Abstract: The present invention provides a transformed microorganism capable of displaying ?-galactosidase on its surface layer. Also provided is a method for producing an alcohol, which includes the step of culturing the transformed microorganism in a culture medium containing a material that contains an oligosaccharide ?-1,6 linked ?-galactose. Also provided is a method for producing lactic acid using such a transformed microorganism together with a material that contains an oligosaccharide ?-1,6 linked ?-galactose. According to the present invention, a microorganism can be provided, which can degrade an oligosaccharide containing ?-1,6 linked ?-galactose, which may occur in soybean molasses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transformed microorganism capable of displaying ?-galactosidase on its surface layer. Also provided is a method for producing an alcohol, which includes the step of culturing the transformed microorganism in a culture medium containing a material that contains an oligosaccharide ?-1,6 linked ?-galactose. Also provided is a method for producing lactic acid using such a transformed microorganism together with a material that contains an oligosaccharide ?-1,6 linked ?-galactose. According to the present invention, a microorganism can be provided, which can degrade an oligosaccharide containing ?-1,6 linked ?-galactose, which may occur in soybean molasses.

Abstract: A method for producing a fatty acid ester according to the present invention includes mixing a raw fat or oil, a liquid enzyme, and an alcohol having 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the presence of water and an electrolyte. According to the present invention, a fatty acid ester can be efficiently produced via a transesterification reaction without using any expensive buffer solution or amphipathic substance. Furthermore, in the reaction, it is not necessarily required to agitate reactants at a high speed, which makes the present invention adaptive to various production facilities and conditions.

Abstract: A method for producing a fatty acid ester according to the present invention includes mixing a raw fat or oil, a liquid enzyme, and an alcohol having 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the presence of water and an electrolyte. According to the present invention, a fatty acid ester can be efficiently produced via a transesterification reaction without using any expensive buffer solution or amphipathic substance. Furthermore, in the reaction, it is not necessarily required to agitate reactants at a high speed, which makes the present invention adaptive to various production facilities and conditions.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a fatty acid ester of the present invention comprises (a) mixing and agitating an oil and fat starting material and a lower alcohol, and supplying a mixture to one of the catalyst reaction tubes filled with a lipase; (b) producing a fatty acid ester and glycerin in the catalyst reaction tube; (c) introducing an outflowing liquid from the catalyst reaction tube into a glycerin separation tank, thereby collecting the glycerin; (d) adding a lower alcohol to a separated liquid obtained by separating the glycerin from the outflowing liquid, mixing and agitating an obtained material, and supplying a mixture to a following catalyst reaction tube; (e) repeating the steps (b) to (d) until supply to a last catalyst reaction tube is performed; and (f) collecting a fatty acid ester from the separated liquid obtained from the last catalyst reaction tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing ethanol, including: culturing yeast transformed so as to display an enzyme on the cell surface in a medium containing particles of lignocellulosic biomass, thereby producing ethanol, wherein the enzyme is an enzyme involved in hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic biomass. The present invention makes it possible to provide a method for producing ethanol by which a high ethanol yield can be achieved from lignocellulosic biomass with lower initial cell concentration and added enzyme amount.

Abstract: A method for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass using yeast at low cost is provided. The method of the present invention for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass includes steps of (1) pretreating lignocellulosic biomass, (2) treating a cellulose fraction obtained in Step (1) with a cellulose hydrolase, (3) mixing saccharified biomass obtained in Step (2) with yeasts to perform ethanol fermentation, and (4) subjecting a fermentation product obtained in Step (3) to a solid-liquid separation, wherein a cycle consisting of Steps (1), (2), (3) and (4) is repeated twice or more, and yeasts obtained in Step (4) are used as all or a portion of yeasts in Step (3) of the subsequent cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing ethanol, including: culturing yeast transformed so as to display an enzyme on the cell surface in a medium containing particles of lignocellulosic biomass, thereby producing ethanol, wherein the enzyme is an enzyme involved in hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic biomass. The present invention makes it possible to provide a method for producing ethanol by which a high ethanol yield can be achieved from lignocellulosic biomass with lower initial cell concentration and added enzyme amount.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a fatty acid ester of the present invention comprises (a) mixing and agitating an oil and fat starting material and a lower alcohol, and supplying a mixture to one of the catalyst reaction tubes filled with a lipase; (b) producing a fatty acid ester and glycerin in the catalyst reaction tube; (c) introducing an outflowing liquid from the catalyst reaction tube into a glycerin separation tank, thereby collecting the glycerin; (d) adding a lower alcohol to a separated liquid obtained by separating the glycerin from the outflowing liquid, mixing and agitating an obtained material, and supplying a mixture to a following catalyst reaction tube; (e) repeating the steps (b) to (d) until supply to a last catalyst reaction tube is performed; and (f) collecting a fatty acid ester from the separated liquid obtained from the last catalyst reaction tube.

Abstract: A method for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass using yeast at low cost is provided. The method of the present invention for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass includes steps of (1) pretreating lignocellulosic biomass, (2) treating a cellulose fraction obtained in Step (1) with a cellulose hydrolase, (3) mixing saccharified biomass obtained in Step (2) with yeasts to perform ethanol fermentation, and (4) subjecting a fermentation product obtained in Step (3) to a solid-liquid separation, wherein a cycle consisting of Steps (1), (2), (3) and (4) is repeated twice or more, and yeasts obtained in Step (4) are used as all or a portion of yeasts in Step (3) of the subsequent cycle.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a fatty acid ester of the present invention comprises (a) mixing and agitating an oil and fat starting material and a lower alcohol, and supplying a mixture to one of the catalyst reaction tubes filled with a lipase; (b) producing a fatty acid ester and glycerin in the catalyst reaction tube; (c) introducing an outflowing liquid from the catalyst reaction tube into a glycerin separation tank, thereby collecting the glycerin; (d) adding a lower alcohol to a separated liquid obtained by separating the glycerin from the outflowing liquid, mixing and agitating an obtained material, and supplying a mixture to a following catalyst reaction tube; (e) repeating the steps (b) to (d) until supply to a last catalyst reaction tube is performed; and (f) collecting a fatty acid ester from the separated liquid obtained from the last catalyst reaction tube.

Abstract: An antistatic polymeric material having surface electrical resistivity of smaller than 10.sup.10 .OMEGA./.quadrature. order and/or half life time of shorter than 40 seconds can be obtained by heat-treating at 60-140.degree. C. for 2-60 minutes a polymeric material in a state moistened with an aqueous solution containing 0.5-5% by weight of stannic chloride.

Abstract: A method for giving high and durable electric conductivity to molded polymer articles, which comprises heat-treatment of the articles in an aqueous solution containing a copper salt, a reducing sulfur compound, and a water-soluble basic salt of nitrogen-containing organic compound having at least 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for producing steam-cured lightweight calcium silicate articles superior in productivity, homogeneity, and mechanical strength by using a powdery siliceous material, powdery calcareous material, and cellulose pulp as main raw materials, which process comprises mixing short acrylic fibers of 1 to 10 mm in filament length to which an organic silicon compound has adhered, into a slurried mixture of said raw materials.