Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for producing hydrogen and graphitic carbon from a hydrocarbon gas comprising: contacting at a temperature between 600° C. and 1000° C. the catalyst with the hydrocarbon gas to catalytically convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and graphitic carbon, wherein the catalyst is a low grade iron oxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing boron nitride nanostructures, the method comprising subjecting boron nitride precursor material to lamp ablation within an adiabatic radiative shielding environment. The nanostructures produced may include nano-onion structures. The boron nitride precursor material subjected to lamp ablation may include amorphous boron nitride, hexagonal boron nitride, cubic boron nitride, wurtzite boron nitride or a combination of two or more thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing boron nitride nanostructures, the method comprising subjecting boron nitride precursor material to lamp ablation within an adiabatic radiative shielding environment. The nanostructures produced may include nano-onion structures. The boron nitride precursor material subjected to lamp ablation may include amorphous boron nitride, hexagonal boron nitride, cubic boron nitride, wurtzite boron nitride or a combination of two or more thereof.

Abstract: A process of controlling the morphology of graphite in a process for the production of graphite, the process comprising: contacting at elevated temperature, a metal-containing catalyst with a hydrocarbon gas to catalytically convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and carbon; wherein the temperature is between 600° C. and 1000° C. and a pressure between 0 bar(g) and 100 bar(g), and wherein both the temperature and the pressure are set within predetermined value ranges to selectively synthesize graphitic material with a desired morphology.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for producing hydrogen and graphitic carbon from a hydrocarbon gas comprising: contacting at a temperature between 600° C. and 1000° C. the catalyst with the hydrocarbon gas to catalytically convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and graphitic carbon, wherein the catalyst is a low grade iron oxide.

Abstract: A process of controlling the morphology of graphite in a process for the production of graphite, the process comprising: contacting at elevated temperature, a metal-containing catalyst with a hydrocarbon gas to catalytically convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and carbon; wherein the temperature is between 600° C. and 1000° C. and a pressure between 0 bar(g) and 100 bar(g), and wherein both the temperature and the pressure are set within predetermined value ranges to selectively synthesise graphitic material with a desired morphology.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for producing hydrogen and graphitic carbon from a hydrocarbon gas comprising: contacting at a temperature between 600° C. and 1000° C. the catalyst with the hydrocarbon gas to catalytically convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and graphitic carbon, wherein the catalyst is a low grade iron oxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing boron nitride nanostructures, the method comprising subjecting boron nitride precursor material to lamp ablation within an adiabatic radiative shielding environment. The nanostructures produced may include nano-onion structures. The boron nitride precursor material subjected to lamp ablation may include amorphous boron nitride, hexagonal boron nitride, cubic boron nitride, wurtzite boron nitride or a combination of two or more thereof.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon gas comprising contacting at elevated temperature the hydrocarbon gas with a catalyst to catalytically convert the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and solid carbon; wherein, the catalyst comprises one or both of the following: (a) a calcined Fe-containing catalyst; or (b) a bimetallic MxNiy-type catalyst supported on a substrate.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of removing dissolved elements from a liquid. The method comprises a first heating step for heating the liquid using a first heat source, a plurality of distillation steps for purifying the liquid heated by the first heating step, each of the plurality of distillation steps comprising at least one evaporation step and at least one condensation step, and a second heating step, using a second heat source to heat a plurality of flashing chambers, each generating a volume of vapor; wherein the vapor from at least one of the plurality of flashing chambers of the second heating step is introduced into at least one of the plurality of distillation steps.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for producing hydrogen and graphitic carbon from a hydrocarbon gas comprising: contacting at a temperature between 600° C. and 1000° C. the catalyst with the hydrocarbon gas to catalytically convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and graphitic carbon, wherein the catalyst is a low grade iron oxide.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of removing dissolved elements from a liquid. The method comprises a first heating step for heating the liquid using a first heat source, a plurality of distillation steps for purifying the liquid heated by the first heating step, each of the plurality of distillation steps comprising at least one evaporation step and at least one condensation step, and a second heating step, using a second heat source to heat a plurality of flashing chambers, each generating a volume of vapor; wherein the vapor from at least one of the plurality of flashing chambers of the second heating step is introduced into at least one of the plurality of distillation steps.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus 2 for desalinating non-potable water. The apparatus has a first vapor producing module 5 configured to receive a heated working fluid for producing vapor from a volume of non-potable water for driving at least one first distillation module 10 for producing condensate 12. The apparatus also includes a second vapor producing module 14 configured to receive working fluid from the first vapor producing module 5 for producing additional vapor from a further volume of non-potable water 8?.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon gas comprising contacting at elevated temperature the hydrocarbon gas with a catalyst to catalytically convert the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and solid carbon; wherein, the catalyst comprises one or both of the following: (a) a calcined Fe-containing catalyst; or (b) a bimetallic MxNiy-type catalyst supported on a substrate.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus 2 for desalinating non-potable water. The apparatus comprises a first vapour producing module 5 configured to receive a heated working fluid for producing vapour from a volume of non-potable water for driving at least one first distillation module 10 for producing condensate 12. The apparatus further comprises a second vapour producing module 14 configured to receive working fluid from the first vapour producing module 5 for producing additional vapour from a further volume of non-potable water 8?.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon gas comprising contacting at elevated temperature the hydrocarbon gas with a catalyst to catalytically convert the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and solid carbon; wherein, the catalyst comprises one or both of the following: (a) a calcined Fe-containing catalyst; or (b) a bimetallic MxNiy-type catalyst supported on a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid optical and interferometric atomic force microscope system (40) for monitoring a cantilever probe (46). A light source (42) provides a light beam which is focussed on the back of the cantilever probe (46). The light reflected off the probe is split into two beams of different path lengths and are recombined to form an interference beam (58). This interference beam (58) is passed through a grating (102) having substantially the same period and orientation as the interference beam pattern. The light transmitted through the grating (102) illuminates a photodetector (122) to give a signal according to the intensity of the light falling on the photodetector. The photodetector output signal is sent to a positioning system (126), which in turn gives a signal to the piezoelectric system (54) so that the probe (46) follows the sample (50) surface. This signal is integrated as a function of position across the scanned area to represent a characteristic of the sample surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-imaging optical systems to couple incoherent light from a source such as high-brightness lamps into optical fibers, and to deliver the light into the human body for photothermal and/or photochemical surgery. The incoherent light radiated from the light source is concentrated with a non-imaging light concentrator and the light is delivered to a body tissue for photothermal and/or photochemical medical treatment. The concentrator captures nearly the light source's full radiative output, and concentrates the collected radiation back to power densities close to the power densities of the hot plasma regions at the core of the light source. The concentrator couples the light into a photonic conduit such as optical fibers, and the photonic conduit delivers the concentrated intense light to surgical applications including contact (interstitial) procedures and non-contact treatments (within the internal body cavities as well as the surfaces of organs), and inside the body.

Abstract: A regenerative adsorption process and a multi-reactor regenerative adsorption chiller assembly including a condenser adapted to receive a coolant from a source; an evaporator connected to the condenser to provide a refrigerant circuit; a plurality of reactors, each being able to operate in adsorption and desorption modes and having a coolant inlet to directly or indirectly receive coolant when operating in adsorption mode before, after or simultaneous with the condenser, and a waste heat inlet for directly or indirectly receiving waste heat from a waste heat source when operating in desorption mode; and control means for controlling said plurality of reactors such that each reactor alternately operates in adsorption and desorption modes for substantially identical time intervals, and such that each reactor has an equal chance of being the first reactor to receive the coolant when operating in adsorption mode, and the waste heat from the waste heat source when operating in desorption mode.

Abstract: A novel modular and miniature chiller is proposed that symbiotically combines absorption and thermoelectric cooling devices. The seemingly low efficiency of each cycle individually is overcome by an amalgamation with the other. This electro-adsorption chiller incorporates solely existing technologies. It can attain large cooling densities at high efficiency, yet is free of moving parts and comprises harmless materials. The governing physical processes are primarily surface rather than bulk effects, or involve electron rather than fluid flow. This insensitivity to scale creates promising applications in areas ranging from cooling personal computers and other micro-electronic appliances, to automotive and room air-conditioning.