Abstract: N-type c-BN is a heat-resistant material with a wide band gap. Ohmic electrodes are indispensable for making semiconductor devices utilizing n-type c-BN. The electrodes proposed so far are likely to deteriorate in an atmosphere of high temperature. The degradation of electrodes hinders the production of semiconductor devices utilizing c-BN. A heat-resistant ohmic electrode is produced by forming a low contact resistance layer of a boride or a nitride of Ti, Zr or Hf on a heated c-BN and by covering the low resistance layer by an Au layer. Otherwise an ohmic electrode is produced by forming a low contact resistance layer of one of Ti, Zr, Hf, etc. on c-BN, making a diffusion barrier layer of W, Mo, Ta or Pt and depositing an Au layer on the diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen comprising treating in an anaerobic condition a substrate such as waste water including organic matter using sludge compost, whereby stable hydrogen generation at a higher efficiency for a longer period of time is attained together with the treatment of waste water.

Abstract: A membrane for the separation of carbon dioxide is disclosed which includes a hydrogel film of a cross-linked, vinyl alcohol/acrylic acid salt copolymer impregnated with an aqueous carrier solution containing a carbon dioxide carrier dissolved therein. A composition containing a solvent, an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonates, and a polydentate ligand capable of forming a complex with an alkali metal ion is suitably used as the carrier solution. This composition may also be used for the preparation of a liquid film of a carbon dioxide separation membrane.

Abstract: This invention relates to hydrous gel membranes for gas separation which comprise support membranes formed by solvent-soluble polymeric materials containing in their repeating unit a bulky structural part and hydrophilic functional groups represented by the following general formula (1) ##STR1## (R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 designate hydrogen, alkyl group, and halogen and R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 designate any one of --H, --SO.sub.3 H, --COOH, and --OH) and water or an aqueous solution of substances with affinity for CO.sub.2 substantially uniformly retained in the support membranes. The membranes show not only high CO.sub.2 permeation and CO.sub.2 selectivity but also long-term stable membrane performance and ease of fabricability into membranes and are capable of recovering a large volume of CO.sub.2 generated at stationary sites efficiently at low cost.

Abstract: A biodegradable plastic composition, which may be in the form of a molded dy, includes gelatinized starch and a biodegradable, aliphatic polyester resin having a melting point of 45.degree.-130 .degree. C. The plastic is produced by kneading a blend containing a starchy substance selected from non-gelatinized, granular starch and gelatinized starch and the aliphatic polyester resin at a temperature higher than the melting point of the aliphatic polyester in the presence of water in an amount of 1-45 % based on the weight of the starchy substance.