Abstract: An oil adsorbent is configured so as to include: at least one particle of an inorganic particle and a metallic particle, at least one particle constituting a core; and a polymer covering the core, wherein the polymer is a copolymer made of at least one substance selected from the group of molecular structure A consisting of styrene, butadiene, isoprene, ethylene and propylene and at least one substance selected from the group of molecular structure B consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile, vinylpyridine, vinyl alcohol, maleic anhydride and maleic acid.

Abstract: A magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration has a composition represented by (R11-yR2y)xFe100-x (R1 is at least one of element selected from Sm and Er, R2 is at least one of element selected from Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb and Dy, and x and y are numerical values satisfying 4?x?20 atomic % and 0.05?y?0.95), and includes a Th2Zn17 crystal phase, a Th2Ni17 crystal phase, or a TbCu7 crystal phase as a main phase.

Abstract: A magnetic material comprising a NaZn13 type crystal structure with uniform and fine microstructure exhibiting excellent characteristics as a magnetic refrigeration material, and a method of manufacturing the magnetic refrigeration material are provided. An alloy composition for forming magnetic material of the NaZn13 type crystal structure was melted comprising 0.5 atomic percent to 1.5 atomic percent of B to molten metal. The molten metal is rapidly cooled and solidified by a forced cooling process. Then, a rapidly cooled alloy having the NaZn13 type crystal structure was obtained. In this manner, magnetic materials comprising the NaZn13 type crystal structure phase, or the NaZn13 type crystal structure phase accompanied with other phases such as ?-Fe phase having very small phase regions was manufactured without requiring heat treatment for a long time. As the result, productivity of manufacturing the magnetic refrigeration material is remarkably enhanced.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a membrane filtration system includes a raw water tank, a first tank, a second tank, a nanofiltration membrane module comprises a nanofiltration membrane, and removes the solute from the raw water with a solute removal rate of 1% to 30%, a first pump for supplying the raw water from the raw water tank to the module to cause the raw water to permeate through the membrane and send the water that has permeated through the membrane as a primary water to the first tank, a RO module comprises a RO membrane that further removes the solute from the primary water, and a second pump for supplying the primary water from the first tank to the RO module to cause the primary water to permeate through the membrane and send the water that has permeated through the membrane as a secondary water to the second tank.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, water to be treated is passed through each of a first reactor vessel and second reactor vessel, phosphorus contained in the water is removed by using an adsorbent, thereafter the liquid held in each of the reactor vessels is discharged from each of a first treated water discharge path and second treated water discharge path, and thus the influence of soluble impurities derived from the water is eliminated. Further, when suspended solids impurities contained in the water are accumulated in the phosphorus adsorbent, the accumulated impurities are eliminated by a reverse cleaning operation using a liquid to be thereafter introduced from a reactor vessel liquid introduction path into the reactor vessel, and hence the influence of the suspended solids in the water on a desorption agent liquid to be thereafter introduced into a crystallization vessel, and containing phosphorus from the phosphorus adsorbent is eliminated.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in order to eliminate impurities, and the like, water to be treated is passed through each of reactor vessels, phosphorus contained in the water to be treated is removed by using an adsorbent, and thereafter the liquid held in each of the reactor vessels is discharged through each of first to third treated water discharge paths, thereby eliminating the impurities, and the like derived from the water to be treated. It is possible to eliminate the influence of the impurities in the water to be treated on the discharged desorption agent liquid containing phosphorus from the phosphorus adsorbent can be eliminated, and hence it is possible to obtain a phosphorus-containing liquid containing no substance other than the recovered phosphoric matter material.

Abstract: An alloy is used for production of magnetic refrigeration material particles. The alloy contains La in a range of 4 to 15 atomic %, Fe in a range of 60 to 93 atomic %, Si in a range of 3.5 to 23.5 atomic % and at lease one element M selected from B and Ti in a range of 0.5 to 1.5 atomic %. The alloy includes a main phase containing Fe as a main component element and Si, and a subphase containing La as a main component element and Si. The main phase has a bcc crystal structure and an average grain diameter of 20 ?m or less.

Abstract: An oil adsorbent includes a plurality of particles, each being constituted from at least one of an inorganic particle and an organic particle as a core and a polymer covering the core. The plurality of particles are aggregated to form an aggregate so that a porosity of the aggregate is 70% or more.

Abstract: An adsorbent includes: at least one of an inorganic particle and a metallic particle as a core; at least two kinds of polymers, which cover a surface of the core, with respective different surface tensions; and a convex-concave surface structure formed due to a difference in surface tension between the at least two kinds of polymers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water purification material capable of selectively adsorbing phosphorus dissolved in wastewater, and also provides a water purification method employing the material. The water purification material comprises a composite metal hydroxide containing iron ions and calcium ions in its structure, and this composite metal hydroxide has a layered structure. In the water purification method of the present invention, the water purification material is brought into contact with wastewater so as to remove and recover phosphate ions in the wastewater.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water treatment composition capable of effectively adsorbing pollutants in water treatment. The composition can be rapidly separated by use of magnetic force, and hence is excellent in workability. The composition comprises magnetic particles for water purification, and is suitably used in water treatment for removing oils and the like in water. The magnetic particles are prepared by subjecting magnetic powder to surface treatment with a particular organometallic compound. The organometallic compound comprises a metal atom connected to an alkoxy group and an amphipathic organic group.

Abstract: The present invention provides functional particles capable of effectively adsorbing impurities in water treatment. The particles can be rapidly separated by use of magnetic force, and hence are excellent in workability. They are magnetic particles having surfaces modified with amphipathic groups loaded thereon. The amphipathic group comprises an ammonium or carboxylate group as a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrocarbon group as a hydrophobic moiety. The hydrophobic moiety has a function of adsorbing the impurities, and the hydrophilic moiety has a function of dispersing the particles stably in water.

Abstract: An oil-adsorbing particle composite and a water-treatment method using the same are provided. The particle composite is capable of selectively adsorbing contaminants such as oils contained in industrial and household wastewaters. The water-treatment method is capable of eliminating contaminants from the wastewater using the composite. The particle composite includes water-insoluble organic polymer particles, magnetic particles and a resin binder, the resin binder bonding the polymer particles and the magnetic particles. The polymer particles have an oil-adsorbing characteristic. The magnetic particles have a magnetic characteristic for a rapid collection of the composite using magnetic forces. The method includes dispersing the particle composite in contaminant-containing water, making the particle composite adsorb contaminants to separate the particle composite from the water after the adsorbing.

Abstract: A polymer composite is provided for a water treatment. The polymer composite with excellent workability is capable of adsorbing impurities in water, being rapidly separated from the water using magnetic forces. The polymer composite includes secondary aggregates. The secondary aggregates are formed of clumped particles, the particles being magnetic particles covered with a polymer. The polymer composite has porous structures suitable for adsorbing underwater impurities.

Abstract: A powder raw material is prepared by mixing at least two kinds of powders selected from a powder A, a powder B, a powder C, and a powder D. A sintered body of a magnetic material having an NaZn13 crystal structure phase is formed by heating the powder raw material while applying a pressure treatment. The powder A is at least one of elemental powder of element R selected from Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb. The powder B is at least one of elemental powder of element T selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and Cr. The powder C is at least one of elemental powder of element M selected from Si, B, C, Ge, Al, Ga, and In. The powder D is a compound powder composed of at least two kinds of elements selected from the element R, the element T, and the element M.

Abstract: A magnetic refrigerator has a housing, heat exchangers filled with magnetic particles having a magnetocaloric effect, a rotary drive, a rotating shaft, a magnetic field generator fixed to the rotating shaft which applies a magnetic field to or eliminates a magnetic field from the magnetic particles in the heat exchangers following rotation of the rotating shaft, a refrigerant pump which circulates the refrigerant following rotation of the rotating shaft, a rotary refrigerant control valve which controls supply of the refrigerant to and discharge of the refrigerant from the heat exchangers following rotation of the rotating shaft, and a refrigerant circuit. The magnetic field generator and the rotary refrigerant control valve are configured to synchronize application of the magnetic field to or elimination of the magnetic field from the magnetic particles with supply of the refrigerant to or discharge of the refrigerant from the heat exchangers.

Abstract: A magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration has a composition represented by (R11-yR2y)xFe100-x (R1 is at least one of element selected from Sm and Er, R2 is at least one of element selected from Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb and Dy, and x and y are numerical values satisfying 4?x?20 atomic % and 0.05?y?0.95), and includes a Th2Zn17 crystal phase, a Th2Ni17 crystal phase, or a TbCu7 crystal phase as a main phase.

Abstract: A magnetic refrigerating device includes: at least one set of double-structured Halbach type magnet including a ring-shaped inner Halbach type magnet and a ring-shaped outer Halbach type magnet which are coaxially arranged one another so that a magnetic field generated by the inner Halbach type magnet is superimposed with a magnetic field generated by the outer Halbach type magnet; a magnetic refrigerant or a magnetic refrigeration working chamber including the magnetic refrigerant therein disposed in a bore space of the inner Halbach type magnet; and a rotating mechanism to rotate the outer Halbach type magnet while the inner Halbach type magnet is stationed.

Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration material includes: at least one selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Tb by a range of 4 to 15 atomic percentages; at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn and Cr by a range of 60 to 93 atomic percentages; at least one selected from the group consisting of Si, C, Ge, Al, Ga and In by a range of 2.9 to 23.5 atomic percentages; and at least one selected from the group consisting of Ta, Nb and W by a range of 1.5 atomic percentages or less, wherein the magnetic refrigeration material includes a NaZn13 type crystal structure as a main phase.

Abstract: An alloy is used for production of magnetic refrigeration material particles. The alloy contains La in a range of 4 to 15 atomic %, Fe in a range of 60 to 93 atomic %, Si in a range of 3.5 to 23.5 atomic % and at lease one element M selected from B and Ti in a range of 0.5 to 1.5 atomic %. The alloy includes a main phase containing Fe as a main component element and Si, and a subphase containing La as a main component element and Si. The main phase has a bcc crystal structure and an average grain diameter of 20 ?m or less.