Abstract: A method of operating a mass spectrometer vacuum interface, the vacuum interface comprising an evacuated expansion chamber downstream of a plasma ion source at atmospheric or relatively high pressure, the expansion chamber having a first aperture that interfaces with the plasma ion source to form an expanding plasma downstream of the first aperture and a second aperture downstream of the first aperture from the plasma for skimming the expanding plasma to form a skimmed expanding plasma; wherein the expansion chamber is pumped by an interface vacuum pump to provide an interface pressure in the chamber; the method comprising using a controller to automatically, or according to user input, control the throughput of the interface vacuum pump to control the interface pressure dependent on one or more operating modes of the spectrometer. A pressure gauge can be located in the expansion chamber and a feedback loop provided between the pressure gauge and controller.

Abstract: A reactor system, which is active in pyrolyzing methane at effective conditions, comprising a molten salt medium and a reaction vessel, the molten salt being contained within the reaction vessel using various methods of catalyst distribution within the vessel such that when methane passes through the vessel, it comes into contact with said catalyst causing a pyrolysis reaction thereby producing molecular hydrogen with reduced carbon dioxide emissions. The catalyst may be placed within the reaction vessel either as suspended particles or in a structured packed form.

Abstract: A catalyst system, which is active in pyrolyzing methane at reaction temperatures above 700° C., comprising a molten salt selected from the group consisting of the halides of alkali metals; the halides of alkaline earth metals; the halides of zinc, copper, manganese, cadmium, tin and iron; and mixtures thereof, the molten salt having dispersed therein one or more catalytically active forms of iron, molybdenum, manganese, nickel, cobalt, zinc, titanium, and copper in the form of finely divided elemental metals, metal oxides, metal carbides or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A process comprising passing methane through a reaction zone comprising a molten salt/metal bed under reaction conditions to produce a gas stream comprising hydrogen and a solid carbon product wherein the reaction zone comprises a hydrogen acceptor.

Abstract: A method of operating a mass spectrometer vacuum interface, the vacuum interface comprising an evacuated expansion chamber downstream of a plasma ion source at atmospheric or relatively high pressure, the expansion chamber having a first aperture that interfaces with the plasma ion source to form an expanding plasma downstream of the first aperture and a second aperture downstream of the first aperture from the plasma for skimming the expanding plasma to form a skimmed expanding plasma; wherein the expansion chamber is pumped by an interface vacuum pump to provide an interface pressure in the chamber; the method comprising using a controller to automatically, or according to user input, control the throughput of the interface vacuum pump to control the interface pressure dependent on one or more operating modes of the spectrometer. A pressure gauge can be located in the expansion chamber and a feedback loop provided between the pressure gauge and controller.