Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a catalytic layer are properly assembled even when the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and an ion exchange resin in the catalytic layer are formed of different materials. In a fuel cell, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 20 is provided with a first solid polymer electrolyte membrane 200, and second solid polymer electrolyte membranes 202 and 204 provided at respective sides thereof. The second solid polymer electrolyte membranes 202 and 204 are formed of the same material as the ion exchange resin (not shown) included in a catalytic layer 26 and a catalytic layer 30.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a proton conducting polymer membrane that has excellent mechanical properties and high methanol barrier properties, in addition to high proton conductivity, and is useful as an electrolyte in polymer electrolyte fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells. The present invention provides a proton conducting polymer membrane having a product of a proton conductivity at 23° C. and a methanol barrier coefficient at 25° C. in an aqueous methanol solution of a specified concentration being a specified value or more. The present invention also provides a proton conducting polymer membrane having an ion exchange capacity of 0.3 milli-equivalent/g or more, and having a crystalline phase.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a catalytic layer are properly assembled even when the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and an ion exchange resin in the catalytic layer are formed of different materials. In a fuel cell, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 20 is provided with a first solid polymer electrolyte membrane 200, and second solid polymer electrolyte membranes 202 and 204 provided at respective sides thereof. The second solid polymer electrolyte membranes 202 and 204 are formed of the same material as the ion exchange resin (not shown) included in a catalytic layer 26 and a catalytic layer 30.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conductive polymer membrane comprising a polymer compound which has structural repeating units represented by the following formula (1) in which the aromatic units are partially substituted with proton-conductive substituents, wherein the membrane has a solubility in methanol at room temperature of less than 0.01% by weight or solubility in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at 5° C. of less than 5% by weight. In the formula, Ar1 represents a divalent aromatic unit and x represents an integer of 0 to 2. Also, the present invention provides a simple process by which production costs are substantially decreased, for obtaining a proton-conductive polymer membrane having properties applicable in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Abstract: A method for solidifying industrial waste containing various toxic metals and other substances without fail and stabilizing the waste so as to prevent the toxic metals, particularly lead, from leaching out. The method comprises mixing a waste containing calcium compounds such as hydroxide, oxide and chloride of calcium with a treatment mainly comprising water glass, adding, if necessary, water hereto to adjust the total water content to 25-75 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the waste, kneading the resultant mixture, and aging the same for at least 6 hours in a temperature range of 40.degree. to 100.degree. C., preferably by utilizing the waste heat of a waste incinerator.