Abstract: The invention concerns refrigerant compositions which comprise a hydrofluorocarbon based refrigerant and, mixed with the refrigerant, a polyol ester based lubricant. According to the invention the polyol ester comprises a diol having a strongly sterically hindered hydrogen attached to the carbon in position 2, said diol being esterified with a mixture of mono- and diabasic carboxylic acids. In particular the diol is 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol or 1,4-dimethylol-cyclohexane. The complex esters in refrigerant mixtures have good lubricant properties and good solubility in HFC compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of neopentyl glycol by hydrogenation of hydroxypivaldehyde (HPA) in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst at an elevated temperature. According to the invention, hydroxypivaldehyde is hydrogenated in the presence of a nickel-containing catalyst and at a temperature below 100° C. in a liquid phase containing a solvent an amount of 1-70% by weight and water in an amount of 0-15% by weight. Aliphatic alcohol or ether or a mixture thereof is used as solvent.

Abstract: The invention concerns refrigerant compositions which comprise a hydrofluorocarbon based refrigerant and, mixed with the refrigerant, a polyol ester based lubricant. According to the invention the polyol ester comprises a diol having a strongly sterically hindered hydrogen attached to the carbon in position 2, said diol esterified with a mixture of mono- and diabasic carboxylic acids. In particular the diol is 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol or 1,4-dimethylol-cyclohexane. The complex esters in refrigerant mixtures have good lubricant properties and good solubility in HFC compounds.

Abstract: An adhesive binder for bonding together lignocellulosic particles, fibers and flakes of vegetable origin to form particle boards, fiber boards, flake boards and similar wood-based products, comprising a solublized fraction obtained by enzymatic treatment of fibrous, lignocellulosic raw materials. The present binder can be obtained by treating fibrous lignocellulosic raw material with a hydrolytic enzyme in an aqueous medium, recovering the solubilized material of the enzymatic treatment, forming an aqueous suspension containing said material and an oxidase, and oxidizing said material in the presence of said oxidase by introducing oxygen-containing gas into the supension. This method thus produces an increased amount of a water-soluble fraction containing carbohydrates, extractives and lignin useful as an adhesive binder.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intermediate product for the preparation of polymerizates from lignin derivatives obtained from the cellulose industry. The intermediate product is produced by treating the lignin derivatives with enzymes capable of oxidizing phenol in the presence of oxidizing agents. According to the invention the lignin derivatives are subjected to the enzymatic treatment for more than 3 hours in the presence of air, or they are subjected to an enzymatic treatment for more than 10 min, whereby air or oxygen is introduced. The lignin polymers obtained from the polymerization of lignin derivatives performed in the presence of active intermediate products are suited for use in the production of binding agents for wood materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to unsaturated polyester resins with higher molecular weight, low viscosity and high solubility specially in reactive diluents. The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of such unsaturated polyester resins and to use thereof in various applications such as gelcoats. The unsaturated polyester resin comprises 20-85 wt % of at least one unsaturated polyester having a molecular weight of 2000-6000, prepared from 1) 30-70 mol %, preferably 40-60 mol % of at least two carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof and at least one of them is an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof and at least one of them is an aromatic carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof and optionally of one or more carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof, 2) 30-70 mol %, preferably 40-60 mol % of at least two diols and at least one of them is 2,2,4-trimethyl- 1,3-pentanediol and/or 2-butyl-2-ethyl- 1,3-propane-diol the amount of which is 0.5-8 mol %, preferably 2-6 mol %, 3) 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyvalent alcohols by hydrogenation of an aldehyde. According to the invention said aldehyde is obtained by aldolisation reaction of an aldehyde containing an &agr; hydrogen atom and having the formula R1CHO, or the mixture of said aldehyde with a second different aldehyde having the formula or R2CHO, wherein R1 is selected from alkyl having 1-12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl having 1-14 carbon atoms, and R2 is selected from H, alkyl having 1-12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl having 1-14 carbon atoms, said aldolisation being carried out in the presence of a weak base anion exchange resin, and the hydrogenation being carried out in the presence of a solvent and a hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: Method for the manufacture of a phenolic resin emulsion and/or dispersion, wherein an aldehyde, a phenolic compound and an alkaline catalyst are allowed to react at a temperature of 40-100° C. until a desired degree of condensation is achieved, and the pH of the resin is adjusted to a value below 9 using an acid in the presence of a surface active agent or a mixture thereof at a temperature below 100° C. and a phenolic resin emulsion and/or dispersion is obtained providing a colorless or light-colored glue line or surface when cured.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing fiber boards and similar wood-based products from a lignocellulosic raw material having a moisture content of at least 10 wt-%. According to the process, an aqueous fraction is separated from the fibers of the raw material, which fraction later is recycled to the process in order to form at least a part of the agent used for binding the fibers. Before mixing with the fibers, the aqueous effluent is concentrated and enzymatically oxidized in the presence of oxygen in order to polymerize the solubilized wood material and in order to increase its concentration. Lignin can be added to the water solubilized wood material or the solubilized wood material can be added to the fibers together with another binder. Eventually, the mixture is formed into a board and hardened.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of latexes with hollow polymer particles useful as opacifying agents. The process comprises the preparation of hollow polymer particle latex by emulsion copolymerization with water soluble initiator and anionic surfactant as follows: a) preparation of seed latex of copolymer containing methyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid; b) preparation of latex of highly carboxylated copolymer containing methyl methacrylate and a cross-linking agent and optionally a vinyl aromatic compound; c) using highly carboxylated latex synthesized at stage b) in the preparation of the intermediate shell comprising a copolymer of methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid ester, a cross-linking agent and optionally vinyl aromatic compound, said intermediate shell copolymer having a glass transition temperature below 80° C.