Abstract: A state of a ballast water treatment system of a ship detected by a variety of sensors is monitored by transmitting it to a control means provided with a data storage/transmission means. The control means transmits from a satellite communication means to a satellite communication means on the receiving side via a communication satellite, and a host computer receives it. The host computer analyzes and monitors information from the various sensors S1 to S6 and sends back an optimal operation state, which is received by the satellite communication means on the ship side via the communication satellite, and the control means maintains an operation of the ballast water treatment system based on instructions from the host computer. According to the remote monitoring device for a ballast water treatment system as above, the ballast water treatment system can be monitored and controlled from remote.

Abstract: This method entails: collecting in advance untreated ballast water to which a chlorine-based active substance has not been added; measuring in advance the turbidity of the untreated ballast water; and adding a chlorine-based active substance with an adding amount determined on the basis of the turbidity. The amount of the chlorine-based active substance to be added is set according to the turbidity such that the concentration of total residual oxidants (TRO) is 0.5-3 mg/L (asCl2) when the ballast water is discharged.

Abstract: Provided is a biological treatment method and an apparatus that allow organic wastewater from a manufacturing process of electronic devices to be neutralized efficiently during its biological treatment with a less neutralizer in contrast to excessive use thereof in the conventional biological treatment and thereby make it possible to reduce an amount of an inorganic coagulant used in the downstream coagulation step and to reduce salt loads in RO membrane separation and ion exchange treatment. Wastewater from a process of manufacturing electronic devices is passed sequentially through two or more biological treatment tanks that include at least two aerobic biological treatment tanks including the final-stage aerobic biological treatment tank while adding a neutralizer to the biological treatment tank or tanks except the final-stage biological treatment tank so that an M-alkalinity of the liquid in the final-stage biological treatment tank is maintained at not more than 50 mg/L as CaCO3.

Abstract: The power generation efficiency of a microbial power generator is increased by using an easy and inexpensive unit. Two plate-like cation-exchange membranes are disposed in parallel in a tank. This arrangement allows an anode chamber to be formed between the cation-exchange membranes. Two cathode chambers are separated from the anode chamber by using the respective ion-permeable nonconductive membranes. An oxygen-containing gas is made to pass through the cathode chamber. An anode solution is supplied to the anode chamber, and, preferably, the anode solution is made to circulate. A biologically treated exhaust gas is used as the oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to the cathode chamber. Carbon dioxide in the biologically treated exhaust gas can promote transport of Na+ and K+ ions, and water vapor can increase the ion permeability, thereby increasing the power generation efficiency.

Abstract: To increase the power generation efficiency of a microbial power generator by using an easy and inexpensive unit. Two plate-like cation-exchange membranes 31 are disposed in parallel in a tank 30. This arrangement allows an anode chamber 32 to be formed between the cation-exchange membranes 31. Two cathode chambers 33 are separated from the anode chamber 32 by using the respective ion-permeable nonconductive membranes 31. An oxygen-containing gas is made to pass through the cathode chamber 33. An anode solution L is supplied to the anode chamber, and, preferably, the anode solution is made to circulate. A biologically treated exhaust gas is used as the oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to the cathode chamber 33. Carbon dioxide in the biologically treated exhaust gas can promote transport of Na+ and K+ ions, and water vapor can increase the ion permeability, thereby increasing the power generation efficiency.

Abstract: The power generation efficiency of a microbial power generator is increased by using an easy and inexpensive unit. Two plate-like cation-exchange membranes are disposed in parallel in a tank. This arrangement allows an anode chamber to be formed between the cation-exchange membranes. Two cathode chambers are separated from the anode chamber by using the respective ion-permeable nonconductive membranes. An oxygen-containing gas is made to pass through the cathode chamber. An anode solution is supplied to the anode chamber, and, preferably, the anode solution is made to circulate. A biologically treated exhaust gas is used as the oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to the cathode chamber. Carbon dioxide in the biologically treated exhaust gas can promote transport of Na+ and K+ ions, and water vapor can increase the ion permeability, thereby increasing the power generation efficiency.

Abstract: A state of a ballast water treatment system of a ship detected by a variety of sensors is monitored by transmitting it to a control means provided with a data storage/transmission means. The control means transmits from a satellite communication means to a satellite communication means on the receiving side via a communication satellite, and a host computer receives it. The host computer analyzes and monitors information from the various sensors S1 to S6 and sends back an optimal operation state, which is received by the satellite communication means on the ship side via the communication satellite, and the control means maintains an operation of the ballast water treatment system based on instructions from the host computer. According to the remote monitoring device for a ballast water treatment system as above, the ballast water treatment system can be monitored and controlled from remote.

Abstract: A microbial power generation device includes an anode chamber which maintains a microbe and which is supplied with influent which includes an electron donor, a cathode chamber supplied with an electron acceptor, a nonconductive membrane having a first face and an opposing second face and arranged between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, a first electro-conductive support material having a rough surface which has asperity spreading close to the first face of the nonconductive membrane, and formed by a porous material having approximately the same shape as the interior of the anode chamber, and arranged within the anode chamber, and a second electro-conductive support material having a rough surface which has asperity spreading close to the second face of the nonconductive membrane.

Abstract: Power generation efficiency of a microbial power generation device is improved by a simple and inexpensive means. Two plate-shaped cation-exchange membranes 31 are disposed parallel to each other in a tank body 30, whereby a negative electrode chamber 32 is formed between the cation-exchange membranes 31. Two positive electrode chambers 33 are each formed so as to be separated from the negative electrode chamber 32 by the corresponding cation-exchange membrane 31. An oxygen-containing gas is passed through the positive electrode chamber 33, a negative electrode solution L is supplied to the negative electrode chamber, and preferably the negative electrode solution is circulated. An acid gas (carbon dioxide gas) is introduced into the oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to the positive electrode chamber 33. Movement of Na+ and K+ ions is promoted by the pH neutralization effect produced by the acid gas, and thereby power generation efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: By adding an iron salt, the sedimentation property, the concentration property, and the filtration property of sludge in an activated-sludge mixed liquor in a biological treatment tank are effectively improved and treated water of high quality is efficiently provided. When an iron salt such as ferrous chloride, ferric chloride, or polyferric sulfate is added to organic wastewater and the organic wastewater is biologically treated, the iron salt is added to the organic wastewater and mixing is conducted; and the water mixture is mixed with activated sludge and biologically treated. By mixing organic wastewater and an iron salt at a pH close to an optimum pH for ferric hydroxide in advance, the turbidity of the treated water due to the formation of iron oxide or ferrous carbonate is suppressed.

Abstract: To increase the power generation efficiency of a microbial power generator by using an easy and inexpensive unit. Two plate-like cation-exchange membranes 31 are disposed in parallel in a tank 30. This arrangement allows an anode chamber 32 to be formed between the cation-exchange membranes 31. Two cathode chambers 33 are separated from the anode chamber 32 by using the respective ion-permeable nonconductive membranes 31. An oxygen-containing gas is made to pass through the cathode chamber 33. An anode solution L is supplied to the anode chamber, and, preferably, the anode solution is made to circulate. A biologically treated exhaust gas is used as the oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to the cathode chamber 33. Carbon dioxide in the biologically treated exhaust gas can promote transport of Na+ and K+ ions, and water vapor can increase the ion permeability, thereby increasing the power generation efficiency.

Abstract: Power generation efficiency of a microbial power generation device is improved by a simple and inexpensive means. Two plate-shaped cation-exchange membranes 31 are disposed parallel to each other in a tank body 30, whereby a negative electrode chamber 32 is formed between the cation-exchange membranes 31. Two positive electrode chambers 33 are each formed so as to be separated from the negative electrode chamber 32 by the corresponding cation-exchange membrane 31. An oxygen-containing gas is passed through the positive electrode chamber 33, a negative electrode solution L is supplied to the negative electrode chamber, and preferably the negative electrode solution is circulated. An acid gas (carbon dioxide gas) is introduced into the oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to the positive electrode chamber 33. Movement of Na+ and K+ ions is promoted by the pH neutralization effect produced by the acid gas, and thereby power generation efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: A microbial power generation device includes an anode chamber which maintains a microbe and which is supplied with influent which includes an electron donor, a cathode chamber supplied with an electron acceptor, a nonconductive membrane having a first face and an opposing second face and arranged between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, a first electro-conductive support material having a rough surface which has asperity spreading close to the first face of the nonconductive membrane, and formed by a porous material having approximately the same shape as the interior of the anode chamber, and arranged within the anode chamber, and a second electro-conductive support material having a rough surface which has asperity spreading close to the second face of the nonconductive membrane.

Abstract: A powder of magnetized material is added to an aeration chamber, and aeration is conducted. The mixture is then sent to a sedimentation chamber, and solid-liquid separation is conducted. A portion of the precipitated sludge is returned to the aeration chamber as return sludge and reused. Sedimented sludge is highly concentrated, due to the action of the magnetized material. By returning a portion to the aeration chamber as return sludge, the biomass concentration becomes high, and high load operation in the aeration chamber can be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for aerobic biological treatment of aqueous organic wastes, which enables the achievement of a reduction of the amount of excess sludge, a stable quality of the treated water and an improved sedimentation performance of the biosludge while reducing the area of installation site and construction investment using a smaller apparatus; which apparatus comprisesa first aeration tank for mixing the aqueous organic waste with an activated sludge and aerating the resulting mixture; a solid/liquid separation unit; a modification unit for modifying a part of the separated sludge so as to render it easily biodegradable; and a second aeration tank for aerating the modified sludge and a return sludge and means for returning the sludge to said first aeration tank.

Abstract: A method for preventing activated sludge from losing its settling ability, which sometimes happens in solid/liquid separation in an activated sludge treatment of an aqueous organic waste and causes the so-called bulking and scumming of the sludge. This method involves adding either (a) a nonionic and/or an anionic surfactant, (b) a combination of a nonionic surfactant with a cationic surfactant of a form of quaternary ammonium salt or (c) a combination of a nonionic surfactant and a cationic surfactant of a form of a quaternary ammonium salt with a cationic organic flocculant, to the activated sludge treatment system.

Abstract: A thermostable lipase gene coding for a thermostable lipase, a vector having this gene, a transformant containing this vector, methods for preparing them and for preparing a thermostable lipase by cultivating the transformant are disclosed. The thermostable lipase gene is obtained from a cell belonging to the bacterial strain Pseudomonas sp. KWI-56 by a technique of genetic engineering. The thermostable lipase gene is inserted into a high expression vector, which is introduced into a cell of a host microorganism to prepare a transformant. By cultivating this transformant, a thermostable lipase can be produced.

Abstract: A process for producing protease by cultivating a protease-producing mold in a liquid medium, which is characterized by continuously adding a liquid medium containing a protein material to the culture medium after the substantial termination of proliferation of the mold cells.