Abstract: A fixing apparatus is used that has: a first rotation member; an elongated heater disposed in an internal space of the first rotation member, and having a heat generating member and a substrate on which the heat generating member is provided; a temperature sensing unit that detects a temperature of the heater; a heater holder that holds the heater; a second rotation member that forms a nip portion with the heater, across the first rotation member; a reservoir unit that stores grease that is supplied between the first rotation member and the heater; and an elastic member that encloses the temperature sensing unit, such that a toner image formed on a recording material is heated and fixed at the nip portion.

Abstract: A method of producing a biodiesel fuel oil, in which all fats or oils having an acid value of 20 or less can be used as a raw material, and in which no wastewater treatment is needed to thereby attain reduction of environmental load, and in which a biodiesel fuel oil conformable to quality standard levels can be obtained. The process for producing a biodiesel fuel comprises the steps of providing a fat or oil having an acid value of 20 or less as a raw material and heating the raw material oil in vacuum to thereby distill off any moistures, odorous substances and free fatty acids; bringing the raw material oil into contact with a hydrophilic adsorbent to thereby adsorb off any remaining free fatty acids and acidic substances; carrying out an ester exchange reaction in the presence of a potassium based alkali catalyst; and purifying light liquid components as a product of ester exchange reaction in accordance with a nonaqueous method.

Abstract: An acid chloride, bicyclo 2,2,2!oct-7ene-(2.alpha.,3.beta.,5.alpha.,6.beta.)tetracarbonyl chloride (C.sub.12 H.sub.8 O.sub.4 Cl.sub.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel ester which presents as (CF 1) and a method for the production of the same as well as a process for hydrolysis and a method for the determination of an optical purity using this ester, and the object thereof is to provide an intermediate for the synthesis or various natural products, which has high stability, and the optical purity of which can readily be determined, according to the esterification of 1-oxo-5-hydroxymethyl-2-cyclohexene which is unstable to acids and alkalis.

Abstract: A composite reverse osmosis membrane comprising a thin membrane and a microporous supporting membrane supporting it, wherein said thin membrane mainly comprises a crosslinked polyamide comprising; (a) an amine component containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of substantially monomeric amine compounds each having at least two primary and/or secondary amino groups, and (b) an acid halide component containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of substantially monomeric cyclic acid halide compounds each having at least two acid halide groups and comprising at least two rings.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for producing optically active hydroxyesters and also to methods for producing and purifying optically active five-membered ring lactones.More specifically, the invention provides methods for efficiently, safely, and selectively producing and purifying optically active (R)-hydroxyester (shown by formula 1) and optically active (S)-hydroxyester (shown by formula 2) in high state of purity at ordinary temperature.The invention also relates to application of the interconvertible optically active (R)-five-membered ring lacton (shown by formula 5).They are intermediates for synthesizing various medicines, agricultural chemicals, and biologically active substances, however especially useful for synthesizing pheromone of a noxious insect, Popillia japonica Newman. ##STR1## (Here, R.sub.1 denotes --C.tbd.C--R.sub.3 or --C.dbd.C--R.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 denote straight chain or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R.sub.

Abstract: This invention relates to the methods of preparing optically active epoxy alcohol which is caracterized by the steps of adding carboxylic anhydride to racemic epoxy alcohol (formula 1) in the presence of a hydrolase in an organic solvent, esterifying (-)-form of the epoxy alcohol preferentially to be epoxy ester (formula 2), separating optically active epoxy ester (formula 2) from optically active epoxy alcohol (formula 3) to yield optically active epoxy alcohol (formula 4), so that epoxy alcohol (formula 1) in high purity can be obtained easily and safely at ordinary temperature.

Abstract: A termites trail-marking pheromone which is (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodecatrienol, and a composition which comprises (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodecatrienol as an essential component and another component which is a trail-marking pheromone-like substance, and a method of detecting termites by using this composition or (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodecatrienol.The trail-marking pheromone and composition are highly safe in that they have no residual toxicity, and they have a stable, long-term trail-marking effect for termites. This invention provides a simple and rapid method of detecting termites, and a simple and effective method of capturing termites.

Abstract: Methyl (2S,3S,4R)-(+)- and (2R,3R,4S)-(-)-3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylheptanoates which are important intermediates for synthesis of invictolide, one component of a queen recognition pheromone of red imported fire ant.

Abstract: (2R,3S,4R)-(+)- and (2S,3R,4S)-(-)-2,4-dimethyl-3-tetrahydropyranyloxy-1-heptanols which are important intermediates for synthesis of invictolide, one component of a queen recognition peromone of red imported fire ant.

Abstract: An optically active hydroxyiodolactone of the formula ##STR1## wherein the stereochemistry of the 3a-, 5- and 7a-positions is either (3aR,5S,7aS) or 3aS,5S,7aR). The compound is useful as an intermediate for the production of a large amount of one component of the queen recognizing pheromone of red imported fire ant with a high optical purity.