Abstract: An apparatus for producing carbon-coated nano- or micron-scale particles comprising a container for entraining particles in an aerosol gas, providing an inlet for carbon-containing gas, providing an inlet for plasma gas, a proximate torch for mixing the aerosol gas, the carbon-containing gas, and the plasma gas, bombarding the mixed gases with microwaves, and providing a collection device for gathering the resulting carbon-coated nano- or micron-scale particles. Also disclosed is a method and apparatus for making hollow carbon nano- or micro-scale spheres.

Abstract: A method of making carbon-coated nano- or micron-scale particles comprising entraining particles in an aerosol gas, providing a carbon-containing gas, providing a plasma gas, mixing the aerosol gas, the carbon-containing gas, and the plasma gas proximate a torch, bombarding the mixed gases with microwaves, and collecting resulting carbon-coated nano- or micron-scale particles.

Abstract: Graphitic structures have been prepared by exposing templates (metal, metal-coated ceramic, graphite, for example) to a gaseous mixture that includes hydrocarbons and oxygen. When the template is metal, subsequent acid treatment removes the metal to yield monoliths, hollow graphitic structures, and other products. The shapes of the coated and hollow graphitic structures mimic the shapes of the templates.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor system especially useful for hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, hydrocarbon isomerization, and hydrocracking was demonstrated for isomerizing 1-butene to 2-butene. The reactor system includes a noble metal-containing catalyst bed and a base-metal catalyst bed in physical contact with but substantially unmixed with the noble metal catalyst bed. The reactor includes a gas inlet for sending hydrogen to the noble metal catalyst and an inlet for sending 1-butene to the second catalyst bed. An outlet is provided for product and unreacted hydrogen and 1-butene. The reactor system is configured such that hydrogen flows through the noble metal catalyst bed first and then through the base-metal catalyst bed, while 1-butene flows through the base metal catalyst bed, with minimal backflow through noble metal bed.