Abstract: A vortex breaker for a particulate separator has a first set of vanes spaced along a perimeter of a first shape and a second set of vanes spaced along a perimeter of a second shape, where the second shape resides within the first shape. Each of the vanes has a top edge, a bottom edge, an inside edge, and an outside edge. The vanes in the first and second sets of vanes intersect the first and second shapes, respectively. The vanes in the first set are oriented in a first rotational direction, and the vanes in the second set are oriented in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction. The first set of vanes and the second set of vanes define fluid flow paths between the outside edges and the inside edges of the sets of vanes.

Abstract: A separator vessel has inlet, fluid outlet, and sand outlet ports. Each of the fluid and sand outlet ports are spaced below the inlet port. The separator has an enclosure between the inlet and fluid outlet ports. The enclosure redirects the fluid stream and defines an inner cavity above a lower edge of the enclosure, the lower edge defining a liquid flow area. The separator has one or more vanes extending along an outer surface of the enclosure which redirect the fluid stream along a curved flow path as the fluid stream flows toward the lower edge, and a plurality of apertures adjacent to the vanes, the apertures permitting fluid flow into the inner cavity of the enclosure. The fluid outlet port is disposed within the inner cavity above the lower edge of the enclosure and below one or more apertures.

Abstract: Differences in x-ray absorption coefficients and ash content are used to process coal waste and concentrate rare earth elements (REE) found in coal seams. A method for processing the coal waste includes receiving, by a detector, at least one collimated x-ray beam from an x-ray source that has been passed through a sample of coal waste; determining measurements of at least one x-ray absorption characteristic of the sample based on the received at least one collimated x-ray beam; and identifying a first region in the sample having a concentration of rare earth elements based on the measured x-ray absorption characteristic.

Abstract: Differences in x-ray absorption coefficients and ash content are used to process coal waste and concentrate rare earth elements (REE) found in coal seams. A method for processing the coal waste includes receiving, by a detector, at least one collimated x-ray beam from an x-ray source that has been passed through a sample of coal waste; determining measurements of at least one x-ray absorption characteristic of the sample based on the received at least one collimated x-ray beam; and identifying a first region in the sample having a concentration of rare earth elements based on the measured x-ray absorption characteristic.

Abstract: An exhaust unit includes a dirty air intake opening, a clean air output opening and an airflow path defined between the dirty air intake opening and the clean air output opening. The exhaust unit further includes an upstream quenching section and a downstream filtering section along the airflow path. The quenching section has a wetting chamber that includes a reservoir having a fill level for a quenching liquid, and a downtube connected over the dirty air intake opening and opening at its end above, and in opposition to, the plane of the fill level.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the use of differences in x-ray linear absorption coefficients to process ore and remove elements with higher atomic number from elements with lower atomic numbers. Use of this dry method at the mine reduces pollution and transportation costs. One example of said invention is the ejection of inclusions with sulfur, silicates, mercury, arsenic and radioactive elements from coal. This reduces the amount and toxicity of coal ash. It also reduces air emissions and the energy required to clean stack gases from coal combustion. Removal of said ejected elements improves thermal efficiency and reduces the pollution and carbon footprint for electrical production.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of sorting coal into multiple fractions based upon x-ray absorption and size characteristics in order to remove rocks and other contaminants of various sizes from coal. The use of such dry processing of coal is desirable as it reduces pollution and transportation costs. The multi-fractional sorting of coal is a more efficient manner for identifying and removing rock and contaminants from coal.

Abstract: An oil coalescing filter may be used in an oil separator tank with an industrial sized compressor/vacuum package, like a rotary screw compressor/vacuum or a liquid ring compressor/vacuum. The oil coalescing filter has filter media including: a first fiber media adapted for continuously removing oil; and a second fiber media adapted for final oil coalescing; the first fiber media having a greater basis weight than said second fiber media.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the use of differences in x-ray linear absorption coefficients to process ore and remove elements with higher atomic number from elements with lower atomic numbers. Use of this dry method at the mine reduces pollution and transportation costs. One example of said invention is the ejection of inclusions with sulfur, silicates, mercury, arsenic and radioactive elements from coal. This reduces the amount and toxicity of coal ash. It also reduces air emissions and the energy required to clean stack gases from coal combustion. Removal of said ejected elements improves thermal efficiency and reduces the pollution and carbon footprint for electrical production.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the use of differences in x-ray linear absorption coefficients to process ore and remove elements with higher atomic number from elements with lower atomic numbers. Use of this dry method at the mine reduces pollution and transportation costs. One example of said invention is the ejection of inclusions with sulfur, silicates, mercury, arsenic and radioactive elements from coal. This reduces the amount and toxicity of coal ash. It also reduces air emissions and the energy required to clean stack gases from coal combustion. Removal of said ejected elements improves thermal efficiency and reduces the pollution and carbon footprint for electrical production.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the use of differences in x-ray linear absorption coefficients to process ore and remove elements with higher atomic number from elements with lower atomic numbers. Use of this dry method at the mine reduces pollution and transportation costs. One example of said invention is the ejection of inclusions with sulfur, silicates, mercury, arsenic and radioactive elements from coal. This reduces the amount and toxicity of coal ash. It also reduces air emissions and the energy required to clean stack gases from coal combustion. Removal of said ejected elements improves thermal efficiency and reduces the pollution and carbon footprint for electrical production.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatuses for recovering target metals from scrap. In some embodiments, the methods comprise dissolving a portion of a mixed metal scrap into a molten salt to form a molten salt and metal mixture, the scrap including a target metal species and at least one contaminant metal species; bubbling a gas through the molten salt and metal mixture to form a gas and metal vapor mixture comprising target metal vapors; and condensing at least a portion of the target metal vapors.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for measuring the properties of blood using ultrasound. The present invention is particularly suitable for measuring HCT, HGB, MCV, RBC, MCHC, MCH or TPC of blood.

Abstract: An ultrasonic field-portable system for accurately measuring hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin concentration (HGB) in small food samples. The system includes an analyzer (10) that allows extremely accurate measurements of blood hematocrit from only one or two drops of +>>d collected in a disposable sampling device (12) that is then inserted into the analyzer (10). The system is compact enough to package into a point of care device, making it a point of care device with accuracy comparable to larger CBC lab equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge apparatus with a built-in sample tube reader and methods for rapidly obtaining measurements of creamatocrit, fat content and/or energy (caloric) content from low-volume fresh and frozen milk specimens.

Abstract: A gas separator, a method for producing the gas separator, and a method for separating gases based on a property of inelasticity of the gases. The inventive gas separator is a permeable porous material for separating a mixture of gases by selectable pore size exclusion, comprising pores formed with at least one nanostructured compound. In other words, the inventive porous material can be used to separate a mixture of gases based upon the different working diameter of each of the gases. By selecting specific nanostructured compounds, the porous material can be tailored to contain pores of a predetermined size which allow gases having a working diameter smaller than the size of the pores to pass through the material while preventing the passage of gases having a working diameter greater than the size of the pores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diionic liquid salts of dicationic or dianionic molecules, as well as solvents comprising diionic liquids and the use of diionic liquids as the stationary phase in a gas chromatographic column.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of optically enhanced chiral ionic liquids, particularly for gas chromatography and as a reaction solvent. Specific optically enhanced chiral cationic liquids are described as is a class of optically enhanced chiral anionic liquids.

Abstract: The application discloses a belt formed of first and second portions of thermoplastic sheet including, respectively, first and second pluralities of tabs spaced apart so as to define first and second pluralities of openings along corresponding first and second edges of the first and second portions of thermoplastic sheet, wherein the first plurality of tabs are joined to the second plurality of tabs so as to join the first edge to the second edge.