Abstract: It is an object to provide a method in which a lignocellulosic material is treated with a phenol derivative and an acid, whereby a lignophenol derivative can be produced and recovered efficiently, and moreover sugar from an acid/sugar mixture obtained at the same time can be recovered and used easily. One form of the present invention relates to a method of preparing a lignophenol derivative and an acid/sugar mixture, comprising subjecting a reaction mixture of a lignocellulosic material, a phenol derivative and an acid to solid-liquid separation so as to separate into a solid-phase lignophenol derivative and a liquid-phase acid/sugar mixture, and then subjecting the separated lignophenol derivative to deacidification/washing.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a method in which a lignocellulosic material is treated with a phenol derivative and acid, whereby a lignophenol derivative can be recovered, and moreover sugar from an acid/sugar solution obtained at the same time can be recovered and used easily and efficiently. One form of the present invention relates to a method of separating and recovering an acid/sugar solution and a lignophenol derivative, comprising putting a reaction mixture of a lignocellulosic material, a phenol derivative and an acid into an amount of water 0.5 to 6 times the amount of the mixture as a volume ratio, and leaving the mixture to stand or maintaining the mixture in a weakly agitated state, so as to agglomerate a lignophenol derivative produced as a solid phase, and then carrying out solid-liquid separation, so as to separate and recover the lignophenol derivative as the solid phase and an acid/sugar mixture as a liquid phase.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a pumice-based culture medium which shows outstanding characteristics as a culture medium to be used in protected horticulture. To this end, the invention provides a culture medium comprising particulate pumice having a saturated water permeability of 0.3-0.8 cm/sec and an air permeability of 15-40 cm/sec in both a dry sample and a wet sample. In another embodiment, the invention provides a culture medium having charcoal added to a culture medium comprising the particulate pumice having the above-described physical properties.

Abstract: A desalination apparatus capable of obtaining fresh water stably at low cost by utilizing low-temperature waste, wherein the desalination apparatus including a heat exchanger 92 cooperating with an evaporation can 60 so as to subject a low-temperature waste heat 11 and raw water 62 in the evaporation can 60 to heat exchange and generate water vapor 63 in the evaporation can 60; a condenser 98 cooperating with a raw water tank 72 so as to receive the water vapor 63 from the evaporation can 60, cool the water vapor 63 by subjecting the water vapor 63 and raw water 71 in the raw water tank 72 to heat exchange and obtain distilled water 76; a distilled water tank for storing the distilled water 76; vacuum means for evacuating the evaporation can 60 and depressurizing the inside thereof so as to promote generation of water vapor 63 in the evaporation can 60; and raw water supply means for supplying raw water to the evaporation can.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the moisture content of the soil in order to enable pF value based control of irrigation in cultivation on the soil, as well as a method and an apparatus which use the first-mentioned method and apparatus to enable pF value based control of irrigation. To attain these objects, the invention provides a method for measuring the pF value (soil moisture tension) of the soil, comprising the steps of (a) preliminarily determining the correlation between pF value and volumetric water content of the soil to be measured, (b) measuring the volumetric water content of the soil, and (c) converting the value of the volumetric soil water content of the soil measured in the above step (b) to the corresponding pF value on the basis of the correlation between pF value and volumetric water content predetermined in the above step (a). Also a method and an apparatus for controlling the irrigation of the soil based on the measurement of the pF value by the method.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a method and an apparatus for measuring the moisture content of the soil in order to enable pF value based control of irrigation in cultivation on the soil, as well as a method and an apparatus which use the first-mentioned method and apparatus to enable pF value based control of irrigation. To attain these objects, the invention provides a method for measuring the pF value (soil moisture tension) of the soil, comprising the steps of (a) preliminarily determining the correlation between pF value and volumetric water content of the soil to be measured, (b) measuring the volumetric water content of the soil, and (c) converting the value of the volumetric soil water content of the soil measured in the above step (b) to the corresponding pF value on the basis of the correlation between pF value and volumetric water content predetermined in the above step (a).

Abstract: A desalination apparatus and method utilizing solar energy provided with a solar heat collector for heating a heating medium with solar energy, a heat exchanger cooperating with an evaporation can so as to subject the heating medium and raw water in the evaporation can to heat exchange and generate water vapor therein, a condenser cooperating with a raw water tank so as to receive the vapor from the evaporation can, cool the vapor by subjecting the vapor and raw water in the raw water tank to heat exchange and obtain distilled water.

Abstract: A discharge reactor that generates silent discharge and/or creeping discharge between dielectric and high voltage electrode and/or grounded electrode, said dielectric being located between high voltage electrode and grounded electrode, and which generates clean ozone in the discharge space 1 as it passes through said discharge space 1 or as it is held within said discharge space 1, which discharge reactor is characterized in that the dielectric is made of highly purified quartz glass (SiO.sub.2) or single-crystal sapphire which is a highly purified crystallized aluminium oxide or high-purity alumina ceramics which is the firing of highly purified aluminum oxide. Further, in order to obtain cleaner and highly concentration ozone, at least the electrode or electrodes in the area of the discharge space which is to be exposed to discharge are made of a high-purity aluminum material and at least the area of the discharge space which is to be exposed to discharge is further coated with an anodic oxidation film.

Abstract: In an electric discharge type ozonizer using highly pure oxygen gas having a purity of not lower than 99.99% as a raw material gas, the pressure of a gas in the discharge space of a discharger is raised to a level higher than atmospheric pressure by at least 1.1 kgf/cm.sup.2, and/or in which a liquid-cooled discharger is used, and the temperature of the cooling liquid is set at a level not lower than 15.degree. C., whereby the ozonizer is capable of stably producing ozone gas at a high ozone concentration without causing lowering of the ozone concentration with time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for deodorizing and refreshing petroleum group solvent used in a dry cleaning apparatus, and a dry cleaning apparatus using such a method, which can maintain the circulating solvent in a fresh condition for a long time, eliminate a bad smell of the solvent, provide highly stable cleaning ability and good cleaning finish, and prevent ignition and explosion of the solvent to ensure safety.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for deodorizing and refreshing petroleum group solvent used in a dry cleaning apparatus, and a dry cleaning apparatus using such a method, which can maintain the circulating solvent in a fresh condition for a long time, eliminate a bad smell of the solvent, provide highly stable cleaning ability and good cleaning finish, and prevent ignition and explosion of the solvent to ensure safety.

Abstract: A ceramic hydrodynamic bearing used as a radial or a thrust bearing in a spindle motor for a hard disk driver. The bearing includes a ceramic bearing base having hydrodynamic pressure generating grooves. A sliding surface of the bearing base is irradiated with an energy beam with a high energy density to remove said material, thereby forming hydrodynamic pressure generating groove, and at the same time the grooves are coated with a modification layer that is formed by melting the ceramic material that constitutes said ceramic bearing base with the energy beam and by solidifying said ceramic bearing base.