Abstract: Cellulose from lignocellulosic biomass which also contains protein, such as grasses and straws, can be enzymatically converted to valuable products such as glucose at lower enzyme consumption by: (a) extracting the biomass with water at 15-75° C. to produce an extracted biomass and a protein-containing aqueous extract; (b) mechanically, chemically and/or thermally pretreating cellulose-containing-biomass, in particular by organosolv treatment; and (c) contacting biomass pretreated in step (b) with: (i) an enzyme capable of hydrolysing cellulose; and (ii) the protein-containing aqueous extract obtained in step (a).

Abstract: Method and system for gasifying biomass. Tar loaded gas from the reactor for gasifying the biomass is subjected to a saturation and absorption treatment with a first and second fluid respectively. The first fluid comprises aromatic hydrocarbons whilst the second fluid comprises linear hydrocarbons. Tars received in the aromatic fluid is entered together with such fluid in a separation column. Separation is effected based on evaporation temperature and the lighter fraction is returned to the inflow of the saturation separator. The heavier fractions are either discharged or sent back to the biomass reactor. An intermediate buffer vessel can be provided between the discharge of the saturation cleaner and the separator.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalyst for the production of hydrogen by steam reforming. The catalyst is a porous catalyst which is based on at least aluminum oxide and preferably magnesium oxide, and further comprises boron and nickel. The porous catalyst comprises pores having an average pore size in the range of 0.1-50 nm. The activity of the catalyst may be further enhanced by addition of a noble metal such as Rh, Ru, Pd, Ir or Pt. The catalyst can be broadly used in hydrogen production processes, and is especially suitable for reforming using a membrane which is selective for a predetermined reaction product. Such process can be operated at relatively low temperatures of about 450-700° C.

Abstract: A process of producing transition metal-based membranes or other layers on a porous support is provided. The layers are suitable for hydrogen separation, oxygen separation, or protective or decorative purpose sand are produced by pretreating the porous support by coating with a solution of a transition metal salt, drying the seeded support, reducing the transition metal salt to transition metal metal, and electroless plating with a complex of a transition metal (palladium, silver or other) and optionally other metals. The membranes can be tubular with a transition metal layer of 1-10 ?m on its outside.

Abstract: Tar-like components can be removed from gas streams resulting from gasification of coal, waste or biomass by contacting the gas with a liquid organic aryl polysiloxane. The polysiloxane preferably contains alkyl groups and aryl groups, and is in particular a polymethyl polyphenyl polysiloxane. The gas comprises one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane.

Abstract: The invention provides a membrane suitable for dewatering acidic mixtures, comprising a bridged organosilica directly applied on a macroporous support in the absence of an intermediate mesoporous or finer layer. The bridged organic silica comprises divalent C1-C9 organic groups A2 and/or trivalent C1-C9 organic groups A3 directly bound to the silicon atoms of the organosilica. In particular, the membrane comprises bis-silylmethane or bis-silylethane groups. The membranes effectively separate water from acidic mixtures at high temperatures and without decrease in performance for at least several months.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for sampling gas in a flue gas stream (31) of an incineration furnace (1) or another CO2-containing gas stream. The method comprises sampling CO2 from the flue gas stream (31) of the incineration furnace (1) and storing CO2 from the flue gas stream (31) in a storage device (5). The storage device comprises a solid, preferably silica- or alumina-based CO2 storage material, which can be regenerated. The method further preferably involves transporting the storage device (5) to an analysis site (10) comprising an apparatus for 14C analysis, retrieving at least part of th stored CO2 from the storage device (5) and determining, based on the 14C analysis, the ratio of biomass-derived and fossil-derived CO2 in the flue gas stream (31).

Abstract: Two or more acidic gaseous species such as hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide from an adsorbent can be selectively removed from a feed gas by contacting the feed gas with an adsorbent for these acidic species, followed by: a. subjecting the adsorbent to a first purging gas, said first purging gas not containing said first acidic gaseous species and containing said second acidic gaseous species at a partial pressure which is at least the partial pressure of said second gaseous species in said feed gas; b. subsequently subjecting the adsorbent to a second purging gas, said second purging gas not containing said first gaseous species and, containing this second gaseous species at a partial pressure which is lower than the partial pressure of said second gaseous species in said feed gas.

Abstract: A method (100; 100a; 100b; 100c) for manufacturing a solar cell from a semiconductor substrate (1) of a first conductivity type, the semiconductor substrate having a front surface (2) and a back surface (3). The method includes in a sequence: texturing (102) the front surface to create a textured front surface (2a); creating (103) by diffusion of a dopant of the first conductivity type a first conductivity-type doped layer (2c) in the textured front surface and a back surface field layer (4) of the first conductivity type in the back surface; removing (105; 104a) the first conductivity-type doped layer from the textured front surface by an etching process adapted for retaining texture of the textured front surface; creating (106) a layer of a second conductivity type (6) on the textured front surface by diffusion of a dopant of the second conductivity type into the textured front surface.

Abstract: High-pressure steam supply in hydrogen production process is made more efficient by water gas shift process which comprises, in alternating sequence: (a) a reaction stage wherein a feed gas comprising CO and H20 is fed into a water gas shift reactor containing a sorbent material capable of adsorbing H20 and C02 and wherein a product gas issuing from the reactor is collected, (b) a regeneration stage wherein C02 is removed from the reactor, (c) a loading stage, wherein H20 is fed into the reactor; wherein said feed gas mixture has a molar ratio of H20 to CO below 1.2, and the loading stage is performed at a lower pressure than the pressure of the reaction stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar cell (1) comprising an emitter layer (11) at a front side (10) and a base layer (12) at the rear side (20). The solar collects first charge carriers at the front side (10) and second charge carriers at the rear side (20). The solar cell (1) further comprises at least one collecting point (14?) provided at the rear side (20) and a corresponding electrical conducting path to guide the first charge carriers from the front side (10) to the at least one collecting point (14?). An insulating layer (40) is provided between at least part of the electrical conducting path and the base layer (12) to provide electrical insulation between the electrical conductive path and the base layer (12).

Abstract: A method a photovoltaic cell assembly comprising a first and second photovoltaic cell is manufactured using an electrically conducting connection strip having a first and second lip integrally formed in or extending from the connection strip, a width of the first and second lip being smaller than a width of the strip. The lips are preferably bonded to the contact pads on a side of the cell at which the connection strip is located. Ultrasonic bonding of the first and second lip to the contact pads of the first and second photo-voltaic cell respectively.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprising a photovoltaic layer (2) with one or more photovoltaic cells and an encapsulation comprising a top foil (6). The photovoltaic layer (2) is provided with a texture layer (3), e.g. a front side metallization. The encapsulation further comprises a planarization layer (4) directly in contact with the photovoltaic layer (2) and texture layer (3). The planarization layer (4) levels all texture, enabling a top foil (6) being laminated with an adhesive to finalize the photovoltaic module.

Abstract: The invention provides an integrated catalyst and membrane reactor for the production a predetermined gas such as hydrogen. The reactor comprises a gas flow channel, comprising a plurality of alternating catalyst sections and membrane sections, wherein each catalyst section comprises a catalyst bed and each membrane section comprises a plurality of membranes, and wherein the membranes are selectively permeable for the predetermined gaseous species.

Abstract: A photo-voltaic cell with semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type has a first pattern of base and emitter surface regions on the back surface, the base and emitter surface regions being coupled to first and second output terminals respectively. A second pattern of first and second further surface regions on the front surface, electrically floating with respect to the first and second output terminals. The first and second further surface regions have the first and second conductivity type respectively. The first and second further surface regions at least partly overlap the emitter and base regions respectively, when seen in a projection along a direction perpendicular to the first surface.

Abstract: Method and system for the production of a combustible gas from a fuel, comprising the conversion of the fuel, at a temperature that is between 600 and 1000° C. and at a pressure that is lower than 10 bar, into at least a combustible gas that comprises CH4, CO, H2, CO2, H2O and higher hydrocarbons in a reactor installation (1). At least part of the higher hydrocarbons present in the combustible gas is catalytically converted into at least CH4, CO, H2, CO2 and H2O in a reactor (45) at a pressure that is lower than 10 bar. After this catalytic conversion, an amount of H2O and an amount of CO2 are removed from the combustible gas in a separator installation (50) at a pressure that is lower than 10 bar. After the removal of H2O and CO2, the pressure of the combustible gas is raised by a compressor (71).

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar cell (1), comprising a front side (10) and rear side (20). In use, the front side (10) is turned towards the light, on account of which charge carriers accumulate on the front side (10) and charge carriers of an opposite type accumulate on the rear side (20). The front side (10) is provided with a first pattern (13) of conductive elements (51, 52) which are connected to first contact points (15) on the rear side (20) by means of a number of vias (14) in the solar cell. The rear side (20) is provided with a second pattern of conductive elements (22) which are connected to second contact points (21) on the rear side (20). The first and second contact points (15, 21) are situated along a number of lines (30). The first contact points (15) are situated on a first side of the lines (30) and the second contact points (21) are situated on a second side of the lines (30).

Abstract: A photo-voltaic cell has a first and second two-dimensional array of contact points on the first surface, each coupled to a respective one of base and emitter areas in or on the semi-conductor body. Electrically separate first and second conductor structures on the first surface emanate from each contact point, coupled to contact points of the first and second two-dimensional array respectively. The first conductor structure comprises sets of first conductor line branches, the first conductor line branches of each set branching out from a respective one of the contact points of the first two-dimensional array in at least three successive different directions at less than a hundred and eighty degrees to each other.

Abstract: A method for the catalytic decomposition of N2O in an N2O- and NOx-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains a zeolite that has been loaded with a first metal chosen from a group of noble metals consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum and gold, and with a second metal chosen from a group of transition metals consisting of chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper, and in that the loading of the zeolite with these metals is effected by loading the zeolite with the noble metal and the transition metal simultaneously, also relating to a catalyst for this method and to a method for the preparation of the catalyst.

Abstract: A fire through conductor paste is applied as a plurality of mutually separate islands on a dielectric layer on a semi-conductor body of a photo-voltaic cell. A connecting structure of a further conductor paste is applied connecting the islands, at least on the dielectric layer between locations of the islands, so that the islands are connected by the connecting structure. Different compositions are used for the fire through conductor paste and the further conductor paste, which behave differently during firing. The fire through conductor paste and the further conductor paste are fired under process conditions wherein the fire through conductor paste fires through the dielectric layer and the further conductor paste does not fire through the dielectric layer. In this way the fire through metal paste establishes electric contact through the dielectric layer between the semi-conductor body and a structure formed from the further conductor paste.