Abstract: A method for producing a nonsintered cristobalite particles comprising heating amorphous silica particles at a temperature of 1400.degree. to 1700.degree. C. in the presence of cristobalite particles (hereinafter referred to as cristobalite particles for addition and mixing) of at least 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said amorphous silica particles to convert said amorphous silica particles to cristobalite particles with their particle form kept unchanged. According to the present invention, dense cristobalite having a low alkali content can be obtained in the form of particles. Such cristobalite is used as a filler, a dispersing agent, etc., and also as a material for high-quality artificial quartz, ceramics, etc., and particularly as a material for transparent quartz glass because of its generating no bubbles at the time of melt-molding.

Abstract: A method of improving water retention characteristics of soil by using water absorption polymer, including the steps of forming a water impermeable layer in a subsurface layer of the ground, and providing a water absorption polymer layer in an upper region of the water impermeable layer. The method is executed by an apparatus for forming a water impermeable layer in a subsurface layer of the ground, the apparatus also being used to mix water absorption polymer in the soil in an upper region of the water impermeable layer, by an injecting apparatus having a drilling function.

Abstract: A composition which contains as essential components: crystalline iron antimonate and at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, molybdenum, and tungsten; is useful as a catalyst in the oxidation reaction of organic compounds. Also, a process for producing the composition is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the production of a modified H-mordenite which comprises bringing an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal-type mordenite into contact with SiCl.sub.4 under a heating condition and then converting the treated mordenite into an H-type via ion exchange, a catalyst comprising the modified H-mordenite and a process for the production of methylamines using the use of the catalyst.

Abstract: An iron-antimony-molybdenum-containing oxide catalyst composition for oxidation reactions, comprising a crystalline iron antimonate having a crystallite size of 100 .ANG. or more, said catalyst being represented by the following empirical formula:Fe.sub.a Sb.sub.b Mo.sub.c L.sub.d K.sub.e M.sub.m N.sub.n Q.sub.q R.sub.r T.sub.t O.sub.

Abstract: A DNA which encodes polypeptide carrying two specific amino acid sequences and having nitrile hydratase activity; a method for producing nitrile hydratase by incubating a transformant made by the transformation with a recombinant DNA prepared by integrating the foregoing DNA into a vector in a medium and harvesting nitrile hydratase accumulated in the medium; and a method for producing amides by incubating the foregoing transformant and then converting nitriles into corresponding amides by the action of the obtained nitrile hydratase or by making a culture solution, isolates, treated cells or their immobilized products act upon nitriles to produce corresponding amides.

Abstract: An iron-antimony-phosphorus-containing metal oxide catalyst for the catalytic oxidation, comprising a crystalline iron antimonate, the catalyst being represented by the following empirical formula:Fe.sub.a Sb.sub.b P.sub.c X.sub.d Q.sub.e R.sub.f O.sub.g (SiO.sub.2).sub.

Abstract: A pattern-forming method using an electroconductive composition comprising at least one TCNQ complex salt selected from the group consisting of isoquinolinium-TCNQ complex salts, quinolinium-TCNQ complex salts, alkyl pyridinium-TCNQ complex salts, and morpholinium-TCNQ complex salts, a specific polymer, and a solvent are disclosed. This composition gives an electroconductive film having a superior long-term storage stability and electroconductive characteristics.When this electroconductive composition is coated on a resist to form an electroconductive film, and a pattern is formed by an irradiation with charging beams, such as electron beams, an accumulation of charges (charge-up) is prevented and a fine resist pattern in which a misregistration is completely prevented is obtained.

Abstract: A process for producing a molybdenum bismuth-containing metal oxide catalyst comprising: mixing(I) a metal element-containing slurry which contains molybdenum and at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Mg, Cr, Mn, Zn, Pb, La and Ce and which has a pH of 6 or above with(II) a bismuth compound, a solution thereof or a slurry thereof; and then drying and calcining the mixture obtained.

Abstract: A process for producing a molybdenum-containing metal oxide fluid-bed catalyst comprising, as essential components,(i) at least one element selected from the group consisting of iron, bismuth, and tellurium,(ii) molybdenum, and(iii) silica,which comprises (a) adjusting an aqueous slurry containing a raw material providing element (i), a molybdenum compound, a silica sol, and a chelating agent capable of inhibiting gelation of the slurry of a pH of at least 6, or (b) adjusting an aqueous slurry containing a raw material providing element (i), a molybdenum compound and a chelating agent capable of inhibiting gelation to a pH of at least 6 and mixing the slurry with a silica sol,then spray drying the thus pH-adjusted aqueous slurry, andcalcining the resulting particles.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing spherical silica particles comprising the steps of processing in an acid-containing solution and then washing with water the coagulant derived from an aqueous alkali metal silicate solution extruded through pores in a water-miscible organic medium or acid solution, wet-grinding the amorphous silica thus obtained in a liquid dispersion medium to obtain a fine particle silica suspension with a weight average particle size of 10 .mu.m or less, spray-drying this fine particle silica suspension with hot air and sintering the spherical granulated silica thus obtained. According to the present invention, the high-purity spherical silica particles can be obtained with high solidity and adjusted surface smoothness without any complicated operation or waste water treatment for use as a sealant filler for highly-integrated IC electronic parts.

Abstract: A process for preparing a metal oxide catalyst for a fluidized bed process, which comprises adjusting the pH of an aqueous slurry containing an iron compound, an antimony compound, a phosphorus compound, and a silica carrier material as essential elements, with the atomic ratio of phosphorus to antimony being at least 0.1:1, to a pH of 3 or less, spray drying the slurry, and calcining the resulting particles; which catalyst exhibits excellent activity and physical properties suitable for use in a fluidized bed process and can be obtained with good reproducibility.

Abstract: A process for the production of acrylonitrile by vapor phase catalytic ammoxidation of propylene in a fluidized bed at high yield with the use of a multicompenent fluidized bed catalyst comprising molybdenum, bismuth, iron, antimony, nickel and alkali metal(s) each carried by silica, which has a high catalytic activity and a high attrition resistance and which does not require any expensive cobalt catalytic component.

Abstract: A process for producing acrylonitrile by the vapor-phase catalytic ammoxidation of propylene using a catalyst whose composition is represented by the empirical formula (I):P.sub.q R.sub.r Mo.sub.10 Bi.sub.a Fe.sub.b Sb.sub.c Ni.sub.d O.sub.e (I)whereR is Na and/or K;subscripts q, r, a, b, c, d and e represent atomic ratios, and when the atomic ratio of Mo is 10, q=0 to 3, r=0.01 to 1.5, a=0.1 to 3, b=0.1 to 2.5, c=5 to 30, d=4 to 8, and e=a number corresponding to the oxide formed by chemical combination of the above-described components.

Abstract: A phosphorus-antimony-containing catalyst for oxidation, which is obtained by calcining a metal oxide composition containing as essential components, (a) antimony, (b) at least one element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, tin, uranium, chromium, copper, manganese, titanium, thorium, and cerium, and (c) silica, at a temperature ranging from 500.degree. C. to 950.degree. C. to prepare a base catalyst, impregnating the base catalyst with a solution containing a phosphorus compound so that the atomic ratio of impregnated phosphorus to antimony the base catalyst is within the range of from 0.01:1 to 2:1, drying the impregnated base catalyst, and calcining the dried product at a temperature ranging from 300.degree. C. to 850.degree. C. The catalyst exhibits satisfactory activity and strength and can be prepared with satisfactory reproducibility.

Abstract: A process for the production of an optically active (R)-(-)-3-halo-1,2-propanediol which comprises contacting a 1,3-dihalo-2-propanol with a dehalogenase originating from a microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium or Microbacterium. This process makes it possible to produce the (R)-(-)-3-halo-1,2-propanediol, which is highly useful as a starting material in the synthesis of various drugs and physiologically active substances, theoretically at a yield of 100%.

Abstract: According to the present invention, heterocyclic copolymers comprising recurring units [A] and [B] having specific structures are obtained by hydrolyzing reaction products of diisocyanate compounds having specific structures with tolidine diisocyanate and hydrogen cyanide.The heterocyclic copolymers thus obtained are excellent in mechanical strength, heat resistance and solvent resistance.

Abstract: N-substituted maleimides are prepared by reacting maleic anhydride with an amine in the presence of Cu or a copper compound and purifying the maleimide produced in the absence of presence of said Cu or copper compound. N-substituted maleimides are widely useful or starting materials or intermediates for medicines, agricultural chemicals, dyes, macromolecular compounds, and the like.

Abstract: A process for producing 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile by ammoxidation comprising contacting a starting gas consisting of 2,6-dichlorotoluene, air and ammonia, which comprises carrying out this reaction under the following conditions:(a) the concentration of 2,6-dichlorotoluene in the starting gas is 2.6 mole % or more.(b) the reactor effluent gas is contacting with water to cool to a temperature in the range of 50.degree. to 90.degree. C., whereby 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile in the reactor effluent gas is collected as a slurry in which solidified 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile is dispersed in water, and 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile is obtained from the slurry, and(c) the cooled reactor effluent gas from which 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile has been removed is contacted with water again to cool to a temperature in the range of 0.degree. to 40.degree. C., whereby unreacted 2,6-dichlorotoluene in the gas is collected as a dispersion in which it is dispersed in water and 2,6-dichlorotoluene is recovered from the dispersion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing unsintered cristobalite silica by heating an amorphous silica in the presence of an alkali component, which comprises heating an amorphous silica having a specific surface area (measured according to BET method) of 50 m.sup.2 /g or more at a temperature in the range of 1000.degree. to 1300.degree. C., in the presence of an alkali metal element in a concentration of 5 to 600 ppm to said silica to change it partially or completely into cristobalite and then heating at a temperature of exceeding 1300.degree. C. to eliminate alkali.