The present invention relates to a method for producing, obtaining and enriching cannabidiol (CBD) and to the use thereof. The invention also relates to a cannabidiol extract and the use of an obtained cannabidiol extract in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields.

A process for obtaining free fatty acid and/or free fatty acid ester, including separating a liquid mixture containing the free fatty acid and/or the fatty acid ester by contacting a vapor of the liquid mixture in a column of a distillation apparatus with condensate formed from the vapor running downward. Heat and mass transfer takes place between the vapor and the condensate on column internals. The column has at least 10 theoretical plates and the separation is conducted with a pressure drop between the top and bottom of the column of p of 3.3 mbars. Appropriately, the liquid mixture, contains polyunsaturated fatty acid, preferably omega-6 or omega-3 fatty acid and/or alkyl monoesters and/or glycerol monoesters. In one embodiment the column has at least 30 theoretical plates and the separation is conducted with a pressure drop p between 3.5 mbar and 6 mbar.

A process for obtaining free fatty acid and/or free fatty acid ester, including separating a liquid mixture containing the free fatty acid and/or the fatty acid ester by contacting a vapor of the liquid mixture in a column of a distillation apparatus with condensate formed from the vapor running downward. Heat and mass transfer takes place between the vapor and the condensate on column internals. The column has at least 10 theoretical plates and the separation is conducted with a pressure drop between the top and bottom of the column of p of 3.3 mbars. Appropriately, the liquid mixture, contains polyunsaturated fatty acid, preferably omega-6 or omega-3 fatty acid and/or alkyl monoesters and/or glycerol monoesters. In one embodiment the column has at least 30 theoretical plates and the separation is conducted with a pressure drop p between 3.5 mbar and 6 mbar.

The invention relates to an improved process for making available the coproduct hydrogen chloride obtained in the preparation of an isocyanate by phosgenation of the corresponding amine for a desired subsequent use (i.e. a chemical reaction), in which part of the total hydrogen chloride obtained is isolated in gaseous form at a pressure which is higher than the pressure desired for the subsequent use of the hydrogen chloride by lowering the pressure of the crude product from the phosgenation and the remaining part of the total hydrogen chloride obtained is separated off at a pressure lower than that desired for the subsequent use from the liquid crude product from the phosgenation remaining after lowering of the pressure and is subsequently compressed to a pressure which is higher than that desired for the subsequent use, and in which the two hydrogen chloride streams obtained in this way are, preferably together after having been combined, purified so as to give a purified hydrogen chloride at a pressure which is higher than the pressure desired for the subsequent use.

A membrane distillation arrangement (100) comprising: at least two dividers (120), each divider (120) having a top (122) and a base (124) and at least one side (126) which extends between the top (122) and the base (124); at least one transfer element (132) selected from a membrane, heat transfer component or combination thereof, each transfer element (132) having a top (134) and a base (136), each transfer element (132) being supported between two dividers (120); a plurality of perimeter seals (130), at least one perimeter seal (130) extending around the perimeter of the top (134) or the base (136) of each transfer element (132), each perimeter seal (130) forming a substantially fluid tight seal and a fluid flow space (140, 141) between the respective top (134) or base (136) of each transfer element (132) and a respective adjacent face of a divider (120). Each divider (120) includes at least one side inlet (114) and at least one side outlet (116), each side inlet (114) and side outlet (116) extending into the at least one side of each divider (120), and being in fluid communication with the respective fluid flow space (140, 141) formed between the adjacent transfer element (32) and the respective adjacent face of a divider (120).

A membrane distillation arrangement (100) comprising: at least two dividers (120), each divider (120) having a top (122) and a base (124) and at least one side (126) which extends between the top (122) and the base (124); at least one transfer element (132) selected from a membrane, heat transfer component or combination thereof, each transfer element (132) having a top (134) and a base (136), each transfer element (132) being supported between two dividers (120); a plurality of perimeter seals (130), at least one perimeter seal (130) extending around the perimeter of the top (134) or the base (136) of each transfer element (132), each perimeter seal (130) forming a substantially fluid tight seal and a fluid flow space (140, 141) between the respective top (134) or base (136) of each transfer element (132) and a respective adjacent face of a divider (120). Each divider (120) includes at least one side inlet (114) and at least one side outlet (116), each side inlet (114) and side outlet (116) extending into the at least one side of each divider (120), and being in fluid communication with the respective fluid flow space (140, 141) formed between the adjacent transfer element (32) and the respective adjacent face of a divider (120).

Processes are provided for producing hydrocarbon base oils from alcohols, including by converting one or more alcohols into linear alpha olefins, and then forming branched oligomers with one or more olefin feedstock(s) which are subsequently hydrogenated and fractionated. A process for the preparation of a mixture of branched saturated hydrocarbons can include (a) forming an oligomerization reaction mixture having an oligomerization catalyst system and an olefin monomer mixture, wherein the olefin monomer mixture has an average carbon number in the range of 9.5 to 13, and at least 10% of the olefin monomers in the olefin monomer mixture have a carbon number difference of at least four carbons, (b) oligomerizing the olefin monomers in the oligomerization reaction mixture to produce an oligomer product, (c) separating unreacted olefin monomer from the oligomer product to produce a purified oligomer product, (d) hydrogenating the purified oligomer product, and (e) distilling the hydrogenated oligomer product.

Processes are provided for producing hydrocarbon base oils from alcohols, including by converting one or more alcohols into linear alpha olefins, and then forming branched oligomers with one or more olefin feedstock(s) which are subsequently hydrogenated and fractionated. A process for the preparation of a mixture of branched saturated hydrocarbons can include (a) forming an oligomerization reaction mixture having an oligomerization catalyst system and an olefin monomer mixture, wherein the olefin monomer mixture has an average carbon number in the range of 9.5 to 13, and at least 10% of the olefin monomers in the olefin monomer mixture have a carbon number difference of at least four carbons, (b) oligomerizing the olefin monomers in the oligomerization reaction mixture to produce an oligomer product, (c) separating unreacted olefin monomer from the oligomer product to produce a purified oligomer product, (d) hydrogenating the purified oligomer product, and (e) distilling the hydrogenated oligomer product.

Disclosed herein are methods for recovering phosphorus-containing ligand from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the phosphorus-containing ligand.

Disclosed herein are methods for recovering phosphorus-containing ligand from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the phosphorus-containing ligand.