Abstract: The present invention is directed to a microbial fuel cell comprising: A) an anode containing one or more conductive materials which is arranged to provide flow paths for electrons through the conductive material and to form flow paths for fluid material through passages formed in the conductive material, B) electrogenic microbes in electrical contact with the anode, C) biodegradable material disposed in a fluid, D) a cathode containing one or more conductive materials adapted such that the cathode can be contacted with an oxygen containing gas, E) an anion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and, F) a conduit for electrons which forms a circuit in contact with both the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors comprise a precursor alumina blend capable of enhancing one or more properties of a shaped porous body based thereupon. The need to employ modifiers to achieve a similar result may thus be substantially reduced, or even avoided, and cost savings are thus provided, as well as savings in time and equipment costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors comprise a precursor alumina blend capable of enhancing one or more properties of a shaped porous body based thereupon. The need to employ modifiers to achieve a similar result may thus be substantially reduced, or even avoided, and cost savings are thus provided, as well as savings in time and equipment costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors comprise a precursor alumina blend capable of enhancing one or more properties of a shaped porous body based thereupon. The need to employ modifiers to achieve a similar result may thus be substantially reduced, or even avoided, and cost savings are thus provided, as well as savings in time and equipment costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors, comprise one or more topography-enhancing additives, i.e., additives that are capable of at least marginally enhancing one or more of surface area, aspect ratio, pore volume, median pore diameter, surface morphology, etc. Downstream products need not necessarily comprise the topography-enhancing additives in order to exhibit the benefits of their inclusion in the porous body precursors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a microbial fuel cell comprising: A) an anode containing one or more conductive materials which is arranged to provide flow paths for electrons through the conductive material and to form flow paths for fluid material through passages formed in the conductive material, B) electrogenic microbes in electrical contact with the anode. C) biodegradable material disposed in a fluid, D) a cathode containing one or more conductive materials adapted such that the cathode can be contacted with an oxygen containing gas, E) an anion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and, F) a conduit for electrons which forms a circuit in contact with both the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: A microbial fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode, microbes in contact with the anode, a conduit for electrons connecting the anode to the cathode through an external circuit wherein the anode, cathode or both comprise a mixture of one or more conductive materials and one or more ion exchange materials.

Abstract: A process comprising A) providing a microbial fuel cell comprising art anode, a cathode, microbes in contact with the anode, a conduit for electrons connecting the anode to the cathode, wherein the conduit is contained within the microbial fuel cell or current is introduced to the microbial fuel cell through the conduit; B) contacting the fluid containing biodegradable material with the anode in the presence of microbes; C) contacting the cathode with an oxygen containing gas; D) removing the fluid from the location of the anode. In one preferred embodiment the conduit for electrons is connected to a source of current, in another embodiment the fuel cell, is operated under conditions such that the voltage of the current applied to the fuel cell is from greater than 0 and about 0.2 volts. Preferably the microbial fuel cell produces from greater than 0 kWh/fcg chemical oxygen demand to about 5 kWh/kg chemical oxygen demand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process comprising A) providing a microbial fuel cell comprising i) an anode containing one or more electrically conductive materials which is arranged to provide flow paths for electrons through the electrically conductive material, ii) microbes in electrical contact with the anode iii) a cathode containing one or more electrically conductive materials iv) a catholyte, v) a conduit for electrons in contact with both the anode and the cathode which is a part of a circuit; B) introducing a mixture of one or more electrolytes or one or more electrolytes dissolved in a first fluid with a second fluid containing biodegradable material; C) contacting the mixture of B) with the anode in the presence of microbes; D) contacting the cathode with a catholyte; E) removing from the microbial fuel cell the fluid mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors comprise a precursor alumina blend capable of enhancing one or more properties of a shaped porous body based thereupon. The need to employ modifiers to achieve a similar result may thus be substantially reduced, or even avoided, and cost savings are thus provided, as well as savings in time and equipment costs.

Abstract: This invention relates to shaped porous bodies of alpha-alumina platelets which are useful as catalyst carriers, filters, membrane reactors, and preformed bodies for composites. This invention also relates to processes of making such shaped bodies and processes for modifying the surface composition of alpha-alumina.

Abstract: A porous mullite composition is made by Forming a mixture of one or more precursor compounds having the elements present in mullite (e.g., clay, alumina, silica) and a property enhancing compound. The property enhancing compound is a compound having an element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Fe, Na, K, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, B, Y, Sc, La and combination thereof. The mixture is shaped and to form a porous green shape which is heated under an atmosphere having a fluorine containing gas to a temperature sufficient to form a mullite composition comprised substantially of acicular mullite grains that are essentially chemically bound.

Abstract: A porous mullite composition is made by forming a mixture of one or more precursor compounds having the elements present in mullite (e.g., clay, alumina, silica) and a property enhancing compound. The property enhancing compound is a compound having an element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Fe, Na, K, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, B, Y, Sc, La and combination thereof. The mixture is shaped and to form a porous green shape which is heated under an atmosphere having a fluorine containing gas to a temperature sufficient to form a mullite composition comprised substantially of acicular mullite grains that are essentially chemically bound.

Abstract: A method of forming a porous mullite composition of acicular mullite grains having improved properties is described, where the mullite is formed at some time in the presence of a fluorine containing gas. For example, it has been discovered that improved properties may result from heating the mullite to a high temperature in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of water vapor, oxygen, an inert gas or mixtures thereof or forming the mullite composition from precursors having an Al/Si ratio of at most 2.95.

Abstract: A method of forming a porous mullite composition of acicular mullite grains having improved properties is described, where the mullite is formed at some time in the presence of a fluorine containing gas. For example, it has been discovered that improved properties may result from heating the mullite to a high temperature in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of water vapor, oxygen, an inert gas or mixtures thereof or forming the mullite composition from precursors having an AL/Si ratio of at most 2.95.

Abstract: The invention is a catalytic device comprised of a catalyst support of fused ceramic grains and a catalyst that is surface-bound to at least a portion of the ceramic grains, incorporated into at least a portion of the ceramic grains or combinations thereof, wherein the grains and catalyst form a surface structure that has a box counting dimension of greater than 1.00 or the box counting dimension has at least one step change when measured from a box size “d” of at least about 1 micrometer to at most about 1 millimeter. The invention is particularly useful in making a catalytic converter or catalytic converter-soot trap.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb wall-flow filter is prepared by plugging channels in a clay containing ceramic honeycomb by a method that has the following steps. First, a mixture of a dispersing liquid and ceramic powder is formed. Second, the mixture is inserted into at least one channel of a clay containing green ceramic honeycomb to form a plugged green ceramic honeycomb wherein the dispersing liquid essentially fails to swell the clay. Alternatively, the mixture is inserted into a calcined ceramic honeycomb to form a plugged calcined ceramic honeycomb. Finally, the plugged green or calcined ceramic honeycomb is heated to a temperature sufficient to sinter the plugged green ceramic honeycomb to form a porous sintered plugged ceramic honeycomb. The method is particularly useful for simultaneously making the plugs and discriminating layers in the channels.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb wall-flow filter is prepared by plugging channels in a ceramic honeycomb by a method comprising the following. First, a mixture comprised of a dispersing liquid and ceramic powder is formed. Next, the mixture is inserted on one end of the channel in an unplugged ceramic honeycomb such that the mixture flows to the other end where the mixture collects and forms a plugged ceramic honeycomb. Then, the plugged ceramic honeycomb is heated to a temperature sufficient to sinter the plugged ceramic honeycomb to form a porous sintered plugged ceramic honeycomb.

Abstract: A mullite composition is comprised substantially of mullite grains that are essentially chemically bound wherein the composition has at least two adjoining regions that have substantially different microstructures. The composition may be produced by forming a mixture of one or more precursor compounds having the elements present in mullite; shaping the mixture into a porous green shape applying a nucleation control agent to a portion of the porous green shape and then heating the porous green shape under an atmosphere and to a temperature sufficient to form the mullite composition.

Abstract: A high performance electrocatalyst is based on transition metal perovskites of praseodymium, samarium, terbium or neodymium which react with YSZ to form a product which is itself active as the cathode in a fuel cell. While PrCoO3 reacts with YSZ, the reaction product(s) do not result in severe degradation of cell performance. A fuel cell made with a cathode composed of only the reaction product of YSZ and PrCoO3 has good performance, indicating that this phase is itself not only a good conductor, but also a good catalyst for oxygen activation.