Abstract: A single crystal pulling apparatus comprising, a laser unit 46 emitting a beam with a wavelength of 550 nm or less to form a spot on the surface of said melt, a spot camera 47 capturing the spot to produce electrical image signals corresponding thereto, an image processor 50 processing the electrical image signals to produce image data, and a control unit 49 receiving the image data and calculating a current melt level so that a crucible shaft lift 8 moves a crucible shaft up and down to adjust the melt level in accordance with the predetermined melt level.

Abstract: A series of steps of (A) a step for bringing a cycloalkane into contact with molecular oxygen (oxidizing reactor 2) in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst having an imide unit of the following formula (I): wherein X represents oxygen atom or hydroxyl group; (B) a step for separating the catalyst, and by-produced acid component or a derivative thereof from the reaction mixture (filter 3, extracting column 4, hydrolyzing unit 7, saponifying unit 8); and (C) steps for separating the cycloalkane, a cycloalkanol, and a cycloalkanone from the reaction mixture individually (distilling columns 5, 6, 9, and 10) makes it possible to produce cycloalkanones efficiently. A first component (lower-boiling point component) containing the cycloalkane and a second component (higher-boiling point component) containing the cycloalkanone and cycloalkanol may be separated from the reaction mixture, and the cycloalkanone and the cycloalkanol may be separated from the higher-boiling point component.

Abstract: A reaction product and an imide compound can be separated from a reaction mixture obtained by reacting a substrate in the presence of the imide compound having an imide unit represented by the following formula (1): 1

Abstract: In the presence of an oxidizing catalyst, a &bgr;-isophorone derivative of the following formula (1) is oxidized in a solvent substantially from acid components (organic carboxylic acids) to form a ketoisophorone derivative of the following formula (2). The amount of the acid component in the solvent is 0 to 4,000 ppm (weight basis). The oxidizing catalyst is a complex salt of a transition metal and an N,N′-disalicylidenediamine. In the reaction, a cyclic base may further be employed as a co-catalyst. The solvent separated from the reaction mixture may be recycled to the oxidation reaction after removal of the acid component contained therein.

Abstract: &bgr;-isophorone is formed by isomerizing &agr;-isophorone in the presence of an isomerizing catalyst (an aliphatic C5-20 polycarboxylic acid) in an isomerizing-reaction unit 1. The &bgr;-isophorone thus formed is oxidized with oxygen in an inert solvent in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst (a complex salt of a transition metal and an N,N′-disalicylidenediamine) in an oxidizing-reaction unit 2, thereby forming ketoisophorone. After removing a low-boiling point component, which is an impurity (non-conjugated cyclic ketone), from the reaction mixture using a distilling unit 3, a high-boiling component (oxidizing catalyst) is separated in a distilling unit 4, and then ketoisophorone is separated from the solvent in the separation unit 5. Thereafter, the solvent containing 0 to 5,000 ppm (weight basis) of the impurities and substantially free from ketoisophorone is recycled to the oxidizing reaction through a recycling line 6.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel microorganism capable of oxidizing manganese such as the genus Cedecea bacterium GSJ/MITA24A/ASHO-RO/1, the genus Aeromonas bacterium GSJ/MITA24B/ASHO-RO/2, or the genus Shewanella bacterium GSJ/MITA24C/ASHO-RO/3; to a method for removing manganese from water containing manganese, which comprises contacting the water containing manganese with a microbial symbiont of algae and one or more microorganisms capable of oxidizing manganese to oxidize and precipitate the manganese, thereby removing the manganese from the water; and to a method of recycling the recovered manganese.

Abstract: &bgr;-isophorone is formed by isomerizing &agr;-isophorone in the presence of an isomerizing catalyst (an aliphatic C5-20 polycarboxylic acid) in an isomerizing-reaction unit 1. The &bgr;-isophorone thus formed is oxidized with oxygen in an inert solvent in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst (a complex salt of a transition metal and an N,N′-disalicylidenediamine) in an oxidizing-reaction unit 2, thereby forming ketoisophorone. After removing a low-boiling point component, which is an impurity (non-conjugated cyclic ketone), from the reaction mixture using a distilling unit 3, a high-boiling component (oxidizing catalyst) is separated in a distilling unit 4, and then ketoisophorone is separated from the solvent in the separation unit 5. Thereafter, the solvent containing 0 to 5,000 ppm (weight basis) of the impurities and substantially free from ketoisophorone is recycled to the oxidizing reaction through a recycling line 6.

Abstract: A single crystal pulling apparatus comprising, a laser unit 46 emitting a beam with a wavelength of 550 nm or less to form a spot on the surface of said melt, a spot camera 47 capturing the spot to produce electrical image signals corresponding thereto, an image processor 50 processing the electrical image signals to produce image data, and a control unit 49 receiving the image data and calculating a current melt level so that a crucible shaft lift 8 moves a crucible shaft up and down to adjust the melt level in accordance with the predetermined melt level.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling flies, that live in or come flying to livestock pens or poultry houses, by using a compound or salt thereof with an affinity for a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of insects. Since having a very high activity against flies, the compound or salt thereof helps quickly and efficiently to control flies that live in or come flying to livestock pens or poultry houses. Also, since having an excellent control effect on flies that are resistant to conventional chemicals including a organo-phosphoric pesticide and a pyrethroid, the compound or salt thereof helps to prevent propagation, caused by flies, of various diseases to livestock, poultry and humans, and reduce discomfort of workers engaged in the livestock and poultry farming and a community. Still, it is possible with the present invention to keep livestock pens or poultry houses in a hygienic condition, which may greatly contribute to the development of the livestock and poultry farming.

Abstract: A charging member has a conductive core, a conductive elastic layer formed on the surface of the conductive core, and a wearing surface layer to be used also as a resistance controlling layer formed on the surface of the conductive elastic layer, and comprising a surface layer-forming resin and a resistance controlling conductive filler, developing conductivity by electron conduction and having a specific wearing amount of 5.0×10−4 (mm3/N·km) or more, the charging member capable of preventing deterioration of the charging performance of a charging member caused by contamination of the surface layer of the charging member, and maintaining stable and satisfactory uniform charging property and image quality for a long period of time, and always keeping the surface clean by positively wearing the surface layer of the charging member.

Abstract: The invention is to suppress a fluctuation in resistance of a charging member due to the environment and the applied voltage, and to suppress the charging potential of a photosensitive article to realize uniformity in charging by preventing generation of leakage at a part of a low resistance on the surface of the photosensitive article. The charging member may have a conductive core material, a conductive elastic layer formed on a surface of the conductive core material, and a resistance adjusting layer for adjusting a resistance between the conductive core material and the surface of the article to be charged, formed on a surface of the conductive core material, have a material for forming the resistance adjusting layer and a conductive filler for adjusting resistance that exhibits conductivity by electronic conduction, and having a volume resistivity of 5.times.10.sup.5 .OMEGA..multidot.cm or more at an electric field of 5.times.10.sup.4 V/cm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose fibers excellent in dirt removability and a method of treatment thereof. The cellulose fibers of the invention are liquid ammonia-treated cellulose fibers whose partial or entire exterior is coated with an ester of (A) a polycarboxylic acid having at least three carboxyl groups and (B) a hydrophilic polyol having an oxyethylene group or groups and at least two alcoholic hydroxyl groups and/or which fibers are impregnated with the ester.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an operating method which can reduce the amount of silver or mercury dissolved in a solution after contact and can increase the usage of silver or mercury without installing new treating facilities in a process for removing iodine compounds contained in an organic medium, particularly acetic acid or a mixture of acetic acid or acetic anhydride, by contacting them with a cation exchange resin in which at least 1% of the active sites are converted to a silver form or a mercury form.The operating method described above is characterized by carrying out the operation while elevating the temperatures in stages while contacting the organic medium, particularly acetic acid or a mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride, containing the iodine compounds with a cation exchange resin.

Abstract: A high purity acetic acid is prepared by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a rhodium catalyst, iodide salts, and methyl iodide, wherein an acetaldehyde concentration in the reaction liquid is maintained at 400 ppm or lower. This may be attained by contacting the liquid containing carbonyl impurities with water to separate and remove the carbonyl impurities. After that, the liquid can be returned to the reactor.

Abstract: In an exothermic liquid-phase reaction involving a liquid reactant and a gaseous reactant, the gas from the reactor vapor phase is subjected to gas-liquid separation and the non-condensible gas thus separated is recycled to the reactor liquid phase. As the non-condensible gas is recycled to the reactor liquid phase, the liquid components in the liquid phase are vaporized and the resulting latent heat of vaporization removes heat. Therefore, the reaction temperature can be easily controlled by regulating the flow rate of the non-condensible gas so recycled. This method of controlling the reaction temperature can be applied with particular advantage to a commercial process for producing a carbonic ester from an alcohol, carbon monoxide and oxygen.

Abstract: A yarn, cloth, woven fabric, knitted fabric or nonwoven fabric composed of natural cellulose fibers, each fiber having incorporated therein a water-insoluble inorganic metal compound, and each fiber having at least one cured polycarboxylic acid combined therewith, said polycarboxylic acid being one selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acids and partial salts thereof, and a process for preparing the same.