Abstract: A charger control apparatus includes a total current acquisition unit and a setting unit to control a plurality of chargers connected in parallel with each other and supplied with a current from a common wiring line. An upper limit value of a current flowing through the wiring line is described as a first upper limit value. The total current acquisition unit acquires a total value of a current flowing through the plurality of chargers. The setting unit sets, for each of the plurality of chargers, a second upper limit value being an upper limit value of a current flowing through the charger by using the first upper limit value. When a difference between the total value and the first upper limit value satisfies a reference, the setting unit updates the second upper limit value for each of the plurality of chargers by distributing the difference according to a first rule.

Abstract: An alkylbiphenyldisulfonate represented by formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 10 to 15 carbon atoms; M represents an alkali metal atom; and m and n each represents 0, 1, or 2, and m+n=2. The alkylbiphenyldisulfonate exhibits excellent solubility in a concentrated aqueous electrolytic solution and, when used in an emulsion polymerization system, provides a polymer having a fine particle size and excellent stability.