Abstract: Process for the preparation of bisepoxides, wherein a conjugated diene of the formula I where R1 is selected from hydrogen and C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more S—H or O—H groups, is reacted in the presence of a catalyst which is obtainable by bringing at least one manganese compound selected from A2MnX4, AMnX3, MnY, MnX2 and MnX3 into contact with at least one ligand L of the formula II where X are identical or different and are selected from monovalent anions, Y is a divalent anion, A is selected from alkali metal and ammonium, which may be alkylated, R2 are identical or different and are selected from C1-C20-alkyl, and at least one coligand which is derived from monocarboxylic acids, dibasic or polybasic carboxylic acids or diamines, with at least one peroxide, up to 4 equivalents of peroxide being used per equivalent of C—C double bond.

Abstract: Mixtures of (A) from 55 to 65 mol % of erythro-dithiol of formula erythro-IV: and (B) from 35 to 45 mol % of threo-dithiol of formula threo-IV or threo-IV?: and their corresponding alkali metal salts and ammonium salts, are useful for treating animal hides.

Abstract: Horny substances are removed from hides, pelts or skins of dead animals by treating the hides, pelts or skins in aqueous liquor with one or more compounds of the formula I or their corresponding alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts or ammonium or phosphonium salts, the variables being defined as follows: R1 is selected from hydrogen and C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more S—H or O—H groups; X1 to X4 are identical or different and are selected from hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, O—H, S—H and N—HR2, R2 is hydrogen or C1-C12-alkyl or a C1-C4-Alkyl-C?O group, at least one radical X1 to X4 being S—H when R1 contains at least one sulfur atom and at least two radicals X1 to X4 being S—H when R1 contains no sulfur atom.

Abstract: Tanning agents can be prepared by reacting at least one aldehyde of formula I, with at least one further identical or different aldehyde of formula I, where Z is a single chemical bond, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C12-alkylene, unsubstituted or substituted C5-C12-cycloalkylene or unsubstituted or substituted C6-C14-arylene, the reaction being carried out in the presence of an acidic catalyst and in the presence of at least one further carbonyl compound of formula II where R1 to R4, independently of one another, are hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C3-C12-cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C7-C13-aralkyl or unsubstituted or substituted C6-C14-aryl, with the proviso that, where Z is a single chemical bond or a radical without a-hydrogen atoms, at least one further aldehyde of the formula I, in which Z contains ?-hydrogen atoms, or at least one further carbonyl compound of formula II is present.

Abstract: Aqueous compositions containing alkoxylated alcohols and hydrophobic components, method for the production and use thereof Compositions comprising, as components, a) at least two alkoxylated alcohols, b) at least one hydrophobic component selected from natural, modified natural and synthetic hydrophobic substances, c) at least 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of water, wherein the compositions have a mean hydrodynamic radius in the range from 1 to 200 nm, determined by dynamic light scattering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing horn substances from animal skin. The method is characterized in that animal skins are treated in an aqueous bath containing between 0.05 and 5 wt. %, in relation to the weight of the salt, of at least one compound of general formula I or the corresponding alkali metallic salts or alkaline-earth metallic salts thereof or ammonium or phosphonium salts.

Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of copolymers are obtainable by free radical copolymerization of (A) at least one ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride, derived from at least one dicarboxylic acid of 4 to 8 carbon atoms, (B) at least one oligomer of branched or straight-chain C3-C10-alkene, at least one oligomer having an average molecular weight Mn of from 300 to 5 000 g/mol or being obtainable by oligomerization of at least 3 equivalents of C3-C10-alkene, (C) optionally at least one ethylenically unsaturated comonomer differing from (A), and optionally reaction with (D) at least one compound of the formula I a or I b and subsequent addition of water, where, in formulae I a and I b, A1 are identical or different C2-C20-alkylene, R1 is linear or branched C1-C30-alkyl, phenyl or hydrogen, and n is an integer from 1 to 200, the water content being from 30 to 99.5% by weight, based on aqueous dispersion.

Abstract: Horny substances are removed from animal hides by a process wherein animal hides are treated in a liquor comprising from 0.05 to 5% by weight, based on the salted weight, of one or more compounds of the formula I or the corresponding alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or ammonium or phosphonium salts thereof, the variables being defined as follows: R1 is selected from hydrogen and C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more S—H or O—H groups; X1 to X4 are identical or different and are selected from hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, O—H, S—H and N—HR2, R2 is hydrogen or C1-C12-alkyl or a C1-C4-alkyl-C?O group, at least one of the radicals X1 to X4 being S—H, and, if R1 contains neither O—H nor S—H, at least one further radical from among X1 to X4 is selected from S—H, OH and NH—R2, and furthermore with at least one compound which catalyzes the hydrolysis of peptide bonds.

Abstract: horny substances are removed from hides of dead animals by a process wherein the hides of dead animals are treated with at least one substance of the formula I or at least one corresponding alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or phosphonium salt, where R1 and R4 are identical or different and are selected from hydrogen, C6-C14-aryl and C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more SH or OH groups, R2 and R3 are identical or different and are selected from hydrogen, C6-C14-aryl and C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more SH or OH groups, at least one radical R2 or R3 not being hydrogen or R1 and R4 not being hydrogen, and it being possible in each case for two vicinal radicals R1 to R4 together to be C3-C10-alkylene, R5 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C12-alkyl, H—C?O or C1-C4-alkyl-C?O, X1, X2, X3 and X4 are selected from OH, SH and NHR5, where, if R1 to R4 contain at least one sulfur atom, at least one radical X1 to X4 is SH, and, if R1 to R4 contain no sulf

Abstract: Semifinished products or leather are or is produced by a process in which pelts, pickled pelts or semifinished products are treated with a) at least one sheet silicate and b) at least one copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerization of at least one ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride (A), derived from at least one dicarboxylic acid of 4 to 8 carbon atoms, at least one vinylaromatic compound (B1) or at least one oligomer (B2) of branched or straight-chain C2-C10-alkene, at least one oligomer having an average molecular weight Mn of from 300 to 5 000 g/mol or being obtainable by oligomerization of at least 3 equivalents of C2-C10-alkene, and optionally at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer (C) differing from (A) and having at least one hetero atom, and reaction with at least one compound (D) of the formula I a or I b and optionally hydrolysis with water or aqueous alkaline solution, where, in formula I a and I b, A1 are identical or different and are C2-C6-alkylene R1 is linear

Abstract: Agents for the fatliquoring of, in particular, leathers and hides tanned in the absence of chromium comprise A) at least one modified natural oil and B) at least one stabilizer LnR where Ra is H or methyl, Rb is methyl, ethyl or tert-butyl, Rc is methyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl or methylcyclohexyl, R is an n-valent C3- to C30-hydrocarbon radical which is unsubstituted or substituted and/or contains hetero atoms and n is an integer from 1 to 10, the stabilizer LnR having altogether at least 20, in particular altogether at least 28, carbon atoms, and, where n is 2, —R— also being —S—, —O—, —N(H)—, —CH2—, —(CH2)2—, —CH(CH3)—, —CH2)3—, —CH(C2H5)— or —C(CH3)2—. The novel fatliquoring agents are used in leather production and/or leather treatment, and leather is produced and/or treated using aqueous dispersions of these fatliquoring agents.

Abstract: Leather is produced by a process comprising at least two of the following process steps A) to D): A) use of one or more polyelectrolytes in the production of semifinished products or intermediate products, comprising the addition of one or more polyelectrolytes in at least one of the steps (a) to (d) (a) together with from 0 to 1.5% by weight, based on the salted weight, of lime, immediately before or during liming, (b) before or during deliming, (c) before or during bating, (d) together with, altogether, from 0 to 3% by weight, based on the pelt weight, of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt, immediately before or during pickling; B) treatment of the hides during liming in an aqueous liquor with one or more compounds of the formula B.1 ?or the corresponding alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or phosphonium salts thereof, R10 and X1 to X4 having the meanings stated in the description, with the proviso that at least two mercapto groups are present in the compound or the compounds B.

Abstract: The present invention relates to C4–C6-polymercaptopolyols as regulators in the free-radically initiated solution and precipitation polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a degreaser for treating hides, skins, pelts and other intermediates in leather and fur manufacture and also wool or related proteinaceous materials that is based on nonionic surfactants of the type of alcohol alkoxylates, comprising alcohol alkoxylates obtained by reaction of at least one alcohol ROH with n mol of at least one alkylene oxide per mole of alcohol ROH, where R is an alkyl radical of 5 to 30 carbon atoms which has a main chain, of 4 to 29 carbon atoms that has at least one C1— to C10-alkyl branch attached in the chain middle; the alkylene oxide has 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and n is an integer from 1 to 100. The invention further relates to a process for degreasing hide, skins, pelts and other intermediates of leather and fur manufacture and wool or related proteinaceous materials, which comprises using a degreaser according to the present invention, and to the use of the degreasers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing horn substances from animal skin. Said method is characterised in that animal skins are treated in an aqueous bath containing between 0.05 and 5 wt. %—in relation to the weight of the salt—of at least one compound of general formula I or the corresponding alkali metallic salts or alkaline-earth metallic salts thereof or ammonium or phosphonium salts, the variables having the following definitions: R1 is selected from hydrogen or C1-C12 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by at least one S—H group or one O—H group; X1 to X4 are the same or different and selected from hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, O—H, S—H or N—HR2; and R2 represents hydrogen or C1-C12 alkyl or a C1-C4-alkyl-C?O group, at least one X1 to X4 representing S—H. If R1 contains neither O—H nor S—H, at least one other X1 to X4 is selected from S—H, OH or NH—R2. Said aqueous bath also comprises at least one compound which catalyses the hydrolysis of peptide compounds.

Abstract: Horny substances are removed from hides, pelts or skins of dead animals by treating the hides, pelts or skins in aqueous liquor with one or more compounds of the formula I or their corresponding alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts or ammonium or phosphonium salts, the variables being defined as follows: R1 is selected from hydrogen and C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more S—H or O—H groups; X1 to X4 are identical or different and are selected from hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, O—H, S—H and N—HR2, R2 is hydrogen or C1-C12-alkyl or a C1-C4-Alkyl-C?O group, at least one radical X1 to X4 being S—H when R1 contains at least one sulfur atom and at least two radicals X1 to X4 being S—H when R1 contains no sulfur atom.

Abstract: A process for the production of semifinished products and intermediates in the production of leather using one or more organic polyelectrolytes comprises at least one of the following steps: (a) Addition of one or more polyelectrolytes and from 0 to 0.7% by weight, based on the salted weight, of lime immediately before or during liming, (b) addition of one or more polyelectrolytes before or during deliming, (c) addition of one or more polyelectrolytes before or during bating, (d) addition of one or more polyelectrolytes and a total of from 0 to 3% by weight, based on the pelt weight, of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt immediately before or in the pickle.

Abstract: An automated method for surface monitoring and surface correction of sheet-like materials, for example of leather, especially a method for classifying surfaces of sheet-like materials, comprises the following steps: (a) preparation of a material, (b) optoelectronic recording of the surface of the material, (c) determination of the number of defects, (d) determination of the volume of defects, and subsequent automatic classification of the sheet-like materials according to number and volume of defects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tanning agent that is produced by reacting at least one aldehyde of general formula (I) with at least another identical or different aldehyde of formula (I), wherein the variables are defined as follows: Z is a single chemical bond, an optionally substituted C1-C12-alkyl, an optionally substituted C5-C12-cycloalkyl or an optionally substituted C6-C14-aryl, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of an acid catalyst and optionally in the presence of at least another carbonyl compound of formula (II), R1 to R4 represent, independent of one another, hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-C12-allyl, optionally substituted C3-C12-cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C7-C13-aralkyl or optionally substituted C6-C14-aryl, provided that at least another aldehyde of formula (I) in which the radical of Z contains ? hydrogen atoms or at least another carbonyl compound of formula (I) is present when Z is a single chemical bond or a radical without any hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: A process for preparing a solution of sulfone-containing tanning materials comprises a) preparing a component A by a1) reacting phenol with concentrated sulfuric acid, with oleum of an SO3 content of from 20 to 65% by weight or with a mixture of sulfuric acid and oleum of an SO3 content of from 20 to 65% by weight, the molar ratio of total sulfuric acid, reckoned as SO3, to phenol being in the range from 0.7:1 to 1.5:1, at from 100 to 180° C. to form a mixture containing phenolsulfonic acid, dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone and sulfuric acid, or mixing the individual components to prepare a corresponding mixture, a2) then condensing said mixture with from 0.25 to 4 mol of urea and with from 0.5 to 4 mol of an aliphatic aldehyde of 1 to 6 carbon atoms per mole of phenol units present at from 40 to 90° C., a3) optionally adding a base to set a pH of from 4 to 5, b) preparing a component B by b1) reacting dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone with from 0.