Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) having a desired configuration is produced using a raw material containing &ohgr;-(4-vinylphenyl)-alkanoic acid and &ohgr;-substituted alkanoic acid in which a group having a ring structure selected from phenyl, thienyl, and cyclohexyl structures substitutes therefor on the end thereof by producing a PHA copolymer containing the corresponding 3-hydroxy-&ohgr;-(4-vinylphenyl)-alkanoate unit and the corresponding 3-hydroxy-&ohgr;-substituted alkanoate unit by making use of a microorganism capable of producing the PHA or by oxidizing a predetermined portion of the corresponding PHA.

Abstract: To provide a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate and a manufacturing method by 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 the medium containing a substituted benzoylalkanoic acid, then the polyhydroxyalkanoate produced in the cultured bacteria is extracted and recovered.

Abstract: The invention provides 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-&ohgr;-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 &ohgr;-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 microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate which comprises one or more of monomer units represented by Formula (1), 1

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.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate that comprises a unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): 1

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel PHA comprising a unit containing thioether with high reactivity, and its production method. The present invention also provides polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) comprising units having defined chemical formulas (1) and (2), and at least one of four units having defined chemical formulas (3), (4), (5) and (6); its production method; a charge control agent containing the PHA; a toner binder containing the charge control agent; an electrostatic latent image developing toner; and an image forming method and an image forming apparatus using the electrostatic latent image developing toner.

Abstract: Microorganisms capable of producing novel polyalkanoates having 3-hydroxybenzoylalkanoic acids as monomer units by utilizing benzoylalkanoic acids as starting materials are cultured in media containing benzoylalkanoic acids and saccharides, and the polyhydroxyalkanoates produced in the culture cells are extracted and recovered.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) containing a 3-hydroxyalkanoic unit which has at its side chain terminal a substituted phenylsulfinyl group and/or a substituted phenylsulfonyl group, and a production process thereof. The novel PHA can be produced by oxidizing with a peroxide a biosynthetic PHA containing a 3-hydroxyalkanoic unit which has at its side chain terminal a substituted phenylsufanyl group. The novel PHA has a superior function as a charge control agent, besides is biodegradable, hence is contributable to environmental conservation.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate that comprises a unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): 1

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate characterized by having in the molecule a unit represented by Chemical Formula (1): 1

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) comprised of two kinds of units, a 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) unit and a 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) unit is used as a binder resin. This provides a binder resin which is biodegradable and can more highly contribute to the conservation of natural environment.

Abstract: The invention is to provide polyhydroxyalkanoate of a novel structure enabling application to wider fields, and a producing method therefor. The invention also provides a biodegradable charge control agent having excellent charging characteristics, excellent dispersibility in the toner resin and improved spent property. The polyhydroxyalkanoate of the present invention is featured by including, in the polymer molecule, a units represented by the general formulas (1) and (2) and at least one of the units represented by the general formulas (3) to (6).

Abstract: A binder resin which forms a resin powdery product such as a toner for developing electrostatic latent images. The binder resin comprises a biodegradable resin comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate produced by culturing a microorganism and having as a specific monomer unit a 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid such as 3-hydroxy-5-phenylvaleric acid. This binder resin has very good properties as a binder resin and also has a high safety to human bodies and environment. Also disclosed are a toner for developing electrostatic latent images which contains such a binder resin, and an image-forming method and an image-forming apparatus which make use of the toner.

Abstract: Polyhydroxyalkanoate type polyester that comprises one unit % or more of 3-hydroxy-&ohgr;-(4-vinylphenyl)alkanoic acid units. A microbial production method is also provided.

Abstract: A microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate which comprises one or more of monomer units represented by Formula (1), where R is at least one selected from the group represented by any one of Formulas (2), (3) and (4); in Formula (2), R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom (H), halogen atom, —CN, —NO2, —CF3, —C2F5 and —C3F7, and q is an integer of 1 to 8; in Formula (3), R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom (H), halogen atom, —CN, —NO2, —CF3, —C2F5 and —C3F7, and r is an integer of 1 to 8; in Formula (4), R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom (H), halogen atom, —CN, —NO2, —CF3, —C2F5 and —C3F7, and s is an integer of 1 to 8. The production method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing highly purified polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) with high yield, by removing cell components other than PHA from cells containing PHA. Moreover, the present invention provides a method for simply removing or reducing chlorine remained in the collected PHA particles, when a treatment with an oxidizing agent containing hypochlorite is performed in the production of PHA as described above. One of the above-described methods comprises a step of treating cells containing polyhydroxyalkanoate with an oxidizing agent containing at least hypochlorite, a step of separating the treated cells into a water-soluble fraction and a water-insoluble fraction, and a step of reducing chlorine remained in the water-insoluble fraction. The step of reducing chlorine may be a step of washing the water-insoluble fraction with a hot water, thiosulfate solution or polar solvent solution containing at least an organic polar solvent in which polyhydroxyalkanoate is insoluble.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate is disclosed which has in the molecule a unit represented by Chemical Formula (1).

Abstract: Microorganisms capable of synthesizing novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having 3-hydroxythienylalkanoic acid as monomer unit, using thienylalkanoic acid as a stock are cultured on a culture medium containing thienylalkanoic acid, and the polyhydroxyalkanoate produced in the cultured cell is extracted and

Abstract: PHA containing a novel 3-hydroxy-thioalkanoic acid unit having a highly reactive thienyl group in a side chain thereof, and a method of producing the same are provided. Specifically, 5-(2-thienylsulfanyl) valeric acid represented by Chemical Formula [4] below and 6-(2-thienylsulfanyl) hexanoic acid represented by Chemical Formula [5] below are provided. Further, a method of producing PHA, comprising the step of collecting PHA from cells of a microorganism cultured in a medium containing the valeric acid or hexanoic acid, and a novel PHA represented by Chemical Formula [1] below are provided.