Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dissociating an aqueous solution which includes electrochemical oxidation of the aqueous solution in the presence of pulsed light, said pulsed light being generated from a first source of light energy with a predetermined pulse frequency value, using an enzyme composition based on a first enzyme complex PSII, isolated from a second enzyme complex PSI, with production of oxygen, free electrons and free protons in the aqueous solution, characterised in that said light energy has a variable energy value over time, said method also including a step of modulating said predetermined pulse frequency value of said pulsed light.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and a method for reducing hazardous gases, including PHGs, through one or more photocatalysts in a filter system. A microstructure of the photocatalytic filter can be formed using biological systems as a template for the photocatalysts to be deposited thereon. The biological system can be removed by heat, oxidation, or by chemical processes to leave the photocatalytic template as a filter for the gases. In various embodiments, multiple photocatalysts can be activated at different wavelengths to filter different gases, or multiple photocatalysts can be activated at the same wavelength to filter different gases, or a photocatalyst can be activated at different wavelengths to filter different gases, or some combination thereof. The activation can be sequential or concurrent. For multiple layers of photocatalysts, the sequence of the photocatalysts can be arranged to reduce damaging output from an upstream photocatalyst to one or more downstream photocatalysts.

Abstract: Process and respective reactor for urea or melamine synthesis, comprising sonication treatment of at least part of a reaction liquid mass or two-phase mixture contained inside said reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for providing corrosion protection of a metallic structure using time varying electromagnetic wave. The system comprises: a generator for generating electromagnetic wave having a time varying frequency, said generator having at least two output terminals in electrical connection respectively with first and second excitation sites positioned in a spaced manner on the metallic structure, allowing for subjecting the metallic structure to the electromagnetic wave; and an electric power source connected to the generator for applying a driving voltage to the generator to drive the generation of the electromagnetic wave; wherein the driving voltage and/or the frequency of the electromagnetic wave are selected such that the metallic structure is energized to form in-situ a passive oxidized species of the metal on a surface of the metallic structure, which species is insusceptible to corrosion.

Abstract: Provided herein are scalable photoreactors that can include a membrane-free water-splitting electrolyzer and systems that can include a plurality of membrane-free water-splitting electrolyzers. Also provided herein are methods of using the scalable photoreactors provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the use of a metal nanoparticle which comprises at least one semiconductor attached to it, wherein the at least one semiconductor is an atomic quantum cluster (AQC) consisting of between 2 and 55 zero-valent transition metal atoms, as photocatalysts in photocatalytic processes and applications thereof.

Abstract: A liquid activation and electrolytic apparatus includes: a liquid activation apparatus that includes a liquid activator with a black radiation sintered body radiating electromagnetic waves and an electromagnetic wave converging body and assembled bodies integrated together with the black radiation sintered body on the outside, the electromagnetic wave converging body on the inside, and a liquid activation region by the electromagnetic waves formed on the inside of the electromagnetic wave converging body and activates, in the above region, a liquid portion of a liquid electrolytic solution; and an electrolytic unit that includes an electrolysis container using a titanium or platinum electrode as a negative electrode and a platinum electrode as a positive electrode and containing the electrolytic solution and a power source applying a variable direct-current voltage to the negative and positive electrodes and performs the electrolysis of the electrolytic solution with the activated liquid portion in the electr

Abstract: Metallic nanorods are welded together in a controllable fashion. A suspension of metallic nanorods coated with an anionic polymer is contracted with linking molecules each comprising a liquid crystal with at least two available carboxylic acid moieties. The nanoparticles to self-assemble into dimers. Irradiation of the dimers with femtosecond radiation forms a metallic junction between them and welds the dimers into fused dimers.

Abstract: Methods for converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into graphene are described. The methods include contacting a metal with gaseous carbon dioxide, and irradiating a surface of the metal with at least one laser beam to convert the gaseous carbon dioxide into graphene on the surface of the metal. Systems for converting carbon dioxide into graphene are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the infrared-light-induced yield optimization of chemical reactions, wherein an energy input into at least one starting material that is subjected to a chemical reaction takes place by means of infrared light pulses having a mean wavelength in the range of 2000 to 100000 nm. The chemical reaction here is a reaction in which a product, the molecular formula of which does not correspond to the molecular formula of the starting material, is formed and wherein the yield optimization for the most part is not based on a thermal heating of the starting material. The invention is characterized in that the infrared light pulses have a fixed wavelength and in that the energy input into the starting material takes place by means of vibration excitation by a one-photon process.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma is generated to selectively convert a precursor to a product. More specifically, plasma forming material and a precursor material are provided to a reaction zone of a vessel. The reaction zone is exposed to microwave radiation, including exposing the plasma forming material and the precursor material to the microwave radiation. The exposure of the plasma forming material to the microwave radiation selectively converts the plasma forming material to a non-thermal plasma including formation of one or more streamers. The precursor material is mixed with the plasma forming material and the precursor material is exposed to the non-thermal plasma including exposing the precursor material to the one or more streamers. The exposure of the precursor material to the streamers and the microwave radiation selectively converts the precursor material to a product.

Abstract: Methane may be dissociated at low temperatures and/or pressures utilizing a reactor designed to generate shockwaves in a supersonic gaseous vortex. Within a preprocessing chamber, the methane may be pressurized to a pressure of 700 kPa or more, and heated to a temperature below a dissociation temperature of methane. The methane may be introduced as a gas stream substantially tangentially to an inner surface of a chamber of the reactor to effectuate a gaseous vortex rotating about a longitudinal axis within the chamber. The gas stream may be introduced using a nozzle that accelerates the gas stream to a supersonic velocity. A frequency of shockwaves emitted from the nozzle into the gaseous vortex may be controlled. Product gas and carbon byproduct may be emitted from the chamber of the reactor. The carbon byproduct may be separated out from the product gas using a gas/solid separator.

Abstract: A gas reactor system may be configured for facilitating chemical reactions of gases using shockwaves produced in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The system may include a gas source to provide a gas to a heater and/or a reactor. The reactor may be configured to facilitate chemical reactions of gases using shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may be arranged with a gas inlet to introduce a high-velocity steam of gas into a chamber of the reactor. The gas inlet may effectuate a vortex of supersonic circulating gas within the chamber. The vortex may rotate at supersonic speed about the longitudinal axis of the chamber. The system may be configured to store an output product of the reactor in a storage tank in fluid communication with the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for performing PCO reaction. The method comprises steps of: guiding an air flow into a PCO reactor, which PCO reactor contains photocatalyst for the PCO reaction; splitting the air flow into a first stream and a second stream, wherein quantity of the first stream being less than quantity of the second stream; obtaining the humidity of the photocatalyst; controlling the humidity of the first stream according to the obtained humidity of the photocatalyst; adjusting the humidity of the photocatalyst by guiding the first stream to the photocatalyst; guiding the second stream through the photocatalyst; and illuminating the photocatalyst with light. By controlling the humidity of air passing through the photocatalyst oxidation based on the obtained humidity of the photocatalyst, PCO reaction can be performed effectively.

Abstract: A method includes exposing a non-aqueous solution to ultraviolet illumination, where the non-aqueous solution includes one or more lanthanide elements and one or more photo-initiators. The method also includes producing lanthanide nanoparticles using the non-aqueous solution. The non-aqueous solution could be formed by mixing a first non-aqueous solution including the one or more lanthanide elements and a second non-aqueous solution including the one or more photo-initiators. The non-aqueous solution could include one or more metallic salts, where each metallic salt includes at least one lanthanide element. The one or more metallic salts could include erbium chloride, and the one or more photo-initiators could include benzophenone. The non-aqueous solution could include an organic solvent, such as an alcohol.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode for water-splitting reaction that is capable of increasing conductive path between a photocatalyst layer and a current collecting layer without inhibiting light absorption by photocatalyst, which comprises: a photocatalyst layer 10; a current collecting layer 30; and a contact layer 20 that contains semiconductor or good conductor and is provided between the photocatalyst layer 10 and the current collecting layer 30, wherein the contact layer 20 is provided along the surface shape of the photocatalyst layer 10 at the current collecting layer 30 side of the photocatalyst layer 10.

Abstract: A method for magnetic/electrostatic/electromagnetic treatment of fluids consisting of three separate phases that are spatially and temporally decoupled. In the first phase, a magnetic/electrostatic/electromagnetic field is applied to a working fluid under circulation to obtain the directly ionized fluid. In the second phase, the directly ionized fluid is used as an ionizer or an ionizing agent for ionizing indirectly the normal non-ionized fluid by mixing the directly ionized fluid and normal non-ionized fluid in accordance with a predetermined mixing ratio and mixing method between the directly ionized fluid and normal non-ionized fluid. In the third phase, the resultant mixed or indirectly-ionized fluid is used in the proper application directly or stored in a storage tank for later use.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods of making substituted arenes via direct C—H amination. More specifically, methods of making para- and ortho-substituted arenes via direct C—H amination are disclosed. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of removing at least one single ring aromatic hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon contaminated fluid. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon contaminated fluid with carbon nanotubes to adsorb the at least one single ring aromatic hydrocarbon while exposing the hydrocarbon contaminated fluid and the carbon nanotubes to UV irradiation from at least one UV light source, preferably a UV light emitting diode (LED), with a wavelength of about 315-415 nm, preferably about 365 nm, to form a treated fluid having a reduced concentration of the at least one single ring aromatic hydrocarbon relative to the hydrocarbon contaminated fluid.

Abstract: Materials such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) and hydrocarbon-containing materials are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, or oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and coal to produce altered materials such as fuels (e.g., ethanol and/or butanol). The processing includes exposing the materials to an ion beam.