Lactic acid is obtained by a method including (A) a step of continuous fermentation wherein a fermentation culture medium of a microorganism having an ability of lactic acid fermentation is filtered through a porous membrane having an average pore size of not less than 0.01 μm and less than 1 μm with a transmembrane pressure difference within the range of 0.1 to 20 kPa, and the permeate is collected, while retaining the non-permeated liquid in or returning the non-permeated liquid to the culture, and adding a fermentation feedstock to the culture; (B) a step of filtering the permeate obtained in Step (A) through a nanofiltration membrane; and (C) a step of distilling the permeate obtained in Step (B) under a pressure of not less than 1 Pa and not more than atmospheric pressure, at 25° C. to 200° C. to recover lactic acid.

A polymer composition comprising a dielectric material distributed within a polymer matrix is provided. The dielectric material has a volume resistivity of from about 0.1 ohm-cm to about 1×10.sup.12 ohm-cm, wherein the polymer matrix contains at least one thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, and further wherein the polymer composition exhibits a dielectric constant of about 4 or more and a dissipation factor of about 0.3 or less, as determined at a frequency of 2 GHz.

A polymer composition comprising a dielectric material distributed within a polymer matrix is provided. The dielectric material has a volume resistivity of from about 0.1 ohm-cm to about 1×10.sup.12 ohm-cm, wherein the polymer matrix contains at least one thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, and further wherein the polymer composition exhibits a dielectric constant of about 4 or more and a dissipation factor of about 0.3 or less, as determined at a frequency of 2 GHz.

The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a 4-hydroxybutyrate pathway and being capable of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, wherein the microbial organism comprises one or more genetic modifications. The invention additionally provides methods of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate or related products using the microbial organisms.

The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a 4-hydroxybutyrate pathway and being capable of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, wherein the microbial organism comprises one or more genetic modifications. The invention additionally provides methods of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate or related products using the microbial organisms.

A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate, the method including: (a) preparing an aqueous polyhydroxyalkanoate suspension having a pH of not more than 5; (b) mixing the aqueous suspension obtained in (a) with a water-insoluble organic solvent having a specific gravity of more than 1.0 g/mL; (c) separating a mixed solution obtained in (b) into a water-insoluble organic solvent phase and an aqueous phase by centrifugal separation, and then removing the aqueous phase; and (d) heating the water-insoluble organic solvent phase obtained in (c), and then cooling the water-insoluble organic solvent phase to obtain a gelatinous polyhydroxyalkanoate.

A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate, the method including: (a) preparing an aqueous polyhydroxyalkanoate suspension having a pH of not more than 5; (b) mixing the aqueous suspension obtained in (a) with a water-insoluble organic solvent having a specific gravity of more than 1.0 g/mL; (c) separating a mixed solution obtained in (b) into a water-insoluble organic solvent phase and an aqueous phase by centrifugal separation, and then removing the aqueous phase; and (d) heating the water-insoluble organic solvent phase obtained in (c), and then cooling the water-insoluble organic solvent phase to obtain a gelatinous polyhydroxyalkanoate.

The present invention relates to methods for the preparation of high molecular weight polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by culturing Bacillus megaterium strains in a mixture of agri-food wastes, PHB obtained or obtainable by the methods as well as to its use in the preparation of articles such as, for example, soles and/or heels for shoes.

A medical material comprising film obtained from a polyester wherein the polyester has a weight average molecular weight of 1,250,000 or greater determined by gel permeation chromatography calibrated with polystyrene standards. The polyester comprises a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit and a 4-hydroxybutyrate unit as polymerization units, and proportion of the 4-hydroxybutyrate unit relative to all monomer units is from 14 mol % to 40 mol %. The polyester film is useful for medical apparatus, packaging material for food, plastic sheet for agriculture, flowerpots for seedings, and sheets for construction and engineering.

A medical material comprising film obtained from a polyester wherein the polyester has a weight average molecular weight of 1,250,000 or greater determined by gel permeation chromatography calibrated with polystyrene standards. The polyester comprises a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit and a 4-hydroxybutyrate unit as polymerization units, and proportion of the 4-hydroxybutyrate unit relative to all monomer units is from 14 mol % to 40 mol %. The polyester film is useful for medical apparatus, packaging material for food, plastic sheet for agriculture, flowerpots for seedings, and sheets for construction and engineering.