Abstract: In the production step, alcohol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a reaction solvent in the presence of a rhodium-containing solid catalyst obtained by immobilizing rhodium in an insoluble carrier (I) containing a pyridine ring in its resin structure and an alkyl iodide containing an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, to produce a reaction product having a water content of 0.5 to 10% by weight; and in the subsequent removing step, an organic carboxylic acid is separated and recovered from the reaction product, and the recovered organic carboxylic acid is contacted with an insoluble carrier (II) containing a pyridine ring in its resin structure, to remove an iodide contained in the organic carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A garnet polycrystalline film for a magneto-optical recording medium including at least two layers of polycrystalline garnet represented by Bi.sub.x R.sub.3-x M.sub.Y Fe.sub.5-Y O.sub.12, where 0.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.3, 0 Y.ltoreq.5, R represents one or more rare earth elements containing yttrium, and M represents Ga, Al or In, wherein crystal lattice constants of these adjacent two layers are different from each other by .+-.0.3% or more, and an average crystal grain diameter of one of the layers is smaller than that of the other layer and 1 .mu.m or less, and a magneto-optical recording disk using this garnet polycrystalline film.

Abstract: A methanol carbonylation catalyst includes a rhodium complex supported on a porous, cross-linked vinylpyridine resin, wherein the vinylpyridine resin has a cross-linking degree of 30-60%, a pore volume of 0.1-0.4 ml/g and an average pore diameter of 20-100 nm. The catalyst may be prepared by contacting the pyridine ring-containing resin with an aqueous solution containing rhodium ion and then contacting the resulting rhodium ion-carrying resin with carbon monoxide and an alkyl iodide in an organic solvent to convert the rhodium ion to a rhodium complex bound to the resin. Acetic acid is produced by reacting carbon monoxide with methanol at a temperature of 140.degree.-250.degree. C. and a partial pressure of carbon monoxide of 7-30 kg/cm.sup.2 in the presence of an alkyl iodide and the above catalyst.

Abstract: A method of separating 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene from a mixture containing 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene and structural isomers thereof including the 2,7-isomer is disclosed, wherein the mixture is first subjected to a selective adsorption and desorption treatment using a zeolite absorbent capable of adsorbing the 2,7-isomer to obtain a first extract containing the sorbed 2,7-isomer and a first raffinate containing non-sorbed isomers including the 2,6-isomer, the 2,6-isomer being thereafter separated from the first raffinate.

Abstract: A process for the production of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene is disclosed wherein an isopropylation reaction mixture containing isopropylated naphthalenes is subjected to transalkylation with a triisopropylnaphthalene-containing mixture to obtain a mixture containing mono-, di- and tri-isopropylnaphthalenes which is then separated into a first fraction containing monisopropylnaphthalenes, a second fraction containing diisopropylnaphthalenes and a third fraction containing triisopropylnaphthalenes. The first and third fractions are recycled to the above system, while the second fraction is subjected to separation treatments for the recovery of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene. The second fraction from which 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene has been removed is subjected to transalkylation with naphthalene to obtain a monoisopropylnaphthalene-rich mixture which is to be fed to the isopropylation step.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrocracking heavy hydrocarbon oils includes a porous inorganic carrier composed mainly of alumina or titania, and two or more catalytic metal components composited with the carrier. The metals of the catalytic metal components are either (a) V and at least one element selected from Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Sn and Pb or (b) Mo and at least one element selected from Zn, Cu, Ag, Sn, Pb and the lanthanum-series elements. The catalyst has at least 60% of its total pore volume in pores with a diameter of 200 .ANG. or more, at least 40% of its totalpore volume in pores with a diameter of 300 .ANG. or more and not more than 20% of its total pore volume in pores with a diameter of at least 1000 .ANG.. Disclosed also is a process for hydrocracking a heavy hydrocarbon oil in the presence of the above catalyst.

Abstract: In a solar energy collecting system which comprises a primary closed circuit including a solar energy collector, a heat exchanger, a carrier fluid receiver tank, and a circulating pump and a secondary closed circuit including a utilization means and engaged with the primary closed circuit through the heat exchanger, a heat carrier used in the primary closed circuit is a fluid capable of evaporating at low temperature under low pressure and the control of the primary closed circuit is performed according to a surface temperature of the solar energy collector, a temperature of the carrier emanating from the collector and/or a pressure of the carrier in the primary closed circuit.

Abstract: A cooling system which includes an occluding section for occluding vaporized cooling agent by means of an occluding agent so as to ensure continuous evaporation of cooling agent in the evaporating section. The system includes a high pressure and low pressure recovery sections for recovering the cooling agent from the occlusive agent by applying heat thereto. When a low potential energy is available, the occlusive agent is passed from the occluding section only to the low pressure recovery section, but when a high potential energy is to be used, it is passed through the high and low pressure recovery sections in this order.