Abstract: This invention discloses a method for controlling nanoscopic wetting near or at a molecular scale for synthetic material applications. In particular this invention relates to a method for preparing a monolayer or thin film with a patterned nanoscopic wetting surface using a ‘sitting’ phase of polymerizable amphiphile, wherein hydrophobic alkyl chains of the amphiphile extend along the supporting surface and the amphiphile molecules align side-to-side, effectively forming a repeating cross-section of bilayer with alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic stripes of a ˜6 nm pitch tunable based on the chain length of the amphiphile. Products prepared according to the methods disclosed herein are within the scope of this invention. In some embodiments, monolayers or thin films so prepared are transferable.

Abstract: An integrated process and system for employing low conversion rWGS to prepare a gas fermentation feed stream from a CO2 source and a hydrogen source in order to produce at least one gas fermentation product. Low conversion rWGS reactors may (1) employ a wider selection of inorganic catalysts then rWGS reactors requiring high temperature operation, (2) allow for use of an electric heater instead of a fired heater to preheat feed stream to the low conversion rWGS reactor, and (3) extend rWGS catalyst life by reducing the amount of water produced in the rWGS reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for the integration of a CO-consuming process, such as a gas fermentation process, with a CO2 to CO conversion system. The disclosure is capable of utilizing a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate generated by an industrial process and provides for one or more removal modules to remove at least one constituent from a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate prior to passage of the gaseous substrate to a CO2 to CO conversion system. The disclosure may further comprise one or more pressure modules, one or more CO2 concentration modules, one or more O2 separation modules, and/or a water electrolysis module. Carbon conversion efficiency is increased by recycling CO2 produced by a CO-consuming process to the CO2 to CO conversion process.

Abstract: An integrated process and system for the production of at least one gas fermentation product from a gaseous stream has been developed. The disclosure provides improved carbon utilization through both the recycle of a bioreactor tail gas via various different flow schemes and the employment of a CO2 to CO conversion system such as a reverse water gas shift unit. Recycling of the bioreactor tail gas and employment of a CO2 to CO conversion process provides for favourable H2:CO molar ratios of the feed to the gas fermentation bioreactor(s) for enhanced production of fermentation products. Bypass embodiments provide for optimal sizing of the reverse water gas shift unit to minimize cost.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods to improve the economics of the gas fermentation process. A fermentation process is integrated with an industrial or syngas process and an reverse water gas shift process. An intermittent supply of reverse water gas shift process feedstock from the reverse water gas shift process is provided to the bioreactor for fermentation. The reverse water gas shift process feedstock may supplement or partially displace the C1 feedstock from the industrial or syngas process. Whether the reverse water gas shift process feedstock supplements or displaces the C1 feedstock may be based upon a function of the cost per unit of the C1 feedstock, the cost per unit of the reverse water gas shift process feedstock, and the value per unit of the fermentation product, or may depend upon the target gas ratio of the feedstock to the gas fermentation process.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for the integration of a fermentation process with at least one electrolysis process, a CO2 to CO conversion unit, and a C1-generating industrial process. In particular, the disclosure provides process and a system for utilizing electrolysis products, for example H2 and/or O2 in a CO2 to CO conversion unit to improve the process efficiency of at least one of the fermentation processes or the C1-generating industrial process. More particularly, the disclosure provides a process in which H2 generated by electrolysis is passed to a CO2 to CO conversion unit to improve the substrate efficiency for a fermentation process, and the O2 generated by electrolysis process is used to improve the composition of the C1-containing tail gas generated by the C1-generating industrial process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for shaping a composite material (110) that include the use of a woven or non-woven veil (120). Also disclosed herein are shaped composite materials formed using such methods, which show significant improvement in wrinkling.

Abstract: A method for concurrently forming a first metal electrode (31, 58) on an n-type region of a silicon substrate (10) and a second metal electrode (32, 59) on a p-type region of the silicon substrate, wherein the n-type region and the p-type region are respectively exposed in a first and in a second area, is disclosed. The method comprises: depositing (101) an initial metal layer comprising Ni (33, 53) simultaneously in the first area and in the second area by a Ni immersion plating process using a plating solution; and depositing (102) a further metal layer (34, 54) on the initial metal layer comprising Ni (33, 53) in the first area and in the second area by an electroless metal plating process or by an immersion metal plating process, wherein the plating solution comprises Ni and a predetermined amount of another metal different from Ni.

Abstract: A method for concurrently forming a first metal electrode (31, 58) on an n-type region of a silicon substrate (10) and a second metal electrode (32, 59) on a p-type region of the silicon substrate, wherein the n-type region and the p-type region are respectively exposed in a first and in a second area, is disclosed. The method comprises: depositing (101) an initial metal layer comprising Ni (33, 53) simultaneously in the first area and in the second area by a Ni immersion plating process using a plating solution; and depositing (102) a further metal layer (34, 54) on the initial metal layer comprising Ni (33, 53) in the first area and in the second area by an electroless metal plating process or by an immersion metal plating process, wherein the plating solution comprises Ni and a predetermined amount of another metal different from Ni.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for contacting a mobile elongate solid phase, e.g. a ribbon with a flowing fluid phase, and a method for using the same in, for example solid phase synthesis. A particular apparatus comprises (i) a conduit which is of circular or non-circular transverse cross section and which defines a lumen to contain both the flowing fluid phase and the mobile elongate solid phase; (ii) fluid phase ports in communication with the lumen to allow the fluid phase to enter the lumen, flow through it and exit it; and (iii) solid phase ports in communication with the lumen to allow the mobile solid phase to enter the lumen, move through it and exit it, the apparatus being adapted to prevent fluid egress from its interior through the solid phase ports.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of removing a chemical entity from a liquid using affinity chromatography. The method involves passing an elongate solid phase through a conduit through which the liquid also flows.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a method for modulating interfacial wettability of a noncovalent nanoscopic monolayer or thin film. Particularly, this invention relates to a method for modulating interfacial wettability of a two-dimensional (2D) material using a molecular layer prepared from a polymerizable amphiphilic monomer having a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail, wherein enhanced or decreased wettability of said 2D material is achieved by proper allocating the position of polymerizable group relative to the hydrophilic head and the hydrophobic tail.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for controlling nanoscopic wetting near or at a molecular scale for synthetic material applications. In particular this invention relates to a method for preparing a monolayer or thin film with a patterned nanoscopic wetting surface using a ‘sitting’ phase of polymerizable amphiphile, wherein hydrophobic alkyl chains of the amphiphile extend along the supporting surface and the amphiphile molecules align side-to-side, effectively forming a repeating cross-section of bilayer with alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic stripes of a ˜6 nm pitch tunable based on the chain length of the amphiphile. Products prepared according to the methods disclosed herein are within the scope of this invention. In some embodiments, monolayers or thin films so prepared are transferable.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a method for modulating interfacial wettability of a noncovalent nanoscopic monolayer or thin film. Particularly, this invention relates to a method for modulating interfacial wettability of a two-dimensional (2D) material using a molecular layer prepared from a polymerizable amphiphilic monomer having a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail, wherein enhanced or decreased wettability of said 2D material is achieved by proper allocating the position of polymerizable group relative to the hydrophilic head and the hydrophobic tail.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed. A system for contacting a mobile solid phase with a flowing fluid phase includes: one or more reaction module, wherein the one or more reaction module comprises a conduit for the passage of a fluid phase and a solid phase, the conduit comprising a fluid input port and a fluid outlet port, and a first service module operably connected to a first side of a reaction module, the first service module for supplying and/or receiving the fluid phase to and/or from the reaction module, wherein the system is configured for passing a solid phase through the reaction module, via the conduit.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for EM communications. One of the apparatus includes a super-regenerative amplifier (SRA) configured to receive a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulated signal and to output an amplitude signal as a function of changes in phase in the BPSK modulated signal; a pseudo synchronous demodulator that rectifies the amplitude signal and generates an envelope of the rectified amplitude signal; and an analog to digital converter that converts the amplitude values of the envelope to digital binary values.

Abstract: A method of mounting a motor to a gearbox includes positioning a coupling along an input shaft of the gearbox from a starting position to a first alignment position. In the starting position, the coupling drivingly engages a greater portion of the gearbox input shaft than in the first alignment position. In the first alignment position, the coupling operatively contacts the motor output shaft. Another step includes rotating the coupling so that the coupling aligns with the motor output shaft. Another step includes axially positioning the coupling at a second alignment position such that the coupling drivingly engages both the motor output and the gearbox input shafts. Another step includes positioning the motor to allow mounting of the motor on the gearbox with the coupling at a third alignment position drivingly engaging a greater portion of the motor output and the gearbox input shafts than in the second alignment position.

Abstract: A lubrication system for a gear box has a backing member. The backing member is configured to allow mounting of a plurality of lubrication components on the backing member. One of the lubrication components comprises a pump configured to pressurize lubricating oil for the lubrication system. The pump has a suction and discharge. The pump suction is removably connectable to the gear box and the pump discharge is removably connectable to piping that is configured to communicate with the gear box. The backing member has a lifting mount arranged along its length and width that corresponds to a center of gravity of the backing member with the lubrication components mounted thereto. The lubrication components are modular and may be replaced and installed as necessary on the backing member. Multiple like lubrication systems may be provided, and removed and installed on the gear box as needed for maintenance.