Abstract: An amorphous silica, especially precipitated silica, suitable for use in toothpastes, has a high abrasivity represented by a perspex abrasion value in the range from about 23 to about 35.

Abstract: A mixture of disaccharide esters of 3-methylpentanoic and acetic acid is prepared and used as flavor precursors. The esters average at least 4 and preferably at least 4.5 3-methylpentanoyl groups per disaccharide moiety, with remaining positions being substantially occupied by acetyl groups. Suitable disaccharides are sucrose and lactose. Preferably the disaccharide ester has an acetyl/methylpentanoyl group ratio of about 2.3 to 3.2:4.8 to 5.7. The disaccharide esters are suitable for flavoring products undergoing a heating step during preparation or consumption, such as ingredient mixes for extrusion, frying or baking, and especially tobacco. On heating they liberate 3-methylpentanoic acid and/or its decomposition products.

Abstract: A hard-frozen anisotropic foodstuff is subjected to a process of "veneer-peeling" at a core temperature of -40.degree. C. to -5.degree. C. In this "veneer-peeling" the hard-frozen foodstuff is for example cut in the manner of a lathe or like a pencil-sharpener. If the foodstuff is raw or uncooked meat, veneer-peeling weakens or fragments the strong connective tissue within the meat whilst retaining the essential fibrous character of the muscle fibers resulting in less tough meat. Thus lower quality meat can be upgraded. A wide array of morphologies of meat particles can be prepared. Other food materials cut in this way are ice cream, coconut, vegetables and hide material leading to offcut with new and useful morphologies.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel ethers and their use as aroma precursors. The ethers are derived from ionol and related compounds. These aroma precursors do not have a substantial aroma as such under ambient conditions, but will break up into a complex mixture having useful organoleptic properties under heating. The ethers are especially suitable for use in products which are heated, burned or smouldered in some stage of their use. The compounds according to the invention are especially suitable for application to tobacco. Mixtures obtained by degrading (e.g. by heating) the ethers according to the invention may be used in a flavoring or perfuming mixture as well due to their organoleptic properties.

Abstract: The invention concerns blends of fats A, B and C in the ranges:5-30% of fat A;>60% of fat B;5-20% of fat C,whereinfat A=fat having a C.sub.SAFA : C.sub.UNSAT ratio=0.5-1.3;fat B=fat having >65 wt. % of SUS;fat C=butterfat or a fraction therof.

Abstract: Microspherical cogel particles comprising silica and at least one other metal oxide are prepared by forming a slurry of porous particulate material comprising silica and a liquid medium comprising at least 90%, by weight of the liquid medium, of an organic liquid and subjecting the slurry to spray drying. The method enables agglomeration of particulate material of especially small particle size to obtain microspherical particles of a size especially suitable for us as a catalyst support. The particles have a pore size of at least 2 cc/g and, especially when the particles contain titanium atoms, are especially suitable for use in the preparation of a catalyst for the polymerization of olefins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of .alpha.-acetolactate and/or diacetyl, wherein a recombinant micro-organism containing an .alpha.-acetolactate synthase-encoding sequence is incubated in a medium containing an .alpha.-acetolactate precursor. The invention also provides a recombinant vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for an enzyme, which vector upon transfer into a host micro-organism enables expression of the nucleotide sequence in the host micro-organism, wherein the enzyme has .alpha.-acetolactate synthase activity.

Abstract: A fabric softening composition which comprises a water insoluble cationic fabric softening agent of formula (I) ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, or hydroxyalkyl groups or C.sub.2-4 alkenyl groups, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are independently selected from C.sub.7-27 alkyl or alkenyl groups; and n is an integer from 0-5 and X is methyl sulphate. The claimed fabric softening composition exhibits good stability on storage.

Abstract: A novel process for the preparation of food products comprising rapid total surface heating via high intensity short wave infra-red. A variety of food products can benefit from such a preparation, for example coated products, meat products and vegetables which are heat treated before packaging in order to seal the product and produce a crisp outer layer, those products are then further heated/cooked by the consumer before consumption.

Abstract: A baked composite dough product comprising a puff pastry dough sheet having attached thereto, at least at one side, a sheet of pastry dough which acts as an anchoring layer for a moisture-barrier coating which is applied on to the pastry layer after baking.The invention also relates to said baked products with a moist filling material applied on to the moisture-barrier coating.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus are provided for selectively culturing motile bacteria such as Salmonella, Camplylobacter, and others. One embodiment entails providing a carrier partly dipping into the liquid nutrient medium but projecting above a surface of the liquid nutrient medium, the carrier containing supported (e.g. gelled) nutrient medium and having an opening below the surface of the liquid nutrient medium for contact between the liquid medium in the culture vessel and the supported medium of the carrier. Migration of the motile bacteria from the liquid into the supported medium during the culture is thereby facilitated. The sample and the nutrient media are incubated to allow growth of any motile bacteria present in the sample in the liquid medium, and to allow migration of the motile bacteria during the culture into the supported medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for improving HCl-hydrolysed protein by subjecting an aqueous solution thereof to hydrolysis (of monochloropropanediols and dichloropropanols) at a pH between 5.5 and 8.0 at a temperature between 20.degree. and 180.degree. C. for a period between 10 days to 15 minutes. Preferably the pH lies between 6.5 and 8.0, the temperature lies between 80.degree. and 120.degree. C. and the aqueous mixture contains 10 to 85% of solid material Also it is preferred to carry out the hydrolysis is carried out in the presence of 0.1 to 10% (w.w.) of added phosphate, C2-C6 carboxylic acid or salt thereof.

Abstract: The characteristics of compacted sodium silicate, in particular the bulk density, are improved by heating the material at an elevated temperature in an agitated bed. Bulk density in the region of 1 kg/liter can be obtained.

Abstract: Enhanced extraction of solubilized antigens is obtained from bacteria such as Chlamydia and Neisseri by the use of a buffer containing a zwitterionic surface active agent, especially CHAPS or CHAPSO, in the absence of divalent cations. The extraction is conducted at elevated temperature, and provides a sample useful in assays for the presence of the bacteria.

Abstract: A stable aqueous detergent composition is provided in liquid or gel form containing from 10 to 80% by weight of an active detergent mixture comprising primary alkyl sulphate in an amount of 15 to 75% by weight of the active detergent plus betaine and/or amine oxide in an amount of 10 to 40% by weight of the active detergent mixture. Primary alkyl sulphate having chains of 10 or 11 carbon atoms provides at least 25% by weight of the primary alkyl sulphate present. The betaine and/or amine oxide is at least two thirds of the amount by weight of any primary alkyl sulphate having carbon atom chains of 12 carbon atoms or longer. The C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.11 alkyl sulphate is surprisingly effective as a detergent in such compositions despite higher water solubility than longer chain alkyl sulphate. It can enhance mildness compared to longer chain alkyl sulphate, and can replace or partially replace alkyl ether sulphate. Nonionic detergent may be included to enhance mildness further.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing flat objects, particularly susceptibility or sensitivity test discs (38), from a stack of similar objects housed in a cartridge (22) comprises a body portion (10); a plurality of receptacles (20) within the body portion, each receptacle being adapted to receive a respective object-containing cartridge; a plurality of dispensing ports (32), one associated with each receptacle; a plurality of tamping pins (50), one associated with each dispensing port, for tamping an object through the associated dispensing port; a transport plate arranged for rotary motion to transport an object from each cartridge in a receptacle to a dispensing position in alignment with the associated tamping pin and dispensing port; and a retaining plate (44) fixed with respect to the receptacles, for retaining the objects in position during transport from a cartridge to the associated dispensing position.

Abstract: Aluminosilicates in the form of P type zeolites are used as detergency builders and have a silicon to aluminium ratio not greater than 1.33, preferably above 0.9. These zeolites will usually have a calcium binding capacity of at least 150 mg CaO per gram of anhydrous aluminosilicate. A preferred form of the zeolite P has a silicon to aluminium ratio up to 1.15, and preferably above 0.9, with a tetragonally distorted cubic crystal structure. A process of the preparation of these zeolite P builders is described.

Abstract: A biodegradable oil and water emulsion release composition for facilitating the unmoulding of hydraulic bonding material comprises as the oil component an ester of a hindered polyhydric alcohol having no hydrogen atoms attached to any carbon atom in a beta-position to any hydroxyl group and a straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.4 -C.sub.24 monocarboxylic acid. The ester may be partial and the partial ester may be alkoxylated. In a preferred embodiment also a straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.8 -C.sub.24 monohydric alcohol is present. Also a method of unmoulding has been described.