Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of rosin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; or any combinations thereof, such as comprising abietic acid, dihydroabietic acid, neoabietic acid, a rosin acid ester, or mixtures thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be preferably functionalized by spray-coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may further comprise 0.1-5 wt % silica. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; derivatives thereof; salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; in derivatives thereof (such as esters); salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a formulation comprising an alkali metal salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bicarbonate salts, alkali metal carbonate salts, alkali metal sesquicarbonate salts and combinations thereof, wherein said process comprises the step of extruding a paste-like composition comprising a functionalizing agent and the metal salt. The invention furthermore relates to a formulation obtainable from said process and to the use of this formulation in various applications such as in plastic foaming or in food and feed leavening compositions.

Abstract: Powder compositions comprising alkali metal bicarbonate particles and an additive. A process for preparing alkali metal bicarbonate particles by spray-drying of an aqueous solution or suspension comprising 1-10% by weight of alkali metal bicarbonate and a resin acid or a fatty acid as additive. A process for preparing alkali metal bicarbonate particles by co-grinding the alkali metal bicarbonate in the presence of a resin acid as additive. A process for preparing alkali metal bicarbonate particles by fluidized bed coating of the alkali metal bicarbonate in the presence of a resin acid, fatty acid or a wax as additive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a formulation comprising an alkali metal salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bicarbonate salts, alkali metal carbonate salts, alkali metal sesquicarbonate salts and combinations thereof, wherein said process comprises: (a) dissolving a functionalizing agent in a solvent; (b) mixing the alkali metal salt with the solution comprising the functionalizing agent that a paste-like composition is formed; (c) extruding the paste-like composition to obtain filaments or granules; (d) at least partially removing the solvent from the filaments or granules. The invention furthermore relates to a powder, filaments and granules obtainable from said process and to the use of the powder, filaments or granules in various applications such as in plastic foaming or in food and feed leavening compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a formulation comprising an alkali metal salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bicarbonate salts, alkali metal carbonate salts, alkali metal sesquicarbonate salts and combinations thereof, wherein said process comprises the step of extruding a paste-like composition comprising a functionalizing agent and the metal salt. The invention furthermore relates to a formulation obtainable from said process and to the use of this formulation in various applications such as in plastic foaming or in food and feed leavening compositions.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of rosin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; or any combinations thereof, such as comprising abietic acid, dihydroabietic acid, neoabietic acid, a rosin acid ester, or mixtures thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be preferably functionalized by spray-coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may further comprise 0.1-5 wt % silica. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: A cleaning agent for cleaning polymer processing equipment, a method for producing such cleaning agent and the use of such cleaning agent for cleaning polymer processing equipment or any component thereof. The cleaning agent comprises i) a thermoplastic resin and ii) a foaming agent selected from alkali metal and ammonium bicarbonates.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; derivatives thereof; salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: Process wherein a low CO2 content process gas generated by an ammonia-soda process unit or a refined sodium bicarbonate unit is enriched by using a Temperature Swing Adsorption CO2 concentration module into a CO2 enriched gas whose CO2 content is increased by at least +10% by volume on dry gas basis relative to the process gas, and which is subsequently recycled to the ammonia-soda process unit or optionally to the refined sodium bicarbonate unit, in order: to produce sodium carbonate, or sodium bicarbonate, or to carbonate at least part of effluent from the unit for producing sodium carbonate or bicarbonate.

Abstract: A cleaning agent for cleaning polymer processing equipment, a method for producing such cleaning agent and the use of such cleaning agent for cleaning polymer processing equipment or any component thereof. The cleaning agent comprises i) a thermoplastic resin and ii) a foaming agent selected from alkali metal and ammonium bicarbonates.

Abstract: Process for producing sodium carbonate with ammonia and/or for producing refined sodium bicarbonate, wherein: a low CO2 content gas generated by a unit for producing sodium carbonate with ammonia and/or generated by a unit for producing refined sodium bicarbonate is enriched into a CO2-enriched gas by using a CO2 concentration module, such as an amine-type or ammonia or PSA or TSA or cryogenic distillation or membrane-type CO2 concentration module, and said CO2-enriched gas has an increased CO2 content of: +10% (at least) to +90% (at most), by volume on a dry gas basis relative to the CO2 concentration of the low content gas, and the CO2-enriched gas is subsequently recycled to the unit for producing sodium carbonate with ammonia and/or to the unit for producing refined sodium bicarbonate, to produce sodium carbonate, or sodium bicarbonate, or to carbonate at least one part of effluent from the unit for producing sodium carbonate and/or from the unit for producing sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: Powder compositions comprising alkali metal bicarbonate particles and an additive. A process for preparing alkali metal bicarbonate particles by spray-drying of an aqueous solution or suspension comprising 1-10% by weight of alkali metal bicarbonate and a resin acid or a fatty acid as additive. A process for preparing alkali metal bicarbonate particles by co-grinding the alkali metal bicarbonate in the presence of a resin acid as additive. A process for preparing alkali metal bicarbonate particles by fluidized bed coating of the alkali metal bicarbonate in the presence of a resin acid, fatty acid or a wax as additive.

Abstract: A method of preparing a transparent polymer material includes mixing mineral nanoparticles selected from nanoparticles of alkaline-earth metal carbonates, alkaline-earth metal sulfates, metallic oxides, oxides of metalloids, and siloxanes, and a composition A including at least one thermoplastic polymer in the molten state selected from polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in order to obtain a master-batch, the mixture of step i) including at least 25% and at most 75% by weight of the mineral nanoparticles. The master-batch obtained in step i) is mixed with a composition B of a thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix (PCm) in the molten state, to obtain a transparent polymer material including at most 10% by weight of the mineral nanoparticles, preferably at most 5% by weight of the mineral nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of preparing a transparent polymer material includes i) obtaining composite nanoparticles having mineral nanoparticles at least partially coated with at least one monomer and/or at least one polymer suitable for promoting physicochemical interactions at the interface between the mineral nanoparticles and a thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix, the mineral nanoparticles being surface-modified by the monomer and/or the polymer, either directly by grafting or directly by adsorption of the monomer and/or polymer onto the surface of the mineral nanoparticles; or via a coupling agent selected from a chlorosilane or an organosilane including a functional group that is capable of reacting by a radical pathway. The composite nanoparticles obtained in step i) are mixed with the thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix in the molten state to obtain the transparent polymer material.

Abstract: Alkaline earth metal carbonate exhibiting a resistance to acids expressed as pH of less than 7 measured after suspending 1.0 g of the particles in a mixture made of 20 ml of toluene and 80 ml of an aqueous phase consisting of deionized water, 11.76 g/L of citric acid monohydrate, 2.57 g/L of NaCl and 0.068 mol/L of NaOH, after 35 minutes of stirring at 25° C. and at 1 000 rpm, or expressed as a moisture pick-up lower than or equal to 2 g water/kg of calcium carbonate after one week of storage at 22° C. and 50% relative humidity, or as a Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) spectrum showing at least one peak between 170 and 190° C. when measured at a heating rate of 10° C./min under nitrogen atmosphere from 25 to 250° C. in open cells. Process for the preparation of said particles, compositions containing said particles and the use thereof.

Abstract: Tablet comprising at least one biologically active substance and an excipient, in which the excipient contains calcium carbonate and at least one additive selected from fatty acids, their salts, their esters, lipid materials, polysaccharides, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinylpyrrolidone derivatives, acrylic compounds, mono-, di- or triglyceride esters, animal proteins, and mixtures of at least two of these. Method for producing these tablets. Use of calcium carbonate in tablets containing at least one biologically active substance, for the prolonged release of this substance.

Abstract: A method of preparing a transparent polymer material includes i) obtaining composite nanoparticles having mineral nanoparticles at least partially coated with at least one monomer and/or at least one polymer suitable for promoting physicochemical interactions at the interface between the mineral nanoparticles and a thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix, the mineral nanoparticles being surface-modified by the monomer and/or the polymer, either directly by grafting or directly by adsorption of the monomer and/or polymer onto the surface of the mineral nanoparticles; or via a coupling agent selected from a chlorosilane or an organosilane including a functional group that is capable of reacting by a radical pathway. The composite nanoparticles obtained in step i) are mixed with the thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix in the molten state to obtain the transparent polymer material.

Abstract: A method of preparing a transparent polymer material includes mixing mineral nanoparticles selected from nanoparticles of alkaline-earth metal carbonates, alkaline-earth metal sulfates, metallic oxides, oxides of metalloids, and siloxanes, and a composition A including at least one thermoplastic polymer in the molten state selected from polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in order to obtain a master-batch, the mixture of step i) including at least 25% and at most 75% by weight of the mineral nanoparticles. The master-batch obtained in step i) is mixed with a composition B of a thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix (PCm) in the molten state, to obtain a transparent polymer material including at most 10% by weight of the mineral nanoparticles, preferably at most 5% by weight of the mineral nanoparticles.