Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved reaction process that allows for the achievement of excellent NF3 production yields, while minimizing the amount of unreacted fluorine exiting with the process gases and minimizing the amount of liquid melt waste (HF/NH3) produced by the process. The basic NF3 process resides in reacting F2 with an ammonium ion source, e.g., ammonium acid fluoride, under conditions for forming NF3. The improvement in the process comprises: introducing F2 and said ammonium ion source cocurrently and downflow through a packed column or monolith column at a first temperature; reacting said F2 and ammonium ion source in said column; and, removing a mixture of NF3 and byproducts from said column at a second temperature higher than said first temperature.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an improved apparatus comprised of a monolith catalytic reactor having an inlet and an outlet and a static mixer having an inlet and an outlet thereto with the outlet of said static mixer in communication with the inlet of said monolith catalytic reactor. The invention also pertains to an improvement in a process for effecting a reaction in the monolith catalytic reactor wherein a reactant gas and reactant liquid are introduced to the inlet to the monolith catalytic reactor, reacted and, then, the reaction product passed through the outlet of the monolith catalytic reactor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating the assessment of entities including persons, standards, and/or environments. Contextual information, such as that representing the assessment by a teacher for a student, can be captured by a portable ingestion device and recorded onto media for processing and mapping into rubrics. Assessments can be optionally processed for further analysis.

Abstract: A detachable display unit for portable devices is field replaceable and can be interchanged rapidly for service, upgrade or more flexible use. The display is a simple field replaceable unit that can be replaced in a matter of a few seconds in a routine way, allowing more cost effective service both for the repair organization and the consumer. This is made possible by a set of electrical interfaces and connectors for portable devices such that high cost and fragile displays can be quickly changed in the field by the consumer. The specific sets of interfaces and connectors for different classes of portable devices utilize as much as possible common electrical and physical components, thereby standardizing the electrical interfaces and connectors.