Various processes for preparing aldaric acids, aldonic acids, uronic acids, and/or lactone(s) thereof are described. For example, processes for preparing a C.sub.2-C.sub.7 aldaric acid and/or lactone(s) thereof by the catalytic oxidation of a C.sub.2-C.sub.7 aldonic acid and/or lactone(s) thereof and/or a C.sub.2-C.sub.7 aldose are described.

Various processes for preparing aldaric acids, aldonic acids, uronic acids, and/or lactone(s) thereof are described. For example, processes for preparing a C.sub.2-C.sub.7 aldaric acid and/or lactone(s) thereof by the catalytic oxidation of a C.sub.2-C.sub.7 aldonic acid and/or lactone(s) thereof and/or a C.sub.2-C.sub.7 aldose are described.

Various processes for preparing aldaric acids, aldonic acids, uronic acids, and/or lactone(s) thereof are described. For example, processes for preparing a C.sub.5-C.sub.6 aldaric acid and/or lactone(s) thereof by the catalytic oxidation of a C.sub.5-C.sub.6 aldonic acid and/or lactone(s) thereof and/or a C.sub.5-C.sub.6 aldose are described.

Various processes for preparing aldaric acids, aldonic acids, uronic acids, and/or lactone(s) thereof are described. For example, processes for preparing a C.sub.5-C.sub.6 aldaric acid and/or lactone(s) thereof by the catalytic oxidation of a C.sub.5-C.sub.6 aldonic acid and/or lactone(s) thereof and/or a C.sub.5-C.sub.6 aldose are described.

The present invention relates to novel hydroxyl compounds, compositions comprising hydroxyl compounds, and methods useful for treating and preventing a variety of diseases and conditions such as, but not limited to aging, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, a disorder of glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, hypertension, impotence, inflammation, insulin resistance, lipid elimination in bile, obesity, oxysterol elimination in bile, pancreatitis, pancreatitis, Parkinson's disease, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, phospholipid elimination in bile, renal disease, septicemia, metabolic syndrome disorders (e.g., Syndrome X), thrombotic disorder. Compounds and methods of the invention can also be used to modulate C reactive protein or enhance bile production in a patient. In certain embodiments, the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention are useful in combination therapy with other therapeutics, such as hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic agents.

A formulation for solidifying used cooking oil or grease and methods of making and using the same is disclosed. The formulation comprises hydrogenated castor oil, sometimes having a flake morphology. In some embodiments, the formulation has a melting point of between 70 and 80° C. and a density between 0.7 and 1.0 g/L. In some embodiments, the formulation is created by heating castor oil in the presence of a catalyst until at least some of the ricinoleic acid content in the castor oil is reduced to form hydrogenated castor oil in a reaction mixture. The method of using the formulation comprises the steps of mixing the formulation and used cooking oil or grease at an elevated temperature until the formulation completely dissolves into the used cooking oil to form a formulation mixture, and waiting until the formulation mixture cools and solidifies prior to disposal.

A formulation for solidifying used cooking oil or grease and methods of making and using the same is disclosed. The formulation comprises hydrogenated castor oil, sometimes having a flake morphology. In some embodiments, the formulation has a melting point of between 70 and 80° C. and a density between 0.7 and 1.0 g/L. In some embodiments, the formulation is created by heating castor oil in the presence of a catalyst until at least some of the ricinoleic acid content in the castor oil is reduced to form hydrogenated castor oil in a reaction mixture. The method of using the formulation comprises the steps of mixing the formulation and used cooking oil or grease at an elevated temperature until the formulation completely dissolves into the used cooking oil to form a formulation mixture, and waiting until the formulation mixture cools and solidifies prior to disposal.

The present invention is directed at hair care formulations comprising at least one non-ionic compound containing at least one terminal estolide moiety, at non-ionic compounds containing at least one terminal estolide moiety, the use of non-ionic compounds containing at least one terminal estolide moiety in cosmetic formulations for skin and/or hair care, the use of non-ionic compounds containing at least one terminal estolide moiety for the treatment of fibers, and at compositions containing at least one such compound for the treatment of hair.

Compositions and methods are provided for producing crystalline forms of organic acids or salts or lactones thereof from an aqueous solution. More specifically, methods are provided for producing a crystalline form of a salt of mevalonic acid (also referred to as X-MVA) from an aqueous solution, comprising subjecting the aqueous solution comprising said X-MVA to a purification step to produce a purified solution and crystallizing said X-MVA from said purified solution by water solvent crystallization. Methods are also provided for producing mevalonolactone from an aqueous solution comprising X-MVA, comprising subjecting the aqueous solution comprising said X-MVA to cation exchange thereby converting said aqueous solution comprising X-MVA to an aqueous solution comprising mevalonolactone (MVL). Methods are also provided for producing mevalonolactone monohydrate crystals.

Compositions and methods are provided for producing crystalline forms of organic acids or salts or lactones thereof from an aqueous solution. More specifically, methods are provided for producing a crystalline form of a salt of mevalonic acid (also referred to as X-MVA) from an aqueous solution, comprising subjecting the aqueous solution comprising said X-MVA to a purification step to produce a purified solution and crystallizing said X-MVA from said purified solution by water solvent crystallization. Methods are also provided for producing mevalonolactone from an aqueous solution comprising X-MVA, comprising subjecting the aqueous solution comprising said X-MVA to cation exchange thereby converting said aqueous solution comprising X-MVA to an aqueous solution comprising mevalonolactone (MVL). Methods are also provided for producing mevalonolactone monohydrate crystals.