Abstract: Conversion of heavy fossil hydrocarbons (HFH) to a variety of value-added chemicals and/or fuels can be enhanced using microwave (MW) and/or radio-frequency (RF) energy. Variations of reactants, process parameters, and reactor design can significantly influence the relative distribution of chemicals and fuels generated as the product. In one example, a system for flash microwave conversion of HFH includes a source concentrating microwave or RF energy in a reaction zone having a pressure greater than 0.9 atm, a continuous feed having HFH and a process gas passing through the reaction zone, a HFH-to-liquids catalyst contacting the HFH in at least the reaction zone, and dielectric discharges within the reaction zone. The HFH and the catalyst have a residence time in the reaction zone of less than 30 seconds. In some instances, a plasma can form in or near the reaction zone.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of processing plant material by adding water to form a mixture, heating the mixture, and separating a liquid component from a solid-comprising component. At least one of the liquid component and the solid-comprising component undergoes additional processing. Processing of the solid-comprising component produces oils, and processing of the liquid component produces one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention includes a process of forming glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol from plant matter by adding water, heating and filtering the plant matter. The filtrate containing starch, starch fragments, hemicellulose and fragments of hemicellulose is treated to form linear poly-alcohols which are then cleaved to produce one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention also includes a method of producing free and/or complexed sterols and stanols from plant material.

Abstract: A system, method, and device are described for ultrasonic treatment of viscous fluids, including, e.g., crude oils that provide a variety of desired modifications. The invention includes a container having a circumvolving outer wall configured to allow passage of a quantity of a material within a passageway therein and ultrasonic transducers that attach to and circumvolve the outer wall of the container. The ultrasonic transducers transmit ultrasonic energy into material within the container at preselected frequencies thereby achieving desired effects.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of processing plant material by adding water to form a mixture, heating the mixture, and separating a liquid component from a solid-comprising component. At least one of the liquid component and the solid-comprising component undergoes additional processing. Processing of the solid-comprising component produces oils, and processing of the liquid component produces one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention includes a process of forming glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol from plant matter by adding water, heating and filtering the plant matter. The filtrate containing starch, starch fragments, hemicellulose and fragments of hemicellulose is treated to form linear poly-alcohols which are then cleaved to produce one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention also includes a method of producing free and/or complexed sterols and stanols from plant material.

Abstract: A conference system includes a first conference station generating at least one of audio and video signals from at least an attorney and a second conference station generating at least one of audio and video signals from the attorney's client, the attorney and the attorney's client having a relationship protected by the attorney-client privilege. The system also includes at least one communications link connecting the first and second conference stations that carries the audio and/or video signals between the first and second conference stations. A signal processor is disposed within the communications link between the first and second conference stations to route signals between the first and second conference stations. At least one control panel communicates with the signal processor and provides control over audio and/or video signals so that the attorney and the attorney's client are permitted to engage in a private communication without vitiating the attorney-client privilege.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of processing plant material by adding water to form a mixture, heating the mixture, and separating a liquid component from a solid-comprising component. At least one of the liquid component and the solid-comprising component undergoes additional processing. Processing of the solid-comprising component produces oils, and processing of the liquid component produces one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention includes a process of forming glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol from plant matter by adding water, heating and filtering the plant matter. The filtrate containing starch, starch fragments, hemicellulose and fragments of hemicellulose is treated to form linear poly-alcohols which are then cleaved to produce one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention also includes a method of producing free and/or complexed sterols and stanols from plant material.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of processing plant material by adding water to form a mixture, heating the mixture, and separating a liquid component from a solid-comprising component. At least one of the liquid component and the solid-comprising component undergoes additional processing. Processing of the solid-comprising component produces oils, and processing of the liquid component produces one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention includes a process of forming glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol from plant matter by adding water, heating and filtering the plant matter. The filtrate containing starch, starch fragments, hemicellulose and fragments of hemicellulose is treated to form linear poly-alcohols which are then cleaved to produce one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention also includes a method of producing free and/or complexed sterols and stanols from plant material.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of processing plant material by adding water to form a mixture, heating the mixture, and separating a liquid component from a solid-comprising component. At least one of the liquid component and the solid-comprising component undergoes additional processing. Processing of the solid-comprising component produces oils, and processing of the liquid component produces one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention includes a process of forming glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol from plant matter by adding water, heating and filtering the plant matter. The filtrate containing starch, starch fragments, hemicellulose and fragments of hemicellulose is treated to form linear poly-alcohols which are then cleaved to produce one or more of glycerol, ethylene glycol, lactic acid and propylene glycol. The invention also includes a method of producing free and/or complexed sterols and stanols from plant material.

Abstract: A method for selective hydrolysis of the hemicellulose component of a biomass material. The selective hydrolysis produces water-soluble small molecules, particularly monosaccharides. One embodiment includes solubilizing at least a portion of the hemicellulose and subsequently hydrolyzing the solubilized hemicellulose to produce at least one monosaccharide. A second embodiment includes solubilizing at least a portion of the hemicellulose and subsequently enzymatically hydrolyzing the solubilized hemicellulose to produce at least one monosaccharide. A third embodiment includes solubilizing at least a portion of the hemicellulose by heating the biomass material to greater than 110° C. resulting in an aqueous portion that includes the solubilized hemicellulose and a water insoluble solids portion and subsequently separating the aqueous portion from the water insoluble solids portion.

Abstract: A method for selective hydrolysis of the hemicellulose component of a biomass material. The selective hydrolysis produces water-soluble small molecules, particularly monosaccharides. One embodiment includes solubilizing at least a portion of the hemicellulose and subsequently hydrolyzing the solubilized hemicellulose to produce at least one monosaccharide. A second embodiment includes solubilizing at least a portion of the hemicellulose and subsequently enzymatically hydrolyzing the solubilized hemicellulose to produce at least one monosaccharide. A third embodiment includes solubilizing at least a portion of the hemicellulose by heating the biomass material to greater than 110° C. resulting in an aqueous portion that includes the solubilized hemicellulose and a water insoluble solids portion and subsequently separating the aqueous portion from the water insoluble solids portion.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is a microwave bond cleavage of a first hydrocarbon compound, the first hydrocarbon compound in a liquid phase and substantially non-aqueous, to a second compound having a shorter carbon chain than the first hydrocarbon compound. The method has the steps of exposing a combination of the first hydrocarbon compound with a supported catalyst having a carrier of a non-metallic amorphous solid with at least one catalytic metal dispersed therein to microwave energy thereby converting the first hydrocarbon compound into the second hydrocarbon compound, and recovering the second hydrocarbon compound. Advantages of the present invention include use of a low cost supported catalyst at ambient temperature and pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting strips of metal into stacks and transfering the stacks to a hopper of a press includes a stack accumulating and blocking pocket at an output of a cut-off shear, a stack lift, rotate and turn-over mechanism to reorient the stack prior to input to the hopper, and a gripper head on a transfer gantry to move the stack from the lift, rotate and turn-over mechanism to the hopper. The gripper head is movable to an angle in alignment with the feed angle of the hopper to deposit the stack on the top strip in the hopper in alignment therewith.

Abstract: A food product slicer comprises a housing having a bilevel profile which includes a raised portion having a first aperture therein and a horizontal planar portion having a second aperture therein; a slicing blade mounted for rotation on a drive shaft extending through the first aperture; a compartment on the bottom side of the housing defined by a wall member; a scale including a platter, mounted on a post extending through the second aperture; a load cell mounted in the compartment and engaging the post extending through the second aperture; and an electronic control for operating the scale and slicer, mounted in the housing outside of the compartment. The platter is located below the slicing blade such that the food product sliced by the slicing blade is deposited on the platter, and the post is mounted to the center of the platter, such that a food product portion deposited on the platter will measure substantially the same weight on each corner of the platter.

Abstract: The present invention is an arrangement of a glass capillary tube for use in spectroscopy. In particular, the invention is a capillary arranged in a manner permitting a plurality or multiplicity of passes of a sample material through a spectroscopic measurement zone. In a preferred embodiment, the multi-pass capillary is insertable within a standard NMR sample tube. The present invention further includes a method of making the multi-pass capillary tube and an apparatus for spinning the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating blanks into stacks and transferring the stacks into a welder hopper of a can former/welder includes an arrangement of side-by-side blank accumulating pockets at an output of a slitter. The side-by-side arrangement is movable to adjacent an indexing and storage station and a pusher to push the stacks from the side-by-side arrangement to the indexing and storage station is provided. The indexing and storage station moves in an indexed fashion to align each stack individually with a single stack receiving station, where single stacks are received from the indexing and storage station. The stack in the single stack receiving station is blocked, lifted and rotated for engagement by an overhead gripper of a gantry assembly which moves the stack to the welder hopper when needed.