Abstract: Water plasma is generated from steam, wherein one portion of the steam serves as plasma fuel and wherein another portion of the stream stabilizes the plasma jet in a vortex that is formed in a vortex generator. Most preferably, the vortex momentum is generated at least in part outside the plasma generation chamber and then transferred into the chamber at two locations with two distinct vortex velocities. Contemplated configurations allow significantly extended operation times at remarkably reduced power consumption and produce a stabilized high-temperature plasma jet suitable for welding and/or cutting.

Abstract: Contemplated remediation devices include a substantially completely hydrophobic, non-porous, and carbonaceous, and most preferably nanostructured material enclosed in a retaining structure. In further preferred aspects, the material inside the retaining structure adsorbs a contaminant from a medium located outside the retaining structure. Especially preferred nanostructured materials comprise graphene, while preferred contaminants include optionally substituted hydrocarbons, organic solvents, and acids.

Abstract: Non-porous carbonaceous and nanostructured adsorbent materials are regenerated using mechanical force or electromagnetic energy such that adsorption capacity is restored to at least 70-90%, and higher. Surprisingly, and in stark contrast to activated charcoal, the inventors discovered that the contaminant can be expelled from the non-porous material using simple pressure or centrifugation, even if the adsorbed material is present in a 20-fold and even higher amount relative to the weight of the adsorbent materials. In further aspects of the inventive subject matter, the adsorbed compound can also be destroyed by ballistic electrons emitted from the non-porous carbonaceous and nanostructured adsorbent material using microwave irradiation.