Abstract: A method and an apparatus for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from sulphur dioxide containing (SO2) flue gases, wherein the flue gases are washed with washing solution in a scrubber, which comprises at least two washing stages. In the first washing stage the flue gases are washed for removing the sulphur dioxide in the flue gases and after that in the second washing stage for removing carbon dioxide (CO2). Sodium carbonate solution (Na2CO3) is used as washing solution in both the first and the second washing stages.

Abstract: An electroactivated film and methods for its production are described, where the film includes a first electrode that is spaced apart from a second electrode, a water insoluble electrically conductive medium which is permeable to moisture and oxygen, which comprises a water insoluble polymer gel containing an ionic liquid, and which contacts both electrodes, an electrocatalyst which can be reversibly oxidized and reduced and which facilitates the production of a peroxide when an electrical potential is imposed across the electrodes, and optionally a peroxide-activating catalyst which converts the peroxide to an activated peroxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and plant for producing sulphuric acid by catalytic oxidation of SO2 to form SO3 in a converter with at least one contact stage, the SO3-containing process gas, after it has passed through at least one contact stage, being withdrawn from the converter and fed to an apparatus for recovering heat, in which steam is generated from feedwater by means of the heat of the process gas, and the process gas then being fed to an absorber, in which the SO3 is absorbed in sulphuric acid. To improve the utilization of heat during the production of sulphuric acid, the feedwater is fed to the heat recovery apparatus at a higher temperature than the process gas fed to the absorber.

Abstract: Scrubber media for reactive gases, that can include but are not necessarily limited to hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen fluoride (HF), and ammonia (NH3), can include reactive particles, potentially as small as nano-scale, that can optionally be suspended on macro-scale carrier particles. Reactive gases can be converted to non-volatile compounds by being passed through a bed of such scrubber media. Such scrubber media can be used to remove reactive gases from gas mixtures. Potential applications include differential absorption spectroscopy, air pollutant emission controls, and the like. Methods of preparing scrubber media are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal cluster-carrying metal oxide support wherein a metal cluster obtained by use of a dendrimer is prevented from migrating to the surface of support and being sintered, and a process for production thereof. The process for producing the metal cluster-carrying metal oxide support of the present invention comprises (a) coordinating a first metal ion to a dendrimer 10, (b) reducing the first metal ion coordinated to the dendrimer to precipitate a cluster 6a of the first metal in the dendrimer, (c) further coordinating a second metal ion 8 to the dendrimer, and (d) drying and firing the solution containing this dendrimer on a metal oxide support 9, wherein the oxide of the second metal is the same as the metal oxide constituting the metal oxide support, or a metal oxide capable of forming a composite oxide with the metal oxide constituting the metal oxide support.

Abstract: There are described a process and a plant for producing sulfuric acid by catalytic oxidation of SO2 to SO3 and subsequent absorption of SO3 in sulfuric acid, wherein the SO3 is introduced into a first absorption stage and absorbed there in concentrated sulfuric acid, wherein the sulfuric acid having a higher concentration due to the absorption is passed through a heat exchanger and cooled, and wherein the non-absorbed SO3 is supplied to a second absorption stage for the further absorption in sulfuric acid. Before the first absorption stage a partial stream of SO3 is branched off and supplied directly to the second absorption stage.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a catalyst comprising iron oxide and alumina to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked to produce lighter hydrocarbons. The iron sulfide crystallites have diameters in the nanometer range.

Abstract: A fuel cell based power generator exhibits a plurality of different power outputs. A selection structure carried by the generator facilitates specification of a desired output power.

Abstract: A microreactor is configured to have a metal substrate having a microchannel portion on one surface thereof, a heater provided on the other surface of the metal substrate via an insulating film, a catalyst supported on the microchannel portion, and a cover member having a feed material inlet and a gas outlet and joined to the metal substrate so as to cover the microchannel portion. Since the microreactor uses the metal substrate having a high thermal conductivity and a small heat capacity, the efficiency of heat conduction from the heater to the supported catalyst becomes high, and the processing of the metal substrate is easy to facilitate the production.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is provided for a fuel cell and includes gas diffusion layers with integrated seals having interlocking features. The interlocking features of the gas diffusion layers allow the MEA to be constructed with a catalyst coated membrane between two gas diffusion layers with the integrated seals of the gas diffusion layers interlocking the gas diffusion layers together to complete the MEA.

Abstract: A method that allows producing hydrogen from methanol in a simple manner and an apparatus that is small in size and light in weight, which can produce hydrogen from methanol, are provided. The apparatus comprises a container (4) that retains liquid methanol (2) as a source material and gases (3) generated therein, a substrate (5) that is immersed in liquid methanol (2) in the container (4) loaded with a catalyst, and a power supply (6) for passing a direct or an alternating current through the substrate (5). The substrate may be made of an oxide or oxidized material, especially oxidized diamond, and loaded with a transition metal catalyst, especially Ni catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst carrier and exhaust gas purification catalyst superior in sintering inhibiting effect of precious metal catalyst particles are provided, that is, a catalyst carrier for carrying a precious metal comprised of a composite oxide of an electron accepting element (La) having an electron accepting property of accepting electrons from a precious metal element by approach or contact with the precious metal element (Pt) and not changing in atomic valence in an oxidation reduction reaction and of another element (Si) and, further, an exhaust gas purification catalyst comprised of this catalyst carrier on which precious metal catalyst particles are carried.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a reaction layer composed of a catalyst carrier, formed of a compound having inorganic electron conductor units and inorganic proton conductor units in its molecular structure, and a catalyst supported on the catalyst carrier.

Abstract: A device which can mix and store fuel and water, which is orientation independent and which has a small volume. The device includes: at least one inlet for fuel and/or water; and at least one outlet for a mixture of fuel and water, wherein the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet are connected to a flexible chamber in which fluids are mixed and temporarily stored.

Abstract: A lean NOx trap composition. The lean NOx trap composition utilizes ruthenium in place of higher cost metals such as platinum. The lean NOx trap composition provides high NOx storage efficiency and high NOx conversion efficiency when incorporated in a lean NOx trap. A method of removing harmful gases using the lean NOx trap composition is also described.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a waste in a chemically bonded phosphate ceramic (CBPC). The method consists of preparing a slurry including the waste, water, an oxide binder, and a phosphate binder. The slurry is then allowed to cure to a solid, hydrated CBPC matrix. Next, bound water within the solid, hydrated CBPC matrix is removed. Typically, the bound water is removed by applying heat to the cured CBPC matrix. Preferably, the quantity of heat applied to the cured CBPC matrix is sufficient to drive off water bound within the hydrated CBPC matrix, but not to volatalize other non-water components of the matrix, such as metals and radioactive components. Typically, a temperature range of between 100° C.-200° C. will be sufficient. In another embodiment of the invention wherein the waste and water have been mixed prior to the preparation of the slurry, a select amount of water may be evaporated from the waste and water mixture prior to preparation of the slurry.

Abstract: Methods of treating radioactive materials are disclosed. In one aspect, a method may include mixing a radioactive isotope diluted in a filler material with a radioactive material treatment composition to form a resulting material. The radioactive material treatment composition may include mostly salt, and from 0.5 to 15 wt % sorbent. The method may further include mixing the resulting material with one or more inorganic binding agents. Other methods of treating radioactive materials are also disclosed, as well as compositions for treating radioactive materials.

Abstract: A method for reducing the emissions from combustion gases produced during a combustion process includes injecting a hydrocarbon-based reducing agent into the combustion gases to form a combustion gas mixture. The combustion gas mixture including oxides of nitrogen, NOx, is directed through a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) system including a catalyst bed to remove NOx from the combustion gas mixture and to produce an exhaust gas. In one embodiment, the exhaust gases are released from the SCR to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A pair of reactant cover plates, e.g., fluid manifolds or protective covers (11, 12), on opposite sides of a fuel cell stack (7) are drawn to the fuel cells (14) and pressure plates (8) by tensioning lines, e.g., cables (23) or straps (23a), which may extend around structures, e.g., pins or extensions (11a, 12a; 11e, 12e) extending outwardly from the ends of the cover plates or guides (22a) on the stack, e.g., on the pressure plates in a closed loop, and are tensioned by a tensioning device, such as a turnbuckle (24).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a plant for producing sulfuric acid, in which a starting gas containing sulfur dioxide at least partly reacts with molecular oxygen in at least one contact with at least one contact stage to form sulfur trioxide, and in which the sulfur-trioxide-containing gas produced is introduced into an absorber and converted there to sulfuric acid. To achieve that only small gas volumes must be supplied to the first contact stage, based on the amount of sulfur dioxide used, with at least the same capacity of the plant and by using conventional catalysts, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to supply to the first contact stage a contact gas with a sulfur dioxide content of more than 16 vol-% and with a volumetric ratio of sulfur dioxide to oxygen of more than 2.67:1.