Abstract: A removing agent for heavy metal ion in water which comprises synthetic zeolite, wherein 10 mol % or more of a total amount of exchangeable cation is substituted with magnesium ion and 60 mol % or more thereof is substituted with magnesium ion and calcium ion, and activated carbon at a weight ratio of 2:98 to 50:50 can effectively adsorb and remove heavy metal ions such as lead in water as well as residual chlorine and trihalomethane efficiently, particularly, in tap water, so as to allow delicious and healthful water without disturbing the balance between calcium ion and magnesium ion.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an adsorbent having high adsorbability per unit volume and a high adsorption rate as an adsorbent for water treatment or medical care and to provide an adsorbent capable of completely adsorbing an aimed substance within a short time as an adsorbent for medical care. The desired adsorbent is an adsorbent produced from a phenol resin as a starting material and having 0.10 to 0.60 ml/g of volume of fine pores with diameters in a range from 0.02 to 10 ?m, a specific surface area in a range from 800 to 3000 m2/g, and an average particle diameter in a range from 0.1 to 0.8 mm. The adsorbent is produced by conducting carbonization of the phenol resin as a starting material at 350 to 550° C., then heating up to 700 to 950° C. at a rate of 5 to 20° C./min, and successively carrying out activation of the obtained carbonized product.

Abstract: A removing agent for heavy metal ion in water which comprises synthetic zeolite, wherein 10 mol % or more of a total amount of exchangeable cation is substituted with magnesium ion and 60 mol % or more thereof is substituted with magnesium ion and calcium ion, and activated carbon at a weight ratio of 2:98 to 50:50 can effectively adsorb and remove heavy metal ions such as lead in water as well as residual chlorine and trihalomethane efficiently, particularly, in tap water, so as to allow delicious and healthful water without disturbing the balance between calcium ion and magnesium ion.

Abstract: By using a polymer containing a dichloroethylene structure derived from a vinylidene chloride monomer in the molecule in place of an unsaturated polyester and an urethane resin, there can be obtained an excellent adsorbent which has improved workability in case of granulation and high strength, and causes little deterioration of its ion exchange capacity even after a large number of regenerations.

Abstract: A malodorous component is eliminated using a catalytic composition comprising a phosphate of a tetravalent metal (titanium or other Group 4 elements of the Periodic Table of Elements), a hydroxide of a divalent metal (copper, zinc or other transition metal), and a photocatalyst. The photocatalyst includes sulfide-semiconductors, oxide-semiconductors and other photo-semiconductors, e.g. titanium oxide. The composition may further contain silicon dioxide and/or a silver component. The catalytic composition insures efficient elimination of not only acidic components and basic components but also neutral components over a long period, irrespective of with or without a light irradiation.

Abstract: A fiber is incorporated with a titanium oxide or other photocatalyst and an adsorbent comprising a phosphate of a tetravalent metal and a hydroxide of a divalent metal. The amounts of the photocatalyst and the adsorbent based on the total amount of the fiber are, about 0.1 to 25% by weight and about 0.1 to 25% by weight, respectively. The fiber may have a composite structure such as sheath-core structure in which the concentration of the photocatalyst in the sheath is higher than that of the core, and may be a fiber having a modified cross section.

Abstract: A plastic or moldable composition of zeolite is obtained by adding 0.1-20 parts by weight of a .beta.-1.3-glucan, 1:1 layer-type clay mineral and 2:1 layer-type clay mineral together with an adequate amount of water to 100 parts by weight of zeolite powder, and then kneading the resultant mixture. The composition may be, for example, extrusion-molded to a honeycomb structure, and calcined, to provide a calcined article of honeycomb structure of zeolite which has a high dimensional accuracy and strength, and hence is useful as a drying agent, a catalyst or a carrier material therefor. The calcined article of zeolite has an excellent mechanical strength.

Abstract: A binder for preparing an aqueous ceramics slurry, which contains a hydrophilic polymer such as a water-soluble (meth)acrylic polymer, a polysaccharide of natural origin such as pectin, pectinic acid, glucan, etc., and a polyvinyl compound such as poly(vinyl butyral). The aqueous ceramics slurry contains less than 25 parts by weight of the binder to 100 parts by weight of ceramics powder. The slurry is applied on a carrier film by a doctor blade method and dried to give a ceramics green sheet. A ceramics sheet can be produced by sintering the green sheet.

Abstract: A precipitate composition comprising a water-insoluble phosphate of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr and Sn, and a hydroxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co., Ni, Zn and Cu.The precipitate composition of the invention can be used as an adsorbent composition, which shows high adsorption capacity for acidic malodorous gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, as well as alkaline malodorous gases, such as ammonia.

Abstract: An aqueous plastic composition of an inorganic powder which per se has substantially no plasticity which comprises: the inorganic powder and a polysaccharide of natural origin.The molding and sintering of the plastic composition provide a sintered body of high mechanical strength and dimensional accuracy.