Plantics B.v.

Total Raffinage Chimie

Rhodia Operations

Total Raffinage Marketing

Universiteit Van Amsterdam

Gad Rothenberg

Daniel Curulla-Ferre

Nirappurackal Raveendran Shiju

Vincenzo Roberto Calderone

Albert Henderikus Alberts

Albert Hendrikus Alberts

Sergio Mastroianni

Paul Gerard Pringle

Igor Mikhel

Ana Maldonado

Paul Pringle

The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a glycerol-tricarboxylic acid polyester foam which comprises the steps of combining glycerol and a tri-carboxylic acid to provide a liquid reaction mixture and contacting the reaction mixture with a substrate under polymerization conditions, wherein the substrate has a top layer comprising one or more of metal, metal oxide, and metal halide. The invention also pertains to a glycerol-tricarboxylic polyester foam, in particular a glycerol-citric acid polyester foam, which has a closed cell foam structure wherein at least 90 vol. % of the foam, preferably at least 95% of the foam, is built up from cells having a diameter below 2 mm. The foamed polyester of the present invention is 'green', biodegradable, and non-toxic, and can be cleanly combusted. It finds application in, int. al., packaging materials, insulation materials, and materials with a short life cycle.

Process for preparing foamed polymer

A composite material comprising 10-98 wt. % of a bio-based particulate or fibrous filler and at least 2 wt. % of a polyester derived from an aliphatic polyalcohol with 2-15 carbon atoms and a polyacid, wherein the polyacid comprises at least 10 wt. % of tricarboxylic acid. Preferably, the filler is in the form of particles, fibers, and/or random or non-random layers. A plant-based filler may be used, in particular a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material, more in particular one or more materials selected from wood chips, wood flakes, sawdust, pulp, e.g., pulp of (recycled) paper or other fiber pulp, and plant-derived fibers such as cotton, linen, flax, and hemp. An animal-derived filler, in particular an animal-derived fiber such as wool, hair, silk, or feathers may also be used. Preferably the polyalcohol is selected from one or more of glycerol, sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, 1,2-propane diol, 1,3-propane diol, and 1,2-ethane diol, in particular glycerol. The polyacid preferably is an aliphatic diacid or triacid with 3-15 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable acids include citric acid, succinic acid, and itaconic acid. The composite material according to the invention has fire-retardant properties, which makes it particularly suitable for applications where fire-retardancy is an issue.

Composite material comprising bio-filler and specific polymer

The present invention pertains to novel core-shell particles comprising a core of alumina and a shell of cobalt oxide, characterized in that they are spherical with a number average diameter, as measured by TEM, of between 10 and 30 nm. This invention also pertains to the method for preparing these core-shell particles and to their uses in the manufacture of a catalyst.

Core-shell particles with catalytic activity

The present invention pertains to novel core-shell particles comprising a core of iron oxide and a shell of cobalt oxide, characterized in that they are spherical with a number average diameter, as measured by TEM, of between 1 and 20 nm. This invention is also directed to their uses in the manufacture of a catalyst, and to the method for preparing these particles, by precipitating cobalt oxide onto magnetite or hematite particles which are themselves precipitated from Fe(III) and optionally Fe(II) salts.

The invention pertains to a process for producing a glycerol tri-carboxylic acid polyester foam which comprises the steps of combining glycerol and a tri-carboxylic acid in the liquid phase to provide a reaction mixture, and keeping the reaction mixture at a temperature of between 80&#xb0; C. and 130&#xb0; C. from the start of the reaction until a conversion of at least 90% is obtained. The foamed polyester of the present invention is 'green', biodegradable, and non-toxic, and can be cleanly combusted. It finds application in, int. al., packaging materials, insulation materials, and materials with a short life cycle.

Organophosphorus compounds are described that belong to the phosphinite-phosphite family. Catalytic systems comprising a metallic element forming a complex with said phosphinite-phosphite compounds and methods of hydrocyanation employed in the presence of said catalytic systems are also described.

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Oegstgeest, Netherlands

Gad Rothenberg