Abstract: A thermo-sensitive draw solute including a polyoxyalkylene adduct represented by a general formula (1): R1O(AO)nR2 (1), where R1 denotes a residue after withdrawal of a hydroxy group from a monovalent alcohol having a carbon number ranging from 6 to 13, R2 denotes a hydrogen atom or denotes an alkyl group or an alkenyl group having a carbon number ranging from 1 to 13, AO denotes an oxyalkylene group having a carbon number ranging from 2 to 4, n denotes an average added mole number of an alkylene oxide ranging from 1 to 235, and where n is two or more, the two or more AOs may be the same or different from each other.

Abstract: A water treatment apparatus including: a forward osmosis device configured to allow a diluted draw solution to flow out and to discharge a water-containing solution; a heater configured to heat the diluted draw solution; a water separator configured to separate the diluted draw solution heated by the heater into a water-rich solution and the draw solution having water content lower than that of the water-rich solution; a cooler configured to cool a liquid and allow the liquid to flow out as a coolant; an inflow side heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between the coolant flowed out from the cooler and the draw solution flowed out from the water separator; and an outflow side heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between the diluted draw solution flowed out from the forward osmosis device and the water-rich solution flowed out from the water separator.

Abstract: A thermo-sensitive water absorbent is used as a draw material in production of fresh water by a forward osmosis process. The thermo-sensitive water absorbent has a cloud point, and coagulates when heated, the thereto-sensitive water absorbent being a block copolymer containing at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, having a glycerin structure as a basic structure, and including an ethylene oxide group and a group consisting of propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide.

Abstract: A thermo-sensitive water absorbent is used as a draw material in production of fresh water by a forward osmosis process. The thermo-sensitive water absorbent has a cloud point, and coagulates when heated, the thermo-sensitive water absorbent being a block copolymer containing at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, having a glycerin structure as a basic structure, and including an ethylene oxide group and a group consisting of propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide.

Abstract: A thermo-sensitive water absorbent is used as a draw material in production of fresh water by a forward osmosis process. The thermo-sensitive water absorbent has a cloud point, and coagulates when heated, the thermo-sensitive water absorbent being a block copolymer containing at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, having a glycerin structure as a basic structure, and including an ethylene oxide group and a group consisting of propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide.

Abstract: A thermo-sensitive water absorbent is used as a draw material in production of fresh water by a forward osmosis process. The thermo-sensitive water absorbent has a cloud point, and coagulates when heated, the thermo-sensitive water absorbent being a block copolymer containing at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, having a glycerin structure as a basic structure, and including an ethylene oxide group and a group consisting of propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide.

Abstract: An apparatus for production of a clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability includes a gas supplier for supplying a gas to an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium compound, and a cooler for cooling the aqueous solution, the apparatus producing the clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability including both the quaternary ammonium compound and the gas as guests by supplying the gas to the aqueous solution with the gas supplier in the stage of cooling with the cooler.

Abstract: An apparatus for production of a clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability includes a gas supplier for supplying a gas to an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium compound, and a cooler for cooling the aqueous solution, the apparatus producing the clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability including both the quaternary ammonium compound and the gas as guests by supplying the gas to the aqueous solution with the gas supplier in the stage of cooling with the cooler.

Abstract: An apparatus for production of a clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability includes a gas supplier for supplying a gas to an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium compound, and a cooler for cooling the aqueous solution, the apparatus producing the clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability including both the quaternary ammonium compound and the gas as guests by supplying the gas to the aqueous solution with the gas supplier in the stage of cooling with the cooler.

Abstract: It is possible to provide a heat storage substance, a heat storage agent, a heat transport medium, and a cold insulation agent having low corrosiveness and a high latent heat quantity at a low cost, their production method, and a cold reservoir and a cold insulator containing the heat storage substance as content. The heat storage substance is characterized by containing a tri-n-butylalkylammonium salt and water. The heat storage substance is characterized by containing either tri-n-butyl-n-pentylammonium bromide or tri-n-butyl-n-pentylammonium chloride and water. The heat storage agent is characterized by containing a tri-n-butylalkylammonium salt and water. The heat storage agent is characterized by containing either tri-n-butyl-n-pentylammonium bromide or tri-n-butyl-n-pentylammonium chloride and water. The heat transport medium is characterized by containing a tri-n-butylalkylammonium salt and water.

Abstract: An aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt as a guest compound of a clathrate hydrate, having a property of producing the clathrate hydrate when cooled, and further containing a phosphate of an alkali metal added thereto. A clathrate hydrate produced by cooling an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt and a phosphate of an alkali metal, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is the guest compound.

Abstract: An apparatus for production of a clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability includes a gas supplier for supplying a gas to an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium compound, and a cooler for cooling the aqueous solution, the apparatus producing the clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability including both the quaternary ammonium compound and the gas as guests by supplying the gas to the aqueous solution with the gas supplier in the stage of cooling with the cooler.

Abstract: It is possible to provide a heat storage substance, a heat storage agent, a heat transport medium, and a cold insulation agent having low corrosiveness and a high latent heat quantity at a low cost, their production method, and a cold reservoir and a cold insulator containing the heat storage substance as content. The heat storage substance is characterized by containing a tri-n-butylalkylammonium salt and water. The heat storage substance is characterized by containing either tri-n-butyl-n-pentylammonium bromide or tri-n-butyl-n-pentylammonium chloride and water. The heat storage agent is characterized by containing a tri-n-butylalkylammonium salt and water. The heat storage agent is characterized by containing either tri-n-butyl-n-pentylammonium bromide or tri-n-butyl-n-pentylammonium chloride and water. The heat transport medium is characterized by containing a tri-n-butylalkylammonium salt and water.

Abstract: An aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt as a guest compound of a clathrate hydrate, having a property of producing the clathrate hydrate when cooled, and further containing a phosphate of an alkali metal added thereto. A clathrate hydrate produced by cooling an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt and a phosphate of an alkali metal, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is the guest compound.

Abstract: A latent heat storage material including a clathrate hydrate including, as its guest compound or guest compounds, a salt containing at least one of primary phosphate ion (H2PO4?), secondary phosphate ion (HPO42?) and tertiary phosphate ion (PO43?), and a pH regulator.

Abstract: (a) A medium oil wherein a main component is a hydrocarbon, and the number of paraffinic carbon atoms is 70% or more with respect to a total number of carbon atoms, (b) a medium oil wherein a main component is a polybutene, (c) a medium oil wherein a main component is a mixture of hydrocarbons of the formula (1): CH3—C(CH3)2—[—CH2—C(CH3)2—]n—CH2—R ??(1) wherein R is —CH(CH3)2 or —C(CH3)?CH2, and n is 1 to 10, (d) a medium oil wherein a main component is a hydrocarbon prepared by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, or (e) a medium oil wherein a main component is a branched paraffinic hydrocarbon prepared by hydrogenolysis of a hydrocarbon prepared by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and a process of producing dimethyl ether using the medium oil, are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a catalyst for producing hydrogen gas from a mixed gas comprising dimethyl ether and water vapor or carbon dioxide gas, which comprises copper, iron, cobalt, palladium, iridium, platinum, rhodium, or nickel as an active component, and a method of producing synthesis gas or hydrogen gas in a high yield at a low temperature. By using the catalyst, fuel cell, electricity generation, reduction of iron ore and the like can be carried out.

Abstract: This invention provides a catalyst for producing hydrogen gas from a mixed gas comprising dimethyl ether and water vapor or carbon dioxide gas, which comprises copper, iron, cobalt, palladium, iridium, platinum, rhodium, or nickel as an active component, and a method of producing synthesis gas or hydrogen gas in a high yield at a low temperature. By using the catalyst, a fuel cell, electricity generation, reduction of iron ore and the like can be carried out.

Abstract: A method for depositing solid electrolyte layer includes the steps of depositing a solid electrolyte layer on an electrode substrate by an electrophoretic deposition process, firing the solid electrolyte layer at a temperature of 1,300.degree. C. or less, and depositing another electrolyte layer on the fired solid electrolyte layer by a CVD-EVD process. In accordance with the method, thin and sufficiently dense solid electrolyte layers which are suitable for solid electrolyte fuel cells can be easily produced.