Abstract: In one aspect, methods of producing polyaluminum chlorides are described herein which, in some embodiments, provide increased reaction rates and/or reductions in stoichiometric excesses of aluminum feedstock. In some embodiments, a method of producing polyaluminum chloride comprises providing a feedstock comprising aluminum, contacting the feedstock with a solution comprising hydrochloric acid and one or more transition metal compounds, and catalyzing formation of the polyaluminum chloride with the one or more transition metals. As described further herein, the one or more transition metal compounds can comprise a transition metal coordination complex, transition metal salt, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Described herein are catalysts relating to liquid synthesis, methods of their preparation, and methods of their use. In an embodiment according to the present disclosure, a method of producing a catalyst for liquid synthesis comprises: providing a silica oxide support; pretreating the silica oxide support to remove air and moisture; impregnating the pretreated silica oxide support with cobalt from a cobalt source using a cobalt impregnation method; and calcinating the impregnated silica oxide support in an oven with a temperature ramping profile, wherein the calcinating comprises feeding air into the oven.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for producing synthesis gas, the system including a reactor including a burner, a combustion chamber, and a catalyst chamber, and a mixer upstream of the reactor configured to mix fuel with steam to produce humidified fuel that is provided to the burner of the reactor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a burner for use in synthesis gas production includes multiple burner units each configured to deliver fuel and oxygen to a combustion chamber, each burner unit including an inner outlet pipe configured to deliver fuel and an outer outlet pipe configured to deliver oxygen, the outer outlet pipe concentrically surrounding the inner outlet pipe.

Abstract: Described herein are catalysts relating to liquid synthesis, methods of their preparation, and methods of their use. In an embodiment according to the present disclosure, a method of producing a catalyst for liquid synthesis comprises: providing a silica oxide support; pretreating the silica oxide support to remove air and moisture; impregnating the pretreated silica oxide support with cobalt from a cobalt source using a cobalt impregnation method; and calcinating the impregnated silica oxide support in an oven with a temperature ramping profile, wherein the calcinating comprises feeding air into the oven.

Abstract: Described herein are catalysts relating to liquid synthesis, methods of their preparation, and methods of their use. In an embodiment according to the present disclosure, a method of producing a catalyst for liquid synthesis comprises: providing a silica oxide support; pretreating the silica oxide support to remove air and moisture; impregnating the pretreated silica oxide support with cobalt from a cobalt source using a cobalt impregnation method; and calcinating the impregnated silica oxide support in an oven with a temperature ramping profile, wherein the calcinating comprises feeding air into the oven.

Abstract: Methods for the conversion of lignites, subbituminous coals and other carbonaceous feedstocks into synthetic oils, including oils with properties similar to light weight sweet crude oil using a solvent derived from hydrogenating oil produced by pyrolyzing lignite are set forth herein. Such methods may be conducted, for example, under mild operating conditions with a low cost stoichiometric co-reagent and/or a disposable conversion agent.

Abstract: Methods for the conversion of lignites, subbituminous coals and other carbonaceous feedstocks into synthetic oils, including oils with properties similar to light weight sweet crude oil using a solvent derived from hydrogenating oil produced by pyrolyzing lignite are set forth herein. Such methods may be conducted, for example, under mild operating conditions with a low cost stoichiometric co-reagent and/or a disposable conversion agent.

Abstract: In a method and system to produce biodiesel using an improved catalytic transesterification process, a first reactant and a second reactant are dispersed to form a laminar slug flow pattern within a microchannel of a microreactor, the first reactant and the second reactant being immiscible. The first reactant and the second reactant are mixed, thereby triggering a reaction between them to produce the biodiesel and glycerol, the mixing being convection-enhanced by shear stress induced circulation occurring within each slug of the reactants. The reaction takes place under a pressure that is less than 5 psi and under a temperature that is less than 70 degrees Celsius. Separation of the glycerol from the biodiesel occurs simultaneously with the mixing. Several microreactors are coupled in parallel to improve throughput of the biodiesel.

Abstract: In a method and system to produce biodiesel using an improved catalytic transesterification process, a first reactant and a second reactant are dispersed to form a laminar slug flow pattern within a microchannel of a microreactor, the first reactant and the second reactant being immiscible. The first reactant and the second reactant are mixed, thereby triggering a reaction between them to produce the biodiesel and glycerol, the mixing being convection-enhanced by shear stress induced circulation occurring within each slug of the reactants. The reaction takes place under a pressure that is less than 5 psi and under a temperature that is less than 70 degrees Celsius. Separation of the glycerol from the biodiesel occurs simultaneously with the mixing. Several microreactors are coupled in parallel to improve throughput of the biodiesel.