Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Flue gas desulfurizing capacities of active carbon fibers (ACF) made from polyacrylonitrile (PAN-ACF) were studied, the features were clarified and at the same time the factors governing the capacities were studied to get guides for better products. Desulfurization capacities of 17 kinds of ACFs were studied. Two kinds of PAN-ACF, FE-200 and FE-300, especially the latter exhibited the higher desulfurization capacity. The capacity of FE-300 was about 20 times higher than those of fibers other than PAN systems and about 4 times higher than that of active coke for desulfurization. From the influence of reacting conditions on the desulfurizating capacity and the desorption profiles of adsorbed SO {sub 2}, it was concluded that the capacity was determined by the effective adsorption capacity of ACF and SO {sub 2} was retained on ACF as sulfuric acid. It was suggested that main factors governing the adsorption capacity were the large surface area of ACF, the suitable surface hydrophobicity, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Investigations and studies are conducted seeking for a CO2 fixation method improved by utilizing the photosynthesizing function of higher vegetation. Details of higher vegetation genes are being disclosed thanks to the rapid progress of studies making use of molecular biological techniques, and the application of the genetic mechanism to scientific and technological fields is becoming increasingly feasible. In particular, the role of the CO2 fixation enzyme RuBisCO has been elucidated almost completely. It has been learned that, in terms of photosynthesizing capability, the C{sub 4} plants (corn etc.) are 2-3 times higher than the C{sub 3} plants (rice, wheat, etc.), and 5-10 times higher than the CAM plants (cactuses etc.). Studies are also under way about the rice genome so that a photosynthesizing capability so high as that of the C{sub 4} plants may be endowed the rice plant. The metabolism and control of useful substances produced in the CO2 fixation process etc. in the higher ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Technology is being developed for preparing functional materials by synthesizing new functional peptides in which non-natural amino acid needed for the functional manifestation is introduced, and by modifying the surface of a base plate such as silica glass by using such peptides. Activities were conducted in the three areas of (1) creation of functional molecules, (2) materialization technology, and (3) comprehensive investigation and research; the activities were carried out independently and parallelly in the first two areas. In (1), design technique for the structures and functions of peptides was developed, as were conformational control technique, synthesis of peptides having optical/electronic functions, peptide synthesis by an enzyme method, and R and D on introduction of non-natural amino acid into peptides; in (2), element technologies were developed such as substrate forming technique (pattern forming and thin film forming technology), substrate modification technique, ...