Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate is disclosed which has in the molecule a unit represented by Chemical Formula (1). wherein R is arbitrarily selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, CN, NO2, COOR?, SO2R?, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, C(CH3)2H and C(CH3)3; where R? is H, Na, K, CH3 or C2H5, and R? is OH, ONa, OK, a halogen atom, OCH3 or OC2H5; and x is an integer arbitrarily selected from 1 to 8; with the proviso that a polyhydroxyalkanoate is excluded which has a hydrogen atom as R and x in all the units is 2 or 4. Also disclosed is a process for producing the polyhydroxyalkanoate by the use of a microorganism having the ability to produce the polyhydroxyalkanoate and accumulate it in the bacterial body.

Abstract: There is provided a resin-coated carrier with a coating layer attached to the surface of a core material in a stable manner, the electrophotographic carrier which can provide an image with excellent quality.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate containing in a molecule at least one unit represented by the chemical formula (1). The polyhydroxyalkanoate is a biodegradable plastic with enhanced melt-processability and exhibits excellent charging stability, high chargeability, and enhanced dispersibility when used as a charge control agent of a toner in an electrophotographic process. (R denotes -A1(—SO2R1)x. R1 is selected from OH, a halogen atom, ONa, OK, and OR1a. R1a and A1 are selected from a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon structure, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring structure, and a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic structure. Further, m and x are integers selected from 1 to 8, and when two or more units exist, each of R, R1R1a, A1, m, and x is defined as above independently for each of the units.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive function group within the molecule and a producing method therefor In a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing a unit having a vinyl group in a side chain, such vinyl group is utilized for deriving a polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a carboxyl group or a unit having an amide group and a sulfonic acid group.

Abstract: A resin for toner containing a resin component having both a polyester unit produced by polycondensation of a polyhydric alcohol component and a polycarboxylic acid component, and an aryl group having a sulfonic ester group as a substituent; and a toner that contains the resin for toner.

Abstract: A novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group in a molecule and a method of producing the same; and a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a new function obtained by chemically modifying the polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group and a method of producing the same. A polyhydroxyalkanoate containing units having a carboxyl group, an amide group, and a sulfonic group in a molecule is induced.

Abstract: Provided are a novel polymer having a sulfonic group, a sulfonic acid ester group, or a derivative thereof incorporated therein, a method of producing the polymer, and a novel compound suitable for producing the polymer. A polymer is characterized by containing a unit represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1w and R1x are each independently a halogen atom or a hydrogen atom, R1y is a CH3 group or a hydrogen atom, and any one of R1a, R1b, and R1c is a sulfonate group represented by SO3R1f.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group within a molecule, a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a novel function by a chemical modification of the polyhydroxyalkanoate having the reactive functional group, and a producing method therefor. A polyhydroxyalkanoate containing a unit having a carboxyl group in a side chain is utilized for deriving a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing a unit having an amide group and a sulfonic acid group in the molecule.

Abstract: A charge controlling agent is provided as a compound in which an amide group is introduced together with a sulfonic group or a derivative thereof. The charge controlling agent is characterized by including at least one compound represented by the chemical formula (2) in which an amide group is introduced together with at least one of a sulfonic group, a sulfonic acid ester, a sulfonic acid salt, and a sulfonic acid halide.

Abstract: To provide a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group in a molecule and a method of producing the same; and a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a new function obtained by chemically modifying the polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group and a method of producing the same. By utilizing a vinyl group of a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing a unit having the vinyl group at a side chain thereof, a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing units having a carboxyl group, an amide group, and a sulfonic group in a molecule is induced.

Abstract: A polymer is provided in which a sulfonic group or a derivative thereof is introduced. The polymer includes a unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): wherein R represents -A1-SO2R1; A1 is selected from an alkylene group, a heterocyclic ring, an aromatic ring; and —SO2R1 is a sulfonic group or of a derivative of a sulfonic acid.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate having a monomer unit composition represented by General Formula (1): AmB(1-m)??(1) wherein A is represented by General Formula (2), B is at least one selected from the group consisting of monomer units represented by General Formula (3) or (4), and m has a value of 0.01 or larger and smaller than 1: wherein n has a value of 0 to 10, k has a value of 3 or 5, and R is at least one group selected from the group consisting of groups represented by General Formulae (5) to (7): in Formula (5) R1 is a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom (H), halogen atoms, —CN, —NO2, —CF3, —C2F5.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel polyester adapted for use in a charge control agent for a toner for an electrophotographic process, having a charge stability, a high charge amount, an improved dispersibility and a biodegradability, and a producing method and an application technology therefor.

Abstract: The invention provides a polyhydroxyalkanoate having a bromo group in a unit and being thermally stable and capable of arbitrarily controlling physical properties, and a producing method thereof. According to the invention, there are provided a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer including a 3-hydroxy-?-bromoalkanoic acid unit represented by a formula—[OCH((CH2)nBr)CH2C(O)]— (n=1 to 8) (1) and a unit represented by a formula —[OCH((CH2)mR)CH2C(O)]— (2) within a same molecule, and a method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer by microorganisms, utilizing a ?-bromoalkanoic acid represented by a formula Br(CH2)pCH2CH2COOH (p=1 to 8) (20) and a compound represented by a formula R(CH2)qCH2CH2COOH (21) as raw materials.

Abstract: A novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group in a molecule, and a production method thereof, etc. are provided. By utilizing the vinyl group of polyhydroxyalkanoate which contains a unit having a vinyl group on a side chain, a polyhydroxyalkanoate which contains a carboxyl group and a unit having an amide group and a sulfonic acid group in a molecule is derived.

Abstract: The invention provides a PHA copolymer including at least a 3-hydroxy-?-carboxyalkanoic acid represented by a formula (19) or (32) and simultaneously at least a unit represented by a formula (2) or a formula (3) in a molecule, a precursor PHA copolymer having a corresponding vinyl group or a corresponding alkoxycarbonyl group, a biosynthesis method thereof by microorganisms, and a method of producing a desired PHA copolymer from the precursor PHA copolymer: (wherein k, m, n are integers; R18 represents H, Na, K, R27? represents (A); R1 represents a substituent on a cyclohexyl group and represents H, CN, NO2, a halogen atom, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5, or C3F7; R includes a residue including a phenyl structure or a thienyl structure; these being independent for each unit).

Abstract: A developer carrying member which prevents toner from being excessively charged in a development apparatus and maintains a high charge quantity of toner, and which is difficult to cause deposition of toner thereto, and a development apparatus equipped with the developer carrying member are provided. A resin layer containing, as a binder, a resin containing polyhydroxyalkanoate having in the molecule at least one hydroxyalkanoic acid unit including sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof or carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof is formed on a substrate or on the surface of the substrate of the developer carrying member.

Abstract: A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate using a microorganism capable of substantially reducing unintended monomer units and obtaining the polyhydroxyalkanoate in a high yield. A microorganism capable of synthesizing a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having 3-hydroxy-substituted benzoylalkanoic acid as a monomer unit, using a substituted benzoylalkanoic acid as a material, is cultured in a medium containing a substituted benzoylalkanoic acid. Then, the polyhydroxyalkanoate produced in the cultured bacteria is extracted and recovered.

Abstract: To provide a toner for developing electrostatic images which is not easily cause the phenomenon of toner-spent, constituent materials are so selected that a charge control resin has hardness which is the same as the hardness of a binder resin or the charge control resin is harder than the binder resin, as measured with a scanning probe microscope in a viscoelasticity evaluation mode in respect to the binder resin and the charge control resin which are present in the particle interiors or particle surfaces of the toner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of effectively producing polyhydroxyalkanoate having an aromatic substituted residue in its monomer unit. In the method of producing polyhydroxyalkanoate by using microorganisms, microorganisms capable of producing polyhydroxyalkanoate are cultured in a culture medium containing at least one starting compound selected from the group consisting of substituted alkanes represented by formula (1) to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate having, in its molecule, at least one unit selected from the group consisting of 3-hydroxy-substituted alkanoate units represented by formula (2): R—(CH2)n—CH2—CH2—CH3??(1) wherein R represents a residue containing a substituted aromatic ring, and n represents any integer of 1 to 8; wherein R represents a residue containing a substituted aromatic ring, and n represents any integer of 1 to 8. In formulas (1) and (2), a residue R is as described in the specification.