Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid from cellulose-containing biomass includes step (1) of hydrolyzing cellulose-containing biomass by a filamentous fungus-derived cellulase; and step (2) of filtering a hydrolysate obtained in step (1) through an ultrafiltration membrane to recover the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase as a non-permeate and to obtain a sugar liquid as a permeate, wherein the cellulose-containing biomass is treated with one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of pectinase, glucoamylase, and lipase at a stage previous to step (1) or in step (1).

Abstract: A food discoloration inhibitor contains, as an effective ingredient, a low molecular weight lignin having a molecular weight peak in a molecular weight range of 4,000 to 9,500 and/or a high molecular weight lignin having a molecular weight peak in a molecular weight range of 10,000 to 40,000, wherein the molecular weight peak is measured at a wavelength of 254 nm by GPC molecular weight analysis using an UV detector.

Abstract: An anti-caking agent for soil includes, as effective ingredients: a lignin having a molecular weight peak, as measured by GPC molecular weight analysis using a UV detector at a wavelength of 254 nm, within the molecular weight range of 10,000 to 40,000; and a diatomaceous earth. A method of improving the growth of a plant uses the above described anti-caking agent for soil. The anti-caking agent for soil has the effect of reducing the caking of soil and improving the poor growth of a plant.

Abstract: A glucose composition contains, as equivalents in an aqueous solution of the composition having a glucose concentration of 100 g/L, 0-25 g/L of xylose, 0.1-10 g/L of acetic acid, 0.15-2.0 g/L of coumaric acid, and 0.007-0.28 g/L of ferulic acid. By using this glucose composition as a raw material in a method for producing a chemical product by microbial fermentation, the yield of the chemical product can be raised.

Abstract: An anti-caking agent for soil includes, as effective ingredients: a lignin having a molecular weight peak, as measured by GPC molecular weight analysis using a UV detector at a wavelength of 254 nm, within the molecular weight range of 10,000 to 40,000; and a diatomaceous earth. A method of improving the growth of a plant uses the above described anti-caking agent for soil. The anti-caking agent for soil has the effect of reducing the caking of soil and improving the poor growth of a plant.

Abstract: A method of producing lignin includes obtaining an alkali-treated product by an alkali treatment in which a lignin-containing biomass is brought into contact with an alkaline aqueous solution; and keeping a temperature of the alkali-treated product at 35° C. or higher, and adjusting a pH of the alkali-treated product to pH 7 or lower to precipitate lignin, and recovering the lignin.

Abstract: A method efficiently produces hydroxycinnamic acids having a high quality, from a cellulose-containing biomass. More specifically, the method includes the steps of: obtaining an alkaline filtrate by allowing an alkaline aqueous medium to pass through a cellulose-containing biomass; obtaining a hydroxycinnamic acid extraction liquid by allowing the alkaline filtrate to repeatedly pass through the cellulose-containing biomass; and separating the hydroxycinnamic acid from the hydroxycinnamic acid extraction liquid.

Abstract: An aquatic organism growth promotor, containing, as an effective ingredient, a low molecular weight lignin having a molecular weight peak in a molecular weight range of 4,000 to 9,500 and/or a high molecular weight lignin having a molecular weight peak in a molecular weight range of 10,000 to 40,000, wherein the molecular weight peak is measured at a wavelength of 254 nm by GPC molecular weight analysis using an UV detector.

Abstract: A food discoloration inhibitor contains, as an effective ingredient, a low molecular weight lignin having a molecular weight peak in a molecular weight range of 4,000 to 9,500 and/or a high molecular weight lignin having a molecular weight peak in a molecular weight range of 10,000 to 40,000, wherein the molecular weight peak is measured at a wavelength of 254 nm by GPC molecular weight analysis using an UV detector.

Abstract: A method efficiently produces a sugar liquid having a high quality from a cellulose-containing biomass. More specifically, the method includes: the step of obtaining an alkaline filtrate by allowing an alkaline aqueous medium to pass through a cellulose-containing biomass; the recirculation filtration step of allowing the alkaline filtrate to repeatedly pass through the cellulose-containing biomass to produce a cellulose-containing solid component; and the step of hydrolyzing the cellulose-containing solid component to obtain the sugar liquid.

Abstract: A method efficiently produces hydroxycinnamic acids having a high quality, from a cellulose-containing biomass. More specifically, the method includes the steps of: obtaining an alkaline filtrate by allowing an alkaline aqueous medium to pass through a cellulose-containing biomass; obtaining a hydroxycinnamic acid extraction liquid by allowing the alkaline filtrate to repeatedly pass through the cellulose-containing biomass; and separating the hydroxycinnamic acid from the hydroxycinnamic acid extraction liquid.

Abstract: A glucose composition contains, as equivalents in an aqueous solution of the composition having a glucose concentration of 100 g/L, 0-25 g/L of xylose, 0.1-10 g/L of acetic acid, 0.15-2.0 g/L of coumaric acid, and 0.007-0.28 g/L of ferulic acid. By using this glucose composition as a raw material in a method for producing a chemical product by microbial fermentation, the yield of the chemical product can be raised.

Abstract: A method prepares a sugar solution from cellulose-containing biomass. The method includes step (1): a step of obtaining an endoxylanase hydrolysate by hydrolyzing the cellulose-containing biomass using endoxylanase derived from microorganisms of the Acremonium genus or the Aspergillus genus, step (2): a step of separating the endoxylanase hydrolysate into an endoxylanase hydrolysate solid and an endoxylanase hydrolysate liquid through solid-liquid separation, step (3): a step of obtaining a cellulase hydrolysate by hydrolyzing the endoxylanase hydrolysate solid using cellulase derived from a filamentous fungus, and step (4): a step of filtering the cellulase hydrolysate through an ultrafiltration membrane to recover a sugar solution from the filtrate side and collect an enzyme component from the non-filtrate side.

Abstract: A method for producing a purified soybean oligosaccharide liquid according to the present invention is a method for producing a purified soybean oligosaccharide liquid from a soybean and/or a processed soybean product, comprising: the step (1) of mixing the soybean and/or the processed soybean product with a water-containing polar organic solvent that contains a polar organic solvent and water and then removing a generated precipitate to obtain a soybean oligosaccharide liquid that contains the water-containing polar organic solvent; the step (2) of removing the polar organic solvent from the soybean oligosaccharide liquid to obtain a soybean oligosaccharide suspension; the step (3) of mixing the soybean oligosaccharide suspension with cellulase to obtain a cellulase-treated soybean oligosaccharide suspension; and the step (4) of subjecting the cellulase-treated soybean oligosaccharide suspension to solid-liquid separation to obtain a purified soybean oligosaccharide liquid.

Abstract: A method prepares a sugar solution from cellulose-containing biomass. The method includes step (1): a step of obtaining an endoxylanase hydrolysate by hydrolyzing the cellulose-containing biomass using endoxylanase derived from microorganisms of the Acremonium genus or the Aspergillus genus, step (2): a step of separating the endoxylanase hydrolysate into an endoxylanase hydrolysate solid and an endoxylanase hydrolysate liquid through solid-liquid separation, step (3): a step of obtaining a cellulase hydrolysate by hydrolyzing the endoxylanase hydrolysate solid using cellulase derived from a filamentous fungus, and step (4): a step of filtering the cellulase hydrolysate through an ultrafiltration membrane to recover a sugar solution from the filtrate side and collect an enzyme component from the non-filtrate side.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid from cellulose-containing biomass includes step (1) of hydrolyzing cellulose-containing biomass by a filamentous fungus-derived cellulase; and step (2) of filtering a hydrolysate obtained in step (1) through an ultrafiltration membrane to recover the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase as a non-permeate and to obtain a sugar liquid as a permeate, wherein the cellulose-containing biomass is treated with one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of pectinase, glucoamylase, and lipase at a stage previous to step (1) or in step (1).

Abstract: A method for producing a purified soybean oligosaccharide liquid according to the present invention is a method for producing a purified soybean oligosaccharide liquid from a soybean and/or a processed soybean product, comprising: the step (1) of mixing the soybean and/or the processed soybean product with a water-containing polar organic solvent that contains a polar organic solvent and water and then removing a generated precipitate to obtain a soybean oligosaccharide liquid that contains the water-containing polar organic solvent; the step (2) of removing the polar organic solvent from the soybean oligosaccharide liquid to obtain a soybean oligosaccharide suspension; the step (3) of mixing the soybean oligosaccharide suspension with cellulase to obtain a cellulase-treated soybean oligosaccharide suspension; and the step (4) of subjecting the cellulase-treated soybean oligosaccharide suspension to solid-liquid separation to obtain a purified soybean oligosaccharide liquid.

Abstract: A metal component absorption enhancer which enhances the absorption of at least one metal component selected from the elements belonging to groups 2 to 12 in the third to fourth periods when a plant grows. The metal component absorption enhancer contains 5-aminolevulinic acid or a derivative thereof represented by the following general formula (1), or a salt thereof as an active ingredient: R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3??(1) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group, or an amino group, and is used for performing a treatment with 0.001 to 20 ppm of the 5-aminolevulinic acid, the derivative thereof, or the salt thereof per each time.

Abstract: An agent for improving lawn grass quality, which is excellent in promoting dwarfing of lawn grass, making the stem sturdy, increasing the leaf count, and improving greenness, is provided. An agent for improving lawn grass quality containing, as active ingredients, 5-aminolevulinic acid represented by formula (1): R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3??(1) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group, or a derivative thereof or a salt of the acid or the derivative, and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor.

Abstract: There is provided an agent for improving the growth of seedlings, having effects of raising healthy rice seedlings, such as increase of the tillering number, increase of root weight, enhancement of greenness, and increase of stem thickness. An agent for improving the growth of rice seedlings containing, as active ingredients, 5-aminolevulinic acid represented by formula (1), a derivative thereof or a salt of the acid or the derivative, and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor: R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3??(1) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group.