The present invention relates to [1] a process for producing pigment-containing modified polymer particles, including the step of reacting pigment-containing polymer particles (A) containing a functional group and a compound (B) containing a reactive group capable of reacting with the functional group of the polymer particles (A) in a medium under such a condition that a ratio [(B)/(A)] of total moles of the reactive group of the compound (B) to total moles of the functional group of the polymer particles (A) is from 0.10 to 0.62; [2] a pigment water dispersion including an aqueous medium and the modified polymer particles produced by the aforementioned process which are dispersed in the aqueous medium; and [3] an ink including the aforementioned pigment water dispersion and an organic solvent. The modified polymer particles are free from formation of coarse particles upon production of pigment particles, so that an ink obtained by using the modified polymer particles can be prevented from suffering from increase in viscosity thereof when the ink is being concentrated by evaporation of water from the ink, and is excellent in rub fastness when printed on a low-water absorbing recording medium.

A dispersant is provided comprising a blend of mono- and di-phosphate esters, each phosphate group being substituted with either one or two alkyl or alkenyl alkoxylate groups wherein the alkyl or alkenyl portion is a branched alkyl or alkenyl radical comprising 1-30 carbon atoms, the alkoxylate portion comprises ethoxylate monomers and/or propoxylate monomers, and the dispersant further comprises a basic component selected from an amidopropyldimethylamine, a heterocyclic amine, an ammonium ion, and an alkali metal ion. The dispersant is suitable for dispersing a variety of pigments and other particulate matter in either aqueous or organic media.

The present invention provides the following process for producing a fine organic pigment which is capable of producing the fine organic pigment that has a very small primary particle size and is excellent in filtering property even in a cleaning step, and a fine organic pigment produced by the process; a process for producing a dispersion using the fine organic pigment, and a dispersion produced by the process; and a process for producing an ink using the dispersion. The present invention relates to [1] a process for producing a fine organic pigment, including steps 1 and 2: step 1: kneading a mixture prepared by compounding a raw material organic pigment, a water-soluble inorganic salt, a water-soluble organic solvent and a compound represented by the following formula (1) with each other, the compound being compounded in an amount of not less than 0.8 part by mass and not more than 18.0 parts by mass on the basis of 100 parts by mass of the raw material organic pigment: R.sup.1O(PO).sub.m(EO).sub.nA (1); and step 2: subjecting the mixture obtained in the step 1 to cleaning treatment with an aqueous solvent and then to filtration, [2] a fine organic pigment produced by the process according to the above aspect [1], [3] a dispersion produced using the fine organic pigment according to the above aspect [2], [4] a process for producing a paste of a fine organic pigment, including the above step 1 and 2, [5] a process for producing a dispersion, including step 3 of subjecting the paste of the fine organic pigment produced by the process according to the above aspect [4], an organic solvent and water to dispersing treatment, and [6] a process for producing an ink, including step 4 of mixing the dispersion produced by the process according to the above aspect [5] with at least one material selected from the group consisting of water and an organic solvent.

Subject matter are aqueous, low-VOC/SVOC universal pigment preparations comprising a pigment component; a water-soluble, nonionic, surface-active additive comprising a copolymer formed from a vinyl monomer and from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of monocarboxylic esters, dicarboxylic esters, monocarboxamides, and dicarboxamides, the vinyl monomer and/or the ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing an N-containing group with pigment affinity; a phosphoric or phosphonic ester, and optionally customary additives. The aqueous pigment preparations are suitable for the coloring of inks, paints, and renders, especially in metering systems at the point of sale or in in-plant tinting systems.

A method for preparing a dispersion of nanoparticles of a solid organic dye or pigment in a liquid carrier, the method comprising continuously mixing: at least one solution or slurry containing a reactant precursor for the solid organic dye or pigment in an organic or other solvent with the liquid carrier in a counter current mixing reactor whereby to obtain reaction of the reactant precursor and formation of the solid organic dye or pigment as a dispersion of nanoparticles in the liquid carrier and solvent mixture; optionally, removing unreacted reactant precursor and/or by-product from the dispersion when present; and optionally, concentrating the dispersion.

The invention relates to aqueous binder-free pigment dispersions containing (A) at least one organic and/or inorganic pigment, (B) one or more dispersing agents and/or surfactants, (C) at least one base of formula (I), where R.sup.1 is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH or CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)OH, (D) optionally, one or more polyalkylene glycols, (E) optionally, other additives commonly used for making aqueous pigment dispersions, and (F) water. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining nanostructures, specifically nanoemulsions and nanocapsules of carotenoids such as curcumin and astaxanthin. This methodusing particular concentrations of the ingredients forming the nanostructuresallows high association efficiencies of the active ingredient in the nanostructures containing these ingredients and protection of these nanostructures from environmental factors such as oxidation and light. The invention also relates to the nanoemulsions and nanocapsules of curcumin and astaxanthin for use in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, among others.

A method for preparing a dispersion of nanoparticles of a solid organic dye or pigment in a liquid carrier, the method comprising forming a solution or slurry of the solid organic dye or pigment in an organic or other solvent, and continuously mixing the solution or slurry with the liquid carrier in a counter current or concurrent mixing reactor providing a dispersion of the nanoparticles in the liquid carrier and solvent mixture and, optionally concentrating the dispersion.

Subject matter are aqueous, low-VOC/SVOC universal pigment preparations comprising a pigment component, a water-soluble, anionic, surface-active additive from the group of the homo- and copolymers of ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acids, which may further comprise, in copolymerized form, vinyl monomers containing no acid function, and of the salts of these homo- and copolymers, the homo- and copolymers being at least partly esterified with a polyether alcohol or a derivative thereof, and comprising a phosphoric or phosphonic ester, and optionally customary additives. The aqueous pigment preparations are suitable for the coloring of inks, paints, and renders, especially in metering systems at the point of sale or in in-plant tinting systems.

The present invention relates to [1] a process for producing a fine organic pigment, including step 1 of kneading a mixture prepared by compounding a raw material organic pigment, a water-soluble inorganic salt and a water-soluble organic solvent; and step 2 of subjecting the kneaded mixture obtained in the step 1 to cleaning treatment with an aqueous solvent and then to filtration treatment, in which before or after kneading the mixture in the step 1 and before subjecting the kneaded mixture to filtration treatment in the step 2, a sulfonic acid salt dispersant is compounded in an amount of not less than 0.8 part by mass and not more than 8.0 parts by mass on the basis of 100 parts by mass of the raw material organic pigment; [2] a process for producing a dispersion, including step 3 of subjecting a pigment mixture containing the fine organic pigment obtained by the production process according to the above [1], an organic solvent and water to dispersion treatment; and [3] a process for producing an ink, including step 4 of mixing the dispersion obtained by the production process according to the above [2] with at least one medium selected from the group consisting of water and an organic solvent.