The present invention relates to a method of preparing a set of substances having new characteristics for use especially in the production of a very large range of products such as cosmetics, drugs, foods (emulsions, creams, milks, ointments, shampoos, cleansing means for face/body, bath foams) industrial products (detergents for washing-machines, dishwashing machines, all-purpose cleansing agents), and chemical-pharmaceutical products (solvents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers for aerosol, inhalations, environment deodorizers).

These preparations can be used under absolute safety conditions regarding both toxicological-allergic and environment-friendly aspects since their constituents are already present in nature.

The present invention consists of a method as defined in claim 1.

The products prepared by the method according to the invention can be considered to belong to four main groups, namely lipoproteins, lipoaminoacids, lipid esters, and glucolipids.

The preparation of such groups starts from fatty acid chlorides of the whole constituting fatty acids of olive oil.

Such acids are condensed with vegetal protein hydrolysates to provide lipoproteins, with aminoacids to provide lipoaminoacids, with alcohols to provide lipid esters, and with sugars to provide glucolipids.

WO 94/27561 discloses compositions comprising a number N-derivatives of organic acids, such as N-lauritic derivatives of mixtures of glutammic acid, aspartic acid and sarcosine, or N-palmitic derivatives of aminated acids of wheat protein and of sarcosine.

GB patent specification n. 792,576 refers to N-acyl derivatives of glutamine and asparagines having anti-convulsant properties.

GB patent n. 385,957 relates to a washing agent obtained through a sulphonated oleic acid ester.

JP application n. 59164081 relates to a compound useful as food additive prepared from oleic acid.

Some examples of the method according to the invention will be described herebelow.

In a preferred embodiment the method of preparing a lipoprotein of fully vegetal nature with a large range of applications, as explained thereafter, the following steps are carried out by using a hydrolyzed vegetal protein, namely wheat gluten which is enzymatically hydrolyzed, in the condensation of the fatty acid chlorides of olive oil:

An enzymatic hydrolisate solution of wheat gluten (60-80% by weight referred to the finished product) is fed into a mixer of stainless steel and brought to a temperature between 45°C and 70°C; the following substances in the indicated proportions are added under stirring: L.ascorbic acid 0.1 - 0.4% glycerol 4 - 11% and 2-4% potassium hydrate or sodium hydrate water solution having a concentration between 20 and 35% until a pH between 7.5 and 9.5 is reached while keeping the temperature at the initial value.

More particularly a substance with optimum characteristics is obtained by carrying out the following Example.

An amount of gluten hydrolisate equal to 70% by weight of the finished product is fed into a mixer of stainless steel and heated at 55°C under stirring.

When such temperature is reached, 0.3% L.ascorbic acid, 0.3% sodium EDTA, 10% glycerol, and 30% potassium hydrate (KOH) water solution are added until pH 8.5 is reached.

After about 15 minutes the reaction is started by adding 6% by weight of fatty acid chlorides of olive oil still under stirring at constant temperature and the above pH 8.5 which is kept by a continuous, very gradual addition of 8% potassium hydrate solution (30% water solution). The reaction is continued under stirring at constant temperature for about 2 hours followed by a slow cooling. Finally, pH is adjusted to 7 by adding a total amount of 1% phosphoric acid and citric acid in a ratio of 1:1.

In order to obtain a lipoaminoacid to be used according to the applications of the present invention, the following method has been carried out by using a derivative of glutamic acid as aminoacid, namely sodium glutamate, and employing the following substances in the indicated weight proportion ranges:

An amount of 30-42% distilled water, 10-17% sodium glutamate, 0.1-0.5% sodium EDTA, 8-11% 95°-ethyl alcohol are mixed in a reactor of stainless steel. Under stirring the mixture is brought to a temperature between 45°C and 75°C by adding very gradually an amount of 12-20% of a 30% potassium hydrate water solution and 16-25% fatty acid chlorides of olive oil taking care of keeping pH between 8 and 12 and the temperature at the initial value. The reaction is continued for 2 to 5 hours followed by a cooling of the whole mixture and citric acid is added to adjust pH to 7-8. Finally, ethyl alcohol is distilled and the balance to 100 is formed by adding distilled water.

Therefore, a lipoaminoacid having essentially the same characteristics as the lipoprotein both as far as its essential features and applications is concerned but capable of producing a persistent, creamy, more abundant foam has been prepared by the above-mentioned method.

A lipoaminoacid having the desired characteristics to an optimum extent has been prepared by reacting the above-mentioned substances as indicated above in the amounts of the following Example:

In a reactor of stainless steel the following substances are mixed: Distilled water 36,7% Sodium glutamate 14% Sodium EDTA 0.3% 95°-Ethyl alcohol 10%

The mixture contained in the reactor is brought to 65°C under stirring and: 30% KOH water solution 17% Chlorinated fatty acids of olive oil 21% are gradually added still under stirring and keeping pH to 9.5.

The reaction is continued for 3 hours and after cooling citric acid is added until pH 7.5 is reached. Finally, ethyl alcohol is distilled and the balance to 100 of the final product is formed by adding distilled water.

In a method of the invention the chlorides of the olive oil fatty acids are condensed with sugars derived, for example, from enzymatic hydrolysis of starch, barley, wheat.

In order to obtain a lipid ester the following method has been carried out by using a fatty alcohol, namely oleic alcohol, and employing the following substances in the indicated weight proportion ranges: Oleic alcohol is fed into a reactor of stainless steel provided with stirrer and distiller and, after having brought the temperature to 60-96°C, oleic acid chloride is added, the ratio between oleic alcohol and oleic acid being 1:0.8-1:1.5. HCl fumes developed during the reaction are then recovered by feeding them to a separated alkali solution.

It should be noted that the addition of oleic acid chloride must be gradual and very slow so as to be concluded in a period of 2-5 hours. The reaction is continued for 3-5 hours by keeping the initial temperature constant. The distillation of the hydrochloric acid should be complete. A washing is carried out in the end by mixing with distilled water in a proportion of about 20% of the total mass that is eventually discharged from the bottom of the reactor.

Under the above-mentioned conditions oleic alcohol adjusted to 90° and oleic acid chloride in the ratio of 1:1.1 are fed by adding the latter very slowly during 4 hours into a reactor of stainless steel provided with stirrer and distillator. The mixture is reacted for further 4 hours still at temperature of 90°C under distillation of the hydrochloric acid by conveying the HCl fumes to an alkali solution. The washing with 20% distilled water is carried out at the end of the distillation, as indicated above.

In order to prepare a glucolipid the following method has been carried out by using tetraose malt as sugar and employing the following substances in the indicated weight proportion ranges:

An amount of 38-45% distilled water and 18-36% tetraose malt produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a starch are fed into a reactor of stainless steel; an amount of 9-18% 95°-ethyl alcohol referred to the finished product is added under stirring and the whole mixture is brought to a temperature between 45 and 75°C by adding 0.1-0.5% sodium EDTA and then very gradually 7-15% oleic acid chloride and 3-7% of a 30%-solution of sodium hydrate taking care of keeping pH between 7 and 9.

The reaction is continued for 2-5 hours still under stirring at the initial temperature. Final pH is adjusted between 6 and 8 and alcohol is distilled forming the balance to 100 by adding distilled water.

In a reactor of stainless steel the following substances are mixed: Distilled water 46% Tetraose malt 24% 95°-Ethyl alcohol 15% Sodium EDTA 0.3%

Still under stirring and bringing the content of the reactor to a temperature of 65°C an amount of 10% oleic acid chloride and 4,5% of a 30% NaOH water solution are gradually added keeping pH to 8.5.

The reaction is continued for 3 hours and thirty minutes and citric acid is added under constant temperature until pH 7.5 is reached. Finally, ethyl alcohol is distilled and the balance to 100 of the final product is formed by adding distilled water.

A finished product of the invention showed eudermic properties perfectly tolerated also by the most delicate skins and the mucosa. Furthermore it has hydrating, emollient, protective properties and, as far as its inherent cleansing activity is concerned, it is also suitable for the preparation of cleansing creams and milks, shampoos, bath foams, personal cleanliness products and, more particularly, paedocosmetics.