Abstract: Disclosed is a copolymer resin composition including a lactic acid copolymer, the lactic acid copolymer containing monomer units represented by the following chemical formulas [1], [2], and [3], wherein a content of a monomer unit represented by the chemical formula [3] is 50 mol % or more and 95 mol % or less, a weight-average molecular weight of the lactic acid copolymer is 20,000 or more and 1,000,000 or less, and a deflection temperature of the lactic acid copolymer under load is 65° C. or higher and 100° C. or lower at a bending stress of 1.80 MPa.

Abstract: Problem to be Solved: To provide a new microorganism capable of producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a PHA synthase gene, an expression cassette including the gene, a vector including the expression cassette, a transformant transformed by the vector, a polypeptide having PHA synthase activity, a method for producing a PHA synthase and a method for producing a PHA. Solution: The new microorganism is capable of producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a 16S rRNA gene whose polynucleotide sequence shows 99% or more homology to a polynucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID No: 1, having an optimum temperature of an activity temperature range for the growth and PHA production of the microorganism of at least 45° C. and being capable of growing at a pH range from 6 to 10.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing D-lactic acid by allowing a microorganism to utilize a purified treacle and culturing the microorganism. Also disclosed is a method for increasing the optical purity of D-lactic acid in lactic acid. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing D-lactic acid by allowing a microorganism to utilize a treacle and culturing the microorganism, which involves a step of purifying the treacle by means of an ion exchange technique. The method enables the efficient production of lactic acid which contains D-lactic acid having an optical purity of 99.40% e.e. or more.

Abstract: Disclosed is a copolymer resin composition including a lactic acid copolymer, the lactic acid copolymer containing monomer units represented by the following chemical formulas [1], [2], and [3], wherein a content of a monomer unit represented by the chemical formula [3] is 50 mol % or more and 95 mol % or less, a weight-average molecular weight of the lactic acid copolymer is 20,000 or more and 1,000,000 or less, and a deflection temperature of the lactic acid copolymer under load is 65° C. or higher and 100° C. or lower at a bending stress of 1.80 MPa.

Abstract: A method for measuring the maturity degree of a compost capable of determining the maturity degree of a compost purportedly of a product in a short period of time (10 to 30 minutes) by compost manufacturers, users and even those with insufficient expertise and experiences such as buyers in the distribution industry on site and also capable of determining it according to the maturity stage in an easy and cost-effective manner, and a measuring solution. A specific measuring solution is added to the compost to flocculate a compost extract containing humic-like substance and decomposed organic matter, and a liquid phase is acquired by precipitating the compost extract by the solid/liquid separation. Based on the correlation in which the absorbency of the liquid phase declines as the compost becomes more mature, the maturity degree of the compost is measured from the color contrasting density of the liquid phase.

Abstract: Problem to be Solved: To provide a new microorganism capable of producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a PHA synthase gene, an expression cassette including the gene, a vector including the expression cassette, a transformant transformed by the vector, a polypeptide having PHA synthase activity, a method for producing a PHA synthase and a method for producing a PHA. Solution: The new microorganism is capable of producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a 16S rRNA gene whose polynucleotide sequence shows 99% or more homology to a polynucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID No: 1, having an optimum temperature of an activity temperature range for the growth and PHA production of the microorganism of at least 45° C. and being capable of growing at a pH range from 6 to 10.

Abstract: A method for producing a polymer including a chemical thioester exchange reaction for forming an acetyl-CoA by reacting an acetyl-thioester with CoA, a monomer-producing reaction for forming a (monomer precursor)-CoA derivative by reacting at least one monomer precursor compound with the acetyl-CoA and a polymerization reaction for forming the polymer comprising units of the monomer by polymerizing the (monomer precursor)-CoA derivative.

Abstract: A method for measuring the maturity degree of a compost capable of determining the maturity degree of a compost purportedly of a product in a short period of time (10 to 30 minutes) by compost manufacturers, users and even those with insufficient expertise and experiences such as buyers in the distribution industry on site and also capable of determining it according to the maturity stage in an easy and cost-effective manner, and a measuring solution. A specific measuring solution is added to the compost to flocculate a compost extract containing humic-like substance and decomposed organic matter, and a liquid phase is acquired by precipitating the compost extract by the solid/liquid separation. Based on the correlation in which the absorbency of the liquid phase declines as the compost becomes more mature, the maturity degree of the compost is measured from the color contrasting density of the liquid phase.