Abstract: The present invention provides amphiphilic polymer particles which are formed from a naturally derived starting material and exhibit hydrophobicity, while maintaining an adequate water absorption. An amphiphilic alginic acid particle group which is obtained by subjecting a polyvalent metal salt of alginic acid to a hydrophobization treatment with use of a hydrophobizing agent, wherein: some metal ions in the polyvalent metal salt of alginic acid are hydrophobized through a chemical bond with the hydrophobizing agent; the contact angle at 30 seconds after dropping a water droplet on the particle group is from 300 to 150°; and the water absorption per 100 g of the particles is not less than the oil absorption per 100 g of the particles.

Abstract: Provided is a biodegradation accelerator for accelerating the biodegradation of resins, etc. in the ocean. This marine-biodegradation accelerator comprises a compound including anions of one or more kinds including an anion having six or more carbon atoms and three or more oxygen atoms and a metal cation having a valence of two or higher, the anions and the cation being bonded by ionic bonding. A group of particles of the compound forms a contact angle of 30° or larger 30 seconds after a waterdrop is dropped thereonto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrophobic alginic acid particle group which is obtained by subjecting a polyvalent metal alginate to a hydrophobization treatment, and which is configured such that the water absorption per 100 g of the particles is lower than the oil absorption per 100 g of the particles.

Abstract: A method for producing elliptical, needle-shaped, or rod-shaped polymer particles satisfying (1)-(3) below includes a step in which a synthesis solution including water, a mixed solvent of a hydrophilic organic solvent and a hydrophobic organic solvent, a polymeric stabilizer, a polymerization initiator, and an unsaturated monomer is heated, and, at least after the heating has started, the pH of the synthesis solution is adjusted to 5-9 inclusive to perform solution polymerization: (1) the average (LAV) length (L) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.1-80 ?m; (2) the average (DAV) breadth (D) in the two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.05-40 ?m; and (3) the average (PAV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) is 1.5-30.

Abstract: These flat elliptical polymer particles have a front view, a planar view, and a side view in a projection diagram based on third-angle projection which are all elliptical. The flat elliptical polymer particles satisfy (1)-(4): (1) the average length (LAV) of flat portions satisfies 0.13?(LAV)?500 ?m; (2) the average breadth (DAV) of the flat portions satisfies 0.1?(DAV)?250 ?m; (3) the average (P1AV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) satisfies 1.3<P1AV?50; and (4) the average (P2AV) aspect ratio (D/T) calculated from the breadth (D) and the thickness (T) of the side surface satisfies 1.2<P2AV?100.

Abstract: These flat elliptical polymer particles have a front view, a planar view, and a side view in a projection diagram based on third-angle projection which are all elliptical. The flat elliptical polymer particles satisfy (1)-(4): (1) the average length (LAV) of flat portions satisfies 0.13?(LAV)?500 ?m; (2) the average breadth (DAV) of the flat portions satisfies 0.1?(DAV)?250 ?m; (3) the average (P1AV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) satisfies 1.3<P1AV?50; and (4) the average (P2AV) aspect ratio (D/T) calculated from the breadth (D) and the thickness (T) of the side surface satisfies 1.2<P2AV?100.

Abstract: Provided are elliptical, needle-shaped, or rod-shaped crosslinked polymer particles in which 5-100 mol % of all repeating units are repeating units derived from an unsaturated monomer having a functional group selected from an epoxy group, a carboxyl group, an amide group, a hydroxy group an amino group, and a thiol group, wherein (1) the average (LAV) length (L) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.1-80 ?m, (2) the average (DAV) breadth (D) in the two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating, the particles with light from the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.05-40 ?m, and (3) the average (PAV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) is 1.5-30.

Abstract: A method for producing elliptical, needle-shaped, or rod-shaped polymer particles satisfying (1)-(3) below includes a step in which a synthesis solution including water, a mixed solvent of a hydrophilic organic solvent and a hydrophobic organic solvent, a polymeric stabilizer, a polymerization initiator, and an unsaturated monomer is heated, and, at least after the heating has started, the pH of the synthesis solution is adjusted to 5-9 inclusive to perform solution polymerization: (1) the average (LAV) length (L) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.1-80 ?m; (2) the average (DAV) breadth (D) in the two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.05-40 ?m; and (3) the average (PAV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) is 1.5-30.

Abstract: Provided is an ultraviolet scattering agent characterized by comprising at least one type of elliptical or needle-like polymer particle A, wherein (1) the average (LAV) of the long axis (L) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by radiating light from a direction perpendicular to the long-axis direction is 0.1 to 80 ?m, (2) the average (DAV) of the short axis (D) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by radiating light from a direction perpendicular to the long-axis direction is 0.05 to 40 ?m, and (3) the average (PAV) of the aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the long axis (L) and the short axis (D) is 2 to 30.

Abstract: A support for carrying a catalyst is obtained by carbonizing raw materials containing a nitrogen-containing organic substance and a metal. The support for carrying a catalyst may have a peak at a diffraction angle of around 26° in an X-ray diffraction pattern, the peak including 20 to 45% of a graphite-like structure component and 55 to 80% of an amorphous component. In addition, the support for carrying a catalyst may have an intensity ratio of a band at 1,360 cm?1 to a band at 1,580 cm?1 (I1,360/I1,580) in a Raman spectrum of 0.3 or more and 1.0 or less. In addition, the support for carrying a catalyst may be obtained by carbonizing the raw materials to obtain a carbonized material, subjecting the carbonized material to a metal removal treatment, and subjecting the resultant to a heat treatment.

Abstract: A support for carrying a catalyst is obtained by carbonizing raw materials containing a nitrogen-containing organic substance and a metal. The support for carrying a catalyst may have a peak at a diffraction angle of around 26° in an X-ray diffraction pattern, the peak including 20 to 45% of a graphite-like structure component and 55 to 80% of an amorphous component. In addition, the support for carrying a catalyst may have an intensity ratio of a band at 1,360 cm?1 to a band at 1,580 cm?1 (I1,360/I1,580) in a Raman spectrum of 0.3 or more and 1.0 or less. In addition, the support for carrying a catalyst may be obtained by carbonizing the raw materials to obtain a carbonized material, subjecting the carbonized material to a metal removal treatment, and subjecting the resultant to a heat treatment.