Abstract: A solid proton exchange membrane and a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) for use in fabricating an inexpensive and efficient proton exchange fuel cell (PEFC) which enables direct use of an organic fuel without a reformer and use of hydrogen gas. In particular, an electrochemical cell including a solid electrolyte membrane made of one or plural kinds of layered silicate minerals or intercalation compounds. The layered silicate minerals can be easily fabricated into a solid electrolyte membrane which shows a “molecular sieve effect” on the target fuel if the density and impregnated liquid contents are properly controlled. The catalyst can be selected from a wide range of candidate materials. The use of the layered silicate mineral allows to fabricate an inexpensive direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) and a realistic direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC). Furthermore, an energy-efficient PEFC using hydrogen gas can also be produced therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hydrophilizing a porous material made of a fluorine resin comprising irradiating an ultraviolet laser beam on the porous material impregnated with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide or water-soluble organic solvent. According to the process, the chemically and physically inactive surfaces including the inside of the micropores of the porous materials made of fluorine resins can be sufficiently hydrophilized without deteriorating the excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance and the like of the fluorine resins.

Abstract: To easily detect an amino acid derivative with high sensitivity in carrying out amino acid sequence analysis of a protein from an amino terminal, 2-anilino-5-thiazolinone amino acid derivative is reacted with a volatile primary amine represented by the general formula X-NH.sub.2, wherein X denotes a hydrocarbon containing a halogen to form a phenylthiocarbamyl amino acid derivative, and the phenylthiocarbamyl amino acid derivative is detected by using a gas chromatograph provided with an ECD. Accordingly, amino acid sequencing may be performed with high sensitivity without the need to use harmful radioisotope labeled or fluorescent amino compounds.

Abstract: Phas difference controller for use in equipments having a photoelastic modulator, such as ellipsometers and optical rotatory dispersion meters. For enabling the photoelastic modulator to produce the constant amplitude of the phase difference regardless of the change in the wavelength of light incident into the photoelastic modulator, and regardless of the change in the temperature of the photoelastic modulator itself or its atmosphere, the controller has a birefringence polarizer which splits incident light into two linearly polarized light beams, ordinary light and extraordinary light. One of them acts as reference light LR and the other one acts as main light LM. These light beams pass through a photoelastic modulator which is forced to vibrate at angular frequency of .omega.. After that, the passed reference light LR is detected by a photomultiplier via an analyzer. The photoelastic modulator is forced to vibrate at angular frequency of .omega.