Abstract: A metal soap, including metal soap particles in which a fatty acid has from 6 to 22 carbons, and an inorganic crystal nucleating agent with an average particle size of 0.01 to 20 ?m absorbed internally into the metal soap particles, wherein the cumulative diameter at 50% of the metal soap particles on a volumetric basis is 1.0 to 30.0 ?m, and the internal absorption rate A, represented by formula (1) below, is 30% or greater. Internal absorption rate A=100?(X/X?)=100??Formula (1) X; amount of inorganic crystal nucleating agent contained within metal soap X?; amount of inorganic crystal nucleating agent contained within pulverized metal soap passed through a 325-mesh filter (wherein X and X? are average values obtained by elemental analysis at three locations in an area of 15 ?m square, using a scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making esters, in particular biodiesel, using heterogeneous catalysts. The invention provides a process for making biodiesel, in particular FAME, which process is versatile and robust. The process of the invention can be carried out continuously, in particular in a fixed bed reactor or a slurry reactor and may be operated in a continuous fashion. In accordance with the invention, the transesterification reaction of triglycerides is carried out using a heterogeneous catalyst that comprises a Group 4 silicate and less than 3 wt. % Na in the presence of at least one acid compound.

Abstract: A process is described for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises swelling the lignocellulosic biomass with an aqueous liquid. The pretreated lignocellulosic biomass may be used as a feedstock for the enzymatic conversion to ethanol, or in a thermal conversion. process to produce bio-oil. The pretreatment results in a greater yield and, in the case of a thermal conversion process, a better quality of the bio-oil. The pretreatment process may be used to adjust the composition and amount of inorganic material present in the lignocellulosic biomass material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a composition comprising unsaturated compounds, in particular polyunsaturated compounds, which comprises concentrating and purifying the compounds by contact with silicon and/or aluminum derivatives. The process of the invention represents an advantageous substitute of the usual distillation processes, coupled or not to chromatographic processes, and allows to isolate and remove polar byproducts.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a process for the skeletal isomerization of unsaturated linear fatty acids and/or alkyl esters thereof to their branched counterparts. Said skeletal isomerization process comprises contacting said unsaturated linear fatty acids and/or alkyl esters thereof with at least one metal ion exchanged solid material catalyst. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of branched fatty acids and/or alkyl esters thereof from their straight chain counterparts. Finally, the invention also relates to various derivatives prepared from the branched fatty acids and/or alkyl esters prepared in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the skeletal isomerization of unsaturated linear fatty acids to branched fatty acids which comprises contacting said unsaturated linear fatty acids with at least one large pore zeolite catalyst wherein said at least one zeolite catalyst comprises a material having a three dimensional channel structure having a pore diameter of at least 6.0 Å. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a process for the skeletal isomerization and hydrogenation of unsaturated linear fatty acids to saturated branched fatty acids which comprises contacting said unsaturated linear fatty acids with at least one metal-zeolite catalyst.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing non-photosensitive fatty acid silver salt grains having a first feeding device for feeding a silver ion-containing solution, the solvent of which is water or a mixture of water and an organic solvent, to a closed mixing device; a second feeding device for feeding a solution of a fatty acid alkali metal salt, the solvent of which is water, an organic solvent, or a mixture of water and an organic solvent, to the closed mixing device; a third feeding device for feeding water, or a mixture of water and an organic solvent to the closed mixing device; and the closed mixing device for mixing matter fed from the first, second and third feeding devices, and discharging a liquid containing non-photosensitive fatty acid silver salt grains.

Abstract: A method for preparing non-photosensitive fatty acid silver salt grains was disclosed. The method has the step of reacting a silver ion-containing solution, the solvent of which being water or a mixture of water and an organic solvent, with a solution of a fatty acid alkali metal salt, the solvent of which being water, an organic solvent, or a mixture of water and an organic solvent, to obtain fatty acid silver salt grains; in which the reaction is proceeded by mixing the silver ion-containing solution and the solution of the fatty acid alkali metal salt within a closed mixing means. The dispersion of the non-photosensitive fatty acid silver salt grains prepared according to such method is excellent in dispersion stability and coating property.

Abstract: A process for the branching of saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acids and/or alkyl esters thereof comprises subjecting the fatty acids and/or alkyl esters to a skeletal isomerization reaction using a catalyst comprising a crystalline porous structure having incorporated therein a metal to form metal sites on said catalyst and isolating branched fatty acids, alkyl esters thereof, or mixtures thereof, from a reaction mixture obtained by said skeletal isomerization reaction. The catalyst used in the isomerization reaction is preferably a zeolite catalyst containing metal sites of a Group VIII metal. The process produces a mixture of fatty acids and/or alkyl esters that contain significant quantities of branched molecules.

Abstract: Methods for simultaneous saponification and quantitative isomerization of glyceride oils containing interrupted double bond systems, with alkali in water to yield soaps with conjugated double bond systems are disclosed. Novel methods of hydrolysis of the soap product with acid to form fatty acid-water emulsions and the breaking of those emulsions are also disclosed. The preferred embodiment uses a vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid such as sunflower or safflower oil, potassium hydroxide, phosphoric acid to neutralize the soaps, and an emulsion breaking compound which can include ethanol or other monohydric alcohol, tannins (either hydrolysable or condensed tannin) or polyethylene glycol. The reaction forms positional and geometric isomers of conjugated linoleic acid and the preferred isomer mixture is controlled by a combination of agitation, precisely controlled heating and rapid initiation and termination of the reaction. The reaction product composition may be enriched by crystallization.

Abstract: There are disclosed metallic soap fine particles which have an average particle size of 4 .mu.m or smaller and have a content of particles having particle sizes of 10 .mu.m or larger of at most 4% by weight based on the whole metallic soap fine particles; a process for producing the metallic soap fine particles, comprising mixing (a) an aqueous solution containing 0.001 to 20% by weight of an alkali metal salt or an ammonium salt of a fatty acid having 4 to 30 carbon atoms with (b) an aqueous solution or dispersion containing 0.001 to 20% by weight of an inorganic metal salt at a specific temperature to form a slurry of the metallic soap, and drying the resultant slurry at a specific temperature. The metallic soap, which has remarkably fine particles and narrow particle size distribution, is well suited for use e.g.

Abstract: A process for preparing branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof comprising at least a step wherein unsaturated fatty acids having 10 to 25 carbon atoms, alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof are subjected to skeletal isomerization reaction in the presence of water or a lower alcohol at a temperature of 150.degree. to 350.degree. C. using a zeolite as a catalyst, the zeolite having a linear pore structure of pore size that is small enough to retard dimerization and large enough to allow diffusion of the branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof.

Abstract: Fatty acid esters of isethionate salts are made by reacting ethylene oxide and a bisulfite salt, that may be made in situ, in aqueous ammonia while maintaining (1) the pH in the range of about 5.5 to about 6.5 and (2) the temperature in the range of 25.degree. C. to 85.degree. C. to form an isethionate salt. The isethionate salt is then esterified with a fatty acid to produce a product having little or no unwanted fatty acid esters of ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of metallic salts of fatty acids comprising the steps of: (a) reacting alkali hydroxide with a fatty acid in a saponification reaction to form an alkali soap; (b) reacting the alkali soap with an aqueous metallic salt solution in a double decomposition reaction to cause the production of metallic fatty acid salt; (c) performing at least one cycle of an alternating alkalinization-acidization reaction by adding an aqueous alkali hydroxide solution to the metallic fatty acid salt to raise the solution pH, followed by adding an acidic aqueous salt solution contain the same metal ions to lower the solution pH. High purity metallic salts of fatty acids can be obtained without a solvent washing step and the metallic fatty acid salts prepared from this invention can be effectively used as photolyzing agent to initiate and/or accelerate the photo-degradation of plastics.

Abstract: The invention relates to fatty acid monoglyceride polyglycol ether sulfosuccinates of the general formula ##STR1## where R represents a straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkylene group having from 7 to 21 carbon atoms;R.sup.1 represents H or CO--R;R.sup.2 may represent, independently of each other, H or the group --CO--CH(SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+)--CH.sub.2 --COO.sup.- M.sup.+ ;A represents the same or different and each is an alkylene group having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms;a,b,c,d may be the same or different, from 0 to 5,e being from 1 to 3,f is a multiplication product of c times e, and a+b+f+d is from 2 to 25; andM.sup.+ represents an alkali-metal ion or an ammonium ion, and to their preparation and use.

Abstract: Processes for preparing 5,8,11-eicosatriynoic acid as well as esters and amides thereof involves initially preparing the acid by reacting 1-decyne with 1,4-dihalo-2-butyne in the presence of a strong base to form 1-halo-2,5-tetradecadiyne which is then reacted with 5-hexynoic acid so as to form 5,8,11-eicosatriynoic acid. This acid can then be converted to the acid chloride form and reacted with an alcohol to form an ester or converted to a potassium salt and reacted with a halide also to form an ester, or after conversion to an acid chloride reacted with an amine in the presence of a tertiary amine to form an amide, or the acid can be reacted with carbonyldiimidazole in the presence of a solvent and excess amine to form an amide.

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: 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.