Abstract: A process for efficiently producing a high purity compound having oxygen which has a high volume specific resistance and a lubricating oil comprising the high purity compound having oxygen are provided. The process for producing a high purity compound having oxygen selected from a group consisting of high purity polyvinyl ether compounds, high purity polyalkylene glycol compounds, high purity polyol ester compounds, high purity cyclic polyether compounds and high purity carbonate compounds comprises a step of treating with an adsorbent at least one crude compound having oxygen selected from a group consisting of crude polyvinyl ether compounds, crude polyalkylene glycol compounds, crude polyol ester compounds, crude cyclic polyether compounds and crude carbonate compounds. The lubricating oil comprises the high purity compound having oxygen obtained in accordance with this process.

Abstract: A process for producing an ether compound represented by the general formula (II) or (III): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent each an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group and n represents an integer of 1 to 50, which comprises bringing an acetal compound represented by the general formula (I): ##STR2## into reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a solid catalyst comprising (A) nickel in an amount corresponding to 10 to 70% by weight of metallic nickel, and (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of oxides of silicon, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and zirconium; and synthetic or natural inorganic oxides containing one or more of these oxides as the constituents thereof. A vinyl ether polymer having a terminal ether group can be obtained with a good yield without causing corrosion of the apparatus used for the reaction.

Abstract: L-phenylalanine is produced by using a microorganism belonging to the species Citrobacter freundii, Erwinia herbicola, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, Flavobacterium suaveolens, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas putida, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, Paracoccus denitrificans, Arthrobacter globiformis, Bacillus sphaericus, Corynebacterium hydrocarboclastus, Kluyvera micum or Microbacterium ammoniaphilum and having the ability to convert phenylpyruvic acid into L-phenylalanine in the presence of an amino group donor; or fumaric acid and ammonium ion or urea.

Abstract: An improved method for separating an ester formed in a reaction mixture is disclosed. The method comprises controlling the ratio of organic acid and alcohol utilized and the removal of unreacted alcohol as an alcohol-ester azeotrope.