Abstract: Methods for making high-surface area, high-porosity, stable metal oxides, such as, but not limited to materials used as adsorbents and catalyst supports include (i) forming a solvent deficient precursor mixture from a metal salt and a base and reacting the metal ions and base ions in the solvent deficient precursor mixture to form an intermediate hydroxide product (e.g., metal hydroxide or metal oxide hydroxide), (ii) causing the intermediate hydroxide to form nanoparticles (e.g., by heating), and (iii) calcining the intermediate nanoparticles to sinter the nanoparticles together and yield a highly porous, stable metal oxide aggregate having a pore structure.

Abstract: A method of making iron and cobalt pre-catalysts and catalysts in activated, finished form suitable for use in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The pre-catalysts are prepared by mixing an iron or cobalt salt, a base, and a metal oxide textural promoter or support. The reaction is carried out in a solvent deficient environment. The resulting product is then calcined at temperatures of about 300-500° C. to produce a metal oxide. The catalysts are prepared by reducing the metal oxide in the presence of hydrogen at temperatures of about 300-500° C. and carbiding the reduced metal in the case of iron.

Abstract: Methods are described for making a texturized catalyst. The textural promoter may be a high-surface area, high-porosity, stable metal oxide support. The catalyst is manufactured by reacting catalyst precursor materials and support materials in a single, solvent deficient reaction to form a catalyst. The catalyst may be particles or a coating or partial coating of a support surface.

Abstract: A method of making iron and cobalt pre-catalysts and catalysts in activated, finished form suitable for use in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The pre-catalysts are prepared by mixing an iron or cobalt salt, a base, and a metal oxide textural promoter or support. The reaction is carried out in a solvent deficient environment. The resulting product is then calcined at temperatures of about 300-500° C. to produce a metal oxide. The catalysts are prepared by reducing the metal oxide in the presence of hydrogen at temperatures of about 300-500° C. and carbiding the reduced metal in the case of iron.

Abstract: Methods are described for making a texturized catalyst. The textural promoter may be a high-surface area, high-porosity, stable metal oxide support. The catalyst is manufactured by reacting catalyst precursor materials and support materials in a single, solvent deficient reaction to form a catalyst. The catalyst may be particles or a coating or partial coating of a support surface.

Abstract: Methods for making high-surface area, high-porosity, stable metal oxides, such as, but not limited to materials used as adsorbents and catalyst supports include (i) forming a solvent deficient precursor mixture from a metal salt and a base and reacting the metal ions and base ions in the solvent deficient precursor mixture to form an intermediate hydroxide product (e.g., metal hydroxide or metal oxide hydroxide), (ii) causing the intermediate hydroxide to form nanoparticles (e.g., by heating), and (iii) calcining the intermediate nanoparticles to sinter the nanoparticles together and yield a highly porous, stable metal oxide aggregate having a pore structure.

Abstract: A sensor comprising a deformable medium, such as rubber, an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting a signal through the medium to a face of the medium and for sensing an echo of the signal returned from the face through the material to the transducer and circuit means for determining the time differential between transmission of the signal and return of the echo and for converting the time signal into a distance measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for detecting and quantifying force-torque components applied to a loadable means. The apparatus includes a plurality of signal-transmission means, a plurality of signal-reflection means, a plurality of signal-detection means and a deformable means which is deformable in response to the application of force-torque components to the loadable means. Application of a force-torque component to the loadable means results in the alteration of the distance traveled by a signal from signal-transmission means to signal detection means. The apparatus further includes a means for utilizing the detected signals to determine force-torque components.