Abstract: Methods and apparatus for purifying gases having organic impurities, including the use of granulated porous glass. A system for purifying an impure gas includes a source of an impure gas, a purification element operatively associated with the source of impure gas for purifying the impure gas, and a conduit operatively associated with the purification element for receiving a flow of purified impure gas from the purification element and directing the purified impure gas to a container or point of use. The impure gas includes a first gas and an organic compound. The purification element includes a vessel containing a packed bed of granulated porous glass.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for purifying gases having organic impurities, including the use of granulated porous glass. The method of the invention includes the following steps. An impure gas comprising a first gas and an organic compound is provided. A packed bed of granulated porous glass is provided. The impure gas is allowed to flow into the packed bed, thereby preferentially adsorbing at least some of the organic compound on the granulated porous glass to yield a purified gas having a concentration of the organic compound that is lower than that of the impure gas. The purified gas is allowed to flow out of the packed bed.

Abstract: Method and system for forming solid cylinders of carbon dioxide. In one embodiment, liquid carbon dioxide is expanded into at least one molding tube to produce dry ice snow. The dry ice snow is compressed into solid cylinders of carbon dioxide by the pressure of the liquid carbon dioxide entering the molding tube.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improved combustion of oxygen and a mixture of a non-gaseous fuel, which includes providing: 1) a source of a mixture of non-gaseous fuel and conveying gas; 2) a source of oxygen; 3) a burner operatively associated with a combustion chamber; 4) a fuel duct in fluid communication with the source of mixed non-gaseous fuel and conveying gas; 5) a tubular oxygen lance fluidly communicating with the source of oxygen; and 6) at least two injection elements in fluid communication with the source of oxygen. The fuel duct includes a portion that extends along an axis towards the burner. The lance is disposed along the axis and has a diameter D. The injection elements are configured to inject oxygen into, and mix therewith, a flow of the mixture upstream of, or at, the burner. At least one of the injection elements receives oxygen from the lance. The injection elements are spaced apart by a distance X, which is greater than the length of diameter D.

Abstract: Methods for sterilizing containers, which include sterilizing preformed, or partially preformed, aseptic containers. The method includes sterilizing the containers, heating the sterilized containers to an appropriate temperature, molding the heated containers, or partially preformed containers, by an orientation blow molding process, if necessary, and filling the molded containers with an aseptic material. The filled containers are then hermetically sealed with an aseptic closure. The sterilizing is accomplished within an enclosure completely filled with an atmosphere consisting of ozone in air, and further by bringing a sterilizing fluid consisting of ozone in oxygen, or ozone in air, or ozone dissolved in water into contact with internally disposed surfaces of the containers, and injecting the gaseous mixtures containing ozone, or ozonated water, into the empty preformed containers.

Abstract: ozone is dissolved ozone in a liquid cryogen. A container containing a liquified cryogen is provided. A gaseous stream of ozone is allowed to flow into at least one adsorption unit containing an adsorbent material, thereby adsorbing ozone thereupon. The cryogen is allowed to flow from the container to the at least one adsorption unit and therethrough thereby extracting an amount of the ozone adsorbed upon the adsorbent material, wherein the cryogen is in either a liquid, gaseous or supercritical phase as it flows through the adsorption unit. ozone becomes dissolved in the cryogen.

Abstract: Heat transfer fluid mixtures and methods of making and using same are presented. The inventive heat transfer fluid mixtures consist essentially of at least one light gas, such as helium, and at least one heavy fluid, such as argon, which may be adjusted between a first composition having a high heat transfer coefficient and high cost, and a second composition of a lower cost.

Abstract: The invention is a method of cooling objects by submerging in a fluid to obtain a desired cooling effect. These objects can be either food or non-food. The fluid can be liquid nitrogen, liquid argon, liquid oxygen, liquid carbon dioxide, or any combination thereof. The fluid can include an additive that helps sanitize the object. This additive can be oxidizing agents such as ozone, chlorine, chlorine compounds, hydrogen peroxide solutions, ozonia solutions, or combinations thereof. The submergence can be by way of an automatic dipping process, or a continuous moving belt process. The regulation can occur by varying speed or by maintaining a constant speed. The submergence can be by way of total submergence, or only partial submergence, of the object in the fluid. The desired effect can be to shock the surface microorganisms to make them susceptible to concurrent or subsequent treatments.

Abstract: The invention is a method of cooling objects by spraying with a fluid to obtain a desired cooling effect. The fluid may be sprayed directly or indirectly on the objects. The fluid may be liquid nitrogen, liquid argon, liquid oxygen, liquid carbon dioxide, or any combination thereof. The fluid may include an additive that helps sanitize the object. This additive may be an oxidizing agent such as ozone, chlorine, chlorine compounds, hydrogen peroxide solutions, oxonia solutions, or combinations thereof. The regulation may be by way of time or flow. The regulation may involve equal time intervals of spraying or unequal time intervals of spraying. The desired cooling effect may be to shock the surface microorganisms to make them susceptible to concurrent or subsequent treatments. The desired cooling effect may be to promote the destruction or inactivation of surface microorganisms without cooling or freezing the object throughout.

Abstract: An acetylene generation and supply system includes an acetylene generation device configured to generate acetylene from at least one reactant feed stream including at least one carbon containing material, and an acetylene processing device oriented in-line and downstream from the acetylene generation device to receive and process generated acetylene from the acetylene generation device. The acetylene processing device consumes at least a portion of the generated acetylene upon operation of the acetylene processing device. In one embodiment, the acetylene generation device is an arc plasma reactor, and the acetylene processing device is a carburization system that processes steel parts.

Abstract: Workpieces of metal are treated with a high temperature, ambient pressure argon arc plasma system to facilitate surface and through hardening.The argon flame is directed against the outer surface of the rotating workpiece. The surface temperature is monitored by a non contact I.R. temperature sensor and controlled by varying the inert gas flowrate through the plasma generator and/or varying the electrical power input to the plasma generator.

Abstract: An improved method of producing carbon monoxide in a plasma arc reactor is disclosed, wherein carbon dioxide is delivered to an arc to form a plasma into which solid carbon is delivered. The products are quenched and filtered to yield carbon monoxide. High yields of carbon monoxide of high purity and high efficiencies of electrical-to-chemical conversion thus may be achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for forming a gaseous mixture comprising a carrier gas substantially saturated with vapors of a normally liquid chemical material, under conditions of high throughput. The apparatus of the invention is adapted to pass a carrier gas through a normally liquid chemical material in a pressure vessel, while controlling the temperature and pressure of the system, thereby controlling the concentration of the vaporous, normally liquid chemical material in the carrier gas and to assure the formation of a substantially saturated gaseous mixture. Before exiting the pressure vessel the initial dispersion of carrier gas and chemical material is contacted with means adapted to retard passage of liquid chemical substance from the pressure vessel and to enhance the degree of saturation of the carrier gas. The invention is also directed to the use of a gaseous mixture of curing agent and carrier gas to cure low temperature curing sand molding compositions.