Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane that can be used in treatment in various aqueous fluids such as water purification, beverage treatment, seawater clarification, and that has excellent fractionation characteristics and permeability, while deterioration of its performance due to passage of time is minimized, and that has excellent recovery of the membrane-separation characteristics by cleaning. The main feature of the hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane of the present invention is that the specific surface area of the membrane surface to which raw water is supplied falls within the range from not less than 1.10 to not greater than 1.55. The present invention also provides a process for producing a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane, wherein a heat treatment is conducted under the condition that the membrane having a residual organic solvent content of not greater than 300 mg/g.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane that can be used in treatment in various aqueous fluids such as water purification, beverage treatment, seawater clarification, and that has excellent fractionation characteristics and permeability, while deterioration of its performance due to passage of time is minimized, and that has excellent recovery of the membrane-separation characteristics by cleaning. The main feature of the hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane of the present invention is that the specific surface area of the membrane surface to which raw water is supplied falls within the range from not less than 1.10 to not greater than 1.55. The present invention also provides a process for producing a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane, wherein a heat treatment is conducted under the condition that the membrane having a residual organic solvent content of not greater than 300 mg/g.

Abstract: A composite ion exchange membrane having a high swelling resistance and being superior in mechanical strength and ion conductivity can be provided by means of an composite ion exchange membrane including an ion exchange resin composition and a support membrane having a continuous pore penetrating the support membrane, wherein the support membrane is one which accepts the ion exchange resin composition within the pore, and wherein the ion exchange resin composition is one which contains an ion exchange resin containing, as a main component, an aromatic polyether and/or its derivative, the aromatic polyether being obtained by mixing a compound having a specific structure, an aromatic dihalogenated compound and a bisphenol compound with a carbonate and/or a bicarbonate of an alkali metal and polymerizing the mixture in an organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laminated thermoplastic resin film which is excellent in adhesion and blocking resistance. A laminated thermoplastic resin film has a covering layer containing a copolymerized polyester resin and a polyurethane resin on one side or both sides of a thermoplastic resin film, characterized in that the covering layer has a microphase-separated or nanophase-separated structure in polyester (PE) phase A comprising a copolymerized polyester resin as a main component and polyurethane (PU) phase B comprising a polyurethane resin as a main component, and when the covering layer is observed by a scanning probe microscopy in phase measurement mode, an area ration (surface fraction of PEs) of polyester phase A (which indicates a dark phase in phase image) of the surface of the covering layer defined by following the formula (1) is 35% or more and less than 90% per 20 a measurement area of 5 ?m×5 ?m. Surface fraction of PEs (%)=(area of PEs phase A/measurement area)×100.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] The present invention provides a laminated thermoplastic resin film which is excellent in adhesion and blocking resistance. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A laminated thermoplastic resin film has a covering layer containing a copolymerized polyester resin and a polyurethane resin on one side or both sides of a thermoplastic resin film, characterized in that the covering layer has a microphase-separated or nanophase-separated structure in PEs phase A comprising a copolymerized PE resin as a main component and PU phase B comprising a PU resin as a main component, and when the covering layer is observed by a scanning probe microscopy in phase measurement mode, an area ratio (surface fraction of PEs) of PEs phase A (which indicates a dark phase in phase image) of the surface of the covering layer defined by following formula (1) is 35% or more and less than 90% per a measurement area of 5 ?m×5 ?m.

Abstract: A composite ion exchange membrane having a high swelling resistance and being superior in mechanical strength and ion conductivity can be provided by means of an composite ion exchange membrane including an ion exchange resin composition and a support membrane having a continuous pore penetrating the support membrane, wherein the support membrane is one which accepts the ion exchange resin composition within the pore, and wherein the ion exchange resin composition is one which contains an ion exchange resin containing, as a main component, an aromatic polyether and/or its derivative, the aromatic polyether being obtained by mixing a compound having a specific structure, an aromatic dihalogenated compound and a bisphenol compound with a carbonate and/or a bicarbonate of an alkali metal and polymerizing the mixture in an organic solvent.

Abstract: Polybenzazole fibers wherein the mean square roughness of the fiber surface is 20 nm or less, or polybenzazole fibers wherein the X-ray meridian diffraction half-height width factor is 0.3°/GPa or less, and their utilization such as shock-resistant members and heat-resistant felt, etc.

Abstract: A metal complex having a &bgr;-diketonate represented by the following formula (1): wherein M represents a metal atom of the VIII group, R1, R2 and R3 represent a group or an atom selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an aryl group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an alkoxy group, a hydrogen atom and a halogen atom; X−1 represents an ion selected from a halogen, nitric acid, sulfonic acid, fluoroboric acid, fluorophosphoric acid, or perchloric acid ion; L1 or L2 represents a 2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline group where these groups may be substituted with a group or an atom selected from an alkyl group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a phosphonic acid group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a hydrogen atom and a halogen atom. A photoelectric conversion element and a photochemical cell using the above-mentioned metal complex.

Abstract: A ruthenium complex represented by the following formula: RuL1L2X wherein L1 represents a 2,2′;6′,2″-terpyridine compound having at least one group selected from a carboxyl group, a salt of a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a salt of a sulfonic acid group, a phosphoric acid group and a salt of a phosphoric acid group, L2 represents a diketonate ligand represented by the following formula: wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, perfluoroalkyl and aryl, R3 represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, perfluoroalkyl and aryl and X represents a monodentate ligand selected from a halide, a cyano group, a thiocyano group and a thiolate. A dye-sensitized oxide semiconductor electrode includes an electrically conductive body, an oxide semiconductor film provided on a surface of the electrically conductive body, and the above metal complex.

Abstract: Polybenzazole fibers wherein the mean square roughness of the fiber surface is 20 nm or less, or polybenzazole fibers wherein the X-ray meridian diffraction half-height width factor is 0.3°/GPa or less, and their utilization such as shock-resistant members and heat-resistant felt, etc.

Abstract: A ruthenium complex represented by the following formula:

Abstract: A metal complex having a &bgr;-diketonate represented by the following formula (1): 1

Abstract: A ruthenium (II) complex having a dipyridophenazine or tetrapyridophenazine ligand and being represented by the formula (1) or (2) shown in the specification. Upon absorption of light, the complex emits fluorescence for a longer life time in a protic solvent as compared with known analogous compounds.

Abstract: A metal complex represented by the formula: (X)nML1L2, (X)2M(L1)2 or (L1)2ML2 wherein M represents a Group VIII metal, X represents a polar group, L1 represents a phenanthroline containing at least one carboxyl group which may be neutralized, L2 represents a nitrogen-containing polycyclic compound which may contain one or more substituents, and n is an integer of 1 or 2. A dye-sensitized oxide semiconductor electrode includes an electrically conductive body, an oxide semiconductor film provided on a surface of the electrically conductive body, and the above metal complex. A solar cell may be constructed from the above dye-sensitized oxide semiconductor electrode, a counter electrode, and a redox electrolyte contacting with both electrodes.

Abstract: A platinum complex represented by the formula PtL1/L2 or PtLX1/LX2 wherein L1 and L each represent a ligand selected from the group consisting of 2,2′-bipyridine compounds having at least one anionic group and 1,10-phenanthroline compounds having at least one anionic group, L2 represents a dithiolate selected from those represented by the formulas (a) through (d) shown in the specification, and X1 and X2 each represent a thiolate selected from those represented by the following formulas (e) and (f) shown in the specification. A dye-sensitized electrode includes a substrate having an electrically conductive surface, an oxide semiconductor film formed on the conductive surface, and the above platinum complex supported on the film. A solar cell includes the above electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte disposed therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel compound having activity as an ionophore for ion transport, which is a monoester or monoamide of 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-cyclohexane tricarboxylic acid, i.e. Kemp's triacid or the stereoisomer thereof, the group R in the ester group --COOR or in the amide group --CONHR being an aralkyl group or aryloxyalkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms. The monoester and monoamide derivatives can be synthesized from anhydride of Kemp's triacid by subjecting the anhydride to a ring-opening esterification or amidation reaction with an alcohol or amine. On the other hand, both of the stereoisomers can be obtained by the dehydrohalogenation reaction of 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-cyclohexane tricarboxylic acid anhydride acid halide with an alcohol or amine followed by the ring-opening hydrolysis reaction on the anhydride group.

Abstract: A bisquinolinol or bisbenzoquinolinol compound is disclosed which has the formula CH.sub.2 .dbd.C(CH--R.sup.1).sub.2 wherein R.sup.1 represents a 8-hydroxy-7-quinolyl group which may have an alkyl group at the 2-position thereof or a 10-hydroxy-9-benzoquinolyl group which may have an alkyl group at the 2-position thereof. The bisquinolinol and bisbenzoquinolinol compounds may be obtained by thermal rearrangement of a bisquinoline or bisbenzoquinoline compound of the formula CH.sub.2 .dbd.C(CH.sub.2 --O--R.sup.2).sub.2 wherein R.sup.2 represents a 8-quinolyl group which may have an alkyl group at the 2-position thereof or a 10-benzoquinolyl group which may have an alkyl group at the 2-position thereof. The bisquinolinol and bisbenzoquinolinol compounds are useful as an extractant for metal ions.

Abstract: The electrode membrane of the invention has high ion-selectivity for lithium ions relative to other alkali and alkaline earth metal ions. The membrane is shaped from a polymeric composition comprising a polymeric material, e.g., a polyvinyl chloride resin and poly(1,2-butadiene), a plasticizer and, as the ion carrier, a derivative of 1,10-phenanthroline such as 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline.

Abstract: A method for color-painting on a chromium-plated surface of a metal object to be painted in a desired color, wherein the chromium-plated surface of the object is coated with a mixture of a transparent paint and a coloring matter in the presence or absence of a thinner, followed by baking of the paint coating at a temperature of approximately 180 degrees Centigrade.