Abstract: A process for the preparation of a water-in-oil type polymer emulsion which comprises polymerizing an acrylamide-containing monomer in a water-in-oil type emulsion. The acrylamide is prepared by hydrating acrylonitrile in the presence of a catalytic amount of nitrilehydratase.

Abstract: A cyanoacetic acid higher ester represented by the general formula: NCCH.sub.2 COOR', wherein R' represents an alkyl group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, is prepared by subjecting a cyanoacetic acid ester represented by the general formula: NCCH.sub.2 COOR.sup.1, wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atom, to a transesterification with an alcohol represented by the general formula: R'OH, wherein R' represents an alkyl group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, in the presence of a specific tin compound as the catalyst. According to the present invention, the cyanoacetic acid higher esters which are useful as intermediates for pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals as well as intermediates for industrial products can be prepared easily and in higher yield as compared with conventional methods, by using a cyanoacetic acid ester and an alcohol which are less expensive and easily available as raw materials.

Abstract: A process for producing a phenyllactic acid derivative comprises hydrogenating a phenylpyruvic acid derivative in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one element selected from the Group VIII elements of the periodic table. The process provides a phenyllactic acid derivative useful as an intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals. The process uses as a starting material a phenylpyruvic acid derivative which is easily synthesized. The process is simpler in operation and provides a higher yield than conventional processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regulatory gene coding for a polypeptide having the ability to activate a promoter for a nitrile hydratase gene, a recombinant DNA containing said regulatory gene, and a transformant transformed with said recombinant DNA.The introduction of the regulatory gene of the invention along with a nitrile hydratase gene and its promoter region permits bacteria of the genus Rhodococcus to produce a higher level of nitrile hydratase. Other extraneous gene can also be introduced into a region downstream of the promoter to produce other proteins in high yield.

Abstract: (S,S)-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid iron (III) ammonium salt represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein C* is an asymmetric carbon atom. This compound has a very high biodegradability and it is not accumulated in the environment even when used as a photographic processing agent or the like. Therefore, the compound is advantageous for the protection of environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gene derived from Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23 strain which encodes a polypeptide having nitrile hydratase activity being capable of hydrating nitriles to amides. The invention also relates to a recombinant DNA containing the gene, and a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA. The present invention further relates to a method of producing nitrile hydratase using the transformant and of amides using nitrile hydratase.

Abstract: A cyanoacetic acid higher ester represented by the general formula: NCCH.sub.2 COOR', wherein R' represents an alkyl group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, is prepared by subjecting a cyanoacetic acid ester represented by the general formula: NCCH.sub.2 COOR.sup.1, wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atom, to a transesterification with an alcohol represented by the general formula: R'OH, wherein R' represents an alkyl group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, in the presence of a specific tin compound as the catalyst. According to the present invention, the cyanoacetic acid higher esters which are useful as intermediates for pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals as well as intermediates for industrial products can be prepared easily and in higher yield as compared with conventional methods, by using a cyanoacetic acid ester and an alcohol which are less expensive and easily available as raw materials.

Abstract: A method for recovering an uncrosslinked synthetic resin waste including dissolving the uncrosslinked synthetic resin waste in a solvent containing, as an active ingredient, one or more oxyisobutyric acid esters selected from an alkyl .alpha.-alkoxyisobutyrate, an alkyl .beta.-alkoxyisobutyrate and an alkyl .alpha.-hydroxyisobutyrate. This invention provides a method for recovering a plastic waste by using a highly safe solvent which is free from the problems encountered in the conventional methods with the use of aromatic hydrocarbons or halogenated hydrocarbons, and comprises non-halogen solvents, forms no substance causing environmental problems, has a high ability to dissolve plastic wastes, has neither toxicity nor any offensive odor, is not accumulated in nature because of its high biodegradability, and has a relatively high boiling point.

Abstract: A polyfunctional cationic monomer produced by reacting a tertiary amine having a polymerizable vinyl group with a compound having two or more oxirane groups. The polyfunctional cationic monomer of the present invention shows a very high curing rate and a high reaction suitability as a radiation cure coating to be applied onto the surface of a molded article made of plastics, wood, metals, etc. or the surface of a sheet such as a paper, a film, a metal plate, a knitted web, etc.

Abstract: A solvent composition containing at least one of an alkyl .alpha.-alkoxyisobutyrate, an alkyl .beta.-alkoxyisobutyrate, and an alkyl .alpha.-hydroxyisobutyrate as an active component is disclosed. The solvent composition is of low toxicity and harmless to humans, has an extremely high dissolving power for high polymers, fats and oils, fluxes, liquid crystals, etc., produces no environment destructive substance, gives off no offensive odor, and has a relatively high boiling point indicative of safety and ease in handling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regulatory factor or system composed of 2 components of a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No:1 and a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No:2 to activate a nitrilase gene promoter, as well as to DNA coding therefor. Nitrilase can be produced by introducing the gene coding for the present regulatory factor together with a nitrilase gene containing a promoter region into a microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus.

Abstract: A soluble aniline conducting polymer characterized in that said conductive polymer comprises as a repeating unit an alkoxyl group-substituted aminobenzenesulfonic acid, its alkali metal salts, ammonium salts and/or substituted ammonium salts, and is a solid having a weight average molecular weight of about 1900 or more at room temperature, a conductive composition and electric conductor comprising the same, and a method for producing a soluble aniline conducting polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 t 3,240,000 characterized by polymerizing at least one compound (1) selected from the group consisting of an acidic group-substituted aniline, its alkali metal salts, ammonium salts and substituted ammonium salts in a solution containing a basic compound (2) using an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A biological process for predominantly producing an optically active .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid having a phenyl group directly from a racemic .alpha.-hydroxynitrile or a mixture of an aldehyde corresponding to the nitrile and prussic acid as a substrate is disclosed, comprising reacting a microorganism belonging to the genus Gordona with the substrate in a neutral to basic aqueous medium. A desired optically active .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid having a phenyl group can be obtained quantitatively at a high optical purity.

Abstract: Biocatalysts such as cells and enzymes are immobilized in a polymer gel by forming a mixture containing a biocatalyst, an N,N-dialkylacrylamide monomer, a cationic acrylamide monomer and a water-soluble cross-linking monomer, and copolymerizing the monomers to produce a polymer gel entrapping the biocatalyst. Preferably, the N, N-dialkylacrylamide is N,N-dimethylacrylamide or N,N-diethylacrylamide in an amount of about 70 to about 99.8% by weight, the cationic acrylamide monomer is N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide, N,N-diethylaminopropylmethacrylamide, N,N-diethylaminopropylacrylamide and quaternary compounds thereof in a amount of about 0.1 to about 10% by weight and the cross-linking monomer is N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide, N,N'-methylenebismethacrylamide, N,N'-(1,2-dihydroxyethlene)bisacrylamide, 1,3-diacrylamide methyl-2-imidazolidone or diacrylamide methylene urea in an amount of about 0.1 to about 20% by weight.

Abstract: Aspartic acid is reacted with prussic acid and formaldehyde to give an amino-polycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof represented by-the following formula: ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or an ammonium group; and each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom or --CH.sub.2 --COOR.sup.1, provided that R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 do not represent a hydrogen atom simultaneously. The amino-polycarboxylic acid which is readily biodegradable and has an excellent chelating ability can be obtained from aspartic acid in a high yield and in a high purity.

Abstract: A process for the production of .alpha.-hydroxy acids or .alpha.-hydroxyamides in which an .alpha.-hydroxynitrile compound or a mixture consisting of an aldehyde and prussic acid, which corresponds to the nitrile compound, is allowed to undergo a microbial reaction to produce the corresponding .alpha.-hydroxy acid or .alpha.-hydroxyamide, wherein the improvement resides in that phosphite ions or hypophosphite ions are allowed to be present in the reaction system. According to the present invention, since hydrolysis or hydration of nitrile compounds can be carried out by constantly keeping a low concentration level of aldehydes which are considered to be a cause of the enzyme inhibition in the reaction system, the enzyme activity can be maintained stably for a prolonged period of time and the formed acids or amides can therefore be accumulated in a high concentration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for recovery of petroleum and gas, which comprises (a) a copolymer having a molecular weight of 100,000 or more, composed of 30-75 mole % of N-vinylpyrrolidone unit, 5-70 mole % of (meth)acrylamide unit and 0-20 mole % of (meth)acrylic acid unit or a salt thereof, (b) a water-soluble aldehyde, (c) a phenol compound, and (d) water. This composition can form a gel in a required gelling time even at high temperatures and even in the presence of bivalent metal ions and accordingly can be used for efficient recovery of petroleum and gas.

Abstract: Sulfonated aniline-type copolymer and a process for their preparation are disclosed.These products comprise a water soluble and alcohol soluble copolymer of a compound (A) selected from the group of aniline, N-alkylaniline and phenylenediamine, and aminobenzene sulfonic acid (B); said sulfonated product being a following compound of a general formulae I to V stated in the specification, or a mixture thereof.Also, process for the sulfonated aniline-type copolymer comprises the steps:copolymerizing a compound (A) selected from the group of aniline, N-alkyl aniline and phenylene diamine, and aminobenzene sulfonic acid (B) to obtain a copolymer; andsulfonating the thus obtained copolymer with a sulfonating agent.

Abstract: A process for the stabilization of an aqueous acrylamide solution is described which includes adding at least one compound selected from water-soluble monocarboxylic acid salts having at least two carbon atoms to an aqueous solution of acrylamide in an amount of from 20 to 5,000 ppm as acid per acrylamide. According to the present invention, a high purity aqueous acrylamide solution which is markedly stable, even under an iron surface-contacting condition, without causing problems such as the polymerization of acrylamide can be provided by adding a water-soluble monocarboxylic acid salt having at least two carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for biologically producing an .alpha.-hydroxyamide or an .alpha.-hydroxy acid represented by formula (III) ##STR1## wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group or a substituted or unsubstituted and saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic group; and X represents an amido group or a carboxyl group, comprising reacting an .alpha.-hydroxynitrile represented by formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R is as defined above, or a mixture of an aldehyde represented by formula (II):R--CHO (II)wherein R is as defined above, and hydrogen cyanide with a microorganism capable of producing such an amide or acid from the corresponding .alpha.-hydroxynitrile is disclosed, in which the reaction system contains a sulfite ion, a disulfite ion or a dithionite ion.