Abstract: A bio-based material including a nanocellulose treated with low-temperature plasma, wherein the bio-based material is capable of sequestering carbon dioxide from an ambient atmosphere. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A microporous membrane for flash distillation comprising at least three layers having distinct properties is disclosed. Generally, the membranes contain outer layers of relatively small pore size, with an interior layer with relatively large pore size. The invention is also directed to a system for desalinization comprising a source of hot brine.

Abstract: An adsorption system with a sorbent bed that includes at least two distinct layer with two different sorbent materials, one of the sorbents being a natural zeolite such as clinoptilolite. The clinoptilolite is particularly suited to be positioned at the outlet end of the bed.

Abstract: A microporous membrane for flash distillation comprising at least three layers having distinct properties is disclosed. Generally, the membranes contain outer layers of relatively small pore size, with an interior layer with relatively large pore size. The invention is also directed to a system for desalinization comprising a source of hot brine.

Abstract: Liquefied biomass obtained from direct liquefaction and/or fast-pyrolysis is reacted with mixtures of fatty acids in the presence of an oxidizer and with various reactive monomer and polymer additives to create tailored compatibilizer-like bio-additives that are compatible with petroleum asphalts. By judicially selecting appropriate the additives and additional constituent, such as non-reactive and reactive diluents, these bio-additives can be tailored to modify low-temperature properties, high-temperature properties, compatibility with aggregate materials, application characteristics, and other properties of petroleum asphalts for paving, roofing and sealing uses.

Abstract: A filter assembly for removing particulate contaminants and chemical contaminants from an incoming dirty air stream for a fuel cell. The filter assembly also includes a noise suppression element that reduces sound waves or noise emanating from any equipment, such as a compressor. The filter assembly can include a particulate filter portion for removing physical or particulate contaminants, a chemical filter portion for removing chemical contaminants, or can have both portions.

Abstract: An air and gas purification system having combined adsorbent material layers in a regenerable adsorbent system. A first adsorbent material, molecular sieve material, is positioned at the inlet end of the adsorbent bed and a second material, activated alumina, is positioned at the outlet end. Additional adsorbent materials may be positioned between the inlet adsorbent material and the outlet adsorbent material. This system, utilizing the combination of adsorbent layers, is particularly useful for fuel cell applications, where the adsorbent system is positioned in the incoming oxidant stream to reduce, and preferably remove, the contaminants that would affect the efficiency of the fuel cell. Using such a system allows using ambient air as the oxygen source.

Abstract: An adsorption system with a sorbent bed that includes at least two distinct layer with two different sorbent materials, one of the sorbents being a natural zeolite such as clinoptilolite. The clinoptilolite is particularly suited to be positioned at the outlet end of the bed.

Abstract: An air and gas purification system having combined adsorbent material layers in a regenerable adsorbent system. A first adsorbent material, molecular sieve material, is positioned at the inlet end of the adsorbent bed and a second material, activated alumina, is positioned at the outlet end. Additional adsorbent materials may be positioned between the inlet adsorbent material and the outlet adsorbent material. This system, utilizing the combination of adsorbent layers, is particularly useful for fuel cell applications, where the adsorbent system is positioned in the incoming oxidant stream to reduce, and preferably remove, the contaminants that would affect the efficiency of the fuel cell. Using such a system allows using ambient air as the oxygen source.

Abstract: Liquefied biomass (16) obtained from direct liquefaction and/or fast-pyrolysis is reacted with mixtures of fatty acids (24) in the presence of an oxidizer (28) and with various reactive monomer and polymer additives (46, 48, 50) to create tailored compatibilizer-like bio-additives (34) that are compatible with petroleum asphalts. By judiciously selecting appropriate additives and additional constituent, such as non-reactive (18) and reactive diluents (30), these bio-additives can be tailored to modify low-temperature properties, high-temperature properties, compatibility with aggregate materials, application characteristics, and other properties of petroleum asphalts for paving, roofing and sealing uses.

Abstract: A rotating drum adsorber process and system includes a rotating drum of adsorbent medium in a shell including partitions which define an adsorption sector, a regeneration sector and a cooling sector, and which continuously rotates through the sectors. The process and system includes an arrangement for sensing the temperature difference between the temperature of the discharge exiting the leading edge of the regeneration sector and the regeneration sector average discharge temperature for automatically controlling various operating conditions of the rotating drum adsorber system. A computerized method for accurately predicting the contamination level of the gas stream exiting the adsorption sector and optimizing the performance and fractionation efficiency of the rotating drum adsorber system is also included.

Abstract: A fuel pellet is produced by the combination of organic waste material with a binder obtained by direct liquefaction and/or fast pyrolysis of biomass material. Direct liquefaction and fast pyrolysis are carried out according to known liquefaction processes. The liquefied bio-binder base is mixed with additives, if desired, such as petroleum asphalt and cross-linking agents, in order to modify its characteristics to meet specific needs of particular applications, and the resulting mixture is mixed with organic-waste material preheated to 100° C. or more and allowed to react at about 150-200° C. Combustible extenders and fillers, reinforcing fibers, and cross-linking agents may be mixed with the organic material or the bio-binder base to provide additional specific properties to the mixture. The resulting well mixed mass is then pelletized or otherwise molded in conventional equipment.

Abstract: Adsorbents for use in regenerable adsorbent fractionators. The adsorbent may be in the form of composite adsorbent wherein each granule is an admixture of tabular alumina particles and adsorbent medium particles or the adsorbent may be in the form of an admixture of tabular alumina granules and adsorbent medium granules.

Abstract: A fuel pellet is produced by the combination of organic waste material with a binder obtained by direct liquefaction and/or fast pyrolysis of biomass material. Direct liquefaction and fast pyrolysis are carried out according to known liquefaction processes. The liquefied bio-binder base is mixed with additives, if desired, such as petroleum asphalt and cross-linking agents, in order to modify its characteristics to meet specific needs of particular applications, and the resulting mixture is mixed with organic-waste material preheated to 100° C. or more and allowed to react at about 150-200° C. Combustible extenders and fillers, reinforcing fibers, and cross-linking agents may be mixed with the organic material or the bio-binder base to provide additional specific properties to the mixture. The resulting well mixed mass is then pelletized or otherwise molded in conventional equipment.

Abstract: A toxic waste and glass frit are fed into an extruder having a helical screw. The glass frit, as well as any glassy material and glass-forming component in the waste, are melted in the extruder as the screw transports the waste and the frit through the extruder. The screw further mixes the waste and the frit and homogenizes the resulting mixture. The extruder is designed to generate high shear rates and high internal friction and at least a portion of the heat for melting is produced by such friction. A vitrified mass of the toxic waste is discharged from the extruder. The vitrified mass can be stored as is or can be pelletized and/or encapsulated.

Abstract: A coal agglomerate is produced by the combination of coal fines with a binder obtained by the direct liquefaction of biomass material. The direct liquefaction is carried out in the absence of oxygen at typical temperatures between about 450 and 700.degree. F. and typical pressures between 200 and 3,000 psi, according to known liquefaction processes. The liquefied bio-binder base is mixed with additives, if desired, such as fast pyrolysis tars and petroleum asphalt, in order to modify its characteristics to meet specific needs of particular applications, and the resulting mixture is sprayed on coal fines preheated to at least 250.degree. F. and allowed to react at about 300-400.degree. F. Combustible extenders and fillers; reinforcing fibers; and cross-linking agents may be mixed with the coal prior to combination with the binder to provide additional specific properties to the mixture. The resulting well mixed mass is then pelletized by the application of pressure in conventional equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating wastewater containing particulate matter and free oil, which method comprises removing free oil from the wastewater, passing the wastewater through a first filtration medium having an effective pore rating of about 200 .mu.m or less, subjecting the wastewater to dynamic filtration utilizing a second filtration medium having an effective pore rating of about 5 .mu.m or less, and contacting the wastewater with an adsorbent bed to form a purified water stream. The present invention also provides an apparatus which can be used to carry out the present inventive method.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a sorbing apparatus for removing one or more undesirable components from an influent gas. The sorbing apparatus comprises at least one chamber having first and second ports and defining a gas flow path between the first and second ports. A sorbent bed having a sorbing region and a guard region is disposed in the sorbing chamber in the gas flow path. The sorbing region includes a first sorbent material and the guard region includes a second sorbent material. A gas control arrangement is coupled to the sorbing chamber to cyclically (1) direct the influent gas through the first port, through the sorbing region and the guard region of the sorbent bed and out the second port wherein the undesirable components are sorbed from the influent gas and (2) direct a purge gas through the second port, through the guard region and the sorbing region of the sorbent bed and out the first port wherein the sorbing region is regenerated.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms on sorbents selected from the group consisting of absorbents and adsorbents that are susceptible to undesirable microorganism growth when exposed to water containing such organisms, said method comprising passing water to be treated by said sorbent over brass particles prior to or concurrently with contacting said sorbent with said water, the contact with the brass particles being sufficient to inhibit the growth of microorganisms on said sorbent while not releasing more than 1 ppmw copper ions and 5 ppmw zinc ions into the effluent water. Also disclosed are related sorbent elements and pretreatment packets used in said method.

Abstract: The removal of components from fluid mixtures in aircraft utilizes an adsorbent bed which is regenerated by passing dry ambient air through the adsorbent bed when the aircraft reaches a height at which such dry ambient air is available. An example of mixtures that can be treated in this way are water/oil mixtures, air/water vapor mixtures and air/odor mixtures. By periodically regenerating the adsorbent bed in this way, an adsorbent bed of small size can be used but yet have a substantial life.