Selected Patents 2006

The following list contains brief details of current patents, which appeared to the editor to be especially relevant. Inevitably, there is an element of subjectivity in the choice. Topics included in the list are based on the Divisions of the AOCS and the topical sessions held at the AOCS annual meetings. Patents are listed here at intervals as they are published in Inform.

Lipase variant (Vind, J., and others, Novozymes A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark US6939702B1, September 6, 2005).

Certain variants of Lipolase (wild-type Humicola lanuginosa lipase) have a particularly good first-wash performance in a detergent solution. The variants should comprise one or more substitutions with positive amino acids near the N-terminal in the three-dimensional structure. The variants should further comprise a peptide addition at the C-terminal and/or should meet certain limitations on electrically charged amino acids at positions 90-101 and 210.

Shortening composition ( Doucet, J., Frommer, Lawrence & Haug, New York, New York, USA US20050214436A1, September 2, 2005).

The present invention relates to a shortening system, for use as dough fat or filling fat; for instance, a shortening system containing, consisting essentially of, or consisting of, unhydrogenated or non-hydrogenated vegetable oil, such as a highly unsaturated, non-hydrogenated or unhydrogenated vegetable oil, e.g., soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, ricebran oil, or cottonseed oil and a minimum or minor amount (e.g., by weight about 3-10%, advantageously about 3-7%, more advantageously about 3-6% or about 3-5% or less than about 6% or less than about 8%) of an emulsifier composition comprising a monoglyceride and/or diglyceride, an alpha tending emulsifier and an ionic emulsifier as well as to methods for making and using such a shortening system and products from the use of such a shortening system.

Compositions comprising reverse isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (Saebo, A. and others, Medlen & Carroll, LLC, San Francisco, California, USA US20050215641A1, September 2, 2005).

The present invention relates to the field of human and animal nutrition, and in particular to certain novel compositions of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA). In particular, the present invention relates to CLA compositions comprising the c10,t12, c10,c12, t9,c11 and c9,c11 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid.

Method for the separation of phospholipids from phospholipid-containing materials (Abril, J., Martek Biosciences Corporation, Columbia, Maryland, USA US20050215803A1, September 2, 2005).

Methods are disclosed for extracting and separating polar lipids, including phospholipids, from materials containing oil, polar lipid, protein, ash, and/or carbohydrate, such as egg yolks and other phospholipid-containing materials. In particular, methods for extracting phospholipids from phospholipid-containing materials through the use of an aliphatic alcohol and control of temperature are disclosed. Using these methods, phospholipids in the aqueous liquid fraction will be efficiently separated and will precipitate readily, and can be subjected to separation for improved purity.

Process for the production of micro-nutrient rich zero-trans shortening interesterification (Chami, A. and others, Council Of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kerala, India US20050220968A1, October 6, 2005).

A process for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acid and micronutrient rich zero-trans shortening by chemical interesterification to produce nutritionally and fictionally superior shortening without hydrogenation. The process involves blending of palm oat and palm stearin with rice bran oil, interesterification in the presence of sodium methoxide catalyst, inactivation of the catalyst, washing with hot water, deodorization of the resultant product, and finally passing the interesterified product through margarine crystallizer under controlled conditions followed by packing and tempering.

Process for stabilizing unsaturated oils (Aanesen, B. and H. Breivik, Norsk Hydro Asa, Oslo, Norway EP1303579B1, October 12, 200).

A process for stabilising unsaturated oils is provided which comprises treating a raw material with an organic acid prior to separating the oil from the raw material.

Selective hydrogenation of functional groups in substrates and partially hydrogenated fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives (Härröd, M. and others, Härröd Research Ab, Gothenberg, Sweden WO2005095306A1, October 13, 2005).

Process for the hydrogenation of functional groups in hydrogenatable substrates, wherein hydrogen gas is mixed with the substrate and a solvent, the mixture is brought into contact with a catalyst. The hydrogenation is carried out under process conditions which are adapted to the activity of the catalyst used, wherein the temperature is sufficiently low, the substrate concentration is sufficiently high and the diffusivity is sufficiently high to provide a selective hydrogenation of the functional group having a higher reactivity than one which has a lower reactivity. The functional groups can for example comprise different C=C-groups in substrates in the form of lipids, primarily fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives, such as triglycerides and methyl fatty acids. Partially hydrogenated fatty acids/fatty acid derivatives can hereby be obtained, which possess a low content of trans-fatty acid content as well as high selectivity in the form of SLf number and Sao-number.

Method of producing lower alcohols from glycerol (Suppes, G. and others, University of Missouri (Columbia), USA WO2005095536A2, October 13, 2005).

A reactive-separation process converts glycerin into lower alcohols, having boiling points less than 200°C, at high yields. Conversion of natural glycerin to propylene glycol through an acetol intermediate is achieved at temperatures from 150 to 250°C at a pressure ranging from 1 and 25 bar. The preferred applications of the propylene glycol are as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound. The preferred catalyst for this process in a copper-chromium powder.

Soapstock treatment (Purtle, I. and others, Cargill Inc., Wayzata, Minnesota, USA WO2005095565A1, October 13, 2005).

A method for the recovery of fatty acids comprising a salt of the fatty acid is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) reacting the salt of the fatty acid with CO₂ and with a reagent other than hydroxide and selected from a group of compounds carrying at least one of O-H, N-H, S-H, C-O-C and C-O-N moieties, to form a reaction mixture comprising at least one of a carbonate and a bicarbonate and a product selected from fatty acids and derivatives thereof, and (b) separating the product from the reaction mixture. A method for the production of fatty acid ester from free fatty acid of crude vegetable oil is also disclosed. A free fatty acid that is substantially free of emulsifier is also disclosed.

Compositions containing interestified lipids and phytosterol ester, and related methods, with health and nutrition promoting characteristics (Nakhasi, D. and R. Daniels, Bunge Oils, Inc., Bradley, Illinois, USA WO2005095566A1, October 13, 2005).

Medium-chain triglyceride oils are interesterified with long-chain domestic oils in order to form interesterified structured lipids. These structured lipids find special application in combination with phytosterols to provide compositions and methods for enhancing health and nutrition characteristics. The compositions preferably have a structured lipid content of between about (92) and about (96) weight percent and a phytosterol ester content of between about (4) and about (8) weight percent, based on the total weight of the health and nutrition promoting composition.

Method for producing highly unsaturated fatty acids and lipid containing same (Suzuki, O., and others, Suntory Ltd., Osaka, Japan US6958229B2, October 25, 2005).

A method for producing highly unsaturated fatty acids comprising culturing a microorganism, belonging to the genus Mortierella and having resistance to a carbon source, in a medium having a carbon source concentration of at least 4% by weight, and collecting highly unsaturated fatty acids from the cultured products. Culturing the microorganism for about a week gives at least about 7 g/L of highly unsaturated fatty acids.

Processes for producing alkyl ester of fatty acid (Nakayama, M., and others, Revo International Inc., Kyoto, Japan US6960672B2, November 1, 2005).

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an alkyl ester of a fatty acid wherein a transesterification reaction is carried out between a fat or oil and an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst comprising a composite metal oxide having a perovskite structure; and a process for preparing an alkyl ester of a fatty acid wherein a transesterification reaction is carried out between a fat or oil and an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides and carbonates of alkaline earth metals is used as the catalyst, with the alcohol made into a supercritical state or subcritical state. According to the present invention, the alkyl ester of a fatty acid which can be effectively utilized as a diesel fuel oil or the like can be prepared at high efficiency and on an industrial scale mainly from triglyceride contained in a fat or oil, especially a waste oil.

Method for pretreating crude oils and raw fats for the production of fatty acid esters (Brunner, K., and others, Westfalia Separator AG, Oelde, Germany US6960673B2, November 1, 2005).

A method for pretreating crude oils and fats for subsequent alkaline transesterification with primary and/or secondary alcohols. The raw oil or fat loaded with slimy substances is treated with a mixture used at 0.15 wt% in relation to the oil or fat comprising an alcohol and concentrated acid, and preferably is subsequently rinsed with an alkaline glycerol phase arising from an alkaline transesterification reaction of the above-mentioned type. After the rinsing process, the glycerol phase which is loaded with slimy substances and soaps of free fatty acids is separated as a heavy phase of neutral oil liberated from free fatty acids.

Low temperature process for extracting principal components from plants or plant materials and plant extracts produced thereby (McFadden, P. & Ross-Morrey, D., Naturel Corp. LLC Hackettstown, New Jersey, USA US6962725B2, November 8, 2005).

A low temperature process for extracting principal components from plants or plant materials and plant extracts produced by such a low temperature process are provided. The inventive low temperature process improves the yield and quality of volatile and non-volatile components extracted from plants or plant materials.

Method and system for automated tracing of an agricultural product (Pickett, T. and others, Deere & Co., Moline, Illinois USA US6963881B2, November 8, 2005).

A method and system of tracing an agricultural product relates to recording of at least one of planting information, growing information, harvesting information, chemical information, and weather information (e.g., electronically recorded) concerning a crop to form a data profile for a corresponding crop. Once harvested, the crop is segregated from intermixing with other harvested crops by placing the crop in one or more containers, each having a corresponding identifier. The data profile is associated with the container profile for later referencing of the data profile.

Process for making high purity fatty acid lower alkyl esters (Kenneally, C., and others, The Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA US6965043B1, November 15, 2005).

Processes for the synthesis of high purity fatty acid lower alkyl esters comprise the steps of: (a) converting a fatty acid source to a product mixture comprising lower alkyl esters and by-products; (b) water-washing the product mixture at elevated temperature and elevated pressure to remove by-products; and (c) fractionally distilling the water-washed product mixture to obtain high purity fatty acid lower alkyl esters. At least a portion of the fatty acids have from about 20 to about 24 carbon atoms. The high purity lower alkyl esters have an acid value no greater than about 1.0.

Method of converting free fatty acids to fatty acid methyl esters with small excess of methanol (Hammond, E. and Wang, T., Iowa State University Research Foundation, Ames, Iowa, USA US6965044B1, November 15, 2005).

Professor Earl Hammond, a Fellow of the AOCS and an award-winning AOCS member since 1954, is still breaking ground with his discoveries. In this patent, a method for converting free fatty acids in acid oil or acid fat into fatty acid methyl esters is disclosed. The method involves adding a small amount of methanol and an acid catalyst to the acid oil or acid fat and subjecting the mixture to conditions that allow the fatty acid methyl esters to form. A lipid phase containing the fatty acid methyl esters and triglycerides can from and be separated from the rest of the reaction mixture. The lipid phase can then be subjected to conditions suitable for converting the triglycerides into fatty acid methyl esters. The method of present invention is especially useful for a process of generating biodiesel using a starting material of vegetable and animal oils and fats that contain a relatively high level of free fatty acids.

Method for separating saturated and unsaturated fatty acid esters and use of separated fatty acid esters (Bist, S. and B. Tao, Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA US20050232956A1, October 20, 2005).

A method for treating a fatty acid methyl ester. The method can include mixing the fatty acid methyl ester with an amount of urea and an amount of alcohol to make (i) a urea/fatty acid methyl ester ratio of from about 0 wt/wt to about 1 wt/wt and (ii) an alcohol/fatty acid methyl ester ratio of from about 4 vol/wt to about 8 vol/wt, heating the fatty acid methyl ester/urea/alcohol mixture to a temperature at which a homogenous mixture is obtained, cooling the fatty acid methyl ester/urea/alcohol mixture to a temperature where a solid phase and a liquid phase are formed, and separating the solid phase from the liquid phase.

Process for preparing high liquid oil, no trans, very low saturates, regular margarine with phospholipids (Jahaniaval, F., Bereskin & Parr, Toronto, Ontario, Canada US20050233056A1, October 20, 2005).

The present invention provides a method for the preparation of high liquid oil margarine in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion wherein selected phospholipids (for example, PC, PE and lyso-PC/PE) play an important role in stabilizing the margarine. The total fat content of said high liquid oil margarine is made up of a minimum of about 96% liquid oil and a maximum of about 4% added hard fat and phospholipids. The method comprises preparing a water-in-oil emulsion by blending an aqueous phase with oil phase at a temperature above the crystallization temperature of the added hard fat and reducing said temperature until hard fat crystallization occurs, and supercooling in heat exchanger to obtain a high liquid oil margarine. The method of the invention uses selected phospholipids and the use of heat exchanger “votator” for fat crystal nucleation and provides a margarine comprising very low levels of saturated fats and virtually no trans fatty acids.

Processes for the production of triglycerides of unsaturated fatty acids in the presence of enzymes (Schoerken, U. and others, Cognis Corp., Ambler, Pennsylvania, USA US20050233426A1, October 20, 2005).

Processes for the enzyme-catalyzed production of triglycerides using polyunsaturated fatty acids, in which (a) the reaction of polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or C1-4 alkyl esters thereof with glycerol in vacuo in the presence of an immobilized enzyme to form their triglycerides is accelerated by addition of an additive from the group of weakly basic salts, complexing agents and ion exchangers and/or addition of a weakly basic salt and/or addition of an entraining agent in the form of a solvent or a gas and/or addition of glycerol-binding adsorbers and/or heat treatment of the partial glyceride intermediate product, (b) the immobilized enzymes are removed from the triglyceride by separation or filtration and (c) the remaining fatty acids and/or C1-4 alkyl esters thereof are removed from the triglyceride by distillation, refining or extraction

Eco tire (Kikuchi, N., and others, c/o Birch, Stewart Kolasch & Birch, Falls Church, Virginia, USA, US20050236084A1, October 27, 2005).

An earth-friendly tire using raw materials derived from non-petroleum resources instead of all or part of raw materials derived from petroleum resources currently used for tires. The tire is prepared by using a natural rubber instead of a synthetic rubber; an inorganic filler and/or a biofiller instead of carbon black; vegetable oil instead of petroleum oil; and natural fiber instead of synthetic fiber so that the tire comprises a non-petroleum raw material in an amount of at least 75% by weight based on the total weight of the tire.

Systems and preparations for bio-based polyurethane foams (Provan, I., Biopolymers, LLC and Multifine, Ltd., Lakeland, Florida, USA, US20050239915A1, October 27, 2005).

The present invention consists of a series of bio-based polyurethane foams related to the use of such polyurethane foams for use in residential and commercial insulation industries, packaging industries and molding industries and in particular the invention includes systems and methods of manufacture and application of such bio-based polyurethane foams. The bio-based poly-urethane foams are derived from castor oils, soybean oils and are not dependent on hydrocarbons, thus they are made from annually renewable natural resources.

Soybean seeds and plants exhibiting natural herbicide resistance (Davis, W., Natural Genes, Inc., Plainview, Texas, USA, US20050241019A1, October 27, 2005).

Soybean plants are provided that exhibit in the absence of induced mutagenesis naturally-occurring genetically-controlled glyphosate herbicide resistance that is not attributable to genetic engineering. Mature soybean seeds initially are soaked in a liquid comprising a glyphosate herbicide for a period of time sufficient for the herbicide to reach the embryos of the soybean seeds. Following such soaking the soybean seeds are planted to produce at least one soybean plant or a descendant thereof in a subsequent generation that displays resistance to glyphosate herbicide. The existence of the naturally-occurring glyphosate herbicide resistance in a soybean plant is confirmed by demonstrating the absence of a foreign gene for herbicide resistance that has been introduced by genetic engineering. Soybean seeds capable of forming the naturally-occurring genetically-controlled glyphosate herbicide resistance that is not attributable to genetic engineering also are provided. Such herbicide resistance can be reliably expressed and transferred to other soybean plants by conventional plant breeding methods.

Palm-based hydroxy fatty acid (Ahmad, S., and others, c/o Bacon & Thomas, PLLC, Alexandria, Virginia, USA, US20050240041A1, October 27, 2005).

The present invention relates to an improved process for producing hydroxy fatty acids preferably dihydroxy or polyhydroxy acids from unsaturated fatty acids derived from natural oils and fats. The unsaturated fatty acids extracted from natural vegetable oils or animal fats preferably palm-based oleic acid are hydroxylated or oxidized by peracetic acid which formed in situ from a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and formic acid. The process for producing dihydroxy or polyhydroxy fatty acids according to the present invention involves less cost, easier to perform and reduced reaction time. In addition, the dihydroxy or polyhydroxy acids produced according to the present invention are non irritant and suitable to be used in production of cosmetic products.

Method of producing lower alcohols from glycerol (Suppes, G., and others, c/o Lathrop & Gage LLC, Boulder, Colorado, USA, US20050244312A1, November 3, 2005).

A reactive-separation process converts glycerin into lower alcohols, having boiling points less than 200°C at high yields. Conversion of natural glycerin to propylene glycol through an acetol intermediate is achieved at temperatures from 150 to 250°C at a pressure ranging from 1 and 25 bar. The preferred applications of the propylene glycol are as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound. The preferred catalyst for this process is a copper-chromium powder.

Lubricating oil and its use (Repo, H., c/o Venable LLP, Washington, DC, USA, US20050245404A1, November 3, 2005).

The invention relates to a lubricating oil, which is used in the food industry as the oil for slicers and dividers, as lubricating oil for moulds and pans, or as a pan washing oil. The lubricating oil contains at least-turnip rapeseed oil or rapeseed oil as a main component, -auxiliary lubricant, which is selected from the following agents: -pharmaceutical grade white oil, -methyl ester (RME), ethyl ester (REE) or propyl ester (RPE) of turnip rapeseed oil or rapeseed oil, -emulsifier, which is selected from the following agents: -lecithin -acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, -sucrose esters of fatty acids, -antioxidant, which is added synthetic tocopherol.

Spreadable food product (Marangoni, A., and Idziak, S., c/o Gowling, LaFleur Henderson LLP, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, US20050249855A1, November 10, 2005).

The present invention provides a novel cellular solid structure which can be used to structure an oil-water mixture into a semi-solid state. The invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of food products, drug delivery agents, coatings, barrier films and encapsulating media.

Process for producing soy protein (Liu, X., and others, c/o Morgan & Finnegan, LLP, New York, New York, USA, US20050249865A1, November 10, 2005).

The present invention is to provide a method for obtaining more efficiently isolated-soy protein, which has excellent gelation properties and shows neither bitterness nor astringency characteristic to soybean, while reducing the amount of water used in a soy protein manufacturing plant and thus lessening burden on the environment owing to the reduction in discharged water. It is a method for producing isolated-soy protein, including: an acid-washing step of washing defatted soybeans with an aqueous medium in a region of pH 3.0 to 5.0 to extract and remove whey components; an extraction step of extracting protein from acid-washed soybean slurry obtained in the acid-washing step with an aqueous medium in a neutral to alkaline region and then removing an extraction residue; and an isolation step of separating the extract solution obtained in the extraction step into water and protein while holding it in the neutral to alkaline region.

Soybean containing high levels of free amino acids (Takahashi, M., and others, Inc Admin Agcy Natl Agric And Bio-Oriented Res Org, Tsukuba-Shi, Japan, US20050241025A1, October 27, 2005).

The present invention relates to a soybean, which can be easily processed into a food containing free amino acids and has a high total free amino acid content in the seeds thereof, and a method of producing such soybean. By providing a soybean characterized in that it genetically lacks all subunits of β-conglycinin and glycinin, or has only A3B4, which is the subunit of glycinin among the subunits of β-conglycinin and glycinin, a soybean having a total free amino content in the seeds thereof which is greater than those of general soybean varieties, is provided.

Food product (Marangoni, A., and Idziak, S., c/o Gowling, LaFleur Henderson LLP, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, US20050249856A1, November 10, 2005).

The present invention provides a novel cellular solid structure which can be used to structure an oil-water mixture into a semi-solid state. The invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of food products, such as margarine-like spreads, other spreads and dips and dairy-like products such as whipped toppings and creamy fillings.

Functional fiber flour product and method for making same (Konecsni, J., and others , c/o Amin Law, LLC., Chicago, Illinois, USA, US20050249860A1, November 10, 2005).

The present invention relates to a functional fiber flour product for use in foods, beverages, nutritional products and dietary supplements. The invention includes a functional fiber flour product made from oilseeds and comprises soluble and insoluble dietary fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, protein, lignans, and low amounts of digestible carbohydrates and saturated fat. Properties of the present invention are useful in enhancing mixing, sheeting, extrusion, baking, frying and roasting characteristics of human food and beverage products and animal feed products without adversely affecting palatability or appearance attributes; properties also include considerable extended shelf life compared to prior art functional fiber products. The present invention also includes a process for making the functional fiber flour product using high pressure and high temperature mixing and extrusion equipment.

Synthesis of purified, moderately esterified polyol polyester fatty acid compositions (Schaefer, J., The Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, US20050250731A1, November 10, 2005).

Processes for the preparation of a purified moderately esterified polyol fatty acid polyester composition including the steps of: forming an initial reaction mixture containing a polyol portion, a highly esterified polyol fatty acid polyester, a moderately esterified polyol fatty acid polyester; and a catalyst; wherein the molar ratio of the polyol portion, highly esterified polyol polyester portion, and moderately esterified polyol polyester portion should be chosen such that the final ratio of total fatty acid esters to total polyol backbones is in the range from about 3.2:1 to about 6.4:1; wherein the molar ratio of said catalyst to said highly esterified polyol polyester is in the range of from about 0.01:1 to about 10:1; and then forming an initial reaction product by reacting the initial reaction mixture in an inert atmosphere, in the presence of a sufficient amount of agitation, for a period of time in the range of from about 30 minutes to about 6 hours, and at a temperature in the range of from about 80°C to about 140°C.

Pigment compositions for oil-based lithographic printing inks (Marr, A., and others, Ciba Specialy Chemicals Corp., Tarrytown, New York, USA, US20050250875A1, November 10, 2005).

Pigment compositions suitable for oil-based lithographic printing inks are provided which comprise besides an organic pigment, a hyperdispersant which is a poly-alkyleneiminepolyester adduct, a synergist agent which is a quaternary ammonium pigment derivative, a solvent which includes aliphatic/aromatic hydrocarbon distillates and vegetable oils, and optionally rosin or a modified rosin. The printing inks prepared from these pigment compositions show outstanding improvements in their rheological properties.

Purified, moderately esterified polyol polyester fatty acid compositions (Schaefer, J., The Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, US20050250732A1, November 10, 2005).

Processes for the production of purified, moderately esterified polyol fatty acid polyesters and the compositions derived from those processes. The purified, moderately esterified polyol fatty acid polyesters are particularly well suited for use in a variety of cosmetic, laundry, and industrial lubrication applications. The purified, moderately esterified polyol fatty acid polyester compositions contain: a moderately esterified polyol fatty acid polyester; less than about 5% polyol; less than about 5 ppm of residual solvent; less than about 700 ppm of lower alkyl esters; less than about 2% of a soap and free fatty acid mixture; and less than about 1% of ash; wherein the polyester composition has an acid value of less than about 2; and wherein the polyester composition has a Lovibond Red color of less than about 10.

Fatty acid monomers to reduce emissions and toughen polymers (Palmese, G., and others, c/o Knoble Yoshida & Dunleavy, LLC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, US20050250923A1, November 10, 2005).

Novel fatty acid monomers and methods for their synthesis are provided for use in polymerization reactions. Fatty acid monomers are employed as reactive diluents in the polymerization of vinyl esters and polyesters for one or more purposes selected from improving the fracture resistance, lowering the processing viscosity and reducing the volatile organic compounds present in the polymerization mixture.

Extraction of palm vitamin E, phytosterols and squalene from palm oil (May, C., and others, c/o Birch, Stewart Kolasch & Birch, Falls Church, Virginia, USA, US20050250953A1, November 10, 2005).

Phytosterols, squalene and Vitamin E are recovered from phytonutrients concentrate derived from crude palm oil by the disclosed invention via esterification, transesterification, vacuum distillation, saponification, crystallization and organic solvents partitioning. Crude palm oil is subjected to esterification and transesterification for the production of crude palm oil methyl esters. Phytonutrients concentrate containing phytosterols, squalene, Vitamin E and unreacted monoglycerides is recovered from crude palm oil methyl esters by multi-stages vacuum distillation in which components with higher molecular weight are filtered during second stage vacuum distillation. The purified phytonutrients concentrate is subjected to saponification process and the unsaponifiable matter is added to a combination of solvents for crystallization of phytosterols. The filtrate enriched in squalene and Vitamin E is separated to its individual squalene-rich layer and vitamin E-rich layer via liquid-liquid partitioning.

Transgenic plants with tocopherol methyltransferase (Dellapenna, D., and Shintani, D., c/o Quarles & Bradley LLP, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, US20050251875A1, November 10, 2005).

Gene sequences encoding γ-tocopherol methyltransferases from photosynthetic organisms are disclosed. The enzyme γ-tocopherol methyltransferase catalyzes the methylation of γ-tocopherol to yield α-tocopherol, the most bioactive species of tocopherol. γ-Tocopherol methyltransferase is believed to be involved in regulating the relative amounts of the various tocopherols present in photosynthetic organisms. By introducing a genetic construct having a γ-tocopherol methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered γ-tocopherol methyltransferase expression, to effect dramatic changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have α-tocopherol as the predominant tocopherol in their seeds and oils.

Process for producing a deicing/anti-icing fluid (Chauhan, S., and others, c/o MacMillan, Sobanski & Todd, LLC, Toledo, Ohio, USA, US20050253110A1, November 17, 2005).

In a process for producing a deicing/anti-icing fluid, a by-product stream is obtained from a process that produces monoalkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids. The stream includes water, glycerol, and an alkali-containing compound. The stream is converted to a deicing/anti-icing fluid by adding an acid to the stream to neutralize the alkali-containing compound to produce an alkali salt that functions as a supplemental freezing point depressant.

Non-destructive single seed or several seeds NIR analyzer and method (Wright, S., Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Johnston, Iowa, USA, US20050254053A1, November 17, 2005).

A method and apparatus for optically interrogating a particle comprising obtaining a plurality of optical interrogations from a plurality of orientations relative the particle. In one aspect, the particle is tumbled relative to optical interrogation direction and reflected or transmitted energy is collected and added into a single spectrum that represents a complete spectral composition of the sample.

Production system and method (Teall, R., and Sickels, R., c/o Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, Irvine, California, USA, US20050255013A1, November 17, 2005).

In a first aspect, systems and methods for producing biodiesel fuel include a modular production unit incorporated onto a single platform or into a housing for ease of relocatability. The modular production unit preferably includes a mixing unit, a reactor unit, a separation unit, a distillation unit, and a filtering unit, all incorporated onto or into a self-contained platform or housing that is able to be easily relocated. In a second aspect, the modular production unit is combined with additional fixed and/or relocatable components to provide a biodiesel processing plant. In a third aspect, a raw materials processing system and method includes a roller barrel adapted for recovery, transportation, and introduction of recycled oil feedstock into a biodiesel manufacturing process. The raw materials processing system preferably includes a hot box for filtering and heating the raw recycled oil feedstock.

Lipolytic enzyme variants and method for their production (Svendsen, A., and others, Novozymes A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark, US20050255544A1, November 17, 2005).

The inventors have developed a method using protein engineering to produce lipolytic enzymes having a relatively high activity for one ester bond in an amphiphilic substrate with two lipophilic groups and a relatively low activity for the ester bond in an amphiphilic substrate with one lipophilic group, e.g. a relatively high phospholipase activity and a relatively low lysophospholipase activity.

Lipase variants (Matuschek, M., and others, BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany, US20050255571A1, November 17, 2005).

Lipase variants are developed from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas fragi, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Pseudomonas wisconsinensis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas vulgaris, Burkholderia cepacia, Burkholderia glumae, Burkholderia plantarii, Chromobacterium viscosum, Pseudomonas luteola, and Pseudomonas spec. DSM 8246. Acylation or enantioselective acylation of alcohols, amines or amino acid esters or racemic alcohols, amines or amino acid esters is carried out by the lipase variants.

Generation of plants with altered oil content (Lightner, J., and others, Exelixis, San Francisco, California, USA, US20050257288A1, November 17, 2005).

The present invention is directed to plants that display an altered oil content phenotype due to altered expression of an ICL nucleic acid. The invention is further directed to methods of generating plants with an altered oil content phenotype. Preferred plants are rapeseed, soy, corn, sunflower, cotton, cocoa, safflower, oil palm, coconut palm, flax, castor and peanut.

Enzymatic production of hydrolyzed lecithin products (Schmitt, H., and others, Cargill, Inc., Wayzata, Minnesota, USA, WO2005100579A1, October 27, 2005).

Processes for enzymatic modification of lecithin and related materials, and hydrolyzed products obtained by such modification, are disclosed. One particular implementation provides methods for producing a hydrolysed product containing hydrolyzed phospholipids, monoglycerides, and diglycerides. For example, such a method may include the steps of: (a) contacting a starting material, such as a lecithin, which includes a phospholipid component and a triglyceride component, in an aqueous or organic solvent medium, with a first enzyme effective to hydrolyse the phospholipid; and (b) subsequently contacting the product of step (a) with a second enzyme, effective to hydrolyse the triglyceride.

Process for producing fatty acid lower alcohol ester (Fukuda, H., and Nado, H., Kansai Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd., Hyogo, Japan, US6982155B1, January 3, 2006).

The present invention provides a method for producing a fatty acid ester inexpensively and efficiently by reacting a lipase or an intact mircroorganism containing a lipase, an oil and fat, and a linear lower alcohol in a system containing little or no solvent in the presence of water. The intact microorganism has not been treated with a solvent or the like, and is used as such, so that a fatty acid ester can be prepared in a simple manner. An oil and fat, a natural oil and fat such as a vegetable oil and fat, an animal oil and fat, as well as a waste oil thereof can be used. According to the method of the present invention, a reaction proceeds even in the presence of water, so that waste oils containing a large amount of water can be used as a raw material. Therefore, the waste oil to be dumped into the environment can be recycled, and a biodiesel fuel, which hardly pollutes the environment, can be provided at the same time.

Fatty acids, soaps, surfactant systems, and consumer products based thereon (Connor, D., and others, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, US6992057B2, January 31, 2006).

Novel fatty acids and derivatives thereof such as salts, new surfactant systems comprising one or more of these compounds, consumer products such as laundry products, personal care products, pharmaceutical compositions, industrial cleaners, and the like comprising said compounds or surfactant systems.

Vegetable oil having elevated stearic acid content (Kodali, D., Cargill, Inc., Wayzata, Minnesota, USA, US6994882B2, February 7, 2006).

Vegetable oils having an elevated stearic acid content and a low polyunsaturates content are described. A confectionery product containing oils of the invention is also described.

Synthesis of polyol medium fatty acid polyesters (Howie, J., and others, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA US6995232B2, February 7, 2006).

Processes for the preparation of polyol fatty acid polyesters comprise heating a mixture of polyol, fatty acid ester, emulsifying agent and catalyst. In one embodiment, the fatty acid chains of the fatty acid ester have from about 6 to about 14 total carbon atoms and the emulsifying agent comprises a fatty acid soap having fatty acid chains of from about 16 to about 22 total carbon atoms.

Nail polish remover comprising fatty acid ester and alkyl lactate (Tavares, B., React-NTI, LLC, Lino Lakes, Minnesota, USA, US6998371B2, February 14, 2006).

A nail polish remover is formulated from a combination of solvents derived from naturally occurring materials, which combination consists essentially of a (i) a major proportion by weight ("by wt") of esters of fatty acids having from 16 to 18 carbon atoms wherein the content of linoleic acid ester in the source vegetable oil is less than 60%, and (ii) a minor proportion by weight of a lower (C1-C5) alkyl lactate. The nail polish remover is highly effective yet has good skin conditioning properties, is non-toxic and non- flammable. A visible residue several micrometers thick provides a desirable gloss on the cleaned nails unless it is washed off.