A method of producing fatty alcohols comprises: introducing a fatty alcohol feedstock stream to a distillation column; forming a light outlet stream and a heavy outlet stream; condensing at least a portion of the light outlet stream to form a reflux stream; returning the reflux stream to a reflux inlet of the distillation column at a reflux ratio of greater than or equal to 2; and recovering a fatty alcohol product stream from an outlet of the distillation column, wherein the fatty alcohol product stream comprises a first mass percentage of the first fatty alcohol species (M), and a second mass percentage of the second fatty alcohol species (M2), and wherein a fatty alcohol mass ratio (M.sub.1/M.sub.2) of the fatty alcohol product stream is the first mass percentage divided by the second mass percentage, and wherein the fatty alcohol mass ratio is greater than or equal to 2.0.

A method of producing fatty alcohols comprises: introducing a fatty alcohol feedstock stream to a distillation column; forming a light outlet stream and a heavy outlet stream; condensing at least a portion of the light outlet stream to form a reflux stream; returning the reflux stream to a reflux inlet of the distillation column at a reflux ratio of greater than or equal to 2; and recovering a fatty alcohol product stream from an outlet of the distillation column, wherein the fatty alcohol product stream comprises a first mass percentage of the first fatty alcohol species (M), and a second mass percentage of the second fatty alcohol species (M2), and wherein a fatty alcohol mass ratio (M.sub.1/M.sub.2) of the fatty alcohol product stream is the first mass percentage divided by the second mass percentage, and wherein the fatty alcohol mass ratio is greater than or equal to 2.0.

A fractional extraction apparatus comprises one or more extraction vessel configured to receive a process fluid, allow the process fluid to come into contact with a source material within the extraction vessel under either of a selectively configured first predetermined pressure and a first predetermined temperature to remove a first predetermined extracted material from the source material to form a first mixture or a second predetermined pressure and a second predetermined temperature to remove a second predetermined extracted material from the source material to form a second mixture. The apparatus further comprises one or more separation chamber and a circulation conduit, the conduit including a separation portion configured to receive the first or second mixture and permit a portion of the first or second predetermined extracted material to separate from the mixture within the separation chamber. The apparatus further comprises a temperature regulator configured to regulate the temperature of the process fluid during extraction. The apparatus further comprises a thermal manager configured to regulate the temperature of the process fluid during recirculation. The apparatus further comprises one or more filter plugs configured to retain a filter at the opening of the extraction vessel.

The invention relates to methods of producing a diatom biomass. More particularly, the invention relates to methods to produce a diatom biomass using a continuous culture to produce a volumetric production rate of biomass of at least 20 g dry weight/L/day, wherein the culture medium is designed to provide the essential nutrients to maintain the diatom in log phase growth. In a preferred embodiment the biomass comprises highly unsaturated fatty acid.

The invention relates to methods of producing a diatom biomass. More particularly, the invention relates to methods to produce a diatom biomass using a continuous culture to produce a volumetric production rate of biomass of at least 20 g dry weight/L/day, wherein the culture medium is designed to provide the essential nutrients to maintain the diatom in log phase growth. In a preferred embodiment the biomass comprises highly unsaturated fatty acid.

The present invention relates to a method of washing animal fibers comprising contacting the animal fibers with a surfactant composition comprising a mixture of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants and optionally at least one propoxylated surfactant.

The present disclosure relates generally to a process for manufacturing products enriched in the content of at least one vitamin E component, preferably tocotrienol, using solvent extraction and membrane filtration.

The present disclosure relates generally to a process for manufacturing products enriched in the content of at least one vitamin E component, preferably tocotrienol, using solvent extraction and membrane filtration.

A method and an plant for separating wax from a dried wax coated plant material, comprising mechanically processing the plant material in a dry process by using an apparatus adapted for deforming at least the outer surface of the plant material, so that the wax coating is cracked and released from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; separating the plant material in a separator into a portion A comprising plant material with a relatively high content of cracked and released wax coating and a relatively low content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material, and a portion B comprising respectively a relatively low content cracked and released wax coating and a relatively high content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; liquefying the wax contained in portion A, and separating the liquefied wax from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material in portion A.

A method and an plant for separating wax from a dried wax coated plant material, comprising mechanically processing the plant material in a dry process by using an apparatus adapted for deforming at least the outer surface of the plant material, so that the wax coating is cracked and released from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; separating the plant material in a separator into a portion A comprising plant material with a relatively high content of cracked and released wax coating and a relatively low content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material, and a portion B comprising respectively a relatively low content cracked and released wax coating and a relatively high content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; liquefying the wax contained in portion A, and separating the liquefied wax from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material in portion A.