Abstract: A method of producing a phenol compound comprising a step of oxidizing an aromatic aldehyde to an aryl formate and an aromatic carboxylic acid with an oxygen-containing gas, and a step of decomposing the aryl formate to the phenol compound. To facilitate the separation of the aryl formate and the unreacted aromatic aldehyde, a mixture of the aryl formate and the unreacted aromatic aldehyde is recycled to the oxidation process to concentrate the aryl formate in the oxidation mixture. Alternatively, the oxidation process is carried out in an organic solvent having substantially no ability of dissolving water to increase the conversion of the aromatic aldehyde and the selectivity of the aryl formate, thereby producing the aryl formate in a high yield.

Abstract: A method for preparing a modified optically isotropic pitch comprising, preparing a synthetic pitch by reacting a member selected from the group consisting of a conjugated polycyclic hydrocarbon containing a low molecular weight alkyl group or a material containing such a substituted hydrocarbon in the presence of hydrofluoric acid/boron trifluoride, and treating the synthetic pitch by passing an oxidizing gas through the synthetic pitch at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for sampling groundwater under in-situ condition state in reliable, efficient and economic manner without disturbing environment of formation water present in under-ground layer. There are provided a continuous water sampling process and a batch style water sampling process for sampling formation water by confirming the same environment as that of the groundwater in the under-ground layer. After drilling water has been removed by the continuous water sampling process, formation water is repeatedly sampled by the batch style water sampling process, and a downhole system equipped with the continuous water sampling process and the batch style water sampling process is designed in such structure that it is moved up and down in a casing pipe and inserted into or removed from a packer system in the hole.

Abstract: A gain control circuit includes a first FET for serving as an active load, a second FET serving as an amplifier, and a third FET for serving as a current source. The first, second, and third FETs have substantially the same characteristics and are mutually connected in a series. The gain control circuit further includes a fourth FET for serving as a variable active load connected in parallel with the third FET and a capacitor connected between the third and fourth FETs. The fourth FET is also connected to a gain control terminal. The gain of the second FET is controlled by the voltage applied to the gate of the fourth FET through said gain control line.

Abstract: A semiconductor device for a tuner capable of simultaneously satisfying a low noise factor, low third order distortion characteristics and low power consumption, and a tuner using this semiconductor device for a tuner and capable of reducing the size and eliminating labor during assembly. The semiconductor device is a variable gain amplification circuit comprising a gate grounded circuit using a transistor, and a differential amplification circuit including transistors and constant current sources. Transistors are used as variable resistance devices, and the gain of the gate grounded circuit can be varied by changing the gate voltage of a transistor. The gain of the differential amplification circuit can be varied by changing the gate voltage of another transistor. The overall gain of the circuit can be varied within a necessary range by simultaneously operating these gain controls, and the third order distortion can be improved monotonously with the decrease of the gain.

Abstract: Pitch that is obtained from naphthalene derivatives having at least one methyl group and the content of an optically anisotropic phase in which is substantially 100% is disclosed. This mesophase pitch has a H/C atomic ratio of about 0.5-1.0 and an aromatic carbon ratio (fa) of at least about 0.7, contains methylic carbon in an amount of at least about 4% of the total carbon atoms, and has a softening point of 200.degree.-250.degree. C. The pitch contains about 12-20 mole % of molecules having an average molecular weight of less than about 600, about 55-70 mole % of molecules having an average molecular weight of from about 600-1,500 and about 20-30 mole % of molecules having an average molecular weight of higher than about 1,500. Fibers melt spun from this mesophase pitch can be converted to carbon or graphite fibers having high strength and modulus of elasticity by a heat treatment which consists of heating to a temperature of 200.degree.-350.degree. C. in an air atmosphere, then heating to about 1,000.

Abstract: A silver-deposited catalyst for the production of ethylene oxide by the oxidation of ethylene, said catalyst comprising(1) a carrier composed mainly of alpha-alumina, which carrier does not show acidity in a visual color change method in a toluene solvent using a dimethyl yellow indicator having a pKa of +3.3, and does not show basicity in a color reaction in a toluene solvent using a bromothymol blue having a pKa of +7.1, and(2) as catalyst components, silver and at least one cationic component selected from sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium.

Abstract: Pitch that is obtained from a condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and the content of an optically anisotropic phase in which is substantially 100% is disclosed. This mesophase pitch has a H/C atomic ratio of 0.5-1.0, contains naphthenic carbon in an amount of at least 7% of the total carbon, and has a softening point of 180.degree.-400.degree. C. Fibers melt-spun from this mesophase pitch can be converted to carbon or graphite fibers having high strength and modulus of elasticity by a heat treatment which consists of heating to a temperature of 250.degree.-300.degree. C. in an air atmosphere, then heating to 1,000.degree. C. or higher in an inert gas atmosphere. Such mesophase pitch is produced by polymerizing a condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon for 5-300 minutes at a temperature of 180.degree.-400.degree. C. and at a pressure of 5-100 atmospheres in the presence of 0.1-20 moles of HF and 0.05-1 mole of BF.sub.3 per mole of the condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A silver-deposited catalyst for production of ethylene oxide by oxidizing ethylene, having high selectivity and long life, is provided by this invention. The catalyst is characterized by a combination of (a) catalyst ingredients comprising silver and a cation component selected at least from sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium, and (b) a carrier composed mainly of alpha-alumina, said carrier having a surface area of 0.6 to 2 m.sup.2 /g, a water absorption of 20 to 50%, a silica content of 0.5 to 12% by weight, a silica content, per m.sup.2 /g of surface area, of 0.5 to 12, preferably 1 to 8, and a sodium content of 0.08 to 2% by weight.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for investigating subsurface ground of a site to obtain and store information about soil conditions by pushing into the ground a cableless unit that includes a memory storage device able to collect the information throughout the whole investigation process. After completion of the process, the memory storage device is lifted up to the surface of the ground and is connected to a data processing unit located on the ground to extract the collected information on soil conditions.

Abstract: A process for producing pitch useful as a starting material for the manufacture of a carbon material is provided. The pitch is produced by polymerizing a condensed nuclear aromatic compound or a material containing the same. The polymerization is carried out in the presence of a hydrogen fluoride/boron trifluoride catalyst system. The condensed nuclear aromatic compounds which may be used in this process are naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, pyrene and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of ethylene oxide from ethylene, said catalyst comprising a porous carrier composed of a molded article of a refractory material and at least silver grains deposited on the carrier, wherein(A) silver is distributed on the outside surface of the carrier and on the inner surfaces of the pores of the carrier,(B) silver grains distributed on the inner surfaces of the pores of the carrier have an average diameter of 0.05 to 0.4 micron, and(C) the loading (S) of silver on the outside surface layer of the catalyst and the loading (I) of silver on the innermost layer of the catalyst satisfy the following expressionI.gtoreq.0.65S;and a process for producing a catalyst for the production of ethylene oxide from ethylene, which comprises impregnating an aqueous solution containing a silver salt and an amine as a complex forming agent in a porous carrier composed of a molded article of a refractory material, and heating the carrier with superheated steam to deposit silver on the carrier.

Abstract: A process for producing silver oxalate, which comprises reacting(a) one member selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid and oxalic acid salts as one reactant, with(b) a silver salt as the other reactant, at a pH of not more than 5 in an aqueous medium thereby to precipitate silver oxalate.

Abstract: A copying apparatus for synthesizing two images on one piece of copying paper. The apparatus includes a photosensitive body having a photosensitive surface, first and second light exposure assemblies disposed in spaced-apart relationship with respect to the path of rotation of the photosensitive surface and an image development assembly. In the first light exposure assembly, a first original positive image source controls light emitted from a first light source which light is transmitted to the photosensitive surface to create a first latent image of the information in the first original positive image source on a first portion of the photosensitive surface. No latent image is formed in the remainder or second portion of the photosensitive surface.

Abstract: A process for preparing pyromellitic dianhydride by dehydration of pyromellitic acid is disclosed. The dehydration is conducted in solid state by indirect heating. The characteristic feature of the process is that when the most part of pyromellitic acid was converted to the dianhydride, the remaining pyromellitic acid is dehydrated while regulating the temperature of the heating medium between 200.degree. C. and 235.degree. C. By this process, pyromellitic dianhydride with excellent quality, good color and free flowing property can be obtained easily, smoothly, and rapidly. A very simple apparatus can be used in the process and the apparatus can be constructed from cheap materials.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of ethylene oxide from ethylene, said catalyst comprising a porous carrier composed of a molded article of a refractory material and at least silver grains deposited on the carrier, wherein(A) silver is distributed on the outside surface of the carrier and on the inner surfaces of the pores of the carrier,(B) silver grains distributed on the inner surfaces of the pores of the carrier have an average diameter of 0.05 to 0.4 micron, and(C) the loading (S) of silver on the outside surface layer of the catalyst and the loading (I) of silver on the innermost layer of the catalyst satisfy the following expressionI.gtoreq.0.65S;and a process for producing a catalyst for the production of ethylene oxide from ethylene, which comprises impregnating an aqueous solution containing a silver salt and an amine as a complex forming agent in a porous carrier composed of a molded article of a refractory material, and heating the carrier with superheated steam to deposit silver on the carrier.

Abstract: A copying apparatus of the electrostatic type enables at least two images to be synthesized on one surface of a copying paper using original positive image sources without preparing negative image sources prior to the copying process. The copying apparatus can also synthesize a plurality of images in different colors on a single sheet of copying paper.

Abstract: A packing material for a reactor for producing ethylene oxide by the catalytic oxidation of ethylene in the presence of molecular oxygen, wherein the packing material is used at the inlet side of a catalyst layer of the reactor, is silica-alumina containing 10 to 8 wt. % of silica, and is produced by sintering the silica-alumina at 1200.degree. to 1500.degree. C.

Abstract: An aromatic polycarboxylic acid is produced by oxidation of an alkyl-substituted aromatic aldehyde or carboxyLic acid with molecular oxygen in water as a solvent in the presence of bromine ions or further together with heavy metal ions as a catalyst in a reactor using a zirconium material whose surface is coated with an oxide layer as a material of construction. The oxidation can be carried out in high yield without corrosion of the material of construction.

Abstract: A catalyst comprises sodium and cesium as a cationic component and chlorine as an anionic component in addition to silver which is a typical conventional catalyst component for the production of ethylene oxide by oxidation of ethylene. Use of the catalyst of the invention gives ethylene oxide at an improved selectivity.