Abstract: A process for separating a blend of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids or saturated and unsaturated fatty acid alky esters into a first fraction enriched with the saturated fatty acids or saturated fatty acid alkyl esters and a second fraction enriched with unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters. When separating fatty acids, the process includes the steps of (a) saponifying a blend of long chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids to form free fatty acids, (b) complexing the free fatty acids with urea, and (c) separating the urea complexed free fatty acids into a first fraction enriched with saturated free fatty acids and a second fraction enriched with unsaturated free fatty acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of carboxylic acids from unsaturated fatty acids and/or their derivatives.The process of the invention is characterized in that it comprises the following stages:a stage which consists in oxidizing an unsaturated fatty acid in the form of acid and/or of ester using hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of a metal oxide or of a carboxylic acid optionally used in combination with a ruthenium-based catalyst,a stage which consists in reacting the reaction mixture originating from the preceding stage with nitric acid in the presence of a vanadium-based catalyst, optionally used in combination with a cocatalyst, and thena stage of recovery of the mono- and dicarboxylic acids.It is particularly well suited for the preparation of saturated mono- and dicarboxylic acids obtained from unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid or from oils and fats.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyenecarbonyl compounds having a high all-E content and their acetals or ketals by aldol condensation or Horner-Emmons reaction comprises carrying out the reaction, for the purposes of the preferred formation of a double bond of E configuration and in order to maintain the E configuration of the double bonds in the stating compounds as completely as possible, in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-inert gas mixture or nitric oxide or a nitric oxide-inert gas mixture and/or in the presence of specific stable radicals and/or in the presence of quinones or quinone derivatives.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkanoic acid which comprises reacting the corresponding alkanol with a solubilized stable free radical nitroxide having the formula: ##STR1## wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is an alkyl, aryl or heteroatom substituted alkyl group having 1 to about 15 carbon atoms and each of R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is alkyl, hydrogen, aryl or a substituted heteroatom, nitric acid, and a bromide ion-containing compound in the presence of an oxidant at a temperature in the range of from about 25.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C., and thereafter separating out the alkanoic acid.