Abstract: A method for removing a metallic layer from the surface of a ceramic substrate, the method including the steps of immersing the metallic coated ceramic substrate in a solution of up to 31% hydrochloric acid for a sufficient time to at least substantially dissolve or remove the metallic layer therefrom, removing the ceramic substrate from the acid solution, rinsing the ceramic substrate in a rinse solution, and annealing the ceramic substrate at a predetermined temperature for a sufficient time to at least reduce damage or defects in the surface of the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: An improved process for the catalytic partial oxidation of hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide and less than ˜2% carbon dioxide is disclosed. The process further permits the reaction to be initiated at room temperature, and utilizes a metal catalyst deposited on a ceria-coated zirconia monolith support, which exhibits high conversions of hydrocarbons to synthesis gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide).

Abstract: Magnetic resonance methods are provided for determining the mass of samples in vials (1) in a production line, each sample having a net magnetisation capability, including the steps of applying a first magnetic field in a first direction in an interrogation zone (25) for creating a net magnetisation within a sample located within the interrogation zone (25), applying an alternating magnetic field in a second direction in the interrogation zone (25) for temporarily changing the net magnetisation of the sample located within the interrogation zone (25), monitoring energy emitted by the sample as the net magnetisation of the sample returns to its original state and generating an output signal whose current amplitude is proportional to the energy emitted, comparing the current amplitude with like data obtained from at least one similar sample of known mass, and determining the mass of the sample.

Abstract: Methods and systems enable reuse of water in processing of animals into food. In one method, water used in processing of animals into food is received. The water is treated so as to convert the water into a treated from capable of being reused in the processing of the animals into food. The treating includes reducing the amount of solid particles in the water and adding gas to the water. The treated water is provided to be used in the food processing.

Abstract: Supported perovskite-type oxides are described. The perovskite-type oxides have the general formula of AxA?x?ByB?y?O3??, wherein A is an ion of a metal of Group IIIa or IIIb of the periodic table of elements or mixtures thereof; A? is an ion of a metal of Groups Ia or IIa of the periodic table or mixtures thereof; B and B? are ions of a d-block transition metal of the periodic table or mixtures thereof; x, x?, y and y? vary from 0 to 1; 0.95<x+x?<1.05; 0.95<y+y?<1.05; ? is the deviation from ideal oxygen stoichiometry. This invention also provides for the selection of support materials and the shapes of supported perovskite-type oxides as well as the methods for making them.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a monolith reactor process for the production of syngas from hydrocarbon and oxygen feeds. The syngas is cooled and separated to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and the purification equipment utilized in this separation process recycles tail gas and fuel gas to the syngas feed gas line and recycles methane from the carbon monoxide separation system for feed back to the monolith reactor. This process results in almost complete carbon to carbon monoxide conversion and very high carbon monoxide and hydrogen recoveries.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) probe (10) for a nuclear magnetic resonance check weighing system produces a uniform magnetic field at the center of RF probe (10), has minimal sensitivity to electrical interference from external sources, shapes the magnetic field to minimize cross coupling from packages such as drug vials (22) not under test, and presents minimal airflow obstruction. RF probe (10) includes a coil (100) with a plurality of conductive loops (102, 104) having a rectangular cross section carried inside two opposing, rectangular cross section housings (106, 108), respectively. Housings (106, 108) are spaced apart and in parallel, creating an “open probe” configuration permitting a conveyor belt (28) carrying vials (22) whose contents are to be checked to pass between housings (106, 108), and allows airflow surrounding the vials (22) and conveyor belt (28) to pass substantially without obstruction.

Abstract: A method (10) insures that the characteristics of the magnetic field used in a magnetic resonance check weighing system (20) for samples in vials (22) on a production line track deviations from the resonant frequency of the sample. The method (10) includes the steps of obtaining (50) a free induction decay signal from a magnetic resonance measurement of the sample, monitoring (52) from the free induction decay signal the deviation of the resonance frequency of the magnetic resonance measurement from a preselected resonance frequency; and adjusting (62) the magnetic field to maintain the preselected resonance frequency.

Abstract: A batch process and apparatus for producing a pressurized liquid carbon dioxide stream includes distilling a feed stream of carbon dioxide vapor off of a liquid carbon dioxide supply; introducing the carbon dioxide vapor feed stream into at least one purifying filter; condensing the purified feed stream within a condenser to form an intermediate liquid carbon dioxide stream; introducing the intermediate liquid carbon dioxide stream into at least one high-pressure accumulation chamber; heating the high pressure accumulation chamber to pressurize the liquid carbon dioxide contained therein to a delivery pressure; delivering a pressurized liquid carbon dioxide stream from the high-pressure accumulation chamber; and, discontinuing delivery of the pressurized liquid carbon dioxide stream for replenishing the high pressure accumulation chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively removing metal ions of interest from a solution (12), such as the wastewater from a chemical mechanical polishing process. The method comprises contacting a solution (12) containing solid particles, an oxidizing agent and a first concentration of the metal ions with an ion-exchange resin (20), such as a crosslinked poly-4-v resin, that is resistant to damage by the oxidizing agent and that is operative when in contact with the solution (12) to exchange selected ones of the metal ions in the solution for selected preferred ions in the ion-exchange resin thereby to produce a treated solution (22) having a second concentration of the metal ions that is lower than the first concentration. The present invention also relates to an apparatus (100) and system (500) for use with the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A method (10) for reducing or eliminating the effects of proximate samples on the NMR measurement of the mass of a test sample in a NMR check weighing system (24) for samples on a production line. The test sample is in a container (22) on a production line with the plurality of proximate samples each also in a container (22) on the production line. Method (10) includes determining cross coupling weighing factors for a plurality of samples in proximity to the test sample, magnetic resonance measuring of the test sample and proximate samples, the step of magnetic resonance measuring of the test sample and proximate samples providing data representative of each measurement; and applying weighing factors to the data representative of each measurement compensating for the proximate sample effects.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments address contaminant management challenges that arise during production of desirably contaminant free product fluid in the operation of PSA equipment, and further address the more serious challenges that arise under intermittent operation of PSA equipment. One disclosed embodiment of a PSA apparatus, intended primarily for normal operating cycle speeds of at least 3 cycles per minute, includes a breather fluidly coupled to a feed end of an adsorber with a contaminant-sensitive adsorbent. The breather can be coupled to the feed end through a shutoff valve closed during production and open during shutdown. Other disclosed embodiments of the PSA apparatus used particular sealing strategies for additional sealing of the apparatus, or at least components thereof, from contaminant ingress.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for evacuating a number of vacuum processing chambers containing incompatible gases. The gases are directed to a subatmospheric abatement chamber containing preconditioning devices. The gases are treated in the abatement chamber to render them compatible. The compatible gases are then drawn from the abatement chamber as a single stream through a backing pump.

Abstract: A method for metal processing is provided in which a cooling atmosphere comprising hydrogen is used for accelerated cooling of a processed metal part in a furnace, resulting in improved properties for the metal part. A sintering furnace is also provided and comprises a means for inhibiting gas flows between a heating zone and a cooling zone of the furnace.

Abstract: An improvement in a magnetic resonance method for determining the mass of samples wherein the samples include powdered solid materials, including applying a first magnetic field in a first direction in an interrogation zone for creating a net magnetisation within a sample located within the interrogation zone; applying an alternating magnetic field in a second direction in the interrogation zone for temporarily changing the net magnetisation of the sample; monitoring energy emitted by the sample as the net magnetisation of the sample returns to its original state and generating an output signal having a characteristic which is proportional to the energy emitted; comparing the output signal characteristic with like data obtained from at least one similar sample of known mass; and, determining the mass of the sample; the improvement being one of generating the static magnetic field having a field strength in the range of about 0.1 T to about 1.3 T, or disposing the samples within a distance of about 0.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a surface from ferrous particles, in a magnetic resonance apparatus in which a first magnetic field is applied in a first direction in an interrogation zone for creating a net magnetisation within a sample located within the interrogation zone and an alternating magnetic field is applied in a second direction in the interrogation zone for temporarily changing the net magnetisation of the sample located within the interrogation zone, with monitoring of energy emitted by the sample as the net magnetisation of the sample returns to its original state and generating an output signal having a characteristic which is proportional to the energy emitted; the method including disposing in effective proximity to the surface to be cleaned, a permanent magnet cleaning device, the magnet cleaning device being located outside the interrogation zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing treatment by impingement to a continuous supply of food product includes a treatment zone at an ambient pressure, a fluid delivery zone at an elevated pressure, and a circulation assembly. Impingement plates containing apertures separate the zones. When treatment fluid is drawn through the impingement apertures, jets of treatment fluid are produced and impinge upon food product traveling through the treatment zone. The apparatus can employ a conveyor mechanism to accommodate food product from a continuous supply, as opposed to batches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemical delivery systems and methods for delivery of liquid chemicals. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems having multi-reservoir load cell assemblies for delivering chemicals used in the semiconductor industry. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a multi-reservoir load cell assembly, including a controller, a buffer reservoir, a main reservoir, one or more load cells, coupled to the assembly and to the controller, operable to weigh the liquid in the reservoir(s), a plurality of supply lines, each supply line having a valve and connecting one of the supply containers to the main reservoir, and a gas and vacuum sources for withdrawing the liquid from the assembly when demanded by the controller and for refilling the assembly from the supply containers.

Abstract: A method (10) permits determining the temperature in a magnetic resonance check weighing system (24) of a sample in a container (22) on a production line at the time of magnetic resonance testing. Method (10) includes the steps of determining a time-temperature correction factor for the sample in the container (50), measuring the temperature of the composite sample and the container at a time other than the time of magnetic resonance testing (70), and applying the correction factor to the temperature of the composite sample and container at a time other than the time of magnetic resonance testing (80).

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of measuring low liquid flow rates. The system provides a controller, flow system components, and one or more load cells coupled to a collection vessel. The collection vessel includes a weir that serves as a passage to allow liquid to rise within the weir until the liquid overflows the weir. After the liquid supplied passes a hydraulic stabilization period the controller captures a load cell signal and opens a timing window. At the end of the timing window the controller captures another load cell signal. A controller calculates the mass of the collected liquid over the collection period and the flow rate such as mass rate and/or the volumetric rate. The duration of the timing window depends on the measurement desired. Since the liquid wells up and overflows the weir, the system can make precise measurements of low flow rates. In another feature, feedback control mechanisms are implemented in the batch constant flow method or steady state constant flow method.