Abstract: A method includes liberating carbon atoms from hydrocarbon molecules by reaction with or in a reactant liquid and maintaining the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state. The chemically excited liberated carbon atoms are then enabled to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and are directed across a collection surface. The collection surface and the conditions at and around the collection surface are maintained so that the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state phase change to a ground state by carbon nanostructure self-assembly.

Abstract: A molten metal reactor quickly entrains a feed material in the molten reactant metal and provides the necessary contact between the molten reactant metal and the feed material to effect the desired chemical reduction of the feed material. The reactor includes a unique feed structure adapted to quickly entrain the feed material into the molten reactant metal and then transfer the molten reactant metal, feed material, and initial reaction products into a treatment chamber. A majority of the desired reactions occur in the treatment chamber. Reaction products and unspent reactant metal are directed from the treatment chamber to an output chamber where reaction products are removed from the reactor. Unspent reactant metal is then transferred to a heating chamber where it is reheated for recycling through the system.

Abstract: A molten metal reactor (10) quickly entrains a feed material in the molten reactant metal (16) and provides the necessary contact between the molten reactant metal and the feed material to effect the desired chemical reduction of the feed material. The reactor (10) includes a unique feed structure (24) adapted to quickly entrain the feed material into the molten reactant metal (16) and then transfer the molten reactant metal, feed material, and initial reaction products into a treatment chamber (12). A majority of the desired reactions occur in the treatment chamber (12). Reaction products and unspent reactant metal are directed from the treatment chamber (12) to an output chamber (14) where reaction products are removed from the reactor. Unspent reactant metal (16) is then transferred to a heating chamber (15) where it is reheated for recycling through the system.

Abstract: A target material to be treated in a liquid reactant metal is loaded into a containment area defined within a liquid reactant metal treatment vessel. The containment area is then placed below the level of the liquid reactant metal in the treatment vessel. This places the target material in contact with the liquid reactant metal and allows the desired reactions to occur. Reaction products are then removed from the treatment vessel. Placing the containment area below the level of liquid reactant metal in the treatment vessel may be accomplished by pivoting the vessel from a loading position to a treating position to shift the level of liquid reactant metal in the vessel.

Abstract: A target material (60) to be treated in a liquid reactant metal is loaded into a containment area defined within a liquid reactant metal treatment vessel (11). The containment area is then placed below the level (L) of the liquid reactant metal in the treatment vessel (11). This places the target material (60) in contact with the liquid reactant metal and allows the desired reactions to occur. Reaction products are then removed from the treatment vessel (11). Placing the containment area below the level (L) of liquid reactant metal in the treatment vessel (11) may be accomplished by pivoting the vessel from a loading position to a treating position to shift the level of liquid reactant metal in the vessel.

Abstract: A liquid reactant metal alloy includes at least one chemically active metal for reacting with non-radioactive material in a mixed waste stream being treated. The reactant alloy also includes at least one radiation absorbing metal. Radioactive isotopes in the waste stream alloy with, or disperse in, the chemically active and radiation absorbing metals such that the radiation absorbing metals are able to absorb a significant portion of the radioactive emissions associated with the isotopes. Non-radioactive constituents in the waste material are broken down into harmless and useful constituents, leaving the alloyed radioactive isotopes in the liquid reactant alloy. The reactant alloy may then be cooled to form one or more ingots in which the radioactive isotopes are effectively isolated and surrounded by the radiation absorbing metals. These ingots comprise the storage products for the radioactive isotopes. The ingots may be encapsulated in one or more layers of radiation absorbing material and then stored.

Abstract: An icemaking apparatus includes an evaporator tube, a driving vessel charged with liquid ammonia and a driving gas, a heat source, a return system, and a target material reservoir adapted to be placed in an operating position over the evaporator tube. The evaporator tube has a heat transfer feature formed on and extending from a generally cylindrical outer evaporator tube surface. The heat source applies heat to the driving vessel to force liquid ammonia through an evaporator supply line to an expansion chamber inlet associated with the evaporator tube. The liquid ammonia goes to a gas as it enters the expansion chamber portion of the evaporator tube resulting in a transfer of heat from water or other target material contained in the target material reservoir secured over the evaporator tube in the operating position. The return system returns ammonia and hydrogen gas from the evaporator to the driving vessel.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus (10) includes a liquid reactant metal containment vessel (11) for containing a first liquid reactant metal and isolating the reactant metal from the atmosphere. A release chamber (14) is adapted to receive the first liquid reactant metal from the containment vessel (11) and a submerging arrangement (21) is adapted to dunk or submerge a container (46) of feed material into the liquid reactant metal and move the container to a release location within the release chamber (14). Relatively light materials rising from the submerged container (46), including unreacted feed material, intermediate reaction products, and perhaps final reaction products collect in a collection area (60) having an upper surface defined by an upper surface of the release chamber (14).

Abstract: A molten metal reactor (10) quickly entrains a feed material in the molten reactant metal (16) and provides the necessary contact between the molten reactant metal and the feed material to effect the desired chemical reduction of the feed material. The reactor (10) includes a unique feed structure (24) adapted to quickly entrain the feed material into the molten reactant metal (16) and then transfer the molten reactant metal, feed material, and initial reaction products into a treatment chamber (12). A majority of the desired reactions occur in the treatment chamber (12). Reaction products and unspent reactant metal are directed from the treatment chamber (12) to an output chamber (14) where reaction products are removed from the reactor. Unspent reactant metal (16) is then transferred to a heating chamber (15) where it is reheated for recycling through the system.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus (10) includes a liquid reactant metal containment vessel (11) for containing a first liquid reactant metal and isolating the reactant metal from the atmosphere. A release chamber (14) is adapted to receive the first liquid reactant metal from the containment vessel (11) and a submerging arrangement (21) is adapted to dunk or submerge a container (46) of feed material into the liquid reactant metal and move the container to a release location within the release chamber (14). Relatively light materials rising from the submerged container (46), including unreacted feed material, intermediate reaction products, and perhaps final reaction products collect in a collection area (60) having an upper surface defined by an upper surface of the release chamber (14).

Abstract: A molten metal reactor (10) quickly entrains a feed material in the molten reactant metal (16) and provides the necessary contact between the molten reactant metal and the feed material to effect the desired chemical reduction of the feed material. The reactor (10) includes a unique feed structure (24) adapted to quickly entrain the feed material into the molten reactant metal (16) and then transfer the molten reactant metal, feed material, and initial reaction products into a treatment chamber (12). A majority of the desired reactions occur in the treatment chamber (12). Reaction products and unspent reactant metal are directed from the treatment chamber (12) to an output chamber (14) where reaction products are removed from the reactor. Unspent reactant metal (16) is then transferred to a heating chamber (15) where it is reheated for recycling through the system.

Abstract: A target material (60) to be treated in a liquid reactant metal is loaded into a containment area defined within a liquid reactant metal treatment vessel (11). The containment area is then placed below the level (L) of the liquid reactant metal in the treatment vessel (11). This places the target material (60) in contact with the liquid reactant metal and allows the desired reactions to occur. Reaction products are then removed from the treatment vessel (11). Placing the containment area below the level (L) of liquid reactant metal in the treatment vessel (11) may be accomplished by pivoting the vessel from a loading position to a treating position to shift the level of liquid reactant metal in the vessel.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus (10) includes a liquid reactant metal containment vessel (11) for containing a first liquid reactant metal and isolating the reactant metal from the atmosphere. A release chamber (14) is adapted to receive the first liquid reactant metal from the containment vessel (11) and a submerging arrangement (21) is adapted to dunk or submerge a container (46) of feed material into the liquid reactant metal and move the container to a release location within the release chamber (14). Relatively light materials rising from the submerged container (46), including unreacted feed material, intermediate reaction products, and perhaps final reaction products collect in a collection area (60) having an upper surface defined by an upper surface of the release chamber (14).

Abstract: A treatment apparatus (10) includes a liquid reactant metal containment vessel (11) for containing a first liquid reactant metal and isolating the reactant metal from the atmosphere. A release chamber (14) is adapted to receive the first liquid reactant metal from the containment vessel (11) and a submerging arrangement (21) is adapted to dunk or submerge a container (46) of feed material into the liquid reactant metal and move the container to a release location within the release chamber (14). Relatively light materials rising from the submerged container (46), including unreacted feed material, intermediate reaction products, and perhaps final reaction products collect in a collection area (60) having an upper surface defined by an upper surface of the release chamber (14).

Abstract: A molten metal reactor (10) quickly entrains a feed material in the molten reactant metal (16) and provides the necessary contact between the molten reactant metal and the feed material to effect the desired chemical reduction of the feed material. The reactor (10) includes a unique feed structure (24) adapted to quickly entrain the feed material into the molten reactant metal (16) and then transfer the molten reactant metal, feed material, and initial reaction products into a treatment chamber (12). A majority of the desired reactions occur in the treatment chamber (12). Reaction products and unspent reactant metal are directed from the treatment chamber (12) to an output chamber (14) where reaction products are removed from the reactor. Unspent reactant metal (16) is then transferred to a heating chamber (15) where it is reheated for recycling through the system.

Abstract: A liquid reactant metal alloy includes at least one chemically active metal for reacting with non-radioactive material in a mixed waste stream being treated. The reactant alloy also includes at least one radiation absorbing metal. Radioactive isotopes in the waste stream alloy with, or disperse in, the chemically active and radiation absorbing metals such that the radiation absorbing metals are able to absorb a significant portion of the radioactive emissions associated with the isotopes. Non-radioactive constituents in the waste material are broken down into harmless and useful constituents, leaving the alloyed radioactive isotopes in the liquid reactant alloy. The reactant alloy may then be cooled to form one or more ingots in which the radioactive isotopes are effectively isolated and surrounded by the radiation absorbing metals. These ingots comprise the storage products for the radioactive isotopes. The ingots may be encapsulated in one or more layers of radiation absorbing material and then stored.

Abstract: A waste tire processing apparatus (10) reacts waste tires (26) with a molten reactant metal (19) to recover primarily carbon and stainless steel. The apparatus (10) includes a tire positioning arrangement (20) for positioning the waste tires (26) in the molten reactant metal (19) for a reaction period. After the reaction period, the tire positioning arrangement (20) removes from the molten metal non-reacted solids remaining after the reaction. The non-reacted solids comprise primarily stainless-steel included in the waste tires. As the waste tires (26) are reacted in the molten reactant metal (19), a gas recovery arrangement (14) collects process gases released from the molten metal. The gas recovery arrangement (14) recovers primarily carbon, metal salts, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

Abstract: A waste treatment process includes containing a reactant metal alloy (210) in a reactant alloy container (202) substantially isolated from oxygen gas. The reactant metal alloy includes at least one chemically active alkaline metal and at least one radiation absorbing metal. After heating the reactant alloy (210) in the reactant alloy container (202) to a desired operating temperature, a waste material including radioactive isotopes to be alloyed is introduced into the molten alloy, preferably below the surface of the alloy. Non-radioactive compounds in the waste material react with metals in the reactant alloy (210) to produce useful halogen salts and other materials. The metal radioactive isotopes in the waste material are alloyed with the alkaline metal and radiation absorbing metals to create a storage product for long term storage.

Abstract: A waste tire processing apparatus (10) reacts waste tires (26) with a molten reactant metal (19) to recover primarily carbon and stainless steel. The apparatus (10) includes a tire positioning arrangement (20) for positioning the waste tires (26) in the molten reactant metal (19) for a reaction period. After the reaction period, the tire positioning arrangement (20) removes from the molten metal non-reacted solids remaining after the reaction. The non-reacted solids comprise primarily stainless-steel included in the waste tires. As the waste tires (26) are reacted in the molten reactant metal (19), a gas recovery arrangement (14) collects process gases released from the molten metal. The gas recovery arrangement (14) recovers primarily carbon, metal salts, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

Abstract: A waste tire processing apparatus (10) reacts waste tires (26) with a molten reactant metal (19) to recover primarily carbon and stainless steel. The apparatus (10) includes a tire positioning arrangement (20) for positioning the waste tires (26) in the molten reactant metal (19) for a reaction period. After the reaction period, the tire positioning arrangement (20) removes from the molten metal non-reacted solids remaining after the reaction. The non-reacted solids comprise primarily stainless-steel included in the waste tires. As the waste tires (26) are reacted in the molten reactant metal (19), a gas recovery arrangement (14) collects process gases released from the molten metal. The gas recovery arrangement (14) recovers primarily carbon, metal salts, hydrogen, and nitrogen.