Abstract: By subjecting an organic acid derived from a biomass resource to oxidation treatment using an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, tert-butylhydroperoxide, ozone, sodium hypochlorite or sodium chlorite, colored impurities contained in the organic acid derived from a biomass resource can be removed.

Abstract: A method of producing a filter aid includes: (A) obtaining a pretreated biomass by pulverization treatment and/or thermochemical treatment of a cellulose-containing biomass; (B) treating the pretreated biomass obtained in (A) with cellulase to obtain a cellulase-treated product; and (C) obtaining a solid content of the cellulase-treated product of (B).

Abstract: A ?-glucosidase exhibits high activity in the presence of biomass and has high thermal stability compared to conventional enzymes. The ?-glucosidase includes substitutions and/or deletions of amino acids, at least three amino acids selected from the group consisting of Glu39, Asp169, Arg170, Arg220, Tyr227, and Glu330, of the parent ?-glucosidase with other amino acids and exhibits a decomposition activity.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid includes concentrating an aqueous cellulose-derived sugar solution with a nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane, wherein the concentration is carried out after adding a water-soluble anionic polymer to the aqueous cellulose-derived sugar solution to remove a fermentation inhibitor(s) into a permeate side of the nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane.

Abstract: A method of producing lactic acid by continuous fermentation includes filtering a culture of polyploidy prototrophic yeast having a capacity to produce lactic acid by introduction of a lactate dehydrogenase gene through a porous membrane having an average pore size of not less than 0.01 ?m and less than 1 ?m; and recovering the lactic acid from filtrate while the unfiltered liquid is retained in or returned to the culture and a fermentation feedstock is added to the culture.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid includes hydrolyzing with a filamentous fungus-derived cellulase a product obtained by adding a water-soluble inorganic salt(s) to a pretreated product of cellulose to a final concentration of 5 to 35 g/L; and subjecting the hydrolysate to solid-liquid separation and filtering the obtained solution component through an ultrafiltration membrane to recover the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase as a non-permeate and to obtain a sugar liquid as a permeate.

Abstract: A method produces a lactic acid salt and includes subjecting an aqueous lactic acid salt solution comprising a formic acid salt in an amount of not less than 7.0% by weight with respect to the lactic acid salt to crystallization, and recovering the lactic acid salt. By subjecting the aqueous lactic acid salt solution including a formic acid salt in an amount of not less than 7.0% by weight with respect to the lactic acid salt to crystallization, supersaturation of the lactic acid salt can be stabilized, and the recovery of the lactic acid salt can be increased.

Abstract: A method produces a sugar liquid by adding a filamentous fungus-derived cellulase to a pretreated product of cellulose to obtain a hydrolysate; adding waste molasses to said hydrolysate to obtain a mixed sugar liquid; and subjecting said mixed sugar liquid to solid-liquid separation and filtering the obtained solution component through an ultrafiltration membrane, to recover the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase as a non-permeate and to obtain a sugar liquid as a permeate.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid, includes filtering a cellulose-derived sugar liquid through one or more separation membranes selected from the group consisting of ultrafiltration membranes, nanofiltration membranes and reverse osmosis membranes, and washing the separation membrane(s) after filtration with warm water at a temperature of not less than 50° C.

Abstract: A method of producing butanol, which has a step of removing impurities contained in a butanol-containing solution, is provided. In the method, a butanol-containing solution is filtered through a nanofiltration membrane. Then the butanol-containing solution is collected from the permeate flow of the nanofiltration membrane.

Abstract: A method of producing lactic acid continuous fermentation including filtering a culture of polyploid yeast having a capacity to produce lactic acid through a porous membrane having an average pore size of not less than 0.01 ?m and less than 1 ?m, and recovering the product from the filtrate while the unfiltered liquid is retained in or returned to the culture and a fermentation feedstock is added to the culture.

Abstract: A method produces a sugar liquid by repeating a sugar liquid production process including (1) to (3): (1) adding a filamentous fungus-derived cellulase to cellulose to perform primary hydrolysis; (2) adding a fresh filamentous fungus-derived cellulase to the hydrolysate in Step (1) to perform secondary hydrolysis; and (3) subjecting the hydrolysate in Step (2) to solid-liquid separation to obtain a sugar liquid, from which a recovered enzyme is obtained; wherein the recovered enzyme obtained in Step (3) is used for Step (1) of the next and later sugar liquid production processes.

Abstract: A method of hydrolysis of cellulose uses a filamentous fungus-derived cellulase as a carbohydrase and includes adding the carbohydrase to cellulose to perform primary hydrolysis and then subjecting the primary hydrolysate to solid-liquid separation into a primary sugar liquid and solids; adding water to the solids and performing secondary hydrolysis, followed by subjecting the secondary hydrolysate to solid-liquid separation into a secondary sugar liquid and a residue; and filtering the primary sugar liquid and/or secondary sugar liquid through an ultrafiltration membrane, and recovering the carbohydrase from the feed side and recovering a sugar solution from the permeate side.

Abstract: Highly pure butanol can be produced by a method for producing butanol, the method comprising: Step A, wherein a butanol-containing solution is filtered through a nanofiltration membrane and a butanol-containing solution is recovered from the permeate side; Step B, wherein the butanol-containing solution obtained in Step A is passed through a reverse osmosis membrane and thereby concentrated to cause two-phase separation into a butanol phase and an aqueous phase; and Step C, wherein butanol is recovered from the butanol phase obtained in Step B.

Abstract: A method of producing lactic acid by separating lactic acid produced in a culture solution by microbial fermentation, comprising: a step (A) of filtering the culture solution through a nano-filtration membrane; and a step (B) of distilling a lactic-acid-containing solution produced in step (A) under a pressure of 1 Pa to atmospheric pressure at a temperature of 25 to 200° C. to recover lactic acid.

Abstract: A method for producing a diamine includes purifying a diamine from an aqueous solution containing a diamine salt by adding an alkaline substance to the aqueous solution and then filtering the resulting solution by allowing the solution to pass through a nanofiltration membrane to remove the salt, thereby obtaining an aqueous diamine solution.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module for use in production of a chemical substance, which is used in continuous fermentation including filtering a fermentation broth of a microorganism or a cultured cell through a hollow fiber membrane, collecting a chemical substance from a filtrate, retaining a concentrated solution in the fermentation broth or refluxing the concentrated solution, and adding a fermentation raw material to the fermentation broth, wherein a large number of hollow fiber membrane bundles are accommodated in a tubular case, at least one end part of each of the bundles is fixed on the tubular case by a hollow fiber membrane bundling member with an end face of each of the hollow fiber membranes open, and the hollow fiber membrane bundling member is made of a synthetic resin having a hardness retention rate after contact with saturated steam at 121° C. for 24 hours of 95% or more.

Abstract: A method of producing butanol, which has a step of removing impurities contained in a butanol-containing solution, is provided. In the method, a butanol-containing solution is filtered through a nanofiltration membrane. Then the butanol-containing solution is collected from the permeate flow of the nanofiltration membrane.

Abstract: A method for producing a diol or triol, which has a step of removing impurities contained in a diol- or triol-containing solution, is provided. In the method, a diol- or triol-containing solution is filtered through a nanofiltration membrane having a polyamide-containing functional layer. The diol- or triol-containing solution is then collected from the permeate flow of the nanofiltration membrane.

Abstract: Highly productive D-lactic acid fermentation uses a transformant obtained by introducing into a host cell a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide according to any one of the following (A) to (C) in such a manner that the polypeptide is expressed, which polypeptide has a D-lactate dehydrogenase activity higher than those of conventional polypeptides: (A) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or 2; (B) a polypeptide having the same amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or 2 except that one or several amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added, which polypeptide has a D-lactate dehydrogenase activity; and (C) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has a sequence identity of not less than 80% to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or 2, which polypeptide has a D-lactate dehydrogenase activity.