Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for the efficient production of carotenoids. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method for producing carotenoid and carotenoid-containing cells, especially astaxanthin and astaxanthin-containing cells, by generating mutant microorganisms belonging to the photoautotrophic algae of the Class Chlorophyceae and culturing same. The present invention further relates to methods of generating microorganisms producing high yields of carotenoids, in particular astaxanthin, products containing said microorganisms or said carotenoids, and the use of said carotenoids produced by the microorganisms according to the present invention and deposited mutant strains generated from said microorganisms.

Abstract: A process of obtaining lutein in a high yield from green algae is described. Lutein and lutein-enriched products obtained by the process, which are suitable for use as dietary supplements and/or food additives, or cosmetic or pharmaceutical raw materials, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for the efficient production of carotenoids. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method for producing carotenoid and carotenoid-containing cells, especially astaxanthin and astaxanthin-containing cells, by generating mutant microorganisms belonging to the photoautotrophic algae of the Class Chlorophyceae and culturing same. The present invention further relates to methods of generating microorganisms producing high yields of carotenoids, in particular astaxanthin, products containing said microorganisms or said carotenoids, and the use of said carotenoids produced by the microorganisms according to the present invention and deposited mutant strains generated from said microorganisms.

Abstract: A process for reducing the odor of an oil. The oil being treated is first distilled by a carrier vapor or carrier gas distillation to form a distilled oil. The distilled oil is then contacted with a polymeric adsorbent; whereby the odor of the oil is reduced. The polymeric adsorbent is regenerated. The polymeric adsorbent can be a cross-linked polymer with an internal surface area of from 900 to 1500 m2/gram.

Abstract: A process of obtaining lutein in a high yield from green algae is described. Lutein and lutein-enriched products obtained by the process, which are suitable for use as dietary supplements and/or food additives, or cosmetic or pharmaceutical raw materials, are also described.

Abstract: A process of obtaining zeaxanthin in a high yield from blue-green algae is de-scribed. Zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin-enriched products obtained by the process, which are suitable for use as dietary supplements and/or food additives, are also described.

Abstract: Processes for separating supercritical or near-critical mixtures containing hydrogen, a solvent gas, methanol and a fatty alcohol under an initial pressure of from 100 to 300 bar are described, wherein the processes comprise: (a) reducing the pressure of such a mixture in a first stage to a pressure of from 50 to 150 bar to form a first recycle gas and a first partially-separated intermediate mixture, wherein the reduced pressure in the first stage is at least below the initial pressure; (b) reducing the pressure of the first partially-separated intermediate mixture in a second stage to a pressure of from 10 to 50 bar to form a second recycle gas and a second partially-separated intermediate mixture; and (c) reducing the pressure of the second partially-separated intermediate mixture in a third stage to a pressure of from 1 to 10 bar to form a third recycle gas and a fatty alcohol product.

Abstract: A process for reducing the odor of an oil. The oil being treated is first distilled by a carrier vapor or carrier gas distillation to form a distilled oil. The distilled oil is then contacted with a polymeric adsorbent; whereby the odor of the oil is reduced. The polymeric adsorbent is regenerated. The polymeric adsorbent can be a cross-linked polymer with an internal surface area of from 900 to 1500 m2/gram.

Abstract: The use of tocopherol mixtures for stabilizing carotinoid-containing biomasses and biomass preparations, more particularly astaxanthin-containing biomasses and biomass preparations, and to a process for stabilizing such biomasses and biomass preparations. The tocopherol mixture used preferably contains ?- and ?- and ?- and ?-tocopherol. The invention also relates to carotinoid-containing biomass containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of tocopherol mixtures, based on the weight of the dry biomass.

Abstract: Processes for separating supercritical or near-critical mixtures containing hydrogen, a solvent gas, methanol and a fatty alcohol under an initial pressure of from 100 to 300 bar are described, wherein the processes comprise: (a) reducing the pressure of such a mixture in a first stage to a pressure of from 50 to 150 bar to form a first recycle gas and a first partially-separated intermediate mixture, wherein the reduced pressure in the first stage is at least below the initial pressure; (b) reducing the pressure of the first partially-separated intermediate mixture in a second stage to a pressure of from 10 to 50 bar to form a second recycle gas and a second partially-separated intermediate mixture; and (c) reducing the pressure of the second partially-separated intermediate mixture in a third stage to a pressure of from 1 to 10 bar to form a third recycle gas and a fatty alcohol product.

Abstract: A process for making squalene involving: (a) providing a hydrocarbon-containing intermediate product derived from a vegetable oil; (b) providing an extractant; and (c) extracting squalene-containing starting material from the hydrocarbon-containing intermediate product to form a squalene-containing raffinate phase and an extract phase.

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: Carotene is recovered from a native fat or oil in five process steps in an economical industrial process. The native fat or oil is catalytically reacted in known manner with an alkanol containing up to 4 carbon atoms to form fatty acid alkyl ester and glycerol. The ester phase of the reaction mixture is subjected to distillation to remove the fatty acid alkyl ester. The distillation residue obtained in the second process step is saponified, carotene is extracted from the product obtained in the third process step and the extract phase is concentrated by evaporation. A yield of at least about 80% is achieved. At the same time, a fatty acid alkyl ester suitable for further processing to fatty alcohol is provided.

Abstract: The waste gas accumulating in the drying of products containing volatile ingredients is cooled, the condensate obtained is subjected to crossflow membrane filtration and part of the cleaned waste gas is returned to the drying process. The concentrate obtained is put to a material, thermal or other use. The both effective and economic process is suitable for eliminating the aerosols, particularly the organic aerosols, present in the waste gas.

Abstract: Aliphatic alcohols with up to 30 and especially with 6 to 18 carbon atoms are separated from a mixture of alkyl glycosides and alcohols which are unreacted during the production of these glycosides, by single or multi-stage distillation. The alcohols are distilled off by a drop film evaporator to impoverish the reaction mixture to residual alcohol contents of 5 wt % and under. The strip load of the drop film evaporator is set to at least 1.0 m.sup.3 /h m, especially at least 1.8 m.sup.3 /h m and preferably at least 3.0 m.sup.3 /h m. It is possible to reduce the alcohol content of the product to any value between 0.1 and 5 wt % at acceptable overall cost.

Abstract: Starting from a mixture containing tocopherol, fats and/or fat derivatives, more particularly fatty acids, and optionally sterol and/or sterol derivatives, the free fatty acids present in the mixture are esterified with an alcohol. The mixture is then transesterified with an alcohol in the presence of a basic catalyst. After the transesterification, the excess lower alcohol is distilled off from the reaction mixture. The transesterification catalyst and the glycerol present, if any, are removed and the fatty acid alkyl ester is distilled off from the mixture. Distillation of fatty acid alkyl esters can be accomplished with a packed column in sequence with a wiped film evaporator. The simultaneous recovery of tocopherol and sterol is possible. Tocopherols and sterols can be separated by the crystallization of sterols from a blend of organic solvents.

Abstract: A process is provided for simultaneously recovering tocopherol and sterol from a mixture containing tocopherol, fats and/or fat derivatives, more particularly fatty acids, and sterol and/or sterol derivatives, more particularly from a steamer distillate of natural oils and fats. The steps of said process comprise:free fatty acids present in the mixture are esterified with a lower alcohol, preferably methanol, 0.4 to 1.6 and more particularly 1 to 1.

Abstract: The glycerol water (sweet water) accumulating in the high-pressure hydrolysis of natural fats and oils with steam into fatty acid and glycerol is continuously purified. Fats larger than 100 .mu.m in diameter are separated from the aqueous phase in a plate-type phase separator and are returned to the high-pressure hydrolysis process. The aqueous phase thus prepurified is passed through a cross-flow filtration membrane, more particularly a microfiltration membrane, and the concentrate is returned to the entrance of the plate-phase separator. Large product streams of glycerol water can be purified continuously, effectively and particularly economically despite frequent changes of provenance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the removal of alcohols containing up to 30 and, more particularly, between 8 and 18 carbon atoms by distillation from a mixture of alkyl glycosides and alcohols remaining unreacted in the production of these alkyl glycosides, the alcohols being removed in two stages, a falling-film evaporator being used in the first stage and a thin-layer evaporator being used in the second stage.

Abstract: A process for the separation, by sedimentation, of at least one liquid organic component dispersed in a liquid containing mainly organic materials, this organic component and the remaining liquid exhibiting a difference in density. In order to reduce considerably the standing time, it is proposed that the liquid be passed before sedimentation through a fiber bed that the organic component and the remaining liquid have different surface tensions with respect to the fiber bed, that the temperature of the liquid and the concentration of the organic component to be separated are such that, in the equilibrium state, at least two liquid phases form, and that the rate of flow of the liquid through the fiber bed lies below a maximum value dependent on the surface tension of the organic component with respect of the fiber bed and on the difference in density and surface tension between the remaining liquid and the organic component.