Abstract: The present invention relates to [1] a plasticizer for a halogen-based resin containing a mixture of didecyl phthalates each containing a linear or branched C10 alkyl group, in which a content of di-n-decyl phthalate in the mixture is not less than 48 mol % and not more than 70 mol %; [2] a plasticizer composition for a halogen-based resin containing the aforementioned plasticizer; and [3] a halogen-based resin composition containing a halogen-based resin and the aforementioned plasticizer. The plasticizer of the present invention has an excellent plasticizing effect on a halogen-based resin and at the same time, can exhibit excellent effects of improving all of productivity, processability, kneading properties and heat resistance without deterioration in the respective properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to [1] a plasticizer for a halogen-based resin containing a mixture of didecyl phthalates each containing a linear or branched C10 alkyl group, in which a content of di-n-decyl phthalate in the mixture is not less than 48 mol % and not more than 70 mol %; [2] a plasticizer composition for a halogen-based resin containing the aforementioned plasticizer; and [3] a halogen-based resin composition containing a halogen-based resin and the aforementioned plasticizer. The plasticizer of the present invention has an excellent plasticizing effect on a halogen-based resin and at the same time, can exhibit excellent effects of improving all of productivity, processability, kneading properties and heat resistance without deterioration in the respective properties.

Abstract: A sheet for thermoforming made of a polylactic acid resin composition containing a polylactic acid-based resin, a plasticizer, and a crystal nucleating agent, wherein the sheet has a thickness of from 0.1 to 1.5 mm, and wherein Re (cal) calculated by the following formula (A): Re (cal)=Re (obs)/d×10?6 (A), wherein Re (obs) is a phase difference (nm) measured at a wavelength selected from wavelengths of from 380 to 780 nm, and d is a thickness (mm) of the sheet, is within the range of 0.001×10?3?Re(cal)?1×10?3. The sheet for thermoforming of the present invention has a wide moldable temperature region, so that the sheet can be suitably used in various applications such as food containers, packaging materials for daily sundries and household electric appliances, industrial trays of industrial parts, and the like.

Abstract: A sheet for thermoforming made of a polylactic acid resin composition containing a polylactic acid-based resin, a plasticizer, and a crystal nucleating agent, wherein the sheet has a thickness of from 0.1 to 1.5 mm, and wherein Re (cal) calculated by the following formula (A): Re (cal)=Re (obs)/d×10?6 (A), wherein Re (obs) is a phase difference (nm) measured at a wavelength selected from wavelengths of from 380 to 780 nm, and d is a thickness (mm) of the sheet, is within the range of 0.001×10?3?Re(cal)?1×10?3. The sheet for thermoforming of the present invention has a wide moldable temperature region, so that the sheet can be suitably used in various applications such as food containers, packaging materials for daily sundries and household electric appliances, industrial trays of industrial parts, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for selectively producing a cellulose ether derivative with a very high reaction efficiency of an organohalide compound. There is provided a process for producing a cellulose ether derivative such as carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose in which a low-crystalline powdery cellulose having a crystallinity of 50% or less is reacted with an organohalide compound such as ethylene chlorohydrin, a monohaloacetic acid and a salt of the monohaloacetic acid in the presence of a base.

Abstract: A polylactic acid resin composition containing a polylactic acid resin; a lasticizer, preferably a plasticizer represented by the formula (4) and/or a plasticizer represented by the formula (5); a nonionic surfactant represented by the formula (1), such as an ester obtained from a fatty acid and a polyoxyethylene glycol or a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer; and a crystal nucleating agent represented by the formula (2) and/or a crystal nucleating agent represented by the formula (3). The polylactic acid resin composition of the present invention can be suitably used in various industrial applications, such as daily sundries, food wrapping materials, household electric appliance parts, packaging materials for household electric appliance parts, and automobile parts.

Abstract: A polylactic acid resin composition containing a polylactic acid resin; and a compound represented by the formula (I), the compound being contained in an amount of from 0.1 to 30 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the polylactic acid resin; a sheet obtained with the composition, a stretched film or thermoformed article obtained by secondary forming of the sheet; and a wrapping material made of the stretched film or thermoformed article. The polylactic acid resin composition of the present invention can be suitably used in various industrial applications, such as daily sundries, household electric appliance parts, and automobile parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for efficiently producing methyl cellulose in an industrially convenient manner. The production process of the present invention includes the step of reacting cellulose with methanol in a subcritical state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a decrystallized cellulose having a reduced cellulose I-type crystallinity from a cellulose-containing raw material in an efficient manner with an excellent productivity. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for producing a decrystallized cellulose from a raw material comprising at least 20% by weight, based on the weight of the raw material excluding water contained therein, of a cellulose having a cellulose I-type crystallinity of more than 33% as calculated from the following formula: Cellulose I-type Crystallinity (%)=[(I22.6?I18.5)/I22.6]×100 wherein I22.6 is a diffraction intensity of a lattice plane (002 plane) as measured at a diffraction angle 2? of 22.6° in X-ray diffraction analysis; and I18.5 is a diffraction intensity of an amorphous moiety as measured at a diffraction angle 2? of 18.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing glycidol from glycerol carbonate as a raw material with a high yield. The process for producing glycidol according to the present invention includes the steps of (1) reducing a content of a salt having a weak acidity in glycerol carbonate to 1500 ppm by mass or less; and (2) obtaining the glycidol from the glycerol carbonate.

Abstract: A process for producing saccharide, including saccharifying decrystallized cellulose prepared from a raw material containing cellulose having cellulose I-type crystallinity of more than 33%, the process including: treating the cellulose-containing raw material by means of a mill to reduce the cellulose I-type crystallinity of the cellulose to 33% or less, wherein the cellulose-containing raw material has a cellulose content of a residue obtained by removing water from the cellulose-containing raw material of 20% by weight or more, to thereby prepare decrystallized cellulose, and causing a cellulase and/or a hemicellulase to act on the decrystallized cellulose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for selectively producing a cellulose ether derivative with a very high reaction efficiency of an organohalide compound. There is provided a process for producing a cellulose ether derivative such as carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose in which a low-crystalline powdery cellulose having a crystallinity of 50% or less is reacted with an organohalide compound such as ethylene chlorohydrin, a monohaloacetic acid and a salt of the monohaloacetic acid in the presence of a base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for efficiently producing methyl cellulose in an industrially convenient manner. The production process of the present invention includes the step of reacting cellulose with methanol in a subcritical state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a cellulose ether derivative in an industrially convenient and efficient manner by reacting a low-crystalline powdery cellulose with an epoxy compound in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a decrystallized cellulose having a reduced cellulose I-type crystallinity from a cellulose-containing raw material in an efficient manner with an excellent productivity. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for producing a decrystallized cellulose from a raw material containing a cellulose having a cellulose I-type crystallinity of more than 33% as calculated from the following formula: Cellulose I-type Crystallinity (%)=[(I22.6?I18.5)/I22.6]×100 wherein I22.6 is a diffraction intensity of a lattice plane (002 plane) as measured at a diffraction angle 2? of 22.6° in X-ray diffraction analysis; and I18.5 is a diffraction intensity of an amorphous moiety as measured at a diffraction angle 2? of 18.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing glycidol from glycerol carbonate as a raw material with a high yield. The process for producing glycidol according to the present invention includes the steps of (1) reducing a content of a salt having a weak acidity in glycerol carbonate to 1500 ppm by mass or less; and (2) obtaining the glycidol from the glycerol carbonate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a palladium catalyst comprising a mesoporous aluminosilicate which has been treated with ammonia or a salt thereof, and palladium supported on said mesoporous aluminosilicate; and also to a process for producing an ether, which comprises reacting a cyclic acetal and hydrogen in the presence of the palladium catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing a monoalkyl ether which comprises a first step of contacting the following components (A) and (B):(A): an aqueous liquid phase containing: (a1) a C3-6 polyol having 3 or 4 hydroxyl groups, a palladium compound, a water-soluble tertiary phosphine or phosphite, and water; or (a2) a C3-6 polyol having 3 to 4 hydroxyl groups, a complex of palladium and a water-soluble tertiary phosphine or phosphite, and water, and (B): an oily liquid phase containing a conjugated diene, to give an alkadienyl ether containing an alkadienyl group resulting from dimerization of conjugated dienes; and a second step of hydrogenating the alkadienyl group in the alkadienyl ether in a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of a catalyst containing an element selected from the Groups 8 to 10 elements of the periodic table. According to the process of the invention, monoalkyl ethers of polyols are produced selectively in a simple manner and advantageously from the economical viewpoint.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive process for preparing glycerol carbonate. Namely, according to the present invention, glycerol carbonate is prepared by reacting glycerol with urea.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing an alcohol derivative, where the alcohol derivative is an ester, acetal, ketal, ether glycoside, or alkyl glycoside, by reacting an alcohol with a carbonyl compound, alcohol, olefin, epoxy compound or saccharide, where C2-4 vicinal alkylene oxides are excluded, in the presence of (A) an aluminum alkoxide and (B) sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.