Abstract: Ozone is generated by injecting a flow of oxygen or oxygen enriched air into a corona discharge zone formed between concentric inner tubular electrode/dielectric and outer tubular electrode. The dielectric of the tubular electrode/dielectric has a sealed end. The feed stream of oxygen or oxygen enriched air is injected by a tubular gas injector having an inlet end to accept the oxygen or oxygen enriched air and outlet end to inject the oxygen or oxygen enriched air within the inner concentric electrode/dielectric in proximity to the sealed end to flow the length of the inner concentric electrode/dielectric to the corona discharge zone for conversion of oxygen to ozone.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is a microwave bond cleavage of a first hydrocarbon compound, the first hydrocarbon compound in a liquid phase and substantially non-aqueous, to a second compound having a shorter carbon chain than the first hydrocarbon compound. The method has the steps of exposing a combination of the first hydrocarbon compound with a supported catalyst having a carrier of a non-metallic amorphous solid with at least one catalytic metal dispersed therein to microwave energy thereby converting the first hydrocarbon compound into the second hydrocarbon compound, and recovering the second hydrocarbon compound. Advantages of the present invention include use of a low cost supported catalyst at ambient temperature and pressure.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the extraction of a solute from an aqueous feed solution into an aqueous stripping solution are described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for customizing electrode contact placement on a semiconductor wafer while depositing and/or removing a material on a semiconductor wafer. The present invention is a adapter having at least one opening through which at least one electrode contacts the semiconductor wafer. The adapter may be designed to have multiple openings at specified locations on the adapter, thus allowing multiple electrode contacts with the semiconductor wafer at pre-specified locations. A conductive sheet may couple with the adapter to carry an electrical current from an electrical conductor to the electrode contacts placed within the openings of the adapter.

Abstract: A surface reformation method of a high polymer material irradiates an excimer-laser beam to only a predetermined area in which electronic parts and the like are temporarily immobilized by a liquid on a substrate which has a high polymer layer on the surface. The wettability of the liquid for temporary immobilization only with respect to the predetermined area is improved. After the electronic parts are temporarily immobilized on the substrate by using the method, the electronic parts can be durably soldered by fluxless reflow soldering.

Abstract: A process for purifying and refining platinum group metals such as platinum, iridium, palladium, rhodium and the like by an electrochemical process using ammonium chloride as the electrolyte to form ammonium chloride platinum group salts as a "slime" followed by the use of ammonia hydroxide to dissolve and separate said salts from other materials in the slime. A further step to precipitate the platinum metals from the ammonia hydroxide may be employed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a low pollution fuel comprising the steps of passing in an electromagnetic field a synthetic fuel comprising methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol and butyl alcohol, toluene, and heavy gasoline, subjecting the synthetic fuel to supersonic wave vibration, and having the synthetic fuel pass in contact with a predetermined inorganic substance. There is also provided an apparatus for producing a low pollution fuel which comprises a synthetic fuel introducing path, magnetic field generating means for generating a magnetic field, supersonic generating means, and inorganic substance, a synthetic fuel contact path for passing a synthetic fuel in contact with the inorganic substance, a synthetic fuel discharge path, and means for sending out the synthetic fuel.

Abstract: A novel laser-induced precipitation process is disclosed for forming purified alumina hydrate from a sodium aluminate solution by illuminating with light wave energy produced by the near infrared wavelength, linearly polarized output of a laser. In one aspect, supersaturated sodium aluminate solution is treated by illuminating with light wave energy to produce a photo-induced nucleation of purified gibbsite aluminum trihydroxide crystals. Near infrared pulses of light wave energy, spatially and temporally overlapped inside the supersaturated sodium alumina, form a precipitated purified alumina hydrate without the need for external seed to be added.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is for producing at least hydrogen from a gaseous hydrocarbon. The gaseous hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, butane, propane and combinations thereof. The method proceeds by exposing the gaseous hydrocarbon with the supported catalyst to microwave radiation. The supported catalyst has a support of a lattice of a non-metallic amorphous solid and at least one catalytic metal having atoms interspersed throughout the lattice of the support. A preferred embodiment is a lattice of carbon with at least one catalytic metal interspersed throughout the lattice. Examples include char.