Abstract: A method of making carbon black. A method of making carbon black is described including combusting feedstock with plasma in an apparatus having a series of unit operations with individual capacities. The individual capacities of the unit operations are substantially balanced by replacing at least part of the feedstock with a feedstock having a molecular weight heavier than methane. This results, among other things, in increased utilization of the individual capacities of the unit operations and increased overall throughput.

Abstract: An activated carbon manufacturing method may include preparing activated carbon precursors, carbonizing the activated carbon precursors by performing a heat treatment on the activated carbon precursors, equalizing the activated carbon precursors which were carbonized, in the carbonizing, by grinding the activated carbon precursors, activating the activated carbon precursors by inserting an oxidizing agent and distilled water into the equalized activated carbon precursors, and performing a heat treatment on the activated carbon precursors, and introducing a nitrogen-based functional group into a surface of the activated carbon precursors by mixing the activated carbon precursors, a nitrogen material, and a solvent to perform reaction on the activated carbon precursors.

Abstract: A precursor composition is provided, including a templating component having a block copolymer, a phenolic compound, a cross-linkable aldehyde component, and a graphitizing agent including a polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). The precursor composition is polymerized to form a polymerized carbonization precursor. The polymerized carbonization precursor is carbonized to form a mesoporous carbon material.

Abstract: Methods described herein generally relate to producing carbon aerogel. The method may include providing a carbon-containing polymeric material, and contacting the carbon-containing polymeric material with light, heat or both to produce the carbon aerogel. Systems and kits for producing carbon aerogel are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nanocarbon material includes the steps of: a) supplying an acetylene-based flammable gas into a torch nozzle at a flow rate such that an ignition at the torch nozzle produces a reducing flame in a cooling zone in a chamber; and b) supplying a cooling medium to a nebulizer disposed upstream of the cooling zone to produce nebulized droplets of the cooling medium such that the nebulized droplets come into contact with the reducing flame in the cooling zone to thereby cause carbon nanoparticles to be entrained in the nebulized droplets.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing pyrolyzable materials in order to recover one or more usable end products are provided. Pyrolysis methods and systems according to various aspects of the present invention are able to thermally decompose carbon-containing materials, including, for example, tires and other rubber-containing materials, in order recover hydrocarbon-containing products including synthesis gas, pyrolysis oil, and carbon black. Systems and methods according to aspects of the present invention may be successful on a commercial scale, and may be suitable for processing a variety of feedstocks, including, but not limited to, used tires and other types of industrial, agricultural, and consumer waste materials.

Abstract: A composition and a method for producing mesoporous carbon materials with a chiral or achiral organization. In the method, a polymerizable inorganic monomer is reacted in the presence of nanocrystalline cellulose to give a material of inorganic solid with cellulose nanocrystallites organized in a chiral nematic organization. The cellulose can be carbonized through thermal treatment under inert atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen or argon) and the silica may subsequently be removed using aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or hydrogen fluoride (HF) to give the stable mesoporous carbon materials that retain the chiral nematic structure of the cellulose. These materials may be obtained as free-standing films with very high surface area. Through control of the reaction conditions the pore-size distribution may be varied from predominantly microporous to predominantly mesoporous materials.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for fabricating a mesoporous carbon composite material. The method comprises providing a precursor composition and subjecting the precursor material to a curing step followed by carbonization step. The precursor composition comprises (i) a templating component comprised of a linear homopolymer material, (ii) a phenolic compound or material, (iii) a crosslinkable aldehyde component, and (iv) an acid catalyst.

Abstract: Methods for making activated carbon-supported transition metal-based nanoparticles include (a) impregnated activated carbon with at least one transition metal-containing compound, and (b) heating the impregnated activated carbon at a temperature and for a time sufficient to carbothermally reduce the transition metal-containing compound. Also disclosed are activated carbon-supported transition metal-based nanoparticles produced by such methods. Further disclosed are methods for treating water and waste streams that include contacting the water or waste streams with the activated carbon-supported transition metal-based nanoparticles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite adsorbent material comprising three components, including a porous media, a hygroscopic material, and graphite flakes. Among the many different possibility considered, it may be advantageous for the porous media to be mesoporous silica or the hygroscopic materials to be calcium chloride, lithium bromide, or lithium chloride. It is considered that the graphite flakes may comprise 50 percent or less of the graphite flake-hygroscopic material composition, and certain embodiments may utilize between 15 and 30 percent graphite in the graphite flake-hygroscopic material composition. It is still further considered that the graphite flakes may advantageously be less than 300 microns in size, or may have an average number of carbon planes that is 100 or less. Additional materials may also be incorporated, including biologics, polymers, and catalysts.

Abstract: Highly compactable granulations and methods for preparing highly compactable granulations are disclosed. More particularly, highly compactable calcium carbonate granulations are disclosed. The granulations comprise powdered materials such as calcium carbonate that have small median particle sizes. The disclosed granulations are useful in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical tableting and provide smaller tablet sizes upon compression than previously available.

Abstract: The invention relates a process for preparing a microporous carbon material comprising the following steps: i) providing a cross-linked polymer obtainable by reacting either A1) a maltodextrin deriving from starch comprising amylose in the range from 25 to 50% expressed as dry weight relative to the dry weight of the starch or A2) a cyclodextrin with an organic aromatic dianhydride in a mass ratio of either maltodextrin or cyclodextrin with respect to the organic aromatic dianhydride in the range of 1:0.50 to 1:2, ii) pyrolyzing at a range from 700 to 900° C. with a heating ramp in the range from 5° C./min to 30° C./min in a inert gas flux; and iii) cooling the obtained residue. The microporous carbon material obtainable by the process of the invention consists of micropores having pore size distribution in the range from about 6 to about 16 ? and is used as absorber for liquids and gases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a precipitated calcium carbonate product. The process comprises the steps of preparing slaking quick lime to obtain slaked lime; and subjecting the slaked lime, without agitation, without prior cooling in a heat exchanger, and in the absence of any additives, to carbonation with carbon dioxide gas to produce PCC. The newly prepared product develops better performance thanks to improved resistance during processing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a catalyst system having at least one catalytically active component, wherein the catalytically active component comprises at least one metal, wherein first a spherical activated carbon used as a catalyst carrier is subjected to an oxidation. Subsequently, the catalytically active component is applied, optionally followed by a reduction of the catalyst system obtained in said manner.

Abstract: A method is described to make a chemically activated carbon by first immersing a suitable carbonized material into a neutral aqueous solution of inorganic salts that constitutes the chemical activating agent. The carbonized material is then removed and forms a chemically loaded activatable material that is separately heated at temperatures up to 1000° C. to form the chemically activated carbon. An additional CO2 or steam activation step is implemented to increase the surface area up to ˜3000 m2/gm. The chemical activating agents are nitrate salts in aqueous solutions, and may be reused since they are not directly heated as part of the activation process. The carbonized precursor materials include naturally occurring sources of carbon, synthetic polymeric materials and petroleum based sources.

Abstract: An adsorbent for adsorption heat pumps, containing: activated carbon; and organic molecules each containing at least one hydrophilic functional group, where the organic molecules are provided in pores of the activated carbon.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for making carbon aerogels from biomass are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of making a carbon aerogel from a biomass involves dielectrically heating a biomass slurry to produce the carbon aerogel. The method further includes heating the carbon aerogel to produce an electrically conducting carbon aerogel.

Abstract: A process for preparing magnetic activated carbons including the steps of a) treating an aqueous solution having a biomass hydrothermally at autogenic pressure at a temperature 180 and 250° C., under acidic conditions in the presence of iron ions, to obtain a precursor product, b) activating the precursor product obtained in step a) by mixing an activating agent at elevated temperatures between 550 and 850° C., for a period up to 9h. The disclosure also relates to magnetic activated carbon prepared according to the process and use of the carbon for separation and storage of gases and purification of liquids. A method for separation of particles from a liquid and/or a gas, and method for regenerating magnetic activated carbon by heating using an oscillating electromagnetic field are also disclosed.

Abstract: Hydrothermal conversion is performed on organic feedstocks that include solids, by forming a slurry of the feedstock in water and subjecting the slurry to hydrothermal conversion conditions. The hydrothermal conversion conditions may be sufficient to product a carbonized solid and/or liquefaction products. The size of solids (either or both of feedstock or carbonized solids produced in the process) is reduced by conducting a series of bubble-forming and bubble-collapsing cycles on the slurry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a precipitated divalent metal ion carbonate product from a divalent metal ion carbonate which was recovered from waste, the precipitated divalent metal ion carbonate product having an improved brightness, the process comprising the steps of: providing a low-purity divalent metal ion carbonate material, the divalent metal ion carbonate material being recovered from waste; calcining the divalent metal ion carbonate material in order to obtain a divalent metal ion oxide; slaking the divalent metal ion oxide in order to obtain an aqueous suspension of a divalent metal ion hydroxide; carbonating the aqueous suspension of the divalent metal ion hydroxide with a carbon dioxide containing compound in order to obtain fine precipitated divalent metal ion carbonate particles; post-treating the fine precipitated divalent metal ion carbonate particles to obtain fine discrete precipitated divalent metal ion carbonate particles; adding the fine discrete precip