The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an isomer-enriched mixture of 3S- and 3R-caranone from 3-carane epoxide, a 3S-caranone obtained therefrom, a process for the production of 3S-caranlactam from 3-carene, a process for the production of 3R-caranlactam from 3-carene, a 3S-caranoxime, a 3S-caranlactam, a 3S-polycaranamide, a 3R-polycaranamide, a 3S/3R-co-polycaranamide, a 3S-caranlactam-laurolactam co-polycaranamide, a 3R-caranlactam-laurolactam co-polycaranamide, a 3S-caranlactam-3R-caranlactam-laurolactam co-polycaranamide, a 3S-caranlactam-caprolactam co-polycaranamide, a 3R-caranlactam-caprolactam co-polycaranamide, as well as a 3S/3R-caranlactam-caprolactam co-polycaranamide.

The invention relates to a method for producing cyclododecanone (CDON). During the production, contaminated cyclododecane (CDAN) is produced. This can be separated from CDON by distillation (CDAN-containing fraction). The separation of CDAN and impurities such as 13-oxabicyclo [7.3.1]tridacane occurs by crystallizing out CDAN from the CDAN-containing fraction.

A method for producing -caprolactam involves a step of Beckmann-rearranging cyclohexanone oxime in a gas phase in the presence of a zeolite catalyst containing silicon and at least one element selected from alkaline earth metal elements and magnesium. The concentration of the above-described element in the zeolite catalyst is 3 ppm by mass or more and 10000 ppm by mass or less.

A method for producing -caprolactam involves a step of Beckmann-rearranging cyclohexanone oxime in a gas phase in the presence of a zeolite catalyst containing silicon and at least one element selected from alkaline earth metal elements and magnesium. The concentration of the above-described element in the zeolite catalyst is 3 ppm by mass or more and 10000 ppm by mass or less.

Provided is a power supply device, provided for a light source device which has a plurality of light-emitting bodies. The power supply device includes a circuit for controlling a current supplied to the light-emitting body. The power supply device also includes a control circuit for controlling a current from a power supply source, the control circuit being disposed at the central portion of the light source device. The power supply device additionally includes a cooling component capable of cooling surroundings by channeling a refrigerant, where the cooling component is provided on a back side of the light-emitting body. The power supply device also includes a heat transfer component connecting the cooling component and the control circuit to each other. The power supply device further includes an insulating component interposed between the heat transfer component and the control circuit at a state in contact with both.

Provided is a power supply device, provided for a light source device which has a plurality of light-emitting bodies. The power supply device includes a circuit for controlling a current supplied to the light-emitting body. The power supply device also includes a control circuit for controlling a current from a power supply source, the control circuit being disposed at the central portion of the light source device. The power supply device additionally includes a cooling component capable of cooling surroundings by channeling a refrigerant, where the cooling component is provided on a back side of the light-emitting body. The power supply device also includes a heat transfer component connecting the cooling component and the control circuit to each other. The power supply device further includes an insulating component interposed between the heat transfer component and the control circuit at a state in contact with both.

Provided is a photochemical reaction device wherein two partitions formed from an optically transparent material are arranged apart from each other between a light source and a reaction liquid, and an optically transparent fluid introduction/discharge means for introducing an optically transparent fluid between the partitions and discharging the fluid and a state change detection means for detecting a change in the state of the optically transparent fluid at the discharge side of the optically transparent fluid introduction/discharge means are provided. Also provided are a photochemical reaction method that uses the photochemical reaction device and a lactam production method that uses the photochemical reaction method. The present invention prevents decreases in the performance of the light source even when the optically transparent material in the photochemical reaction device is damaged, and makes it possible to reliably prevent ignition even if the reaction liquid is a flammable liquid.

Provided is a photochemical reaction device wherein two partitions formed from an optically transparent material are arranged apart from each other between a light source and a reaction liquid, and an optically transparent fluid introduction/discharge means for introducing an optically transparent fluid between the partitions and discharging the fluid and a state change detection means for detecting a change in the state of the optically transparent fluid at the discharge side of the optically transparent fluid introduction/discharge means are provided. Also provided are a photochemical reaction method that uses the photochemical reaction device and a lactam production method that uses the photochemical reaction method. The present invention prevents decreases in the performance of the light source even when the optically transparent material in the photochemical reaction device is damaged, and makes it possible to reliably prevent ignition even if the reaction liquid is a flammable liquid.

A method for producing -caprolactam involves a step of Beckmann-rearranging cyclohexanone oxime in a gas phase in the presence of a zeolite catalyst containing silicon and at least one element selected from alkaline earth metal elements and magnesium. The concentration of the above-described element in the zeolite catalyst is 3 ppm by mass or more and 10000 ppm by mass or less.

A method for producing -caprolactam involves a step of Beckmann-rearranging cyclohexanone oxime in a gas phase in the presence of a zeolite catalyst containing silicon and at least one element selected from alkaline earth metal elements and magnesium. The concentration of the above-described element in the zeolite catalyst is 3 ppm by mass or more and 10000 ppm by mass or less.