Abstract: The invention provides polar-modified rice husk waxes obtainable by free-radical grafting of unmodified rice husk waxes with graft comonomers selected from the group of the ?,?-unsaturated mono- or polybasic carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. The invention further provides derivatization products prepared by chemical conversion of the polar-modified rice husk waxes of the invention. The invention further provides processes for producing the products of the invention and for the use thereof.

Abstract: A processing method includes processing a metal wire rod using an emulsion lubricant that includes an oil and a nonionic surfactant at an oil-to-nonionic surfactant ratio of 1:0.3 to 0.9 (in mass ratio). The method may include purifying the emulsion lubricant after being used for processing the metal wire rod while maintaining the oil-to-nonionic surfactant ratio of 1:0.3 to 0.9 (in mass ratio) and then reusing the purified emulsion lubricant to process the metal wire rod.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method recovers oil from a concentrated byproduct, such as evaporated thin stillage formed during a dry milling process used for producing ethanol. The method includes forming a concentrate from the byproduct and recovering oil from the concentrate. The step of forming the concentrate may comprise evaporating the byproduct. Further, the step of separating the oil from the concentrate may comprise using a centrifuge and, in particular, a disk stack centrifuge. Other aspects of the invention include related methods and subsystems for recovering oil from thin stillage.

Abstract: A process for the production of bio-oil from solid urban waste, comprising the following steps: a) subjecting said solid urban waste to liquefaction, obtaining a mixture including an oily phase consisting of bio-oil, a solid phase and an aqueous phase; b) subjecting the aqueous phase obtained in the liquefaction step a) to fermentation, obtaining a fermented biomass; c) feeding the fermented biomass obtained in the fermentation step b) to the liquefaction step a). The bio-oil (or bio-crude) thus obtained can be advantageously used in the production of biofuels which can be used as such or mixed with other motor vehicle fuels. Alternatively, this bio-oil (or bio-crude) can be used as such (biocombustible) or mixed with fossil combustibles (combustible oil, coal, etc.) for the generation of electric energy or heat.

Abstract: Methods for producing biofuels that involve enhanced separation of oil in co-product process streams are disclosed. In some embodiments, separation is enhanced by addition of an additive such as a surfactant, yeast and/or salt to the co-product process stream.

Abstract: A process for producing bio-oil from municipal solid waste, the process including: a) liquifying municipal solid waste, to obtain a mixture containing an oily phase containing bio-oil, a solid phase, and a first aqueous phase; b) treating the first aqueous phase from a) with an adsorbing material, to obtain a second aqueous phase; c) fermenting the second aqueous phase from b), to obtain a biomass; d) subjecting the biomass obtained in c) to the liquification a). The bio-oil obtained is advantageously used in the production of biofuels for motor vehicles or for the generation of electric energy or heat.

Abstract: The method of reclaiming usable products from sludge is disclosed. A predetermined level of solvent within an extractor is heated, below boiling point, and dried sludge is immersed within the headed solvent. The solvent is a non-polar or polar aprotic solvents, such as ethyl acetate. The non-solid products, an oil/solvent mixture, within the sludge are separated and transferred to at least one evaporator with a concentration of between 5-25% oil in the solvent. The oil and solvent are is separated in one or more evaporators to remove approximately 80%-90%, and preferably 70%-95%, of the solvent. The solids are moved to a desolventizer for removal of the residual solvent and are then dried to a moisture content of below 25%, and preferably between 10 to 15%.

Abstract: A method for extracting an unsaponifiable fraction from a renewable raw material selected among oilfruits, oleaginous seeds, oleoproteaginous seeds, seed husks, oil-yielding almonds, sprouts, stones and cuticles of fruits, high-fat raw materials from animals, algae, fungus or yeast, includes the following steps: a) dehydrating and packaging the renewable raw material, not resulting in any extraction of the fat; b) reactive crushing of the fatty packaged raw material in the presence of a light alcohol and a catalyst; c) evaporating the light alcohol; d) concentrating the liquid phase such as to obtain a concentrate including the unsaponifiable fraction diluted in fatty acid alkyl esters; e) saponifying the unsaponifiable concentrate; f) extracting the unsaponifiable fraction from the saponified mixture. The use of an unsaponifiable fraction or co-products obtained by implementing the method for preparing a composition such as a cosmetic, drug, food, or food additive or supplement is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purification of lipid material originating from biological material. In the method the lipid material comprising acylglycerols and phosphorus impurities and at least one added nonpolar solvent and at least one added polar solvent is provided into a reaction zone whereby at least a two phase system comprising a nonpolar phase and a polar phase is formed. The phase system is heated in the closed reaction zone under mixing at a temperature from 150° C. to 300° C. and at a pressure wherein said solvents are in subcritical state, preferably of below 100 bar, dependent on the vapor pressure of the selected solvents, until the phosphorus impurity is removed from the polar phase. Subsequently, the nonpolar phase including the purified oil comprising acylglycerols is separated and recovered from said phase system.

Abstract: Separate collection and conversion method and plant for the reuse of used oils and greases for energy purposes, which method provides one or more of the following steps: producing and separating the waste from other substances or compounds, collecting the waste gathering/storing the waste in at least a collection and/or regeneration facility, regenerating or treating the waste, reusing the collected or regenerated or treated waste, an oil or a grease or a mixture containing at least a natural and/or synthetic ester-based oil and/or grease being considered as waste, which oil or grease or which mixture is the by-product or waste of industrial processes.

Abstract: Process and steps for the production of biodiesel and/or glycerin from feedstock are provided.

Abstract: A method for reprocessing a phase substantially consisting of steryl glycoside/fatty acid alkyl ester/water agglomerates, which was formed when fatty acid alkyl ester generated by transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats was washed with water, wherein the water content is evaporated by heating the phase and subsequently the steryl glycosides are split into their sterol and sugar fractions in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for purifying a mixture of terpene material and tall oil material for the production of biofuels and components thereof. The present invention relates further to hydroprocessing of the purified material to obtain biofuels and components thereof.

Abstract: Tricyglycerols that may be converted to biofuel are recovered from oleaginous organisms in the natural and induced foam of wastewater treatment process plants. Growing oleaginous organisms in the form of comparatively dry foam simplifies harvest and is more efficient and efficacious than skimming the biomass off the top of the liquids that rely on less efficient centrifugation or filtration methods typically required to concentrate cells grown in liquids.

Abstract: A method for reprocessing a phase substantially consisting of steryl glycoside/fatty acid alkyl ester/water agglomerates, which was formed when fatty acid alkyl ester generated by transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats was washed with water, wherein the water content is evaporated by heating the phase and subsequently the steryl glycosides are split into their sterol and sugar fractions in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method recovers oil from a concentrated byproduct, such as evaporated thin stillage formed during a dry milling process used for producing ethanol. The method includes forming a concentrate from the byproduct and recovering oil from the concentrate. The step of forming the concentrate may comprise evaporating the byproduct. Further, the step of separating the oil from the concentrate may comprise using a centrifuge and, in particular, a disk stack centrifuge. Other aspects of the invention include related methods and subsystems for recovering oil from thin stillage.

Abstract: Methods and related systems efficiently and effectively recover a significant amount of valuable, useable oil from byproducts formed during a dry milling process used for producing ethanol. The method may include forming a concentrate from the byproduct and recovering oil from the concentrate. The step of forming the concentrate may include evaporating the byproduct using a multi-stage evaporator, as well as recovering the oil before the final stage of the evaporator. Further, the step of recovering oil from the concentrate may include using a centrifuge and, in particular, a disk stack centrifuge. Other aspects of the invention include related methods and subsystems for recovering oil.

Abstract: The process and apparatus are for removing a solute from a solute-bearing solid product by means of a solvent which remains in liquid state throughout the entire oil extraction process. In one embodiment, the solvent is normally in gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is used mainly in liquid state within the method and apparatus of the present invention by maintaining such pressure and temperature values within the apparatus so that the solvent will remain in this liquid state.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of organic waste streams is disclosed, in which the organic waste stream is treated in order to reduce the average particle size prior to entry into a biological reactor. The use of a mechanical device to reduce this average particle size while simultaneously mixing the organic waste stream increases the efficiency of the biological reactor. The mechanical device is preferably one which causes attrition and reduction in the average particle size of the organic waste stream. This results in a lower viscosity feed to the biological reactor, and therefore a far more efficient process, which can therefore handle a feed stream of greater concentration than was previously thought to be possible.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method recovers oil from a concentrated byproduct, such as evaporated thin stillage formed during a dry milling process used for producing ethanol. The method includes forming a concentrate from the byproduct and recovering oil from the concentrate. The step of forming the concentrate may comprise evaporating the byproduct. Further, the step of separating the oil from the concentrate may comprise using a centrifuge and, in particular, a disk stack centrifuge. Other aspects of the invention include related methods and subsystems for recovering oil from thin stillage.

Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering oil from stillage including oil resulting from a process used for producing ethanol. In one embodiment, the method includes heating the stillage to a temperature sufficient to at least partially separate, or unbind, the oil therefrom The method further includes recovering the oil from the stillage.

Abstract: The process for preparing a refinery feedstock from black liquor soap comprising adding excess alcohol (preferably methanol) to black liquor soap. Acid is then added to the mixture to drop the pH of the mixture to approximately 2 to convert carboxylate salt of fatty and resin acids to the free fatty and resin acids. In the reaction process, the free fatty and resin acids react with the alcohol, with the aid of the acid catalyst, to yield the desired ester products. The resulting feedstock can be distilled or refined to yield sterols and related alcohols, biodiesel and other fuels.

Abstract: A method for processing vegetable oil miscella is provided. The method includes steps of feeding vegetable oil miscella to a conditioned polymeric microfiltration membrane, and recovering a permeate stream having a decreased weight percent of phospholipids compared with the weight percent of phospholipids provided in the miscella. The retentate stream can be further processed for the recovery of lecithin. The polymeric microfiltration membrane can be conditioned for the selective separation of phospholipids in the miscella. A method for conditioning a membrane for selective separation of phospholipids from vegetable oil miscella, and the resulting membrane, are provided. The membrane which can be conditioned can be characterized as having an average pore size of between about 0.1? and about 2?.

Abstract: Fresh waste residue _alpeorujo_ (1) coming from the olive oil press is subjected to a series of steps which will enable valuable by-products, which were previously residues, as this the waste residue (1) is dehydrated (4) by means of centrifugation. The solid fraction (6) that is obtained is firstly dried (9) to be separated later into pulp (12) and stone (13), while the liquid fraction (5) is centrifuged (18) in order to separate the solids (19) and to obtain crude alpechin (raw vegetable water) (20) which after subjecting it to centrifugation (21), biological treatment (25), alcohol fermentation (26) and filtration (27), is concentrated (32) using a multiple stage vacuum evaporator, such as a to produce a concentrate (34) with multiple applications, along with condensed water (35) which move to a column used to purify the volatile substances (36) in order to separate the alcohol (38) from the water (43), and finally proceed to purifying it using the respective treatment columns (39) and (45).

Abstract: A method for processing vegetable oil miscella is provided. The method includes steps of feeding vegetable oil miscella to a conditioned polymeric microfiltration membrane, and recovering a permeate stream having a decreased weight percent of phospholipids compared with the weight percent of phospholipids provided in the miscella. The retentate stream can be further processed for the recovery of lecithin. The polymeric microfiltration membrane can be conditioned for the selective separation of phospholipids in the miscella. A method for conditioning a membrane for selective separation of phospholipids from vegetable oil miscella, and the resulting membrane, are provided. The membrane which can be conditioned can be characterized as having an average pore size of between about 0.1&mgr; and about 2&mgr;.

Abstract: The invention discloses a process to recover oil from spent bleaching earth recovered from vegetable oil refining process. The process involve three sub-processes comprising of reacting the spent bleaching earth with a solvent selected from a group consisting of toluene, acetone, xylene, isopropyl alcohol or n-hexane at a temperature between 35° C. to 50° C.; separating the solids and liquid from slurry formed in the previous step; and extracting oil from the liquid fraction obtained in the previous step. The separation of the solids and the liquid from slurry can be formed in two steps. The slurry mixture of solids and liquid is first separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction. The solid fraction so separated still contains a significant portion of oil. Therefore the solid fraction is reacted with some solvent. The next slurry of solids and liquids is again separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction.

Abstract: Separation of an anionic fluorochemical surfactant from an aqueous solution containing the anionic fluorochemical surfactant is carried out by i) contacting the aqueous solution with a basic anion-exchange resin so that the anionic fluorochemical surfactant is adsorbed on the resin, and ii) eluting the anionic fluorochemical surfactant adsorbed on the resin with an eluent which is an alkaline solution containing water and an organic solvent.

Abstract: Fluorinated emulsifier acids can be isolated from wastewater by firstly removing fine solids and/or material which can be converted into fine solids from the wastewater, preferably by precipitation, subsequently bringing the wastewater into contact with an anion-exchange resin and eluting the adsorbed emulsifier acids from the latter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing fluorinated emulsifying agent acids from waste waters, characterized in that the finely dispersed solids in the waste water are stabilized with a nonionic or cationic surfactant or an analogous acting surface active substance, the fluorinated emulsifying agent acids are subsequently bonded on an anion exchange resin and the fluorinated emulsifying agent acids are eluted from the latter.

Abstract: Methods for acidification of soapstock and recovery of acidulated fatty acids are disclosed. Further methods of conversion of the acidulated fatty acids to esters are also disclosed. Further methods of crystallizing the acidulated fatty acids from the extraction solvent at low temperatures and fractionating the acidulated fatty acids from the extraction solvent using urea are also disclosed. The novel method of adding both a monohydric alcohol to the soapstock to lower viscosity and a strong acid to hydrolyse the soaps prevents the formation of emulsions of soaps and oils. The preferred embodiment uses a soapstock such as soybean soapstock, sulphuric acid and isopropanol. The novel process allows the quantitative recovery of fatty acids and glyceride from the soapstock by removal of the alcohol by evaporation. Alternatively the fatty acids and glyceride may be converted to esters of monohydric alcohols.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of alkanoate esters of hydroxybenzenesulfonic acids and salts thereof by the steps of (1) contacting or reacting phenol with an alkanoic acid in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) to produce a aryl alkanoate ester and (2) contacting the reaction mixture of step (1) with a sulfonating agent to convert the aryl alkanoate ester to an alkanoate ester of hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid. The process provides the economic advantage inherent in using the product of esterification of step (1) without Disolation in the sulfonation of step (2).

Abstract: A method for removing phospholipids from vegetable oil miscella is provided. The method includes steps of feeding vegetable oil miscella to a conditioned polymeric microfiltration membrane, and recovering a permeate stream having a decreased weight percent of phospholipids compared with the weight percent of phospholipids provided in the miscella. The polymeric microfiltration membrane can be conditioned for the selective separation of phospholipids in the miscella. A method for conditioning a membrane for selective separation of phospholipids from vegetable oil miscella, and the resulting membrane, are provided. The membrane which can be conditioned can be characterized as having an average pore size of between about 0.1&mgr;and about 2&mgr;.

Abstract: A process for recovering protein, fatty and water components from a float material produced by a waste water treatment system, wherein the protein and fatty components can be further processed for inclusion in various products, such as animal feed. The recovered water component can also be further processed before discharged into a sewer system.

Abstract: A process for recovering edible oil and bleaching clay from an edible oil-bleaching clay waste stream and for recovering edible oil and nickel catalyst from a hydrogenated edible oil-nickel catalyst-filter aid waste stream; the recovered bleaching clay may be reused directly and the recovered nickel catalyst and filter aid mixture is pelletized for metallurgical nickel recovery.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for recycling waste material selected from amino-carboxylic acid oligomers or polymers and amido-carboxylic acid oligomers or polymers into amido-carboxylic acids. A mixture containing water, an oligomeric or polymeric waste material, and a carboxylic acid is heated. The mixture is cooled to obtain a two phase system containing an aqueous phase and an organic phase which are separated. Carboxylic acids, unreacted starting materials, and the monomeric amido-carboxylic acid product are distilled from the organic phase. The remaining solid residue composed of high boiling oligomeric amino-carboxylic acids is recycled into Step (A).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for treatment of soapstock obtained by alkali refining of fats to provide a fluid, uniform, pumpable animal feed product. In the method, a raw soapstock is provided. The soapstock is pretreated by adding a strong, soluble base to the soapstock. Propionic acid is then added to the pretreated soapstock and the pH is adjusted to provide an acidified soapstock. With soapstocks having low gum levels, a fluid, uniform, pumpable product is provided without further treatment. At higher gum levels, the pretreated soapstock and/or the acidified soapstock is heated to a predetermined temperature to provide the fluid, uniform, pumpable product.