Abstract: To provide a method for producing acetic acid from lignocellulose with high efficiency and a method for producing bioethanol. First, lignocellulose such as wood is decomposition-treated by a method such as pressurized hydrothermal treatment (Step S1). Then, the treatment solution obtained in Step S1 is acetic acid-fermented as a substrate using Clostridium thermoaceticum as an anaerobic microorganism in the presence of cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate at a concentration of 0.05 to 0.1 g/L (Step S2).

Abstract: To provide a method for producing acetic acid from lignocellulose with high efficiency and a method for producing bioethanol. First, lignocellulose such as wood is decomposition-treated by a method such as pressurized hydrothermal treatment (Step S1). Then, the treatment solution obtained in Step S1 is acetic acid-fermented as a substrate using Clostridium thermoaceticum as an anaerobic microorganism in the presence of cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate at a concentration of 0.05 to 0.1 g/L (Step S2).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to solve a problem of separation and recovery of catalysts present in an alkali metal catalytic method currently often used, a problem of excess consumption of a catalyst by a free fatty acid in a raw material, and other problems, and to solve a problem of the presence of a large excess amount of alcohol in a conventional supercritical methanol method, and to provide a method for producing a fatty acid alkyl ester composition in a reaction system containing water and free fatty acid present. The present invention has attained the above-mentioned object by provided a method for producing a fatty acid alkyl ester composition using fats and oils containing a fatty acid glyceride and/or fatty acid, wherein alcohol and/or water is allowed to co-exist with the above-mentioned fats and oils and the reaction is conducted under conditions of a temperature of 100° C. to 370° C. and a pressure of 1 to 100 MPa.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to solve a problem of separation and recovery of catalysts present in an alkali metal catalytic method currently often used, a problem of excess consumption of a catalyst by a free fatty acid in a raw material, and other problems, and to solve a problem of the presence of a large excess amount of alcohol in a conventional supercritical methanol method, and to provide a method for producing a fatty acid alkyl ester composition in a reaction system containing water and free fatty acid present. The present invention has attained the above-mentioned object by provided a method for producing a fatty acid alkyl ester composition using fats and oils containing a fatty acid glyceride and/or fatty acid, wherein alcohol and/or water is allowed to co-exist with the above-mentioned fats and oils and the reaction is conducted under conditions of a temperature of 100° C. to 370° C. and a pressure of 1 to 100 MPa.

Abstract: An antibacterial/antifungal inorganic matter is composited with wood by impregnating wood with a solution containing a silicon alkoxide and an antibacterial/antifungal organic silicon compound having a hydrolyzable alkoxysilyl group, and subjecting the silicon compounds within the cell walls (inter- and intracellular) spaces to hydrolysis at various temperatures and polycondensation. The same is prepared by treating wood with a siloxane oligomer and curing the oligomer. The antibacterial/antifungal component is prevented from being leached out.

Abstract: A fatty acid ester of cellulose having excellent transparency, filterability and spinnability in spite of its high content of mannose and xylose, wherein the total molar content of mannose and xylose accounts for at least 7% of that of glucose, mannose and xylose, and the amount of filtration satisfies a specified requirement. Such a fatty acid ester of cellulose is prepared by using a pulp having a low .alpha.-cellulose content as a raw material and a fatty acid corresponding to the ester as a diluent and adding an organic solvent in an amount of at least 10% by weight based on the diluent in any step during the preparation. In the preparation of cellulose diacetate, which excellent filterability and transparency, by the acetic acid process, the cellulose diacetate obtained by aging is dissolved in a solvent which can dissolve it and the resulting cellulose diacetate is recovered.

Abstract: Wood is modified by impregnating wood with a methylsiloxane oligomer and heating the impregnated wood to cure the oligomer. The oligomer is of the average compositional formula: (CH.sub.3 SiO.sub.3/2).sub.m (MO.sub.3/2).sub.n or [CH.sub.3 SiO.sub.3/2 ].sub.x [(CH.sub.3).sub.a SiO.sub.(4-a)/2 ].sub.y [MO .sub.3/2 ].sub.z wherein M is P, PO and/or B, m and n are positive numbers with an average ratio of m:n ranging from 99:1 to 50:50, x, y, and z are positive numbers with an average ratio of (x+y):z ranging from 99:1 to 50:50 and an average ratio of x:y ranging from 99:1 to 50:50, and a is 2 or 3, and has a hydroxyl group and/or an alkoxyl group at a terminal end. This treatment of wood is safe. Since the methylsilicone resins thus incorporated and fixed within wood are not leached out in water, the modified wood maintains flame retardance for a very long time upon exposure to rain and dew and has water repellence, decay resistance and dimensional stability.