Abstract: In a method for producing a cyclic ester according to an embodiment of the present invention, a mixture (I) containing an aliphatic polyester, a specific polyalkylene glycol diether, and a sulfonic acid compound as a thermal stabilizer is prepared and heated in predetermined conditions to obtain a mixture (II) in a state of solution. Furthermore, heating of the mixture (II) is continued to distill, together with the polyalkylene glycol diether, a cyclic ester formed by the depolymerization reaction, and thus a distillate (III) is obtained. The cyclic ester is recovered from the distillate (III). At this time, a specific solubilizing agent is added to at least one of the mixture (I) or (II). In this production method, the sulfonic acid compound as the thermal stabilizer is contained in the mixtures (I) and (II) and the distillate (III).

Abstract: In a method for producing a cyclic ester according to an embodiment of the present invention, a mixture (I) containing an aliphatic polyester, a specific polyalkylene glycol diether, and a sulfonic acid compound as a thermal stabilizer is prepared and heated in predetermined conditions to obtain a mixture (II) in a state of solution. Furthermore, heating of the mixture (II) is continued to distill, together with the polyalkylene glycol diether, a cyclic ester formed by the depolymerization reaction, and thus a distillate (III) is obtained. The cyclic ester is recovered from the distillate (III). At this time, a specific solubilizing agent is added to at least one of the mixture (I) or (II). In this production method, the sulfonic acid compound as the thermal stabilizer is contained in the mixtures (I) and (II) and the distillate (III).

Abstract: A method for producing glycolide (GL) by heating a glycolic acid oligomer (GAO) to depolymerize the GAO. The method for producing GL comprises: a step 1 of heating a mixture containing a GAO having a terminal COOH concentration of 400 eq/t or less and a polar organic solvent to a GAO depolymerization temperature under ambient pressure or reduced pressure; a step 2 of continuing the heating at the temperature for depolymerizing of the GAO and then codistilling out the produced GL and the solvent from the depolymerization reaction system to the outside the reaction system; and a step 3 of obtaining GL from the codistillation product. In the method for producing GL, the GAO is preferably prepared by a GAO production method which comprises a step of condensing glycolic acid (GA) and a dehydration step of continuing the heating together with a polar organic solvent or a depolymerization reaction solution to allow the GA condensation reaction to continue.

Abstract: A method for producing glycolide (GL) by heating a glycolic acid oligomer (GAO) to depolymerize the GAO. The method for producing GL comprises: a step 1 of heating a mixture containing a GAO having a terminal COOH concentration of 400 eq/t or less and a polar organic solvent to a GAO depolymerization temperature under ambient pressure or reduced pressure; a step 2 of continuing the heating at the temperature for depolymerizing of the GAO and then codistilling out the produced GL and the solvent from the depolymerization reaction system to the outside the reaction system; and a step 3 of obtaining GL from the codistillation product. In the method for producing GL, the GAO is preferably prepared by a GAO production method which comprises a step of condensing glycolic acid (GA) and a dehydration step of continuing the heating together with a polar organic solvent or a depolymerization reaction solution to allow the GA condensation reaction to continue.

Abstract: A dispersion liquid for supporting oil drilling, including: an aqueous medium and a particulate solid polyglycolic acid resin dispersed in the aqueous medium; wherein the particulate polyglycolic acid resin has a weight-average molecular weight of at least 70,000 and at most 500,000, and exhibits weight retentivities in water at 80° C. of at least 85% after 12 hours, at most 80% after 72 hours, and at most 45% after 168 hours. The particulate solid polyglycolic acid resin included in the above-mentioned dispersion liquid for supporting oil drilling, functions as a fluidity control material exhibiting ideal degradation charateristics in the drilling operation for expansion of oil production capacity, demanded for suppressing the liquid permeability in the early stage and recovery of the liquid permeability after completion of the operation of the formation around the oil well.

Abstract: The invention provides biodegradable aliphatic polyester particles having the following physical properties: (A) the average particle diameter thereof is 5 to 500 ?m; and (B) the fracture stress of a columnar tablet obtained by molding the particles in a cylindrical mold by applying a load of 4 kgf/cm2 for 1 hour at a temperature of 40° C. is at most 500 gf/cm2, and preferably also having the following property: (C) the fracture stress of a columnar tablet obtained by molding the particles in a cylindrical mold by applying a load of 4 kgf/cm2 for 1 hour at a temperature of [the glass transition temperature (Tg) of a biodegradable aliphatic polyester +10° C.

Abstract: A dispersion liquid for supporting oil drilling, including: an aqueous medium and a particulate solid polyglycolic acid resin dispersed in the aqueous medium; wherein the particulate polyglycolic acid resin has a weight-average molecular weight of at least 70,000 and at most 500,000, and exhibits weight retentivities in water at 80° C. of at least 85% after 12 hours, at most 80% after 72 hours, and at most 45% after 168 hours. The particulate solid polyglycolic acid resin included in the above-mentioned dispersion liquid for supporting oil drilling, functions as a fluidity control material exhibiting ideal degradation characteristics in the drilling operation for expansion of oil production capacity, demanded for suppressing the liquid permeability in the early stage and recovery of the liquid permeability after completion of the operation of the formation around the oil well.