Abstract: The sample container has a two-layer membrane filter comprising a first layer as an upper layer serving as a hydrophilic membrane filter and a hydrophobic membrane filter as an underlying second layer capable of filtering an aqueous solution without the use of a wetting agent and by means of a formed negative pressure. Using this sample container, a large amount of an aqueous sample solution is filtered by means of a negative pressure formed by a suction portion to capture microbes in the aqueous sample solution by the hydrophilic membrane filter. Then, the negative pressure is restored to normal pressure, and a microbial dissolution solution is then added to the membrane filter to retain the microbial dissolution solution for a given time on the hydrophobic membrane filter. Then, the microbial dissolution solution is dispensed to a reaction container containing a luminescent reagent, and luminescence is detected to detect the microbes.

Abstract: The present invention produces entrapping immobilization pellets which have high pellet strength and retain high and stable microbial activity (nitrification activity) even if a low concentration of a material involved in immobilization (such as an immobilizing material or polymerization initiator) used. The entrapping immobilization pellets in which microorganisms are entrapped and immobilized in an immobilizing material comprise a filler having a plate-like and/or needle-like crystal structure in the immobilizing material.

Abstract: A polymerization method comprises, prior to polymerization of a monomer of the cyclic dimer of alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid, a first mixture of a polymerization catalyst by bypassing a part of the monomer of the cyclic dimer is prepared. Then, the first mixture is mixed with a dominant amount of the monomer introduced into a polymerization reactor. The monomer of the cyclic dimer in the polymerization reactor is conducted in the presence of a polymerization initiator.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning method in which ultrasonic cleaning of a contamination attached to a surface of an object to be cleaned is performed by directing toward the object to be cleaned, a cleaning liquid to which ultrasonic waves are applied by alternately focusing first ultrasonic waves having a frequency of 1 to 10 MHz and second ultrasonic waves having a frequency equal to or lower than ½ of that of the first ultrasonic waves. A focus position adjustment device is used to adjust the distance of the focus position relative to the surface of the object to be cleaned, and a moving device is used to movie at least one of the ultrasonic wave generation device and a support base for the object so that the effect of the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic wave generation device on the surface of the object to be cleaned is uniform.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water-flowing mechanism in a wet type electrostatic precipitator that can stably and quickly form a water film on a dust-collecting plate even at the beginning of the operation and that has an excellent adjusting function of a supplying flow-rate of washing liquid. The present invention includes a dust-collecting plate, a washing liquid supplying source to wet the dust-collecting plate, and a cylindrical member that is opened according to the shape of the upper end face of the dust-collecting plate and into which the washing liquid supplying source is inserted, wherein the horizontal cross-section of the dust-collecting plate is formed in a corrugated shape, and the lower opening of the cylindrical member is formed in a corrugated shape according to the dust-collecting plate.

Abstract: The hydrogen-producing method of the an aspect of the present invention is a method for producing hydrogen in which hydrogen is produced from an organic matter using a microorganism, characterized by using pellets on which hydrogen-producing acid-resistant bacteria are entrapped and immobilized, producing hydrogen by bringing the pellets into contact and react with the organic matter in an environment of a pH of 4 to 6. The inventors of the present invention have obtained a finding that a hydrogen-producing bacteria are entrapped and immobilized, so that the optimum pH of the hydrogen-producing bacterium shifts to low range. The present invention is made based on the above finding and uses pellets on which the hydrogen-producing bacteria are entrapped and immobilized, so that the hydrogen-producing bacterium is activated at a low pH range of 4 to 6 to produce hydrogen. Therefore, the effects of contaminated bacteria that consume hydrogen are less, and the yield of hydrogen can be improved.

Abstract: A scaffold assembling of a large component for a boiler requiring inspection is not performed by a high-place work but assembled safely and in a short time. The scaffold is assembled to the large component for the boiler supported by a component supporting beam at the ground side before it is attached to a steel frame main-beam 16. Scaffold lifting/supporting beams interposing coil spaces of a superheater 14 are suspended on wires 36 lifted down from spaces of a ceiling tube wall 34 being a horizontal member of the superheater 14. The scaffold lifting/supporting beams 32 are lifted to raise little by lithe within the superheater, and scaffold components are assembled sequentially toward downward. After a required number of steps of scaffolds are assembled, the scaffold lifting/supporting beams 32 are coupled to the ceiling tube wall 34 to be supported. Finally, the superheater 14 is raised by a lifting means to install to the main-beam.

Abstract: New and useful method of installing furnace walls for a boiler that does not require dedicated temporary lifting mechanism and reduces the installation work period significantly is disclosed. The method of installing furnace walls for a boiler configured with an upper portion of boiler proper 30 and a lower portion of boiler proper 40, temporally suspending two left and right face furnace water wall panels 48 among four furnace water wall panels, the upper portion of boiler proper is assembled while it is hanged from a top girder module 28 positioned on the top portion of a center portion in a boiler frame, a furnace rear wall 44 and a furnace front wall 42 among the furnace water wall panels are hanged sequentially, the temporally suspended two left and right face furnace water wall panels 48 are moved to designated positions, and the upper ends of the furnace water wall panels 48, 44 and 42 are connected with the lower end of the upper portion of boiler proper 30.

Abstract: The object is to provide a method and apparatus for producing a polyhydroxy carboxylic acid according to which an annular dimer can be efficiently obtained in the production of polyhydroxy carboxylic acid which is small in distribution breadth of molecular weight in depolymerization and opening ring polymerization steps. There are provided a depolymerization device 11 which depolymerizes hydroxy carboxylic acid or a polycondensate thereof into an annular dimer, a upper distillation column 13 which condenses the annular dimer vaporized in the depolymerization device 11, and lower distillation column 12 which refluxes the annular dimer and is provided between the depolymerization device 11 and the upper distillation column 13, said depolymerization device 11 having a polycondensate feed opening 54 and an annular dimer discharge opening 55 which are provided at a casing 50, a liquid film being formed inside the casing 50 and heated by a heating part.

Abstract: Provided are a nitrite-type nitrification carrier and a method for producing the same and a method and an apparatus for removing nitrogen using the same, in which the quantity of organic matter to be added can be substantially reduced to reduce running cost. A method for producing a nitrite-type nitrification carrier in which ammonia-oxidizing bacteria for nitrifying ammonium to nitrite is preferentially accumulated comprises the steps of: entrapping and immobilizing any sludge selected from sediment from a lake, a river or the sea, soil from the surface of the earth, or activated sludge from a sewage-treatment plant into a monomer or a prepolymer for immobilizing microorganisms; and then subjecting the entrapped and immobilized sludge to heat treatment at 30 to 80° C.

Abstract: A dent is formed on a side surface of a first substrate. A second substrate faces to the side surface of the first substrate. A third substrate is arranged so that the first and second substrates contact each other closely. A micro flow path and a micro chamber are formed between the first and second substrates. The micro flow path and the micro chamber communicate with each other and including an inlet and outlet respectively. A fifth substrate contains the first, second and third substrates. A fourth substrate fits in the fifth substrate. The first and second substrates are pressed against each other by thread fastening (pressing means) for the fourth and fifth substrates.

Abstract: For enlarging the application range of samples capable of being treated, decreasing the amount of samples used, preventing deterioration of samples by a change with the passage of time and preventing mixing of samples by diffusion, a micro fluidics system according to the present invention comprises a sample server which stores plural samples and which has sample efflux portions, a microchip for feeding samples to a treating portion through plural sample introducing portions communicating with the sample efflux portions and further through a microchannel, allowing the samples to be subjected to a predetermined treatment, and a sample feeder for feeding the samples stored in the sample server to the sample introducing portions through the sample efflux portions.

Abstract: Provided is a structure designed for adsorption, which is suitable for removing dioxin and dioxin-like substances from leachate and ground water from polluted soils or garbage, washing effluent from garbage incinerators and so on that contain DNA intercalators, particularly, dioxin and dioxin-like substances. The structure designed for adsorption is a structure designed for adsorption having an adsorbing layer containing, as a constituent, a DNA complex containing a DNA-binding protein, DNA including double strand DNA and a carrier, which can selectively remove DNA intercalators with high efficiency from water, gas and so on containing them.

Abstract: To improve anti-corrosion property in a wet-type electric dust collector while ensuring discharge function. A coating layer of thermoplastic resin is provided to an entire surface of a needle-type rigid discharge electrode including a support pipe and a discharge needle of an electric dust collector for removing a corrosive mist in an exhaust gas. Then, the coating layer on a tip surface of the discharge needle is coarsely polished and removed to expose a coarse discharge edge surface.

Abstract: A joint to be attached to a port of a micro fluidic element, has an outer peripheral surface of truncated subulate shape at a front end portion of the joint to form a front surface as a top of the truncated subulate shape, and a cuneiform space in an inside of the joint at the front end portion of the joint, the joint is made of an elastomer, and the cuneiform space includes a front end overlapping the front surface as seen in a direction along which a tube is guided by the cuneiform space when the tube is inserted into the joint so that the tube is enabled to penetrate the front surface through the front end.

Abstract: The entrapping immobilization pellets satisfy conditions: (A) the deformation rate expressed by (H0?H1)/H0×100 is 70% or more, where the thickness of the pellets before compression is H0 and the thickness of the pellets at the time the pellets are broken by compression is H1; and (B) the particle diameter falls within the range of 0.1 to 1.5 mm. The entrapping immobilization pellets are added to a biological treatment tank having no screen and the entrapping immobilization pellets discharged together with treated water to a solid-liquid separation tank are returned to the biological treatment tank by pumping. With this constitution, the entrapping immobilization pellets are less broken even if they are returned to the biological treatment tank by pumping, a conventional biological treatment tank in which wastewater is treated with activated sludge can be used without modification, and in addition, the particle diameter thereof can be reduced. Therefore, treatment efficiency can be markedly improved.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator that can prevent the corrosion of a discharge electrode even if a gas to be treated containing a corrosive mist is treated. In an electrostatic precipitator having a discharge electrode arranged along a flow path of the gas to be treated, a spray nozzle that can spray a water to the upstream side of the discharge electrode is mounted. A wet film is formed on the surface of the discharge electrode with the water sprayed from the spray nozzle. The sprayed water is desirably a water vapor or a water droplet having a particle diameter of less than 10 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention provides a centrifugal compressor that inhibits possible leakage while reducing a destabilizing fluid force generated in a seal to prevent the possible instable vibration of a rotor. The centrifugal compressor includes a casing, a rotor rotatably installed in the casing and having an impeller, and seals provided in the clearance between the casing and the rotor to prevent a fluid from leaking through the clearance from a high pressure side to a low pressure side. The rotor rotates to compress gas. For example, the balance piston seal is composed of a damper seal with a plurality of holes and a labyrinth seal with an annular parallel groove; the damper seal and the labyrinth seal are continuously provided. The damper seal is disposed on the high pressure side in a leakage flow direction. The labyrinth seal is disposed on the low pressure side in the leakage flow direction.

Abstract: In a multistage centrifugal compressor, a plurality of impellers is attached to the same rotary shaft. Vaned Diffusers and vaneless diffusers are used, as diffusers, for respective compressor stages configuring the compressor. The vaned diffusers are continuously used from the first compressor stage to the middle compressor stage, and the vaneless diffusers are used for the last compressor stage and the previous stage. While high efficiency is maintained at the compressor stages having the vaned diffusers, an operating flow range is secured at the compressor stages having the vaneless diffusers.

Abstract: Provided are a nitrite-type nitrification carrier and a method for producing the same and a method and an apparatus for removing nitrogen using the same, in which the quantity of organic matter to be added can be substantially reduced to reduce running cost. A method for producing a nitrite-type nitrification carrier in which ammonia-oxidizing bacteria for nitrifying ammonium to nitrite is preferentially accumulated comprises the steps of: entrapping and immobilizing any sludge selected from sediment from a lake, a river or the sea, soil from the surface of the earth, or activated sludge from a sewage-treatment plant into a monomer or a prepolymer for immobilizing microorganisms; and then subjecting the entrapped and immobilized sludge to heat treatment at 30 to 80° C.