Patents Examined by D. Carr
  • Patent number: 6514190
    Abstract: This invention concerns a composition containing a dimerized or trimerized fatty acid amide of a primary alkanolamine that remains clear of suspended solids during storage, making mixtures containing the additive particularly useful to the metalworking industry. The amide may be formed by the condensation of a primary alkanolamine and a dimerized or trimerized fatty acid. When added to an amide of a primary alkanolamine and fatty acid containing a single carboxylic acid group, these molecules are able to prevent crystallization of the amide mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Karl E. Griswold
  • Patent number: 6512131
    Abstract: A process for carrying out a multi-phase reaction in a continuously operated tube reactor operated according to the counter current principle in which reactor components of a liquid phase flowing downwards as a thin film in said tube reactor and components of a continuous gas flowing upward in said tube reactor are brought to material transfer, or reaction respectively. The gas phase is pulsed, by repeated temporary pressure lowering at the gas entry into said tube reactor and/or repeated temporary pressure increase at the gas exit from said tube reactor, to counteract film thickness growth and liquid phase stagnation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Dr. Frische GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Best, Karlheinz Brunner, Rainer Frische, Dirk Kilian, Joachim Seemann
  • Patent number: 6509487
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing lower alkyl fatty esters from fatty acids and lower alcohols, wherein lower alkyl fatty esters are produced in higher yield with a reduction in the amount of the remaining fatty acids. The process of the present invention comprises bringing fatty acids into contact with gaseous lower alcohols in fixed bed(s) charged with a weakly acidic solid catalyst by countercurrent operation, by co-current operation and subsequent countercurrent operation or by pseudo-countercurrent operation, thus feeding and reacting the fatty acids and lower alcohols in fixed-bed reactor(s) charged with a weakly acidic solid catalyst to produce lower alkyl fatty esters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tatsumi, Takanobu Katayama, Osamu Tabata, Taku Mimura, Noriaki Fukuoka, Katsutoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6506916
    Abstract: A process for refining fatty substances in order to selectively and quantitatively separate therefrom the free fatty acids. The process combines the extraction with an alcohol or a polyol and a neutralization is conducted with an alkali at a controlled pH of 9 to 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Raymond Bertholet
  • Patent number: 6506917
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods to modulate processes mediated by retinoid receptors, employing high affinity, high specificity ligands for such receptors. In one aspect of the present invention, there are provided ligands which are more selective for the retinoid X receptor than is retinoic acid (i.e., rexoids). In another aspect of the present invention, alternative ligands (other than retinoic acid) have been discovered which are capable of inducing retinoic acid receptor mediated processes. In yet another aspect, methods have been developed for the preparation of such retinoid receptor ligands from readily available compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, David J. Mangelsdorf, Richard A. Heyman, Marcus F. Boehm, Gregor Eichele, Christina Thaller
  • Patent number: 6500973
    Abstract: A process for the purification and isolation of a chemical compound, by extractive solution crystallization. The process comprises combining in any order a first solvent, a second solvent, and a mixture comprising a chemical compound with at least one impurity. The second solvent phase extracts impurities out of the first solvent, and keeps the impurities dissolved to avoid their co-crystallization with the phenyl ester salt. Once the chemical compound has crystallized out of solution, it is collected, washed and/or dried. The second solvent may be added after the mixture containing at least one chemical compound is dissolved in a first solvent, as long as the second solvent phase is added prior to the end of crystallization. Advantageously, this invention combines the previously distinct steps of extraction and crystallization in one unit operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: Kevin J. Fontenot
  • Patent number: 6500974
    Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of a monoglyceride by reacting a fatty acid and glycerol in the presence of a food grade polar solvent and avoiding the use of catalysts is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Narayana Balagopala Kaimal Thengumpillil, Vijayalakshmi Penumarthy, Ananta Laxmi Ayyagari
  • Patent number: 6498261
    Abstract: The invention is a method for improving the color and color stability of oleic acid by a two column distillation process in which the oleic acid to be color improved is introduced into a first distillation zone containing an enriching section and a stripping section providing a minor amount of a topping product and a major amount of underflow containing the oleic acid and passing the oleic acid to a bottom portion of a second distillation zone having an enriching section to recover the improved oleic acid with improved color and color stability as a top product from the second distillation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Cognis Corporation
    Inventors: Edward L. Ewbank, David J. Anneken
  • Patent number: 6497644
    Abstract: According to the invention, waste materials containing amido-carboxylic acid esters, which are generated during the preparation of phenyl ester salts, can be converted into amido-carboxylic acids. The recovered amido-carboxylic acid is then useful in the preparation of additional phenyl ester salt by the original preparation process or other processes known in the art. The process of the invention combines a waste material containing amido-carboxylic acid esters with an aqueous solution of a strong acid having a pH less than about 1 to form a mixture. The process heats the mixture to a temperature of at least 90° C. and maintains the mixture at that temperature for a time sufficient to hydrolyze the amido-carboxylic acid esters to amido-carboxylic acids. Sufficient base is the added to adjust the pH of the mixture to greater than about 2. The mixture is then maintained at a temperature of at least 80° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: George C. Zima, Thomas H. Williams, David M. Hitch, Jerry L. Miller
  • Patent number: 6498124
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for isolating a phenyl ester salt from a mixture comprising sulfolane (tetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide). The invention includes adjusting the temperature of a mixture comprising a phenyl ester salt and sulfolane to a temperature of about 100-150° C. This step leads to the formation of a mixture comprising a solid phenyl ester salt and sulfolane. Next, the solid phenyl ester salt is separated, while maintaining the temperature of the mixture at about 100-150° C. The invention also relates to a process that includes adding a sufficient amount of a solvent to a mixture comprising a phenyl ester salt and sulfolane to decrease the viscosity or the density of the mixture. The solvent added has a density less than about 1.20 g/cm3 at 100° C. or a viscosity of less than about 2.56 centipoise at 100° C. The embodiments of the invention may be used alone or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kevin J. Fontenot, David C. Attride, Keith B. Terhune
  • Patent number: 6495596
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a group of related lipid molecules, and methods for their use, that maybe used to treat inflammation and certain inflammation related diseases. The group of related lipid molecules are capable of inhibiting certain enzyme systems including phospholipase A2, and cyclooxygenase-2. The group of related lipid molecules of the invention may be characterized by specific structural characteristics, or by specific biological activity, including inhibition of the previously listed enzymes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Biozibe Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Keller
  • Patent number: 6495676
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting nucleic acid sequences. Probes comprising a crosslinking agent are combined with a sample which may comprise a target sequence which is complementary to the probe. Hybridization is allowed to occur between complementary sequences. The crosslinking agent is activated. Covalent bonds are formed between the probe and the target sequence if they are hybridized to one another. The crosslinked nucleic acids can then be detected to indicate the presence of the target sequence. Also provided are kits comprising reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Naxcor
    Inventors: Michael L. Wood, David Albagli, Reuel B. Van Atta, Douglas Y. Thien, Peter C. Cheng, Bingfang Huan
  • Patent number: 6492538
    Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a mixture of fatty acid esters comprising the steps of: (a) hydrolysing a sterol ester or a mixture of sterol esters such that a mixture is obtained comprising phenolic acids and/or fatty acids, and free sterols; and (b) optionally, separating the phenolic acids and/or fatty from the reaction mixture; and (c) esterifying the so obtained free sterols with particular fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Lipton, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marnix P van Amerongen, Lourus Cornelis Lievense, Cornelis Willem Van Oosten
  • Patent number: 6492146
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of phosphatidylserines, comprising the reaction of phosphatides, such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, with racemic or enantiomerically pure Serine, preferably with (L)-Serine, wherein said reaction is carried out in an aqueous dispersion of said phosphatides in the presence of a phospholipase D (PLD) and of calcium salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Chemi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Lorenzo De Ferra, Pietro Massardo
  • Patent number: 6492537
    Abstract: Lipid compositions enriched in unsaturated fatty acid-containing triacylglycerols are made from menhaden oil (MO) and partially hydrogenated menhaden oil (PHMO) to provide a lipid composition containing enriched monounsaturated fatty acid esters (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acid esters (PUFAs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Thomas A. Foglia, Ki-Teak Lee
  • Patent number: 6489494
    Abstract: This invention provides a novel antioxidant, kombic acid or a derivative thereof, obtained from crude kombo butter suitable for preventing oxidation of various organic materials. In particular, the invention relates to the use of kombic acid as an antioxidant in the stabilization of human and animal foods against rancidity, color and odor development; as an antioxidant for use in dietary supplements and other human and animal health formulations; as a stabilizer in cosmetic and other personal care applications; and in the stabilization of plastics against oxidative degradation. The present invention further encompasses a method of preparation of said kombic acid by alcohol extraction or supercritical fluid extraction from crude kombo butter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Edward C. Leonard
  • Patent number: 6489496
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for making an alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid via transesterification comprising the steps of: (1) reacting a carboxylic acid ester with an alcohol and an effective amount of a transesterification catalyst in a reaction zone to form a reaction mixture comprised of a product ester and a product alcohol; (2) passing the reaction mixture from step (1) through a centrifugal separation zone wherein the second alcohol is separated from the second ester. The process according to the invention allows for shorter reaction times and improved product yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Cognis Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Barnhorst, Michael D. Staley, Dean A. Oester
  • Patent number: 6486336
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sunflower seed, comprising a sunflower oil having an increased stearic acid content as compared to wild type seeds, obtainable by treating parent seeds with a mutagenic agent during a period of time and in a conceatration sufficient to induce one or more mutations in the genetic trait involved in stearic acid biosynthesis resulting in an incresed production of stearic acid, germinating the treated seeds and culturing progeny plants therefrom, collecting and analyzing progeny seeds, selecting seeds that have acquired the desirable genetic trait and optionally repeating the cycle of germination, culturing and collection of seeds. Preferably the seeds comprise an oil having a stearic acid content of between 19.1 and 35% by weight related to the total amount of fatty acids in the oil, and are obtainable by treating the parent seeds with an alkylating agent, such as ethyl methane sulfonate in water, or with sodium azide in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas
    Inventors: Jorge Osorio, Jose Maria Fernandez, Manuel Mancha, Rafael Garcés
  • Patent number: 6486335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of refined hard sugarcane wax having improved qualities from press mud which comprises digesting press mud with a non polar solvent in the presence of activated charcoal and separating the sugarcane wax from the residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
    Inventor: Amal C. Phukan
  • Patent number: 6486333
    Abstract: This invention discloses a substance which is a betaine ester of a functional alcohol that has an amido bond in its molecule and releases the functional alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Murayama, Shigeyoshi Tanaka, Atsushi Katayama, Ryoichi Hirayama, Takami Gema