Abstract: The object of the present invention is to restore soil and prevent contamination of ground water by decomposing an organic compound with decomposing microorganisms in soil contaminated with an agricultural chemical or other organic compound.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing calcite-type calcium carbonate single crystal available for optical elements, which can be carried out under relatively low temperature and low pressure conditions. The crystal growth process which comprises; a first step of filling a sealed pressure container of an autoclave with solvent and calcium carbonate as a raw material for growth, a second step of dissolving the starting rate in the solvent under predetermined conditions of pressure and temperature, a third step of crystallizing the calcium carbonate on a seed crystal suspended in the upper portion of the pressure container, on account of the difference of solubility caused by temperature gradient in the container; the method is characterized by that the aqueous solution of ammonium salt of mono-carboxylic acid is used as the solvent.

Abstract: A carrier for immobilizing lipase is prepared by bonding a silane coupling agent having a carboxylic-ester group to an inorganic carrier. Preferred silane coupling agents are .gamma.-methacryl oxypropyltrimethoxy silane, .gamma.-acetoxypropyltrimethoxy silane or .gamma.-acryloxypropyltrimethoxy silane. The inorganic carrier can be kaolinite, porous glass, bentonite, silica gel, alumina, silica, silica-alumina hydroxy apatite or calcium phosphate gel. Lipase is immobilized by mixing lipase with the inorganic carrier containing the bound silane coupling agent, filtering the resultant mixture and drying the filtered mixture. Functional groups of the lipase are bonded to the carboxylic-ester group of the silane coupling agent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide a water treatment technology able to perform advanced purification treatment by efficiently removing synthetic organic compounds such as surface activators for use in cleaners and agricultural chemicals present in polluted water having a relatively low load of pollutants such as BOD. In order to accomplish this objective, water to be treated is brought in contact with a assimilable filter medium under aerobic conditions, said assimilable filter medium being composed by adhering a material to be assimilated that has specific assimilability for the target microorganisms to a porous base material such as charcoal. As a result of using this type of assimilable filter medium, specific microorganisms which are highly efficient for removing the synthetic organic pollutants to be removed can be utilized selectively, thereby enabling efficient removal of synthetic organic compounds.

Abstract: A method of preparing an enzyme immobilizing carrier includes the steps of providing a material consisting of kaolin mineral. The material is subject to acid treatment with a strong acid having a pH of 4 or less, and hydrothermal treatment at a temperature of from about 100.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. The material is dried, thereby producing a porous powder. The porous powder is baked at a temperature of from about 350.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C., for thereby producing the carrier.

Abstract: An enzyme immobilizing carrier is formed from a porous powder. The powder uses kaolin mineral as a starting material, which starting material is subjected to acid treatment by a strong acid. The acid treated kaolin mineral is then subjected to a hydrothermal treatment. The acid and hydrothermal treated kaolin mineral is then subjected to a baking treatment.

Abstract: A novel ladle and method for spheroidizing molten iron is disclosed. A cover made of a porous body defining continuous blow holes is mounted at the upper portion of ladle main body containing spheroidizing material therein, and spheroidizing is effected by pouring molten metal into the ladle main body through the porous body cover. Alternatively, the cover is partly cut-away, and spheroidizing is effected by pouring molten metal into the ladle main body through the cut-away portion of the cover.

Abstract: A golf ball having compression strength greater than 7000 kg-f and rebound height greater than 90/120, said golf ball comprising a rubber composition filled with 10 to 40 parts by weight of calcium carbonate based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber, the calcium carbonate having a BET specific surface area of 60 to 300 m.sup.2 /g and a particle diameter of 0.035 to 0.010 micrometers.