Abstract: A method for regenerating at least one impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed includes passing impurity-containing fluid through the impurity-adsorbing bed. The impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed adsorbs an impurity in the impurity-containing fluid to produce a purified fluid. A portion of the purified fluid is sent back through the impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed that contains the adsorbed impurity. The impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed is exposed to microwave energy to desorb the impurity adsorbed on the impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed.

Abstract: The substrate cell surfaces of a catalytic air purifier are so structured as to disrupt the occurrence of laminar flow along the flow path of the fluid passing therethrough. A plurality of substrates are connected in serial flow but axially offset relationship to obtain improved performance. Also, the dimensional aspects of the individually cells are selected so as to maintain adequate mass-transfer coefficient and UV photon penetration depths throughout the length thereof.

Abstract: The system (40) provides for directing a hydrogen-rich reformate fuel stream from a reformer (42) through a sulfur removal bed (50) having a sulfur removal material consisting of manganese oxide secured to a support material. A regeneration fluid is intermittently directed through the bed (50) to remove sulfur and regenerate the bed. A regeneration-produced sulfur containing stream is then directed into a sulfur capture bed (54) having a heat source (60) and a flush inlet (62) and flush outlet (64). The sulfur capture bed (54) includes sulfur capture material consisting of nickel oxysulfide catalyst supported on silicon carbide. When the heat source (60) heats the sulfur capture bed (54) a flush liquid passed through the flush inlet (62), capture bed (54), and flush outlet (64) to transport elemental sulfur to a sulfur storage container (50).

Abstract: A thermoelectric system (10) for pumping heat having at least one foam heat exchanger (45) is provided that enhances heat transfer away from the system (10) to increase overall system efficiency and performance of the system.

Abstract: A method for regenerating at least one impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed includes passing impurity-containing fluid through the impurity-adsorbing bed. The impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed adsorbs an impurity in the impurity-containing fluid to produce a purified fluid. A portion of the purified fluid is sent back through the impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed that contains the adsorbed impurity. The impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed is exposed to microwave energy to desorb the impurity adsorbed on the impurity-adsorbing sorbent bed.

Abstract: The athermal sorbent bed regeneration system of the present invention includes a main fuel supply, at least one sorbent bed, a source of microwave energy, and a secondary fuel supply. The main fuel supply has a first concentration of an impurity and the secondary fuel supply has a second concentration of the impurity that is less than the first concentration of the impurity. The sorbent bed adsorbs the impurity. The microwave energy source regenerates the sorbent bed for reuse.

Abstract: A method that redistributes light from a light source. The controller can redistribute light to make an irradiance profile of the light source more uniform or make the irradiance profile match a fluid flow profile. The irradiance profile may be controlled by modifying light leakage from a plurality of waveguides or changing the light-directing properties of reflectors and/or lenses.

Abstract: A concentrated solar energy system includes a photovoltaic cell, an optical concentrator, a heat removal system, and means for providing thermal contact between the photovoltaic cell and the heat removal system. The optical concentrator is configured to direct concentrated solar energy to the photovoltaic cell such that the photovoltaic cell generates electricity and heat. The heat removal system removes heat from the photovoltaic cell. The means for providing thermal contact provides an effective thermal conductivity per unit length between the photovoltaic cell and the heat removal system of greater than about 50 kilowatts per square meter per degree Celsius.

Abstract: A system and method that redistributes light from a light source. The controller can redistribute light to make an irradiance profile of the light source more uniform or make the irradiance profile match a fluid flow profile. The irradiance profile may be controlled by modifying light leakage from a plurality of waveguides or changing the light-directing properties of reflectors and/or lenses.

Abstract: A tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst coating oxidizes contaminants in the air that adsorb onto the coating into water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The tungsten oxide forms a monolayer on the titanium dioxide. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst coating, an electron is promoted from the valence band to the conduction band, producing a hole in the valence band. The holes in the valence band react with water applied on the tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst coating, forming reactive hydroxyl radicals. When a contaminant in the air is adsorbed onto the tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst, the hydroxyl radical attacks the contaminant, abstracting a hydrogen atom from the contaminant. The hydroxyl radical oxidizes the contaminant, producing water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalytic coating has low sensitivity to humidity variations.

Abstract: A manganese oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalytic/thermocatalytic coating simultaneously oxidizes volatile organic compounds and decomposes ozone that adsorb onto the coating into water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The manganese oxide is nano-sized. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the manganese oxide/titanium dioxide coating, reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed. When a contaminant is adsorbed onto the manganese oxide/titanium dioxide coating, the hydroxyl radical oxidizes the contaminant to produce water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. Manganese oxide lowers the energy barrier required for ozone decomposition, decomposing the ozone to molecular oxygen. Therefore, the manganese oxide/titanium dioxide coating can also simultaneously decompose ozone to oxygen.

Abstract: A tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst coating oxidizes contaminants in the air that adsorb onto the coating into water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The tungsten oxide forms a monolayer on the titanium dioxide. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst coating, an electron is promoted from the valence band to the conduction band, producing a hole in the valence band. The holes in the valence band react with water applied on the tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst coating, forming reactive hydroxyl radicals. When a contaminant in the air is adsorbed onto the tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst, the hydroxyl radical attacks the contaminant, abstracting a hydrogen atom from the contaminant. The hydroxyl radical oxidizes the contaminant, producing water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalytic coating has low sensitivity to humidity variations.

Abstract: A process for producing zeolite aggregates involves providing a formable paste composed of zeolite, a binder composed of an organic/metal oxide containing aluminum, a peptizing agent and water; forming the paste into an aggregate, preferably by extruding into an extrudate; curing the aggregate; hydro-thermally calcining the aggregate; and washing the hydro-thermally calcined aggregate with a washing medium, preferably followed by rinsing with a rinsing medium to remove residual washing medium from the aggregate. The washed and rinsed aggregate may then be permitted to equilibrate or is subjected to a drying procedure. Preferably, the washed and rinsed aggregate is again subjected to curing/hydro-thermal calcining.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing organic hydroperoxides by oxidizing aryl alkyl hydrocarbons having a benzylic hydrogen with an oxygen containing gas using as a catalyst an oxo (hydroxo) bridged tetranuclear metal complex having a mixed metal core, one metal of the core being a divalent metal selected from Zn, Cu Fe, Co, Ni, Mn or mixtures thereof and another metal being a trivalent metal selected from In, Fe, Mn, Ga, and Al.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making mixtures of ethanol and methanol by reacting methane, water and an acidic aqueous solution of a electron acceptor, preferably Fe.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 or Fe(ClO.sub.4).sub.3, having a pH of less than 3, preferably 1 to 3, more preferably 1 to 2 in the presence of a noble metal catalyst, typically platinum or palladium, having a diameter of at least about 100 .ANG. at a temperature of at least 60.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. The process is advantageous as it provides a method of making ethanol directly from methanol at low cost and high thermodynamic efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an alcohol coupling process in which a vaporized mixture of starting alcohols, preferably methanol and ethanol, is reacted with syngas in the presence of a large pore L zeolite, Y zeolite or large port mordenite, to form at least one alcohol coupling product having a greater number of carbon atoms than all of the starting alcohols. The large pore zeolite preferably has a substantial absence of strongly acidic catalytic sites and the reaction preferably produces the product alcohol in the substantial absence of C.sub.6+ oxygenates.

Abstract: A process for producing zeolite aggregates involves providing a formable paste composed of zeolite, a binder composed of an organic/metal oxide containing aluminum, a peptizing agent and water; forming the paste into an aggregate, preferably by extruding into an extrudate; curing the aggregate; hydro-thermally calcining the aggregate; and washing the hydro-thermally calcined aggregate with a washing medium, preferably followed by rinsing with a rinsing medium to remove residual washing medium from the aggregate. The washed and rinsed aggregate may then be permitted to equilibrate or is subjected to a drying procedure. Preferably, the washed and rinsed aggregate is again subjected to curing/hydro-thermal calcining.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for dispersing Group-VIII and other metals containing zeolites, particularly large pore zeolites.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing zeolite-containing catalysts. It is particularly suitable for making catalytic compositions made up of large pore zeolites of which a large percentage of the cationic substitution sites therein contain an alkali or alkaline earth metal and further containing one or more other Group VIII noble metals and a binder. The binder preferably is formed of a particular ratio of alumina from both a sol and boehmite. The step of impregnating the zeolite with a catalytic metal is carried out at a particular pH range so as to promote aromatics yield after later regeneration. This catalyst is suitable for use as a reforming catalyst or in the production of benzene. The catalyst has quite high activity, selectivity, and excellent physical characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing dual colloid catalyst compositions which are suitable for use in such processes as ammonia synthesis, carbon monoxide hydrogenation, hydrogenation and denitrogenation. The method comprises forming a gel, or suspension, by admixing: (i) one or more transition metal cyano-containing anionic-complex solutions wherein at least one solution contains a reducible transition metal, and wherein one or more of these solutions optionally contains a nonreducible metal, with (ii) one or more solutions containing polyvalent metal cations. The resulting gel, or suspension is heated to a temperature of about 90.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. for an effective amount of time to allow hydrolysis and polymerization to occur. The resulting solid is then filtered and ion exchanged with ions of one or more metals selected from those exchangeable metals from groups IA, IIA, IIIB, IVB, VIB, VIIB, and VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements. The resulting ion-exchanged material is then dried.