Abstract: The invention provides a method of purifying 2-alkyl-4-halo-5-formylimidazoles, which comprises dissolving an 2-alkyl-4-halo-5-formylimidazole in an aqueous solution of a sulfonating agent, adjusting the solution to pH 1-6, and removing the impurity 2-alkyl-4,5-dihaloimidazole by filtration or extraction.

Abstract: A biodegradable resin composition including a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and a starch-based macromolecular substance. The saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is one having an ethylene content of 20 to 60 mole %, a vinyl acetate saponification degree of not less than 90 mole %, a melt flow index of 1 to 100 g/10 min as measured under a load of 2160 g at 210.degree. C., and a melt viscosity ratio .eta..sub.60 /.eta..sub.5 of 0.5 to 4 where .eta..sub.60 means the melt viscosity after 60 minutes of standing at 250.degree. C. and the .eta..sub.5 means the melt viscosity after 5 minutes of standing at 250.degree. C. and a starch-based macromolecular substance. A layer of the above composition can be used to fabricate a laminate with a substrate material of a different kind, such as a photodegradable polymer.

Abstract: A process for agglomerating a polymer powder which comprises mixing a polymer powder with an oxyalkylene group-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin in the presence of water and drying the resulting mixture. According to the process of the present invention, it is possible to easily prepare the polymer granules having little fine powder, a narrow particle size distribution and a large average particle size.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor composition from natural materials, which composition is of use as an antihypertensive drug or diet. The method comprises heating a meat in water at a temperature not lower than 50.degree. C. to extract water-soluble protein and hydrolyzing the residue predominantly composed of water-insoluble protein with a protease.

Abstract: A process for preparing a molded article of a hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer which includes separately melting each of a hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and a polyolefin, admixing the melted copolymer with the melted polyolefin in a weight ratio of the hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer to the polyolefin of 30/70 to 70/30 and molding the mixture, according to which the molded article having improved flex-crack resistance, stretchability and thermoformability can be obtained with minimized deterioration of gas-impermeability.

Abstract: In producing formylimidazoles by catalytically oxidizing the corresponding 4- or 5-hydroxymethylimidazoles, the catalytic oxidation is carried out in the presence of a noble metal catalyst while oxygen or air is blown into the reaction system. In this case, it is particularly desirable that the catalytic oxidation in the presence of a noble metal catalyst be carried out in a solvent comprising an aqueous alkali or in a mixed solvent composed of an aqueous alkali and an organic solvent immiscible with water.

Abstract: A resin composition including (A) a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 to 60 mole percent and a saponification degree of not less than 90 mole percent, (B) a polyolefin resin, (C) a carboxylic acid-modified polyolefin resin and (D) a lower fatty acid alkaline earth metal salt, characterized in:that the proportion of (A) relative to the total amount of (A) plus (B) plus (C) is 0.3 to 0.7 on the weight basis;that the composition contains the carbonyl group in an amount of 0.002 to 0.05 equivalent per 100 grams of the total of (B) plus (C); andthat the equivalent ratio between (D) and the carbonyl group in (C) is 0.5 to 5,and a method of producing the resin composition are provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing 2-alkyl-4-halo-5-formylimidazoles which includes halogenating 2-alkyl-5-formylimidazoles with a N-halosuccinimides in the presence of dioxane or mixture of dioxane and ethylene glycol monomethylether as solvent and in the presence of alkali metal hydrogen carbonate as catalyst, which are readily available, with good yield.

Abstract: A method of producing an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor-containing composition, which is of value as an antihypertensive agent or diet, from natural resources. According to the method, proteins are hydrolyzed with a protease elaborated by a microorganism of the genus Bacillus, Aspergillus or Rhizopus or a protease of papaya origin.

Abstract: An improved saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer composition comprising(A) 50 to 99.5 weight % of a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer,(B) 0.4 to 50 weight % of an ethylene copolymer having a density of 0.90.about.0.94 g/cm.sup.3, and(C) a graft polymer obtainable by grafting an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof to a polyolefin resin and reacting the adduct with a polyamide oligomer or polyamide.

Abstract: A process for producing a biodegradable resin foam, having the steps of mixing a starch polymer containing from 5% by weight to 30% by weight of water, a vinyl alcohol resin containing from 5% by weight to 30% by weight of water, a nonionic surfactant, an inorganic or organic filler, and optionally a thickening agent; optionally adjusting the water content of the mixture, to prepare a composition having from 5% by weight to 30% by weight of water on the whole, based on total weight of the composition; melting and expanding it to prepare a foam, which has a low density and fine closed cells, and shows a good surface condition in a molded body.

Abstract: An improved saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer composition comprising(A) 50 to 99.5 weight % of a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer,(B) 0.4 to 50 weight % of an ethylene copolymer having a density of 0.90.about.0.94 g/cm.sup.3, and(C) a graft polymer obtainable by grafting an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof to a polyolefin resin and reacting the adduct with a polyamide oligomer or polyamide.

Abstract: A saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer composition comprising(A) 50 to 99.5 weight % of a saponified ethylenevinyl acetate copolymer,(B) 0.4 to 50 weight % of a polyolefin resin, and(C) a graft polymer obtainable by grafting an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof to a polyolefin resin and reacting the adduct with a polyamide oligomer or polyamide, which composition satisfies the relation: M.sub.2 /M.sub.1 =not less than 2 wherein M.sub.2 and M.sub.1 are the melt flow rates of (B) and (A), respectively, under a load of 2160 g at 210.degree. C.

Abstract: A polyolefin resin composition comprising(A) 50 to 99.5 weight % of a polyolefin resin,(B) 0.4 to 50 weight % of a saponified ethylenevinyl acetate copolymer, and(C) 0.1 to 15 weight % of a graft polymer obtainable by grafting an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof to a polyolefin resin and reacting the adduct with a polyamide oligomer or polyamide, which composition satisfies the relation: M.sub.2 /M.sub.1 =not less than 1.5 wherein M.sub.2 and M.sub.1 are the melt flow rates of (B) and (A), respectively, under a load of 2160 g at 210 C. The present invention is predicated on the above finding.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a 2-substituted-4-hydroxymethylimidazole easily and in good yield by means of simple equipment. This process comprises reacting hydroxymethylglyoxal, a monoaldehyde and ammonia in a sequence such that said monoaldehyde and ammonia are first reacted with each other and hydroxymethylglyoxal is then introduced into the reaction system for further reaction.

Abstract: 1. A resin composition which comprises(A) a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer,(B) a polyolefin resin,(C) a graft polymer obtained by grafting an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof to a polyolefin resin and reacting the adduct with a polyamide oligomer or polyamide, and(D) a hydrotalcite solid solution representable by the general formula[(M.sup.2+).sub.y1 (M.sup.2+).sub.y2 ].sub.1-x M.sup.3+ (OH).sub.2 A.sub.x/n.mH.sub.2 Owherein M.sup.2+ represents at least one metal selected from among Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba, M.sup.2+ is a metal selected from among Zn, Cd, Pb and Sn, M.sup.3+ is a trivalent metal, A.sup.n- is an anion having a valence of n, and x, y1, y2 and m are respectively positive numbers satisfying the conditions 9<x.ltoreq.0.5, 0.5<y1<1, u1+y2=1, and 0.ltoreq.m<2.

Abstract: A process for preparing a porous and water-absorbent resin which includes dispersing an aqueous solution containing at least one .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, its alkali metal salt or its ammonium salt in a hydrophobic organic solvent, and conducting a reversed phase suspension polymerization by using a water-soluble radical polymerization initiator, while distilling away the hydrophobic organic solvent together with water. A porous and water-absorbent resin having excellent absorbency and a remarkably improved rate of water absorption can be easily and efficiently obtained on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A method for melt-molding a water-soluble vinyl alcohol polymer which includes melt-molding a water-soluble oxyalkylene group-containing vinyl alcohol copolymer under substantially anhydrous conditions and substantially without use of plasticizer, the copolymer having a vinyl alcohol unit (A), a vinyl ester unit (B) and an oxyalkylene ether unit (C) of the formulas: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a phenyl group or a substituted phenyl group; n is equal to 1 through 50; in proportions of a mol %, b mol % and c mol %, respectively, where0.1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.20,50.ltoreq.100a/(a+b).ltoreq.100,and the oxyalkylene moiety (CHR.sup.2 --CHR.sup.3 --O--).sub.n of unit (C) accounts for 3 to 40 percent by weight of the total resin, and having a melt index of not less than 5 g/10 min. under a load of 2160 at a temperature of 210.degree. C.

Abstract: A resin composition which comprises(A) a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer,(B) a polyolefin resin,(C) a graft polymer obtained by grafting an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof to a polyolefin resin and reacting the adduct with a polyamide oligomer or polyamide, and(D) a hydrotalcite compound representable by the general formulaM.sub.X Al.sub.y (OH).sub.2x+3y-2z (E).sub.z.aH.sub.2 Owherein M is Mg, Ca or Zn, E is CO.sub.3 or HOP.sub.4, x, y and z each independently is a positive number and a is 0 (zero) or a positive number.

Abstract: A method of producing shaped articles having excellent impact resistance which includes melt-molding a composition derived from a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (A) by incorporating therein an ethylene-propylene copolymer elastomer (B) and a graft polymer (C) obtained by grafting an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof to a polyolefin resin and reacting the resulting grafting product further with a polyamide oligomer or polyamide.