Method for improving the feed efficiency in poultry husbandry wherein poultry is provided with a compound directly upon hatching, the compound being selected from a lactylate in accordance with formula 1, or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH4, or Cu(II) salt thereof,
R2-COO—[—CH(CH3)-COO]n-R1  Formula 1
a glycolylate of formula 2, or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH4, or Cu(II) salt thereof.
R2-COO—[—CH2-COO]n-R1  Formula 2: a lactate ester of formula 3,
HO—CH(CH3)-COO—R2  Formula 3:
and/or a glycolic acid ester of formula 4,
HO—CH2-COO—R2  Formula 4:
In the above formulas R1 is selected from H, n stands for an integer with value of 1-10, and R2 stands for C1-C35 alkyl or alkenyl chain, which may be branched or unbranched. The effective compound provided to poultry is dosed level in a first part of their life-span higher than the dose level in other part of their life span.

A process for the production of glycolic acid or a derivative thereof comprises: reacting formaldehyde with carbon monoxide and water in a carbonylation reactor in the presence of a sulfurcatalyst, said reactor operating under suitable conditions, such that glycolic acid is formed; recovering a first product stream comprising glycolic acid, impurities and a sulfur species in the carbonylation reactor; passing the first product stream to an esterification reactor where it is subjected to esterification to form an alkylglycolate and wherein the esterification is catalysed by the sulfur species recovered in the first product stream; recovering a second product stream comprising the alkylglycolate, sulfur species and impurities from the esterification reactor; separating the sulfur species from the second product stream and recycling it to the carbonylation reactor in step (a) to form a sulphur depleted second product stream; separating the alkylglycolate from the sulphur depleted second product stream in a distillation zone; and recovering the alkylglycolate and converting the alkylglycolate to glycolic acid.

A method efficiently produces hydroxycinnamic acids having a high quality, from a cellulose-containing biomass. More specifically, the method includes the steps of: obtaining an alkaline filtrate by allowing an alkaline aqueous medium to pass through a cellulose-containing biomass; obtaining a hydroxycinnamic acid extraction liquid by allowing the alkaline filtrate to repeatedly pass through the cellulose-containing biomass; and separating the hydroxycinnamic acid from the hydroxycinnamic acid extraction liquid.

Provided herein are polyol estolide compounds. Polyol estolides may be prepared by contacting a polyol with an estolide compound. Also provided are compositions containing polyol estolides and methods of making the same.

The invention describes processes to selectively remove or reduce the mineral acid content substantially from compositions comprising a solvent and levulinic acid, wherein the levulinic acid was derived from the reaction between various biomass materials and a mineral acid or an organic acid catalyst.

The invention provides polyglycerol partial esters based on mono- and dicarboxylic acids and their use as solubilizers, particularly in cosmetics, for example for perfume oils and essential oils in aqueous systems.

A method for preparing an estolide compound and an estolide compound prepared thereby are disclosed. The method for preparing an estolide compound includes: converting biomass fat into a fatty acid; separating the fatty acid into a C.sub.16 saturated fatty acid and a C.sub.18 unsaturated fatty acid; preparing a linear internal olefin (LIO); increasing an amount of oleic acid through partial hydrogenation of the C.sub.18 unsaturated fatty acid; synthesizing an estolide polymer through cross metathesis of the oleic acid; capping the C.sub.16 saturated fatty acid onto the estolide polymer; and reacting the estolide polymer with the linear internal olefin.

The invention describes processes to prepare levulinic acid, formic acid and/or hydroxymethyl furfural from various biomass materials.

A salt-splitting liquid (SSL) and a process that uses the SSL to split (alkyl)ammonium 3-hydroxypropionate salts into ammonia (or amines) and 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) that minimizes increases in viscosity and condensation reactions of the 3-HP. Converting (alkyl)ammonium 3-hydroxypropionate in an aqueous mixture to 3-HP includes admixing a polar aprotic organic solvent and an azeotroping solvent with the aqueous mixture. The azeotroping solvent forms an azeotrope mixture with water of the aqueous mixture. The SSL is heated to convert the (alkyl)ammonium 3-hydroxypropionate to 3-HP and ammonia, where heating produces a vapor phase containing at least water, ammonia and the azeotroping solvent. At least a portion of the water and the ammonia is removed from the vapor phase during the heating, and at least a portion of the azeotroping solvent is returned from the vapor phase back to SSL to maintain the azeotrope mixture with the water.