Director-general of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Jsp Corporation

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Other

Shimadzu Corporation

Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

Chuo Kagaku Co., Ltd.

Director-general of Agency of Industrial Science

Technology Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

Chuokagaku Ltd.

Yutaka Tokiwa

Akira Iwamoto

Kiyoshi Takeda

Hiroyuki Jikuya

Masatoshi Koyama

Takao Raku

Naoko Nagai

Masahiro Harada

Teizi Urakami

Akihito Tsuchiya

Shigeki Imagawa

Shusaku Yanagidani

Masaru Kitagawa

Shigeo Shibatani

Masahiro Suzuki

Tetsushi Suyama

Akio Tsuchii

Tetsuzo Totani

Kenji Yoshino

Hiromi Shimakawa

Sigeyuki Takagi

Disclosed is a tyrosinase activity controlling agent comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound that has tyrosinase inhibiting or promoting activity, an external preparation comprising the controlling agent, and a process for producing the compound.

Tyrosinase activity controlling agent, process for producing the same and external preparation containing the same

The present invention provides novel microorganisms that directly biodegrade polylactide resins and plastics containing the same as well as a method therefor. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for degrading polylactide resins, wherein the polylactide resins are degraded by an actinomycete belonging to the genus, or

Method for degrading polylactide resins

This invention provides a novel rapidly biodegradable polylactide resin composition while maintaining the good mechanical strength and physical properties of polylactide. This biodegradable polylactide resin composition comprises at least one protein selected from silk, gelatin, keratin, elastin, gluten, zein, or soybean. This composition further comprises degraded mannan, and furthermore, a filler.

Biodegradable polylactide resin composition

The present invention provides a biodegradable resin composition with improved biodegradability or with an additional useful function (antibacterial properties), while maintaining the mechanical properties of the biodegradable resin. More specifically, the present invention provides a biodegradable resin composition containing a biodegradable resin such as a polylactic acid polymer and a mamman digestion product such as a mannooligosaccharide. The present invention further provides various biodegradable products produced by molding this biodegradable resin composition into desired shapes.

Biodegradable resin compositions

A microorganism belonging to the genus Staphylococcus or the genus Streptomyces which is capable of degrading a polylactic acid resin. A method of degrading a polylactic acid resin including a step of culturing a microorganism capable of degrading a polylactic acid resin in a medium containing a polylactic acid resin. In particular, the microorganisms Streptomyces violaceusniger FERM BP-6110 and Streptomyces cyaneus FERM BP-6111 are used.

Microorganism capable of degrading polylactic acid resin and method of

A microorganism belonging to the genus Staphylococcus or the genus Streptomyces which is capable of degrading a polylactic acid resin. A method of degrading a polylactic acid resin including a step of culturing a microorganism capable of degrading a polylactic acid resin in a medium containing a polylactic acid resin. In particular, the microorganisms Staphylococcus hominis FERM BP-6108 and Staphylococcus epidermidis FERM BP-6109.

Method of degrading polylactic acid resin using staphylococcus hominis

Disclosed are a polymerizable sugar ester of the formula shown below and a process for the production thereof:

Process for producing polymerization sugar esters

The present invention relates to a method of decomposing hard type rubber products, which comprises treating hard type rubber products with a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia in the presence of soft type rubber products. According to the present invention, hard type rubber products, particularly tires, can be efficiently decomposed.

Method of decomposing hard type rubber products

A polycarbonate resin, such as a poly(tetramethylene carbonate) resin, is enzymatically decomposed by contacting the polycarbonate resin with at least one enzyme selected from porcine pancreas lipase, Pseudomonas sp. lipase and Pseudomonas sp. lipoprotein lipase in the presence of water.

Enzymatic decomposition of polycarbonate resin

A biodegradable plastic composition for forming biodegradable shaped bodies which includes a poly-.beta.-hydroxybutyrate having a viscosity of n.sub.A at 185.degree. C. and a polycaprolactone having a viscosity of n.sub.B at 185.degree. C., wherein the poly-.beta.-hydroxybutyrate is present in an amount C.sub.A of 10-45 or 55-85% by weight based on the total weight of the poly-.beta.-hydroxybutyrate and the polycaprolactone, and wherein n.sub.A, n.sub.B and C.sub.A satisfy the following condition:

Biodegradable plastic composition and biodegradable plastic shaped body

A biodegradable plastic composition, which may be in the form of a molded dy, includes gelatinized starch and a biodegradable, aliphatic polyester resin having a melting point of 45.degree.-130 .degree. C. The plastic is produced by kneading a blend containing a starchy substance selected from non-gelatinized, granular starch and gelatinized starch and the aliphatic polyester resin at a temperature higher than the melting point of the aliphatic polyester in the presence of water in an amount of 1-45 % based on the weight of the starchy substance.

Starch-containing biodegradable plastic and method of producing same

Biodisintegrable thermoplastic resin moldings and a process for producing same are disclosed, the biodisintegrable thermoplastic resin moldings being comprised of a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester resin as a matrix resin having dispersed therein an other type of thermoplastic resin in a proportion of 40-75 weight % based on the whole resin. The biodisintegrable thermoplastic resin moldings is easily disintegrable after disposal in an environment where microorganisms exist so that the moldings can be reduced in bulkness and give no harmful effect on the life of natural plants and animals. Thus, the present invention affords an effective means for solving various problems in the treatment of disposed plastic articles.

Biodisintegrable thermoplastic resin moldings and a process for

A biodecomposable or biodisintegrable moldable material which comprises a mixture of 10-70 vol. % of a natural high molecular substance, 30-70 vol. % of a thermoplastic resin and 0-45 vol. % of a filler.

Biodecomposable or biodisintegrable moldable material

A biodegradable plastic composition is disclosed which includes a polycaprolactone and a poly-.beta.-hydroxybutyrate. Disclosed also is a biodegradable plastic shaped body formed of such a composition. The shaped body may be produced by melt-mixing a blend of a polycaprolactone, a poly-.beta.-hydroxybutyrate and a copolymerization catalyst to copolymerize a portion of the polycaprolactone with a portion of the poly-.beta.-hydroxybutyrate, thereby to obtain a caprolactone/.beta.-hydroxybutyric acid copolymer-containing melt, which is subsequently shaped into a desired form.

Biodegradable plastic composition, biodegradable plastic shaped body and

A biodisintegrable thermoplastic resin foam and a process for producing same are disclosed, the biodisintegrable thermoplastic resin foam being comprised as a substrate thereof a mixed resin comprising 5-40 weight % of a thermoplastic resin decomposable by microorganisms and 95-60 weight % of a thermoplastic resin not decomposable by microorganisms and being characterized in that the individual aerial cells constituting the foam have an average cell wall thickness of 1-100 .mu.m and an apparent density of 0.5 g/cm.sup.3 or less than 0.5 g/cm.sup.3. The biodisintegrable thermoplastic resin foam is easily disintegrable after disposal in an environment where microorganisms exist so that it can be reduced in bulkness and gives no harmful effect on the life of natural plants and animals. The foam incorporated with a filler can be promoted in disintegration by microorganisms. Thus the present invention affords an effective means for solving various problems in the treatment of disposed materials.

Growing community of inventors

Tsuchiura, Japan

Yutaka Tokiwa