Abstract: There is provided a process for industrial production of simple 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconic acid and/or 3-carboxymuconolactone from low molecular mixtures derived from plant components such as vanillin, vanillic acid and protocatechuic acid, via a multistage enzyme reaction. A recombinant plasmid containing a vanillate demethylase gene (vanAB genes), benzaldehyde dehydrogenase gene (ligV gene) and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase gene (pcaHG genes); transformants incorporating the plasmid; and a process for production of 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconic acid and/or 3-carboxymuconolactone characterized by culturing the transformants in the presence of vanillin, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid or a mixture of two or more thereof.

Abstract: To provide an industrial purification method of PDC obtained by fermentative production. A method of purifying 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid which comprises including a salt of monovalent to tetravalent cations in a fermentation liquid containing microbially-produced 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid; and a method of purifying 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid which method comprises extracting 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid from a fermentation liquid containing microbially-produced 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid without forming 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylate.

Abstract: The invention provides biodegradable polyesters, polyurethanes, comprising 3-carboxymuconolactone as a structural unit, 3-carboxymuconolactone esters and a process for their production. Polyesters comprising a repeating unit represented by the following formula (I): [wherein R represents a hydrocarbon-based divalent residue which, in the structure, optionally contains a heteroatom without an active hydrogen], polyurethanes comprising the polyester structure; 3-carboxymuconolactone esters; and a process for their production.

Abstract: A flame retardant resin treated article that excels in flame retardancy and is free from bleedout. A resin composition comprising a flame retarder of metal phosphinate represented by the general formula: (I) (in the formula, each of R1 and R2 is a C1-C6 alkyl or an aryl group having 12 or less carbon atoms; M is calcium, aluminum or zinc; and when M=aluminum, m=3, and otherwise m=2), a reactive organophosphorus flame retarder having an unsaturated group at its terminal and a resin wherein the total content of metal phosphinate and reactive organophosphorus flame retarder is in the range of 5 to 30 mass % is provided in molded form or coating form.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flame-retardant resin processed article having excellent flame retardance while being free from bleed-out. Specifically, a resin composition containing a cyclic phosphorus compound flame retardant, a hydrophilic silica powder having an average particle diameter of not more than 15 m, and a resin with the total content of the cyclic phosphorus compound and the hydrophilic silica powder being 10-45% by mass is molded into a certain shape or formed into a coating film. The hydrophilic silica powder is preferably composed of porous structures having a pore volume of not more than 1.8 ml/g and a pH of 4-7. More preferably, the hydrophilic silica powder has an oil absorption of not less than 50 ml/100 g in accordance with JIS K5101.

Abstract: Industrial-scale fermentative production of 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconic acid from terephthalic acid. Also, a protocatechuate 4,5-ring-cleaving enzyme gene-disrupted strain in which the gene coding for (a) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, or (b) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 which has a deletion, substitution, addition and/or insertion of one or more amino acids and exhibits protocatechuate 4,5-ring cleavage activity, present in the chromosomal DNA of microbial cells, has been disrupted; recombinant plasmids comprising the Tph gene and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase gene; transformants obtained by introducing the recombinant plasmids into the disrupted strain; and a process for production of 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconic acid and/or 3-carboxymuconolactone characterized by culturing the transformants in the presence of terephthalic acid.

Abstract: There is provided a process for industrial production of simple 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconic acid and/or 3-carboxymuconolactone from low molecular mixtures derived from plant components such as vanillin, vanillic acid and protocatechuic acid, via a multistage enzyme reaction. A recombinant plasmid containing a vanillate demethylase gene (vanAB genes), benzaldehyde dehydrogenase gene (ligV gene) and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase gene (pcaHG genes); transformants incorporating the plasmid; and a process for production of 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconic acid and/or 3-carboxymuconolactone characterized by culturing the transformants in the presence of vanillin, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid or a mixture of two or more thereof.

Abstract: A polyester containing a biomass-derived material in a repeating unit structure and having all of sufficient mechanical strength, easy mold processability into a molded product such as fiber or film, and biodegradability, is provided. A PDC-L-lactic acid copolyester represented by the following formula: —[R1—PDC]x—[OCH(CH3)CO]1-x—??(I) [wherein PDC is a dicarboxylic acid residue represented by the following formula (II): R1 is selected from —O(CH2)nO—, —O(CH2CH2O)m— and —O[CH(CH3)CH2O]m—, where n represents an integer of 3 to 6 and m represents an integer of 1 to 4; and is 0.005?x?0.2 when n?4 or m?2, and is 0.005?x?0.4 in other cases]; and a molded product containing the PDC-L-lactic acid copolyester.

Abstract: An antimicrobial agent comprising, as an active component, compounds represented by the following formula [wherein, R1 and R2 each independently represent H or an alkali metal atom.]; and a microbicidal agent comprising, as an active component, compounds represented by formula (I): [wherein, R1 and R2 each independently represent H or an alkali metal atom.], wherein they have high safety and little impact on the environment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactive flame retardant which provides a resin with excellent flame retardance even when it is added in a small amount while being prevented from bleedout. Also disclosed is a flame-retardant resin processed article obtained by using such a reactive flame retardant. An organophosphorus compound represented by the general formula (I) below, wherein at least one or more of X1-X3 represent a group containing phosphorus and having a terminal unsaturated group, is used as a reactive flame retardant which is reactive with resins. A flame-retardant resin processed article can be obtained by solidifying the resin composition containing the organophosphorus compound and then reacting it through heating or application of radiation.

Abstract: A flame retardant resin treated article that excels in flame retardancy and is free from bleedout. A resin composition comprising a flame retarder of metal phosphinate represented by the general formula: (I) (in the formula, each of R1 and R2 is a C1-C6 alkyl or an aryl group having 12 or less carbon atoms; M is calcium, aluminum or zinc; and when M=aluminum, m=3, and otherwise m=2), a reactive organophosphorus flame retarder having an unsaturated group at its terminal and a resin wherein the total content of metal phosphinate and reactive organophosphorus flame retarder is in the range of 5 to 30 mass % is provided in molded form or coating form.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flame-retardant resin processed article having excellent flame retardance while being free from bleed-out. Specifically, a resin composition containing a cyclic phosphorus compound flame retardant, a hydrophilic silica powder having an average particle diameter of not more than 15 m, and a resin with the total content of the cyclic phosphorus compound and the hydrophilic silica powder being 10-45% by mass is molded into a certain shape or formed into a coating film. The hydrophilic silica powder is preferably composed of porous structures having a pore volume of not more than 1.8 ml/g and a pH of 4-7. More preferably, the hydrophilic silica powder has an oil absorption of not less than 50 ml/100 g in accordance with JIS K5101.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactive flame retardant which provides a resin with excellent flame retardance even when it is added in a small amount while being prevented from bleedout. Also disclosed is a flame-retardant resin processed article obtained by using such a reactive flame retardant. An organophosphorus compound represented by the general formula (I) below, wherein at least one or more of X1-X3 represent a group containing phosphorus and having a terminal unsaturated group, is used as a reactive flame retardant which is reactive with resins. A flame-retardant resin processed article can be obtained by solidifying the resin composition containing the organophosphorus compound and then reacting it through heating or application of radiation.

Abstract: A polyamide having repeating units represented by formula (1), wherein R1 represents a divalent hydrocarbon residue optionally having in the structure a heteroatom having no active hydrogen. The polyamide has a high refractive index, is biodegradable, and is useful as a material for fibers and plastics.

Abstract: A polyester having repeating units represented by formula (1): wherein R1 represents a divalent hydrocarbon residue which in its structure may contain a heteroatom having no active hydrogen. The polyester has a high refractive index and biodegradability, and is useful as a material for fibers and plastics.

Abstract: An ultrathin polymeric membrane has a membrane thickness of 10 to 1,000 .ANG.. The membrane is constituted of polycarboxylate and obtained by the spin coating method or by the Langmuir-Blodgett method. The polycarboxylate contains recurrent units represented by the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represent different groups and each stands for a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and R represents a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of a branched alkyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, a substituted alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted cycloalkyl group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and a siloxanic hydrocarbon group.

Abstract: A Langmuir-Blodgett ultrathin membrane is constituted of polyfumarate having a degree of polymerization of 20 to 10,000. The polyfumarate is obtained by polymerizing fumarate represented by the general formula of: ##STR1## wherein at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represents a bulky hydrocarbon group such as a branched alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or a substituent thereof, a fluorine-substituted hydrocarbon group, a hetero atom-containing hydrocarbon group or a silicon-containing group.