Abstract: Surface-modified nanoparticles of boehmite, and methods for preparing the same. Aluminum oxyhydroxide nanoparticles are surface modified by reaction with selected amounts of organic acids. In particular, the nanoparticle surface is modified by reactions with two or more different carboxylic acids, at least one of which is an organic carboxylic acid. The product is a surface modified boehmite nanoparticle that has an inorganic aluminum oxyhydroxide core, or part aluminum oxyhydroxide core and a surface-bonded organic shell. Organic carboxylic acids of this invention contain at least one carboxylic acid group and one carbon-hydrogen bond. One embodiment of this invention provides boehmite nanoparticles that have been surface modified with two or more acids one of which additional carries at least one reactive functional group.

Abstract: Surface-modified nanoparticles of boehmite, and methods for preparing the same. Aluminum oxyhydroxide nanoparticles are surface modified by reaction with selected amounts of organic acids. In particular, the nanoparticle surface is modified by reactions with two or more different carboxylic acids, at least one of which is an organic carboxylic acid. The product is a surface modified boehmite nanoparticle that has an inorganic aluminum oxyhydroxide core, or part aluminum oxyhydroxide core and a surface-bonded organic shell. Organic carboxylic acids of this invention contain at least one carboxylic acid group and one carbon-hydrogen bond. One embodiment of this invention provides boehmite nanoparticles that have been surface modified with two or more acids one of which additional carries at least one reactive functional group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel integrated process for production of cyclic esters which includes recovery of starting materials, such as lactic acid from a dilute aqueous lactic acid-containing solution, by solvent extraction. The starting materials are then formed into cyclic esters by removal of water wherein the concentration of higher molecular weight oligomers is maintained below about 20 wt % of the reaction composition. The process further includes providing a recovery solvent for the reaction composition and separating the cyclic esters from the starting materials and higher molecular weight oligomers by liquid-liquid equilibrium separation. The present invention is further directed toward independent novel unit operations of the overall process. The present invention provides for the efficient production and recovery of cyclic esters due to integration of the various unit operations by use of appropriate solvents and recycle streams.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel integrated process for production of cyclic esters which includes recovery of starting materials, such as lactic acid from a dilute aqueous lactic acid-containing solution, by solvent extraction. The starting materials are then formed into cyclic esters by removal of water wherein the concentration of higher molecular weight oligomers is maintained below about 20 wt % of the reaction composition. The process further includes providing a recovery solvent for the reaction composition and separating the cyclic esters from the starting materials and higher molecular weight oligomers by liquid-liquid equilibrium separation. The present invention is further directed toward independent novel unit operations of the overall process. The present invention provides for the efficient production and recovery of cyclic esters due to integration of the various unit operations by use of appropriate solvents and recycle streams.