Provided is a catalyst including a metal component including a first component that, is rhenium and one or more second components selected from the group consisting of silicon, gallium, germanium, and indium and a carrier on which the metal component is supported, the carrier including an oxide of a metal belonging to Group 4 of the periodic table. Also provided is an alcohol production method in which a carbonyl compound is treated using the above catalyst, it is possible to produce an alcohol by a hydrogenation reaction of a carbonyl compound with high selectivity and high efficiency while reducing 3ide reactions.

Provided is a catalyst including a metal component including a first component that, is rhenium and one or more second components selected from the group consisting of silicon, gallium, germanium, and indium and a carrier on which the metal component is supported, the carrier including an oxide of a metal belonging to Group 4 of the periodic table. Also provided is an alcohol production method in which a carbonyl compound is treated using the above catalyst, it is possible to produce an alcohol by a hydrogenation reaction of a carbonyl compound with high selectivity and high efficiency while reducing 3ide reactions.

The present invention provides an aqueous passivation composition for the treatment of zinc or zinc alloy coatings, comprising: i) phosphoric acid; ii) at least one water-soluble polyphosphonic acid or a water-soluble salt thereof, iii) at least one divalent metal cation (M.sup.2+); and, iv) at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible fluoroacid or a salt thereof, wherein said fluoroacid is defined by the following general empirical formula (II):

H.sub.pT.sub.qF.sub.rO.sub.s   (II)

wherein: each of q and r represents an integer from 1 to 10; each of p and s represents an integer from 0 to 10; and, T represents an element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Si, Sn, Al, Ge, and B.

The present invention provides an aqueous passivation composition for the treatment of zinc or zinc alloy coatings, comprising: i) phosphoric acid; ii) at least one water-soluble polyphosphonic acid or a water-soluble salt thereof, iii) at least one divalent metal cation (M.sup.2+); and, iv) at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible fluoroacid or a salt thereof, wherein said fluoroacid is defined by the following general empirical formula (II):

H.sub.pT.sub.qF.sub.rO.sub.s   (II)

wherein: each of q and r represents an integer from 1 to 10; each of p and s represents an integer from 0 to 10; and, T represents an element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Si, Sn, Al, Ge, and B.

An object of the present invention is to provide a crystal of an amino acid salt of HMB which is easy to handle and has high solubility, and to provide a method for producing the same. According to the present invention, the crystal of an amino acid salt of HMB can be precipitated by dissolving an amorphous amino acid salt of HMB in a solvent containing alcohol and stirring or allowing the solvent to left stand. In addition, the crystal of an amino acid salt of HMB can be precipitated by concentrating an aqueous HMB solution of an amino acid salt which has a pH of 2.5 to 11.0.

An object of the present invention is to provide a crystal of an amino acid salt of HMB which is easy to handle and has high solubility, and to provide a method for producing the same. According to the present invention, the crystal of an amino acid salt of HMB can be precipitated by dissolving an amorphous amino acid salt of HMB in a solvent containing alcohol and stirring or allowing the solvent to left stand. In addition, the crystal of an amino acid salt of HMB can be precipitated by concentrating an aqueous HMB solution of an amino acid salt which has a pH of 2.5 to 11.0.

An object of the present invention is to provide a crystal of an amino acid salt of HMB which is easy to handle and has high solubility, and to provide a method for producing the same. According to the present invention, the crystal of an amino acid salt of HMB can be precipitated by dissolving an amorphous amino acid salt of HMB in a solvent containing alcohol and stirring or allowing the solvent to left stand. In addition, the crystal of an amino acid salt of HMB can be precipitated by concentrating an aqueous HMB solution of an amino acid salt which has a pH of 2.5 to 11.0.

Described herein are methods of preparing cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, or combinations thereof from cutin-containing plant matter. The methods can include heating the cutin-derived plant matter in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure. In some preferred embodiments, the methods can be carried out without the use of additional acidic or basic species.

Described herein are methods of preparing cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, or combinations thereof from cutin-containing plant matter. The methods can include heating the cutin-derived plant matter in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure. In some preferred embodiments, the methods can be carried out without the use of additional acidic or basic species.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate or salt thereof, the method being capable of efficiently producing a highly pure 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate or salt thereof. The highly pure 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate or salt thereof can be efficiently produced by performing at least one of the following operations (a) to (d) on a solution containing 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate and impurities exposed to environments of pH 6.0 or less. (a) Hypochlorous acid or salt thereof is added to the solution. (b) The solution is maintained at 40 to 200° C. for 30 minutes or more, provided that the solution contains hypochlorous acid or salt thereof. (c) Calcium salt is added to the solution, and the precipitated calcium 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutanoate is separated from the liquid phase in which 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate and/or the salt is dissolved. (d) A base is added to the solution to separate the liquid phase in which the salt of 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid formed is dissolved and the liquid phase in which 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate and/or salt thereof is dissolved.