Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a depleted epoxidized fatty acid ester mixture as plasticizer in a halogenated resin composition, said ester being obtainable by a process comprising epoxidation of a vegetable oil, transesterification of the epoxidized vegetable oil, short path distillation of the trans-esterified epoxidized vegetable oil and selection of the non-vaporized fraction of the preceding process step. The depleted ester mixture is suitable for being incorporated in halogenated resin compositions at a ratio exceeding 40 phr, without causing rheological or other problems to occur under practical industrial applications for the plasticized resin composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing two mixtures of epoxidized fatty acid esters, comprising in the order given a transesterification of an epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a reduction of the volatile saturated non-epoxidized fraction by short path distillation of the transesterified epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a selection on the one hand of the non-vaporized fraction (residue) of the previous process step as the first mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters and a selection on the other hand of the vaporized fraction (distillate) as the second mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters. The first mixture is in particular suitable as plasticizer in halogenated polymers, the second mixture being particularly suitable as plasticizer in non-halogenated polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bioreactor which comprises a closed housing with a housing wall and at least one chamber which is connected to the housing wall. The at least one chamber comprises a chamber inlet and outlet for respectively supplying and discharging material to and from the at least one chamber. The housing comprises a housing inlet for supplying material to the chamber inlet and a housing outlet for discharging treated material from the chamber outlet to the outside of the bioreactor. The bioreactor forms a closed volume in which a reactor pressure prevails in the bioreactor which is higher than the external pressure outside the bioreactor, in such a way that the bioreactor is self-supporting.