Abstract: Methods for treating spent reactive soap lubricant baths employed in a cold forming process for metal treatment are described. One method involves treatment of the spent solution with acid to form stearic acid, collection of the stearic acid, and reaction of the stearic acid with a metal salt to form metal stearates. This method is preferably used to prepare sodium stearate. An alternative method involves treatment of a basic (i.e., pH greater than 7 or preferably greater than 10) spent reactive soap lubricant bath with certain metallic stearates, including aluminum stearate, zinc stearate, aluminum stearate, zinc stearate, barium stearate, lithium stearate, and calcium stearate. The metal stearates can be used in conventional lubricant formulations used in the metal forming or metal working industry. Sodium stearate recovered by the present invention is of sufficient purity that it can be reused in reactive soap lubricant baths.

Abstract: A process for the production of a solid metal soap of the formulaM(R--COO)(R"--COO)in which M is at least one metal from the group of Ca, Mg, Cd, Ba, Zn, and Pb; and R and R' are C.sub.8 -C.sub.34 hydrocarbon radicals, by direct synthesis from at least one fatty acid with metal oxides and/or metal hydroxides which comprises maintaining a reaction zone containing a liquid phase comprising fatty acid under reduced pressure, passing a portion of the liquid phase to an external premixing zone, introducing a solid metal oxide and/or metal hydroxide into the liquid phase in the premixing zone, passing the mixture to the reaction zone through an intensive mixing zone, and continuously removing water of neutralization formed by the reaction.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for the production of fatty acid metal salts. An essential feature of the process is the use of a combination of basic alkaline earth metal and alkali metal compounds as salt-forming reagents.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for the production of fatty acid metal salts which have little or no content of glyceride ingredient. An essential feature of the process is the use of a combination of basic alkaline earth metal and alkali metal compounds as salt-forming reagents.

Abstract: Compounds of formula I, ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents H, OH, protected OH or alkoxy; R.sup.2 represents H; R.sup.3 represents O or (H,OH); R.sup.4 represents methyl, ethyl, propyl or allyl; R.sup.5 represents OH, protected OH or alkoxy; R.sup.6 represents OH; R.sup.7 represents OH, alkoxy or NR.sup.8 R.sup.9 where R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 independently represent H, alkyl or aryl; in addition, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may together represent a second bond between the carbon atoms to which they are attached; and R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 may together represent O; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; are useful inter alia as immunosuppressive agents. The invention also provides the novel compounds of formula I.

Abstract: The invention is a process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of a metal soap by reacting a metal oxide or hydroxide with an organic acid in the presence of a dispersing agent in a media mill.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides an improved process for the production of fatty acid calcium salt. An important feature of the process is the utilization of a residual effluent byproduct stream from a sodium bicarbonate manufacturing plant as the aqueous medium of the fatty acid calcium salt-forming reaction process.

Abstract: Alkaline earth salts of vicinally hydroxy, alkoxy-substituted C.sub.16 -C.sub.22 fatty acids corresponding to the following general formula ##STR1## in which R represents linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl groups or hydroxyalkyl groups optionally alkylated with a C.sub.16 -C.sub.22 fatty acid, process for their preparation, and their use as catalysts. These salts give a narrow homolog distribution of the polyalkoxylation products in the catalysis of the polyalkoxylation of compounds containing active hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: The major component of the carbonate fraction of free acids extractable from alfalfa has shown excellent control of symptoms in patients with sickle cell disease. Its structure has been established by proton NMR spectrometry as beign 16-hydroxy-9Z,12Z,14E-octadecatrienoic acid and closely related compounds, such as simple esters, amides, triglycerides, or other derivatives of the carboxylic acid function, and a method for its synthesis from linseed oil or methyl linolenate has been developed. The product from linseed oil, both in the form of the initially formed triglyceride and in the form of its free acid obtained by saponification, is useful for the treatment of sickle cell disease.