Abstract: A single crystal pulling apparatus (1) has a quartz crucible (2) for accommodating silicon melt (3), a graphite crucible (4) for retaining the quartz crucible (2), a tray (5) for securing and holding the graphite crucible (4) from below, and a crucible rotating shaft (6) for supporting the tray (5) from below and for elevating and lowering the tray (5) and the crucibles (2), (4) while rotating them. A low heat conductive member (10) is interposed on a joint surface between the tray (5) and the crucible rotating shaft (6). The low heat conductive member (10) is formed in a substantially tubular shape, and is interposed in such a manner that a protruding portion of the crucible rotating shaft (6) is inserted through a center hole of the low heat conductive member (10). Thereby, a gap portion (11) is formed below a bottom portion of the tray (5).

Abstract: Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having an improved CO2 permeance and an improved CO2/H2 selectivity. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane that includes a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane containing a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst. Further preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst at least has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, has a melting point of 200° C. or higher, or is soluble in water.

Abstract: Provided is a production method for a porous alumina material, comprising the steps of: mixing an alkoxysilane solution that comprises an alkoxysilane, a mixed solvent comprising water and an alcohol, and an inorganic acid, with an aluminum solution comprising an aluminum compound and water, to prepare a mixed solution in which the aluminum compound and the alkoxysilane are dissolved in the mixed solvent; co-precipitating aluminum hydroxide with a silicon compound in the mixed solution, to form a precipitate; and baking the precipitate to form a porous alumina material comprising aluminum oxide and silicon oxide.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeder having a longer side direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and feeds a maximum size recording medium with a longer side first, an image forming unit having a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of the maximum size recording medium, and prints a toner image onto the recording medium, and a sub feeder that can feed the maximum size recording medium to the image forming unit independently from the feeder. A post processing apparatus receives a printed recording medium and executes post processing on a side of the recording medium. A feeding source of the maximum size recording medium is selected from the feeder and the sub feeder for executing the post processing on the longer and shorter sides of the maximum size recording medium, respectively.

Abstract: Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having an improved CO2 permeance and an improved CO2/H2 selectivity. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane that includes a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane containing a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst. Further preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst at least has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, has a melting point of 200° C. or higher, or is soluble in water.

Abstract: Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having improved CO2 permeance and improved CO2 selective permeability. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane comprising a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane which contains a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a copolymer including a first structural unit derived from an acrylic acid cesium salt or an acrylic acid rubidium salt and a second structural unit derived from vinyl alcohol. More preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100° C. or higher.

Abstract: In a gas separation apparatus that separates carbon dioxide and water vapor from a first mixture gas containing at least carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor, the energy utilization efficiency thereof is improved. The gas separation apparatus is constructed to include a first separation membrane 33 and a second separation membrane 34 that are made of different materials. When the first mixture gas is supplied, the first separation membrane 33 separates a second mixture gas containing carbon dioxide and water vapor that permeate through the first separation membrane by allowing carbon dioxide and water vapor to permeate selectively. When the second mixture gas is supplied, the second separation membrane 34 separates water vapor that permeates through the second separation membrane 34 by allowing water vapor to permeate selectively.

Abstract: Provided is a production method for a porous alumina material, comprising the steps of: mixing an alkoxysilane solution that comprises an alkoxysilane, a mixed solvent comprising water and an alcohol, and an inorganic acid, with an aluminum solution comprising an aluminum compound and water, to prepare a mixed solution in which the aluminum compound and the alkoxysilane are dissolved in the mixed solvent; co-precipitating aluminum hydroxide with a silicon compound in the mixed solution, to form a precipitate; and baking the precipitate to form a porous alumina material comprising aluminum oxide and silicon oxide.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a structure portion is provided except a peripheral portion thereof, and has a laminated structure including low dielectric films and wiring lines, the low dielectric films having a relative dielectric constant of 3.0 or lower and a glass transition temperature of 400° C. or higher. An insulating film is formed on the structure portion. A connection pad portion is arranged on the insulating film and connected to an uppermost wiring line of the laminated structure portion. A bump electrode is provided on the connection pad portion. A sealing film made of an organic resin is provided on a part of the insulating film which surrounds the bump electrode. Side surfaces of the laminated structure portion are covered with the insulating film and/or the sealing film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reformed gas production apparatus that includes a reaction chamber containing a reforming catalyst, a supply route to the reaction chamber, a reformed gas conduction route from the reaction chamber, and a reaction chamber temperature control means that controls a temperature of the reaction chamber. The supply route supplies a fluid that includes a fuel containing a hydrocarbon having at least two carbon atoms, at least one of steam and a carbon dioxide-containing gas, and an oxygen-containing gas. The fuel can be a mixed fuel that includes a plurality of types of hydrocarbons that each have at least two carbon atoms. The reaction chamber temperature control means relates to the thermal decomposition index temperature of the fuel, which defines an upper limit temperature of the reforming reaction region.

Abstract: A system for producing an oxygenate, comprising: a desulfurization apparatus for contacting a raw material gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a desulfurizing agent comprising copper; and a synthesis apparatus for contacting the raw material gas treated by the desulfurizing apparatus with an oxygenate-synthesis catalyst comprising rhodium.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a structure portion is provided except a peripheral portion thereof, and has a laminated structure including low dielectric films and wiring lines, the low dielectric films having a relative dielectric constant of 3.0 or lower and a glass transition temperature of 400° C. or higher. An insulating film is formed on the structure portion. A connection pad portion is arranged on the insulating film and connected to an uppermost wiring line of the laminated structure portion. A bump electrode is provided on the connection pad portion. A sealing film made of an organic resin is provided on a part of the insulating film which surrounds the bump electrode. Side surfaces of the laminated structure portion are covered with the insulating film and/or the sealing film.

Abstract: Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having an improved CO2 permeance and an improved CO2/H2 selectivity. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane that includes a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane containing a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst. Further preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst at least has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, has a melting point of 200° C. or higher, or is soluble in water.

Abstract: A feeder is configured to feed a recording medium. An image forming unit has a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of a maximum size recording medium to be accommodated in the feeder, and is disposed above the feeder in such a manner as to allow the maximum size recording medium to enter the image forming unit with a longer side first.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a structure portion is provided except a peripheral portion thereof, and has a laminated structure including low dielectric films and wiring lines, the low dielectric films having a relative dielectric constant of 3.0 or lower and a glass transition temperature of 400° C. or higher. An insulating film is formed on the structure portion. A connection pad portion is arranged on the insulating film and connected to an uppermost wiring line of the laminated structure portion. A bump electrode is provided on the connection pad portion. A sealing film made of an organic resin is provided on a part of the insulating film which surrounds the bump electrode. Side surfaces of the laminated structure portion are covered with the insulating film and/or the sealing film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a CO shift conversion device and a CO shift conversion method which improves CO conversion rate without increasing usage of a shift conversion catalyst. A CO shift conversion device includes: a CO shift converter 10 having a catalyst layer 5 composed of a CO shift conversion catalyst and performing CO shift conversion process on a gas flowing inside; and a CO2 remover 51 removing CO2 contained in a gas introduced. The catalyst layer 5 is composed of a CO shift conversion catalyst having a property that a CO conversion rate decreases with an increase of the concentration of CO2 contained in a gas flowing inside. The concentration of CO2 contained in a gas G0 to be processed is lowered by the CO2 remover 51 and, after that, the resultant gas is supplied to the CO shift converter 10 where it is subjected to the CO shift conversion process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a CO2 permselective membrane 1 having an amino acid ionic liquid and a porous membrane impregnated with the amino acid ionic liquid, wherein the amino acid ionic liquid contains a certain range of water.

Abstract: CO2-facilitated transport membrane that can be applied to a CO2-permeable membrane reactor is stably provided. The CO2-facilitated transport membrane is provided such that a gel layer 1 composed of a hydrogel membrane is deposited onto a porous membrane 2. More preferably, the gel layer 1 deposited onto a hydrophilic porous membrane 2 is coated with and supported by hydrophobic porous membranes 3 and 4. The gel layer contains a deprotonating agent including an alkali metal element together with glycine. The deprotonating agent is preferably a carbonate or a hydroxide of an alkali metal element, and more preferably, the alkali metal element is potassium, cesium, or rubidium.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a structure portion is provided except a peripheral portion thereof, and has a laminated structure including low dielectric films and wiring lines, the low dielectric films having a relative dielectric constant of 3.0 or lower and a glass transition temperature of 400° C. or higher. An insulating film is formed on the structure portion. A connection pad portion is arranged on the insulating film and connected to an uppermost wiring line of the laminated structure portion. A bump electrode is provided on the connection pad portion. A sealing film made of an organic resin is provided on a part of the insulating film which surrounds the bump electrode. Side surfaces of the laminated structure portion are covered with the insulating film and/or the sealing film.

Abstract: In a gas separation apparatus that separates carbon dioxide and water vapor from a first mixture gas containing at least carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor, the energy utilization efficiency thereof is improved. The gas separation apparatus is constructed to include a first separation membrane 33 and a second separation membrane 34 that are made of different materials. When the first mixture gas is supplied, the first separation membrane 33 separates a second mixture gas containing carbon dioxide and water vapor that permeate through the first separation membrane by allowing carbon dioxide and water vapor to permeate selectively. When the second mixture gas is supplied, the second separation membrane 34 separates water vapor that permeates through the second separation membrane 34 by allowing water vapor to permeate selectively.