Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound with less acrylic acid as by-product using a Nitrile hydratase (NHase) and Amidase producing microorganism as biocatalyst. Also provided is an aqueous amide compound obtained by the methods of the invention as well as a composition comprising acrylamide or polyacrylamide as well as a dried microorganism exhibiting a NHase/Amidase activity ratio of at least 400 when being brought into contact with a nitrile compound to convert said nitrile compound into an amide compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preparing an aqueous acrylamide solution having a low acrylic acid concentration. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for reducing the acrylic acid concentration of an aqueous acrylamide solution. The methods involve a bioconversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide in the presence of a biocatalyst, wherein during the bioconversion the content of acrylonitrile is maintained at 0.3 w/w % or more referred to the total weight of the composition in the reactor. Also provided is an aqueous acrylamide solution which is obtained by the methods of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention is related to an acrylamide homopolymer or copolymer obtained by polymerizing the acrylamide of the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preparing an aqueous acrylamide solution having a low acrylic acid concentration. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for reducing the acrylic acid concentration of an aqueous acrylamide solution. The methods involve a bioconversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide in the presence of a biocatalyst, wherein during the bioconversion the content of acrylonitrile is maintained at 0.3 w/w % or more referred to the total weight of the composition in the reactor. Also provided is an aqueous acrylamide solution which is obtained by the methods of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention is related to an acrylamide homopolymer or copolymer obtained by polymerizing the acrylamide of the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound with less acrylic acid as by-product using a Nitrile hydratase (NHase) and Amidase producing microorganism as biocatalyst. Also provided is an aqueous amide compound obtained by the methods of the invention as well as a composition comprising acrylamide or polyacrylamide as well as a dried microorganism exhibiting a NHase/Amidase activity ratio of at least 400 when being brought into contact with a nitrile compound to convert said nitrile compound into an amide compound.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for the planar and spatial bending of rod-shaped components (2) having a longitudinal axis, such as pipes and profiles, including two roller systems A and B that are disposed behind each other along the longitudinal axis, wherein the component is driven by the roller system A and inserted into the roller system B, and is bent by a movement of the roller system B in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped components (2). A device is also provided for the planar and spatial bending of rod-shaped components (2) having a longitudinal axis, such as pipes and profiles, including two roller systems A and B, wherein feed along the longitudinal axis can be effected via the roller system A, and the roller systems A, B are disposed in at least one first plane E1 in a displaceable manner relative to each other, wherein at least one of the roller systems A, B can be pivoted about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: What is described is a process for preparing functionalized polyisobutenes, in which isobutene or an isobutene-containing monomer mixture is polymerized in the presence of a Lewis acid and of an initiator, and the polymerization is terminated with a mixture of a phenol and a Lewis acid and/or a Brønsted acid. The terminal phenol groups can be derivatized or reduced to cyclohexanol systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the production of polymeric coupling products by using a reactor assembly which is equipped with two or more reaction cells. The educt fluid is pumped through the reaction cells and thoroughly mixed therein by means of agitators. Preferably the process according to the invention is used for the preparation of coupling products which show at least partially precipitation and/or gelation effects during the performance of the synthesis. The precipitation and/or gelation effects are associated with and increase of the viscosity of the reaction system under reaction conditions. The products which are obtained by the process according to the invention have increased molecular weight and low polydispersity over similar products which were obtained in batch experiments.

Abstract: A process for preparing aqueous solutions of homo- or copolymers of acrylic acid by means of free-radical polymerization of acrylic acid and optionally water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated comonomers in an aqueous medium in the presence of at least one water-soluble initiator and of at least one water-soluble regulator, wherein the polymerization is conducted by means of a continuous process, and wherein, after the polymerization, low molecular weight components are at least partly removed from the resulting aqueous polymer solution. For the polymerization, preference is given to using microstructured mixers and reactors. Preference is given to using at least one reactor and/or mixer with microstructures for the process.

Abstract: Preparation of bifunctional polyisobutenes in which isobutene or an isobutene-containing monomer mixture is polymerized in the presence of a Lewis acid and a compound of the formula I in which X is an acyl radical or the radical of an organic or inorganic acid group, R1 to R4 are identical or different and are hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical.

Abstract: Preparation of bifunctional polyisobutenes in which isobutene or an isobutene-containing monomer mixture is polymerized in the presence of a Lewis acid and a compound of the formula I in which X is an acyl radical or the radical of an organic or inorganic acid group, R1 to R4 are identical or different and are hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the production of polymeric coupling products by using a reactor assembly which is equipped with two or more reaction cells. The educt fluid is pumped through the reaction cells and thoroughly mixed therein by means of agitators. Preferably the process according to the invention is used for the preparation of coupling products which show at least partially precipitation and/or gelation effects during the performance of the synthesis. The precipitation and/or gelation effects are associated with and increase of the viscosity of the reaction system under reaction conditions. The products which are obtained by the process according to the invention have increased molecular weight and low polydispersity over similar products which were obtained in batch experiments.

Abstract: Process for preparing polymers by controlled free-radical polymerization, wherein the polymerization of one or more free-radically polymerizable monomers of the general formula (I) where R1, R2, R3 are each H, C1-C4-alkyl, R4 is C(?O)0R5, C(?O)NHR15, C(?O)NR5R6, OC(?O)CH3, C(?O)OH, CN, aryl, hetaryl, C(?O)OR5OH, C(?O)OR5Si(OR5)3, halogen, NHC(O)H, P(?O)(OR7)2, R5 is C1-C20-alkyl, R15 is C1-C20-alkyl, R6 is C1-C20-alkyl, R7 is H, C1-C20-alkyl, in the presence of a. one or more catalysts comprising Cu in the form of Cu(0), Cu(I), Cu(II) or mixtures thereof, b. one or more initiators selected from the group consisting of organic halides or pseudohalides, c. one or more ligands, d. optionally one or more solvents, e. optionally one or more inorganic halide salts, and comprises the steps i) addition of the catalyst a., ii) optionally addition of monomers of the general formula (I), iii) optionally addition of solvent d., iv) addition of ligand c., v) addition of initiator b.

Abstract: A process for preparing aqueous solutions of homo- or copolymers of acrylic acid by means of free-radical polymerization of acrylic acid and optionally water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated comonomers in an aqueous medium in the presence of at least one water-soluble initiator and of at least one water-soluble regulator, wherein the polymerization is conducted by means of a continuous process, and wherein, after the polymerization, low molecular weight components are at least partly removed from the resulting aqueous polymer solution. For the polymerization, preference is given to using microstructured mixers and reactors. Preference is given to using at least one reactor and/or mixer with microstructures for the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for bending flat metal workpieces, especially steel sheets, by bending freely over edges along a bending line with a straight, linear movement of the tool, wherein the bending edges are arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sheet and the tool is displaced along the width of the metal sheet, characterized by the steps: inserting a punch between the bending edges of a die, holding the punch at the lowest point of the bend, applying compressive stress in order to level out the stresses in the shaping zone produced by the bending and incrementally superimposing the tensile stress with compressive stress, that is effective along the bending line in the direction of the sheet width of the bent workpiece, wherein the tool producing the compressive stress is moved along the bending line in the direction of the sheet width.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for the planar and spatial bending of rod-shaped components (2) having a longitudinal axis, such as pipes and profiles, including two roller systems A and B that are disposed behind each other along the longitudinal axis, wherein the component is driven by the roller system A and inserted into the roller system B, and is bent by a movement of the roller system B in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped components (2). A device is also provided for the planar and spatial bending of rod-shaped components (2) having a longitudinal axis, such as pipes and profiles, including two roller systems A and B, wherein feed along the longitudinal axis can be effected via the roller system A, and the roller systems A, B are disposed in at least one first plane E1 in a displaceable manner relative to each other, wherein at least one of the roller systems A, B can be pivoted about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: In a method for producing curved work pieces, an extruded profile leaves the die of an extruder in the strand discharge direction and is then bent into a curved shape by external forces. The extruded profile that leaves the die, before being bent, is deflected so that the strand discharge direction extends forwards at an angle counter to the eventual curvature of the work piece. To this end, the die comprises a tool holder in whose receiving opening an extrusion tool package consisting of a die with or without a mandrel and a cover part is disposed. The guide surfaces of the die and/or of the mandrel that produce the discharged strand are designed or disposed to be at an angle with respect to the strand discharge direction which extends at an incline with respect to the center axis of the die counter to the eventual curvature of the work piece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing curved work pieces (W) according to which an extruded profile leaves the die (1) of an extruder in the strand discharge direction (A) and is then bent into a curved shape under the influence of external forces. According to the invention, the extruded profile that leaves the die (1), before being bent, is deflected in such a manner that the strand discharge direction (A) extends forwards at an angle counter to the eventual curvature of the work piece. To this end, the extrusion die for producing curved work pieces (W) comprises a tool holder (6) in whose receiving opening ((9) an extrusion tool package consisting of a die (1) with or without a mandrel (4) and a cover part (8) is disposed. The guide surfaces (3) of the die (1) and/or or the mandrel (4) that produce the discharged strand are designed or disposed to be at an angle with respect to the strand discharge direction (A).