Abstract: Water from underground and other sources of water are brackish and not suitable for human consumption. Naturally present dissolved chemicals in water make it brackish. The precipitants and dissolved chemicals need to be separated from water to make it consumable. A combination of aeration systems, filtration systems, crystallizers and hydrophobic membrane carrying filter are used to desalinate the brackish water. Solar energy and ceramic filters are used as add on to existing technology. Various heat exchange apparatus are used for energy conservation and efficient processing of water in a feasible way. The disclosure enables to purify water and provide a useful technology to eradicate water scarcity.

Abstract: A low-pressure one-step gas-phase process for the production and recovery of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) is disclosed. One-step gas-phase synthesis of MIBK from acetone and hydrogen over nano-Pd/nano-ZnCr2O4 catalyst at atmospheric pressure is used as an example. The said process is designed to recover the additional heat associated with the reactor effluent via heating acetone feed and recycle (mixed acetone) before entering the reactor. A compressor is introduced to the gas-phase process to increase slightly the reactor effluent pressure before this effluent is cooled and fed to a flash drum. The compressed reactor effluent is used to preheat hydrogen feed and recycle (mixed hydrogen) before entering the reactor. The separation scheme of low-pressure one-step gas-phase process comprises of several distillation columns used for MIBK separation and purification.

Abstract: A tetrazolium bromide dye, e.g., 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), to be used as a high dose solution dosimeter is disclosed. The dose response of MTT solution dosimeter increases strongly with increase of absorbed dose up to 1 kGy. In order to increase the dose range and for ease of handling the present dosimeter as routine dosimeter, MTT-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film dosimeter is used. The dose response of MTT-PVA film dosimeters increases strongly with increase of absorbed dose up to 25 kGy. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) as a polymer for making a film provides more stability at higher temperatures and humidity levels and less calibration is required. The dose response of MTT-PVB film dosimeters is effective with absorbed dose of up to 100 kGy.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes using the naturally present dissolved chemicals as precipitants from local water sources to form an adsorbent. The adsorbent may be collected and used at the right pH and temperature to purify and remove heavy metals from waste water. Once the heavy metals are removed the concentration of the heavy metals are estimated in the reusable water. The local authority acceptable level heavy metal containing reusable water is reclaimed for non-human consumption. This disclosure enables to conserve water and provide a cheap and an effective method to decontaminate industrial waste water.

Abstract: Ruthenium/activated charcoal (Ru/AC) treated with synthesized nano-ZnO (n-ZnO) is used for the first time as a novel composite catalyst in one-step self-condensation of acetone (DMK) to methyl isobutyl ketone in the gas phase. The DMK self-condensation was performed under atmospheric pressure, in a tubular glass fixed-bed microreactor, under DMK and H2 continuous flow at temperature in the range of 523 to 648 K. Addition of n-ZnO to Ru/AC resulted in a pronounced increase in the degree of dispersion of Ru and in the acidic/basic sites concentration ratio. For the one-step synthesis of MIBK at 623 K, the composite catalyst with 2.5 wt % Ru loading was an active and selective bi-functional composite catalyst with balanced acid/base and hydrogenation properties. At 523 K, isopropyl alcohol, product of DMK-direct hydrogenation, was produced in high selectivity for instantly investigated composite catalyst.

Abstract: Several metal-supported catalyst compositions based on nano-crystalline zinc oxide were synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Carbon dioxide temperature programmed desorption (CO2 TPD), and nitrogen adsorption at ?196° C. The Pd-supported nano-ZnO mixed with different oxides such as Cr2O3, CrO3, MgO, and ?-Al2O3 showed high catalytic activity in acetone condensation in gas-phase process under hydrogen flow. This reaction involves the base-acid coupling of acetone to form mesityl oxide, followed by its hydrogenation to methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). The novel catalyst 1% wt. n-Pd/n-ZnCr2O4 was utilized during gas-phase reaction during production of MIBK. MIBK selectivity was 70-72% at 66-77% acetone conversion at 300-350° C. Diisobutyl ketone (DIBK) was the main by-product, with a total MIBK+DIBK selectivity up to 88%. The prepared catalysts showed stable activity and may be used repeatedly and for a longer period of time.