium containing one or more sugars and nutrient salts and an inoculating material of a suitable aerobic bacterium are introduced into the said reactor tube and exposed to fermentation with air being supplied.

Abstract: For the fermentative preparation of polysaccharides, in particular xanthane, water, production medium (sugars, nutrient salts), and an inoculation material of a suitable aerobic bacterium are mixed in a reactor as reaction components, the production medium being exposed to fermentation while an oxygen-containing gas is being supplied. The object is to avoid the usual low yield of such a process and to reject an expensive and sensitive alternative construction (circulation tube). According to the invention, the reaction components are introduced into a reactor vessel in a circulating flow by means of pumping means, which circulating flow comprises a rising flow and a descending flow which are separated from each other by one or more partitions disposed in the reactor vessel. The mixing is brought about because the rising flow and/or the descending flow is passed essentially in the form of a plug flow through one or more static in-line mixers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for demineralizing beet sugar thin juice with a solids content of 10 to 40% by weight by first passing said juice through a solid bed of a weakly acidic cation exchanger in hydrogen form at 10.degree. to 60.degree. C. at a rate of 10 to 180 bed volumes per hour and a contact time of 20 to 360 sec. and then passing the juice through a solid bed of a weakly basic anion exchanger in hydroxyl form in the same temperature range, at the same rate and for the same contact time.

Abstract: Method for the preparation of esters of a non-reducing sugar like sucrose and one or more fatty acids by transesterification of a non-reducing sugar with one or more fatty acid esters in at first a worm shaft reactor operating at elevated temperature and pressure and then in a second reactor operating at reduced pressure and elevated temperature. Such esters of a non-reducing sugar and fatty acids, in particular the monoesters and diesters are valuable solid surfactants, which are non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, non-irritating to the skin and hydrolyze in the human and animal tract to normal good products.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of monosaccharides from poly-, oligo- and/or disaccharides containing tuberous plants by reducing the roots of the tuberous plants by means of grating, extracting the reduced material with unwarmed water, for instance of at most 18.degree. C., subjecting the extract at first to an ultrafiltration and then to a demineralization after which the saccharides present in the obtained solution are hydrolyzed by means of a cation exchanger (H.sup.+ -form) or by acidification.