Abstract: A process for producing desulfurized fats and oils or fatty acid esters is disclosed, which comprises treating fats and oils or fatty acid esters under hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas atmosphere at a pressure of from 0.1 to 500 kg/cm.sup.2 in the absolute pressure at a temperature of from 100.degree. to 350.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst of the following formula (I):Cu.multidot.X.sub.x .multidot.Y.sub.y .multidot.O.sub.z (I)wherein all symbols are defined in the disclosure. A process for producing an alcohols using desulfurized fats and oils or fatty acid esters is also disclosed. According to the process for producing an alcohol of the present invention, an alcohol of a high purity and good qualities can efficiently and effectively be produced.

Abstract: A process for producing an alcohol from a fatty acid ester, a fatty acid triglyceride or a fatty acid by continuously catalytically reducing the starting material in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst is disclosed. In the process of the present invention, two reactors (i.e., the main reactor located upstream and the after reactor located downstream) being located in series are employed. In the process of the present invention, two reactors are employed and the temperatures thereof are individually controlled, whereby the conversion ratio is elevated while suppressing the formation of hydrocarbon and aldehyde by-products. Thus, an alcohol of extremely high quality and high purity can be produced. Further, the process of the present invention makes it possible to omit any post-treatment for eliminating the by-products. Furthermore, the active life of the hydrogenation catalyst can be remarkably prolonged by using three reactors (i.e., the guard reactor, the main reactor and the after reactor).

Abstract: A process for producing a hydrogenation reaction catalyst precursor is disclosed, including the steps of:(i) coating the outer surface of at least one of a first titanium oxide and a first titanium hydroxide having an outer surface area of at least 15 m.sup.2 /g with at least one of a second titanium oxide and a second titanium hydroxide formed by hydrolyzing at least one of a titanium alkoxide represented by Formula (I) and a titanium alkoxo acid represented by Formula (II) to prepare a catalyst carrier (A);Ti(OR).sub.4 (I)wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or an aryl group,H.sub.2 [Ti(OR).sub.6 ] (II)wherein R has the same meaning as above;(ii) applying a metal oxide composition (B) onto the catalyst carrier (A) obtained in step (i), or mixing the metal oxide composition (B) with the catalyst carrier (A) to obtain a hydrogenation reaction catalyst precursor.

Abstract: A process for producing alcohols comprising catalytically reducing fats and oils or fatty acid esters with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst for ester reduction is disclosed, wherein the starting oils are first treated at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. in hydrogen gas or a mixed gas of hydrogen and an inert gas in the presence of a nickel catalyst to yield a sulfur content at not more than 0.6 ppm an acid value (KOH mg/g) of not more than 2. By use of the thus purified starting oils, the catalyst for ester reduction exhibits a prolonged duration.

Abstract: The hydrogenation catalyst comprises copper, iron, aluminum and optionally zine and a support selected from aluminum hydroxide, aluminum oxide and a mixture of aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide, having an atomic ratio of Cu/Fe/Al/Zn in the range of 1/(0.4 to 2.5)/(0.5 to 5.0)/(0 to 1.0). It is produced by dispersing a material for the support in an aqueous medium, depositing cupper and iron on the dispersant, further depositing thereon aluminum and sintering it. It is a catalyst for production of a higher alcohol from its methyl ester, effecting hydrogenation with an improved selectivity and activity.

Abstract: A body frame for a motor bicycle includes a main frame, a head tube provided at a front end of the main frame and down tubes extending rearward from the main frame. The main frame, head tube and down tubes are cast with a light alloy into an integral form of a hollow and thin-wall structure. A production process of the body frame, wherein an integrally-formed core, which is formed into a shape similar to that of the body frame, is hollow and has good permeability. A molten metal is charged into the mold and a vacuum is applied to the interior of the core.

Abstract: A body frame for a motor bicycle includes a main frame, a head tube provided at a front end of the main frame and down tubes extending rearward from the main frame. The main frame, head tube and down tubes are cast with a light alloy into an integral form of a hollow and thin-wall structure. A production process of the body frame, wherein an integrally-formed core, which is formed into a shape similar to that of the body frame, is hollow and has good permability. A molten metal is charged into the mold and a vacuum is applied to the interior of the core. The molten metal is charged into a cavity defined between the core and the molding surface of the mold by a low-pressure casting method, and the molten metal is solidified so as to cast the body frame.

Abstract: An alcohol is effective produced by catalytically reducing an organic carboxylic acid ester with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst obtained by reducing a catalyst precursor comprising (A) copper oxide and (B) titanium oxide and/or titanium hydroxide at a weight ratio of (A) to (B) in the range between 15/85 and 65/35. The component (A) may be alternatively a composite metal oxide comprises copper oxide and up to 20 wt. % of zinc oxide.

Abstract: Lactic acid esters of an .alpha.-branched fatty acid possessing an excellent hair conditioning effect are disclosed. Typical example is sodium 2-heptylundecanoyl acid lactate prepared by the reaction of 2-heptylundecanoic acid and lactic acid in the presence of an alkali such as sodium hydroxide. This compound gives a shampoo composition in conjunction with an anionic surface active agent, and a hair rinse composition when a quaternary ammonium salt is formulated. The compositions have excellent conditioning effects on use such as good slipperiness and hair curling formation or retention performance.