Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides nanosized systems for generating electrical energy based on the use of a chemically reactive composition to generate a thermoelectric wave. For example, the system can include at least one nanostructure (e.g., a carbon nanotube) extending along an axial direction between a proximal end and a distal end. A chemically reactive composition is dispersed along at least a portion of the nanostructure, e.g., along its axial direction, so as to provide thermal coupling with the nanostructure. The chemical composition can undergo an exothermic chemical reaction to generate heat. The system can further include an ignition mechanism adapted to activate the chemical composition so as to generate a thermal wave that propagates along the axial direction of the nanostructure, where the thermal wave is accompanied by an electrical energy wave propagating along the axial direction.

Abstract: An active material of the present invention has fine pores formed in the interlayer of a carbon material capable of exhibiting electrochemical double layer capacitance. The fine pores are formed by forming an oxidized graphite structure combined with oxygen in the interlayer of a part or whole of the carbon material containing soft carbon and then removing a part or whole of oxygen in the interlayer. A method for producing an energy storage active material for use in an electrochemical double layer capacitor comprises pre-treating a carbon material through heat treatment and oxidizing the pre-treated carbon material using an oxidant. The method further comprises reducing the oxidized carbon material through heat treatment. The interlayer distances of an active material for respective steps, measured by a powder X-ray diffraction method, are 0.33˜0.36 nm in the pre-treatment step, 0.5˜2.1 nm in the oxidation step, and 0.34˜0.5 nm in the reduction step.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the manufacture of carbon disulphide comprising supplying a molecular oxygen-containing gas and a feedstock comprising a hydrocarbonaceous compound to a reaction zone containing a liquid elemental sulphur phase and reacting, in the liquid sulphur phase, at a temperature in the range of from 300 to 750° C., the hydrocarbonaceous compound with elemental sulphur to form carbon disulphide and hydrogen sulphide and oxidizing at least part of the hydrogen sulphide formed to elemental sulphur and water. The invention further provides the use of a liquid stream comprising carbon disulphide, hydrogen sulphide and carbonyl sulphide obtainable such process for enhanced oil recovery.

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: This invention relates to a wide aperture radio frequency data acquisition system which collects coherent samples from multiple points in a defined plane at the surface of the ground. The information collected can be processed with suitable algorithms to extract the bearing, frequency, and power spectra of the arriving radio frequency wavefront.This system consists of an antenna system; a multi-channel receiver system incorporating mixers, filters, amplifiers, analog to digital converters, digital down converters; a digital signal processor; and a computer. The electrically short, active antennas with frequency independent response are connected to the multiple channel receiving system, one channel per antenna receiving the signal. The receiver uses two frequency conversion oscillators for coarse but accurate frequency synthesis to convert the received signal's frequency. Then, the signal is converted to a digital signal.

Abstract: A process for the production of a metal carbide having a BET specific surface area of 10 to 200 m.sup.2 /g, in which a reaction mixture including carbon having a specific surface area of at least 200 m.sup.2 /g and a compound of the metal to be reacted with the carbon which is volatile at 900.degree. C. to 1400.degree. C. is introduced into a reactor, the reactor is scavenged by a flow of inert gas and the reaction mixture is heated under the flow of inert gas at 900.degree. to 1400.degree. C. for a time sufficient to volatilize the metal, reduce the volatilized metal compound to the metal with and carburize the metal by reaction with carbon, forming the metal carbide. The metal carbide formed is cooled under the flow of inert gas.

Abstract: A method of producing heavy metal carbides of high specific surface area characterized in that a compound in the gazeous state of said heavy metal is caused to react with reactive carbon having a specific surface area at least equal to 200 m.sup.2. g.sup.-1 at a temperature comprised between 900.degree. and 1400.degree. C., and thus obtained carbides.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sulfide phosphor where a raw material mixture for a sulfide phosphor is placed in an almost closed first heat-resistant container and fired therein, the method being characterized in that an auxiliary material composed of carbon and/or a carbon-forming compound capable of being pyrolyzed at a temperature not higher than the firing temperature to form carbon, and a metal sulfide capable of recting with the carbon and/or said carbon-forming compound at a temperature not lower than 600.degree. C. but not higher than the firing temperature to form a carbon sulfide is placed in the portion as physically separated from the raw material mixture for the sulfide phosphor in the said first heat-resistant container and the firing is conducted under such condition so that said first heat-resistant container may have a carbon sulfide atmosphere by the thermal reaction of the thus fired auxiliary materials.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting methane to carbon disulfide. More particularly, methane is decomposed to form elemental carbon and elemental hydrogen, and the elemental carbon is reacted with sulfur to form carbon disulfide. Carbon disulfide may then be contacted with hydrogen, optionally in the presence of more methane, under conditions sufficient to produce CH.sub.3 SH. This CH.sub.3 SH may then be contacted with a sufficient catalyst, such as a zeolite, especially ZSM-5, under conditions sufficient to produce hydrocarbon having two or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the production of carbon disulfide and hydrogen sulfide from a particulate carbon source. In one embodiment, an oxygen containing gas is reacted with a particulate carbon source in a one step process so as to provide the temperatures necessary for the reaction of the particulate carbon source with sulfur to produce carbon disulfide. In another embodiment, a source of hydrogen is introduced along with the oxygen containing gas and sulfur so as to produce hydrogen sulfide in a single step process.

Abstract: Flux solvents and/or pitch neomesophase anti-solvents used in the generation of carbon fiber precursors from pitch are separated from mixtures of such solvent and uncoverted carbon fiber precursors by contacting said mixtures with asymmetric hydrophobic membranes under conditions of reverse osmosis. The membranes used in this separation are asymmetric polyimide membranes and asymmetric polyvinylidene fluoride membranes. Separation conditions include a contacting pressure sufficient to overcome the osmotic pressure of the solvent. The pressure is typically about 300 to 1000 psi. Contacting temperature is about 0.degree. to 100.degree. C., preferably about 20.degree. to 80.degree. C. The membrane of choice is an asymmetric polyimide membrane.

Abstract: Delayed coke is desulfurized by first contacting the coke with an active sulfur-bearing gas at a temperature high enough to produce a reaction between the sulfur in the coke and the active sulfur in the gas, and then holding the coke in contact with the gas at said high temperature for approximately one hour. An alternative process provides for desulfurization of delayed coke by modifying the second step of the prior process to dilute or replace the sulfur-bearing gas with an inert gas. In a third alternative, the foregoing process is further modified by lowering the temperature during the second or holding step to maintain the reaction between the sulfur-bearing gas and the coke.

Abstract: A method for the removal of carbon or carbon compounds from a waste stream generated in an unsupported slurry catalyst process utilized for the hydroconversion of heavy hydrocarbonaceous black oil which stream comprises vanadium sulfide, nickel sulfide and carbon or carbon compounds is disclosed. The carbon or carbon compound is removed by contacting the waste stream with sulfur dioxide at oxidizing conditions to yield a solid residue which contains metal sulfides.

Abstract: Sulfur-bearing coke is desulfurized by heating it and reacting it with dilute sulfur vapor to form carbon disulfide. The reaction will proceed utilizing air-polluting sulfur components in the coke, thereby removing such components to provide a relatively non-polluting coke as a fuel.