Abstract: A solids dissociation apparatus (SDA) may include a housing. SDA may also include at least one insert that is operably engaged with the housing and adapted to receive a continuous fluid stream. SDA may also include a transducer that is operably engaged with the housing and disposed about the at least one insert. The transducer is configured to create cavitation inside of the housing, via sonic waves, to eviscerate contaminants in the continuous fluid stream. SDA may also include at least one pair of electrodes that is positioned inside of the at least one insert. The at least one pair of electrodes is configured to provide electrolysis of the continuous fluid stream flowing through the at least one insert to produce at least one continuous stream of oxygen fuel and at least one continuous stream of hydrogen fuel from the continuous fluid stream flowing through the at least one insert.

Abstract: A method of separating contaminants from at least one continuous fluid stream. The method includes steps that are performed inside of a solids dissociation apparatus (SDA) and inside of a solids separation apparatus (SSA) for separating contaminants from at least one continuous fluid stream. The method includes steps of eviscerating the contaminants in the at least one continuous fluid stream inside of SDA upon pumping the at least one continuous fluid stream in SDA, generating a traveling sonic wave in SDA, and cavitating the at least one continuous fluid stream in SDA. The method also includes steps of removing the eviscerated contaminants of a first configuration from the at least one continuous fluid stream by SSA upon generating a standing sonic wave in SSA and forcing the eviscerated contaminants into at least one set of ports of at least one removal stage of a tower of SSA.

Abstract: A liquid treatment loop system for dissociating and removing brine compositions found in wastewater and producing clean water for freshwater and potable water applications. The system includes an acoustic source process cell stage (SPCS) operatively in communication with a continuous stream from a fluid source. The SPCS is configured to eviscerate contaminants in the continuous fluid stream in at least one treatment process. The SPCS is also configured to separate the eviscerated contaminants from the continuous fluid stream to provide permeated water in the at least one treatment process. The system includes at least one mining process cell stage (MPCS) operatively in communication with SPCS. The at least one MPCS is adapted to receive the eviscerated contaminants from the SPCS. The system includes at least one permeate outlet operatively in communication with SPCS, wherein the at least one permeate outlet is adapted to receive the permeated water from the SPCS.

Abstract: A method of removing solid concentrates from a fluid stream. The method includes steps of: pumping the fluid stream into a tower of a solids separation apparatus (SSA), transmitting a standing sonic wave, via a transducer of the SSA, inside of the tower; reflecting the standing sonic wave, via a reflector of the SSA, back to the transducer; adjusting one or both of the transducer and the reflector until anti-nodes of the standing sonic wave are aligned with at least one set of ports defined in the tower; forcing the solid concentrates of the at least one configuration in the fluid stream, via the standing sonic wave, into the at least one set of ports of at least one solids removal stage of the tower; and removing the solid concentrates into the at least one set of ports.

Abstract: A solids separation apparatus (SSA) for removing solids concentrate from a continuous fluid stream. The solids separation apparatus includes a tower. The SSA includes a transducer operably engaged with a first end of the tower and configured to generate a standing sonic wave inside of the tower. The SSA also includes a reflector operably engaged with an opposing second of the tower and configured to reflect the standing sonic wave towards the transducer. The SSA also includes at least one set of ports defined in an interior wall of at least one solids removal stage of the tower. The at least one set of ports is positioned at anti-nodes of the standing sonic wave to recover solids concentrate from a fluid stream flowing through the tower. The transducer and the reflector of the SSA are linearly moveable relative to the tower to linearly move the standing sonic wave.

Abstract: A method of separating contaminants from at least one continuous fluid stream. The method includes steps that are performed inside of a solids dissociation apparatus (SDA) and inside of a solids separation apparatus (SSA) for separating contaminants from at least one continuous fluid stream. The method includes steps of eviscerating the contaminants in the at least one continuous fluid stream inside of SDA upon pumping the at least one continuous fluid stream in SDA, generating a traveling sonic wave in SDA, and cavitating the at least one continuous fluid stream in SDA. The method also includes steps of removing the eviscerated contaminants of a first configuration from the at least one continuous fluid stream by SSA upon generating a standing sonic wave in SSA and forcing the eviscerated contaminants into at least one set of ports of at least one removal stage of a tower of SSA.

Abstract: A fluid cleaning system for cleaning contaminated water sources via at least one cleaning process. The system includes at least one solids dissociation apparatus that includes a housing, at least one insert operably engaged with the housing and is adapted to receive a continuous fluid stream, and a transducer operably engaged with the housing and is disposed about the at least one insert at a distance away from said at least one insert inside of the housing. The transducer is configured to create cavitation, via sonic waves, to eviscerate contaminants in the continuous fluid stream. The system also includes at least one solids separation apparatus operably connected with the at least one fluid treatment apparatus for receiving the eviscerated contaminants provided in the fluid stream. The at least one solids separation apparatus is adapted to separate the eviscerate contaminants from the fluid stream for at least one separation process.

Abstract: A solids dissociation apparatus that is used to remove various types of contaminants from a continuous fluid stream. The solids dissociation apparatus includes a housing. The solids dissociation apparatus also includes at least one insert that is operably engaged with the housing where the at least one insert is adapted to receive a continuous fluid stream. The solids dissociation apparatus also includes a transducer that is operably engaged with the housing and disposed about the at least one insert at a distance away from the at least one insert inside of the housing. The transducer is configured to create cavitation inside of the housing, via sonic waves, to eviscerate contaminants in the continuous fluid stream flowing through the at least one insert.

Abstract: A liquid treatment loop system for dissociating and removing brine compositions found in wastewater and producing clean water for freshwater and potable water applications. The system includes an acoustic source process cell stage (SPCS) operatively in communication with a continuous stream from a fluid source. The SPCS is configured to eviscerate contaminants in the continuous fluid stream in at least one treatment process. The SPCS is also configured to separate the eviscerated contaminants from the continuous fluid stream to provide permeated water in the at least one treatment process. The system includes at least one mining process cell stage (MPCS) operatively in communication with SPCS. The at least one MPCS is adapted to receive the eviscerated contaminants from the SPCS. The system includes at least one permeate outlet operatively in communication with SPCS, wherein the at least one permeate outlet is adapted to receive the permeated water from the SPCS.

Abstract: A solids separation apparatus (SSA) for removing solids concentrate from a continuous fluid stream. The solids separation apparatus includes a tower. The SSA includes a transducer operably engaged with a first end of the tower and configured to generate a standing sonic wave inside of the tower. The SSA also includes a reflector operably engaged with an opposing second of the tower and configured to reflect the standing sonic wave towards the transducer. The SSA also includes at least one set of ports defined in an interior wall of at least one solids removal stage of the tower. The at least one set of ports is positioned at anti-nodes of the standing sonic wave to recover solids concentrate from a fluid stream flowing through the tower. The transducer and the reflector of the SSA are linearly moveable relative to the tower to linearly move the standing sonic wave.

Abstract: A fluid cleaning system for cleaning contaminated water sources via at least one cleaning process. The system includes at least one solids dissociation apparatus that includes a housing, at least one insert operably engaged with the housing and is adapted to receive a continuous fluid stream, and a transducer operably engaged with the housing and is disposed about the at least one insert at a distance away from said at least one insert inside of the housing. The transducer is configured to create cavitation, via sonic waves, to eviscerate contaminants in the continuous fluid stream. The system also includes at least one solids separation apparatus operably connected with the at least one fluid treatment apparatus for receiving the eviscerated contaminants provided in the fluid stream. The at least one solids separation apparatus is adapted to separate the eviscerate contaminants from the fluid stream for at least one separation process.

Abstract: A solids dissociation apparatus (SDA) may include a housing. SDA may also include at least one insert that is operably engaged with the housing and adapted to receive a continuous fluid stream. SDA may also include a transducer that is operably engaged with the housing and disposed about the at least one insert. The transducer is configured to create cavitation inside of the housing, via sonic waves, to eviscerate contaminants in the continuous fluid stream. SDA may also include at least one pair of electrodes that is positioned inside of the at least one insert. The at least one pair of electrodes is configured to provide electrolysis of the continuous fluid stream flowing through the at least one insert to produce at least one continuous stream of oxygen fuel and at least one continuous stream of hydrogen fuel from the continuous fluid stream flowing through the at least one insert.

Abstract: A system and method to both reduce interior levels of volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide that is more energy efficient than increasing building ventilation rates. The system comprises a carbon dioxide scrubber that operates in a continuous manner, and optionally but preferably further comprises an air purifier.

Abstract: A precursor having at least five percent of lignin based coke and d002 spacing of more than 3.36 angstroms and less 3.44 for making graphite. Methods for making a green/graphite article include mixing coke derived from a petroleum product, a coal product or a bitumen product with coke derived from lignin. Alternatively, the precursor material for the various types of coke may be mixed and coked together. The mixture may be formed into a desired shape. The article may be subsequently carbonized and graphitized. The amount of lignin derived coke comprises a sufficient quantity to change at least a selected property of the graphite article.

Abstract: A precursor having at least five percent of lignin based coke and d002 spacing of more than 3.36 angstroms and less 3.44 for making graphite. Methods for making a green/graphite article include mixing coke derived from a petroleum product, a coal product or a bitumen product with coke derived from lignin. Alternatively, the precursor material for the various types of coke may be mixed and coked together. The mixture may be formed into a desired shape. The article may be subsequently carbonized and graphitized. The amount of lignin derived coke comprises a sufficient quantity to change at least a selected property of the graphite article.

Abstract: A precursor having at least five percent of lignin based coke and d002 spacing of more than 3.36 angstroms and less 3.44 for making graphite. Methods for making a green/graphite article include mixing coke derived from a petroleum product, a coal product or a bitumen product with coke derived from lignin. Alternatively, the precursor material for the various types of coke may be mixed and coked together. The mixture may be formed into a desired shape. The article may be subsequently carbonized and graphitized. The amount of lignin derived coke comprises a sufficient quantity to change at least a selected property of the graphite article.

Abstract: A holder for storing and securing flexible sheet materials is provided. The holder includes a base member surrounded by a vertical wall forming a reservoir. The base member has at least one attachment structure for receiving and retaining a plurality of liquid absorptive sheets that are stacked one on top of another. The attachment structure includes a plurality of slits that can be deflected to receive the sheet material.

Abstract: A bird feeder comprising of a free spinning plate guards to prevent unwanted pests such as squirrels from accessing the seed within the feeder. Whereas birds can feed while resting on perches which protrude outwardly from the bottom portion of the feeder, non-flying pest animals such as squirrels must approach the feeder along its outer periphery, traversing the plate guards in the process. As the pest tries to climb onto the feeder and access the seed, the plate guards spin; preventing the pest from having a stable footing and thus fall off the feeder.

Abstract: A collapsible cart for paint sprayers including a pair of spaced apart legs, a pump support extending between the upper ends of the legs, a pair of feet, a handle extending above the pump support, and lock and release means connected to the handle, pump support and legs and operable for releasably locking the pump support and handle in a first position wherein the pump support positions the pump for operation and the handle is positioned to enable moving the cart assembly and wherein the lock and release means is further operable for releasably locking the pump support and handle in a second position wherein the cart assembly is collapsed and further wherein each foot is pivotable respect to the leg to which it is attached between a first position generally perpendicular to a lower frame member, and a second position generally adjacent to the lower frame member.

Abstract: Methods of treating a fibrosacroma using flt-3 ligand are disclosed, as well as methods of increasing the number of dendritic cells in a patient having a fibrosarcoma.