Patents Europe

Mitsui Toatsu Chemical, Inc. disclosed a similar process usiag Raney copper (74) shortiy after the discovery at Dow, and BASF came out with a variation of the copper catalyst ia 1974 (75). Siace 1971 several hundred patents have shown modifications and improvements to this technology, both homogeneous and heterogeneous, and reviews of these processes have been pubHshed (76). Nalco Chemical Company has patented a process based essentially on Raney copper catalyst (77) ia both slurry and fixed-bed reactors and produces acrylamide monomer mainly for internal uses. Other producers ia Europe, besides Dow and American Cyanamid, iaclude AUied CoUoids and Stockhausen, who are beheved to use processes similar to the Raney copper technology of Mitsui Toatsu, and all have captive uses. Acrylamide is also produced ia large quantities ia Japan. Mitsui Toatsu and Mitsubishi are the largest producers, and both are beheved to use Raney copper catalysts ia a fixed bed reactor and to sell iato the merchant market. 

Erom 1920 to 1931, after the expiration of the viscose patents, world output increased from 14,000 to 225,000 t per year, as more than 100 companies entered the ceUulose fiber field. In Europe, Vereinigte Glanstoff Eabriken (VGE, Germany), Enka (HoUand), I. G. Earben (Germany), Snia Viscosa (Italy), Comptoir des Textiles Artificiels (CTA, Erance), Rhodiaceta (Erance), Tubize (Belgium), and ChatiUon (Italy) were among the new starters. 

Nonreactive additive flame retardants dominate the flexible urethane foam field. However, auto seating appHcations exist, particularly in Europe, for a reactive polyol for flexible foams, Hoechst-Celanese ExoHt 413, a polyol mixture containing 13% P and 19.5% Cl. The patent beHeved to describe it (114) shows a reaction of ethylene oxide and a prereacted product of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate and polyphosphoric acid. An advantage of the reactive flame retardant is avoidance of windshield fogging, which can be caused by vapors from the more volatile additive flame retardants. 

There is growing commercial importance and escalating scientific interest in PVDF. The World Patent database, including the United States, Hsts 678 patents that cite the term poly(vinyHdene fluoride) for the period 1963—1980 and 2052 patents for the period 1981—1992 Chemical Abstracts files covering the years 1967—1992 contain 5282 references for the same term. Thirty years ago there was only one commercial producer of PVDF in the world now there are two in the United States, two in Japan, and three in Europe. 

Polycarbonates are prepared commercially by two processes Schotten-Baumaim reaction of phosgene (qv) and an aromatic diol in an amine-cataly2ed interfacial condensation reaction or via base-cataly2ed transesterification of a bisphenol with a monomeric carbonate. Important products are also based on polycarbonate in blends with other materials, copolymers, branched resins, flame-retardant compositions, foams (qv), and other materials (see Flame retardants). Polycarbonate is produced globally by several companies. Total manufacture is over 1 million tons aimuaHy. Polycarbonate is also the object of academic research studies, owing to its widespread utiUty and unusual properties. Interest in polycarbonates has steadily increased since 1984. Over 4500 pubflcations and over 9000 patents have appeared on polycarbonate. Japan has issued 5654 polycarbonate patents since 1984 Europe, 1348 United States, 777 Germany, 623 France, 30 and other countries, 231. 

The expiration of Phillips basic PPS patent in 1984 ushered in a large interest from the industrial sector. Companies, based largely in Europe and Japan, began acquiring patents worldwide for both the synthesis of PPS and a wide variety of appHcations, including compounds, blends, alloys, fiber, film, advanced composite materials, as well as end use products. 

Anthrahydroquinones have been patented in Japan as bird repeUents (73), and anthraquinone [84-65-1] (qv) is used widely in Europe as a spray to protect growing crops and as a wood dressing. The synthetic pyrethroid deltamethrin [52918-63-5] (27) was evaluated (74), as were other materials, including bendiocarb (20) (75) and 20,25-dia2ocholesterol dihydrochloride [1249-84-9] (Omitrol) (28), a steroid that inhibits embryo development when adsorbed or ingested as a seed treatment of bait com (55,76). 

Decaffeinated coffee products represented 18% of the coffee consumed in 1991 in the United States (31). Decaffeinated coffee was first developed commercially in Europe about 1900. The process as described in a 1908 patent (35) consists of first, moisturizing green coffee to at least 20% to facilitate transport of caffeine through the cell wall, and then contacting the moistened beans with solvents. 

Earlier formulations contained mainly chlorine bleach, metasiUcates, triphosphate, and nonionic surfactants. Modem manufacturers have switched to more compHcated formulations with disiUcates, phosphates or citrate, phosphonates, polycarboxylates, nonionic surfactants, oxygen bleach, bleach activator, and enzymes. The replacement of metasiUcates by disilicates lowers pH from approximately 12 to 10.5, at 1 g ADD/L water. The combined effect of decreased pH, the absence of hypochlorite, and the trend toward lower wash temperatures has paved the way for the introduction of enzymes into ADDs. Most ADD brands in Europe are part of the new generation of ADD products with enzymes. The new formulations are described in the patent hterature (55—57). 

Coutor (U.S. Patent 2,036,924, 1936). See also Eisenlohr [Ind. Chem., 27, 271 (1951) Chem. Jng. Tech., 23, 12 (1951) Phorm. Ind., 17, 207 (1955) Trans. Indian Inst. Chem. Eng., 3, 7 (1949-1950)] and Husain et al. [Chim. Ind. ( 4ilan), 82, 435 (1959)]. This centrifuge revolves about a vertical axis and contains three actual stages. It operates at 3800 r/min and handles approximately 4.92 mVh (1300 gaPh) total liquid flow at 12-kW power requirement. Provision is made in the machine for the accumulation of solids separated from the hquids, for periodic removal. It is used, more extensively in Europe than in the United States, for the extraction of acetic acid, pharmaceuticals, and similar produces. 

Early records also indicate that cast mouldings were prepared from shellac by the ancient Indians. In Europe the use of sealing wax based on shellac can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The first patents for shellac mouldings were taken out in 1868. 

One such process is the TAP process, the basic patent being held by Dow. It was developed in Japan by Asahi in conjuction with Toshiba. Foam expansion after mould filling is made possible by use of retractable mould cores. Because of the difficulty of allowing expansion in more than one direction this process has been largely limited to the production of flat products. Efficient gas sealing systems are also vital and the process needs close control. For this reason it has not been widely used in either Europe or North America. 

Polyamides are the second largest group of synthetic fibers after polyesters. However, they were the first synthetic fibers that appeared in the market in 1940. This was the result of the work of W. H. Carothers in USA who developed nylon 66. At about the same time nylon 6 was also developed in Germany by I. G. Farben. Both of these nylons still dominate the market for polyamides. However, due to patent restrictions and raw materials considerations, nylon 66 is most extensively produced in USA and nylon 6 is most extensively produced in Europe. 

Considerable interest arose during the 1970 s and 1980 s in the use of micro-organisms to produce useful fatty adds and related compounds from hydrocarbons derived from the petroleum industry. During this period, a large number of patents were granted in Europe, USA and Japan protecting processes leading to the production of alkanols, alkyl oxides, ketones, alkanoic adds, alkane dioic acids and surfactants from hydrocarbons. Many of these processes involved the use of bacteria and yeasts associated with hydrocarbon catabolism. 

The proposed European Directive (i.e., EU law) on the patenting of computer-implemented inventions [8] has led to a debate in Europe on the desirability of patents on software. The debate recently culminated in a vote by the European Parliament, which rejected the proposed legislation [9]. 

The initial decision—often called the VICOM decision after the applicant for the patent—was followed by further decisions of the Boards of Appeal that opened the way for the patenting of inventions implemented by means of computers. The reasoning behind these decisions has often been adopted by courts in other countries (not only in Europe, but elsewhere). The German Supreme Court, for example, has explicitly stated that the application of computers in chemistry or biology is acceptable patentable subject matter [14]. 

Anonymous, Natural colorants set for growth in Europe, Confection. Jan. 28, 1998. Francis, F.J., Handbook of Food Colorant Patents, Food and Nutrition Press, Westport, CT, 1986. 

Five relevant patents have been awarded to Agip Petroli/Enichem Anic, which more recently integrated operations in Italy as Eni, of which, EniTecnologie is the Research and Technology affiliate. Most of these patents were issued in Europe with one in US (as equivalent to a European patent) ... 

The invented biocatalysts based on R. rhodochrous strain ATCC No. 53968 and on B. sphaericus strain ATCC No. 53969, were protected not only as whole cell biocatalysts, but also their derivatives. Biocatalyst definition includes in addition to whole cells cell membranes, cell extracts and enzymes from those microorganisms. It should be noted that the first six patents are actually sets of similar patents with the first one providing coverage in Europe and the second one in US. This strategy involves coverage in US as well as Europe (the total number of patents is higher than the number of inventions) however, the allowed claims in US were always smaller than that allowed in Europe. IGT s last patent (May 1996) was filed in July 1994, when they already had begun... 

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