Abstract: The present application relates to nanopourous material. More specifically, the present application relates to nanoporous carbonaceous material for water adsorption, process for their preparation and uses thereof. The present application includes a nanoporous carbonaceous material comprising at least one pyrolyzed an organic compound-formaldehyde resin, which may be further functionalized.

Abstract: Examples of apparatuses for harvesting water are described herein. The apparatuses include a wall having a hydrophilic contacting surface and a hydrophobic collecting surface. A plurality of pores defining an inner volume extend between the contacting surface and the collecting surface and provide a fluid flow communication between the contacting surface and the collecting surface. As air is directed across or towards the wall, water condenses on the contacting surface, seeps into the pores and passes through the wall to the collecting surface for collection.

Abstract: Examples of apparatuses for harvesting water are described herein. The apparatuses include a wall having a hydrophilic contacting surface and a hydrophobic collecting surface. A plurality of pores defining an inner volume extend between the contacting surface and the collecting surface and provide a fluid flow communication between the contacting surface and the collecting surface. As air is directed across or towards the wall, water condenses on the contacting surface, seeps into the pores and passes through the wall to the collecting surface for collection.

Abstract: Examples of apparatuses for harvesting water are described herein. The apparatuses include a wall having a hydrophilic contacting surface and a hydrophobic collecting surface. A plurality of pores defining an inner volume extend between the contacting surface and the collecting surface and provide a fluid flow communication between the contacting surface and the collecting surface. As air is directed across or towards the wall, water condenses on the contacting surface, seeps into the pores and passes through the wall to the collecting surface for collection.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel from carbon dioxide comprising performing a carbon dioxide electroreduction using a cathode comprising carbon powder, the carbon powder composed of carbon particles with metallic particles deposited on the carbon particles, wherein a product of the carbon dioxide electroreduction is the fuel.

Abstract: An electrical power generation system. It has a combustion energy prime mover having a combustion gas exhaust; an electrical generator connected to the prime mover connectable to a local power grid; a gas compressor receiving the combustion gas exhaust and providing pressurized gas and gas compression heat; and a liquid carbon dioxide collector for collecting liquid carbon dioxide from the pressurized gas.

Abstract: There are provided processes for preparing alumina. These processes can comprise leaching an aluminum-containing material with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate; reacting said leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3, and separating said precipitate from said liquid; and heating said precipitate under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. These processes can also be used for preparing various other products such as hematite, MgO, silica and oxides of various metals, sulphates and chlorides of various metals, as well as rare earth elements, rare metals and aluminum.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from an aluminum-bearing material. The processes can comprise leaching the aluminum-bearing material with an acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one aluminum ion, at least one iron ion, at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one aluminum ion and the at least one iron ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.

Abstract: There is provided a process for purifying aluminum ions comprising: reacting an aluminum-containing material with an acid so as to obtain a composition comprising aluminum ions; precipitating said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3; optionally converting AlCl3 into Al(OH)3; and heating said AlCl3 or said Al(OH)3 under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 or Al(OH)3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. Aluminum ions so purified are thus useful for preparing various types of alumina.

Abstract: There are provided processes for treating red mud. For example, the processes can comprise leaching red mud with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising ions of a first metal (for example aluminum) and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate. Several other metals can be extracted from the leachate (Fe, Ni, Co, Mg, rare earth elements, rare metals, etc.). Various other components can be extracted from solid such as TiO2, SiO2 etc.

Abstract: There are provided processes for purifying aluminum ions. Such processes comprise precipitating the aluminum ions under the form of Al(OH)3 at a first pH range; converting Al(OH)3 into AlCl3 by reacting Al(OH)3 with HCl and precipitating said AlCl3; and heating the AlCl3 under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. The processes can also comprise converting alumina into aluminum.

Abstract: There are provided processes for preparing alumina. These processes can comprise leaching an aluminum-containing material with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate; reacting said leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3, and separating said precipitate from said liquid; and heating said precipitate under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. These processes can also be used for preparing various other products such as hematite, MgO, silica and oxides of various metals, sulphates and chlorides of various metals, as well as rare earth elements, rare metals and aluminum.

Abstract: There are provided processes for purifying aluminum ions. Such processes comprise precipitating the aluminum ions under the form of Al(OH)3 at a first pH range; converting Al(OH)3 into AlCl3 by reacting Al(OH)3 with HCl and precipitating said AlCl3; and heating the AlCl3 under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. The processes can also comprise converting alumina into aluminum.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing alumina. The process comprise leaching an aluminum-containing material (for example an industrial waste product chosen from red mud, fly ashes and a mixture thereof), with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating the solid from the leachate. Then, the process comprises reacting the leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising the aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3, and separating the precipitate from the liquid. Then, the precipitate is reacted with a base. Finally, the process comprises heating the precipitate under conditions effective for converting the precipitate into Al2O3.

Abstract: The disclosed processes can be effective for treating various materials comprising several different metals. These materials can be leached with HCl for obtaining a leachate and a solid. Then, they can be separated from one another and a first metal can be isolated from the leachate. Then, a second metal can further be isolated from the leachate. The first and second metals can each be substantially selectively isolated from the leachate. This can be done by controlling the temperature of the leachate, adjusting pH, further reacting the leachate with HCl, etc. The metals that can be recovered in the form of metal chlorides can eventually be converted into the corresponding metal oxides, thereby allowing for recovering HCl. The various metals can be chosen from aluminum, iron, zinc, copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, cobalt, magnesium, lithium, manganese, nickel, palladium, platinum, thorium, phosphorus, uranium, titanium, rare earth element and rare metals.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from various materials. The processes can comprise leaching the at least one material with at least one acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one metal ion and at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one metal ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.

Abstract: There are provided processes for preparing alumina. These processes can comprise leaching an aluminum-containing material with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate; reacting said leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3, and separating said precipitate from said liquid; and heating said precipitate under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. These processes can also be used for preparing various other products such as hematite, MgO, silica and oxides of various metals, sulphates and chlorides of various metals, as well as rare earth elements, rare metals and aluminum.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from an aluminum-bearing material. The processes can comprise leaching the aluminum-bearing material with an acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one aluminum ion, at least one iron ion, at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one aluminum ion and the at least one iron ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.

Abstract: There are provided processes for preparing various products from various materials. For example, such processes are effective for extracting various metals from various materials, thereby allowing for preparing products such as aluminum chloride, alumina, titanium chloride and titanium oxide. These processes can comprise leaching the starting material with HCl so as to obtain a leachate and a solid. The solid can be treated so as to substantially selectively extract titanium therefrom while the leachate can be treated so as to substantially selectively recover a first metal chloride therefrom.

Abstract: The disclosed processes can be effective for treating various materials comprising several different metals. These materials can be leached with HCl for obtaining a leachate and a solid. Then, they can be separated from one another and a first metal can be isolated from the leachate. Then, a second metal can further be isolated from the leachate. The first and second metals can each be substantially selectively isolated from the leachate. This can be done by controlling the temperature of the leachate, adjusting pH, further reacting the leachate with HCl, etc. The metals that can be recovered in the form of metal chlorides can eventually be converted into the corresponding metal oxides, thereby allowing for recovering HCl. The various metals can be chosen from aluminum, iron, zinc, copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, cobalt, magnesium, lithium, manganese, nickel, palladium, platinum, thorium, phosphorus, uranium, titanium, rare earth element and rare metals.