Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies having a high affinity for human calcitonin, particularly monoclonal antibodies suitable for a sandwich immunoassay are disclosed. Also disclosed are hybridomas producing said monoclonal antibodies and a sandwich immunoassay utilizing said antibodies for determining human calcitonin in blood.

Abstract: This invention relates to a technique for removing nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) present in exhaust gases discharged from boilers and the like. When the temperature of the exhaust gas is 100.degree. C. or below, a heat-treated active carbon produced by heat-treating a raw active carbon at 600 to 1,200.degree. C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere so as to remove oxygen-containing functional groups present at the surfaces thereof and thereby reduce the atomic surface oxygen/surface carbon ratio to 0.05 or less is preferably used. When the temperature of the exhaust gas exceeds 100.degree. C., a heat-treated active carbon produced by heat-treating a raw active carbon at 600 to 1,200.degree. C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and activating the surfaces thereof with sulfuric acid or nitric acid to impart oxidizing oxygen-containing functional groups thereto is preferably used.

Abstract: The disclosed method of measuring the flow of a fluid with a porous particulate ceramic tracer and an optical instrument is characterized in that spherical particles having diameters in the range of 0.5 to 150 .mu.m are used as the tracer. Inasmuch as the tracer particles for flow measurement are spherical, the sectional area of scattered light to be detected by an optical sensor means is constant regardless of the orientation of particles. Furthermore, spherical particles have no surface irregularities that might cause concatenation so that individual particles are not agglomerated in tracking a fluid flow, thus contributing to improved measurement accuracy.

Abstract: An active carbon for use in the treatment of exhaust gas can be obtained by heat-treating a starting active carbon fiber derived from polyacrylonitrile, pitch or the like or a starting particulate active carbon in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The heat-treating temperature is preferably in the range of 600 to 1,200.degree. C. for use in the desulfurization of exhaust gas, and in range of 600 to 1,000.degree. C. for use in the denitration of exhaust gas. By using the resulting heat-treated active carbon for the purpose of desulfurization, the sulfur oxide concentration in exhaust gas can be reduced to 5 ppm or below. Moreover, by using the heat-treated active carbon in combination with conventional denitration based on selective catalytic reduction, the nitrogen oxide concentration in exhaust gas can be reduced to 1 ppm or below.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gases from combustion, which process comprises bringing said exhaust gases into contact with a Beta Zeolite exchanged with suitable amounts of cobalt salts, in the presence of a light hydrocarbon as the reducing agent. The present invention relates also to a catalyst for such a process, which catalyst comprises a Beta Zeolite exchanged with cobalt salts, characterized by a Co:zeolite Al molar ratio of <0.5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel electrode for high-temperature solid electrolyte fuel cells and a process for manufacture of the electrode. The fuel electrode of the invention is a porous element composed of a high-melting metal, such as ruthenium, osmium, rhodium or iridium, or an alloy containing the metal. The process for manufacture of the fuel electrode comprises coating an electrode material with a solution or dispersion of the high-melting metal and/or its chloride, sintering the same and finally reducing the product.

Abstract: A method for the desulfurization of hydrocarbons by desulfurizing unsaturated hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon materials containing unsaturated hydrocarbons, in the presence or absence of hydrogen, using a copper-zinc desulfurizing agent prepared by the co-precipitation method. By this method, the sulfur content of the hydrocarbons can be reduced while suppressing hydrogenation of the unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A gas phase adsorption process in which a gas phase containing water vapor or a basic gas is brought into contact with activated carbon fiber to adsorb the water vapor or basic gas. The activated carbon fiber comprises pitch-based oxidized activated carbon fiber having oxygen-containing functional groups and an oxygen content of 3-18% by weight, based on the weight of the fiber. The oxidized activated carbon fiber is prepared by oxidizing pitch-based activated carbon fiber having a specific surface area of 200-2500 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: A pitch-type fiber convertible to an activated carbon fiber is infusiblized with an infusiblizing gas and the infusiblized fiber is activated with an activating gas, such as steam, to produce an activated carbon fiber. The waste gas from the infusiblizing step is utilized in a combusting step. The combustible component of the waste gas from the activating step is separated out of the waste gas from the activating step and combusted in the combusting step along with the waste gas from the infusiblizing step. The resulting heat from the combusting step is utilized to preheat the infusiblizing gas and the activating gas and the preheated gases are utilized in the infusiblizing step and the activating step, respectively. This arrangement allows the infusiblizing temperature and the activating temperature to be accurately controlled. Thus, an activated carbon fiber is manufactured continuously without being negatively affected by waste gases from the infusiblizing and activating steps.

Abstract: The present invention provides a NOx reducing catalyst comprising BEA zeolite which is ion-exchanged with Co to have a Co/Al ratio between 0.2 and 0.6 and is loaded with at least one metal selected from among Ca, Sr, Ba, La, Mn, Ag, In, and Ni. The present invention also provides a NOx reduction process comprising the use of the catalyst of the present invention. The catalyst of this invention provides high activity, high NOx reduction selectivity and durability at low temperature in an actual exhaust gas containing water vapor and other substances disturbing catalytic activity even at low temperature and at low NOx and hydrocarbon concentration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for reduction of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas containing oxygen by hydrocarbons, which comprises cobalt-loaded zeolite not showing a Raman spectral band assignable to cobalt oxide (Co.sub.3 O.sub.4).

Abstract: In the method for measuring the velocity of fluid or visualizing the distribution of fluid by feeding tracer particles to the fluid, irradiating the fluid with light and observing return light from the tracer particles, tracer particles containing a fluorescent substance are fed at least partially to the fluid and the fluid is irradiated with exciting light to cause the tracer particles to output fluorescent emissions. A filter which does not transmit the exciting light is used to substantially selectively observe the fluorescent emissions of the tracer particles. This method results in a remarkable improvement in the accuracy of flow velocity measurement or visualization of fluid distribution. Moreover, in a mixed fluid system consisting of two or more different fluids, the pattern of behavior of each fluid and the intermingled state of the fluids can be observed by using a plurality of different tracer particles.

Abstract: This invention provides: (1) a hinder composition for friction materials, characterized in that it comprises a thermosetting resin and a specific organic silicon compound having phenyl groups, and (2) a friction material having as a binder composition shown in the above item (1). When used for manufacturing friction materials in the brakes and clutches for various kinds of vehicles such as automobiles, it can remarkably improve the facing and abrasion resistances of the friction material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gases from combustion, which process comprises bringing said exhaust gases into contact with a Beta Zeolite exchanged with suitable amounts of cobalt salts, in the presence of a light hydrocarbon as the reducing agent. The present invention relates also to a catalyst for such a process, which catalyst comprises a Beta zeolite exchanged with cobalt salts, characterized by a Co: zeolite AL molar ratio of<0.5.

Abstract: The graphite fiber-reinforced fluororesin composite including 99 to 40 parts by weight of a fluororesin, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene, and 1 to 60 parts by weight of a graphite fiber. The graphite fiber has a specific surface area of 0.6 to 25 m.sup.2 /g and, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis, (1) a surface atomic oxygen/atomic carbon ratio of 0.10 to 0.20, (2) a surface atomic halogen/atomic carbon ratio of 0.05 to 1.8 or (3) a surface atomic oxygen/atomic carbon ratio of 0.10 to 0.20 and a surface atomic halogen/atomic carbon ratio of 0.05 to 1.8. Such fiber may, for example, be obtained by subjecting a graphite fiber to oxidizing treatment, halogenating treatment, or oxidizing and halogenating treatments. The graphite fiber imparts high mechanical strength characteristics and wear resistance to the composite.

Abstract: A process for steam reforming of hydrocarbons which comprises subjecting a hydrocarbon to steam reforming after desulfurizing the hydrocarbon to a sulfur content of 5 ppb or less.According to the process, a poisoning of steam reforming catalyst by sulfur can be prevented, and stable and economical operation can be attained for a long period.

Abstract: A slurry containing a precursor fiber convertible to carbon fiber and/or a carbon fiber and, based on 100 parts by weight of the fiber, 10 to 300 parts by weight of a thermosetting resin, e.g. phenol resin, is processed into a random web. This web may contain a pitch or an organic granular material. The web is hot-pressed between a pair of belts while curing of the resin is inhibited to prepare a prepreg sheet. This sheet is disposed, leaving a clearance, in a mold having ribs on a molding surface and heated over the melting point of the resin for expansion and complete cure to provide a porous composite sheet equipped with grooves. This porous composite sheet is carbonized or graphitized to produce a porous carbonaceous material for use as a fuel cell electrode material and so on. This porous carbonaceous material has high homogeneity, gas permeability, electrical conductivity, heat conductivity and mechanical strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing polysilane characterized in that starting halosilane is subjected to electrochemical reaction using Mg or Mg alloy as anode, lithium salt as supporting electrolyte and aprotic solvent as solvent, thereby producing polysilane. The present invention affords polysilane in a high yield, whose molecular weight is uniform and high enough to be cast into an excellent thin film, with an ease of handling, safety and a low cost ensured.

Abstract: A fluorene derivative of high purity is produced by reacting fluorenone with phenoxyethanol in the presence of a sulfuric acid-thiol catalyst system, dissolving the reaction mixture in a lower aliphatic alcohol and adding water to the resulting solution for precipitation of 9,9-bis(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl)fluorene [fluorene derivative]. A fluorene derivative of still higher purity is obtained by recrystallization from a lower aliphatic alcohol.In accordance with this invention, a fluorene derivative can be produced advantageously on a commercial scale without incurring any appreciable loss of fluorenone, in good yield, with high efficiency and in a reduced production time.

Abstract: A biological information-measuring apparatus which is situated in a shielded room and includes measuring means for measuring biological information of a subject arranged and supported between a pair of supporting pillars of a double housing type support, wherein H-cross section members are combined to form a lattice-like supporting frame, and the bottoms of the supporting pillars are anchored to the members forming the supporting frame.