Emulsifier particles and methods for making and using same. The emulsifier particles can include an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a carboxylic acid terminated fatty amine condensate, an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a modified tall oil, or a blend of an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a carboxylic acid terminated fatty amine condensate and an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a modified tall oil. The emulsifier particles can have a BET specific surface area of about 0.3 m.sup.2/g to about 1 m.sup.2/g. The method for making the emulsifier particles can include reducing a size of an emulsifier solid via a mechanical attrition process to produce the emulsifier particles.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of extracting bioactive agents from biomass using continuous microwave-assisted extraction. The disclosed method includes contacting the biomass with a solvent and optionally homogenizing the biomass. Then blending the biomass and the solvent and continuously passing the biomass though one more microwave assisted extraction units, thereby exposing the biomass to microwave energy. The solvent is separated from the biomass, where the separated solvent is the bioactive agent.

Provided is a technique which enables highly efficient, low-cost production of a sufficiently disinfected high-quality rice gel using a rice gel production system and a rice gel production method for producing a rice gel. The present invention is provided with: a heating/stirring unit for heating a rice material with water added thereto in a sealed container under stirring, thereby providing a gelatinized product; and a pulverizing unit for pulverizing the gelatinized product obtained in the heating/stirring unit thereby providing a rice gel.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a system and method of extracting bioactive agents from biomass using continuous microwave-assisted extraction. The disclosed system includes a plurality of microwave modules that exposes the biomass to continuous microwave energy, and an extraction module to extract bioactive agents from the biomass. In some embodiments, the biomass is exposed to subcritical water treatment in the microwave modules. The disclosed system enables bioactive agent to be extracted effectively, in a relatively short period of time compared to conventional extraction methods and allows for an enhanced extraction yield.

A method for producing dispersions with a defined particle size includes following steps: A) Preparation of a mixed dispersion in a predispersion process, B) introduction of the mixed dispersion into at least one continuously operating separating device, C) separation of the mixed dispersion in the separating device into coarse particles of a coarse-part dispersion and into fine particles of a fine-part dispersion, D) discharging the fine particle dispersion from the separating device into at least one storage tank, E) discharging the coarse particle dispersion from the separating device into at least one disperser, F) grinding the coarse particles of the coarse particle dispersion in the disperser into a dispersed particle mixture and returning the dispersed particle mixture to the mixing tank in the predispersion process, and G) mixing the dispersed particle mixture returned to the predispersion process with the mixing dispersion produced in the predispersion process in the mixing tank.

Emulsifier particles and methods for making and using same. The emulsifier particles can include an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a carboxylic acid terminated fatty amine condensate, an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a modified tall oil, or a blend of an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a carboxylic acid terminated fatty amine condensate and an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a modified tall oil. The emulsifier particles can have a BET specific surface area of about 0.3 m.sup.2/g to about 1 m.sup.2/g. The method for making the emulsifier particles can include reducing a size of an emulsifier solid via a mechanical attrition process to produce the emulsifier particles.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a system and method of extracting bioactive agents from biomass using continuous microwave-assisted extraction. The disclosed system comprises a plurality of microwave modules that exposes the biomass to continuous microwave energy, and an extraction module to extract bioactive agents from the biomass. In some embodiments, the biomass is exposed to subcritical water treatment in the microwave modules. The disclosed system enables bioactive agent to be extracted effectively, in a relatively short period of time compared to conventional extraction methods and allows for an enhanced extraction yield.

A fluidized bed mixer for combining a first powder with a second powder for manufacturing a magnet and a method of using the fluidized bed mixer for making the magnet. The first powder material is an alloy powder containing neodymium (Nd), iron (Fe), and boron (B), and the second powder material is an alloy powder or elemental metal powder containing one or more of dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb). The fluidized bed mixer includes a fluidized bed portion in an upper portion of a mixing chamber, a cascading baffle system beneath the fluidized bed portion, and combined powder collection area beneath the cascading baffle system. The fluidized bed mixer is configured to homogenously combine a first powder material with a second powder material in such a way that particles of the second powder material adheres to and covers the outer surfaces of the particles of the first powder material.

A fluidized bed mixer for combining a first powder with a second powder for manufacturing a magnet and a method of using the fluidized bed mixer for making the magnet. The first powder material is an alloy powder containing neodymium (Nd), iron (Fe), and boron (B), and the second powder material is an alloy powder or elemental metal powder containing one or more of dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb). The fluidized bed mixer includes a fluidized bed portion in an upper portion of a mixing chamber, a cascading baffle system beneath the fluidized bed portion, and combined powder collection area beneath the cascading baffle system. The fluidized bed mixer is configured to homogenously combine a first powder material with a second powder material in such a way that particles of the second powder material adheres to and covers the outer surfaces of the particles of the first powder material.

Method for producing dispersions of a defined particle size, a liquid mixture dispersion (Dm) being continuously separated into a coarse fraction dispersion (Dg) and a fine fraction dispersion (Df), comprising the following steps: A) continuously or discontinuously producing the mixed dispersion (Dm) in a pre-dispersion process, in which a particle mixture (Pm) of a disperse phase is mixed with a continuous liquid phase to form the mixed dispersion (Dm) and is intermediately stored in at least one mixing tank (Tm), B) introducing the mixed dispersion (Dm) from the pre-dispersion process into at least one continuously operating separating device (VT), C) separating the particle mixture (Pm) of the mixed dispersion (Dm) in the at least one separating device (VT) into coarse particles (Pg) of the coarse fraction dispersion (Dg) and into fine particles (Pf) of the fine fraction dispersion (Df) in accordance with a threshold value for the particle size, D) discharging the fine fraction dispersion (Df) from the at least one separating device (VT) into at least one storage tank (Tv), E) discharging the coarse fraction dispersion (Dg) from the at least one separating device (VT) into at least one disperser (DP), F) crushing the coarse particles (Pg) of the coarse fraction dispersion (Dg) in the at least one disperser (DP) into a dispersed particle mixture (PDm) and returning the dispersed particle mixture (PDm) into the at least one mixing tank (Tm), to the pre-dispersion process, and G) mixing the dispersed particle mixture (PDm) returned to the pre-dispersion process with the mixed dispersion (DM) produced in the pre-dispersion process in the at least one mixing tank (Tm).