Abstract: Organic materials such as raw refuse, waste plastics, waste biomass, sludges, etc. are decomposed by the use of supercritical water to selectively produce hydrogen. A thermochemical reaction is promoted to reduce the supercritical water and selectively produce hydrogen, without substantially adding any oxidizing agent to the supercritical water of a specific temperature and pressure, in the presence of a carbon dioxide-absorbing substance in an amount sufficient to absorb all of the generated carbon dioxide, so that carbon contained in the organic wastes reduces the supercritical water, and hence the organic materials are completely decomposed and also hydrogen gas is removed.

Abstract: A novel high-porosity adsorbent material for selective adsorption of fluoride ions, arsenic ions and phosphate ions as well as a method for the preparation thereof are disclosed. The adsorbent material consists of a porous carrier material such as crosslinked polyacrylate resin beads and a crystalline hydrous zirconium oxide impregnating the pores of the carrier in the monoclinic or cubic crystal form.

Abstract: A catalyst for the oxidative condensation of a lower aliphatic hydrocarbon ncluding a carrier of a solid, oxide superacid, and at least one transition metal compound and at least one alkali metal compound supported on the carrier. By contacting a lower aliphatic hydrocarbon with oxygen in the presence of the above catalyst, a hydrocarbon with an increased carbon number can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas sensor element having physical, electrical and chemical properties capable of detecting methane and carbon monoxide selectively with 1 intergrated filtering, catalyzing sensor by improving gas selectivity of the semiconductor gas sensor. The present invention relates to a gas sensor element, which has a carbon monoxide sensor layer with an ability to function as a catalyst film that blocks carbon monoxide, which impedes detection of methane, and has a layer-built structure where the surface of a methane sensor is covered with the carbon monoxide gas sensor which can be obtained by a gas-phase method.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in the process for the preparation of amorphous silicic acid particles useful, for example, as a filtration aid comprising the steps of a hydrothermal reaction to prepare calcium silicate particles and decalcification of the calcium silicate particles, after or without undertaking carbonation by the reaction of carbon dioxide, with an acid to form particles of amorphous silicic acid followed by drying of the amorphous silicic acid particles.

Abstract: A microorganism belonging to the genus Staphylococcus or the genus Streptomyces which is capable of degrading a polylactic acid resin. A method of degrading a polylactic acid resin including a step of culturing a microorganism capable of degrading a polylactic acid resin in a medium containing a polylactic acid resin. In particular, the microorganisms Streptomyces violaceusniger FERM BP-6110 and Streptomyces cyaneus FERM BP-6111 are used.

Abstract: A process for the production of a hydrogen gas from water, wherein comprising an aqueous solution containing ferric ions is irradiated with a light while maintaining the aqueous solution in contact with a photocatalyst to convert the ferric ions into ferrous ions. The resulting aqueous solution containing the ferrous ions is electrolyzed to yield a hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a ceramic composite fiber in which a second phase is dispersed within a matrix fiber, wherein the matrix consists of a substance selected from alumina, zirconia, mullite, YAG, silica, magnesia, nitrides, carbides, metals, alloys, and polymers; the second phase consists of a substance selected from zirconia, mullite, YAG, other oxides, and metals; and the composite fiber can be produced by synthesizing a fiber from a precursor solution containing the substance of the matrix, and the second phase starting solution dispersed through the solution, and then heating the fiber.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the preparation of a sorbent capable of efficiently and selectively sorbing cesium ions from an aqueous solution. The method comprises impregnating the pores of a high-porosity carrier material such as silica gel and porous adsorbent resin with water-soluble potassium or sodium hexacyanoferrate (II) and contacting the carrier material with a solution of a copper salt in a solvent in which the water-soluble hexacyanoferrate (II) is hardly soluble such as ethyl alcohol to convert the water-soluble hexacyanoferrate (II) into water-insoluble copper hexacyanoferrate (II). The cesium ions sorbed on the sorbent can be readily desorbed and the sorbent can readily be regenerated. Alternatively, the carrier material is impregnated with a water-soluble hexacyanoferrate (III) which is converted into copper hexacyanoferrate (III) followed by a reducing reaction of the same into copper hexacyanoferrate (II).

Abstract: A lipid represented by the following formula:MO--(CO--CH.sub.2 --NH).sub.p --CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CO--(NH--CH.sub.2 --CO).sub.q --OMwherein M represents a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal, n is an integer of 6-18 and p and q each represent an integer of at least 1 with the proviso that a total of p and q is not greater than 6. When an aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt of the lipid is allowed to stand for 2-3 weeks, a fibrous microtube including a tubular body having a diameter of 1-3 .mu.m and a plurality of spherical vesicles contained within the tubular body and having a diameter of 0.1-3 .mu.m is formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic film with a variety of structures having one-dimensional through channels which can be utilized favorably in the separation of molecules or microparticles or as a support film for a catalyst with a large surface area or for a catalyst of high activity, and also provides a method for manufacturing this film efficiently and with good reproducibility, and the present invention relates to a ceramic film having one-dimensional through channels, which is a porous ceramic film having nanometer-size pores that go through one-dimensionally from one surface of the film to the other surface, characterized in that the porous ceramic film is formed on a substrate of glass, ceramic, or a heat-resistant metal; and relates to a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned ceramic film.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing crystalline microporous material suitable for manufacturing a variety of crystalline microporous material under mild reaction conditions and under safe working environmental conditions by using simple installation. The crystalline microporous materials obtained by the present invention may be used as adsorbent agent, catalyst or separating material. According to the characterizing features of the manufacturing method of the present invention, there are provided a method of using cation compound or amine as crystallizing modifier and using, in combination, raw material including canemite or silicon dioxide and a further method using raw material including silicon dioxide and aluminum salt. The method includes a step of mixing these components, a solid-liquid separating step for separating produced fine particles, and a crystallizing step for crystallizing the separated solid component.

Abstract: A cold electron emission device including an emitter having a protrusion having a sharp tip and disposed at a first end of a semiconductor thin film formed on an insulation substrate; a cathode electrode disposed at a second end of the semiconductor thin film; at least one gate electrode disposed between the emitter and the cathode electrode for controlling a current flowing through the semiconductor thin film; an insulating layer arranged to cover the semiconductor thin film, cathode electrode and gate electrode, except for the emitter; and a lead electrode arranged on the insulating layer such that it surrounds the tip of the emitter, thereby making it possible to achieve a cold electron emission device with reliable current stability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel aromatic ester compound represented by the general formula ##STR1## in which Pn is a 1,4-phenylene group, R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is a group selected from the group consisting of perfluoroalkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, cyano group, nitro group, 2,2-dicyanoethenyl group and methylsulfonyl group and the subscript n is a number of 2, 3 or 4. These aromatic ester compounds are useful as a second-order non-linear optical material in the ultraviolet wavelength range so that a resin film containing the compound has a good second-order non-linear optical coefficient d.sub.33 of 2-4.times.10.sup.-9 esu.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for synthesizing tertiary carboxylic acids or the esters thereof having one or two more carbon atoms than the raw material has, comprising reacting in a strong acid (e.g., sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid-phosphoric acid, hydrogen fluoride, fluorosulfuric acid, boron trifluoride.water complex and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid) a raw material compound (i.e., olefin, alcohol, diene, diol or saturated hydrocarbon) with carbon monoxide in the presence of a specific metal carbonyl catalyst (i.e., platinum carbonyl catalyst, palladium carbonyl catalyst and gold dicarbonyl catalyst).The metal carbonyl catalyst is formed by reacting in a strong acid at least one specific metal compounds (e.g., platinum compound such as platinum (II, IV) oxide, platinum (II, IV) hydroxide, a platinum powder, etc.; palladium compound such as palladium (II, III, IV) oxide, palladium (II) hydroxide, palladium (II) sulfate, palladium (II) carboxylate, a palladium powder, etc.

Abstract: The methods of the present invention provide efficient mechanical milling or alloying of stock materials of titanium and aluminum in order to increase yield of the titanium stock and reduce cost in connection with the production of a titanium-aluminum-based alloy sinter. Sponge titanium, which has a particle size of 1 to 20 mm and which contains hydrogen at 3.5 mass % or more, is used as the titanium stock. The sponge titanium is ball-milled with an aluminum stock in an argon atmosphere to produce a hydrogen-containing titanium-aluminum-based alloy powder. Furthermore, this powder may be sintered, as required.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing polymer articles having highly functionalized surfaces excellent in biocompatibility, by irradiating the surfaces of a polymer article with an ultraviolet laser beam in a solution containing a biopolymer. According to this method, a polymer article that has surfaces with biocompatibility, can be produced.

Abstract: Disclosed are a thermophilic phospholipase having an optimum temperature range of 95 to 105.degree. C. which is useful in high-temperature degumming processes in oil refining process and high-temperature processing of phospholipids; and a method for producing a thermophilic phospholipase comprising culturing a microorganism capable of producing the phospholipase in a culture medium and collecting the phospholipase from the resultant culture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silyl thioalkene compound, as a class of organosilicon compounds, represented by the general formulaR(--CSAr.dbd.CHSiX.sub.3).sub.n,in which the subscript n is 1 or 2, R is, when n is 1, a hydrogen atom or unsubstituted or substituted monovalent hydrocarbon group or, when n is 2, a divalent hydrocarbon group, Ar is an unsubstituted or nucleus-substituted aromatic monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group and X is a halogen atom, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or hydrocarbyloxy group, having usefulness as an intermediate in the synthesis of various precision organic chemicals. The compound, of which X is a halogen atom X.sup.1, can be prepared, for example, by the reaction of an alkyne compound of the general formulaR(--C.tbd.CH).sub.n,with a silyl sulfide compound of the general formulaArS--SiX.sup.1.sub.3,in the presence of a platinum complex catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a porous silicon nitride sintered body having high strength and low thermal conductivity, which comprises of adding more than 10 volume % of rodlike beta-silicon nitride single crystals with a larger mean diameter than that of a silicon nitride raw powder into a mixture comprising the silicon nitride raw powder and a sintering additive, preparing a formed body with rodlike beta-silicon nitride single crystals oriented parallel to the casting plane according to a forming technique such as sheet casting and extrusion forming, sintering said formed body to develop elongated silicon nitride grains from the added rodlike beta-silicon nitride single crystals as nuclei and obtain the sintered body with the elongated grains being dispersed in a complicated state.