Abstract: The present invention provides an ultraviolet light irradiation device having a planer UV light source in which the irradiation intensity of UV light can be adjusted finely in a wider range. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of the present invention comprises an UV light source and a housing that holds the planer UV light source. In the UV light source, a plurality of thin plasma tubes, each of which has an UV phosphor layer formed therein, are arranged in parallel with each other on an electrode support sheet, and drive circuits apply a pulse voltage to electrode pairs provided between the electrode support sheet and an array of the thin plasma tubes. A control circuit controls a factor of the pulse voltage to be applied to the electrode pairs so as to adjust the irradiation intensity of the UV light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an ethanol from a lignocellulose resource efficiently. According to the method for producing the ethanol of the present invention, an enzyme group derived from a mushroom waste substrate has a high activity and can allow cellulose or xylan in the lignocellulose resource to be efficiently converted into glucose or xylose. That is, the lignocellulose resource can be converted into a saccharified solution including the glucose or xylose thereinside. The glucose or xylose in the saccharified solution can be converted into the ethanol by fermentation of yeast or bacterium provided into the saccharified solution. The method for producing the ethanol of the present invention can allow the ethanol to be efficiently produced from the lignocellulose resource.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultraviolet light irradiation device having a planer UV light source in which the irradiation intensity of UV light can be adjusted finely in a wider range. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of the present invention comprises an UV light source and a housing that holds the planer UV light source. In the UV light source, a plurality of thin plasma tubes, each of which has an UV phosphor layer formed therein, are arranged in parallel with each other on an electrode support sheet, and drive circuits apply a pulse voltage to electrode pairs provided between the electrode support sheet and an array of the thin plasma tubes. A control circuit controls a factor of the pulse voltage to be applied to the electrode pairs so as to adjust the irradiation intensity of the UV light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an ethanol from a lignocellulose resource efficiently. According to the method for producing the ethanol of the present invention, an enzyme group derived from a mushroom waste substrate has a high activity and can allow cellulose or xylan in the lignocellulose resource to be efficiently converted into glucose or xylose. That is, the lignocellulose resource can be converted into a saccharified solution including the glucose or xylose thereinside. The glucose or xylose in the saccharified solution can be converted into the ethanol by fermentation of yeast or bacterium provided into the saccharified solution. The method for producing the ethanol of the present invention can allow the ethanol to be efficiently produced from the lignocellulose resource.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing ethanol by carrying out the following steps: performing enzymatic saccharification of pre-treated lignocellulosic biomass in a reaction system; performing ethanol fermentation of fermentable sugars obtained from the saccharified pre-treated lignocellulosic biomass in the same reaction zone as the enzymatic saccharification; distilling ethanol directly off from a reaction treatment liquid in the reaction zone, so as to recover the ethanol.

Abstract: A method to measure exhaust-gas components are determined by exposing a surface of a part to exhaust gas, cleansing the surface exposed to the exhaust gas with a solvent, and measuring the pH of the solvent obtained in the cleansing process. Alternatively, the electric conductivity of the solvent after the exposure is measured. The acidic matter, selectively at least one of NOx or SOx in the exhaust gas can be quantified. The larger the pH value or conductivity, the higher the density of electrolytes, selectively SOx or Nox in the exhaust gas.

Abstract: Improving the beneficial use of waste material from a vegetation source, a biomass is fermented to produce a bio-fuel and carbon. The bio-fuel can be at least ethanol and bio-diesel and the resulting carbon can used to produce ink for printers. When the biomass is tree matter, a biocatalyst can extracted from the tree matter prior to fermentation. A component of the biocatalyst is used to cleanse internal combustion engine exhaust emissions by spraying the biocatalyst onto a exhaust emission gas. The sprayed exhaust emission gas can be filtered and the filtration by-product can be collected.

Abstract: A method to measure exhaust-gas components are determined by exposing a surface of a part to exhaust gas, cleansing the surface exposed to the exhaust gas with a solvent, and measuring the pH of the solvent obtained in the cleansing process. Alternatively, the electric conductivity of the solvent after the exposure is measured. The acidic matter, selectively at least one of NOx or SOx in the exhaust gas can be quantified. The larger the pH value or conductivity, the higher the density of electrolytes, selectively SOx or Nox in the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an aqueous hinokitiol solution, characterized by mixing hinokitiol or hinokitiol containing oil with water, boiling the obtained liquid mixture by heating, rapidly cooling the resulting liquid mixture, blowing oxygen into the liquid mixture under stirring, and storing the obtained liquid mixture at a temperature of 0.5 to 5.degree. C. The process can give an aqueous solution of the water-insoluble essential oil having a concentration of up to about 40%. This aqueous solution of the oil is easily handleable by virtue of its liquidness, and does not contain any organic solvent harmful to the human body, thus being highly safe. Further, the solution has antibacterial and/or microbicidal effect.