Abstract: Systems and methods for producing hydrogen and solid carbon from gaseous feedstock. The system includes a plasma reactor configured to receive and convert feedstock comprising hydrocarbons into acetylene-containing feed stream, and a refractory coupled to the plasma reactor that is configured to receive and decompose acetylene to hydrogen and solid carbon. The system is further configured to deliver one or more auxiliary feedstock comprising hydrocarbons directly to the refractory for decomposition into hydrogen and carbon. The energy required to decompose the auxiliary feedstock is provided by the energy released from decomposition of acetylene in the refractory.

Abstract: High-purity polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the byproducts thereof, and methods for producing such products are disclosed. The PAHs may comprise an aromaticity index of about 0.65 to about 0.80. The PAHs may have quinoline insolubles and sulfur impurities of less than about 0.1 wt. % each. A tar or pitch comprising the high-purity PAHs and a method of producing such tar or pitch are disclosed. A synthetic graphite comprising high-purity PAHs is also disclosed. A method of making carbon pellets from high-purity PAHs is also disclosed.

Abstract: System and methods for plasma treatment of a fluidized bed of particles are disclosed. The systems include an energy coupling zone configured to generate a plasma from microwave radiation and an interface element configured to propagate the plasma from the energy coupling zone to a reaction zone. The reaction zone is configured to receive the plasma, receive a plurality of reactant particles in a fluidization plane direction from a fluidization assembly positioned below the reaction zone, and form a product in presence of the plasma. The fluidization plane is substantially perpendicular to the propagated plasma.

Abstract: A nanocarbon material includes agglomerate nanostructures made of aggregates of: (i) graphene nanostructures having at least partially crumpled morphology, and (ii) clusters of at least one carbon material. The carbon material may have a graphitic structure. At least a portion of the graphitic structure may be at least partially hollow and have at least one winged protrusion. Optionally, the nanocarbon material may be part of a composition that includes a dispersion medium or a cementitious material. Methods of making such a composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for ownership and classification of digital currency. The method includes establishing identification to a digital currency unit, establishing identification to a user, establishing ownership of the digital currency unit to the user, and assigning a first category of use to the digital currency unit owned by the user. The method also includes receiving from the user a request for a purchase associated with the first category of use from a merchant using the digital currency unit owned by the user, changing the ownership of the digital currency unit used in the purchase from the user to the merchant in response to the purchase, and changing the first category of use of the digital currency unit used in the purchase to a second category of use in response to the purchase.