Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to processes for preparation of a carbon foam material, the process comprising heating in a microwave heating apparatus a mixture comprising a coal material and a flux agent. In other aspects, relates to processes for preparation of a carbon foam material, the process comprising heating in a microwave heating apparatus a mixture comprising a coal material, a foaming pitch material and a flux agent. In a further aspect, the mixture comprising a coal material, a foaming pitch material and a flux agent after heating in the microwave heating apparatus can form a pseudo-fluid material. In a still further aspect, the pseudo-fluid material can be arranged in mold, and then further heated to form a carbon foam. The disclosure, in further aspects, relates to processes further providing carbon materials such as carbon composite materials, graphite, graphite flakes, and graphene.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to processes for preparation of a carbon foam material, the process comprising devolatization of coal-derived pitches or extracts at atmospheric pressure near green coke temperatures, thereby forming a solid coke-like material. In a further aspect, the process can further comprise grinding the solid coke-like material to a powder, providing the ground powder to a mold, and then reheating above green coking temperature (e.g., >600° C.) to further devolatize the material and form a porous solid foam material. The process further provides carbon materials such as carbon composite materials and sp2-hybridized carbon in the form of graphene oxide or graphene. In various aspects, the disclosure relates to the carbon foam and other materials prepared using the disclosed processes. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to processes for preparation of a carbon foam material, the process comprising heating in a microwave heating apparatus a mixture comprising a coal material and a flux agent. In other aspects, relates to processes for preparation of a carbon foam material, the process comprising heating in a microwave heating apparatus a mixture comprising a coal material, a foaming pitch material and a flux agent. In a further aspect, the mixture comprising a coal material, a foaming pitch material and a flux agent after heating in the microwave heating apparatus can form a pseudo-fluid material. In a still further aspect, the pseudo-fluid material can be arranged in mold, and then further heated to form a carbon foam. The disclosure, in further aspects, relates to processes further providing carbon materials such as carbon composite materials, graphite, graphite flakes, and graphene.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to processes for preparation of a carbon foam material, the process comprising devolatization of coal-derived pitches or extracts at atmospheric pressure near green coke temperatures, thereby forming a solid coke-like material. In a further aspect, the process can further comprise grinding the solid coke-like material to a powder, providing the ground powder to a mold, and then reheating above green coking temperature (e.g., >600° C.) to further devolatize the material and form a porous solid foam material. The process further provides carbon materials such as carbon composite materials and sp2-hybridized carbon in the form of graphene oxide or graphene. In various aspects, the disclosure relates to the carbon foam and other materials prepared using the disclosed processes. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods of oxidizing carbide anions, or negative ions, from salt like carbides at temperatures from about 150° C. to about 750° C. In another aspect, the disclosure provides for reactions with intermediate transition metal carbides. In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides for a system of reactions where salt-like carbide anions and intermediate carbide anions are oxidized to produce pure carbon of various allotropes.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods of oxidizing carbide anions, or negative ions, from salt like carbides at low temperatures below about 600° C. In another aspect, the disclosure provides for reactions with intermediate transition metal carbides. In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides for a system of reactions where salt-like carbide anions and intermediate carbide anions are oxidized to produce pure carbon of various allotropes.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods of oxidizing carbide anions, or negative ions, from salt like carbides at temperatures from about 150 ° C. to about 750 ° C. In another aspect, the disclosure provides for reactions with intermediate transition metal carbides. In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides for a system of reactions where salt-like carbide anions and intermediate carbide anions are oxidized to produce pure carbon of various allotropes.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods of oxidizing carbide anions, or negative ions, from salt like carbides at low temperatures below about 600° C. In another aspect, the disclosure provides for reactions with intermediate transition metal carbides. In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides for a system of reactions where salt-like carbide anions and intermediate carbide anions are oxidized to produce pure carbon of various allotropes.

Abstract: Methods of treating a carbon foam precursor to facilitate subsequent foaming of the material at low pressures, which may be on the order of about 0.5 to 1.5 atmospheres, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the carbon foam precursor is subjected to partial devolatilization under controlled conditions with subsequent foaming being effected at low pressure. The carbon foam precursor may be one of various forms of coal including raw coal, coal extract mesophase pitch, synthetic mesophase pitch or petroleum based pitch. The performing treatment of the carbon foam precursor may remove a portion of the internal blowing agent and may alter the fluidity of the carbon foam precursor matrix. In another embodiment, the precursor after being converted into a powder is subjected to oxidation prior to foaming.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of coal liquid fuels blended with alcohols such as ethanol, as an alternative to gasoline and other fuels. The coal liquids are obtained by distilling coal tar, or by solvent extraction of coal. A further aspect is a solvent extraction process to create coal liquids to be used as a petroleum substitute. In addition the steps of delayed coking, hydrothermal cracking, hydrodelalkylation, and catalytic cracking and other refining techniques can be used to modify the aromatic coal liquids, making them more aliphatic and hence more similar to petroleum. A preferred embodiment of the coal liquid gasoline substitute is comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% coal-derived counterparts.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method are described for modifying pitches, oils, tars, and binders by using these materials as solvents to extract organic chemicals from coal.

Abstract: A method of creating a multi-phase fuel wherein said fuel comprises a gas, a solid, a liquid solvent phase and an aqueous phase from animal waste comprising the combination of the animal waste, a solvent, and a water/alcohol solution into a fluid mixture, placing the mixture into a closed reactor, heating said reactor between about 245° C. and 385° C. for between about 5 and 70 minutes and cooling said resulting multi-phase fuel. The animal waste may be manure, mortalities, municipal waste, or chicken litter. The preferred solvent is petroleum with the preferred petroleum being diesel fuel. The final multi-phase fuel can be separated into four separate fuels: a solid fuel, an emulsified solid in the liquid solvent phase by blending the solid, the solvent and a surfactant, an aqueous phase, and the recovered liquid solvent phase. Petroleum is the preferred solvent and the separation may be any conventional means. The mixture preferably consists of 1 part by weight animal waste, about 1.

Abstract: A wheelchair propulsion system provides a wheelchair user with a continuous input drive path of linear or elliptical shape. The propulsion system includes a Cardan gear system defining a linear reciprocating or elliptical input path over which propulsive force may be continuously applied to the wheelchair wheels. Because the input path is continuous, efficiency is increased and impact on the user's body is reduced thereby reducing discomfort and physical demands on the user's body. The angle of the input path may be altered to suit the particular needs of a user by rearrangement of the relative angular orientations of the gears in the propulsive system. The present propulsive mechanism may be integrated into a wheelchair or retrofitted to existing wheelchairs.

Abstract: Methods of treating a carbon foam precursor to facilitate subsequent foaming of the material at low pressures, which may be on the order of about 0.5 to 1.5 atmospheres, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the carbon foam precursor is subjected to partial devolatilization under controlled conditions with subsequent foaming being effected at low pressure. The carbon foam precursor may be one of various forms of coal including raw coal, coal extract mesophase pitch, synthetic mesophase pitch or petroleum based pitch. The prefoaming treatment of the carbon foam precursor may remove a portion of the internal blowing agent and may alter the fluidity of the carbon foam precursor matrix. In another embodiment, the precursor after being converted into a powder is subjected to oxidation prior to foaming.

Abstract: Methods of treating a carbon foam precursor to facilitate subsequent foaming of the material at low pressures, which may be on the order of about 0.5 to 1.5 atmospheres, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the carbon foam precursor is subjected to partial devolatilization under controlled conditions with subsequent foaming being effected at low pressure. The carbon foam precursor may be one of various forms of coal including raw coal, coal extract mesophase pitch, synthetic mesophase pitch or petroleum based pitch. The prefoaming treatment of the carbon foam precursor may remove a portion of the internal blowing agent and may alter the fluidity of the carbon foam precursor matrix. In another embodiment, the precursor after being converted into a powder is subjected to oxidation prior to foaming.