There is described a process and an apparatus for purifying a mixture and related products. In particular, there is described a process and an apparatus for purifying a mixture comprising fats, oils and greases as are typically found in sewer waste. The process involves heating, acidifying and separating the mixture. The apparatus used includes a heating and separation device for separating into a solid fraction, an organic liquid fraction and an aqueous liquid fraction. Apparatus such as a three phase separation unit and a rotary vacuum filter may also be used.

There is described a process and an apparatus for purifying a mixture and related products. In particular, there is described a process and an apparatus for purifying a mixture comprising fats, oils and greases as are typically found in sewer waste. The process involves heating, acidifying and separating the mixture. The apparatus used includes a heating and separation device for separating into a solid fraction, an organic liquid fraction and an aqueous liquid fraction. Apparatus such as a three phase separation unit and a rotary vacuum filter may also be used.

There are provided methods of efficiently producing compounds that are, for example, sex pheromones of San Jose Scale. For example, there is provided a method for producing a 7-methyl-3-methylene-7-octenyl carboxylate compound (1), the method including the step of coupling a nucleophilic reagent expressed as a 3-methyl-3-butenyl M of General Formula (8):

##STR00001##

wherein M is a cationic moiety, with an acetal compound of General Formula (9):

##STR00002##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, are each an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or are bonded to each other to form a divalent alkylene group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and X is a leaving group, to obtain the 7-methyl-3-methylene-7-octenal acetal compound.

There are provided methods of efficiently producing compounds that are, for example, sex pheromones of San Jose Scale. For example, there is provided a method for producing a 7-methyl-3-methylene-7-octenyl carboxylate compound (1), the method including the step of coupling a nucleophilic reagent expressed as a 3-methyl-3-butenyl M of General Formula (8):

##STR00001##

wherein M is a cationic moiety, with an acetal compound of General Formula (9):

##STR00002##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, are each an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or are bonded to each other to form a divalent alkylene group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and X is a leaving group, to obtain the 7-methyl-3-methylene-7-octenal acetal compound.

A system and method for the conversion of free fatty acids to glycerides and the subsequent conversion of glycerides to glycerin and biodiesel includes the transesterification of a glyceride stream with an alcohol. The fatty acid alkyl esters are separated from the glycerin to produce a first liquid phase containing a fatty acid alkyl ester rich (concentrated) stream and a second liquid phase containing a glycerin rich (concentrated) stream. The fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream is then subjected to distillation, preferably reactive distillation, wherein the stream undergoes both physical separation and chemical reaction. The fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream is then purified to produce a purified biodiesel product and a glyceride rich residue stream. The glycerin rich second liquid phase stream may further be purified to produce a purified glycerin product and a (second) wet alcohol stream. Neutralization of the alkaline stream, formed during the alkali-catalyzed transesterification process, may proceed by the addition of a mineral or an organic acid.

A system and method for the conversion of free fatty acids to glycerides and the subsequent conversion of glycerides to glycerin and biodiesel includes the transesterification of a glyceride stream with an alcohol. The fatty acid alkyl esters are separated from the glycerin to produce a first liquid phase containing a fatty acid alkyl ester rich (concentrated) stream and a second liquid phase containing a glycerin rich (concentrated) stream. The fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream is then subjected to distillation, preferably reactive distillation, wherein the stream undergoes both physical separation and chemical reaction. The fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream is then purified to produce a purified biodiesel product and a glyceride rich residue stream. The glycerin rich second liquid phase stream may further be purified to produce a purified glycerin product and a (second) wet alcohol stream. Neutralization of the alkaline stream, formed during the alkali-catalyzed transesterification process, may proceed by the addition of a mineral or an organic acid.

This invention relates to a process for the synthesis of a non-racemic cyclohexene compound of formula (I) by a Diels-Alder reaction of a compound of formula (II) with a compound of formula (III) wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and Y have the meanings as defined in the description in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one m-valent metal cation M.sup.m+ wherein the metal M is selected from Scandium (Sc), Yttrium (Y), Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Promethium (Pm), Samarium (Sm), Europium (Eu), Gadolinium 15 (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Dysprosium (Dy), Holmium (Ho), Erbium (Er), Thulium (Tm), Ytterbium (Yb), Lutetium (Lu), Gallium (Ga) and Indium (In), and m is an integer of 1, 2 or 3, and a chiral ligand of the formula (IV) wherein R.sup.10a, R.sup.10b, R.sup.10c, R.sup.10d, R.sup.10a′, R.sup.10b′, R.sup.10c′, R.sup.10d′, Z and Z′ have the meanings as defined in the description.

This invention relates to a process for the synthesis of a non-racemic cyclohexene compound of formula (I) by a Diels-Alder reaction of a compound of formula (II) with a compound of formula (III) wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and Y have the meanings as defined in the description in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one m-valent metal cation M.sup.m+ wherein the metal M is selected from Scandium (Sc), Yttrium (Y), Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Promethium (Pm), Samarium (Sm), Europium (Eu), Gadolinium 15 (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Dysprosium (Dy), Holmium (Ho), Erbium (Er), Thulium (Tm), Ytterbium (Yb), Lutetium (Lu), Gallium (Ga) and Indium (In), and m is an integer of 1, 2 or 3, and a chiral ligand of the formula (IV) wherein R.sup.10a, R.sup.10b, R.sup.10c, R.sup.10d, R.sup.10a′, R.sup.10b′, R.sup.10c′, R.sup.10d′, Z and Z′ have the meanings as defined in the description.

Precipitation promoters, which are an organic compound having one or more linear aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having not less than 10 carbon atoms, wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbon group has not less than 20 carbon atoms in total are useful for precipitating an organic compound protected by an organic group having one or more aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having not less than 10 carbon atoms from a solvent.

There is provided a method for producing ethyl 4-methyloctanoate at a lower cost, by fewer steps, and in higher yield. More specifically, there is provided a method for producing ethyl 4-methyloctanoate comprising the steps of: reacting 1-chloro-2-methylhexane through malonic ester synthesis to obtain diethyl 2-methylhexylmalonate, and subjecting the diethyl 2-methylhexylmalonate to a Krapcho reaction to obtain ethyl 4-methyloctanoate.