Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of black vinegar which contains sugar derived from rice and barley abundantly, and is free from precipitation, and black vinegar manufactured by the method. The present invention provide a manufacturing method of black vinegar having the sugar content of 8-50 weight/volume % derived from rice and/or barley, wherein acetic acid fermentation is performed by mixing a saccharified solution and an alcoholic fermented broth of rice and/or barley, and the final concentration of oxalic acid in black vinegar is 36 ppm or less, and preferably 30 ppm or less. In addition, as a decreasing method of oxalic acid in black vinegar, storing with stirring a saccharified solution of rice and/or barley or a fermented broth after completion of acetic acid fermentation is effective. And the present invention provides black vinegar manufactured by these methods in which oxalate precipitation is hardly to occur, and which is suitable for drinking.

Abstract: A method of measuring microbial activity of microbes in real time includes preparing a medium to enable microbial activity and placing the medium in operative contact with an appropriate sensor. The sensor is scanned to provide measurement electrical signals representative of position and amount of microbial activity, the sensor being responsive to a by-product of the microbial activity, such as a change in pH. The measurement signals can then be processed to provide a visual image display, and the display can visually distinguish between levels of pH activity and coordinate positions of the microbial activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rapid coulometric analysis for the quantitative determination of a sample substance with high reproducibility without any application of voltage etc. from the outside, as well as a galvanic cell and a device for use in said coulometric analysis. According to the present invention, a wide variety of components can be analyzed by selection of electroactive substance introduced into the galvanic cell. The present invention enables a simple and easy analysis for food components such as glutamic acid, ascorbic acid, etc., water quality such as COD, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rapid coulometric analysis for the quantitative determination of a sample substance wherein the coulometric analysis has high reproducibility without any application of voltage, etc., from an outside source, as well as a galvanic cell and a device for use in said coulometric analysis. According to the present invention, a wide variety of components can be analyzed by selection of electroactive substance introduced into the galvanic cell. The present invention enables a simple and easy analysis for food components such as glutamic acid, ascorbic acid, etc., water quality such as COD, etc.

Abstract: Provided is a novel polysaccharide derivative having a main structure of the following formula (1) in which a polysaccharide or its derivative has been chemically bonded to the inner and outer surfaces of the pores of a porous carrier at the reducing terminal of the polysaccharide or polysaccharide derivative: ##STR1## Also provided are a method of producing the novel polysaccharide derivative in which a silane agent is chemically bonded to a porous carrier and thereafter a polysaccharide having a degree of polymerization from 11 to 500 or its derivative is further chemically bonded to surface treated carrier at the reducing terminal of the polysaccharide or its derivative, and a method of producing the novel polysaccharide derivative in which a polysaccharide having a degree of polymerization from 11 to 500 or its derivative is chemically bonded to a silane agent at the reducing terminal of the polysaccharide or its derivative and thereafter the polysaccharide derivative is further chemically bonded to a por

Abstract: A polysaccharide substance having the following formula is provided: ##STR1## Also provided is a method of producing the polysaccharide substance in which an oligosaccharide having a degree of polymerization from 3 to 10 is chemically bonded to a silane agent at the reducing terminal of the resultant oligosaccharide, the oligosaccharide compound is then polymerized to an average degree of polymerization from 11 to 500 in the presence of an enzyme. Another method for producing the polysaccharide substance is provided in which an aldehyde group at the reducing terminal of an oligosaccharide having a degree of polymerization from 3 to 10 is oxidized with an oxidizing agent, and the saccharide chain of the oxidized product is polymerized to a degree of polymerization from 11 to 500 in the presence of an enzyme, followed by the addition of an acid. The polysaccharide substance has excellent solvent resistance and is useful as a separating agent for chromatography, especially for the separation of chiral compounds.

Abstract: A BOD analyzer is prepared having a microbe sensor containing an oxygen electrode and a microbe membrane. The microbe membrane is made by immobilizing microorganisms belonging to the genus Klebsiella in the membrane. Specifically, the BOD analyzer has a flow cell equipped with a microbe sensor containing an oxygen electrode and a microbe membrane, and a liquid passage which is connected with an entrance of the flow cell and which is equipped with an outlet. The microbe membrane is made by immobilizing microorganisms belonging to Klebsiella oxytoca 12092 strain in a porous hydrophilic membrane having an average pore size of 0.65-3 .mu.m in diameter by using at least one gelating agent selected from alginic acid or salts thereof, agar, gellan gum, xathane gum, gelatine, carageenan, locust bean gum, methylcellulose, pectin, or pullulan. The BOD analyzer can be used for batch or continuous BOD analysis and enables carrying out BOD analysis in a short period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring the amount of free sulfurous acid and bound sulfurous acid in a sample using a bacterium belonging to Thiobacillus thiooxidans or Thiobacillus ferrooxidans of in which the sample is treated with acid and/or alkali to give free sulfurous acid alone in the sample. Then, the total amount of free sulfurous acid in the sample is measured by an oxidation reaction of free sulfurous acid to sulfuric acid using a bacterium belonging to Thiobacillus thiooxidans or Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a BOD analyzer comprising a microbe sensor containing an oxygen electrode and a microbe membrane. The microbe membrane is made by immobilizing microorganisms belonging to the genus Klebsiella in membrane. Specifically, the present invention relates to a BOD analyzer comprising flow cell equipped with a microbe sensor containing an oxygen electrode and a microbe membrane; and a liquid passage which is connected with the entrance of the flow cell and which is equipped with an outlet. The microbe membrane is made by immobilizing microorganisms belonging to Klebsiella oxytoca 12092 strain in a porous hydrophilic membrane having an average pore size of 0.65-3 .mu.m in diameter by using at least one gelating agent selected from the group consisting of alginic acid or salts thereof, agar, gellan gum, xanthane gum, gelatine, carageenan, locust bean gum, methylcellulose, pectin, and pullulan.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium best suited as a separation medium is composed of a gel solution and contains a water-soluble polymer and permits great improvement of the enzymic protein recovery character. A gel holder is provided with stopper members and thus can hold even a soft or slippery while maintaining a fixed shape thereof, thus permitting reliable separation and purification of an intended substance without possibility of denaturing of the substance. A slab type electrophoretic apparatus permits automatic detection of the electrophoretic state of a sample and automatic completion of the electrophoresis under optimum conditions without setting measurement condition, permits continuous measurement of the buffer solution temperature, which is important for obtaining an electrophoretic condition for maintaining the enzymic function, and permits separation and purification of a large quantity of an enzyme or like physiologically active substance in a very simple operation.

Abstract: In a sulfur dioxide detector using SO.sub.2 -oxidant microbes, a bio-membrane is located at one end of an oxygen concentration sensor, the bio-membrane containing the SO.sub.2 -oxidant microbes between an immobilized membrane and a gas permeable membrane. The sensor has an electrode in contact with the immobilized membrane. A dish-shaped or frusto-conical cell has an open end which is in contact with the gas permeable membrane so that SO.sub.2 -laden solution supplied to the cell causes sulfurous acid to oxidize to sulfuric acid as the SO.sub.2 permeates through the bio-membrane so as to change an output from the sensor. An inlet and outlet hole are formed on a sidewall of the cell. The outlet hole is located to be always directly above the inlet hole so as to drain foam formed when the SO.sub.2 -laden solution is supplied to the cell through the inlet hole and drained from the outlet hole.

Abstract: A dental plaque-degrading composition containing endodextranase produced by Arthrobacter globiformis W31 exhibiting high degradation efficacy to insoluble glucan produced by Streptococcus mutans IFO 13955, the dental plaque-degrading composition additionally containing .alpha.-amylase of various origins. These compositions are useful for preventing the settlement of Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity and the formation of new dental plaque and for preventing the dental caries, and provided in the form of dentifrices, denture detergents, troches, mouth washes, chewing gums or candies.

Abstract: A novel foodstuff is produced by reacting a milk-coagulating enzyme which is produced by a milk-coagulating enzyme-producing microorganism belonging to genus Aspergillus, genus Mucor, or genus Rhizopus and which exhibits a milk-coagulating activity (A) and a protease activity (B) such that the ratio of (A)/(B) is larger than 0.1, with soymilk thereby inducing coagulation, and collecting a resulting coagulated material. The novel foodstuffs produced have the benefit of lacking the bitterness and astringency common to soybean, abounds in emulsifying activity, exhibit a high water-retention property, and are smoothly agreeable to the taste. Thus, they have extensive utility as substitutes for raw materials in conventional processed foods. They are especially suitable for use as raw materials for emulsifiable foods.