Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of hexahydro-iso-alpha-acids starting from iso-alpha-acids (or tetrahydro-iso-alpha-acids) in which iso-alpha-acids (or tetrahydro-iso-alpha-acids) are mixed with a heterogeneous ruthenium containing catalyst, that catalyzes the hydrogenation from iso-alpha-acids or tetrahydro-iso-alpha-acids to hexahydro-iso-alpha-acids, either in solvent-free conditions, or in the presence of a solvent phase (e.g. carbon dioxide, water, ethanol or another organic solvent, or mixtures thereof), and in the absence or presence of other hop compounds (such as beta-acids).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of iso-alpha-acids starting from hop alpha-acids in which an hop alpha-acid containing feed is contacted with a heterogeneous alkaline earth metal based catalyst, that essentially does not dissolve in the alpha-acid containing feed or in the iso-alpha-acid product phase, either in solvent-free conditions or in the presence of water, carbon dioxide, or an organic solvent or a mixture thereof. The resulting mixture is subjected to a temperature of at least 293 K, preferably under an inert atmosphere, for a time sufficient to effect high conversion of the alpha-acid reactant into the iso-alpha-acid product. The molar ratio of alpha-acid to earth alkaline metal (Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) varies preferably between 0.2 and 20. After the isomerization process, the heterogeneous alkaline earth metal based catalyst can be quantitatively separated from the iso-alpha-acid product phase by liquid-solid separation techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of hexahydro-iso-alpha-acids starting from iso-alpha-acids (or tetrahydro-iso-alpha-acids) in which iso-alpha-acids (or tetrahydro-iso-alpha-acids) are mixed with a heterogeneous ruthenium containing catalyst, that catalyzes the hydrogenation from iso-alpha-acids or tetrahydro-iso-alpha-acids to hexahydro-iso-alpha-acids, either in solvent-free conditions, or in the presence of a solvent phase (e.g. carbon dioxide, water, ethanol or another organ-ic solvent, or mixtures thereof), and in the absence or presence of other hop compounds (such as beta-acids).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of iso-alpha-acids starting from hop alpha-acids in which an hop alpha-acid containing feed is contacted with a heterogeneous alkaline earth metal based catalyst, that essentially does not dissolve in the alpha-acid containing feed or in the iso-alpha-acid product phase, either in solvent-free conditions or in the presence of water, carbon dioxide, or an organic solvent or a mixture thereof. The resulting mixture is subjected to a temperature of at least 293 K, preferably under an inert atmosphere, for a time sufficient to effect high conversion of the alpha-acid reactant into the iso-alpha-acid product. The molar ratio of alpha-acid to earth alkaline metal (Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) varies preferably between 0.2 and 20. After the isomerisation process, the heterogeneous alkaline earth metal based catalyst can be quantitatively separated from the iso-alpha-acid product phase by liquid-solid separation techniques.

Abstract: A system for laser printing indicia on a moving web has been disclosed, wherein said system includes an apparatus having one or more laser beam(s) as source(s) of laser energy, a jet of air, an extraction unit and a tunnel with an open entry side and an exit side, and wherein, in the laser marking method, the product flow in the tunnel is directed from the open entry side to the exit side of the tunnel; the jet of air, skimming on the laser-impinging surface, from the entrance of the tunnel in the moving direction of the web; and wherein extraction of the product flow is performed at the exit side of the tunnel.

Abstract: A system for laser printing indicia on a moving web has been disclosed, wherein said system comprises an apparatus having one or more laser beam(s) as source(s) of laser energy, a jet of air, an extraction unit and a tunnel with an open entry side and an exit side, and wherein, in the laser marking method, the product flow in the said tunnel is directed from the open entry side to the exit side of the said tunnel; the jet of air, skimming on the laser-impinging surface, from the entrance of the tunnel in the moving direction of the web; and wherein extraction of the product flow is performed at the exit side of the tunnel.