Abstract: A fiber for artificial hair with low thermal shrinkage, low luster, and excellent spinnability, structured by a resin composition containing a vinyl chloride-based resin and a maleimide-based copolymer, wherein: 50 to 99 mass % of the vinyl chloride-based resin is contained in 100 mass % of the resin composition; 1 to 50 mass % of the maleimide-based copolymer is contained in 100% of the resin composition; and when a total of an aromatic vinyl-based monomer unit, a cyanide vinyl-based monomer unit, an unsaturated acid anhydride monomer unit, and a maleimide-based monomer unit in the maleimide-based copolymer is 100 mass %, the maleimide-based copolymer has 5 to 30 mass % of the maleimide-based monomer unit.

Abstract: A radiation source includes a radiation tube having a cathode which is a cold cathode. An imaging control unit directs the radiation source to intermittently and alternately emit the first radiation having a first energy distribution and the second radiation having a second energy distribution different from the first energy distribution whenever a rotation mechanism rotates the radiation source and a radiation detector by a preset angle. The imaging control unit directs the radiation detector to output a first projection image based on the first radiation and a second projection image based on the second radiation which are obtained by the intermittent emission of the first radiation and the second radiation. An image processing unit generates a tomographic image on the basis of the first projection image and the second projection image.

Abstract: A CT apparatus includes a plurality of imaging units, a rotation mechanism, and a CPU. The imaging unit includes a radiation source and a radiation detector. The rotation mechanism rotates the plurality of imaging units around a body axis of the subject while maintaining a disposition interval. An imaging control unit of the CPU controls operations of the plurality of imaging units and the rotation mechanism. An angular interval that is determined by a frame rate of the radiation detector and a rotation speed of the imaging unit and that defines an acquisition time of a projection image based on the radiation is the same for the plurality of imaging units. The plurality of imaging units have different phases in a rotation direction, and positions where the plurality of imaging units acquire the projection images are separated by a set angle that is less than the angular interval.

Abstract: An imaging control unit performs conventional scanning, which directs a rotation mechanism to rotate a radiation source and a radiation detector without changing a positional relationship between a subject, and the radiation source and the radiation detector in a rotation axis direction, directs the radiation source to emit radiation whenever the radiation source and the radiation detector are rotated by a preset angle, and directs the radiation detector to output a projection image, at a plurality of height positions along the rotation axis direction. The image processing unit generates a tomographic image on the basis of the projection images obtained at the plurality of height positions.

Abstract: A CT apparatus includes a plurality of imaging units, a rotation mechanism, a radiation source elevating mechanism, a detector elevating mechanism, and a CPU. The imaging unit includes a radiation source that emits radiation having a quadrangular pyramid shape to a subject and a radiation detector in which a plurality of pixels detecting the radiation transmitted through the subject are two-dimensionally arranged. The rotation mechanism rotates the plurality of imaging units around a body axis of the subject. The radiation source elevating mechanism and the detector elevating mechanism change an interval between the plurality of imaging units in a rotation axis direction. An imaging control unit of the CPU controls operations of the plurality of imaging units, the rotation mechanism, the radiation source elevating mechanism, and the detector elevating mechanism.

Abstract: A production method includes: an alkali extraction step of adding an alkali and water, or an alkali solution, to raw material ash containing an ammonium sulfate component, sulfuric acid, vanadium, and at least one other metal selected from nickel, iron, and magnesium, wherein a pH of 13 or higher is achieved, to obtain an alkali leachate; a solid-liquid separation step on the alkali leachate to obtain a leach filtrate containing vanadium; an evaporation concentration step of evaporating and concentrating the leach filtrate to obtain a concentrated liquid; and a crystallization/solid-liquid separation step of cooling and crystalizing the concentrated liquid and recovering a precipitate containing a vanadium compound.

Abstract: A method is for treating a surface of a resin material layer. The method includes a first step of introducing as a substituent at least one selected from the group consisting of an acid halide and an alkyl halide into an aromatic polyether-based resin included in the resin material layer by Friedel-Crafts reaction.

Abstract: A bioethanol production method using lignocellulosic biomass as a raw material, the method being adapted to increase the ethanol concentration of a fermentation liquid obtained in a fermentation step and reduce the distillation load without having to use specialized equipment in solubilizing the biomass by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose contained in the biomass. When a solid residue of the cellulosic biomass, from which hemicellulose has been removed, is mixed with an aqueous solution containing a cellulose-hydrolyzing enzyme in a reaction vessel, ethanol is added in an amount of 3 to 6% by mass. Bacterial proliferation is suppressed during hydrolysis of cellulose, and the ethanol concentration achieved in ethanol fermentation of a saccharified solution is increased, so that the distillation load is reduced. The ethanol added at the time of hydrolysis can be collected during distillation of the alcoholic fermentation liquid and reused.

Abstract: A saccharified solution production method in which cellulosic biomass is solubilized by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose contained in the cellulosic biomass, the method being adapted to quickly solubilize the biomass and give a slurry while keeping a high solids concentration in a reaction vessel. The biomass pulverized and an aqueous solution containing a cellulose-hydrolyzing enzyme are mixed in one reaction vessel including no baffle plate disposed in its interior, and the cellulosic biomass is solubilized under stirring. Afterwards, the contents of the reaction vessel are transferred to another reaction vessel including a baffle plate disposed in its interior, and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is allowed to proceed. The solids concentration in the first reaction vessel is preferably 15 to 30% by mass. The efficiency of stirring during enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is enhanced, and thus the amount of sugar production can be increased.

Abstract: A method is for treating a surface of a resin material layer. The method includes a first step of introducing as a substituent at least one selected from the group consisting of an acid halide and an alkyl halide into an aromatic polyether-based resin included in the resin material layer by Friedel-Crafts reaction.

Abstract: A method for producing a saccharified solution making it possible that while the concentration of a solid in a reactor is kept high at an initial stage of hydrolyzing a cellulose contained in a biomass with an enzyme, the biomass is earlier solubilized to be made into a slurry form. In the method, at an initial stage of mixing an aqueous solution containing a biomass pulverized in a reactor, the aqueous solution is poured into reactor, and then pulverized biomass is supplied thereinto step by step while content in reactor is stirred. A final solid concentration in reactor is set into the range of 15 to 30% both inclusive by mass. The reactor's bottom plane is made into a conical or mirror plate form. At least in upper and lower parts of the reactor's inside, plural stirring fans having a long rotation radius are located to stir content in reactor.

Abstract: A biomass cake pressure-feeding apparatus includes: a screw pump including a first screw with a helical first conveying thread, a second screw with a helical second conveying thread, and a casing accommodating the first screw and the second screw such that the first screw and the second screw are parallel to each other, the screw pump being configured to feed biomass cake to a high pressure reactor, the biomass cake being obtained by adding water to powdery biomass; and a throttle part positioned downstream of the screw pump and configured to form a material seal made of the biomass cake by restricting a flow of the biomass cake.

Abstract: A method for producing a saccharified solution making it possible that while the concentration of a solid in a reactor is kept high at an initial stage of hydrolyzing a cellulose contained in a biomass with an enzyme, the biomass is earlier solubilized to be made into a slurry form. In the method, at an initial stage of mixing an aqueous solution containing a biomass pulverized in a reactor, the aqueous solution is poured into reactor, and then pulverized biomass is supplied thereinto step by step while content in reactor is stirred. A final solid concentration in reactor is set into the range of 15 to 30% both inclusive by mass. The reactor's bottom plane is made into a conical or mirror plate form. At least in upper and lower parts of the reactor's inside, plural stirring fans having a long rotation radius are located to stir content in reactor.

Abstract: A biomass cake pressure-feeding apparatus includes: a screw pump including a first screw with a helical first conveying thread, a second screw with a helical second conveying thread, and a casing accommodating the first screw and the second screw such that the first screw and the second screw are parallel to each other, the screw pump being configured to feed biomass cake to a high pressure reactor, the biomass cake being obtained by adding water to powdery biomass; and a throttle part positioned downstream of the screw pump and configured to form a material seal made of the biomass cake by restricting a flow of the biomass cake.

Abstract: A saccharification-reaction apparatus includes: a reactor which causes a saccharification-reaction of a raw material; and a raw material charging device which charges the raw material into the reactor at a predetermined interval; the reactor includes: a heating steam feeder which increases a temperature of the raw material charged from the charging device to a saccharification-reaction temperature; and a feeding mechanism which sequentially feeds each of the charged raw materials toward an outlet-port in a predetermined short period of time while causing the saccharification-reaction of each raw material under a high temperature and pressure; the raw material charging-device charges into the reactor, the raw material with a suitable bulk density for a saccharification-reaction speed of the reactor; in this manner, the saccharification-reaction apparatus charges the raw material in a hydrolytic saccharification state into the reactor by the raw material charging device; and hydrolytically saccharifying the raw

Abstract: A saccharification-reaction apparatus includes: a reactor which causes a saccharification-reaction of a raw material; and a raw material charging device which charges the raw material into the reactor at a predetermined interval; the reactor includes: a heating steam feeder which increases a temperature of the raw material charged from the charging device to a saccharification-reaction temperature; and a feeding mechanism which sequentially feeds each of the charged raw materials toward an outlet-port in a predetermined short period of time while causing the saccharification-reaction of each raw material under a high temperature and pressure; the raw material charging-device charges into the reactor, the raw material with a suitable bulk density for a saccharification-reaction speed of the reactor; in this manner, the saccharification-reaction apparatus charges the raw material in a hydrolytic saccharification state into the reactor by the raw material charging device; and hydrolytically saccharifying the raw

Abstract: In the present disclosure, after a volatile organic acid is added as a catalyst to a slurry and the hydrolytic saccharification reaction of hemicellulose is performed, the volatile organic acid (including one added to the slurry and one produced as a by-product) contained in a C5 saccharified solution can be easily recovered by adding a small amount of sulfuric acid to the C5 saccharified solution and subjecting the C5 saccharified solution to air stripping treatment. The efficiency of hydrolytic saccharification of hemicellulose into C5 sugars using a volatile organic acid can also be continuously improved by adding the recovered volatile organic acid as a catalyst to another slurry of cellulosic biomass.

Abstract: A method for producing a concentrated saccharified solution using lignocellulosic biomass as a source material. The method includes filtering a saccharified solution obtained by hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass through a membrane separator having a separation membrane having a molecular cutoff ranging from 1000 or more and 7000 or less, and feeding it to a reverse osmosis membrane device to concentrate the same. By such treatment, the saccharides having small molecular weights contained in the saccharified solution are transferred to the filtrate, and the lignin and its decomposition product having large molecular weights are drained as a concentrated solution from the membrane separator. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent loss of saccharides contained in the saccharified solution, and to easily prevent occurrence of fouling in the reverse osmosis membrane used in concentration of the saccharified solution.

Abstract: According to the method of the present invention, a cellulosic biomass slurry whose concentration of cellulosic biomass between 1% and 5% by mass is hydrothermally treated at a temperature of between 140° C. and 200° C. a pressure of between 1 MPa and 5 MPa to saccharify/decompose hemicellulose into C5 sugars. Then, a dewatered cake obtained after the hydrothermal treatment is slurried and has a solid concentration of between 1% and 5% by mass, and the slurry is hydrothermally treated at a temperature of between 240° C. and 300° C. and a pressure of between 4 MPa and 10 MPa to saccharify/decompose cellulose into C6 sugars. A saccharified solution is concentrated by a concentration device such as a reverse osmosis membrane device so that the concentration of sugars is 10% by mass or higher, and is then subjected to alcoholic fermentation.

Abstract: A hydrophilic filtration membrane having high chemical resistance, high strength, high water permeability and high blocking performance, and being superior in fouling resistance is provided. A hydrophilic filtration membrane containing a hydrophilic polyethersulfone having a contact angle of 65 to 74 degree, a molecular weight of 10,000 to 100,000, and the number of hydroxy groups of 0.6 to 1.4 per 100 polymerization repeating units. The hydrophilic filtration membrane may additionally contain a polyvinylpyrrolidone having a molecular weight of 10,000 to 1,300,000.