Abstract: The present invention relates to alkaline earth metal carbonate particles comprising a coating of aliphatic carboxylic acids and/or their salts, and their use as fillers in plastic materials or as extenders in offset ink.

Abstract: A process for converting gypsum into precipitated calcium carbonate including reacting a mixture comprising gypsum and a seed, a mineral acid, or both with at least one carbonate source, whereby precipitated calcium carbonate is produced in the form of calcite and/or aragonite directly without conversion from a vaterite polymorph. Also, a process for converting gypsum into precipitated calcium carbonate including providing a mixture comprising i) gypsum ii) a seed, a mineral acid, or both iii) at least one additive selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulfate, an organic acid, or an iron material, and reacting the mixture with at least one carbonate source to produce precipitated calcium carbonate in the form of vaterite.

Abstract: A process for treating a sulfurous fluid to form gypsum and magnesium carbonate, whereby the sulfurous fluid is scrubbed with a sequestrating agent to yield a scrubbed fluid, gypsum and magnesium sulfate. The flue gas desulfurized gypsum is isolated from the magnesium sulfate solution by filtration or centrifugation. The magnesium sulfate is reacted with a carbonate salt to produce a magnesium carbonate whereby the reaction conditions are controlled to control the properties of the magnesium carbonate produced.

Abstract: A composition may include a base or matrix material, such as a resin, and a first optical brightener. The first optical brightener may include an alkaline earth metal compound and a fluorescence activator. The composition may include less than or equal to about 1.5 wt % of a second optical brightener relative to the weight of the composition, wherein the second optical brightener does not include the fluorescence activator. A composition may include an aqueous base and an optical brightener. The optical brightener may include an alkaline earth metal carbonate and a fluorescence activator, wherein the optical brightener is configured to emit fluorescent light. A composition may include a first optical brightener.

Abstract: A composition may include an aqueous base and at least one identifying additive. The at least one identifying additive may include an alkaline earth metal compound and a fluorescence activator. The at least one identifying additive may be configured such that the composition emits fluorescent light having an identifying characteristic different from a characteristic of a surface against which the identifying characteristic is viewed. A composition may include an aqueous base and at least one identifying additive including an alkaline earth metal compound and a fluorescence activator including at least one other inorganic element. The at least one identifying additive may be configured such that the composition emits fluorescent light having an identifying characteristic. A label or packaging for identifying at least one of an object and a source of the object may include a composition including at least one identifying additive associated with a surface associated with the label or packaging.

Abstract: A process for converting natural calcium carbonate into precipitated calcium carbonate, involving treating the natural calcium carbonate with a sulfate to produce a gypsum and reacting the gypsum with at least one carbonate source to produce precipitated calcium carbonate. The crystalline polymorph, particle size, and various other characteristics of the precipitated calcium carbonate are controlled by varying conditions during the reacting. Since the natural calcium carbonate is not calcined, the process relates to a low energy method of producing precipitated calcium carbonate of controlled polymorph and particle size with limestone, marble, or chalk as the calcium source.

Abstract: A functional filler composition for use with a vinyl chloride polymeric resin may include a treated alkali earth metal carbonate and a humectant. A method of forming a filled vinyl chloride-based polymer article may include mixing a vinyl chloride-based polymeric resin with a filler composition and forming a polymer article from the mixture. The filler composition comprising a treated alkali earth metal carbonate and a humectant. A surface treatment of the treated alkali earth metal carbonate includes at least a monolayer concentration of the surface treatment.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of using rock dust are disclosed. A mine rock dust may be capable of being applied in a wet form. A moisture tolerant mine rock dust may include a hydrophobic inorganic particulate material. A moisture tolerant mine rock dust may be capable of being dispersed by a light blast of air. A method may include applying a mine rock dust at a concentration having little or no respirable mine rock dust. A method of applying a mine rock dust may include applying a mine rock dust in a wet form. The mine rock dust may be applied at a concentration having little or no respirable mine rock dust. The mine rock dust may include a hydrophobic inorganic particulate material.

Abstract: A method for using a composition for use as rock dust in an underground mine is disclosed. The composition includes a fine, wet ground inorganic particulate material treated with at least one hydrophobic treatment, and a coarse, untreated, dry ground inorganic particulate material. Also disclosed is a composition including coal dust and mine rock dust including a fine, wet ground inorganic particulate material treated with at least one hydrophobic treatment, and a coarse, untreated, dry ground inorganic particulate material. The amount of mine rock dust may be sufficient to render the coal dust explosively inert according to at least one of a 20-L explosibility test or an ASTM E1515 explosibility test. The fine, wet ground inorganic particulate material may be calcium carbonate. The coarse, untreated inorganic particulate material may be calcium carbonate. The fatty acid may be stearic acid.

Abstract: A composition for use as rock dust is disclosed. The composition may include an inorganic particulate material treated with at least one surface treatment. The surface treatment may include at least one of a fatty acid, a salt thereof, or an ester thereof, silicone oil, silane, or siloxane. Also disclosed is a composition that may include coal dust and mine rock dust including a inorganic particulate material treated with at least one a fatty acid, a salt thereof, or an ester thereof, silicone oil, silane, or siloxane. The mine rock dust may be sufficient to render the coal dust explosively inert. A composition may include a mine rock dust that may pass 20-L explosibility test or may pass ASTM E1515 explosibility test. A composition may include a mine rock dust that may have a dispersion greater than or equal to about 0.1% by weight.

Abstract: A ketal ester of an oxocarboxylic acid and a process to make the same, where the ketal ester is of Structure (I): wherein a is 0 or an integer from 1 to 12; n is 0 or 1; R1 is a linear alkyl, aryl, arylalkylene, or branched alkyl group with 1-18 carbon atoms; R2 and R5 can be hydrogen, C1-6 straight chain or branched alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, C1-6 alkyl substituted with up to four OH groups, C1-6 alkyl, or acetyl optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals, or R2 and R4 together with the ?-carbon form a cycloaliphatic or heterocyclic ring with 3-6 carbon atoms and 0-3 heteroatoms, provided that only one of R2 and R5 is hydrogen; R3 is a linear alkyl or branched alkyl group with 1-18 carbon atoms; and R4 is hydrogen, or an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or branched alkyl group with 1-10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyketal compounds. The compounds are synthesized by the selective ketalization of oxocarboxylic acids, e.g. keto acids and semialdehydes, and esters thereof with tetrols and higher polyols that products two or more cyclic ketal ester moieties per molecule, wherein the cyclic ketal moieties are situated in a bis-, tris-, or polyketal conformation. The invention further relates to applications of these compounds and subsequent reactions thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyesters prepared from benzene, cyclohexene and cyclohexane compounds having carboxylic acid groups at the 1 and 4, and optionally the 2, positions, such as terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalates, and alkylene glycols, such ethylene glycol or 1,4-butane diol. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such polyesters. The invention also relates to such polyesters derived from starting materials derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cyclohexanes having carboxylate derivatives at the 1 and 4, and optionally the 2, position. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such compounds wherein a portion of the starting materials utililzed is derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel substituted and unsubstituted terephthalic acid and carboxylate derivatives and products prepared therefrom having a significant renewable content. The invention also relates to processes for preparing substituted and unsubstituted terephthalic and carboxylate derivatives thereof wherein a portion of the starting materials utilized is derived from renewable resources. The invention also relates to novel cyclohexene based intermediates prepared in these processes and to conversion of these intermediates to substituted and unsubstituted cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylates and carboxylate derivatives thereof and novel forms of the resulting products having renewable content. The invention also relates to products prepared from substituted and unsubstituted terephthalic acid and carboxylate derivatives thereof derived from starting materials derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: A ketal ester of an oxocarboxylic acid and a process to make the same, where the ketal ester is of Structure (I): wherein a is 0 or an integer from 1 to 12; n is 0 or 1; R1 is a linear alkyl, aryl, arylalkylene, or branched alkyl group with 1-18 carbon atoms; R2 and R5 can be hydrogen, C1-6 straight chain or branched alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, C1-6 alkyl substituted with up to four OH groups, C1-6 alkyl, or acetyl optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals, or R2 and R4 together with the ?-carbon form a cycloaliphatic or heterocyclic ring with 3-6 carbon atoms and 0-3 heteroatoms, provided that only one of R2 and R5 is hydrogen; R3 is a linear alkyl or branched alkyl group with 1-18 carbon atoms; and R4 is hydrogen, or an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or branched alkyl group with 1-10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel substituted and unsubstituted terephthalic acid and carboxylate derivatives and products prepared therefrom having a significant renewable content. The invention also relates to processes for preparing substituted and unsubstituted terephthalic and carboxylate derivatives thereof wherein a portion of the starting materials utilized is derived from renewable resources. The invention also relates to novel cyclohexene based intermediates prepared in these processes and to conversion of these intermediates to substituted and unsubstituted cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylates and carboxylate derivatives thereof and novel forms of the resulting products having renewable content. The invention also relates to products prepared from substituted and unsubstituted terephthalic acid and carboxylate derivatives thereof derived from starting materials derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyesters prepared from benzene, cyclohexene and cyclohexane compounds having carboxylic acid groups at the 1 and 4, and optionally the 2, positions, such as terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalates, and alkylene glycols, such ethylene glycol or 1,4-butane diol. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such polyesters. The invention also relates to such polyesters derived from starting materials derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cyclohexanes having carboxylate derivatives at the 1 and 4, and optionally the 2, position. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such compounds wherein a portion of the starting materials utililzed is derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cyclohexenes having carboxylate derivatives at the 1 and 4, and optionally the 2, position. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such compounds wherein a portion of the starting materials utilized is derived from renewable resources.