Abstract: An ion-conductive composition includes an electrolyte solution made of an ion-conductive salt and a solvent in which the ion-conductive salt is soluble, and a thermoplastic resin having a specific swelling ratio when immersed in the electrolyte solution. The invention is also directed at a gel electrolyte produced by shaping the thermoplastic resin, then immersing it in an electrolyte solution to effect swelling. High-performance non-aqueous electrolyte batteries and electrical double-layer capacitors can be built using a thermoplastic resin-containing electrode binder composition in which the resin bonds well with active materials or activated carbon and which has an excellent adhesion to current conductors.

Abstract: To provide an electrical component, in which ions migrate between electrodes and which provides high efficiency. A method for manufacturing an electrical component, in which ions migrate between electrodes, whereby an ion conductive polymer layer 2 dissolving ions is formed on an electrode material layer 12 of at least one of a pair of electrode structures 1 which comprise an electrode material layer 12 formed on a current collector 11, said pair of electrode structures 1 are arranged at opposed positions with the current collector 11 facing outward, and this is accommodated in an accommodation unit 4, and liquid electrolyte is injected into the accommodation unit.

Abstract: An sodium ion absorption inhibitor, a sodium ion excretion accelerator and an agent for preventing and treating a disease caused by excessive common salt ingestion, each of which comprising a metal salt (excluding sodium salt) of lambda-carrageenan as an active ingredient, can excrete excessively ingested common salt outside the body positively and safely, and particularly have excellent action in excreting the sodium ions into feces.

Abstract: An electrode with an excellent quality for an electrical component, wherein an electrode raw material sheet slitter includes a slitting section to slit an electrode raw material sheet for an electrical component; a forming section to conduct smoothing of the convex portion on the slit electrode; electrode cleaning sections to remove fragments adhered on the slit electrode; and, a slitting method of electrode raw material sheet.

Abstract: A lithium based battery includes a cell structure group formed by stacking unit cells each including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween, or formed by repeatedly folding or winding an integral body of the unit cells; a battery container for containing the cell structure group; and an electrolyte, which is poured in the battery container after the cell structure group is contained in the battery container. The outer peripheral surface of the battery container is covered with an ion impermeable and extensible high polymer sheet having a tensile elongation percentage of 1% or more. With this configuration, even if there happens such a severe accident that nail pieces the battery or the battery is crashed, it is possible to prevent a large short-circuit current from flowing between the positive and negative electrodes, and hence to ensure a higher safety of the battery.

Abstract: A polymer battery which includes a cell assembly having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator composed primarily of a fluoropolymer is manufactured by impregnating the cell assembly with an electrolyte composition containing (A) an ion-conductive salt, (B) a solvent in which the ion-conductive salt is soluble and (C) a compound having at least two reactive double bonds per molecule, then reacting the component C compound to form a three-dimensional network structure. The polymer battery has a high safety, a good thermal cycling resistance and robust characteristics even when held at an elevated temperature, making it particularly suitable for use as a lithium secondary cell or a lithium ion secondary cell.

Abstract: There are disclosed a bioreactor carrier comprising a (A) water swellable thermoplastic resin, preferably water swellable thermoplastic polyurethane resin and a (B) compatible resin with the resin as the component (A), and as the case may be, a (C) inorganic filler, characterized in that the degree of volumetric swelling of said carrier is controlled within the range of 120 to 3000%, and that the specific gravity of said carrier on swelling in water is controlled within the range of 1.02 to 2.12; a process for producing the bioreactor carrier; and a process for denitrifying treatment of organic waste water which comprises nitrifying and denitrifying nitrogen components in the organic waste water with microbes by using the above bioreactor carrier. The bioreactor carrier has high physical strength, can be readily produced and uniformly fluidized in a reactor, and enables microbial and enzymatic reactions to be effectively performed.

Abstract: There are disclosed a bioreactor carrier comprising a (A) water swellable thermoplastic resin, preferably water swellable thermoplastic polyurethane resin and a (B) specific inorganic filler which is added thereto at the time of producing and/or molding said resin, characterized in that the specific gravity of the carrier on swelling in water is controlled within the range of 1.02 to 1.35; a process for producing the bioreactor carrier; and a process for denitrifying treatment of organic waste water which comprises nitrifying and denitrifying nitrogen components in the organic waste water with microbes by the use of the above bioreactor carrier. The bioreactor carrier has high physical strength, can be readily produced and uniformly fluidized in a reactor, and enables microbial and enzymatic reactions to be effectively performed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for nitrifying denitrifying organic waste water to nitrify and denitrify the nitrogenous components in the waste water, which comprises making use of a microbe carrier composed of an organic thermoplastic high molecular compound (thermoplastic polyurethane) in both a nitrifying step and a denitrifying step, preferably in an alternate and repeated manner, wherein the compound has, in a state of complete swelling in water, a water absorption rate in the range of 50 to 3500%, a compressive yield stress of at least 1.0 MPa each being defined by a specific formula, and a particle diameter in the range of 1.0 to 30 mm. The process is capable of efficiently performing nitrifying and denitrifying steps, steadily achieving high treatment performances, contriving compactification of the treatment facility, and curtailing the treatment time and treatment cost, while the microbe carrier can withstand long-term service without any trouble.

Abstract: A multi-layer electrode structure is provided comprised of a plurality of electrode layers composed of a binder and an electrode material and coated on a current-collecting member, each of the electrode layers including a macromolecular substance wherein a first electrode layer in contact with the current-collecting member and the second electrode layer in contact with the first electrode layer are formed of different constituents or have different proportions of the same constituent. A method of forming the multi-layer electrode structures as well as a battery and double-layer capacitor formed from the multi-layer electrode structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present inventors have made studies for the purpose of establishing a process for preparing controlled-release preparations which can rapidly release 99% or more of a slightly soluble medicament (which has by itself shows a slow dissolution rate) in the upper part of the small intestine. As a result, the inventors have succeeded in establishing a process comprising carrying a slightly soluble medicament which has a slow intestinal dissolution rate on aggregates of the spherical microparticles of a multivalent metal alginate, in which each of the secondary particles (i.e., the aggregates) has a specific surface area ranging from 1 to 280 m2/g. This success leads to the accomplishment of the present invention.

Abstract: A bioreactor carrier is provided using an organic polymer substance having a water absorptivity of 50 to 1,700%, and containing an inorganic salt, organic nitrogen source and/or organic carbon source utilizable as a nutrient by animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms which fix to the carrier for uses such as substance production, harmful substance treatment, waste oil treatment, wastewater treatment and deodorization. A preferred polymer substance is a water swellable thermoplastic polyurethane gel having the water absorptivity and a swelling rate of volume of 150 to 4,000%. The polyurethane gel is obtained by reacting together a long-chain diol compound, a short-chain diol compound and a diisocyanate compound. The long-chain diol compound has a number-average molecular weight of 400 to 10,000, and is selected from an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymer having an ethylene oxide content not less than 70% and a polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: A bioreactor carrier is provided composed of a water absorption gel of a crosslinked N-vinylcarboxamide resin which has a great moisture content and excellent physical strength, is not eroded by microorganisms and is easily mass-produced on an industrial scale. The gel is obtained by swelling and gelling a crosslinked N-vinylcarboxamide resin made from an N-vinylcarboxamide such as N-vinylacetoamide. The swollen gel may be in the form of beads of 1.0 to 20 mm, and the resin when swollen with water has a water absorption coefficient of 500 to 3500%. Resin beads may be swollen in a suspension of a biocatalyst such as animal cells, plant cells, microorganisms or protozoans to bind and immobilize the biocatalyst to form a bioreactor. The microorganisms can be nitrate bacteria, denitrification bacteria or Hyphomycetes, and the bioreactor may be used to treat waste water or for deodorizing.

Abstract: To provide a sheet for ink-jet recording having a low ink-spreading property and an excellent sheet-feeding property, a sheet for ink-jet recording which comprises a base material taking the form of sheet and an ink receiving layer which is laminated onto at least one surface of the base material and contains a binder and fine porous polysaccharide particles is produced. Further, the above-mentioned sheet for ink-jet recording wherein the fine porous polysaccharide particles are exposed on the surface of the ink receiving layer to form unevenness thereon is produced.

Abstract: A water-insoluble, nonionic water-absorptive polyurethane fiber that combines the properties of high water absorptivity and excellent physical strength is produced by extrusion from a thermoplastic polyurethane resin composition at a temperature higher than its melting point. The thermoplastic polyurethane resin composition, which has a water absorption rate within the range of 200-3,000%, is obtained by reacting a polyisocyanate compound, a water-soluble polyalkylene ether polyol having a weight-average molecular weight of 2,000-13,000 and a chain extender at an equivalent ratio (R ratio) between the equivalent number of NCO groups and the equivalent number of OH groups in the range of 1.0 to 1.8. Also provided is a method of producing the water-absorptive polyurethane fiber.

Abstract: A bioreactor carrier is provided which is a thermoplastic organic high molecular compound having a swelling rate of volume in water of 150-4,000% and which is useful as a carrier to which animal cells, plant cells, microorganisms and/or protozoans are fixed to obtain a bioreactor for substance production, harmful substance treatment, waste oil treatment, wastewater treatment, deodorization or the like. A method of producing the carrier includes the steps of reacting long-chain and short-chain polyol compounds and an isocyanate compound to obtain a thermoplastic resin, heating the thermoplastic resin to its melting temperature thereby plasticizing it, extruding the plasticized resin into strands with an extruder, and continuously chopping the strands into pellets.

Abstract: A battery having a solid ion conductive polymer electrolyte comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a solid ion conductive polymer electrolyte layer formed by curing a composition for a solid polymer electrolyte comprising hydroxyalkyl polysaccharide and/or hydroxyalkyl polysaccharide derivative, an ester compound containing a polyoxyalkylene component, and an ion conductive metallic salt. The battery may be a rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A solid ion conductive polymer electrolyte for use particularly in rechargeable batteries, capacitors and other electrochemical devices is comprised mainly of a hydroxyalkyl polysaccharide or a hydroxyalkyl polysaccharide derivative, a diester compound containing a polyoxyalkylene component, a monoester compound containing a polyoxyalkylene component and an ion conductive metallic salt.