Abstract: A method for removing nitrogen from natural gas includes contacting substantially dry natural gas that contains unwanted nitrogen with lithium metal. The nitrogen reacts with lithium to form lithium nitride, which is recovered for further processing, and pipeline quality natural gas. The natural gas may optionally contain other chemical species that may be reduced by lithium, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and small amounts of water. These lithium reducible species may be removed from the natural gas concurrently with the removal of nitrogen. The lithium nitride is subjected to an electrochemical process to regenerate lithium metal. In an alternative embodiment, lithium nitride is reacted with sulfur to form lithium sulfide and nitrogen. The lithium sulfide is subjected to an electrochemical process to regenerate lithium metal and sulfur. The electrochemical processes are advantageously performed in an electrolytic cell containing a lithium ion selective membrane separator.

Abstract: A disposable, single-use wipe 100 that can be used deodorize, disinfect, and/or sterilize an object. The wipe typically creates and applies one or more treatment agent at the time and location of use on the object. A wipe 100 includes a flexible membrane or cloth-like element 106 that typically carries at least one element of a chemically reactive couple. A wipe 100 may be activated in various ways to produce a treatment agent, such as Hydroxyl radicals or alcohol, and subsequently used to physically spread the treatment agent onto the object. One or more additional treatment agent (e.g., Triclosan, Chlorine dioxide, Hydroxyl radicals, etc.), may be included in association with a wipe 100 to enhance biocidal activity. The wipe 100 may be used alone, or in combination with a holder 120. A holder 120 may operate to activate a wipe 100, and/or apply one or more treatment agent onto the object.

Abstract: A volatile substance delivery system includes a volatile substance container to contain a volatile substance, an optional absorbent and collapsible element disposed within the container to reduce presence of undesired air during manufacture of the device, an outlet to deliver a volume of the volatile substance from the volatile substance container toward an ambient environment, and a manual screw pump to reduce volume (or sometimes, just increase pressure) within the volatile substance container and promote the delivery of the volatile substance from the volatile substance container. A safety chamber is sometimes provided to resist unintended escape of volatile substance in liquid phase to the environment.

Abstract: A wipe that can be used deodorize, disinfect, and/or sterilize an object. A wipe manipulator may be used with a wipe to create, energize, or enhance one or more treatment agent in a wipe to improve its efficacy. Desirably, a wipe manipulator is flexible to accommodate to curved surfaces. A wipe includes a flexible membrane or cloth-like element that may apply, distribute, and/or remove a treatment agent to, over, or from a surface of the object. An enhanced treatment agent, such as peracetic acid, may be applied to the surface subsequent to being formed in the wipe as a result of installation of the wipe onto a manipulator, or otherwise activating the wipe. A wipe manipulator may include one or more rechargeable reservoir to contain and apply a synergistic treatment agent to the wipe to create the enhanced treatment agent.

Abstract: A disposable, single-use wipe that can be used deodorize, disinfect, and/or sterilize an object. A holder may be used to create or energize one or more treatment agent in a wipe to improve its efficacy. A wipe includes a flexible membrane or cloth-like element that may apply, distribute, and/or remove a treatment agent to, over, or from a surface of the object. An enhanced treatment agent, such as peracetic acid, may be applied to the surface subsequent to being formed in the wipe as a result of installation of the wipe onto a holder, or otherwise activating the wipe. A holder may include a rechargeable reservoir to contain and apply a synergistic treatment agent to the wipe to create the enhanced treatment agent.

Abstract: Delivery devices 100 for controlled discharge of a volatile fluid 118 at a relatively constant rate over a sustained period of time. Volatile fluid 118 may be dispensed in liquid or vapor phase. Rate of fluid discharge from a storage container 103 is controlled by a restriction element 124. Fluid 118 may be urged toward discharge by gravity, wicking, capillary activity, diffusion, pressure internal to the container, evaporation, and/or other fluid transmission through the restriction element 124.

Abstract: A method for removing nitrogen from natural gas includes contacting substantially dry natural gas that contains unwanted nitrogen with lithium metal. The nitrogen reacts with lithium to form lithium nitride, which is recovered for further processing, and pipeline quality natural gas. The natural gas may optionally contain other chemical species that may be reduced by lithium, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and small amounts of water. These lithium reducible species may be removed from the natural gas concurrently with the removal of nitrogen. The lithium nitride is subjected to an electrochemical process to regenerate lithium metal. In an alternative embodiment, lithium nitride is reacted with sulfur to form lithium sulfide and nitrogen. The lithium sulfide is subjected to an electrochemical process to regenerate lithium metal and sulfur. The electrochemical processes are advantageously performed in an electrolytic cell containing a lithium ion selective membrane separator.

Abstract: A wipe for anti-microbial disinfecting includes a flexible substrate and an anti-microbial ion source integrated on the substrate. The flexible substrate is made entirely or in part of woven fiber cloth, non-woven fiber cloth, woven synthetic cloth, non-woven synthetic cloth, or natural fiber cloth. The anti-microbial ion source is configured to dissolve in an aqueous solution to form an anti-microbial solution. The flexible substrate is configured to absorb the anti-microbial solution for use in cleaning.

Abstract: Applying a sufficient quantity of an Alkali metal or an Alkaline earth metal to a fluid in a stripping process loop 106 to form a first intermediary compound and thereby, to strip the undesired element from the process fluid 102. The first intermediary compound 130 is processed in a recovery process loop 110 to recover the Alkali metal or Alkaline earth metal. The recovered Alkali metal or Alkaline earth metal is then re-introduced to an additional quantity of process fluid to strip and clean the undesired element from the additional quantity of the process fluid. A recovery process loop 110 may include either or both of a chemical substitution process, and an electrolytic process, effective to separate the Alkali metal or Alkaline earth metal from the undesired element or another compound.

Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.

Abstract: An orientation independent delivery device including a replaceable cartridge that may be installed on a foundation. A cartridge includes a gas chamber, a delivery chamber, a gas cell, and a delivery aperture. The gas chamber includes a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier. The gas-side flexible barrier is sealed to the gas-side rigid portion. The delivery chamber includes a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier. The delivery-side flexible barrier is sealed to the delivery-side rigid portion and is oriented adjacent to the gas-side flexible barrier. The gas cell is coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber. The gas cell increases a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier. Expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier allowing a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber.

Abstract: A treatment chamber 102 in which an object may be disinfected, deodorized, and/or sterilized. A source 172 of Hydroxyl radicals is arranged to introduce treatment agents, including Hydroxyl radicals, into the chamber 102. Operable sources 172 include nebulizer, Fenton generator, and Hydrogen Peroxide in the presence of nanoparticle catalyst and UV light. Ozone may be applied as an additional treatment agent. A tablet dispenser 128 may optionally be included to introduce additional chemical treatment agents into the chamber 102. The entire treatment device 100A-O may be sized for placement and use at the point-of-use of an object to be sterilized, such as in a hospital to sterilize an endoscope component.

Abstract: An orientation independent delivery device. The delivery device includes a gas chamber, a delivery chamber, a gas cell, and a delivery aperture. The gas chamber includes a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier. The gas-side flexible barrier is sealed to the gas-side rigid portion. The delivery chamber includes a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier. The delivery-side flexible barrier is sealed to the delivery-side rigid portion and is oriented adjacent to the gas-side flexible barrier. The gas cell is coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber. The gas cell increases a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier. Expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier allowing a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having a composite alkali ion-conductive electrolyte membrane. Generally, the cell includes a catholyte compartment and an anolyte compartment that are separated by the composite alkali ion-conductive electrolyte membrane. The composite electrolyte membrane includes a layer of alkali ion-conductive material and one or more layers of alkali intercalation compound which is chemically stable upon exposure to a chemically reactive anolyte solution or catholyte solution thereby protecting the layer of alkali ion-conductive material from unwanted chemical reaction. The layer of alkali intercalation compound conducts alkali ions. The cell may operate and protect the alkali ion-conductive material under conditions that would be adverse to the material if the intercalation compound were not present. The composite membrane may include a cation conductor layer having additional capability to protect the composite electrolyte membrane from adverse conditions.

Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.

Abstract: An orientation independent delivery device. The delivery device includes a gas chamber, a delivery chamber, a gas cell, and a delivery aperture. The gas chamber includes a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier. The gas-side flexible barrier is sealed to the gas-side rigid portion. The delivery chamber includes a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier. The delivery-side flexible barrier is sealed to the delivery-side rigid portion and is oriented adjacent to the gas-side flexible barrier. The gas cell is coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber. The gas cell increases a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier. Expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier allowing a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber.

Abstract: A method that produces coupled radical products from biomass. The method involves obtaining a lipid or carboxylic acid material from the biomass. This material may be a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, a triglyceride of a carboxylic acid, or a metal salt of a carboxylic acid, or any other fatty acid derivative. This lipid material or carboxylic acid material is converted into an alkali metal salt. The alkali metal salt is then used in an anolyte as part of an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may include an alkali ion conducting membrane (such as a NaSICON membrane). When the cell is operated, the alkali metal salt of the carboxylic acid decarboxylates and forms radicals. Such radicals are then bonded to other radicals, thereby producing a coupled radical product such as a hydrocarbon. The produced hydrocarbon may be, for example, saturated, unsaturated, branched, or unbranched, depending upon the starting material.

Abstract: A separator for an alkali metal ion rechargeable battery includes a porous ceramic alkali ion conductive membrane which is inert to liquid alkali ion solution as well as anode and cathode materials. The porous ceramic separator is structurally self-supporting and maintains its structural integrity at high temperature. The ceramic separator may have a thickness of at least 200 ?m and a porosity in the range from 20% to 70%. The separator may be in the form of a clad composite separator structure in which one or more layers of porous and inert ceramic or polymer membrane materials are clad to the alkali ion conductive membrane. The porous and inert alkali ion conductive ceramic membrane may comprise a NaSICON-type, LiSICON-type, or beta alumina material.

Abstract: A disposable, single-use wipe that can be used deodorize, disinfect, and/or sterilize an object. A wipe includes a flexible membrane or cloth-like element that may apply, distribute, and/or remove a treatment agent to, over, or from a surface of the object. A treatment agent, such as micron-, or nano-sized particles of a disinfectant or sterilant chemical, Ozone, negative ions, Hydroxyl radicals, or alcohol, etc., may be applied to the surface by the wipe or another applicator. An additional treatment agent (e.g., Triclosan, Chlorine dioxide, Hydroxyl radicals, etc.), may be associated with a wipe to enhance biocidal activity. The wipe may be used alone, in combination with a holder, or in combination with an applicator of energized treatment agent. An applicator and/or a holder may be used to energize one or more treatment agent to improve its efficacy.

Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.