Abstract: The invention is a method for recovering azelaic acid from a mixed oxidation product by prepurifying the azelaic acid and introducing the prepurified azelaic acid into the central portion of a dual countercurrent extraction column operated at an elevated temperature and introducing an aqueous phase into the top of the extraction column and a water immiscible solvent for the monocarboxylic acids in the prepurified azelaic acid into the bottom portion of the extraction column and recovering the purified azelaic acid from the aqueous phase. The azelaic acid can be recovered from the aqueous phase by drying the aqueous phase and separating a low boiling fraction and a high boiling fraction from the azelaic acid product by distillation.

Abstract: Pure azelaic acid is obtained by working up a reaction mixture containing C.sub.1-18 monocarboxylic acids, mainly pelargonic acid, and C.sub.4-16 dicarboxylic acids, mainly azelaic acid, obtained from the ozonolysis of oleic acid or a starting mixture containing oleic acid. All but <2% by weight of the monocarboxylic acids and part of the dicarboxylic acids with a chain length of <C.sub.9 and >C.sub.9 are separated off to obtain a prepurified product containing more than 75% by weight of oleic acid and the prepurified product is concentrated to more than 90% by weight of oleic acid in several process steps. In a first process step (1), the dicarboxylic acids with chain lengths of <C.sub.9 present in the prepurified product are removed as first runnings by fractional distillation. In a second process step (2), the bottom product obtained is reacted with water to split carboxylic anhydrides present in the bottom product.

Abstract: Aliphatic polycarboxylic acids are made by a process comprising the steps of: (1) fermenting a beta-oxidation blocked C. tropicalis cell wherein both copies of the chromosomal POX5 gene and the chromosomal POX4A and POX4B genes are disrupted in a culture medium comprised of a nitrogen source, an organic substrate and a cosubstrate wherein the substrate is an unsaturated aliphatic compound having at least one internal carbon--carbon double bond and at least one terminal methyl group, a terminal carboxyl group and/or a terminal functional group which is oxidizable to a carboxyl group by biooxidation; (2) reacting the product of step (1) with an oxidizing agent to produce one or more polycarboxylic acids.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for the scission and oxidation of ozonide materials. The process comprises introducing an oxygen-containing gas stream into an agitated liquid body in the form of fine bubbles.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for the scission and oxidation of ozonide materials. The process comprises introducing an oxygen-containing gas stream into an agitated liquid body in the form of fine bubbles.

Abstract: A process for reducing the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acid and/or polyunsaturated fatty acid ester present in admixture with monounsaturated fatty acid and/or monounsaturated fatty acid ester is provided which comprises heating the admixture of fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters in the presence of a polymerization initiating amount of at least one organic peroxide at a temperature and for a period of time which is sufficient to effect the selective polymerization of a substantial amount of polyunsaturated fatty acid and/or polyunsaturated fatty acid ester present in said admixture, and thereafter separating the polymerized polyunsaturated fatty acid and/or polyunsaturated fatty acid ester from said admixture. The aforedescribed process is especially useful for reducing the amount of linoleic acid present in high oleic acid-content vegetable oils.