Abstract: There is provided according to the present invention a process for producing fluoromethyl hexafluoroisopropyl ether ((CF3)2CH—O—CH2F), including: reacting bisfluoromethyl ether with hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol in a solvent substantially immiscible with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid selected from sulfuric acid and any other acids stronger in acidity than sulfuric acid. The process of the present invention enables industrial production of the fluoromethyl hexafluoroisopropyl ether without using hydrogen fluoride or a large amount of sulfuric acid and thereby without causing a large amount of waste as a by-product.

Abstract: There is provided according to the present invention a process for producing fluoromethyl hexafluoroisopropyl ether ((CF3)2CH—O—CH2F), including: reacting bisfluoromethyl ether with hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol in a solvent substantially immiscible with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid selected from sulfuric acid and any other acids stronger in acidity than sulfuric acid. The process of the present invention enables industrial production of the fluoromethyl hexafluoroisopropyl ether without using hydrogen fluoride or a large amount of sulfuric acid and thereby without causing a large amount of waste as a by-product.

Abstract: An aromatic compound represented by the general formula Ar1X is reacted with a palladium compound and a phosphine derivative, in the presence of a first basic substance, thereby producing a palladium-complex compound represented by the general formula Ar1—PdL2X. This palladium-complex compound is reacted with a benzoic acid represented by the general formula Ar2—COOH, in the presence of a second basic substance, thereby producing another palladium-complex compound represented by the following general formula. The above palladium-complex compounds are useful as catalysts and can be produced easily by the above reactions. In the above general formulas, Ar1 is an aryl group; and X is a halogen that is fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, trifluoromethanesulfonate group, an alkylsulfonate group having a carbon atom number of 1-4, or a substituted or unsubstituted arylsulfonate group; each L is independently a phosphine ligand; and Ar2 is an aryl group.

Abstract: When the start button is pushed after the door of the supply chamber is closed, carbon dioxide gas is ejected from the nozzle placed at the upper part of the horn. The carbon dioxide gas is converted to powdered dry ice by adiabatic expansion in the horn, and the dry ice falls on fresh food or other items to be cooled in a box or plastic bag placed under the horn. In order to obtain a desired amount of dry ice constantly, the ambient temperature, the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas, the interval time since the last ejection are counted in determining the carbon dioxide ejecting time length.

Abstract: An aromatic compound represented by the general formula Ar1X is reacted with a palladium compound and a phosphine derivative, in the presence of a first basic substance, thereby producing a palladium-complex compound represented by the general formula Ar1—PdL2X. This palladium-complex compound is reacted with a benzoic acid represented by the general formula Ar2—COOH, in the presence of a second basic substance, thereby producing another palladium-complex compound represented by the following general formula.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluorine-containing polybenzoxazole including a structural unit represented by the general formula (1): where X is a tetravalent organic group containing an aromatic ring, and two sets of N and O are each bonded to the ortho positions of the aromatic ring of X such that two five-membered rings are formed next to the aromatic ring of X. This polybenzoxazole demonstrates low dielectric constant and low coefficient of thermal expansion while maintaining the properties of polybenzoxazole including mechanical strength and thermal stability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluorine-containing polybenzoxazole including a structural unit represented by the general formula (1): 1

Abstract: When the start button is pushed after the door of the supply chamber is closed, carbon dioxide gas is ejected from the nozzle placed at the upper part of the horn. The carbon dioxide gas is converted to powdered dry ice by adiabatic expansion in the horn, and the dry ice falls on fresh food or other items to be cooled in a box or plastic bag placed under the horn. In order to obtain a desired amount of dry ice constantly, the ambient temperature, the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas, the interval time since the last ejection are counted in determining the carbon dioxide ejecting time length.

Abstract: A method of producing benzamides represented by the following general formula (1): where R is trifluoromethyl group, trifluoromethyloxy group, halogen (fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine), nitro group, acetyl group, cyano group, alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 5 carbon atoms; and n is 0 or an integer ranging from 1 to 3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluorine-containing polybenzoxazole including a structural unit represented by the general formula (1): where X is a tetravalent organic group containing an aromatic ring, and two sets of N and O are each bonded to the ortho positions of the aromatic ring of X such that two five-membered rings are formed next to the aromatic ring of X. This polybenzoxazole demonstrates low dielectric constant and low coefficient of thermal expansion while maintaining the properties of polybenzoxazole including mechanical strength and thermal stability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a benzoic acid derivative represented by the general formula (1). The method includes the step of reacting an aromatic compound represented by the general formula (2), with carbon monoxide and a hydroxy compound (i.e., water or an alcohol), in the presence of (a) a metal compound containing a metal of 8, 9 and 10 groups of periodic table, (b) a first phosphine derivative represented by the general formula (R1)2P—Q—P(R1)2, and (c) a base, It is possible to easily and efficiently produce the benzoic acid derivative by the method.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus for use as a boiler wherein RDF is burned as the fuel, or as an incinerator for burning municipal waste. The apparatus is diminished in the quantities of NOx produced, permits a dust collector to achieve an improved efficiency in separating off a free-flowing medium and assures a fluidized-bed furnace of effective fluidization of a medium. The apparatus comprises a fluidized-bed furnace (1), a cyclone (2) disposed downstream from the furnace (1) for separating a free-flowing medium and a combustion residue discharged from the furnace (1) from combustion gases and collecting these solids, and a medium-residue return channel (3) provided between the cyclone (2) and the furnace (1) for returning the free-flowing medium and the combustion residue collected by the cyclone (2 )to the furnace (1) therethrough.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a trifluoromethylbenzylamine represented by the following general formula (1). This process includes hydrogenating a trifliuoromethylbenzonitrile represented by the following general formula (2) by hydrogen in an organic solvent in the presence of ammonia, using a Raney catalyst, where each R independently represents a halogen selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-4, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-4, an amino group, a hydroxyl group or a trifluoromethyl group, and n represents an integer from 0 to 4, where R and n are defined as above. With this process, it is possible to obtain the trifluoromethylbenzylamine easily and inexpensively at an extremely high yield.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene. This method includes the steps of (a) chlorinating a compound represented by the general formula (1) by chlorine, thereby to produce a trichloromethyltrifluoromethylbenzene; and (b) fluorinating the tricbloromethyltrifluoromethylbenzene by hydrogen fluoride, thereby to produce the bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene, ##STR1## where m is 1, 2 or 3. It is not necessary in the invention to handle solid in any reaction step.

Abstract: A plasma melting furnace has a melting chamber having an anode torch and a cathode torch made of graphite and having a electric conductor disposed on the bottom thereof. When the furnace is operated, the anode torch, having an inflow of electrons, which forms an unstable plasma arc is contacted with the electric conductor and is not used, while the cathode torch, having an outflow of electrons, which forms a stable plasma arc, is utilized for heating, whereby the furnace can be stably and continuously operated. Thus, since the cathode torch which is used is not heated so much and the anode torch, which is liable to be heated to a great degree, is not used, the electrode consumption rate can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A dry sorting machine having a separating function for removing solids of more than a predetermined size from ash and a drying function for drying the ash, and a magnetic sorting machine for removing metals from the dried ash are arranged in a pretreatment route for the ash to be supplied to the furnace. Further, there is provided a drying air pipe for introducing the high-temperature air heat-recovered from exhaust gases discharged from the ash melting furnace into the dry sorting machine. Thus, by the dry sorting machine having the separating and drying functions, simplification of the ash pretreatment process and reduction of the installation space can be achieved.

Abstract: An ash melting furnace for heating and melting ashes by a burner. The furnace body is formed with a preheating chamber and a melting chamber. Of the bottom wall of the melting chamber (12), the portion closer to the charging port is convex in transverse cross section, while the portion closer to the discharging port is concave in transverse cross section.

Abstract: The invention provides a furnace desulfurization process which includes supplying a desulfurizing agent into a furnace or flue to cause the agent to absorb SO.sub.