Abstract: Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) has applications in all electrochemical processes and in a few that are not totally electrochemical in nature. By magnetizing the electrodes or the current collectors through the electrodes so that the vertical, closely and appropriately spaced magnetized electrodes produce a uniform, low magnetic field between them, north pole to south pole, the Lorentz force enhances the natural or forced convection where it is the greatest, very near the electrodes. Because the main internal resistance of an electrochemical process resides in the electrolyte, increasing the speed of transport of charged particles from one electrode to the other greatly reduces this internal resistance. Other treatments such as adding an indifferent paramagnetic ion, an indifferent free radical, completing the magnetic circuit, using a spacer which does not obscure the electrode surface, further reduce the internal resistance, lowering the wasted energy which usually appears as heat in the electrolyte.

Abstract: Stirred acid resistant shallow cylindrical reactors are used to produce both nitric and sulfuric acid from a feed gas stream arranged to contain both sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides passed over or through the mixed acids. The homogeneous catalytic mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids uses the highly oxidizing nitrosyl ion to further oxidize the gaseous oxide stream to sulfuric and nitric acids. Oxygen or air then oxidizes the nitrosyl ion reduction products back to nitrosyl ion for further reaction. The acids are separated by distillation, and concentrated using heat from the burner and the reaction heat. The modified sulfur burner used operates at temperatures to oxidize some of the nitrogen in the air. The temperature required may be obtained by increasing the oxygen of the air by pure oxygen. More nitrogen oxides may be produced by a glow discharge into the burner air or burning of ammonia. Any heavy metals such as mercury will be first oxidized then precipitated as sulfates.

Abstract: A water-free process for converting initially non-larvicidal evaporation suppressant powder into a larvicidal variant possessing utility both for abatement of use by mosquitoes of an open water catchment as a successful breeding site, and for conserving water by suppressing the evaporation of water from the same catchment. Lauryl alcohol is used as a blending agent to facilitate even distribution of mosquito-specific entomopathogens, eg., spores of Bacillus thuringiensis variety Israelensis or Bacillus sphaericus, into the initially non-larvicidal evaporation suppressant powder. Cetyl alcohol and/or stearyl alcohol are the preferred monolayer-formers upon which effective evaporation suppression relies. For a variant larvicidal powder that lacks an effective evaporation suppression property, the same preferred monolayer-formers may be omitted from a blend of mosquito-specific pathogens, lauryl alcohol, and hydrated lime or, alternatively, acidified gypsum.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a liquid evaporation retardant product that combines isopropanol-water azeotrope with up to 5% octadecanol by weight of the total solution, and upon which improved capability to remain precipitate free in the event of colder temperatures than normal is conferred by adding n-butanol at 10% by weight of the pre-made basic product.

Abstract: A method for rapidly charging an electrically rechargeable battery or batteries string by a series of charging pulses, interspersed with battery discharge pulses effective to eliminate undesired concentration polarization by substantially thinning or dispelling electrical double layers and diffusion layers at electrodes contacted by an aqueous electrolyte solution. In contrast to related schemes which intermittently discharge a limited portion of battery charge to a load comprising components featuring significant resistance and/or inductance, in this case supercapacitors receive the reversedly pulsed depolarizing discharge.

Abstract: A method for rapidly charging an electrically rechargeable battery or batteries string by a series of charging pulses, interspersed with battery discharge pulses effective to eliminate undesired concentration polarization by substantially thinning or dispelling electrical double layers and diffusion layers at electrodes contacted by an aqueous electrolyte solution. In contrast to related schemes which intermittently discharge a limited portion of battery charge to a load comprising components featuring significant resistance and/or inductance, in this case supercapacitors receive the reversedly pulsed depolarizing discharge.

Abstract: A magnetization method and apparatus is described as utilizing a pair of mechanically counter-vibrated permanent magnets having mutually facing unlike magnetic poles, and wherein a ferromagnetic article, or article containing ferromagnetic elements in close-set array, is placed for subjection to pulsed magnetizing flux between the pair of counter-vibrated magnets. Uses of the invention include making magnets and modifying the current drain property of a multi-plate nickel-metal hydride battery.

Abstract: For a method of detecting biological weapon use, the disclosure suggests to apply known technology relating to interfacial films of monolayer-forming substances having molecules that when spread at an air/water interface will immerse into the water a hydrophilic terminal group for each molecule, with a long-chain carbon-containing hydrophobic group extending vertically upward away from the water. Such monolayers manifest monitorable properties which are susceptible using known instrumentation means to measurement of changes induced by biological contaminants thus making it possible to determine by appropriate testing what a bioattack signature change would be. Given siting of a monolayer coated aqueous body in a reservoir where a biological attack may occur, monitoring the monolayer properties for the signature change can detect whether and when such an attack does occur.

Abstract: Parent disclosure, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,133 B1, taught a calcium hydroxide containing evaporation retardant having particles that mutually repel one another because of water-induced ionization. Calcium hydroxide makes the retardant unsuitable for treating overly alkaline agricultural soil, and to substitute plain calcium sulfate for calcium hydroxide would degrade the particle repulsion effect. Substitutable acidified gypsum is made by absorbing about 5 milliliters sulfuric acid per 300 grams calcium sulfate. Blending unemulsified detergent range alcohol in a parts by weight ratio of about one-to-ten with the acidified gypsum produces a soil treatment product for suppressing evaporation of water from treated soil without impairing water infiltration into the same soil.

Abstract: A magnetization method and apparatus is described as utilizing a pair of mechanically counter-vibrated permanent magnets having mutually facing unlike magnetic poles, and wherein a ferromagnetic article, or article containing ferromagnetic elements in close-set array, is placed for subjection to pulsed magnetizing flux between the pair of counter-vibrated magnets. Uses of the invention include making magnets and modifying the current drain property of a multi-plate nickel-metal hydride battery.

Abstract: The invention pertains to enhancing the dispersion on the surface of a still or moving body of a polar liquid, such as water, of particles of a powder of the composition essentially comprising a monolayer-forming constituent, such as hexadecanol or octadecanol or a blend thereof, together with a high proportion of a soluble or sparingly soluble alkaline earth metal hydroxide, more particularly about five times the monolayer-forming constituent's weight when the hydroxide constituent is—as preferred for potable water evaporation reduction—calcium hydroxide procured as inexpensive pre-powdered agricultural hydrated lime. A melt-processing manner of producing the composition is described. When particles of the composition contact the body of water, so long as lime remains present in any floating particles, they will be individually positively charged, resulting in their repulsion from one another. This enhanced dispersal effect is due to the ionization of the calcium hydroxide.

Abstract: A blended composition for water conservation measures applied to save water at both on-land and open water sites is disclosed as combining with a higher fatty alcohol constituent, alternatively either a slaked lime constituent or, in substitution therefore, an acidified gypsum constituent containing sulfuric acid. The inorganic constituents provide ionic compounds which when contacted by water release certain ions diffusing faster than others, whence a charge-procuring mechanism causing individual particulate aggregations of the composition to repel one another results. An amorphous and unemulsified form for the higher fatty alcohol is suggested as important to mitigation of risks of impairing water infiltration into treated soil.

Abstract: Battery modification directed to problem of reduced withdrawable current capacity of transiently highly-loaded discharging batteries. Prior art batteries reviewed are: two which enhance galvanic reaction during discharge by circulating low-viscosity electrolyte around magnets spaced between electrodes; and one using magnetic material at negative electrodes to limit dendrite formation during battery charging, whether the electrolyte is a liquid solution or solidified by gelling. The present invention is a current collector preferably comprising a magnetized sheet of foamed nickel having North and South poles on opposite faces, and folded about a small coercivity mumetal insert, installing such an assembly as the current collector of any two-sided type plate electrode. A variety of embodiments is disclosed, as are various arrangements combining more than one type embodiment per battery.