Abstract: The present invention relates to the beneficiation of animal waste products, such as chicken manure and chicken litter, using sequential solubility extractions to separate the various components of the animal waste product. The separated products are then further processed to produce various value-added end products, such as allantoin and other uric acid derivatives, along with other chemicals and derivatives of the lignocellulosic biomass and mineral salts contained within the animal waste product.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the continuous carbonation of granular concrete under an atmosphere enriched in carbon dioxide. A sealed carbonation chamber cooperates with continuous inflow and outflow valve assemblies to maintain the enriched atmosphere while allowing uninterrupted material transfer. A conveyance mechanism—such as an auger conveyor or helical flights on a rotating chamber wall—advances the granular concrete and promotes exposure to carbon dioxide. Optional features include rotary seals at both inflow and outflow, a carbon dioxide recapture subsystem, and electronic process controls. In certain embodiments the granular concrete exhibits a defined particle size distribution to improve packing and sealing at the valve assemblies. The enriched atmosphere may be derived from an exhaust process. The invention enables industrially scalable processing that improves material properties while permanently mineralizing carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The invention described herein is a system and method for the filtration and removal of non-gaseous impurities and other pollutants or unwanted materials from an environment or gas stream using ionic liquids. In this invention, the ionic liquid acts as a medium for the capture and removal of the targeted impurities to be filtered. Various embodiments of the invention employ different technologies, apparatuses, and mechanisms to bring the impurities to be captured into contact with the ionic liquid depending on the specific application and compounds or particles to be captured. This system, method, and device described herein may be implemented for terrestrial, microgravity, or aerospace applications. This invention also describes a method for using any liquid under centrifugal force to filter a gas stream under microgravity conditions.

Abstract: A method and device for the dissolution of radon into an ionic liquid for filtration of a gas stream, removal of radon from an environment, storage of radon, use in chemical processes, and many other purposes. In the primary embodiments, the invention is a filtration system using gas scrubbing, stripping, sparging and similar processes for removing radon and/or other impurities, pollutants or contaminants from a habitable space.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a device and method for the processing of granular material continuously under a sealed atmosphere, being a novel improvement over batch processing and discontinuous granular processing. Specific embodiments are presented relating to extraction of volatile compounds from planetary bodies and the carbonation of recycled concrete.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are composite materials and methods of making and use thereof. The composite materials comprise: a carbon nanotube and a plurality of ferrihydrite particles disposed on the carbon nanotube, the composite material comprising the plurality of ferrihydrite particles and the carbon nanotube in a weight ratio of from 5:95 to 95:5. The weight ratio can be selected such that the composite material has a desired balance between specific surface area and specific capacitance. Also disclosed herein are methods comprising: making a plurality of the composite materials, the weight ratio of the plurality of ferrihydrite particles and the carbon nanotube being different for each composite material; and determining and comparing the specific surface area and specific surface capacitance for the plurality of composite materials to determine the weight ratio at which the composite material has a desired balance between the specific surface area and the specific capacitance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are composite materials and methods of making and use thereof. The composite materials comprise: a carbon nanotube and a plurality of ferrihydrite particles disposed on the carbon nanotube, the composite material comprising the plurality of ferrihydrite particles and the carbon nanotube in a weight ratio of from 5:95 to 95:5. The weight ratio can be selected such that the composite material has a desired balance between specific surface area and specific capacitance. Also disclosed herein are methods comprising: making a plurality of the composite materials, the weight ratio of the plurality of ferrihydrite particles and the carbon nanotube being different for each composite material; and determining and comparing the specific surface area and specific surface capacitance for the plurality of composite materials to determine the weight ratio at which the composite material has a desired balance between the specific surface area and the specific capacitance.