Abstract: Composite catalysts having bismuth silicate(s) (e.g. Bi2SiO5) and transition metal oxide(s) (e.g. nickel oxide) impregnated on mesoporous silica supports such as SBA-15, mesoporous silica foam, and silica sol. Methods of making and characterizing the composite catalysts as well as processes for oxidatively dehydrogenating alkanes (e.g. n-butane) and/or alkenes (e.g. 1-butene, 2-butene) to corresponding dienes (e.g. butadiene) employing the composite catalysts are also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for production of consistently-sized BEA zeolite nano-crystals, the method including mixing an emulsion, the emulsion comprising a surfactant and an organic solvent; heating the emulsion; mixing a zeolite solution, the zeolite solution comprising a silicon-containing compound and an aluminum-containing compound; heating the zeolite solution; adding the emulsion to the zeolite solution drop-wise over time to create an zeolite emulsion solution mixture; heating the zeolite emulsion solution mixture; and precipitating the consistently-sized BEA zeolite nano-crystals.

Abstract: A method of using a nanoporous carbon material for adsorption of one or more PAH and diesel fuel from an aqueous solution is described. The aqueous solution may comprise the one or more PAH at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L-1 g/L, and the diesel fuel at a concentration of 0.1-5 g/L. The nanoporous carbon material may adsorb at least 96 wt % of one or more PAH within 10 minutes. The nanoporous carbon material may be obtained by contacting a carbonized asphalt with a base.

Abstract: A composite phase-change material containing a hierarchically porous Ca1-xMgxCO3 and having pores loaded with a phase change material is described. The heat storage material has a latent heat of melting 123 to 221 J/g, a latent heat of freezing of 107 to 201 J/g, and a thermal conductivity of 0.22 to 0.45 W·m?1·K?1. The phase change material may be polyethylene glycol, and the polyethylene glycol does not leak from the pores of the hierarchically porous Ca1-xMgCO3 when heating or cooling over phase transitions.

Abstract: A system and method for storing molten sulfur includes a reinforced concrete vessel, the reinforced concrete vessel being subterranean. The vessel has a floor that is a raft footing formed of reinforced concrete and has a floor interior surface. The vessel also has a ceiling that is a slab of reinforced concrete and has a ceiling interior surface. Sidewalls of the vessel extend between the floor and the ceiling and are formed of reinforced concrete, each sidewall having a sidewall interior surface. A liner is bonded to the floor interior surface, the ceiling interior surface, and each sidewall interior surface. The liner formed of an epoxy vinyl ester resin, and a glass fiber sheet embedded in the epoxy vinyl ester resin.

Abstract: A multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser comprises at least a first stage and a second stage. Each stage includes a carrier-gas inlet and a carrier-gas outlet, as well as a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet. The carrier-gas inlet is positioned to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath. The carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath, wherein the first-stage carrier-gas outlet is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the first stage and then through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the second stage.

Abstract: Activated carbon, e.g., from waste tires, modified by bimetallic Fe and Ce nanoparticles can provide high surface area and active sites for enhanced dye adsorption. Such nanocomposites can offer magnetic removal from aqueous solutions containing, e.g., Methylene Blue or Rhodamine B. Adsorption equilibrium data fit well to the Langmuir isotherm model, with an adsorption capacity was 324.6 mg/g. Rhodamine B adsorption by such activated carbon-Fe—Ce magnetic adsorbents has an endothermic character and pseudo-second-order kinetics. In ethanol solution, rhodamine B was desorbed at high efficiency and such materials, which could be recycled up to 5 cycles. Such magnetic nanocomposites are adsorbents for treating dyes such as rhodamine B in wastewater, even in large scale adsorption systems. Polyamides can be grafted to such nanocomposites.

Abstract: A zirconium metal-organic framework, which is a coordination product formed between zirconium ion clusters and a linker that links together adjacent zirconium ion clusters, wherein the linker is of formula (I) wherein R1 is hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl, and R2 to R4 are independently hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted aryl, or an optionally substituted arylalkyl. A method of capturing CO2 from a gas mixture with the zirconium metal-organic framework.

Abstract: Systems and methods for production of consistently-sized ZSM-22 zeolite catalyst crystals, a method including preparing an aluminate solution; preparing a silica solution; mixing the aluminate solution and the silica solution to form a zeolite-forming solution; heating the zeolite solution with microwave irradiation in a first, a second, a third, and a fourth distinct isothermal stage to produce the consistently-sized ZSM-22 zeolite catalyst crystals within a pre-selected crystal size range using a non-ionic surfactant.

Abstract: A crosslinked resin made up of polymerized units of a linear polyamine with at least 3 primary and/or secondary amine functionalities and a bisacrylamide. The crosslinked polymers are porous spherical particles with a BET surface area in the range of 50-120 m2/g. A method of the synthesizing the crosslinked polymer is specified. A method for using the crosslinked resin as an adsorbent material in removing pollutants including organic dyes (e.g. Congo red, Rhodamine B) and heavy metals from an aqueous solution or an industrial wastewater sample is also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for production of externally-pore-blocked, internally-pore-opened modified zeolite crystals, the method including mixing zeolite crystals with an organic pore blocking agent; heating the zeolite crystals mixed with the organic pore blocking agent to block internal pores of the zeolite crystals and produce internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals; mixing the internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals with an external pore blocking agent; and calcining the internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals mixed with the external pore blocking agent, to re-open internal pores via decomposition of the organic pore blocking agent and to block external pores via formation of a silica layer over external pores of the zeolite crystals, forming the externally-pore-blocked, internally-pore-opened modified zeolite crystals.

Abstract: A nanozeolite modified green concrete contains alkali-activated natural pozzolan. Natural pozzolan is a green and sustainable material, potentially useful in green concrete, e.g., to curb greenhouse gas emissions associated with ordinary Portland cement production. Nanozeolite (NZ) is present as an additive to the green concrete, e.g., at 3 to 5 wt. %, of natural pozzolan to improve strength development and microstructural properties, resulting in superior strength and denser microstructure compared to a green concrete without nanozeolite.

Abstract: A system for seismic surveying, method for performing seismic and a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored therein that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for performing seismic surveying including emitting seismic waves into a substrate, receiving seismic waves reflected from discontinuities within the substrate, converting the seismic waves into seismic traces, and representing the seismic traces by superimposed multiple tone sinusoidal waves using a parameter estimation. An optimized residual of the modelling is compressed using entropy coding or quantization coding techniques, and the optimized residual and the parameter sets are transmitted to a remote processing station for reconstruction and analysis of the discontinuities.

Abstract: A method for producing a biodegradable magnesium metal composite that includes a polycrystalline magnesium matrix and TiB2 grains which are homogenously distributed in the polycrystalline magnesium matrix involving spark plasma sintering a milled mixture of magnesium powder and TiB2 powder. The temperature, pressure, and time of the spark plasma sintering used in the method are used to give high microharness, macrohardness, and density with low porosity by limiting the grain growth in the composite. The method yields a biodegradable magnesium metal composite having an improved microhardness, macrohardness, density, and porosity compared to other composites and methods of making composites.

Abstract: Methods and systems for production of consistently-sized BEA zeolite nano-crystals incorporating at least one metal oxide, the method including removing an organic template from a BEA zeolite comprising an organic template via calcination; desilicating the BEA zeolite following the step of removing the organic template; incorporating at least one metal oxide into the structure of the BEA zeolite after the step of desilicating; protonating the BEA zeolite after the step of incorporating the at least one metal oxide; and calcining the BEA zeolite after the step of protonating to form a modified BEA zeolite product.

Abstract: A composite membrane including carbide-derived carbon (CDC) particles deposited onto a surface of an intermediate layer which is supported on a porous polysulfone substrate. The intermediate layer contains reacted units of a polyfunctional acyl halide (e.g. trimesoyl chloride) and polydopamine. Methods of making the composite membrane via techniques such as filtration-assisted deposition of CDC particles and interfacial polymerization are specified. Water flux and oil rejection (e.g. diesel) performances of the composite membrane are evaluated. A method of separating an organic compound, such as hydrocarbons, from an aqueous sample utilizing the membrane is also provided.

Abstract: The invention is directed to utilization of a series of cross-linked 1,4-benzenediamine-co-alkyldiamine polymers and the use of the polymers to remove mercury from a hydrocarbon in fluid form.

Abstract: An integrated ITM micromixer burner shell and tube design for clean combustion in gas turbines includes an oxy-fuel micromixer burner for separating oxygen from air within the burner to perform oxy-combustion, resulting in an exhaust stream that consists of CO2 and H2O. The shell and tube combustion chamber is designed so that preheated air enters a headend having an array of ion transfer membrane (ITM) tubes that separate oxygen from the preheated air and anchor flamelets on the shell side. The combustion products of the oxy-fuel flamelets expand through a turbine for power generation, before H2O is separated from CO2 by condensation. A portion of the effluent CO2 is compressed back into the burner system, while the remainder is captured for sequestration/utilization.

Abstract: A method of controlling the fracture location, orientation, and reduce the breakdown pressure in multistage fracturing, particularly of unconventional reservoirs. Acid etching can be used to initiate small channels (wormholes) around the horizontal well, followed by the hydraulic fracturing fluid to create the fractures. The fracture orientation can follow the same direction of the etched part of the well and in the same location of the wormholes. The breakdown pressure can be reduced by 5, 10, 15%, or more, e.g., from 2200 to 1800 psi after acid etching which can minimize the pumping requirements at the surface and break the formation with very high breakdown pressure.

Abstract: Method for detecting colon or colorectal cancer by measuring heavy metal concentrations in colon or colorectal tissue using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).