Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to produce emulsions containing a material that are insoluble or that have low solubility with respect to water and oil in a high concentration, so as to obtain emulsions which can be preserved for a long period of time. More specifically, ethanol, to which polyglycerol oleic acid ester (PG) is added, and vegetable oil, are stirred with a homogenizer or an emulsification method such as a membrane emulsification or a microchannel emulsification, thereby obtaining E/O type emulsions or E/O/W type emulsions wherein ethanol drops in which polyphenol is dissolved in a high concentration are dispersed into vegetable oil.

Abstract: A fat reforming method using an enzyme which has been activated by adding the enzyme to a system containing water and fat phases, activating the enzyme by a function of a boundary surface/layer between the water and fat phases, and removing the water and fat phases through freeze drying. Tetradecane may be used as the fat phase. Just after adding tetradecane into a water phase in which lipase is dissolved, though existing in water phase as shown in FIG. 4(a), the lipase moves towards the boundary surface since it has a tendency to gather around the boundary surface between the water and fat phases. The lipase moved to the boundary surface has hydrophobic portion at the side of the fat phase and a hydrophilic portion of the lipase at the side of the water phase, as shown in FIG. 4(b), and at the same time the lid covering the activating portion is opened by the function of the boundary surface.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for activating a lipase by adding a solution of lipase in an aqueous buffer at a pH near neutrality to an organic phase, e.g., tetradecane. Under these conditions lipase is activated as a function of an organic-and-water boundary surface between the organic and water phases. The lipase that is activated in this manner remains active even after lyophilization to remove the water and the organic phase. This activated lipase efficiently catalyzes a fat reforming reaction in non-aqueous and nano-aqueous conditions.

Abstract: A method to efficiently and continuously produce microspheres of natural oils and fats having a high melting point, the average particle diameter of which is in dozens of &mgr;m and is uniform, comprising the steps of heating oils and fats having a high melting point to a temperature greater than the melting point thereof to liquify same holding the oils and fats in a liquid state, forming a dispersed phase of the liquid oils and fats, pressurizing the dispersed phase and forming emulsions by dispersing the dispersed phase into a continuous phase via a plurality of microchannels, and isolating microspheres of the oils and fats having a high melting point by removing the continuous phase from the emulsions.

Abstract: A microchannel apparatus includes a plural partition walls 4 formed as extensions of plural microchannels 1 toward a continuous phase, and a flow path 5 is formed between adjacent ones of the partition walls 4. A dispersed phase pumped into a continuous phase via each microchannel 1 generates nearly perfect spheres in the course of passing through the microchannel and the flow path 5 in between the partition walls 4, thereby producing emulsions comprising fine and homogenous microspheres.

Abstract: In an apparatus for continuously manufacturing microspheres, a dispersed phase (O) is supplied to a chamber 27 for the dispersed phase inside of a bulkhead member 26 via a supply port 23. Thereafter, the dispersed phase enters into a gap 31 between a plate 22 via a supply port 29 in a base 25. The dispersed phase which enters into the gap 31 grows microspheres (particles) having a certain diameter while passing through a microchannel 33 by pressure applied by, for example, a pump, and is mixed with a continuous phase (W), so that microspheres are produced. The thus-produced microspheres float or are suspended in the continuous phase without needing any particular external force in response to their specific gravity, allowing the microspheres to be generated and withdrawn from a withdrawal port 32 at a significantly reduced pressure in comparison to conventional methods and apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a multistage method and apparatus for concentrating a solution by reverse osmosis, comprising the steps and means for: maximizing the concentration of absolute in a solution in a multistage apparatus having only standard capacity pumps, including steps of providing first concentrating means for concentrating a solution to a first concentration, said first concentrating means comprising at least one concentrating unit which positioned upstream with respect to a direction in which a solution to be concentrated flows, and providing second concentrating means for concentrating the solution that has been concentrated by first concentrating means to a second concentration which is higher than said first concentrating means comprising at least one concentrating unit which is positioned downstream with respect to said direction; said concentrating units comprising consisting essentially of respective membrane modules and respective standard capacity pumps, the membrane module of the concentrating unit of

Abstract: Provided is a multistage method and apparatus for concentrating a solution by reverse osmosis, comprising the steps and means for: maximizing the concentration of absolute in a solution in a multistage apparatus having only standard capacity pumps, including steps of providing first concentrating means for concentrating a solution to a first concentration, said first concentrating means comprising a least one concentrating unit which positioned upstream with respect to a direction in which a solution to be concentrated flows, and providing second concentrating means for concentrating the solution that has been concentrated by first concentrating means to a second concentration which is higher than said first concentrating means comprising at least one concentrating unit which is positioned downstream with respect to said direction; said concentrating units comprising consisting essentially of respective membrane modules and respective standard capacity pumps, the membrane module of the concentrating unit of s