Abstract: A method of making a nanostructured palladium thin film electrode is described. The method involves contacting a substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent and a Pd(II) compound. The substrate is heated, and no hydrogen gas or an additional reducing agent is required to reduce the Pd(II) to form the deposited thin film. The nanostructured palladium thin film electrode is capable of detecting compounds such as hydrazine in an aqueous sample with a 10 nM limit of detection.

Abstract: Mixed metal metal-organic frameworks (MM-MOFs) of copper-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (BTC), M-Cu-BTC, wherein M is Zn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and/or Fe(II) may be made using post-synthetic exchange (PSE) with metal ions. Such MM-MOFs may be used in H2 storage, especially Ni(II) and Co(II) MM-MOFs. Selected metal exchanged materials can provide gravimetric H2 uptake around 1.63 wt. % for Zn—Cu-BTC, around 1.61 wt. % for Ni—Cu-BTC, around 1.63 wt. % for Fe—Cu-BTC, and around 1.12 wt. % for Co—Cu-BTC.

Abstract: A method of making a hydrodesulfurization catalyst having nickel and molybdenum sulfides deposited on a support material containing mesoporous silica that is optionally modified with zirconium. The method of making the hydrodesulfurization catalyst involves a single-step calcination and reduction procedure. The utilization of the hydrodesulfurization catalyst in treating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing sulfur compounds (e.g. dibenzothiophene, 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene) to produce a desulfurized hydrocarbon stream is also provided.

Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for diagnosing stator inter-turn faults in a Line Start Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (LSPMSM) are described. The method of diagnosing stator inter-turn faults in the LSPMSM includes collecting acoustic signals that are generated from a LSPMSM by a communication device, analyzing via singular spectrum analysis (SSA) the collected acoustic signals for fault detection of the stator inter-turn faults, and determining a fault diagnosis for the fault detection by executing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT).

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for efficiently spitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using a nanocomposite that includes ((BiVO4)x—(TiO2)1-x, wherein x ranges from 0.08 to 0.12, and optionally silver nanoparticles; methods for making a nanocomposite used in this method by a simple solvothermal method; and to photoanodes and photoelectrochemical cells and devices containing the nanocomposites.

Abstract: A method of improving natural gas recovery from a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir includes at least one renewable energy source that is electrically coupled with a heat conducting element. The heat conducting element is positioned in a perforated section of a wellbore that traverses into the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir. A temperature of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir is maintained above a cricondentherm temperature so that liquid condensation may be prevented at a final production time. In order to maintain the temperature within a required temperature range, an internal temperature, an internal pressure, and a set of reservoir properties are monitored and then utilized to plot a phase diagram that can be used to detect liquid condensation. If liquid condensation is detected, an electrical output of the renewable energy source is adjusted in order to control the temperature of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir at a producing end of a production tubing.

Abstract: A biochar-derived adsorbent preferably from Sargassum boveanum, macroalgae can be used for removing phenolic compounds, such as 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and 2,4-dimethylphenol, from aqueous solutions. The carbonization can improve the removal capability of the macroalgae adsorbent for such phenolic compounds with removal efficiencies of 60% or more from high salinity seawater and 100% from distilled water. The adsorption may occur through a mixed mechanism dominated by physisorption following pseudo second-order kinetics. The adsorption of the phenolic molecules may be spontaneous, endothermic and thermodynamically favorable.

Abstract: A method of making a nanostructured palladium thin film electrode is described. The method involves contacting a substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent and a Pd(II) compound. The substrate is heated, and no hydrogen gas or an additional reducing agent is required to reduce the Pd(II) to form the deposited thin film. The nanostructured palladium thin film electrode is capable of detecting compounds such as hydrazine in an aqueous sample with a 10 nM limit of detection.

Abstract: A method of fixating carbon dioxide (CO2) to a substituted oxazolidinone. The method includes mixing a metal-organic framework (MOF), a co-catalyst, at least one para-substituted aromatic amine, and at least one epoxide to form a mixture. The method further includes contacting the mixture with a gas stream containing CO2 to react the CO2 in the gas stream with the epoxide and para-substituted aromatic amine to form a substituted oxazolidinone mixture. The MOF is a UiO-66-X MOF, where X is of formula (I) wherein at least one of R1 to R4 is an allyloxy group, and R1 to R4 are independently an allyloxy group or a hydrogen.

Abstract: A thrust balancing apparatus for a pump includes a housing, a balancing chamber, a connecting tube, a balancing disk, a bushing, a washer, and a pair of upthrust washers. The balancing chamber defines an upper cavity and a lower cavity. The connecting tube is configured to establish fluid communication between the balancing chamber and an exterior of the housing. A first portion of the balancing disk is disposed within the upper cavity. A second portion of the balancing disk passes through the lower cavity. A third portion of the balancing disk is external to the balancing chamber. The washer is disposed between the balancing disk and the bushing. The pair of upthrust washers are disposed between the balancing disk and the balancing chamber.

Abstract: A membrane including a polymer substrate having pore channels and a metal-organic framework disposed on the polymer substrate. Methods of producing the membrane are described. Methods of separating gases using the membrane are also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming an alkali metal-doped calcium-SiAlON material is provided. The method includes mixing calcium-SiAlON powder and an alkali metal hydroxide to form a reaction mixture. The mixture further includes spark plasma sintering (SPS) the reaction mixture at 800 to 940 degrees Celsius (° C.) to form the alkali metal-doped calcium-SiAlON material. The alkali metal hydroxide is present in an amount of 0.1 to 10 weight percentage (wt. %), based on a total weight of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A method of drilling a subterranean geological formation is described. The method includes driving a drill bit to form a wellbore into the subterranean geological formation thereby producing a formation fluid including hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The method includes injecting a drilling fluid into the subterranean geological formation through the wellbore. The drilling fluid composition includes 0.25 to 2 wt. % of a primary H2S scavenger, which is potassium permanganate, and an invert emulsion, which includes a continuous phase including a vegetable oil which is at least one selected from the group consisting of corn oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, and cottonseed oil and a dispersive phase including water.

Abstract: A polyvinyl chloride-asphaltene composite and a method of making the polyvinyl chloride-asphaltene composite is disclosed. The composite includes a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer in an amount of 90 to 99.5 wt. %, based on a total weight of the polyvinyl chloride-asphaltene composite, and a filler in an amount of 10 wt. % or less, based on a total weight of the polyvinyl chloride-asphaltene composite. The filler is an asphaltene, the asphaltene is the only filler present, and the asphaltene is uniformly dispersed within a matrix of the PVC polymer. The polyvinyl chloride-asphaltene composite of the present disclosure demonstrates enhanced thermal stability and improved mechanical tensile or thermo-mechanical properties.

Abstract: A hybrid membrane, particularly of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/graphene oxide (GO)/SiO2, separates oil and water even from emulsions. The membrane can be made by one-step electrospinning, adding GO and SiO2 nanofillers in PAN in various concentrations. The nanofillers may be uniformly embedded in the nanofibrous structure of the electrospun hybrid membrane, with GO mainly embedded inside the PAN nanofibers and may cause knots, and/or SiO2 nanoparticles embedded on the nanofiber surface and may form micro-nano fiber surface protrusions. Hierarchical structures formed can have enhanced hydrophilicity due to oxygen-containing groups on both SiO2 and GO, and have >99% oil rejection from oil-water emulsions. Separation flux and phase rejection of gravity separation may be enhanced by incorporation of nanofillers, which may also enhance membrane mechanical properties. Separated water flux may be enhanced from 2600 (pure PAN) to 3151 Lm?2h?1 for the hybrid.

Abstract: A mortar composition, which includes (i) a treated palm oil fuel ash, wherein the treated palm oil fuel ash is the only binder present, (ii) a fine aggregate, (iii) an alkali activator containing an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, and (iv) aluminum hydroxide as a strength enhancer. A cured mortar made from the mortar composition is also disclosed with advantageous compressive strength properties.

Abstract: A method for predicting formation permeability by measuring diffusional tortuosity in several directions by pulse gradient NMR. The method comprises evaluating an anisotropic diffusion coefficient by pulsed gradient NMR, determining diffusional tortuosity from the restricted diffusion data, supplementing the NMR results with resistivity and sonic logging data, measuring anisotropic tortuosity and porosity by resistivity and sonic data and combining all components in a single fitting model. The 11-coefficient model is trained to recognize the true values of permeability by comparing the real oil permeabilities measured in a library of oil-carrying rock cores with the NMR, resistivity and sonic correlates. The fitting coefficients are extracted by minimizing the discrepancy between the laboratory measured permeabilities and the predicted values combining all rapid logging information components with the agreement-maximizing weights.

Abstract: A method of increasing the strength of a carbonate rock is described. The carbonate rock may be located within a subterranean carbonate formation or may be located on a building exterior. The method involves contacting the carbonate rock with a composition comprising a zinc salt or a silicon alkoxide. This may increase the hardness of the carbonate rock by 10% or more.

Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) cell health monitoring apparatus includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag mounted to the PV cell and having identifying information of the PV cell, and a sensor in communication with the RFID tag for measuring health information of the PV cell. The RFID tag stores the measured health information together with time and locality information of the PV cell and responds to an interrogation signal by transmitting the stored information together with the identifying information. A dust sensor in the form of a comb-like electrode array measures electrical capacitance as an indication of an amount of dust on an exposed surface of the PV cell. An RFID tag antenna arranged as a meander-line patch antenna covered with polyethylene has a dual function as a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A hybrid humidity control and air purification device and method for hybrid humidity control and air purification. The hybrid device is a single unit capable of humidifying dry environmental air, dehumidifying humid environmental air and removing particulates and contaminants from the air. The device controls the outgoing air to a relative humidity setpoint between 35-50% with negligible particulate matter content. Particulate matter is transferred to water, which may be supplied and flushed by an automatic water pumping system.