Abstract: Using a gas detection voltage Vs output from a terminal CU, a determination is made at to whether, after startup of an air-fuel ratio detection apparatus (1), a full-range air-fuel ratio sensor (10) has reached a semi-activated state in which a determination can be made as to whether the air-fuel ratio is on the rich or lean side based on a change in a gas detection signal Vic. After determining that the sensor has reached the semi-activated state, the signal Vic is compared with a threshold to determine whether the air-fuel ratio is on the rich or lean side. In the apparatus (1), the potential difference between an outer pump electrode of a pump cell (14) and a reference electrode of an oxygen concentration measurement cell (24) is obtained via a first differential amplification circuit (53) as the gas detection signal Vic, the signal Vic being highly responsive to a change in air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas.

Abstract: [Objective] An object is to provide a sensor control apparatus and a sensor-control-apparatus control method which can reduce variation in startup time among a plurality of times of execution of detection processing, in consideration of variation in output characteristic among a plurality of gas sensors. [Means for Solution] In a sensor control apparatus, before drive control (S55 to S80) is started, preliminary control is executed so as to supply a constant current to a second oxygen pump cell over a constant time, to thereby control to a constant level the amount of oxygen pumped from a second measurement chamber to the outside of the second measurement chamber (S40 to 50). The preliminary control is executed under control conditions of the sensor control apparatus which are determined for each gas sensor and are associated with the amount of oxygen pumped from the second measurement chamber to the outside thereof.

Abstract: A prismatic multilayer gas sensor element and method of making the same, the prismatic multilayer gas sensor element (1) having a substantially rectangular cross section, and including a gas-sensing cell portion (2) formed at a distal end portion of the prismatic gas sensor element (1); and a posterior lead portion (3) adjoining the gas-sensing cell portion (2). The longitudinal lateral surfaces of the posterior lead portion (3) are coated with a non-porous alumina layer (11), the non-porous alumina layer (11) having a multilayered structure including at least a joining layer (11a) and a surface layer (11b). The longitudinal lateral surface of the gas-sensing portion (2) is not coated with a non-porous alumina layer.

Abstract: A method for producing adamantane by performing an isomerization reaction in two stages using endo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene and/or exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene as a starting material, wherein in a first-stage isomerization reaction from endo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene (tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decane) to exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene (tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decane), an HF catalyst alone or two catalysts of an HF catalyst and a BF3 catalyst are used in the absence of a solvent; and in a second-stage isomerization reaction from exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene (tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decane) to adamantane (tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane), an HF catalyst and a BF3 catalyst are used in the absence of a solvent.

Abstract: Provided is a process for the production of high-purity trimellitic acid including subjecting a dimethylbenzaldehyde and/or an oxidized derivative of the dimethylbenzaldehyde to liquid-phase oxidation with molecular oxygen in an aqueous solvent containing a catalyst to produce trimellitic acid, in which: 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde and/or 3,4-dimethylbenzoic acid are/is used as a raw material; a catalyst containing 0.05 to 1 part by mass of one or more kinds of metals selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, and nickel, 0.0001 to 0.0015 part by mass of metallic iron and/or iron obtained from a water-soluble iron salt, and 1 to 5 parts by mass of bromine with respect to 100 parts by mass of the aqueous solvent is used as the catalyst; and the liquid-phase oxidation is conducted at a temperature of 200 to 250° C.

Abstract: A charging unit is provided, the charging unit including: a charging member; and a charging member clean-up member having an elastic layer, the elastic layer containing a silicon oil, wherein a silicone concentration in analyzing the charging member by an x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy satisfies following condition: about 1 atm %?(difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the silicone concentration in Si2p detected by the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy above the charging member)?about 3 atm %.

Abstract: A defect detection method for a sensor in which a fixing member provides a seal between a sensor element and tubular metallic members, the method being capable of detecting breakage of a conductor caused by breakage of the element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a nitrogen oxide purifying catalyst using an NOx sensor, the method including: calculating a detection integrated value by integrating corresponding values corresponding to the NOx sensor output signal obtained until a first predetermined detection period has elapsed after the NOx sensor begins to generate an output signal and subtracting a variation integrated value. The variation integrated value is calculated by integrating corresponding values obtained until a predetermined second detection period has elapsed after the NOx sensor beings to generate an output signal when driven in a gas atmosphere having a constant nitrogen oxide concentration.

Abstract: A gas sensor including: a gas sensing element including first and second ceramic layers. The first ceramic layer has a first through hole and a first through hole conductor covering an inner surface thereof The first ceramic layer includes a first conductor which includes: a first peripheral conductive portion electrically connected to the first through hole conductor; a first lead portion that is narrower than the first peripheral conductive portion; and a first contact conductive portion that is wider than the first lead portion. The first peripheral conductive portion, the first lead portion and the first contact conductive portion are integrally formed and arranged in this order in a longitudinal direction. The second ceramic layer includes a second conductor electrically connected to at least the first contact conductive portion.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing an alkyl aromatic compound having substituents at the 3- and 5-positions by alkylating an aromatic compound having two substituents in the meta positions with an olefin having 2 to 4 carbon atoms in the presence of a Broensted acid, followed by addition of a Lewis acid and isomerization in the copresence of the Broensted acid and the Lewis acid. According to the present invention, 3,5-dimethylethylbenzene, 3,5-dimethylcumene, etc. may be produced in a stable manner with high yield and high selectivity under mild and simple reaction conditions. The alkyl aromatic compounds having substituents at the 3- and 5-positions are useful as intermediates for functional chemicals for use in pharmaceutical, agricultural and electronic materials. With the method of the present invention, the catalyst used can be recovered and recycled. Thus, desired alkyl aromatic compounds may be obtained economically in an industrially advantageous manner while reducing the load on the environment.

Abstract: The process for producing a (fluoroalkyl)benzene derivative according to the present invention comprises a step of reducing the total content of group 3 to group 12 transition metals in an alkylbenzene derivative to 500 ppm or less in terms of metal atoms; a step of halogenating the branched alkyl group of the purified alkylbenzene derivative by a photohalogenation to obtain a (haloalkyl)benzene derivative; and a step of subjecting the (haloalkyl)benzene derivative to a halogen-fluorine exchange using HF in an amount of 10 mol or higher per one mole of the (haloalkyl)benzene derivative. The (fluoroalkyl)benzene derivative produced by the process is reduced in the content of impurities such as residual halogens and residual metals, and is useful as intermediates for functional chemical products for use in applications such as medicines and electronic materials.

Abstract: A fluorine compound represented by Formula (1) is provided. The above fluorine compound is effective for introducing a fluorine atom into a compound having an active group such as an oxygen-containing functional group, and it can be used for uses of surface treatment, cleaning and coating. Further, after the fluorination reaction, the above compound is recovered and can be reused as a starting material for producing the above fluorine compound, and it is useful for various fluorination processes. (wherein X represents a nitrogen or phosphorus atom; R0, R1, and R2 represent hydrogen, an alkyl group or aryl group which may have a substituent, and they each may be the same or different; and R0, R1, and R2 may be combined with each other to form a ring).

Abstract: Using a gas detection voltage Vs output from a terminal CU, a determination is made at to whether, after startup of an air-fuel ratio detection apparatus (1), a full-range air-fuel ratio sensor (10) has reached a semi-activated state in which a determination can be made as to whether the air-fuel ratio is on the rich or lean side based on a change in a gas detection signal Vic. After determining that the sensor has reached the semi-activated state, the signal Vic is compared with a threshold to determine whether the air-fuel ratio is on the rich or lean side. In the apparatus (1), the potential difference between an outer pump electrode of a pump cell (14) and a reference electrode of an oxygen concentration measurement cell (24) is obtained via a first differential amplification circuit (53) as the gas detection signal Vic, the signal Vic being highly responsive to a change in air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas.

Abstract: A prismatic multilayer gas sensor element and method of making the same, the prismatic multilayer gas sensor element (1) having a substantially rectangular cross section, and including a gas-sensing cell portion (2) formed at a distal end portion of the prismatic gas sensor element (1); and a posterior lead portion (3) adjoining the gas-sensing cell portion (2). The longitudinal lateral surfaces of the posterior lead portion (3) are coated with a non-porous alumina layer (11), the non-porous alumina layer (11) having a multilayered structure including at least a joining layer (11a) and a surface layer (11b). The longitudinal lateral surface of the gas-sensing portion (2) is not coated with a non-porous alumina layer.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a gas sensor, wherein a microcomputer 44, which is connected to an oxygen sensor 30 including a detection element 12 and a heater 14, detects the cooling water temperature Tw of the engine. The control apparatus determines that condensation water within the exhaust pipe is being generated when the cooling water temperature Tw is equal to or lower than 0° C. When equal to or lower than 0° C., the microcomputer 44 supplies to the heater 14 electrical power for maintaining the temperature of the detection element 12 within the range of 100° C. to a splash-water-cracking generation temperature (e.g., about 300° C.) at or above which cracking can occur in a laminated-type oxygen sensor element 10 due to splash of condensation water. Electrical power is supplied to the heater 14 such that a pulse signal Sh is output from the microcomputer 44, and the heater 14 is pulse-driven by use of a heater electrification control circuit 34.

Abstract: The process for producing a (fluoroalkyl)benzene derivative according to the present invention comprises a step of reducing the total content of group 3 to group 12 transition metals in an alkylbenzene derivative to 500 ppm or less in terms of metal atoms; a step of halogenating the branched alkyl group of the purified alkylbenzene derivative by a photohalogenation to obtain a (haloalkyl)benzene derivative; and a step of subjecting the (haloalkyl)benzene derivative to a halogen-fluorine exchange using HF in an amount of 10 mol or higher per one mole of the (haloalkyl)benzene derivative. The (fluoroalkyl)benzene derivative produced by the process is reduced in the content of impurities such as residual halogens and residual metals, and is useful as intermediates for functional chemical products for use in applications such as medicines and electronic materials.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing an alkyl aromatic compound having substituents at the 3- and 5-positions by alkylating an aromatic compound having two substituents in the meta positions with an olefin having 2 to 4 carbon atoms in the presence of a Broensted acid, followed by addition of a Lewis acid and isomerization in the copresence of the Broensted acid and the Lewis acid. According to the present invention, 3,5-dimethylethylbenzene, 3,5-dimethylcumene, etc. may be produced in a stable manner with high yield and high selectivity under mild and simple reaction conditions. The alkyl aromatic compounds having substituents at the 3- and 5-positions are useful as intermediates for functional chemicals for use in pharmaceutical, agricultural and electronic materials. With the method of the present invention, the catalyst used can be recovered and recycled. Thus, desired alkyl aromatic compounds may be obtained economically in an industrially advantageous manner while reducing the load on the environment.

Abstract: A fluorine compound represented by Formula (1) is provided. The above fluorine compound is effective for introducing a fluorine atom into a compound having an active group such as an oxygen-containing functional group, and it can be used for uses of surface treatment, cleaning and coating. Further, after the fluorination reaction, the above compound is recovered and can be reused as a starting material for producing the above fluorine compound, and it is useful for various fluorination processes. (wherein X represents a nitrogen or phosphorus atom; R0, R1, and R2 represent hydrogen, an alkyl group or aryl group which may have a substituent, and they each may be the same or different; and R0, R1, and R2 may be combined with each other to form a ring).

Abstract: A fluorine compound represented by Formula (1) is provided. The above fluorine compound is effective for introducing a fluorine atom into a compound having an active group such as an oxygen-containing functional group, and it can be used for uses of surface treatment, cleaning and coating. Further, after the fluorination reaction, the above compound is recovered and can be reused as a starting material for producing the above fluorine compound, and it is useful for various fluorination processes. (wherein X represents a nitrogen or phosphorus atom; R0, R1, and R2 represent hydrogen, an alkyl group or aryl group which may have a substituent, and they each may be the same or different; and R0, R1, and R2 may be combined with each other to form a ring).

Abstract: A control apparatus for a gas sensor, wherein a microcomputer 44, which is connected to an oxygen sensor 30 including a detection element 12 and a heater 14, detects the cooling water temperature Tw of the engine. The control apparatus determines that condensation water within the exhaust pipe is being generated when the cooling water temperature Tw is equal to or lower than 0° C. When equal to or lower than 0° C., the microcomputer 44 supplies to the heater 14 electrical power for maintaining the temperature of the detection element 12 within the range of 100° C. to a splash-water-cracking generation temperature (e.g., about 300° C.) at or above which cracking can occur in a laminated-type oxygen sensor element 10 due to splash of condensation water. Electrical power is supplied to the heater 14 such that a pulse signal Sh is output from the microcomputer 44, and the heater 14 is pulse-driven by use of a heater electrification control circuit 34.