Abstract: The invention provides improved burners, combustion apparatus, and methods for carbon nanomaterial production. The burners of the invention provide sooting flames of fuel and oxidizing gases. The condensable products of combustion produced by the burners of this invention produce carbon nanomaterials including without limitation, soot, fullerenic soot, and fullerenes. The burners of the invention do not require premixing of the fuel and oxidizing gases and are suitable for use with low vapor pressure fuels such as those containing substantial amounts of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The burners of the invention can operate with a hot (e.g., uncooled) burner surface and require little, if any, cooling or other forms of heat sinking. The burners of the invention comprise one or more refractory elements forming the outlet of the burner at which a flame can be established. The burners of the invention provide for improved flame stability, can be employed with a wider range of fuel/oxidizer (e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to catalysts and catalytic methods for selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in a gas stream containing one or more oxidizable components other than H2S to generate sulfur dioxide (SO2), elemental sulfur (S) or both without substantial oxidation of the one or more oxidizable components other than H2S. The catalysts and methods herein are useful, for example, for the selective oxidation of H2S to SO2, sulfur or both in the presence of hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon oxygenate, sulfur-containing organic compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, hydrogen or carbon monoxide.

Abstract: Materials and methods for inhibiting the formation of filamentous coke on heated metal surfaces. Organoselenium compounds, including diarylselenides, diaryldiselenides, alkylarylselenides, and alkylaryldiselenides, are employed as hydrocarbon feedstock additives or as hydrocarbon fuel additives to inhibit filamentous coke formation on hydrocarbon processing systems, including reactors, furnaces, engines and parts thereof and in particular to inhibit filamentous coke formation on heat-exchangers in such systems.

Abstract: Materials and methods for inhibiting the formation of filamentous coke on heated metal surfaces. Organoselenium compounds, including diarylselenides, diaryldiselenides, alkylarylselenides, and alkylaryldiselenides, are employed as hydrocarbon feedstock additives or as hydrocarbon fuel additives to inhibit filamentous coke formation on hydrocarbon processing systems, including reactors, furnaces, engines and parts thereof and in particular to inhibit filamentous coke formation on heat-exchangers in such systems.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for enhancing performance of an alcohol fueled engine during cold conditions, with such enhancement being particularly effected by generation of ether to assist cold operation including starting and/or to achieve reduced emissions during cold running. Dimethyl ether is generated by catalytic dehydration of vaporized methanol using a catalyst, preferably fluorinated alumina. Apparatus is disclosed for generating dimethyl ether on board as needed for immediate mixing with combustion air and methanol and/or for storage to enable later mixing of the dimethyl ether with combustion air and methanol to effect subsequent cold starts and/or cold running operations.