Abstract: The invention is a method for preconditioning a palladium containing automotive catalyst by subjecting the catalyst to oxidation by means of an oxidizing gas containing at least 0.85% oxygen at a temperature of at least 450° C. preferably for at least 15 seconds. This oxidation can be carried out before or after engine shutdown. The catalyst is placed in the exhaust system in a location whereby the catalyst attains this temperature during steady state warm-up operation of the engine.

Abstract: Solid powdered reactive composition for the purification of a gas containing hydrogen chloride, the said reactive composition comprising more than 98% by weight of sodium bicarbonate and less than 2% by weight of sodium monocarbonate and exhibiting a particle size distribution defined by an average particle diameter of less than 0.050 mm and a particle size slope of less than 5. The reactive composition finds an application in the purification of flue gases from the incineration of household waste.

Abstract: Process for purifying a gas flow with respect to at least one of the impurities capable of being oxidized and/or reduced which it contains, in which the gas flow is subjected to at least the following steps:(a) compressing the gas flow to a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure,(b) bringing the compressed gas flow into contact with at least a first bed of particles of a material containing at least one metal peroxide, and(c) bringing the gas flow resulting from step (b) into contact with at least a second bed of at least one catalyst.

Abstract: A method of producing soot containing high amounts of fullerenes comprising: providing a primary concentrator capable of impingement of a concentrated beam of sunlight onto a carbon source to cause vaporization of carbon and subsequent formation of fullerenes, or providing a solar furnace having a primary concentrator with a focal point that concentrates a solar beam of sunlight; providing a reflective secondary concentrator having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture at the focal point of the solar furnace; providing a carbon source at the exit aperture of the secondary concentrator; supplying an inert gas over the carbon source to keep the secondary concentrator free from vaporized carbon; and impinging a concentrated beam of sunlight from the secondary concentrator on the carbon source to vaporize the carbon source into a soot containing high amounts of fullerenes.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing atmospheric pollution caused by a pollutant selected from the group consisting of CO.sub.2, SO.sub.2 and a mixture thereof, the pollutant being contained in industrial gases being emitted to the atmosphere, through the conversion of CO.sub.2 to calcium carbonate and the conversion of SO.sub.2 to calcium sulfite using conventionally available calcium salt-containing reactant; said method comprising reacting the pollutant-containing gas, prior to the venting thereof to the atmosphere, with an alkali base and an aqueous liquor, whereby the pollutant reacts with the base and transfers to the liquor, and the resulting gas vented to the atmosphere has a reduced pollutant content; and reacting the pollutant-loaded liquor with a calcium salt-containing reactant to form calcium carbonate and calcium sulfite respectively, with the co-formation of a commercially utilizable salt containing an anion from the calcium salt reactant and a cation from the alkali base.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for producing fullerene fibers by establishing an electric field between a needle electrode and an opposing electrode in the presence of carbon and a heat source. Carbon is directed by the electric field to the needle electrode and heated by the heat source to form a carbon-carbon bonded fullerene network. The needle electrode may be moved to lengthen the fullerene network into a fullerene fiber. Fullerene fibers of 0.5 cm or longer may be produced by this method.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas comprising a zeolite catalyst ion exchanged with cobalt and at least one alkaline earth metal and a zeolite catalyst ion-exchanged with copper, provided on an inlet side of an exhaust gas stream and an outlet side of the exhaust gas respectively, or randomly present in a mixed state.