The Procter Gamble Company

Meredian, Inc.

Kaneka Corporation

Michael Steven Gibson

Angella Christine Cearley

Larry Nelson Hawkins

Patrick Joseph Corrigan

Karunakaran Narasimhan

Donald Benjamin Appleby

Ronald Edward Pegoli

Stanley James Welling

Vicki L Weber

Terry Franklin Formyduval

Junan Kao

Ephraim Lamar Kelly

Joseph Fredrich Sherman

Mary Celine Schneider

Isao Noda

Michael E Burns

Scott William Capeci

Corey James Kenneally

Marjorie Mossman Peffly

David William York

Deborah Jean Back

Victor Manuel Arredondo

Michael Matthew Satkowski

Neil Thomas Fairweather

Victoria Ann Majerczak

Processes for converting glycerol to an amino alcohol product involving reacting glycerol with a metal catalyst to obtain hydroxyacetone, and reacting the hydroxyacetone with an amine compound to obtain an adduct that is then reduced using a reducing agent to obtain an amino alcohol product are described.

Processes for converting glycerol to amino alcohols

Improved processes for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass containing the polyhydroxyalkanoate including the steps of: combining the biomass containing the polyhydroxyalkanoate with a solvent selected from lower chain ketones, and mixtures thereof to form a biomass liquor wherein the biomass liquor comprises less than about 25% water; mixing the biomass liquor for from about 10 to about 300 minutes at a temperature in the range of from about 70&#xb0; C. to about 120&#xb0; C.; separating the polyhydroxyalkanoate from the biomass liquor to form a PHA-enriched liquor, wherein the separating occurs at a temperature of at least about 40&#xb0; C.; mixing the PHA-enriched liquor with water to form precipitated polyhydroxyalkanoate and an impure solvent liquor, wherein the water is mixed with the PHA-enriched liquor in the ratio of from at least about 0.4-1 parts of water to one part solvent; and recovering the precipitated polyhydroxyalkanoate from the impure solvent liquor. Optional treatment with oxidizing agents or mild surfactant or mild bleach is used to enhance color and odor.

Process for the solvent-based extraction of polyhydroxyalkanoates from biomass

The invention relates to processes for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass, comprising admixing the biomass with an organic solvent for from 1 second to 15 minutes at a first temperature of from 5&#xb0; C. below the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate to 10&#xb0; C. above the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate and at a pressure of from 1 bar to 10 bar to provide a composition comprising the organic solvent and polyhydroxyalkanoate.

Process for the extraction of polyhydroxyalkanoates from biomass

A granular bleach activator extrudate that has a size and shape that is within a relatively narrow distribution range. The bleach activator exhibits improved solubility, and reduced product separation when incorporated into a granular detergent composition. Also provided are granular detergent compositions comprising a detersive surfactant and the bleach activator extrudates. Methods for forming the extruded bleach activator particles are also provided.

Granular bleach activators having improved solubility profiles

Process for forming amido esters utilizing a spinning disc reactor

N-alkyl polyhydroxy alkyl amines such as N-methyl glucamine having a Gardner Color of less than 1 are reacted with sources of fatty acyl groups such as methyl esters, anhydrides, and/or fatty acids that have greater than 98% transmittance at 460 nm in organic hydroxy solvents such as methanol to prepare N-alkyl polyhydroxy amine amides with good color. The N-alkyl polyhydroxyamines can be purified by crystallization, and/or subjected to reductive bleaching, to provide superior color. The reaction is preferably carried out at low temperature for short periods of time and with low catalyst levels to minimize formation of cyclic products. The resulting amide product can be further purified by treatment with anionic and cationic exchange resins to remove soap and amine impurities. The anionic ion exchange resin can be readily regenerated by acidifying it followed by washing with an organic solvent.

Process for preparing amides of N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkyl amines

Process for preparing amides of N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkyls

The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing fatty acids from alkyl, preferably methyl esters via acid hydrolysis by using ratios of water/ester/acid catalyst to form single phase reaction mixtures wherein the initial stoichiometric ratio of water to ester is at least about 1:1. These ratios are represented by the ternary phase diagram of FIG. 1 for a preferred C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 alkylbenzene sulfonic acid catalyst having mid-point attachment of the alkyl chain to the benzene ring.

Hydrolysis of methyl esters for production of fatty acids

The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing fatty acids from alkyl, preferably methyl esters comprising mixing the fatty acid ester with water, acid catalyst, and DMSO in order to form a single phase reaction mixture. The single phase reaction mixture is then heated to a temperature of from about 70.degree. C. to about 130.degree. C. to hydrolyze the fatty acid ester into the corresponding acid and volatile alcohol and removing the volatile alcohol. The acid catalyst is heat and water stable and the reaction mixture is essentially free of C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 carboxylic acids. The initial stoichiometric ratio of the water to the ester is at least about 1:1.

Hydrolysis of methyl esters in dimethylsulfoxide for production of fatty

Polyol polyesters having reduced color content are prepared by base-catalyzed transesterification of pretreated lower (i.e., C.sub.1 -C.sub.3) alkyl fatty esters with polyols. The pretreatment comprises the steps of contacting the alkyl fatty esters (in a liquid state) with an alkoxide base, separating undissolved solids from the esters, and then distilling the esters.

Production of polyol polyesters having reduced color content

Polyol polyesters having reduced color content are prepared by base-catalyzed transesterification of lower (i.e., C.sub.1 -C.sub.3) alkyl fatty esters having a carbonyl content of less than about 200 ppm with polyols. The esters can be prepared by a pretreatment comprising distilling the said alkyl fatty esters (in a liquid state), preferably with a base, and discarding both the top cut in an amount that is about 5% or less and at least about 2% of the still bottoms.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Michael Steven Gibson