Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing a lactic acid ester composition based on a lactic acid composition involving a step of transforming the composition into a lactic acid oligomeric composition having a mean degree of polymerisation (DPM) ranging between 2 and 30 approximately; and a step which involves mixing and reacting said oligomeric composition with an alcohol, in the presence of a transesterification catalyst, to esterify all or part of the lactic acid contained in said oligomeric composition. The invention also concerns the use of ethyl lactate as solvent for preparing gelified compositions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for purifying a composition containing at least a product for internal dehydration of a hydrogenated sugar. The invention is characterised in that it comprises: (a) an optional step whereby said composition is treated, whether after re-dissolving or not, with at least a discoloration means; (b) a subsequent step whereby the composition, optionally treated with discoloration means, is treated with at least ion-exchanging means; (c) a subsequent step whereby the resulting composition is treated with at least discoloration means. Said method is in particular applicable to isohexide compositions, in particular isosorbide or isomannide. The resulting compositions, which exhibit particular characteristics in terms of purity and proportion of some impurities, constitute novel products for use in chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetology and food industries.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for purifying a composition containing at least a product for internal dehydration of a hydrogenated sugar. The invention is characterised in that it comprises: (a) an optional step whereby said composition is treated, whether after re-dissolving or not, with at least a discoloration means; (b) a subsequent step whereby the composition, optionally treated with discoloration means, is treated with at least ion-exchanging means; (c) a subsequent step whereby the resulting composition is treated with at least discoloration means. Said method is in particular applicable to isohexide compositions, in particular isosorbide or isomannide. The resulting compositions, which exhibit particular characteristics in terms of purity and proportion of some impurities, constitute novel products for use in chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetology and food industries.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of an organic material comprising an oxidation step during which an organic material undergoes the oxidising action of an enzymatic means capable of generating hydrogen peroxide, wherein said oxidation step is carried out, wholly or partly, in the presence of 0.001% to 1% of a metal selected from ruthenium, palladium and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a mixture of mannitol and sorbitol, charactertized by the fact that continuous hydrogenation of glucosone with a solid matter content equal to at least 30%, preferably between 30 and 50%, is carried out in a succession of fixed catalyst beds disposed in series, which includes a first hydrogenation zone, made up of at least one fixed catalyst bed where hydrogenation is carried out at a temperature equal at the most to 80° C., preferably between 50 and 80° C., and a second hydrogenation zone, made up of at least one fixed catalyst bed where hydrogenation is carried out at a temperature equal to at least 80° C., preferably between 100 to 150° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of D-erythrose, characterized in that an aqueous solution of a salt of gluconic acid is brought into contact with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel and ruthenium. It also relates to a process for the manufacture of erythritol by hydrogenation of D-erythrose thus obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of a high-purity hydrogenated ose by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding ose in falling film reactors, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a series of fixed beds of ruthenium catalyst comprising: a) a first hydrogenation zone consisting of at least one fixed bed of ruthenium catalyst, and b) a second hydrogenation zone consisting of at least one fixed bed of ruthenium catalyst containing a promoter.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of an organic material comprising an oxidation step during which an organic material undergoes the oxidising action of an enzymatic means capable of generating hydrogen peroxide, wherein said oxidation step is carried out, wholly or partly, in the presence of 0.001% to 1% of a metal selected from ruthenium, palladium and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention related to glucuronyl arabinarates, to a process for producing these glucuronyl arabinarates consisting in carrying out the oxidative alkaline degradation of a starch hydrolysate so as to obtain firstly glucosyl arabinonates and then, by a selective oxidation of all or part of the primary alcohol functional groups of the glucosyl arabinonates to obtain the glucuronyl arabinarates, and to the use of the glucuronyl arabinarates as builders or co-builders in the formulation of detergent compositions.

Abstract: Catalytic decarboxylation process for 2-ketoaldonic acids by nickel ions characterized in that an aqueous solution of a 2-ketoaldonic acid is put in contact with a resin carrying vinylpyridine groups.The process allows in particular ribulose, xylulose and erythrulose to be easily obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for the alkaline oxidation in aqueous medium of sugars possessing one or a number of primary alcohol functional groups using hypohalites and in the presence of a catalyst composed of a binary or tertiary alkyl nitroxyl.The process is noteworthy in that the oxidation takes place in the presence of high concentrations of sugars.The products obtained by the process, some of which are novel, can be used as builders in detergent compositions.

Abstract: A process for the alkaline oxidative degradation of an ose, a ulose, their polymers or their mixtures, in aqueous solution in the presence of a redox pair consisting essentially of a mixture of 2-anthraquinone monosulfonic acid and hydrogen peroxide, wherein oxidizing gas is air and said air is stir-beaten and introduced into the reaction medium under stirring conditions and at a flow rate such that the oxygen-saturation of the reaction medium leads to the production of a pink color in this reaction medium.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of xylaric acid, characterized in that it consists of the oxidative degradation of 5-ketogluconic acid in alkaline medium using oxygen or a gas containing it.The xylaric acid obtained is of use as a calcium-chelating agent or as a component of polyhydroxypolyamides or as an intermediate in the synthesis of xylitol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoformable composition characterized in that it contains at least one starchy compound, at least one biodegradable polyester and at least one salt of hydroxycarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Thermoformable compound characterized by the fact that it contains at least one amylaceous component and at least one hydroxycarboxylic acid salt.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing paper is characterized by the fact that there is introduced into the fibrous composition constituting the starting or raw material, at two or several points, particularly in the wet end, separately from one another, one (or several) cationic starch(es) and one (or several) anionic starch(es) other than a starch phosphate.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with diacetals resulting of the dehyrocondensation of an alditol comprising 5 or 6 carbon atoms and a benzoic aldehyde such as in particular DBS, BEBS, BMBS or DBX, featuring a purity of at least 95% and being free of organic solvent traces, and a process for preparing the same in aqueous medium, in the presence of an acid catalyst, according to which acetalization is carried out by mixing the reactants under stirring, the reaction mixture is then neutralized by a base, then the solid phase is separated from the liquid phase and washed with warm water, wherein: the initial molar ratio of the benzoic aldehyde to the alditol is lower than 2/1, the acid catalyst is an arylsulfonic acid, the initial molar ratio of the arylsulfonic acid to the benzoic aldehyde is higher than 0.6, and the reaction temperature is lower than about 45.degree. C.Application specially to the clarification and stabilization of polyolefins.

Abstract: Process for the oxidation of aldoses and particularly of glucose into the corresponding aldonic acids, wherein oxidation is carried out in an alkaline medium by means of an oxygen-containing gas, in the presence of a catalyst obtained by adding an efficient quantity of at least one of the metals constituting the Groups IV, V and VI, or promoter, onto a catalyst consisting of palladium on an inert support.

Abstract: Wet-end cationic additive for the manufacture of paper, comprising a mixture of at least one cationic cereal starch and at least one cationic tuber starch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural consisting of bringing a hexose into contact with a catalytic support in the form of a solution of said hexose in a strongly polar aprotic solvent, particularly dimethylsulfoxide, the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural formed being extracted by means of a solvent for the latter also brought into contact with the catalytic support. All of the operations are carried out preferably continuously, particularly by the counter-current principle.