Abstract: A unit for delivery of agrochemicals to the roots of a plant comprising one or more root development zones, and one or more agrochemical zones containing at least one agrochemical, wherein the agrochemical zones are formulated to release the at least one agrochemical into the root development zones in a controlled release manner when the root development zones are hydrated, and wherein the weight ratio of the root development zones to the agrochemical zones in a dry unit is 0.05:1 to 0.32:1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bead comprising: i) an external zone comprising a super absorbent polymer (SAP) that is capable of absorbing at least about 5 times its weight in water, surrounding ii) at least one internal zone comprising a core that contains at least one agrochemical, wherein the external zone is permeable to oxygen when hydrated, or the internal zone is formulated to release the at least one agrochemical into the external zone over a period of at least about one week when the hydrogel of the external zone is hydrated. The present invention also provides methods of using beads of the invention.

Abstract: A method comprising: (a) providing a partially processed sucrose crop product containing at least 2% optionally at least 5% of the sucrose content of said crop at harvest on a dry solids basis, cellulose and lignin; (b) hydrolyzing said partially processed crop product with HCl to produce an acid hydrolyzate stream and a lignin stream; and (c) de-acidifying said hydrolyzate stream to produce a de-acidified sugar solution and an HCl recovery stream. Additional, methods, systems and sugar mixtures are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the production of small-size titanium oxide particles, comprising the steps of: e) providing a solid containing titanic acid; f) contacting the solid with an acidic aqueous medium thereby forming an aqueous precursor solution at given conditions of temperature lower than 100° C., Titanium cation concentration lower than 20 wt % and higher than 0.1 wt %, pH lower than 1 and strong acid concentration higher than 2.5% and lower than 30%; g) optionally, adding one or more capping agents to the aqueous precursor solution; and h) modifying at least one of the conditions of the aqueous precursor and maintaining the aqueous precursor at the modified conditions, whereupon precipitation of a precipitate comprising small-size titanium oxide particles takes place, the modifications being selected from at least one of temperature elevation by at least 5° C. and pH elevation by at least 0.1 pH units.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the Industrial production of a titanium salt TP, said method comprising the steps of: i. Precipitation of titanic acid from a solution comprising titanium salt TP1; ii. Production of a titanium containing product TP2 from a medium comprising of said titanic acid and an acid; and iii. Thermal conversion of titanium containing product TP3 to a titanium salt TP at temperature higher than 170° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the purification and concentration of a partially water-soluble organic product from a source containing the same at concentration C0, which process comprises the steps of: (i) concentrating said product by means of a resin to form a first aqueous solution at concentration of C1; and (ii) fractionating an aqueous solution by temperature adjustment to form a second aqueous solution and a third aqueous solution with concentrations C2 and C3, respectively, wherein C2>C3 and C2>C1>C0.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic phase composition comprising: (a) a first solvent (S1) characterized by a water solubility of less than 10% and by at least one of (a1) having a polarity related component of Hoy's cohesion parameter (delta-P) between 5 and 10 MPa1/2 and (b1) having a Hydrogen bonding related component of Hoy's cohesion parameter (delta-H) between 5 and 20 MPa1/2; (b) a second solvent (S2) characterized by a water solubility of at least 30% and by at least one of (a2) having a delta-P greater than 8 MPa1/2 and (b2) having a delta-H greater than 12 MPa1/2; (c) water; (d) HCl; and (e) a carbohydrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic phase composition comprising (f) a first solvent (S1) characterized by water solubility of less than 10% and by at least one of (a1) having a polarity related component of Hoy's cohesion parameter (delta-P) between 5 and 10 mPa1/2 and (b1) having a Hydrogen bonding related component of Hoy's cohesion parameter (delta-H) between 5 and 20 MPa1/2; (g) a second solvent (S2) characterized by water solubility of at least 30% and by at least one of (a2) having a delta-P greater than 8 MPa1/2 and (b2) having a delta-H greater than 12 MPa1/2; (h) water (i) HCl, and (j) a chloride salt.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic phase composition comprising (a) a first solvent (S1) characterized by water solubility of less than 10% and by at least one of (a1) having a polarity related component of Hoy's cohesion parameter (delta-P) between 5 and 10 MPa1/2 and (b1) having a Hydrogen bonding related component of Hoy's cohesion parameter (delta-H) between 5 and 20 MPa1/2; (b) a second solvent (S2) characterized by a water solubility of at least 30% and by at least one of (a2) having delta-P greater than 8 MPa1/2 and (b2) having delta-H greater than 12 MPa1/2; (c) water; (d) a non-volatile strong acid; and (e) a salt thereof.

Abstract: A sugar mixture comprising: monosaccharides; oligosaccharides in a ratio ?0.06 to total saccharides; disaccharides in a ratio to total saccharides ?0.05; pentose in a ratio to total saccharides ?0.05; at least one alpha-bonded di-glucose; and at least one beta-bonded di-glucose. Also disclosed are methods to make and/or use such mixtures.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the Industrial purification of a low-grade polyvalent cation feed stream of purity P1, by the formation of a polyvalent cation-double-salt precipitate of purity P2 and a polyvalent cation solution with purity P3, wherein P2>P1>P3, said method comprising the steps of: a) forming, from said feed, a medium comprising water, polyvalent cation, a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, cations of alkali metals, protons and a combination thereof, and anions; which formed medium is further characterized by the presence of (i) a double-salt precipitate comprising a polyvalent cation, at least one of said cations and at least one of said anions; and (ii) a polyvalent cation solution; and wherein the concentration of said anions is higher then 10% and the ratio between the concentrations of said cation to said anion in said polyvalent cation solution is within Zone DS as herein defined; and b) separating at least a portion of said precipitate from said solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the purification and concentration of a partially water-soluble organic product from a source containing the same at concentration C0, which process comprises the steps of: (i) concentrating said product by means of a resin to form a first aqueous solution at concentration of C1; and (ii) fractionating an aqueous solution by temperature adjustment to form a second aqueous solution and a third aqueous solution with concentrations C2 and C3, respectively, wherein C2>C3 and C2>C1>C0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the Industrial production of a titanium salt TP, said method comprising the steps of: i. Precipitation of titanic acid from a solution comprising titanium salt TP1; ii. Production of a titanium containing product TP2 from a medium comprising of said titanic acid and an acid; and iii. Thermal conversion of titanium containing product TP3 to a titanium salt TP at temperature higher than 17O° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the formation of small-size titanium oxide particles, comprising the steps of a) preparing a starting aqueous solution comprising at least one of titanic ions and complexes thereof, at a concentration of at least 0.1% w/w titanium; b) maintaining the solution at a temperature lower than 70° C. for a retention time in which hydrolysis takes place, the extent of the hydrolysis being sufficient to produce O.i mmol protons per mmol of titanium present in solution, wherein the time does not exceed 14 days, to form a system containing a retained solution; and c) adjusting the conditions in the system by at least one of the steps of: i) heating the retained solution to elevate the temperature thereof by at least 1° C.; ii) changing the pH of the retained solution by at least 0.1 units; and iii) diluting the retained solution by at least 20% whereby there are formed particles, wherein the majority of the particles formed are between about 2 nm and about 500 nm in size.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the Industrial purification of a titanium feed stream of purity P1, by the formation of a titanium-double-salt precipitate of purity P2 and a titanium solution with purity P3, wherein P2>P1>P3, the method comprising the steps of: i. forming, from the feed, a medium comprising water, titanium ion, a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, cations of alkali metals, protons and a combination thereof, and an anion selected from the group consisting of OH, SO4, HSO4, halides and a combination thereof, which formed medium is further characterized by the presence of (a) a double-salt precipitate comprising titanium ion, at least one of the cations and at least one of the anions; and (b) a titanium solution; and wherein the concentration of the anion in the titanium solution is higher than 15% and the ratio between the concentrations of the cation and the anion in the titanium solution is higher than 0.2 and lower than 1.6; and ii.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for the recovery of 1,3-propanediol from an aqueous feed stream. The present invention involves contacting an aqueous feed stream that comprises water, 1,3-propanediol, and at least one contaminant with at least one solvent extractant to form a mixture. The mixture is separated into a first phase and a second phase. The second phase comprises a majority of the water from the aqueous feed stream. The first phase comprises solvent extractant and at least some of the 1,3-propanediol that was present in the aqueous feed stream. The weight ratio in the first phase of 1,3-propanediol to any one contaminant present is greater than the weight ratio of 1,3-propanediol to the same contaminant in the aqueous feed stream prior to the aqueous feed stream being contacted with the solvent extractant. The first phase can be removed from the separated second phase in order to recover the 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the Industrial purification of a titanium feed stream of purity P1, by the formation of a titanium-double-salt precipitate of purity P2 and a titanium solution with purity P3, wherein P2>P1>P3, the method comprising the steps of: i. forming, from the feed, a medium comprising water, titanium ion, a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, cations of alkali metals, protons and a combination thereof, and an anion selected from the group consisting of OH, SO4, HSO4, halides and a combination thereof, which formed medium is further characterized by the presence of (a) a double-salt precipitate comprising titanium ion, at least one of the cations and at least one of the anions; and (b) a titanium solution; and wherein the concentration of the anion in the titanium solution is higher than 15% and the ratio between the concentrations of the cation and the anion in the titanium solution is higher than 0.2 and lower than 1.6; and ii.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of fatty acids comprising a salt of the fatty acid is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) reacting the salt of the fatty acid with CO2 and with a reagent other than hydroxide and selected from a group of compounds carrying at least one of O—H, N—H, S—H, C—O—C and C—O—N moieties, to form a reaction mixture comprising at least one of a carbonate and a bicarbonate and a product selected from fatty acids and derivatives thereof, and (b) separating the product from the reaction mixture. A method for the production of fatty acid ester from free fatty acid of crude vegetable oil is also disclosed. A free fatty acid that is substantially free of emulsifier is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the formation of small-size metal oxide particles, comprising the steps of a) preparing a starting aqueous solution comprising at least one of metallic ions and complexes thereof, at a concentration of at least 0.1 % w/w of the metal component; b) maintaining the solution at a temperature lower than 50° C. for a retention time in which hydrolysis takes place, the extent of the hydrolysis being sufficient to produce O.1 mmol protons per mmol of metal present in solution, wherein the time does not exceed 14 days, to form a system containing a retained solution; and c) adjusting the conditions in the system by at least one of the steps of: i) heating the retained solution to elevate the temperature thereof by at least 1° C.; ii) changing the pH of the retained solution by at least 0.1 units; and iii) diluting the retained solution by at least 20% whereby there are formed particles, wherein the majority of the particles formed are between about 2 nm and about 500 nm in size.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the formation of small-size metal oxide particles, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a starting aqueous solution comprising at least one of metallic ion and complexes thereof, at a concentration of at least 0.1% w/w of the metal component; b) preparing a modifying aqueous solution having a temperature greater than 50° C.; c) contacting the modifying aqueous solution with the starting aqueous solution in a continuous mode in a mixing chamber to form a-modified system; d) removing the modified system from the mixing chamber in a plug-flow mode; wherein the method is characterized in that: i) the residence time in the mixing chamber is less than about 5 minutes; and iii) there are formed particles or aggregates thereof, wherein the majority of the particles formed are between about 2 nm and about 500 nm in size.