Abstract: To provide a method and an apparatus for feeding a zinc gas superheated to a boiling point of zinc or higher at a controlled rate of feed. The method for feeding the zinc gas according to the invention includes a step for introducing melt zinc into a zinc gas evaporation apparatus, a step for generating the zinc gas from the melt zinc by inputting electric power corresponding to a rate of feed of the zinc gas to allow zinc to cause self-heating by high-frequency induction heating, a step for introducing the generated zinc gas into a gas heating apparatus, and a step for heating the zinc gas by resistance heating to form a superheated zinc gas. An apparatus for feeding the zinc gas according to the invention is applied to the method, and includes a zinc gas evaporation apparatus, a gas heating apparatus and a control apparatus.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrorefining catalyst includes the step of preparing a carrying solution containing molybdenum, phosphorus, and cobalt or nickel and bringing a carrier composed of an inorganic porous oxide into contact with the carrying solution. A molar ratio of molybdenum with respect to phosphorus in the carrying solution is 2.5 to 7.0, a molar ratio of a total of molybdenum, cobalt, and nickel with respect to phosphorus is 3.5 to 9.0, and a molar ratio of molybdenum with respect to a total of cobalt and nickel is 1.9 to 2.8. pH of the carrying solution is 2 to 5, and a Raman spectroscopy spectrum of the carrying solution has a peak top between 965 cm?1 and 975 cm?1. The catalyst obtained by this method is excellent in desulfurizing activity.

Abstract: A heavy oil is hydrorefined using a hydrorefining catalyst. A spent hydrorefining catalyst whose activity has decreased is heat treated (S1) and pulverized to obtained a regenerated powder (S2). This regenerated powder is fractionated according to its metal content (S3), formed (S6), dried (S7), and calcined (S7) to manufacture a regenerated catalyst whose volume of pores with a diameter of 50 to 2000 nm is at least 0.2 ml/g, and whose volume of pores with a diameter over 2000 nm is no more than 0.1 mL/g. Using this regenerated catalyst, a heavy oil containing at least 45 wt ppm vanadium and nickel as combined metal elements is hydrodemetalized, and the vanadium and nickel are recovered from the used regenerated catalyst (SS1). Through hydrorefining, the metal components are recovered more efficiently, and the spent catalyst can be reused to manufacture a regenerated catalyst that exhibits high reaction, activity.

Abstract: A heavy oil is hydrorefined using a hydrorefining catalyst. A spent hydrorefining catalyst whose activity has decreased is heat treated (S1) and pulverized to obtained a regenerated powder (S2). This regenerated powder is fractionated according to its metal content (S3), formed (S6), dried (S7), and calcined (S7) to manufacture a regenerated catalyst whose volume of pores with a diameter of 50 to 2000 nm is at least 0.2 ml/g, and whose volume of pores with a diameter over 2000 nm is no more than 0.1 mL/g. Using this regenerated catalyst, a heavy oil containing at least 45 wt ppm vanadium and nickel as combined metal elements is hydrodemetalized, and the vanadium and nickel are recovered from the used regenerated catalyst (SS1). Through hydrorefining, the metal components are recovered more efficiently, and the spent catalyst can be reused to manufacture a regenerated catalyst that exhibits high reaction activity.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrorefining catalyst includes the step of preparing a carrying solution containing molybdenum, phosphorus, and cobalt or nickel and bringing a carrier composed of an inorganic porous oxide into contact with the carrying solution. A molar ratio of molybdenum with respect to phosphorus in the carrying solution is 2.5 to 7.0, a molar ratio of a total of molybdenum, cobalt, and nickel with respect to phosphorus is 3.5 to 9.0, and a molar ratio of molybdenum with respect to a total of cobalt and nickel is 1.9 to 2.8. pH of the carrying solution is 2 to 5, and a Raman spectroscopy spectrum of the carrying solution has a peak top between 965 cm?1 and 975 cm?1. The catalyst obtained by this method is excellent in desulfurizing activity.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrorefining catalyst has the steps of preparing an impregnation solution containing molybdenum, phosphorus, cobalt and/or nickel, and citric acid, bringing a carrier into contact with the impregnation solution, and then calcinating the carrier in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature at which citric acid is removed. In the impregnation solution, a molar ratio of molybdenum/phosphorus is 6 to 13, a molar ratio of (cobalt and nickel)/phosphorus is 0.5 to 7, and a molar ratio of (cobalt and nickel)/citric acid is 0.5 to 2. As for the hydrorefining catalyst obtained by this method, the activity of the catalyst is high, and the catalyst life is long.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrorefining catalyst has the steps of preparing an impregnation solution containing molybdenum, phosphorus, cobalt and/or nickel, and citric acid, bringing a carrier into contact with the impregnation solution, and then calcinating the carrier in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature at which citric acid is removed. In the impregnation solution, a molar ratio of molybdenum/phosphorus is 6 to 13, a molar ratio of (cobalt and nickel)/phosphorus is 0.5 to 7, and a molar ratio of (cobalt and nickel)/citric acid is 0.5 to 2. As for the hydrorefining catalyst obtained by this method, the activity of the catalyst is high, and the catalyst life is long.

Abstract: A heavy oil is hydrorefined using a hydrorefining catalyst. A spent hydrorefining catalyst whose activity has decreased is heat treated (S1) and pulverized to obtained a regenerated powder (S2). This regenerated powder is fractionated according to its metal content (S3), formed (S dried (S7), and calcined (S7) to manufacture a regenerated catalyst whose volume of pores with a diameter of 50 to 2000 nm is at least 0.2 ml/g, and whose volume of pores with a diameter over 2000 nm is no more than 0.1 mL/g. Using this regenerated catalyst, a heavy oil containing at least 45 wt ppm vanadium and nickel as combined metal elements is hydrodemetalized, and the vanadium and nickel are recovered from the used regenerated catalyst (SS1). Through hydrorefining, the metal components are recovered more efficiently, and the spent catalyst can be reused to manufacture a regenerated catalyst that exhibits high reaction, activity.

Abstract: A wafer handling apparatus has a common desk including a top surface having a front zone, a middle zone and a rear zone, the front zone being capable of receiving plural indexers functioning as a wafer sender and/or receiver, a couple of wafer processing units disposed adjacent lateral sides of the middle zone, a wafer baking oven disposed adjacent a middle of the rear zone, and a wafer handling mechanism disposed adjacent a middle of the front zone, the wafer processing units and the oven.

Abstract: A weight detecting type sensor comprising a roller capable of partly jutting out upwardly from the surface of a body conveying belt, a strut rotatably supporting the roller and having a through-aperture at a portion thereof, a sensor having an optical axis associated with the through-aperture formed in the strut, and a pair of magnets disposed below the bottom of the strut.