Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of aniline by hydrogenating nitrobenzene with hydrogen is disclosed which comprises the steps of suspending, in an aniline solvent, a catalyst of palladium or palladium-platinum which is deposited on a lipophilic carbon having an oil absorbency of at least 100, and carrying out reaction at a temperature of from 150.degree. to 250.degree. C. substantially in the absence of water while aniline and water formed in said reaction are continuously distilled off as vapor from the reaction product, and the concentration of nitrobenzene in the reaction solution is maintained at 0.01% by weight or less, wherein a zinc compound is added to the reaction system as a promotor and carbon monoxide is added to the hydrogen at a concentration of 1-500 ppm.

Abstract: A purification process for polyhydroxycarboxylic acids which comprises dissolving polyhydroxycarboxylic acid in an water-immiscible phenol or an organic solvent containing said water-immiscible phenol, successively bringing the resulting solution into contact with water which contains an acidic material, separating the organic layer from an aqueous layer, and isolating polyhydroxycarboxylic acid from the organic layer. The process can efficiently remove a catalyst contained in the polyhydroxycarboxylic acid prepared in the presence of the catalyst, does not require polyhydroxycarboxylic acid to be in the form of a solid, and can treat polyhydroxycarboxylic acid in a higher concentration as compared with using chlorinated hydrocarbon as a solvent.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of aniline by hydrogenating nitrobenzene is disclosed which comprises the steps of suspending, in an aniline solvent, a catalyst of palladium or palladium-platinum which is deposited on a lipophilic carbon having an oil absorbency of at least 100, adding a zinc compound and an alkali metal carbonate or a zinc compound and an alkali metal bicarbonate as promotors to the reaction system, and carrying out reaction at a temperature of from 150 to 250.degree. C. substantially in the absence of water while aniline and water formed in said reaction are continuously distilled off as vapor from the reaction product, and the concentration of nitrobenzene in the reaction solution is maintained at 0.01% by weight or less.

Abstract: An active suspension system and an active suspension control method for a vehicle having a first wheel set and a second wheel set, comprising a power actuator interposed between the vehicle body and each of the wheels; a sensor for detecting turning maneuver of the vehicle; and a control unit for controlling operation of the actuators according to data obtained from the sensor so as to reduce a vertical load acting on the inner wheel of the second wheel set which bears a less vertical load than the first wheel set during the turning maneuver. Thereby, the shifting of the vertical load between the wheels of the first wheel set is reduced with the result that the overall cornering force of the vehicle is maximized because of the saturating property of the maximum cornering force of the tire in relation with the vertical load acting thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to plant growth regulating compounds which are pyrazoloisoquinoline derivatives.