Abstract: A gaseous combustible fuel includes a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel feedstock and solid fuel particles suspended in the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel feedstock. The solid fuel particles have a sufficiently small particle size so that they remain suspended during transportation. The hydrocarbon fuel feedstock may include natural gas, ethane, propane, butane, and gaseous derivatives and mixtures thereof. The solid fuel particles may include coal-derived solid carbonaceous matter. Other examples of solid fuel particles include biomass, refined bioproducts, and combustible polymer particles. The gaseous combustible fuel has an energy density at atmospheric pressure which is at least 25% greater than the volumetric energy density of the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel feedstock. Improvements in volumetric energy density of 50%, 100%, and even 500% are disclosed. The gaseous combustible fuel may be pressurized to a pressure in the range from 2 to 100 atmospheres.

Abstract: Coal-derived mineral matter particles are an effective soil amendment. Coal-derived mineral matter particles added to soil increase the silt and clay fractions of the soil and improve the soil texture. The fine coal-derived mineral matter particles also increase mineral and essential nutrient availability for plant growth. Improved soil texture also increases water holding capacity and cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil. The mineral matter particles typically have a size less than 50 ?m and an average size of 10 ?m or less. In some non-limiting embodiments, the mineral matter particles mixed with the soil are present in the mixture in an amount ranging from 5 to 30 wt. %. The coal-derived mineral matter particles contain a plurality of essential nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth selected from B, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, P, K, S, and Zn.

Abstract: Coal-derived mineral matter is used to capture or remove combustion gas emissions from flue gas or exhaust gas. The coal-derived mineral matter may be obtained by separating it from coal particles, such as by use of a flotation separation process. Coal-derived mineral matter may also be present in fine coal refuse. In the method of removing combustion gas emissions from flue gas, an aqueous suspension of coal-derived mineral matter particles is contacted with the combustion gas emissions for sufficient time to cause the combustion gas emissions to react with the aqueous suspension and form an enhanced aqueous suspension. The combustion gas emissions may comprise NOx, SOx, CO, or mixtures thereof. An aqueous suspension of coal-derived mineral matter particles containing enhanced amounts of soluble and insoluble sulfate, sulfite, nitrate, nitrite, or carbonate reaction compounds formed by reaction of the aqueous suspension of the coal-derived mineral matter particles with combustion gas emissions.

Abstract: Fine coal particles are dewatered by mechanically removing water from the coal particles by vibration assisted vacuum dewatering to form a coal particle filter cake. The filter cake typically has a water content less than 35% by weight, suitable for extrusion to form discrete, non-tacky pellets. The vibration assisted vacuum dewatering may operate at a vibration frequency in the range from about 1 Hz to about 500 Hz. The vibration frequency may be adjusted during the dewatering process. In some embodiments, the vibration frequency is increased as the moisture content of the coal particle filter cake is decreased. Washing the filter cake during dewatering removes soluble contaminants. Various vibration assisted vacuum dewatering devices may be used, including a vibration assisted rotary vacuum dewatering drum, a vibration assisted vacuum disk filter, and a vibration assisted vacuum conveyor system.

Abstract: Coal-derived mineral matter particles are an effective soil amendment. Coal-derived mineral matter particles added to soil increase the silt and clay fractions of the soil and improve the soil texture. The fine coal-derived mineral matter particles also increase mineral and essential nutrient availability for plant growth. Improved soil texture also increases water holding capacity and cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil. The mineral matter particles typically have a size less than 50 ?m and an average size of 10 ?m or less. In some non-limiting embodiments, the mineral matter particles mixed with the soil are present in the mixture in an amount ranging from 5 to 30 wt. %. The coal-derived mineral matter particles contain a plurality of essential nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth selected from B, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, P, K, S, and Zn.

Abstract: Coal fines are processed by flotation separation to separate coal particles from ash-forming component particles. Coal fines are mixed water under high shear mixing conditions to form an aqueous slurry of coal fines containing between 15 wt. % and 55 wt. % coal fines. The aqueous slurry is introduced into a coal flotation cell to separate coal particles from ash-forming component particles by flotation separation, wherein the coal fines have a particle size less than 500 ?m, and more preferably less than 300 ?m. Bubbles are generated in the coal flotation cell having a bubble size and bubble quantity selected to float the coal particles and to form a coal-froth containing at least 15 wt. % solid particles. The solid particles include coal particles and ash-forming component particles. The coal-froth is collected for further processing.

Abstract: Fine coal particles are dewatered by mechanically removing water from the coal particles by vibration assisted vacuum dewatering to form a coal particle filter cake. The filter cake typically has a water content less than 35% by weight, suitable for extrusion to form discrete, non-tacky pellets. The vibration assisted vacuum dewatering may operate at a vibration frequency in the range from about 1 Hz to about 500 Hz. The vibration frequency may be adjusted during the dewatering process. In some embodiments, the vibration frequency is increased as the moisture content of the coal particle filter cake is decreased. Washing the filter cake during dewatering removes soluble contaminants. Various vibration assisted vacuum dewatering devices may be used, including a vibration assisted rotary vacuum dewatering drum, a vibration assisted vacuum disk filter, and a vibration assisted vacuum conveyor system.

Abstract: A light-emitting device, which improves the light output of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), includes at least one porous metal or metalloid oxide light extraction layer positioned between the substrate and the transparent conducting material layer in the OLED. The index of refraction of the light extraction layer and the light scattering may be tuned by changing the pore size, pore density, doping the metal oxide, adding an insulating, conducting or semiconducting component, or filling the pores, for example. A method for forming the light-emitting device includes forming at least one light extraction layer comprising a porous metal or metalloid oxide on a substrate, for example, using atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD), and subsequently, forming a transparent conducting material on the light extraction layer.

Abstract: Organic FETs are produced having high mobilities in the accumulation mode and in the depletion mode. Significantly higher mobility is obtained from FETs in which RR-P3HT film is applied by dip-coating to a thickness of only about 20 ? to 1 ?m. It was found that the structural order of the semiconducting polymer at the interface between the semiconducting polymer and the SiO2 gate-insulator is important for achieving high carrier mobility. Heat-treatment under an inert atmosphere also was found to increase the on/off ratio of the FET.

Abstract: Organic FETs are produced having high mobilities in the accumulation mode and in the depletion mode. Significantly higher mobility is obtained from FETs in which RR-P3HT film is applied by dip-coating to a thickness of only about 20 ? to 1 ?m. It was found that the structural order of the semiconducting polymer at the interface between the semiconducting polymer and the SiO2 gate-insulator is important for achieving high carrier mobility. Heat-treatment under an inert atmosphere also was found to increase the on/off ratio of the FET.

Abstract: Organic FETs are produced having high mobilities in the accumulation mode and in the depletion mode. Significantly higher mobility is obtained from FETs in which RR-P3HT film is applied by dip-coating to a thickness of only about 20 Å to 1 &mgr;m. It was found that the structural order of the semiconducting polymer at the interface between the semiconducting polymer and the SiO2 gate-insulator is important for achieving high carrier mobility. Heat-treatment under an inert atmosphere also was found to increase the on/off ratio of the FET.