A water in diesel oil fuel micro-emulsion for internal combustion diesel engines, with a low content of surfactants, a very long shelf-life, a reduced production of pollutants and carbonaceous side-products generated by the combustion and very good engine performance, is described. These emulsions comply with the strict requirements of Italian regulations and are particularly useful as fuels for automotive and heating applications.

The present invention generally relates to microfluidic droplets and, in particular, to multiple emulsion microfluidic droplets. In one set of embodiments, multiple emulsion droplets are provided, where an inner shell of the droplet is relatively thin, compared to the outer shell (or other shells) of the droplet. For instance, in one set of embodiments, the inner droplet has an average thickness of less than about 1000 nm. In some cases, the inner shell may be rigidified, e.g., to form a gel or a polymeric layer. This may be useful, for example, for preventing coalescence of fluids within the microfluidic droplet. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making such droplets, methods of using such droplets, microfluidic devices for making such droplets, and the like.

The object of the present invention is a method for producing oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions from self-emulsifying O/W gel concentrates without agitation, such as stirring, or in a laminar flow field.

The present invention relates to a particulate carbon material that can be produced from renewable raw materials, in particular from biomass containing lignin, comprising: a MC content that corresponds to that of the renewable raw materials, said content being preferably greater than 0.20 Bq/g carbon, especially preferably greater than 0.23 Bq/g carbon, but preferably less than 0.45 Bq/g carbon in each case; a carbon content in relation to the ash-free dry substance of between 60 ma. % and 80 ma. %; an STSA surface area of the primary particles of at least 5 m.sup.2/g and at most 200 m.sup.2/g; and an oil absorption value (OAN) of between 50 ml/100 g and 150 ml/100 g. The present invention also relates to a method for producing said carbon material and to the use thereof.

Water-based stains are based on an oil-in-water emulsion having a binder that includes, consists of, or consists essentially of drying oil combined with a non-aqueous polymer dispersion. The compositions can be tinted using traditional water-based pigment dispersions, yet the overall hydrophobicity results in minimal interaction with the polar cellulosic structure of wood.

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I),

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in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, A and n are as defined. The invention also relates to mineral or organic salts thereof; the use of the compounds of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof as a surfactant, a wetting agent, a detergent, an emulsifying agent, a dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor, and the like; and to compositions comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof.

A process for producing isomerized olefins, branched aldehydes, branched alcohols and branched surfactants through isomerization, hydroformylation, hydrogenation and surfactant forming reactions.

The invention relates to a wetting composition comprising (a) from 20 to less than 50 wt % of one or more C10 to C14 alcohol, (b) 25 to 70 wt % of a surfactant selected from a non-ionic, cationic, anionic and amphoteric surfactant, and (c) from 5 to 50 wt % of a polar component comprising at least one selected from (i) water, and (ii) up to 25 wt % of a water-miscible C1-C3 organic solvent, to methods for using the wetting composition, and products and aqueous compositions containing the wetting composition.

The invention relates to a wetting composition comprising a surfactant selected from a non-ionic, cationic, anionic and amphoteric surfactant in combination with from 10 to less than 50 wt % of at least one C10 to C14 alcohol and 10 to 30 wt % of a C4-C6 oxygen containing co-solvent, to methods for using the wetting composition and products containing the wetting composition.

A fluorinated imide salt compound of the present invention is a compound represented by General Formula (1). In General Formula (1), m represents 1 or 2, n represents an integer from 1 to 4, α represents 1 or 2, and X.sup.α+ represents an α-valent metal ion, a primary ammonium ion, a secondary ammonium ion, a tertiary ammonium ion, a quaternary ammonium ion, or NH.sub.4.sup.+.

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