Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing methanol from organic material, characterized in that the apparatus includes an anaerobic digestion arrangement for receiving the organic material and for anaerobically-digesting the organic material in oxygen-depleted conditions to generate methane gas; and a chemical reaction arrangement for reacting the methane gas with water vapour and carbon dioxide in a stoichiometric condition (Eq. 4) between methane steam reforming and methane dry reforming to generate methanol. The apparatus is operable to support a stoichiometric reaction as follows: CO2+3CH4+2H2O=4CH3OH??Eq. 4 The chemical reaction arrangement is operable to provide the stoichiometric condition (Eq. 4) at a first stage for steam reforming at a pressure in a range of 10 Bar to 30 Bar, and at a temperature in a range of 750° C. to 950° C.; and at a second stage of methanol synthesis at a pressure in a range of 50 Bar to 100 Bar, and at a temperature in a range of 200° C. to 250° C.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing methanol from organic material, wherein the apparatus includes: (i) an anaerobic digestion arrangement for receiving the organic material and for anaerobically-digesting the organic material in oxygen-depleted conditions to generate an anaerobic digestion gas (AD gas) comprising at least methane, and carbon dioxide; (ii) a pressure swing absorption (PSA) arrangement for the removal of excess carbon dioxide; (iii) a chemical reaction arrangement for reacting the methane gas with water vapour and carbon dioxide in a stoichiometric condition of the reaction, CO2+3CH4+2H2O=4CH3OH, between methane steam reforming and methane dry reforming to generate a synthesis gas, and converting the synthesis gas to methanol; and (iv) an recovery arrangement for recovering unreacted methane and feeding the recovered unreacted methane into the exit stream from the anaerobic digestion arrangement.

Abstract: A method of growing seeds in a hydroponics apparatus to provide animal feed includes trays for receiving seeds, an environmental control arrangement for controlling a temperature and humidity of the trays, and a nutrient solution supply arrangement for providing a nutrient solution to the seeds wherein the method includes: (i) preparing the seeds by removing loose chaff, remnants of husks, and broken seeds; (ii) exposing the prepared seeds to gaseous ozone in either a) a concentration in a range of 5-10 p.p.m.v. for a period in a range of 50-60 minutes or b) a concentration in the range of 10-20 p.p.m.v. for a period in a range of 1-30 minutes, in a relative humidity range of 40%-95%, and at an ambient temperature range of 12° C.-28° C.; and (iii) growing the exposed prepared seeds to provide grown plant material for use in producing the animal feed.

Abstract: A hydroponics apparatus for growing feed for livestock includes a plurality of elongate trays for receiving seeds, an environmental control arrangement for controlling in operation a temperature and humidity of the plurality of elongate trays, and a nutrient solution supply arrangement for providing a nutrient solution to the seeds on the plurality of trays, wherein the environmental control arrangement maintains the nutrient solution and an environment of the plurality trays at a temperature in a range of 19° C. to 25° C.; and the plurality of trays is provided in operation with a substantially similar flow rate of the nutrient solution.

Abstract: An agricultural system for generating food and fuel products includes an arrangement for supplying grain, wherein the agricultural system includes a hydroponics arrangement for receiving the supplied grain and for germinating and growing the supplied grain in a light-excluded environment in one or more hydroponics trays to generate plant growth material, and a harvesting arrangement for receiving the plant growth material and processing the plant growth material to generate corresponding livestock feed. The hydroponics arrangement includes a gaseous fumigation arrangement for gaseously fumigating the supplied grain during growing of the grain in the light-excluded environment. The gaseous fumigation arrangement is operable to employ ozone gas for fumigating the supplied grain to reduce growth of mould in the plant growth material.

Abstract: An improved system and method for producing methanol product. The system and the method of the present disclosure uses a gas feed arrangement for providing a methane rich gas feed and an apparatus for converting the methane rich gas feed into the methanol product. The apparatus includes an auto-thermal reforming arrangement for converting one or more gaseous components present in the methane rich gas feed. The auto-thermal reforming arrangement is configured to partially oxidise the methane rich gas feed to maintain the auto-thermal reforming arrangement at a working temperature when in operation. Also, the auto-thermal reforming arrangement employs electrical power generated from an energy source, preferably a renewable energy source, to provide additional heating in the auto-thermal reforming arrangement for maintaining the working temperature when in operation.

Abstract: A livestock feed production apparatus for generating feed for livestock, wherein the livestock feed production arrangement includes an arrangement for supplying seeds. The livestock feed production apparatus includes a hydroponics arrangement for receiving the supplied seeds and for germinating and growing the supplied seeds in a light-excluded environment in one or more trays to generate plant growth material, and a harvesting arrangement for receiving the plant growth material and processing the plant growth material to generate the corresponding livestock feed for livestock. Moreover, the livestock feed production apparatus includes an irrigation arrangement that is operable to expose the supplied seeds to one or more drying steps during growth of the seeds temporally interposed between one or more wet steps during which the seeds are exposed to at least one nutrient solution.

Abstract: A method for enhancing Omega-3 oil content in body tissue of livestock include operating a livestock feed production arrangement for generating feed for livestock. The livestock feed production arrangement includes an arrangement for supplying seeds, a hydroponics arrangement for receiving the supplied seeds and for germinating and growing the supplied seed in a light-excluded environment in one or more hydroponics trays to generate plant growth material, and a harvesting arrangement for receiving the plant growth material and processing the plant growth material to generate the corresponding livestock feed for livestock. The method also includes feeding the livestock feed to livestock of a variety to enhance the Omega-3 oil content in their body tissue.

Abstract: A reaction apparatus for producing polyethylene glycol dinitrate (PEGDN) in a continuous manner includes a series of reaction cells spatially disposed in one or more planar structures and a separation arrangement for separating PEGDN and Ammonium Nitrate, in a continuous manner. The separation arrangement is a thin film evaporator and/or falling film evaporator. The plurality of reaction cells includes a feed preparation section having feedstreams for continuously providing an acid composition and a glycol composition to reaction cells. The plurality of reaction cells further includes a nitration section, where the acid composition and the glycol composition react to generate a reaction composition, and a quench and neutralization section, having feed for cooling arrangement and a plurality of feeds for providing an alkaline composition to at least partially neutralize reaction composition. The acid composition includes a mixture of dilute nitric acid and concentrated sulphuric acid.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing polyethylene glycol dinitrate. The apparatus includes providing continuously an acid composition and a glycol composition to a reaction apparatus; reacting the acid composition and the glycol composition in the reaction apparatus in a continuous manner to generate a reaction composition; using an alkaline composition to at least partially neutralize the reaction composition to cause at least a portion of the polyethylene glycol dinitrate to deposit from a solution of the reaction composition; and extracting the deposit of polyethylene glycol dinitrate.

Abstract: A method of increasing efficiency of a combustion system, which runs with alcohol fuels, by injecting a controlled quantity of a fuel additive. The method includes using one of a single injector tip for pre-mixed alcohol fuel and fuel additive or individual injector tips for the alcohol fuel and the fuel additive. The fuel additive includes a mixture of organic compounds of which at least one organic compound includes at least one nitrate molecular group. The method further includes injecting the pre-mixed alcohol fuel and fuel additive or the alcohol fuel and the fuel additive individually into one or more combustion chambers of the engine block. The method also includes controlling a quantity of the fuel additive by a control arrangement associated with a temperature sensor, and controlling a flow-rate of the alcohol fuel by a power control adapted to controller an output power from the engine block.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing polyethylene glycol dinitrate. The apparatus includes providing continuously an acid composition and a glycol composition to a reaction apparatus; reacting the acid composition and the glycol composition in the reaction apparatus in a continuous manner to generate a reaction composition; using an alkaline composition to at least partially neutralize the reaction composition to cause at least a portion of the polyethylene glycol dinitrate to deposit from a solution of the reaction composition; and extracting the deposit of polyethylene glycol dinitrate.

Abstract: A fuel for use in internal combustion engines, wherein the fuel includes a mixture of at least one alcohol, water, urea and/or Ammonium Nitrate. The water is included in a quantity which renders the Ammonium Nitrate and/or urea dissolved in the at least one alcohol. The at least one alcohol is methanol included in a concentration having a range of 90-97 weight %. The Ammonium Nitrate is included in a concentration having a range of 0.5-10 weight %; more optionally, the Ammonium Nitrate is included in a concentration having a range of 1-5 weight %. Further, the urea is included in a concentration having a range of 1-10 weight %.

Abstract: An enhanced fuel, a method of producing such enhanced fuel, and method of using such enhanced fuel for operating internal combustion engine. The fuel includes a mixture of at least one alcohol, water and ammonium nitrate (AN) as a cetane enhancer. The water is included in a quantity which renders the ammonium nitrate dissolved in the at least one alcohol. The fuel further contains dimethylether as an ignition-improver additive, at least one lubricity agent and at least one anti-corrosion agent.

Abstract: A method of sterilization, decontamination and/or sanitation of an enclosed environment, the method comprising the steps of measuring the temperature of an enclosed environment to be treated; calculating the relative humidity required to provide a desired partial pressure at the measured temperature, the actual desired partial pressure required being based on a predetermined optimum partial pressure at a base temperature corresponding to an optimum operating temperature for that environment; introducing a predetermined quantity of water to the environment to provide the calculated relative humidity for the measured temperature; discharging ozone into the humidified environment; maintaining the ozone level at a concentration that will achieve the required degree of decontamination, sterilization and/or sanitation of the humid environment; and reducing the ozone level to an acceptable safe exposure level.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons within the C5 to C17 range is described which includes contact of a feed having methanol with a zeolite microporous crystalline material having an empirical formula (I) wherein M is selected from H+, an inorganic cation of charge +n, and mixtures thereof, X is at least one chemical element having an oxidation state of +3, Y is at least one second chemical element other than Si having an oxidation state +4, x has a value between 0 and about 0.3, y has a value between 0 and about 0.1, and recovery of hydrocarbons within the C5 to C17 range from the conversion product.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide conversion processes are described for the conversion of carbon monoxide via hydrogenation to methanol. The process utilizes initial carbon monoxide priming before introduction of 3:1 hydrogen/carbon dioxide mixture to the reactor. After the optimum reaction conditions are established the feed of carbon monoxide may be withdrawn and any required carbon monoxide provided via reactor effluent recycle. The process provides for enhanced catalyst performance and life.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide conversion processes are described for the conversion of carbon dioxide via hydrogenation to hydrocarbons. The process utilizes an initial feed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen converted under Fischer Tropsch conditions to hydrocarbons followed by subsequent displacement of the carbon monoxide in the reactor feed with carbon dioxide, which is then converted to carbon monoxide under reverse water gas shift conditions and the initial carbon monoxide feed being terminated once the reverse water gas shift conversion of carbon dioxide. After the optimum reaction conditions are established the feed of carbon monoxide may be withdrawn and any required carbon monoxide provided via reactor effluent recycle. The process provides for enhanced catalyst performance and life.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide conversion processes are described for the conversion of carbon monoxide via hydrogenation to methanol. The process utilizes initial carbon monoxide priming before introduction of 3:1 hydrogen/carbon dioxide mixture to the reactor. After the optimum reaction conditions are established the feed of carbon monoxide may be withdrawn and any required carbon monoxide provided via reactor effluent recycle. The process provides for enhanced catalyst performance and life.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide conversion processes are described for the conversion of carbon dioxide via hydrogenation to hydrocarbons. The process utilizes an initial feed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen converted under Fischer Tropsch conditions to hydrocarbons followed by subsequent displacement of the carbon monoxide in the reactor feed with carbon dioxide, which is then converted to carbon monoxide under reverse water gas shift conditions and the initial carbon monoxide feed being terminated once the reverse water gas shift conversion of carbon dioxide. After the optimum reaction conditions are established the feed of carbon monoxide may be withdrawn and any required carbon monoxide provided via reactor effluent recycle. The process provides for enhanced catalyst performance and life.