Abstract: A method for producing activated carbon for electrodes of electric double layer capacitors is disclosed which comprises an activation step wherein activated carbon is obtained by mixing an alkali metal hydroxide with a carbon raw material for the activated carbon and heating the mixture in an inert gas atmosphere, a deactivation removal step wherein the alkali metal in the activated carbon is deactivated and removed, and a heat treatment step wherein the activated carbon having gone through the deactivation removal step is heated in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature higher than 400° C. but not higher than the heating temperature in the activation step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily producing a gas cylinder which includes a shaped product of carbonaceous gas storage material capable of achieving practical gas storage capacity, which allows full exploitation of excellent gas storage property of the carbonaceous gas storage material, and which has excellent pressure resistance and is expected to be safe. The invention also provides the gas cylinder obtained by the method, and a method for storing/discharging gas using the cylinder, which provides stable storage and discharge of gas at high efficiency.

Abstract: A method for producing activated carbon for electrodes of electric double layer capacitors is disclosed which comprises an activation step wherein activated carbon is obtained by mixing an alkali metal hydroxide with a carbon raw material for the activated carbon and heating the mixture in an inert gas atmosphere, a deactivation removal step wherein the alkali metal in the activated carbon is deactivated and removed, and a heat treatment step wherein the activated carbon having gone through the deactivation removal step is heated in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature higher than 400° C. but not higher than the heating temperature in the activation step.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing cantlhaxanithin, which is inexpensive, stably provided, and highly safe. This method comprises steps of: inducing mutation in astaxanthin-producing microorganisms in which the nucleotide sequence of DNA corresponding to its 16S ribosomal RNA is substantially homologous to the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; obtaining canthaxanthin-producing microorganisms by selecting a mutant having a higher ratio of canthaxanthin produced (% by mass) relative to the total amount of carotenoid produced than that of a parent strain; and recovering canthaxanthin or a carotenoid mixture comprising canthaxanthin from the culture product of the canthaxanthin-producing microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for changing production ratios of carotenoid compounds in a process of microbiological production of a plurality of carotenoid compounds. By controlling the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the culture during cultivation, production ratios of carotenoid compounds such as astaxanthin, adonixanthin, &bgr;-carotene, echinenone, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, &bgr;-cryptoxanthin, 3-hydroxyechinenone, asteroidenone and adonirubin, are changed.

Abstract: This invention provides a pigment-containing substance for feed additives consisting of a microorganism culture precipitate which contains a high concentration of carotenoid compounds. This pigment-containing substance for feed additives is resistant to oxygen, light and so on, and can be stably conserved for a long time period.

Abstract: A method for purifying water characterized in that a chamber is separated by a diaphragm into an anode section and a cathode section, a voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode while an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the cathode section so as to generate a hypohaloric acid and hydrogen peroxide in the anode and cathode sections, respectively, and the water to be treated is first supplied to the anode section to be contacted with the hypohaloric acid and is then introduced to the cathode section to be contacted with the hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for changing production ratios of carotenoid compounds in a process of microbiological production of a plurality of carotenoid compounds. By controlling the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the culture during cultivation, production ratios of carotenoid compounds such as astaxanthin, adonixanthin, &bgr;-carotene, echinenone, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, &bgr;-cryptoxanthin, 3-hydroxyechinenone, asteroidenone and adonirubin, are changed.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing a water-soluble lubricant which comprises a container in which an anode and a cathode are arranged and supplied with a voltage, a partition arranged so as to divide said container into a cathode section, into which a water-soluble lubricant is introduced, and an anode section, into which an electrically conductive material is introduced, and a diaphragm provided in at least a portion of the partition such that an electric current flows between said anode and said cathode, the cathode being an electrode generating a substance sterilizing the lubricant.