Abstract: A continuous hydrothermal process for producing LFP/LMFP cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The reactant solutions include: (1) a lithium precursor (LiOH) and a carbon source (15 wt % sucrose); (2) an iron precursor (FeSO4) and a phosphorus precursor (H3PO4); and in the case of LMFP, a manganese precursor (MnSO4) and a surfactant in solution 2. Reactant solutions are fed into a series of one or more continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) at a constant flowrate. Active LFP/LMFP flows out of the CSTRs and into a collection tank, where it is cooled and depressurized. The product flows into a slurry tank, then a centrifugal separator to remove aqueous waste. The LFP/LMFP is transferred to a continuous rotary kiln for drying and sintering, and the carbon coating forms. The disclosed processes produce LFP/LMFP with small average particle size, high purity, high capacity, and high yield without any ball-milling or sieving steps.

Abstract: A grafted copolymer sorbent for CO2 capture in gaseous and aqueous environments, formed using a grafting-from (ring-opening polymerization) technique. The sorbent is characterized by a porous support resin, a surface area of 25-250 m2/g, a nitrogen content of 5-30% by weight, a pore volume of 0.25-0.7 cm3/g, and its being formed by a grafting-from technique. A method for CO2 capture from aqueous environments, including freshwater and ocean water, comprising contacting a water stream with a grafted-from sorbent. The sorbent has higher CO2 uptake efficiency than grafted-to sorbents. A method for CO2 capture from gaseous environments, comprising: providing the sorbent, wherein the sorbent is formed by the steps comprising: providing a support resin and cyclic imino ether-containing monomer compound and, grafting the cyclic imino ether-containing monomer compound off the support resin using a grafting-from technique; and contacting a gaseous stream containing CO2 to be removed with the support.

Abstract: A device and a method of using the device to detect flaw and defects in carbon fiber laminates. The device contains an electromagnetic inductive coupling flaw detection for carbon fiber laminates with an excitor-detector operated with alternating current, an impedance matched RLC circuit and a vector-network-analyzer. The device can generate a 2-dimensional or a 3-dimensional representation to indicate a flaw location in a carbon fiber laminate.

Abstract: A hybrid process, comprising of a metal oxide catalyst and an advanced sorbent is for removing mercaptans, COS, CS2 and other complex sulfide/disulfide compounds from natural gas, natural gas liquids, and CO2 rich gas streams. A dedicated catalyst bed is used to dimerize the mercaptans into their respective disulfides. The removal of dimerized compounds is easily achieved over low-cost high surface area adsorbents. The catalyst has the desired surface functionalization to promote the reaction either in the presence of high concentrations of water or in dry gas streams. A low-cost mesoporous carbon adsorbent may be used to remove the heavy disulfide species with high capacity and removal efficiency. The pore size of the sorbent may be optimized to accommodate large species.

Abstract: A man-portable dialysate generator with a forward osmosis membrane module, a concentrated aqueous salt solution reservoir, a non-sterile water feedstock inlet, and a collection reservoir that produces sterile dialysate from non-sterile feed water. The dialysate generator does not have an electric-powered pump to move fluids across the osmosis membrane, or does not have electric-powered pumps that generate more than 5 psi for fluid pressure. The dialysate generator is man-portable, less than 50 pounds and maybe less than 31 pounds, and preferably less than 10 pounds. The device is particularly advantageous for use in forward deployed military patient care, disaster response or remote medical care situations away from clean water and electricity.

Abstract: A mesoporous carbon sorbent for removal of carbon dioxide from a gaseous material includes a BJH average pore width greater than about 3 nm, and a selectivity of carbon dioxide to nitrogen greater than about 20.00 at about 30° C., a partial pressure of carbon dioxide of about 114 mmHg, and a partial pressure of nitrogen of about 646 mmHg. Related mesoporous carbon sorbents, and methods of forming the carbon sorbents are also disclosed.

Abstract: A corrosion detecting composition comprising a nanoparticle and at least one chemically reactive adsorbate associated with the nanoparticle. The chemically reactive adsorbate displays a responsive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectral response that is a function of pH. The nanoparticle is contained in a selective carrier; such that the selective carrier allows transport of protons or hydroxide anions to the chemically reactive adsorbate associated with the nanoparticle. Lastly, the selective carrier restricts transport of organic chemical compounds to the at least one chemically reactive adsorbate. This allows the Raman sensor molecules to be blended with paints and coatings prior to application on metal surfaces, and the Raman sensor molecules do not prematurely react with the components of paints or coatings. A Raman detectors can be used to non-destructively interrogate the Raman sensor molecules and detect the pH changes associated with undercoat corrosion.

Abstract: A carbon sorbent for removing carbon dioxide from a gaseous material includes a surface composition including carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. The nitrogen atoms at the surface of the carbon sorbent may be present in pyridone, pyrrole, and pyridine. The surface of the carbon sorbent may include lactone groups and pyrone groups. The carbon sorbent may have a bulk density greater than about 0.40 grams per cubic centimeter. The carbon sorbent may be formed using amino acids to provide the nitrogen for the carbon sorbent. In addition, the use of processing aids during the formation of the carbon sorbent facilitates the formation of a denser carbon sorbent. Related methods of forming the carbon sorbent and pellets of the carbon sorbent are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for non-invasive characterization of an electrical charge storage device such as a lithium battery, containing lithium ions or lithium metal, the method comprising. The method includes the steps of a) providing at least one electric charge storage device; b) measuring a magnetic field generated by the at least one electrical charge storage device using at least one magnetic field sensor positioned in electromagnetic communication_to the electrical charge storage device; c) acquiring magnetic field data; and, d) determining the condition of the at least one electrical charge storage device using the magnetic field data. The method is operable and effective without magnetic shielding from external magnetic fields, including Earth's magnetic field.

Abstract: A thermally luminescent temperature sensor with a rare earth emitter having a first selective electromagnetic light energy emission band and a second selective electromagnetic light energy emission band in which the rare earth emitter converts thermal energy to electromagnetic light energy within the first and second selective energy emission bands. The sensor also has a selective optical detector in optical communication with the rare earth emitter, wherein the selective optical detector independently detects each the first and second selective electromagnetic light energy emission bands. Lastly, the thermally luminescent temperature sensor determines the temperature based on the electromagnetic light energy measured within the first and second selective energy emission bands relative to each other. Optionally additional emission bands may be used in the evaluation of the temperature.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating the outer integument of an animal without transferring contamination to the inner integument of the animal where the hazard can interact with the skin and harm the animal further. The animal has either fur, hair, or feathers and the inner integument is the skin and a skin-hazard material is present on the outer integument (the fur, hair, or feathers). The method uses a first porous dry wipe to sequester the skin-hazard material away from the contaminated animal by either wiping, blotting or rubbing the outer integument of the contaminated animal. The method avoids using free-flowing liquid in contact with the inner integument of the contaminated animal, and does not promote a liquid-phase transfer of the skin-hazard material from the outer integument to the inner integument.

Abstract: An activated carbon-coated carbon black material having a nitrogen BET surface area of about 850 to 1800 m2/g, a packing density of at least 0.8 g/cc as determined at a compressive force of 500 kgf/cm2 on dry carbon powder, an electrical conductivity of a least 10 S/cm at a compressive force of 500 kgf/cm2 on dry carbon powder and electrodes and batteries comprising the carbon material. Methods for preparing such carbon materials from sugar, dextrose, oils and carbon black are described. The material is comprised of carbon black particles coated with a porous activated carbon shell.

Abstract: A system and method for separating and/or purification of CO2 gas from a CO2 feed stream is described. The system and method include a plurality of fixed sorbent beds, adsorption zones and desorption zones, where the sorbent beds are connected via valve and lines to create a simulated moving bed system, where the sorbent beds move from one adsorption position to another adsorption position, and then into one regeneration position to another regeneration position, and optionally back to an adsorption position. The system and method operate by concentration swing adsorption/desorption and by adsorptive/desorptive displacement.

Abstract: We describe methods and materials for inhibiting the growth of a microbial pathogen of a plant. The method comprises the steps of applying to the plant a combination of a dye-bearing compound which is a reactive oxygen species photosensitizer; and a copper compound, which increases the microbial lethality of the dye-bearing compound towards the microbial pathogen; and exposing the plant to light to activate the combination of the dye-bearing compound and the copper compound and inhibiting growth of a microbial pathogen of a plant. The combination of the dye-bearing compound and the copper compound may result in a synergistic ability to reduce the growth of a plant pathogen.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to CCS sorbents, particularly for CO2/H2O displacement desorption process. The sorbents include an aluminum oxide support that includes alkali metal salts within the support, in the form of pseudo alkali aluminate. The sorbents also include alkali metal salt impregnated on the support. The sorbents demonstrate improved CO2 loadings and better H2O/CO2 ratios, as well as improved stability. Compositions and methods of making are disclosed.

Abstract: Crosslink-forming monomers, comprising reverse-acrylate groups, and crosslinked polymer networks formed by the polymerization of monomers that comprise said reverse-acrylate crosslink-forming monomers. Crosslink-forming monomers, comprising reverse-acrylate groups, comprising an alkyl, an aryl, an alkoxyl, and an alkylamino group bridging one or more reverse-acrylate groups. Crosslink-forming monomers, comprising reverse-acrylate groups, comprising an alkyl, an aryl, an alkoxyl, and an alkylamino ester groups. Crosslink-forming monomers, comprising reverse-acrylate groups, comprising alkyl groups where the group is selected from the group consisting of a methyl, an ethyl, a propyl, an n-butyl and a t-butyl. Reverse-acrylate crosslink-forming monomers comprise a chemical structure where the two or more polymerizable carbon-carbon double bonds are connected by a crosslinking group on the opposite side of the hydrolysable ester groups relative to normal crosslinking acrylate monomers.

Abstract: A method for cleaning firearm suppressors comprising: providing a used suppressor having an internal cavity with a fouling material deposited on a surface of the internal cavity; providing a cleaning solution; providing an ultra-sonic probe; introducing the cleaning solution into the internal cavity of the used suppressor; contacting at least part of the ultra-sonic probe with the cleaning solution that is introduced inside the internal cavity of the used suppressor; operating the ultra-sonic probe; removing at least part of the fouling material from the surface of the internal cavity of the used suppressor; and, draining the cleaning solution from the used suppressor.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of preparing the compositions are disclosed for sorbents and other surfaces that can adsorb and desorb carbon dioxide. A sorbent or surface can include a metal compound such as an alkali or alkaline earth compound and a support. The sorbent can be prepared by several methods, including an incipient wetness technique. The sorbents have a CO2 adsorption and desorption profile. A sorbent having high levels of a metal compound and adsorbed CO2 is disclosed.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted pressure swing adsorption device for purifying oxygen from air, comprising: a first adsorption bed of LiLSX adsorbent and second adsorption bed of AgLiLSX adsorbent, wherein the first adsorption bed and the second adsorption bed are connected to each other in series. A method for producing medical oxygen using a vacuum assisted pressure swing adsorption device comprising: a first adsorption bed of LiLSX adsorbent and second adsorption bed of AgLiLSX adsorbent, wherein the first adsorption bed and the second adsorption bed are connected to each other in series.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to CCS sorbents, particularly for CO2/H2O displacement desorption process. The sorbents include an aluminum oxide support that includes two alkali metal salts impregnated on the support. The two alkali metals include a potassium metal salts and a second alkali metal salt which is not potassium. The second metal salt disrupts poisoning effects that degrade sorbent lifetime. The sorbents demonstrate improved CO2 loadings and better H2O/CO2 ratios, as well as improved stability. Compositions and methods of making are disclosed.