United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Helen N Lew

Robert A Moreau

Xuetong Fan

Michael J Haas

Alberto Nunez

Majher I Sarker

Zongcheng Yan

Kun Huang

Karen Wagner

Steven C Cermak

Richard D Ashby

Girma Biresaw

Renee J Latona

Jianwei Zhang

Compositions containing at least one compound of formula I

Antimicrobial phenolic fatty acid-based epoxy curing agents for epoxies

A biobased fatty acid arginate may be synthesized according to the disclosed process by combining arginine and a fatty acid. The fatty acid arginate may have certain beneficial properties, such as surfactant properties or acting as an antimicrobial agent.

Biobased-fatty acid arginates

A branched estolide compound of the formula: wherein x and y are equal to 1 or greater;wherein x+y=14;wherein n is 0, 1, or greater than 1;wherein R is H or wherein R=C1 to C18 straight alcohols or C4 to C12 branched alcohols;wherein Ris a residual fragment of octanoic, decanoic, lauric, coconut, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, iso-stearic or iso-oleic acids.

Bio-based branched estolide compounds

A method for preparing triglyceride oils containing at least 2% branching on the hydrocarbon chain, said method involving subjecting in a pressurized container (a) a feedstock containing unsaturated fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone having 6 to 25 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, (b) modified zeolite, and (c) water or alcohol in the presence of an inert atmosphere (e.g., at a temperature of about 150&#xb0; C. to about 350&#xb0; C. and a pressure of about 10 to about 300 psi for about 24 to about 72 hours) to produce triglycerides containing at least 2% branching (and optionally isolating said triglycerides containing at least 2% branching and optionally purifying the isolated triglycerides containing at least 2% branching); wherein said modified zeolite has been calcined at about 760&#xb0; C. to about 840&#xb0; C. for about 20 to about 28 hours, then placed in about 1N HCl at about 50&#xb0; C. to about 60&#xb0; C. for about 20 to about 28 hours and washed with water until the pH is neutral.

Methods for preparing oils containing at least 2% alkyl-branching on the hydrocarbon chain

Disclosed are methods for preparing phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, involving subjecting in a pressurized container (a) at least one phenolic compound, (b) unsaturated fatty acids having 6 to 25 carbon atoms, alkyl esters thereof, or mixtures thereof, and (c) H-ferrierite zeolite catalyst in the presence of distilled water or alcohol and a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of about 100&#xb0; C. to about 400&#xb0; C. and a pressure of about 10 to about 1000 psi, and isolating saturated phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof. Also disclosed are methods for killing microorganisms on or in an object, involving contacting said object with an effective microorganisms killing amount of a composition comprising phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, and optionally a carrier; the phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof may be produced by the methods described herein.

Methods for preparing phenolic branched chain alkyl fatty acids or esters thereof and methods for killing microorganisms

Disclosed herein are processes for converting an unsaturated fatty acid into a saturated branched-chain fatty acid through a zeolite-catalyzed process and methods of economically regenerating and reusing the zeolite catalyst. The processes include subjecting the unsaturated fatty acid to an isomerization reaction to result in a selective conversion of the unsaturated fatty acid into the saturated branched-chain fatty acid. The reaction occurs in the presence of (i) an activated zeolite catalyst, (ii) an effective amount of water, and (iii) optionally an oligomerization reducing agent. The spent zeolite catalyst may be regenerated by heating to create a regenerated zeolite catalyst that is functional for use as the activated zeolite catalyst.

Growing community of inventors

Wynnewood, PA, United States of America

Helen N Lew