Abstract: A process for preparing a water-in-oil emulsion of a water-soluble polymer is disclosed, comprising polymerizing at least one water-soluble vinyl monomer in a water-in-oil emulsion, wherein the dissolved oxygen concentration of the emulsion under polymerization is about 100 ppb or less. The desired emulsion can be obtained without being accompanied by the formation of agglomerates.

Abstract: A process for producing an .alpha.-hydroxy acid or an .alpha.-hydroxyamide which comprises treating an aldehyde and prussic acid or an .alpha.-hydroxynitrile with a microorganism having nitrilase or nitrile hydratase activity in an aqueous medium and maintaining the aldehyde concentration and/or the .alpha.-hydroxynitrile concentration in the reaction mixture within a predetermined range. Also disclosed is a process for producing an .alpha.-hydroxy acid or an .alpha.-hydroxyamide from an aldehyde and prussic acid with a microorganism in an aqueous medium, which comprises maintaining the cyanogen concentration in the reaction mixture within a predetermined range and supplying the aldehyde to the reaction mixture at a predetermined ratio to the prussic acid.

Abstract: A water-in-oil emulsion of a cationic polymer suitable for inversion, comprising a continuous phase comprising a hydrophobic liquid, a discontinuous phase comprising a water-soluble cationic polymer, and a surface active agent system for inventing the emulsion in water, the system comprising a mixture of at least one alkyl phosphate represented by formula (I) or (II) and at least one other surface active agent compatible with the at least one alkyl phosphate: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms; X and Y, which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an ammonium group, or an alkanolamino group; and n1 represents 0 or an integer of from 1 to 4; ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.

Abstract: A process for producing 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile by ammoxidation comprising contacting a starting gas consisting of 2,6-dichlorotoluene, air and ammonia, which comprises carrying out this reaction under the following conditions:(a) the concentration of 2,6-dichlorotoluene in the starting gas is 2.6 mole % or more.(b) the reactor effluent gas is contacting with water to cool to a temperature in the range of 50.degree. to 90.degree. C., whereby 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile in the reactor effluent gas is collected as a slurry in which solidified 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile is dispersed in water, and 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile is obtained from the slurry, and(c) the cooled reactor effluent gas from which 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile has been removed is contacted with water again to cool to a temperature in the range of 0.degree. to 40.degree. C., whereby unreacted 2,6-dichlorotoluene in the gas is collected as a dispersion in which it is dispersed in water and 2,6-dichlorotoluene is recovered from the dispersion.