Abstract: Techniques and solutions are provided for facilitating the definition and use of virtual environments. Typically, virtual environments require manual linking of virtual environment components, such as locations, avatars to be displayed, avatar interactions, and actions to be taken upon a selected interaction. This is in addition to actions to define, for example, a visual representation of a virtual location or an avatar. Disclosed techniques provide standardized data objects that can represent components of a virtual environment and relationships between such components. For example, aspects of a virtual environment can be predefined, and a user can configure the virtual environment with particular avatars and particular avatar content (such as media to be rendered for that avatar). In particular aspects, components of a virtual environment, such as avatars, can be determined at runtime, included based on attributes associated with a particular user for whom the virtual environment is to be rendered.

Abstract: A method for refining used motor oil using two or more hydrotreating reactors arranged in series. The used motor oil may be vacuum distilled to produce an unrefined gasoil. The unrefined gasoil may then be hydrotreated in a first hydrotreating reactor with hydrogen operated at a temperature ranging from approximately 245° C. to approximately 260° C. to produce a hydrotreated gasoil. The hydrogen may comprise a mixture of fresh hydrogen and recycled hydrogen recovered from the last of the two or more hydrotreating reactors. The hydrotreated gasoil may then be hydrotreated in one or more additional hydrotreating reactors operated at temperatures ranging from approximately 260° C. to approximately 330° C. to produce a refined gasoil. The first hydrotreating reactor may remove a substantial portion of metallic impurities from the unrefined impurities, while the one or more additional hydrotreating reactors remove a substantial portion of heteroatom impurities from the unrefined gasoil.

Abstract: A method for refining used motor oil using two or more hydrotreating reactors arranged in series. The used motor oil may be vacuum distilled to produce an unrefined gasoil. The unrefined gasoil may then be hydrotreated in a first hydrotreating reactor with hydrogen operated at a temperature ranging from approximately 245° C. to approximately 260° C. to produce a hydrotreated gasoil. The hydrogen may comprise a mixture of fresh hydrogen and recycled hydrogen recovered from the last of the two or more hydrotreating reactors. The hydrotreated gasoil may then be hydrotreated in one or more additional hydrotreating reactors operated at temperatures ranging from approximately 260° C. to approximately 330° C. to produce a refined gasoil. The first hydrotreating reactor may remove a substantial portion of metallic impurities from the unrefined impurities, while the one or more additional hydrotreating reactors remove a substantial portion of heteroatom impurities from the unrefined gasoil.

Abstract: A method of making a supported catalyst for reforming of steam and hydrocarbons and a steam-hydrocarbon reforming process using the supported catalyst. The supported catalyst is made from a mixture comprising 20 to 99.5 mass % of lanthanum-stabilized ?-alumina and/or lanthanum-stabilized ?-alumina, 0 to 60 mass % oalumina, 0 to 25 mass % of calcium carbonate and/or magnesium carbonate, and 0.5 to 5 mass % of graphite, a cellulose ether, and/or magnesium stearate. The supported catalyst has a porosity between 55% and 75% and a pore volume between 0.3 cc/g and 0.65 cc/g.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactor, a structured packing, and a method for increasing the rate of decomposition of polysulfides and oxidation of polysulfides and hydrogen sulfide in liquid sulfur. The reactor, the structured packing, and the method involve a structured packing for contacting a first stream and a second stream in a reactor including a catalyst. The catalyst increases the rate of decomposition of polysulfides and oxidation of polysulfides and hydrogen sulfide in the liquid sulfur of the first stream with the second stream. The first stream includes liquid sulfur containing polysulfides and dissolved hydrogen sulfide. The second stream includes an oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: A method of making a supported catalyst for reforming of steam and hydrocarbons and a steam-hydrocarbon reforming process using the supported catalyst. The supported catalyst is made from a mixture comprising 20 to 99.5 mass % of lanthanum-stabilized ?-alumina and/or lanthanum-stabilized ?-alumina, 0 to 60 mass % oalumina, 0 to 25 mass % of calcium carbonate and/or magnesium carbonate, and 0.5 to 5 mass % of graphite, a cellulose ether, and/or magnesium stearate. The supported catalyst has a porosity between 55% and 75% and a pore volume between 0.3 cc/g and 0.65 cc/g.

Abstract: A tubular reactor for producing a product mixture in a tubular reactor where the tubular reactor comprises an internal catalytic insert with cup-shaped structures having orifices for forming fluid jets for impinging the fluid on the tube wall. Jet impingement is used to improve heat transfer between the fluid in the tube and the tube wall in a non-adiabatic reactor. The tubular reactor and method may be used for endothermic reactions such as steam methane reforming and for exothermic reactions such as methanation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactor, a retained catalyst structure, and a method for increasing the rate of decomposition of polysulfides and removal of hydrogen sulfide in liquid sulfur. The reactor, the retained catalyst structure, and the method include a retained catalyst structure arranged and disposed for contacting a first stream and a second stream in a reactor including a catalyst. The catalyst increases the rate of decomposition of polysulfides and facilitates the removal of hydrogen sulfide in the liquid sulfur of the first stream with the second stream. The first stream includes liquid sulfur containing polysulfides and dissolved hydrogen sulfide. The second stream includes an inert gas or a low oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: A process for producing a hydrogen-containing product gas by catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reforming with an overall steam-to-carbon molar ratio between 1.5 and 2.4 for the process. The process stream is reacted in at least two prereformers prior to reaction in catalyst-containing tubes in a top-fired reformer furnace. The process stream is reacted adiabatically in the first prereformer, while the process stream is heated prior to being introduced into the second prereformer and/or the second prereformer is heated. The process avoids carbon formation on the catalyst in the catalyst-containing tubes in the primary reformer.

Abstract: A mixture and method for the storage and delivery of a gas are disclosed herein. In one aspect, there is provided a mixture comprising: an ionic liquid comprising an anion and a cation, at least a portion of the gas that is disposed within and reversibly chemically reacted with the ionic liquid, and optionally an unreacted gas. In another aspect, there is provided a method for delivering a gas from a mixture comprising an ionic liquid and one or more gases comprising: reacting at least a portion of the gas with the ionic liquid to provide the mixture comprising a chemically reacted gas and an ionic liquid and separating the chemically reacted gas from the mixture wherein the chemically reacted gas after the separating step has substantially the same chemical identity as the chemically reacted gas prior to the reacting step.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactor, a retained catalyst structure, and a method for increasing the rate of decomposition of polysulfides and removal of hydrogen sulfide in liquid sulfur. The reactor, the retained catalyst structure, and the method include a retained catalyst structure arranged and disposed for contacting a first stream and a second stream in a reactor including a catalyst. The catalyst increases the rate of decomposition of polysulfides and facilitates the removal of hydrogen sulfide in the liquid sulfur of the first stream with the second stream. The first stream includes liquid sulfur containing polysulfides and dissolved hydrogen sulfide. The second stream includes an inert gas or a low oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: The present invention discloses plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process for depositing n-type and p-type zinc oxide-based transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) at low temperatures with excellent optical and electrical properties on glass and temperature sensitive materials such as plastics and polymers. Specifically, it discloses PECVD process for depositing n-type ZnO by doping it with B or F and p-type ZnO by doping it with nitrogen excellent optical and electrical properties on glass and temperature sensitive materials such as plastics and polymers for TCO application. The process utilizes a mixture of volatile zinc compound, argon and/or helium as a diluent gas, carbon dioxide as an oxidant, and a dopant or reactant to deposit the desired ZnO-based TCOs.

Abstract: A tubular reactor and method for producing a product mixture in a tubular reactor where the tubular reactor comprises an internal catalytic insert having orifices for forming fluid jets for impinging the fluid on the tube wall. Jet impingement is used to improve heat transfer between the fluid in the tube and the tube wall in a non-adiabatic reactor. The tubular reactor and method may be used for endothermic reactions such as steam methane reforming and for exothermic reactions such as methanation.

Abstract: Complex metal oxide-containing pellets and their use for producing hydrogen. The complex metal oxide-containing pellets are suitable for use in a fixed bed reactor due to sufficient crush strength. The complex metal oxide-containing pellets comprise one or more complex metal oxides and at least one of in-situ formed calcium titanate and calcium aluminate. calcium titanate and calcium aluminate are formed by reaction of suitable precursors in a mixture with one or more complex metal carbonates. The complex metal oxide-containing pellets optionally comprise at least one precious metal.

Abstract: A tubular reactor for producing a product mixture in a tubular reactor where the tubular reactor comprises an internal catalytic insert with cup-shaped structures having orifices for forming fluid jets for impinging the fluid on the tube wall. Jet impingement is used to improve heat transfer between the fluid in the tube and the tube wall in a non-adiabatic reactor. The tubular reactor and method may be used for endothermic reactions such as steam methane reforming and for exothermic reactions such as methanation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactor, a structured packing, and a method for increasing the rate of decomposition of polysulfides and oxidation of polysulfides and hydrogen sulfide in liquid sulfur. The reactor, the structured packing, and the method involve a structured packing for contacting a first stream and a second stream in a reactor including a catalyst. The catalyst increases the rate of decomposition of polysulfides and oxidation of polysulfides and hydrogen sulfide in the liquid sulfur of the first stream with the second stream. The first stream includes liquid sulfur containing polysulfides and dissolved hydrogen sulfide. The second stream includes an oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: A process is described for depositing a metal film on a substrate surface having a diffusion barrier layer deposited thereupon. In one embodiment of the present invention, the process includes: providing a surface of the diffusion barrier layer that is substantially free of an elemental metal and forming the metal film on at least a portion of the surface via deposition by using a organometallic precursor. In certain embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer may be exposed to an adhesion promoting agent prior to or during at least a portion of the forming step. Suitable adhesion promoting agents include nitrogen, nitrogen-containing compounds, carbon-containing compounds, carbon and nitrogen containing compounds, silicon-containing compounds, silicon and carbon containing compounds, silicon, carbon, and nitrogen containing compounds, or mixtures thereof. The process of the present invention provides substrates having enhanced adhesion between the diffusion barrier layer and the metal film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making a complex metal oxide comprising the formula AxByOz. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting in solution at a temperature of between about 75° C. to about 100° C. at least one water-soluble salt of A, at least one water-soluble salt of B and a stoichiometric amount of a carbonate salt or a bicarbonate salt required to form a mole of a carbonate precipitate represented by the formula AxBy(CO3)n, wherein the reacting is conducted in a substantial absence of carbon dioxide to form the carbonate precipitate and wherein the molar amount of carbonate salt or bicarbonate salt is at least three times the stoichiometric amount of carbonate or bicarbonate salt required to form a mole of the carbonate precipitate; and (b) reacting the carbonate precipitate with an oxygen containing fluid under conditions to form the complex metal oxide.

Abstract: In a process for producing a hydrogen-containing gas, a hydrocarbon feed gas and steam are introduced into a reaction vessel containing a complex metal oxide and steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst thereby forming a combustible gas mixture comprising hydrogen. A regeneration gas comprising greater than 0.1 volume % oxygen up to and including 2 volume % oxygen is introduced into the reaction vessel to displace at least a portion of the combustible gas mixture from the reaction vessel. Subsequently, additional regeneration gases may be introduced into the reaction vessel. Numerous means for providing various regeneration gases are presented.

Abstract: A process for producing a hydrogen-containing product gas by catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reforming with an overall steam-to-carbon molar ratio between 1.5 and 2.4 for the process. The process stream is reacted in at least two prereformers prior to reaction in catalyst-containing tubes in a top-fired reformer furnace. The process stream is reacted adiabatically in the first prereformer, while the process stream is heated prior to being introduced into the second prereformer and/or the second prereformer is heated. The process avoids carbon formation on the catalyst in the catalyst-containing tubes in the primary reformer.