Abstract: Provided is a selective hydrogenation process for producing aminonitriles by contacting the corresponding dinitriles with a hydrogen-containing fluid in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, a solvent and tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and/or tetraalkylphosphonium hydroxide additive.

Abstract: A method of producing sugars and converting the sugars to ethanol in which particulate biomass resulting from hydrolysis of the hemicellulosic content of the biomass is subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulosic content to glucose and fermentation of the glucose to ethanol. The particulate biomass resulting from hydrolysis of the hemicellulosic content of the feed stock is reduced to very fine particle size before enzymatic hydrolysis. The hydrolysis of cellulose and the fermentation of the resulting glucose may be carried out separately or they may be carried out simultaneously. The pentoses and hexoses resulting from hydrolysis of the hemicellulose may be subjected to fermentation separately to produce ethanol or they may be fermented simultaneously with the fermentation of the glucose derived from the cellulose.

Abstract: Two stage hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material, conditions during the first stage being such as to hydrolyze or depolymerize the hemicellulosic component without substantial degradation of resulting monosaccharides, conditions during the second stage being such as to hydrolyze the cellulose to glucose without substantial degradation of the glucose. The solids left after first stage hydrolysis are disintegrated mechanically thereby greatly facilitating second stage hydrolysis. Hydrolysis in both stages is preferably accomplished by the use of nitric acid. The pH retention time and temperature in both stages are selected to maximize production of the desired monosaccharide or monosaccharides.

Abstract: A solid detergent composition in the form of briquettes of compressed granular detergent material is provided, said composition comprising from 0.1 to 10% by weight of a polycarboxylated polymer and from 0.1 to 20% by weight of a watersoluble inorganic carrier material for said polymer, the bulk density of said composition ranging from 1000 to 2100 kg/m.sup.3. This composition was found to exhibit excellent compactibility and good anti-scaling properties.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a personal cleansing bar comprising from 10 parts to 70 parts by bar weight of sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI), 4.5 parts to 50 parts magnesium soap and 4 parts to 15 parts liquid polyol, wherein said polyol has at least two alcohol groups attached to separate carbon atoms in the chain, and must be water soluble and liquid at room temperature. The bars of this invention are mild, lather better, and are easier to make than corresponding bars without liquid polyol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the toilet bar compositions comprising, as sole active system, 50-95% of active system soap and 5 to 50% of active system aldobionamide, said active system comprising about 75% to 95% by wt. of the toilet bar composition.

Abstract: A process for determining the concentration of washing-active substances in a wash liquor involving the steps of:(a) preparing a wash liquor containing washing-active substances;(b) adding a reducing sugar to the wash liquor in an amount proportional to the washing-active substances present in the wash liquor; and(c) measuring the content of reducing sugar present in the wash liquor.

Abstract: A vibrating bed pyrolysis system has a vibrating bed which is supplied with hot solid particles. Dry coal particles are rapidly heated by the hot solid particles to drive off hydrocarbon vapors. The vapors are condensed in a jet condenser, and products are flowed to a header tank. A portion of the liquid product is stored at room temperature for later use. A small portion of the liquid product is pumped from the header tank and cooled to ambient temperature and is sprayed in the jet condenser, which is positioned above the vibrating pyrolysis bed. A dryer bed vibrated by the same vibrating machine which vibrates the pyrolysis bed is supplied with hot solid particles and the crushed coal. Moisture in the coal particles is evaporated, and water vapors entrain coal fines before the coal particles are passed to the pyrolysis bed. The hot solid particles are taken from a fluidized bed combustor and are returned to the combustor with the coal char particles by entrainment into the gas lift system.

Abstract: A process for decreasing the build-up of inorganic incrustations on textiles deriving from water hardness and due to repeated washing cycles with detergent compositions comprises the addition to the washing bath of a non-reducing carbohydrate and/or non-reducing carbohydrate derivative as co-builder.

Abstract: An improved cleaning/treating object of the type having a body with an exposed surface defined by a releasable cleaning/treating agent such that the body size diminishes as the cleaning/treating agent is released. A tag is connected to the body and has a message thereof. The tag is defined by a material that is different than the cleaning/treating agent so that as the cleaning/treating agent on the body is expended, the tag remains sufficiently intact that the message thereon is still identifiable.

Abstract: A beet juice treatment method in which reaction products are recycled. Beet juice is first prelimed with lime and CaCO.sub.3 to produce first and second juice fractions. The second fraction contains flocculated materials, and is combined with CO.sub.2. Solid flocs and calcium carbonate reaction products are removed from the second fraction. The second fraction and first fraction are then recombined to produce a third juice fraction which is combined with lime in a main liming stage for additional purification. The third fraction is then supplied with additional CO.sub.2 to generate a CaCO.sub.3 sludge product. The sludge product is divided into first and second portions. The first portion is reused in the preliming stage. The second portion is converted to regenerated lime for reuse in the main liming stage and possibly the preliming stage. These steps reduce waste production and provide economic benefits.

Abstract: The following description sets forth a new process for the preparation of .gtoreq.98.5% pure crystalline lactulose from commercially available aqueous syrups having the following composition: 50-70% by weight of lactulose, 3-9% by weight of lactose, 3-14% by weight of galactose, 4-7% by weight of other carbohydrates, the total content of carbohydrates different from lactulose being of from 10% to 30%.

Abstract: A counterflow single-screw extractor includes a screw conveyor having a helical scroll formed from arcuate flight sections each having a plurality of elongated slots extending away from the direction of screw rotation and permitting the flow of effluent through the product and the flights in a manner controlled by the size, number, and orientation of the slots. The slots permit efficient extraction using relatively little extraction medium and at the same time permit a single-screw extractor to be used without having to periodically reverse the direction of screw rotation to unclog the slots and by the pitch of the screw conveyor. The inventive arrangement permits the use of a multi-section extractor employing different extraction media and/or different extraction media wash rates in different sections of the extractor.

Abstract: A process for purifying the raw juice (diffusion juice) obtained from sugar beets replaces the traditional liming and carbonation purification methods with ion exchange softening and chromatographic separation operations.

Abstract: Soap formulations are made by incorporating a selected monohydric alcohol and suitable superfatting agents into high moisture molten soap. These formulations eliminate the formation of marring problems which are described as undesirable, white, chalk-like shatter marks and dents normally associated with handling, shipping and distribution to customers.

Abstract: A used lubricating oil comprising lube oil additives, including zinc dithiophosphate is reconstituted. Zinc dithiophosphate is thermally decomposed at a temperature of 400.degree. F. (204.degree. C.) to 1000.degree. F. (538.degree. C.) for a residence time of 10 to 120 minutes. The resulting oil is subjected to vacuum distillation. A zinc-free (i.e. ash free by ASTM D-482) oil is stabilized by catalytic hydrogenation or clay treating to produce a lubricating oil blending stock. About 5 to 25 vol % is recovered as a metal containing bottoms product, useful as asphalt extender. The process is carried out in the absence of chemical demetallizing.

Abstract: A microcrystalline starch composition is prepared by disintegration of microporous starch granules produced by partial hydrolysis of granular starch. The composition finds use particularly as a fat substitute in reduced calorie foods. The starch composition is optionally treated with starch reactive cross-linking agents and/or other surface modifying agents to optimize its rheological properties and the organoleptic qualities of processed foods containing the microcrystalline starch composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for softening an aqueous sugar juice containing sugars and Ca.sup.2+ and/or Mg.sup.2+ ions, such as a sugar factory molasses by means of a cation exchange resin, in the form of Na.sup.+ and/or K.sup.+, and for regeneration of said resin, comprising:(a) a softening step wherein the said sugar juice is brought into contact with the said cation exchange resin, in the form Na.sup.+ and/or K.sup.+, to give, on the one hand, a softened sugar juice depleted in Ca.sup.2+ and/or Mg.sup.2+ ions and charged with Na.sup.+ and/or K.sup.+ ions and, on the other hand, a cation exchange resin charged with Ca.sup.2+ and/or Mg.sup.2+ ions, and(b) a step for the regeneration of said latter resin,characterised in that the regeneration step (b) comprises bringing the said resin into contact with a liquid effluent produced on separation by chromatography of the sugars from a softened aqueous sugar juice containing sugars and Na.sup.+ and/or K.sup.

Abstract: A solid composition comprisinga. about 5 to 85 wt % of an acylisethionate salt,b. about 90 to 5 wt % of soap, andc. an effective amount of a metal chelating agent consisting solely of an agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, water soluble salts of said acid, and mixtures thereof, said composition having a pH of from about 7.2 to 10.

Abstract: An aqueous heavy duty liquid detergent composition of controlled viscosity is disclosed. The composition comprises a homogeneous mixture of at least one water soluble anionic organic detergent, at least one detergent builder, an oxidized polysaccharide viscosity control agent, an optional salt of an acrylic polymer as a supplementary viscosity control agent, an optional clay fabric softener and water. The composition is characterized as having a considerably lower initial viscosity than compositions which do not contain the viscosity modifier and exhibit a stability or even a diminution of the initial low viscosity after prolonged storage. As a result, heavy duty liquid detergent compositions having good flowability and stability are provided.