Abstract: The invention relates to polyglycerol partial esters of saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched fatty acids and polyfunctional carboxylic acids, which are obtainable by esterification of a polyglycerol mixture with saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched fatty acids having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and polyfunctional carboxylic acids having 4 to 54 carbon atoms and a mean functionality of from 2 to 2.4, the degree of esterification of the polyglycerol mixture being between 30 and 75%.

Abstract: An oily composition comprises a solid phase containing a water-soluble effective substance and/or a water-dispersible effective substance and an oil phase containing an oily component and an emulsifying agent having an HLB value of not more than 10, wherein the solid phase is dispersed in the oil phase in the form of a fine particulate state having an average particle size of not more than 5 &mgr;m and the water content or the aqueous alcohol solution content of the solid phase is not more than 30% by weight.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and several exemplary apparatus for capillary dewatering of foam materials. The apparatus may include felt which is applied to an exposed face of the foam material, or a double felt arrangement applied to two opposed surfaces of the foam material. The apparatus may provide a temperature differential between the two exposed surfaces of the foam material. An alternative embodiment utilizes a roll having a capillary dewatering medium. The capillary dewatering medium may be maintained at a vacuum either above or below the breakthrough vacuum of the capillaries. The disclosed apparatus and method are particularly useful for dewatering foams having relatively fine open capillaries.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a water-in-oil emulsion, comprising the steps of:a) preparing a composition comprising oil, water, and a silane having bonds that hydrolyse and condense to form a cross-linked polymer, thereby creating a dispsersed aqueous phase in a continuous oil phase;b) allowing the silane to hydrolyse;c) allowing the hydrolysed silane to condense to form a crosslinked polymer at an interface between the oil and the aqueous phase, thereby encapsulating the dispersed aqueous phase.

Abstract: An edible water-in-oil micro-emulsion for thawing of a food product which is subjected to microwave energy and the use of such an edible water-in-oil micro-emulsion for thawing is described. Further described is a frozen food product comprising an edible water-in-oil micro-emulsion effective for enhancing thawing of the food product and to the process of providing such a frozen food product.

Abstract: A method of forming particles of capsularized emulsion fuel with high combustion efficiency and low pollutant emission. The method includes the steps of preparing an emulsion fuel oil and disperse phase of water generally uniformly distributed and suspended in the dispersion medium of oil, and spraying the emulsion fuel oil into minute particles so that substantially each of the particles has a core encapsulated by fuel oil. The emulsion fuel oil includes an emulsifying additive solution essentially consisting of NaOH, CaCl.sub.2 and water in a weight ratio ranging from about 10:10:100 to about 50:50:100 and a mixture of water and oil. The mixture of water and oil has an exemplified weight ratio ranging from about 5:95 to about 30:70. In the emulsion fuel oil, an example of a weight ratio of the mixture of oil and water and the emulsifying additive solution ranges from about 1:0.003 to about 1:0.002.

Abstract: Water having alkalies selected from sodium, potassium and mixtures thereof dissolved therein is treated with a composition to reduce the concentration of the alkalies whereby the water is rendered usable according to ASTM standards to render the water usable as concrete mix water. The composition and the method of its use is disclosed herein, wherein the composition is selected from compounds in the group consisting of lithium carbonate, acid zirconium phosphate, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof.