Abstract: A composite porous fibrous dehumidifying material comprised of a plurality of fibers whose surface has immobilized thereon a reversible hydrogel material. The composite porous fibrous structure can be used as a dehumidifying material for reducing energy consumption in air conditioning/climate control units. Preferred fibrous materials are electrically conductive materials, such a graphitic fibers.

Abstract: Permeable composite fibrous catalytic sheets comprised of at least three distinct solid phases. A first solid phase is a 3-dimensional porous network of a non-conductive porous ceramic material. A second solid phase is an electrically conductive phase comprised of randomly oriented electrically conductive fibers. A third phase is comprised of catalytic particles dispersed on said 3-dimensional porous network, said conductive fibers, or both. A fourth phase can be present, which fourth phase is comprised one or more conductive species or one or more non conductive species embedded in said first solid phase.

Abstract: A methane steam reforming process for converting a syngas in the presence of permeable composite fibrous catalytic sheets comprised of at least three distinct solid phases. A first solid phase is a 3-dimensional porous network of a non-conductive porous ceramic material. A second solid phase is an electrically conductive phase comprised of randomly oriented electrically conductive fibers. A third phase is comprised of methane steam reforming catalytic particles dispersed on said 3-dimensional porous network, said conductive fibers, or both. A fourth phase can be present, which fourth phase is comprised one or more conductive species or one or more non-conductive species embedded in said first solid phase.

Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch process for converting a syngas to hydrocarbon products in the presence of a permeable composite fibrous catalytic sheet comprised of at least three distinct solid phases. A first solid phase is a 3-dimensional porous network of a non-conductive porous ceramic material. A second solid phase is an electrically conductive phase comprised of randomly oriented electrically conductive fibers. A third phase is comprised of catalytic particles dispersed on said 3-dimensional porous network, said conductive fibers, or both. A fourth phase can be present, which fourth phase is comprised one or more conductive species or one or more non-conductive species embedded in said first solid phase.

Abstract: A composite porous fibrous dehumidifying material comprised of a plurality of fibers whose surface has immobilized thereon a reversible hydrogel material. The composite porous fibrous structure can be used as a dehumidifying material for reducing energy consumption in air conditioning/climate control units. Preferred fibrous materials are electrically conductive materials, such a graphitic fibers.

Abstract: A methane steam reforming process for converting a syngas in the presence of permeable composite fibrous catalytic sheets comprised of at least three distinct solid phases. A first solid phase is a 3-dimensional porous network of a non-conductive porous ceramic material. A second solid phase is an electrically conductive phase comprised of randomly oriented electrically conductive fibers. A third phase is comprised of methane steam reforming catalytic particles dispersed on said 3-dimensional porous network, said conductive fibers, or both. A fourth phase can be present, which fourth phase is comprised one or more conductive species or one or more non-conductive species embedded in said first solid phase.

Abstract: Permeable composite fibrous catalytic sheets comprised of at least three distinct solid phases. A first solid phase is a 3-dimensional porous network of a non-conductive porous ceramic material. A second solid phase is an electrically conductive phase comprised of randomly oriented electrically conductive fibers. A third phase is comprised of catalytic particles dispersed on said 3-dimensional porous network, said conductive fibers, or both. A fourth phase can be present, which fourth phase is comprised one or more conductive species or one or more non conductive species embedded in said first solid phase.

Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch process for converting a syngas to hydrocarbon products in the presence of a permeable composite fibrous catalytic sheet comprised of at least three distinct solid phases. A first solid phase is a 3-dimensional porous network of a non-conductive porous ceramic material. A second solid phase is an electrically conductive phase comprised of randomly oriented electrically conductive fibers. A third phase is comprised of catalytic particles dispersed on said 3-dimensional porous network, said conductive fibers, or both. A fourth phase can be present, which fourth phase is comprised one or more conductive species or one or more non-conductive species embedded in said first solid phase.

Abstract: Permeable composite fibrous catalytic sheets comprised of at least three distinct solid phases. A first solid phase is an electrically conductive phase comprised of randomly oriented electrically conductive carbon fibers. A second solid phase is a 3-dimensional porous network of a non-conductive porous ceramic material. A third phase is comprised of catalytic particles dispersed on said 3-dimensional porous network.

Abstract: A process wherein a gas mixture of a reformate gas comprised predominantly of hydrogen and carbon oxides, and a biogas comprised predominantly of methane and carbon dioxide is passed through a pressure swing adsorption unit. Contaminants, such as carbon oxides, are adsorbed and a methane-rich stream and a hydrogen-rich stream are separately recovered. The methane-rich stream is sent to steam methane reforming that results in a reformate comprised primarily of hydrogen which is then combined with the biogas feed stream and sent to pressure swing adsorption.

Abstract: A highly efficient method for treating contaminated water streams from any source where alkanlinity, hardness, or dissolved solids need to be removed before the water is discharged to the surrounding environment or sent to a secondary treatment facility.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for treating contaminated water streams resulting from the production of coal-bed-methane. The method of treating contaminated water streams typically includes the steps of: providing a reaction vessel that contains a bed of weak acid cation ion exchange resin beads; introducing the contaminated water stream to the reaction vessel; allowing for the exchange of hydrogen ions for sodium ions; removing the ion exchanged treated water from the reaction vessel; stopping the stream of contaminated water; and regenerating the weak cation exchange resin.

Abstract: Permeable composite fibrous catalytic sheets comprised of at least three distinct solid phases. A first solid phase is an electrically conductive phase comprised of randomly oriented electrically conductive carbon fibers. A second solid phase is a 3-dimensional porous network of a non-conductive porous ceramic material. A third phase is comprised of catalytic particles dispersed on said 3-dimensional porous network.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process wherein a gas mixture comprised of a reformate gas and a biomass gas is processed to remove contaminants.

Abstract: A membrane structure suitable for use in forward osmosis processes, which membrane structure is comprised of a support membrane comprised of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and having an active surface which active surface contains a cellulosic coating.

Abstract: A method for treating contaminated water streams resulting from the production of coal-bed-methane.

Abstract: A method for removing fluorine gas from a selected environment comprises contacting the fluorine gas with water to generate a solution of hydrofluoric acid and contacting the solution of hydrofluoric acid with an ion exchange resin having an active state operative to exchange selected ions therein for fluoride ions in the solution. The apparatus (200) may include a dual resin setup (222, 223) such that one of the ion-exchange resin can be in the service cycle while the other of the ion-exchange resins undergoes the regeneration and rinse/refill cycles.

Abstract: A method for removing fluorine gas from a selected environment comprises contacting the fluorine gas with water to generate a solution of hydrofluoric acid and contacting the solution of hydrofluoric acid with an ion exchange resin having an active state operative to exchange selected ions therein for fluoride ions in the solution. The apparatus (200) may include a dual resin setup (222, 223) such that one of the ion-exchange resin can be in the service cycle while the other of the ion-exchange resins undergoes the regeneration and rinse/refill cycles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively removing metal ions of interest from a solution (12), such as the wastewater from a chemical mechanical polishing process. The method comprises contacting a solution (12) containing solid particles, an oxidizing agent and a first concentration of the metal ions with an ion-exchange resin (20), such as a crosslinked poly-4-vinylpyridine resin, that is resistant to damage by the oxidizing agent and that is operative when in contact with the solution (12) to exchange selected ones of the metal ions in the solution for selected preferred ions in the ion-exchange resin thereby to produce a treated solution (22) having a second concentration of the metal ions that is lower than the first concentration. The present invention also relates to an apparatus (100) and system (500) for use with the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively removing metal ions of interest from a solution (12), such as the wastewater from a chemical mechanical polishing process. The method comprises contacting a solution (12) containing solid particles, an oxidizing agent and a first concentration of the metal ions with an ion-exchange resin (20), such as a crosslinked poly-4-vinylpyridine resin, that is resistant to damage by the oxidizing agent and that is operative when in contact with the solution (12) to exchange selected ones of the metal ions in the solution for selected preferred ions in the ion-exchange resin thereby to produce a treated solution (22) having a second concentration of the metal ions that is lower than the first concentration. The present invention also relates to an apparatus (100) and system (500) for use with the method of the present invention.