Abstract: A novel antimicrobial, aromatic and deodorizing agent composition and a method of reducing microbial concentration or inhibiting microbial growth using the composition are provided, which composition comprises a zeolote or porous glass carrier and a saturated monoterpene hydroperoxide as an active ingredient, the monoterpene hydroperoxide preferably selected from pinane hydroperoxide, thujane hydroperoxide, carane hydroperoxide, bornane hydroperoxide, paramenthane hydroperoxide, metamenthane hydroperoxide, and mixtures of the foregoing, etc.

Abstract: An antiviral agent containing as its active ingredient, an ingredient extracted from Crocosmia x crocosmaeflora N.E. Br.

Abstract: An improved process for pretreating biomasses in advance of their enzymatic treatment is provided which process comprises subjecting a biomass together with an aqueous solution of an alkaline compound to kneading and reaction in a biaxial extruder, and which process has advantages that a continuous treatment in a very short time is possible, and the heat quantity required for the pretreatment is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A process for the production of dinitrophenyl ethers having the general formula [III]: ##STR1## wherein, one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is a nitro radical, and the other is a hydrogen atom or a straight-chain, branched-chain or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R.sub.3 is a radical selected from the group consisting of (i) a straight-chain, branched-chain or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical containing from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, (ii) a straight-chain hydrocarbon radical having one phenyl group as a substituent and containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, (iii) a phenyl radical, and (iv) a phenyl radical with one or more than one substituents selected from the group consisting of a nitro group, a halogen group, a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and an alkoxy group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, by reacting a compound represented by the formula [I]: ##STR2## wherein, R.sub.1 and R.sub.

Abstract: Symmetrical and unsymmetrical ketones are produced from aldehydes (aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic aldehydes) or their mixtures according to the process of the present invention which comprises contacting the aldehydes or mixtures theirof with a catalyst selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide and combinations of zirconium oxide with an alkali metal oxide and/or an alkaline earth metal oxide. Said catalyst is used with or without a carrier. The process is operated in the vapor phase at elevated temperature in the presence or absence of steam.