Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a cleaning agent composition which can be used in the open air without any problems since the cleaning agent is environmentally friendly and which is effective for removing a low-molecular-weight and poorly-water-soluble cyclic silicone compound that causes a stain of a silicone sealing. The cleaning agent for washing out a silicone stain according to the present invention is characterized in comprising a cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant, wherein the specific silicone stain compound such as D4 compound is the objective compound to be removed.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for remarkably reducing a critical micelle concentration of an anionic surfactant, which is used in a large amount currently, to reduce the amount to be used. Also, the objective of the present invention is to provide a surfactant composition of which whole critical micelle concentration is remarkably reduced and in which an amount of an anionic surfactant is reduced in comparison with the case of using an anionic surfactant only as a surfactant. The method for reducing a critical micelle concentration of an anionic surfactant according to the present invention is characterized in using a cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant in combination with the anionic surfactant.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an extinguishing agent which has excellent fire-extinguishing property and which exhibits high safety to the environment and human body. The fire extinguishing agent of the present invention is characterized in comprising a biosurfactant.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for remarkably reducing a critical micelle concentration of an anionic surfactant, which is used in a large amount currently, to reduce the amount to be used. Also, the objective of the present invention is to provide a surfactant composition of which whole critical micelle concentration is remarkably reduced and in which an amount of an anionic surfactant is reduced in comparison with the case of using an anionic surfactant only as a surfactant. The method for reducing a critical micelle concentration of an anionic surfactant according to the present invention is characterized in using a cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant in combination with the anionic surfactant.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing a hydrocarbon fluid from a hydrocarbon fluid-rich shale even under high temperature without giving an excessive load to the environment. The method for producing a hydrocarbon fluid from hydrocarbon fluid-rich shale according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the steps of excavating a horizontal wellbore in a layer of the hydrocarbon fluid-rich shale, injecting a pressurized fracturing fluid into the horizontal wellbore to fracture the hydrocarbon fluid-rich shale, taking out the hydrocarbon fluid onto the ground from the fractured hydrocarbon fluid-rich shale, wherein a biosurfactant-containing solution is used as the fracturing fluid.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a surfactant composition which hardly causes the formation of an insoluble salt and which contains a safe and extremely stable micelle or vesicle. Also, an objective of the present invention is to provide a hair cosmetic material which contains the surfactant composition. The surfactant composition according to the present invention is characterized in comprising a micelle or a vesicle which contain surfactin and a specific cationic surfactant.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a method for reducing surface free energy of an organic solvent and of a mixed solution of water and a water-miscible organic solvent, a composition which has a reduced surface free energy of an organic solvent and of a mixed solution of water and a water-miscible organic solvent and which has high environmental suitability and safety to a living body, and a wet wiper and an antiseptic solution which contains the composition The method for reducing surface free energy of an organic solvent or a mixed solvent of water and a water-miscible solvent according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the step of adding surfactin or a salt thereof to the organic solvent or mixed solvent.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a polymer of a monomer having a vinyl group while reducing a residual amount of a surfactant within the polymer as the target compound and waste water. The method for producing a polymer according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the step of polymerizing a monomer having a vinyl group in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactin salt, which is a natural peptide surfactant, and a polymerization initiator, wherein a ratio of the surfactin salt (I) to 100 parts by mass of the monomer is not less than 0.0005 parts by mass and less than 0.1 parts by mass.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a cleaning agent composition which can be used in the open air without any problems since the cleaning agent is environmentally friendly and which is effective for removing a low-molecular-weight and poorly-water-soluble cyclic silicone compound that causes a stain of a silicone sealing. The cleaning agent for washing out a silicone stain according to the present invention is characterized in comprising a cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant, wherein the specific silicone stain compound such as D4 compound is the objective compound to be removed.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a polymer of a monomer having a vinyl group while reducing a residual amount of a surfactant within the polymer as the target compound and waste water. The method for producing a polymer according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the step of polymerizing a monomer having a vinyl group in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactin salt, which is a natural peptide surfactant, and a polymerization initiator, wherein a ratio of the surfactin salt (I) to 100 parts by mass of the monomer is not less than 0.0005 parts by mass and less than 0.1 parts by mass.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple industrial process for producing an L- or D-optically active ?-methylcysteine derivative or its salt, which is a useful pharmaceutical intermediate, from readily available, inexpensive raw materials. In a process for producing an L- or D-optically active ?-methylcysteine derivative or its salt, a racemic N-carbamoyl-?-methylcysteine derivative or its salt is D-selectively cyclized with hydantoinase to produce a D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative or its salt and an N-carbamoyl-?-methyl-L-cysteine derivative or its salt, which are then subjected to deprotection of the amino group and the sulfur atom, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: The method for producing a surfactin or a salt thereof according to the present invention comprises the steps of adding an organic solvent containing a branched alkyl alcohol to a culture fluid containing the surfactin or the salt thereof, or to a solution obtained by removing an insoluble component from the culture fluid, and extracting the surfactin or the salt thereof with the organic solvent, wherein the surfactin or the salt thereof is represented by the formula (1): wherein * indicates an optically active center; X is an amino acid selected from leucine, isoleucine and valine; R is a C9-13 alkyl group or a C9-13 branched alkyl group; and M is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, an optionally-substituted amine or the like.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an extinguishing agent which has excellent fire-extinguishing property and which exhibits high safety to the environment and human body. The fire extinguishing agent of the present invention is characterized in comprising a biosurfactant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple industrial process for producing an L- or D-optically active ?-methylcysteine derivative or its salt, which is a useful pharmaceutical intermediate, from readily available, inexpensive raw materials. In a process for producing an L- or D-optically active ?-methylcysteine derivative or its salt, a racemic N-carbamoyl-?-methylcysteine derivative or its salt is D-selectively cyclized with hydantoinase to produce a D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative or its salt and an N-carbamoyl-?-methyl-L-cysteine derivative or its salt, which are then subjected to deprotection of the amino group and the sulfur atom, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: The method for producing a surfactin or a salt thereof according to the present invention comprises the steps of adding an organic solvent containing a branched alkyl alcohol to a culture fluid containing the surfactin or the salt thereof, or to a solution obtained by removing an insoluble component from the culture fluid, and extracting the surfactin or the salt thereof with the organic solvent, wherein the surfactin or the salt thereof is represented by the formula (1): wherein * indicates an optically active center; X is an amino acid selected from leucine, isoleucine and valine; R is a C9-13 alkyl group or a C9-13 branched alkyl group; and M is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, an optionally-substituted amine or the like.

Abstract: Aiming at production of an optically active 3-amino nitrogen-containing compound which is useful as an intermediate in synthesis of medicines and pesticides, in particular, an optically active 1-protected-3-aminopyrrolidine derivative, from an inexpensive and readily available raw material by a process which is efficient and can be practiced industrially, an optically active 3-amino nitrogen-containing compound is produced by performing a reaction of an optically active 3-substituted nitrogen-containing compound with ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine or dimethylamine in the presence of water. In addition, a 1-protected-3-aminopyrrolidine derivative is produced by performing a reaction of an optically active 1-protected-3-(sulfonyloxy)pyrrolidine derivative with ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine, or dimethylamine in the presence of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, or isopropanol under a pressure of less than 30 barr.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple industrial process for producing an L- or D-optically active ?-methylcysteine derivative or its salt, which is a useful pharmaceutical intermediate, from readily available, inexpensive raw materials. In a process for producing an L- or D-optically active ?-methylcysteine derivative or its salt, a racemic N-carbamoyl-?-methylcysteine derivative or its salt is D-selectively cyclized with hydantoinase to produce a D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative or its salt and an N-carbamoyl-?-methyl-L-cysteine derivative or its salt, which are then subjected to deprotection of the amino group and the sulfur atom, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: Aiming at production of an optically active 3-amino nitrogen-containing compound which is useful as an intermediate in synthesis of medicines and pesticides, in particular, an optically active 1-protected-3-aminopyrrolidine derivative, from an inexpensive and readily available raw material by a process which is efficient and can be practiced industrially, an optically active 3-amino nitrogen-containing compound is produced by performing a reaction of an optically active 3-substituted nitrogen-containing compound with ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine or dimethylamine in the presence of water. In addition, a 1-protected-3-aminopyrrolidine derivative is produced by performing a reaction of an optically active 1-protected-3-(sulfonyloxy)pyrrolidine derivative with ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine, or dimethylamine in the presence of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, or isopropanol under a pressure of less than 30 barr.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a 3-hydroxybutyraldehyde derivative, particularly an optically active 3-hydroxybutyraldehyde derivative, which is useful as an intermediate of a pharmaceutical agent and the like. The method of the present invention is characterized by converting the 3-hydroxybutyrate derivative to an alcohol derivative by a reduction reaction followed by converting it to a desired aldehyde derivative by an oxidation reaction using a nitroxyl compound and a co-oxidant. In accordance with the present invention, a 3-hydroxybutyraldehyde derivative having high qualities (a low content of alcohol derivatives) can be produced by an easy and convenient method without resorting to a reaction under an extremely low temperature condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a useful novel intermediate and a novel synthetic process that can highly prevent contamination by various impurities to an optically active R or S isomer of a 2-amino-3-mercapto-2-methylpropionic acid derivative or salt thereof useful as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals and the like and provides a process for easily and efficiently producing a high purity optically active R or S isomer of a 2-amino-3-mercapto-2-methylpropionic acid derivative or salt thereof on an industrial production scale. A process of producing a high purity 2-amino-3-mercapto-2-methylpropionic acid derivative or salt thereof includes reductively cleaving a sulfur-sulfur bond of an intermediate, which is a high purity optically active 3,3?-dithiobis(2-amino-2-methylpropionic acid) derivative substantially free of impurities. Thus, a resulting optically active 2-amino-3-mercapto-2-methylpropionic acid derivative can be produced without generating impurities as by-products which are difficult to remove.