Abstract: The present invention provides a production process for an ether carboxylate salt in which process the ether carboxylate salt is obtainable with a good yield, and the amount of expensive catalyst, as used, can be saved, and the recovery of the catalyst is easy. The production process for an ether carboxylate salt comprises the etherification step of reacting a hydroxyl-group-containing organic compound and a carboxyl-group-containing organic compound in an aqueous medium in the presence of a catalyst containing a rare earth element, wherein the carboxyl-group-containing organic compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carboxyl-group-containing unsaturated organic compounds and carboxyl-group-containing epoxy compounds. This process is characterized in that the pH of the aqueous medium is in the range of 9˜13, but not including 9, and in that the amount of the catalyst, as used, is in the range of 0.0001˜0.

Abstract: A chelating composition containing an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid of the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein A is an imino group or an oxygen atom, R is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, and n is 0 or 1, or the salt thereof and sugar or saccharic acid of 4 to 12 carbon atoms at such a ratio as enables the components to manifest synergistic effects is provided. This chelating composition is capable of effectively sequestering a metal ion and preventing the metal ion from being insolubilized without causing pollution of the environment.

Abstract: An aqueous iminocarboxylic acid salt solution composition the iminocarboxylic acid salt of which has a structure of the formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group and Y is a sodium atom, a potassium atom, or an ammonium group, contains an aspartic acid backbone moiety whose molar ratio of the isomers, i.e. D form/L form, is in the range of 1/0 to 0.7/0.3 or D form/L form, in the range of 0/1 to 0.3/0.7, and accounts for a concentration in the range of 40 to 70% by weight and a method for handling the composition while keeping the pH value thereof kept in the range of 7 to 12.

Abstract: The epoxidation is carried out in a reaction system made of metal under conditions such that the inner surface area (S) of the reaction system exposed to the gaseous-phase part thereof and the amount of the reaction solution (V) in the reaction system satisfy the formula: 0<S/V.ltoreq.2 (m.sup.2 /m.sup.3). The epoxidation, otherwise, is carried out in a reaction vessel such that at least the inner surface thereof exposed to the gaseous-phase part thereof has been inactivated or in a reaction vessel such that at least the inner surface thereof exposed to the gaseous-phase part thereof has been inactivated. A hydroxy iminodisuccinic acid is produced by causing the epoxysuccinic acid which has been obtained as described above to react with L-aspartic acid. By this reaction, an epoxy compound can be produced with a high yield without inducing coloration by epoxidizing a corresponding ethylenic compound with hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a solid catalyst which enables a person to simply and efficiently carry out an etherification reaction; and a process by which an ether compound is simply and efficiently produced using the solid catalyst. The solid catalyst is a first solid catalyst comprising at least one rare earth element, or is a second solid catalyst comprising a metallic compound which includes a metal atom and a nonmetal atom bonded to the metal atom, wherein the metallic compound has molecular orbitals including: at least one orbital (L) having an energy of E.sub.L (eV) which satisfies E.sub.LUMO .ltoreq.E.sub.L .ltoreq.(E.sub.LUMO +0.05) wherein E.sub.LUMO is an energy (eV) of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital around the metal atom; and at least one orbital (H) having an energy of E.sub.H (eV) which satisfies (E.sub.HOMO -0.02).ltoreq.E.sub.H .ltoreq.E.sub.HOMO wherein E.sub.

Abstract: A preparation of metallic salt of ethercarboxylic acid in a pure form by restraining the formation of fumaric acid likely to occur when maleic acid and/or maleic anhydride react with oxycarboxylic acid. The ethercarboxylic product is a useful chelating agent.