Abstract: The present invention provides new compositions of matter, referred to as quasi-crystalline carboxylates (QCCs), their preparation and use. The materials comprise a quasi-crystalline hydrated magnesium-aluminium hydroxy carboxylate and are characterised by the presence of at least a strong reflection in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern at a basal spacing in the range of 5 to 15 Å. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the QCCs, Mg—Al solid solutions and anionic clays under acidic conditions. The QCC is prepared by aging an acidic mixture of a magnesium carboxylate and an aluminium source. Calcination of the QCC results in a Mg—Al solid solution; rehydration of this solid solution gives an anionic clay.

Abstract: A gas mixture containing a fuel, water and air is supplied to one end of a reforming room, and a reformed gas containing hydrogen is discharged from the other end thereof. Two or more such reforming units are connected in series, and the upstream part of each reforming room is filled with a first catalyst which catalyzes a partial oxidation reaction in an oxygen-rich environment, and the downstream part is filled with a second catalyst which performs the reforming reaction. The gas mixture which has been heated in a heating unit passes through a distribution tube and is distributed evenly to the reforming units. The reforming room is composed of a reforming tube in which a reforming catalyst is charged, or two or more such reforming tubes, parallel to each other. After being reformed the high-temperature reformed gas is passed wound the reforming tubes, and fed back to a manifold.

Abstract: A semi-closed combined cycle power system 100 is provided which can also convert an open combined cycle gas turbine 10 into a non-polluting zero emissions power system. The prior art open combined cycle gas turbine 10 includes a compressor 20 which compresses air A′ and combusts the air A′ with a fuel, such as natural gas. The products of combustion and the remaining portions of the air form the exhaust E′ which is expanded through the turbine 40. The turbine 40 drives the compressor 20 band outputs power. The exhaust E′ exits the turbine 40 and then can optionally be routed through a heat recovery steam generator 50 to function as a combined cycle. According to this invention, the exhaust E′ is not emitted into the atmosphere, but rather is routed to a divider 110. The divider 110 includes two outlets for the exhaust E′ including a return duct 120 and a separation duct 130 which both receive a portion of the exhaust E′.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new process and apparatus for steam reforming of any vaporizable hydrocarbon to produce H2 and CO2, with minimal CO, and no CO in the H2 stream, using a membrane steam reforming (MSR) reactor and flameless distributed combustion (FDC) which provides great improvements in heat exchange efficiency and load following capabilities to drive the steam reforming reaction. The invention also pertains to a zero emission hybrid power system wherein the produced hydrogen is used to power a high-pressure molten carbonate fuel cell. In addition, the design of the FDC-MSR powered fuel cell makes it possible to capture good concentrations of CO2 for sequestration or use in other processes.

Abstract: A method is provided in which stoichiometrically proportions of solid alkali metal borohydride are reacted with solid hydrated alkali metal borate. Upon heating, the borohydride hydrolyzes to generate controlled amounts of hydrogen gas and solid by-products. Water for the reaction is stored and carried in the hydrated borate, which is a hydrate of the reaction's by-product. At a suitable temperature, the hydrate melts and releases sufficient water for hydrolysis of the borohydride to molecular hydrogen.

Abstract: Recycling a portion of autothermal reformer effluent into the steam-hydrocarbon feed stream with a thermo-compressor ejector is disclosed, using the preheated feed mixture as motive fluid. Syngas recycle-motive fluid molar ratios are 0.2-1.0, selected to optimize the overall configuration. The recycle introduces hydrogen and steam into the feed, and elevates the feed temperature, for operating the reformer in a soot-free regime. There is some pressure drop between the raw feed steam-natural gas mixture and the reformer feed, which requires the raw feed mixture to be supplied at a higher pressure, but this is offset by the lower pressure drop in the process heater and other upstream and downstream equipment due to lower quantities of steam. The feed pre-heater can have a lower duty, and the upstream and downstream equipment can be reduced in size, while the size of the autothermal reformer is about the same compared to the size needed for operation without effluent recycle.

Abstract: A combustion catalyst for removing organic compounds from a gas stream containing the same and a process for removing organic compounds from the gas stream using the catalyst are disclosed. The combustion catalyst comprises a first catalyst comprising a metal oxide containing at least one of the elements of the platinum group, and a second catalyst comprising a mixture of zeolite with a metal oxide containing at least one of the elements of the platinum group, in a manner such that the organic compounds are contacted first with the first catalyst and then with the second catalyst, whereby the organic compounds can be efficiently removed at a low temperature.

Abstract: A plasma reactor including a first dielectric having at least one capillary defined therethrough, and a segmented electrode including a plurality of electrode segments, each electrode segment is disposed proximate an associated capillary. Each electrode segment may be formed in different shapes, for example, a pin, stud, washer, ring, or disk. The electrode segment may be hollow, solid, or made from a porous material. The reactor may include a second electrode and dielectric with the first and second dielectrics separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel therebetween into which the plasma exiting from the capillaries in the first dielectric is discharged. The fluid to be treated is passed through the channel and exposed to the plasma discharge. If the electrode segment is hollow or made of a porous material, then the fluid to be treated may be fed into the capillaries in the first dielectric and exposed therein to the maximum plasma density.

Abstract: Bimodal inorganic material that in a pore size distribution plot has distinct mesopore and micropore peaks. A process for producing a bimodal material or a material that contains essentially only mesopores involves heating an inorganic oxide in the presence of material that bonds to the inorganic oxide by hydrogen bonding. The micropores may or may not include a crystalline structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing simultaneously food-grade and fodder-grade phosphoric acid by crystallizing phosphoric acid hemihydrate, H3PO4×0.5H2O, from a prepurified feed acid, which is purified and crystallized with the help of the following steps, a) after the step of froth-flotation of phosphate concentrate, the concentrate is directed to a strongly magnetic separation step in order to decrease the Mg ion amount, b) the phosphate concentrate is leached in a mixture of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid according to the wet process, the precipitated SO4 and As ions are removed, and a silicon source is added in order to adjust the F/Si molar ratio to <6, c) the phosphoric acid is concentrated, the solids precipitate is removed, and the F ions are evaporated, d) the feed acid obtained from step c, having a concentration of >58% P2O5, solids concentration of <0.05%, Mg ion concentration of <1.

Abstract: A method is provided that generates hydrogen to power a hydrogen consuming device. Hydrogen is stored on-board a motorized vehicle, or the like, in a stabilized slurry of alkali metal borohydride particles and water. Upon demand from the hydrogen consuming device, such as a fuel cell, a portion of the slurry is conveyed to a reactor where borohydride particles are heated so that they hydrolyze to produce hydrogen gas and solid-phase by-products. The reactor includes a mixing element therein where the slurry is mixed and ground to expose unreacted borohydride particles from the solid reaction products. A separate grinding mechanism can be used to further crush and grind by-product particles for reaction efficiency and product transport. The solid-phase by-products are then stored in a by-products storage vessel whereas hydrogen gas is delivered to either a hydrogen buffer container for temporary storage or to the hydrogen consuming device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the post-treatment of exhaust gas produced by an internal combustion engine (1), in particular in a motor vehicle, wherein the following are provided: a hydrolysis unit (10) and a metering device (15) connected to it via a hydrogen line (17) for the metered addition of hydrogen to the untreated exhaust gas (A) and/or to the exhaust gas treated by means of an oxidation catalytic converter (3), and a control/regulating unit (18) that is functionally connected to the hydrolysis unit (10) and the metering device (15) in order to control or regulate the production of hydrogen in the hydrolysis unit (10) and the metering device (15) as a function of certain operating states of the internal combustion engine (1) and registered parameters of the exhaust-gas system (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A CO-shift device includes a main body having therein a space in which a CO-shift catalyst is accommodated, the space being divided into an inner space and an outer space surrounding the inner space; an inlet portion formed at one end portion of the inner space, the inlet portion being supplied with a reformed gas such that the reformed gas flows through the inner space. An outlet portion is formed at one end portion of the outer space and a redirecting portion is provided between the other end portion of the inner space and the other end portion of the redirecting portion, thereby reversing the reformed gas flown into the other end of the inner space in order that the resulting reformed gas passes through the outer space to be exhausted from the outlet portion, the reformed gas being shifted to reduce CO by the CO-shift catalyst during its movement through the inner and outer spaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for suppressing the formation of metal-containing coke during processing of a hydrocarbonaceous material, such as for example a hydrocarbon conversion processes. The process involves using a feed comprising CO2 and steam in combination with equipment comprising high nickel and/or cobalt alloy metallurgy including aluminum or an aluminum coating in order to reduce metal catalyzed coking at process temperatures above about 800 degrees F. The process is particularly useful in the reforming of a hydrocarbon material to make hydrogen for operation in a fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention concerns materials for eliminating oxides of nitrogen NO and NO2 present in exhaust gases, in particular from the internal combustion engines of automotive vehicles operating in a medium that is super-stoichiometric in oxidizing agents, which can adsorb oxides of nitrogen then desorb the oxides of nitrogen by elevating the temperature with respect to the adsorption temperature or by passage of a rich mixture, the materials comprising mixed oxides the metals of which are in octahedral co-ordination, with the octahedra connecting together so that the structure generates micropores in the form of channels. The channel width of the materials is such that the sides are composed of 2 and/or 3 octahedra. These materials adsorb oxides of nitrogen by insertion and do not become poisoned in contact with oxides of sulfur and carbon contained in the gases.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a process that allows for the adjustment of hydrogen concentration in a syngas product or Fischer-Tropsch feedstock stream. In particular, the invention is identified as an improved process for producing syngas comprising a secondary chemical reaction, preferably a water gas shift reaction, that allows for the adjustment of the hydrogen concentration in a syngas product stream. Ultimately, the present invention is for an improved process for converting hydrocarbon-containing gas to liquid hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A new cost effective and thermally efficient process for converting nearly valueless resources, such as “static,” lower quality sour natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide, to useable fuels and chemicals, such as hydrogen, methanol and high cetane diesel fuel. The preferred method and apparatus can be used to treat conventional sour gas, i.e., gas having a ratio of H2S to CH4 of at least 0.1 moles and preferably of at least 0.33 moles/mole, using a reforming catalyst and a sulfur capture agent. The process nominally can be carried out using two reactors that repeatedly cycle reactants between two basic process steps—reforming, and air regeneration.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for directly preparing alkali metal aluminum hydrides such as NaAlH4 and Na3AlH6 from either the alkali metal or its hydride, and aluminum. The hydride thus prepared is doped with a small portion of a transition metal catalyst compound, such as TiCl3, TiF3, or a mixture of these materials, in order to render them reversibly hydridable. The process provides for mechanically mixing the dry reagents under an inert atmosphere followed by charging the mixed materials with high pressure hydrogen while heating the mixture to about 125° C. The method is relatively simple and inexpensive and provides reversible hydride compounds which are free of the usual contamination introduced by prior art wet chemical methods.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for producing a synthesis gas from a variety of hydrocarbons. The apparatus (device) consists of a semi-batch, non-constant volume reactor to generate a synthesis gas. While the apparatus feeds mixtures of air, steam, and hydrocarbons into a cylinder where work is performed on the fluid by a piston to adiabatically raise its temperature without heat transfer from an external source.

Abstract: In a method of removing metals such as mercury from flue gas produced by combustion devices, ammonia and optionally carbon monoxide are injected into the flue gas in a manner so that there are sufficient amounts of these materials in the flue gas when the flue gas is at a temperature of from 900° F. to 1350° F. to oxidize the metals within the flue gas. The oxidized metals are then attracted to particulates present in the flue gas. These particulates bound with oxidized metals are removed from the flue gas by a particulate removal device such as an electrostatic precipitator or baghouse.