[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for collecting seawater that contains plankton and generating DHMBA (dba), which is an antioxidant, from the plankton contained in the seawater. [Solution] The present invention is characterized in that: collected seawater containing plankton is filtered using a filter, the cell contents are removed from the plankton remaining on the filter, the removed cell contents are subsequently heated, and 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol is produced from the heated product; and the plankton are assumed to be diatoms.

[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for collecting seawater that contains plankton and generating DHMBA (dba), which is an antioxidant, from the plankton contained in the seawater. [Solution] The present invention is characterized in that: collected seawater containing plankton is filtered using a filter, the cell contents are removed from the plankton remaining on the filter, the removed cell contents are subsequently heated, and 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol is produced from the heated product; and the plankton are assumed to be diatoms.

A purification method of desflurane (difluoromethyl-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether of the formula (1)) includes bringing a mixture containing desflurane and a trihalomethane into contact with a base in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, thereby decomposing the trihalomethane. By this method, only the trihalometane contained as a by-product in the desflurane is decomposed without causing decomposition of the desflurane, whereby the desflurane is obtained with high purity. ##STR00001##

A purification method of desflurane (difluoromethyl-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether of the formula (1)) includes bringing a mixture containing desflurane and a trihalomethane into contact with a base in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, thereby decomposing the trihalomethane. By this method, only the trihalometane contained as a by-product in the desflurane is decomposed without causing decomposition of the desflurane, whereby the desflurane is obtained with high purity. ##STR00001##

A purification method of desflurane (difluoromethyl-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether of the formula (1)) includes bringing a mixture containing desflurane and a trihalomethane into contact with a base in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, thereby decomposing the trihalomethane. By this method, only the trihalometane contained as a by-product in the desflurane is decomposed without causing decomposition of the desflurane, whereby the desflurane is obtained with high purity. ##STR00001##

A purification method of desflurane (difluoromethyl-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether of the formula (1)) includes bringing a mixture containing desflurane and a trihalomethane into contact with a base in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, thereby decomposing the trihalomethane. By this method, only the trihalometane contained as a by-product in the desflurane is decomposed without causing decomposition of the desflurane, whereby the desflurane is obtained with high purity.

##STR00001##

A purification method of desflurane (difluoromethyl-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether of the formula (1)) includes bringing a mixture containing desflurane and a trihalomethane into contact with a base in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, thereby decomposing the trihalomethane. By this method, only the trihalometane contained as a by-product in the desflurane is decomposed without causing decomposition of the desflurane, whereby the desflurane is obtained with high purity.

##STR00001##

A purification method of desflurane (difluoromethyl-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether of the formula (1)) includes bringing a mixture containing desflurane and a trihalomethane into contact with a base in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, thereby decomposing the trihalomethane. By this method, only the trihalometane contained as a by-product in the desflurane is decomposed without causing decomposition of the desflurane, whereby the desflurane is obtained with high purity.

##STR00001##

A process for processing lignin includes contacting a mixture comprising lignin and/or lignin-like molecules with a catalyst to form a reaction mixture, and producing one or more reaction products. The reaction mixture comprises one or more aliphatic alcohols, and the one or more reaction products are selected from the group consisting of: 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol (DHE), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-propylphenol (DMPP), 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMPP-OH), 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyphenol (DHE-OH), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(prop-1-en-1-yl)phenol (i-DMPP), 2-methoxy-4-(prop-1-en-1-yl)phenol (isoeugenol), and mixtures thereof.

A process for processing lignin includes contacting a mixture comprising lignin and/or lignin-like molecules with a catalyst to form a reaction mixture, and producing one or more reaction products. The reaction mixture comprises one or more aliphatic alcohols, and the one or more reaction products are selected from the group consisting of: 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol (DHE), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-propylphenol (DMPP), 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMPP-OH), 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyphenol (DHE-OH), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(prop-1-en-1-yl)phenol (i-DMPP), 2-methoxy-4-(prop-1-en-1-yl)phenol (isoeugenol), and mixtures thereof.