Abstract: Solid, shaped and fired fibers of Ti4O7 and Ti5O9 are made by firing TiO2 fibers in a reducing atmosphere. In a first aspect, the TiO2 fibers are made by extruding into air a viscous TiO2 gel and heat treating the resulting green fibers to remove solvent, decompose and to volatilize undesired constituents to form electrically conductive, refractory fibers of Ti4O7 and Ti5O9. In a second aspect, solid, shaped and fired fibers of Ti4O7 and Ti5O9 are made by firing extruded fibers from mixtures of TiO2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a superconducting cable conductor which contains a carrying element, on which is wound at least one layer comprising two or more superconducting conductor elements, the individual conductor elements of each layer being arranged next to one another, and the superconducting conducting elements are formed from a tape-type substrate coated with a superconducting material based on rare earth barium cuprate, preferably based on yttrium barium cuprates.

Abstract: A fuel reforming method includes the step of supplying carbon-containing fuel and steam to a reactor filled with a fuel reforming catalyst and a CO2 absorbent and discharging CO2, and setting the absorbent at an absorption temperature, thereby converting the carbon-containing fuel into reformed fuel, and separating CO2 from the reformed fuel, the step of obtaining a product gas by oxidizing a portion of the reformed fuel and/or the carbon-containing fuel with an oxidizer, and heating the absorbent with this product gas to a regeneration temperature, thereby regenerating the absorbent and storing heat in this absorbent, and the step of supplying the carbon-containing fuel and steam to the reactor, thereby cooling, to the absorption temperature, the absorbent heated to the regeneration temperature, and converting the carbon-containing fuel into reformed fuel by heat energy stored in the CO2 absorbent. An apparatus for the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automobile exhaust system includes a catalytic converter and a modified NOx trap wit improved sulfur tolerance. Sulfur oxide has a deleterious effect on the performance of nitrogen oxide traps. In the modified NOx trap, a sulfur oxide trap is integrated with a nitrogen oxide trap by coating the catalyst contained within a nitrogen oxide trap with a mixed oxide layer of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. The NOx trap is regenerated by heating at elevated temperature for a short time period.

Abstract: A method of scrubbing lower mass sulfides with a sulfide scrubbing medium capable of regeneration. The sequential order of gas flow through three vessels is altered. A first of the three vessels is maintained in a scrubbing mode, scrubbing to breakthrough sulphur from the gas that passes through it. A second of the three vessels is maintained in a conditioning mode. Sulfide scrubbing medium in the vessel removes any residue of sulphur from the gas while being conditioned by such limited exposure to sulphur. A third of the three vessels is maintained in a regeneration mode. Saturated sulfide scrubbing medium in the vessel removes excess oxygen from the gas while being regenerated by such exposure to oxygen.

Abstract: The current invention provides systems and method for reducing emissions of gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. The invention utilizes at least one catalyst bed and at least one fluidizable bed of sorbent material. The current invention provides for regeneration of the sorbent material without interrupting the catalytic reaction.

Abstract: The invention provides a remediation method of soil, water and/or gases by prompt dehalogenation of halogenated hydrocarbons by allowing the halogenated hydrocarbons contained at least in one of the soil, water and/or gases to contact an iron powder containing about 0.03 to about 2% by mass of sulfur preferably on the surface, and an iron powder for use in the remediation method.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for isolating and purifying single wall carbon nanotubes from contaminant matrix material, methods for forming arrays of substantially aligned nanotubes, and products and apparatus comprising a plurality of nanotube structures.

Abstract: A monometal (1) is contacted with deuterated acidic water solution (2) in which at least some of hydrogen atoms contained in acidic water solution are substituted for deuterium atoms, thereby to generate hydrogen gas. With this, a great amount of hydrogen gas can be generated in a short period of time.

Abstract: This invention relates to an oxide superconducting wire comprising oxide superconducting filaments, a high-density ceramic layer uniformly surrounding each of the filaments, and a silver sheath that directly covers the ceramic layer. The ceramic layer becomes non-superconducting when the filaments are cooled to an operating temperature of oxide superconductors. The oxide superconductors can be isolated by the ceramic that acts as a highly resistive material or an insulator. A high normal resistance is achieved, and thereby AC loss is reduced remarkably.

Abstract: A method for forming a carbon nanotube array using a metal substrate includes the following steps: providing a metal substrate (11); oxidizing the metal substrate to form an oxidized layer (21) thereon; depositing a catalyst layer (31) on the oxidized layer; introducing a carbon source gas; and thus forming a carbon nanotube array (61) extending from the metal substrate. Generally, any metallic material can be used as the metal substrate. Various carbon nanotube arrays formed using various metal substrates can be incorporated into a wide variety of high power electronic device applications such as field emission devices (FEDs), electron guns, and so on. Carbon nanotubes formed using any of a variety of metal substrates are well aligned, and uniformly extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the metal substrate.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying NOx is provided which efficiently decomposes and purify the NOx in an exhaust gas in an oxygen-excess atmosphere, excels in resistance to heat and in durability in a high temperature range under a high-temperature oxidizing atmosphere and in the presence of moisture and SOx, and manifests the catalytic activity over a wide range of temperature. It is a catalyst for purifying nitrogen oxides formed by coating (A) a catalytically active component comprising (A-a) iridium and (A-b) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the elements of Group IIIA and Group IVA in the Periodic Table of the Elements with (B) a refractory inorganic compound.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon gas containing H2S, mercaptans and CO2 is fed to an absorption plant operated at a pressure of 20 to 80 bar and supplied with a selective solvent, a solvent stream loaded with H2S and a roughly desulfurized gas stream are withdrawn, the H2S loaded solvent stream is charged to a regeneration plant and the roughly desulfurized gas stream is charged to an absorption and regeneration plant operated at a pressure of 20 to 80 bar, a large first gas stream of H2S and CO2 and an unloaded solvent stream are withdrawn from the absorption regeneration plant, and the large first gas steam of H2S and CO2 is supplied to a Claus plant, and a valuable hydrocarbon gas stream is withdrawn from the absorption and regeneration plant.

Abstract: A surface contaminated by a radioactive isotope is cleaned by applying to it a solution that contains an ion-specific resin that is weakly bonded to an ion and a weak anion solution including a carrier, water, and an ion that frees the radioactive isotope from the contaminated surface. The radioactive isotope bonds with the ion-specific resin, replacing the ion weakly bonded to said ion-specific resin. In a preferred embodiment, the ion-specific resin is made in the counterion form of citrate, the ion that is weakly bonded to the ion-specific resin is citrate, the carrier is glycerin, the water is de-ionized or distilled, and the ion that frees the radioactive isotope from the contaminated surface is salicylate.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube-based device includes a substrate (10); a catalyst layer (13) disposed on the substrate, the catalyst layer comprising a number of nano-sized catalyst particles (131), a size of the catalyst particles decreasing along a given direction; and an array of aligned carbon nanotubes (14) extending from the catalyst layer in an arc toward the given direction. A method for making the carbon nanotube based device includes the steps of: (1) providing a substrate; (2) forming a catalyst layer on the substrate, a thickness of the catalyst layer decreasing along a given direction; (3) annealing the treated substrate in air to form nano-sized catalyst particles; (4) introducing a carbon source gas; and (5) forming an array of carbon nanotubes extending from the catalyst particles using a chemical vapor deposition method.

Abstract: A superconducting cable includes a first conductor layer formed of superconducting wires, and an insulating layer formed at the outer periphery of the first conductor layer. The first conductor layer is an assembly of a plurality of superconducting wires obtained by forming an RE based superconductor layer on a metal substrate. The current is limited by an electrical resistance generated when the current of the first conductor layer exceeds the critical current, thereby preventing the superconducting cable from being damaged. A superconducting cable line is formed of a base and a current limiter, which is formed by using the above-described superconducting cable. Accordingly, when a current exceeding the rated current of the base flows, it can be damped.

Abstract: Decontamination apparatus and methods involve catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to drive additional hydrogen peroxide to a contaminated location.

Abstract: There is provided a renewable energy carrier system and method wherein the aluminum metal is the carrier. Aluminum metal is reacted with water in a catalytic reaction, thereby splitting the water into hydrogen, oxygen and forming a clean aluminum derivative. The hydrogen is converted into useful energy and the aluminum derivative is recycled back into aluminum metal.

Abstract: Window treatment structures formed from a felted fibrous material such as needle punched felt as the material of construction. The felted fibrous material is adapted to accept grooved score lines to define living hinges for bending of the material to form top and/or side portions of the finished structure using a singe panel of such material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sulfur tolerant catalyst composites useful for reducing contaminants in exhaust gas streams, especially gaseous streams containing sulfur oxide contaminants. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with improved NOx trap catalysts for use in diesel engines as well as lean burn gasoline engines. The sulfur tolerant NOx trap catalyst composites comprise a platinum component, a support, a NOx sorbent component, and a spinel material prepared by calcining as anionic clay material represented by the formula MmNn(OH)(2m+2n)Aa.bH2O, wherein the formula is defined herein. The sulfur tolerant NOx trap catalyst composites are highly effective with a sulfur containing fuel by trapping sulfur oxide contaminants which tend to poison conventional NOx trap catalysts used to abate other pollutants in the stream.