Abstract: A water treatment device and methods of treating water such as cooling tower water, swimming pool water, and hot tub or spa water, are described. The water treatment device utilizes ultraviolet radiation, a magnetic field, and ozone fortified air to treat the water, typically resulting in reduced microbial contamination and reduced alkalinity in cooling tower water. Cooling tower water may consequently be run at higher cycles of concentration while reducing or eliminating deposition of minerals on cooling tower components. Swimming pool water and hot tub water treated with the water treatment device typically requires less chlorine, and chlorine levels are typically more stable than without the device.

Abstract: A faucet for dispensing a fluid includes a spout, a pull-out spray head removably coupled to the spout and including an outlet, and a valve assembly in fluid communication with the outlet. Additionally, the faucet includes a fluid treatment assembly configured to output a treatment into the fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out biological purification of wastewater with the aid of activated sludge, in which the wastewater is introduced into a tank for phosphor elimination (P tank), then into an activated sludge tank (B tank) and then into at least one sedimentation and recirculation tank (SU tank), in which a number of operating cycles are carried out, including a sludge return phase, a recirculation phase, a pre-sedimentation phase and a draw-off phase (S phase, U phase, V phase, and A phase respectively), wherein the method further includes the elimination of settleable solids of the inflow, the storage of the produced primary and excess sludge and the reduction of the rising of the water level in the wastewater purification system by using an additional tank (S tank), wherein the S tank is hydraulically connected with the P tank, the P tank with the B tank, and the B tank with the at least one SU tank, wherein the wastewater is first introduced into the S tank, then into the P ta

Abstract: A process for biological nutrient removal including: receiving fluid having sludge in a basin through a sludge inlet; activating an aeration system based at least partially on a time of day; periodically measuring a potassium level of the fluid; determining a potassium rate of change based on the periodic measurements of potassium level; and deactivating the aeration system based at least partially on the determined potassium rate of change. A system for biological nutrient removal is also disclosed.

Abstract: Contaminating material is extracted from a body of water by providing a floating bed on which plants such as Cat Tails can be grown with their roots hanging into the body of water over an area where extraction of contaminating material from the body of water is required, growing the plants to take up the contaminating material from the body of water and harvesting the upstanding plant mass by moving the bed to a harvesting machine which cuts away the plant mass leaving at least part of the root mass to continue growing into a new season. The bed can be returned to a location for the next season.

Abstract: The invention provides a domestic appliance (100) configured to provide descaled water (2) during operation, wherein the domestic appliance (100) comprises (i) a descaling unit (200) for the production of descaled water (2), wherein the descaling unit (200) comprises a descaling reactor (210), a descaling unit inlet (201) for introduction of water (1) into the descaling reactor (210) and a descaling unit outlet (202) for release of descaled water (2) from the descaling reactor (210), and (ii) a scale inhibitor dosing unit (300) configured to provide a scale inhibitor (310) to the descaling reactor (210), wherein the scale inhibitor (310) comprises a phosphonate; wherein the descaling unit (200) further comprises an outlet unit (220) comprising (i) said descaling unit outlet (202) and (ii) a scale inhibitor adsorbent (230) configured upstream of said descaling unit outlet (202), wherein the scale inhibitor adsorbent (230) is selective for said scale inhibitor (210).

Abstract: A portable outdoor water purifier includes a water absorption base, a filter element assembly, an electronic control assembly, and a filter container. The filter element assembly is installed in the filter container. The water absorption base is mounted to a lower end of the filter container. The water absorption base is connected with the filter element assembly. The electronic control assembly is mounted to an upper end of the filter container. The electronic control assembly includes a water outlet seat. Through the water absorption base and the filter element assembly, outdoor water can be filtered and sterilized layer by layer for a user to quickly get a large number of virus-free, bacteria-free, pollution-free safe drinking water in the wild, with high safety factor. This is an effective solution to the demand of drinking water for the outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Abstract: A system for nitrate removal from water combining: an ion exchange unit comprising at least one column of an ion exchange resin, a brine bioregeneration circuit comprising a sequential batch reactor (SBR), and an ozonation unit, is disclosed. A method for nitrate removal from water is further disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system is provided for treating sewage sludge by dewatering the sewage sludge, heating the sewage sludge being treated to destroy pathogens, and then reducing volatile solids in the sewage sludge being treated through biochemical decomposition to produce a treated biosolids product that meets government regulations for pathogen reduction and vector attraction reduction.

Abstract: A combustion method in which heated flue gas heats a regenerator through which a mixture of fuel and flue gas is then passed to undergo endothermic reactions that produce syngas which is fed into a furnace together with a motive gas stream.

Abstract: A system includes an overflow distributor (200) including a weir (245, 247). The system further includes a thermal exchange unit positioned in proximity to the weir. The thermal exchange unit (300) includes a tubular focusing member (310) and a thermal member (330) disposed at least partially within a lumen of the focusing member. The focusing member extends distally beyond a distal end of the thermal member by a distance It. In an embodiment the thermal exchange unit comprises several focusing members and thermal members to control a thermal profile of a glass stream flowing over the weir, particularly of a portion of the glass stream in contact with the weir.

Abstract: A glass sheet processing apparatus includes a glass sheet processing station including a laser cutting assembly that includes an optical arrangement positioned in a beam path of the laser providing a laser beam focal line that is formed on a beam output side of the optical arrangement. A glass holding conveyor belt carries a glass sheet by the laser cutting assembly so that the laser beam focal line is positioned on the glass sheet with the glass sheet on the glass holding conveyor belt. The glass holding conveyor belt is configured to carry multiple glass sheets to the laser cutting assembly for cutting the multiple glass sheets on the glass holding conveyor belt in a repeated fashion.

Abstract: A method for laser processing a laminate workpiece stack includes forming a contour line in a first transparent workpiece of the laminate workpiece stack having a resin layer disposed between the first transparent workpiece and a second transparent workpiece. Forming the contour line includes focusing a pulsed laser beam into a pulsed laser beam focal line directed into the first transparent workpiece to generate an induced absorption within the first transparent workpiece and translating the pulsed laser beam focal line along a first workpiece separation line, thereby laser forming the contour line having a plurality of defects. The method also includes separating the resin layer along a resin separation line by focusing the pulsed laser beam into the pulsed laser beam focal line directed into the resin layer and translating the pulsed laser beam focal line along the resin separation line, thereby laser ablating the resin layer.

Abstract: Techniques for precise and accurate doping of nanoporous silica gel or silica glass that include forming a silica gel slurry that includes an activated silica gel and a solvent, adding a metal dopant to the silica gel slurry to form a mixture, mixing the mixture of the metal dopant and the silica gel slurry, and removing the solvent from the mixture to form a doped silica gel.

Abstract: A cover glass lamination structure includes: a glass substrate having opposed first and second surfaces; an ultraviolet (UV) textured layer disposed on the first surface; and a coating layer disposed on the UV textured layer, wherein an inner edge of the coating layer extends beyond an inner edge of the UV textured layer and is attached to the first surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glass sheet having a high transmission in the infrared that comprises, in percentages by weight: SiO2 ??55-85% Al2O3 ???0-30% B2O3 ???0-20% Na2O ???5-25% CaO ???0-20% MgO ???0-15% K2O ???0-20% BaO ???0-20% Total iron (expressed in Fe2O3 form) 0.002-0.04%; the composition furthermore comprising at least two components from chromium, selenium, copper, cerium, manganese and antimony; the chromium (expressed in Cr2O3 form) being in a maximum content of 0.02% by weight; the selenium (expressed in Se form) being in a maximum content of 0.08% by weight; the copper (expressed in CuO form) being in a maximum content of 0.04% by weight; the cerium (expressed in CeO2 form) being in a maximum content of 0.8% by weight; the manganese (expressed in MnO form) being in a maximum content of 1.6% by weight; the antimony (expressed in Sb2O3 form) being in a maximum content of 0.8% by weight; and the composition being according to the formula: [10.

Abstract: Glasses are disclosed having a composition comprising the following oxides (in weight %): SiO2 61 to 70%, Al2O3 0 to 9%, Na2O 10 to 13%, K2O 0 to 1%, MgO 2 to 6%, CaO 6 to 16%, SrO 0 to 1%, ZrO2 0 to 1%, TiO2 2 to 15%, the glasses having a strain point greater than 570° C. The glasses have good dimensional stability at high temperatures, making them suitable for fire protection glazings and substrates which are processed at elevated temperatures, e.g. substrates for display panels, information storage discs and semiconductor devices, including photovoltaic cells. Physical properties of the glasses, such as thermal expansion coefficient, density and refractive index, are disclosed, as are the melting and liquidus temperatures. The glasses are suitable for manufacture by the float process, yielding flat glass in the form of sheets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glass fiber composition, glass fiber and composite material therefrom. The glass fiber composition comprises the following components expressed as percentage by weight: 58.5-62.5% SiO2, 14.5-17% Al2O3, 10.5-14.5% CaO, 8-10% MgO, 0.5%<Li2O?1%, 0.05-1% Na2O, 0.05-1% K2O, 0.05-1% Fe2O3, 0.15-1.5% TiO2, wherein the range of the molar percentage ratio C1=Li2O/Al2O3 is 0.105-0.22, and the range of the molar percentage ratio C2=MgO/(CaO+MgO) is 0.435-0.55. Said composition can increase the mechanical properties of the glass while reducing the glass viscosity, crystallization risk and amount of bubbles, thereby making it more suitable for large-scale production with refractory-lined furnaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a float glass sheet having a boron- and lithium-free glass composition comprising the following in weight percentage, expressed with respect to the total weight of glass: 65?SiO2?78% 5?Na2O?20% 0?K2O<5% 1?Al2O3<6% 0?CaO<4.5% 4?MgO?12% a (MgO/(MgO+CaO)) ratio?0.5 characterized in that the glass sheet has: (I). The invention corresponds to an easy chemically-temperable soda-silica type glass composition, which is more suited for mass production than aluminosilicate glass, and therefore is available at low cost, and with a base glass/matrix composition that is close to or very similar to compositions already used in existing mass production, and finally which shows reduced or controlled increased warping effect.

Abstract: A sintered formed body containing a glass in which undesired coloring in a blackish color, incomplete sintering, a lack of strength, and formation of bubbles are suppressed, and an article provided with the same are provided. Provided are a sintered formed body and an article provided with the same, the sintered formed body consisting of a sintered body containing a glass, and having a thick part with a thickness of 60 ?m or more, in which a carbon content from a position of a surface of the thick part to a position at a depth of at least 30 ?m from the surface of the thick part is 0.7 to 15 mass ppm.

Abstract: A composition of matter, including the following components expressed as percentage by weight: SiO2, 58-60.4%; Al2O3, 14-16.5%; CaO, 14.1-16.5%; MgO, 6-8.2%; Li2O, 0.01-0.4%; Na2O+K2O, less than 1.15%; K2O, greater than 0.5%; TiO2, less than 1.5%; and Fe2O3, less than 1%. The range of the weight percentage ratio CaO/MgO is greater than 2 and less than or equal to 2.4. A glass fiber prepared from the composition is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to glass structures, such as touchscreens, which are subjected to surface contaminants and glare and, more particularly, to providing nanostructures in a surface of such glass structures to render the surface oleophobic/hydrophobic. The structure is provided with an oleophobic/hydrophobic glass surface having nanostructures etched in the glass surface, wherein the size of the nanostructures prevents oil droplets and water droplets from fitting into the nano structures.

Abstract: A splash screen, and a process for making a splash screen, comprising a glass sheet, the glass sheet comprising, a substrate of soda lime silica glass having a coating deposited on at least at least a first surface, the coating comprising a corrosion-protection layer deposited directly on the first surface of the substrate, the corrosion-protection layer having a thickness in the range 24 nm to 125 nm and comprising pyrolytically deposited silica with intentional doping of 7 atom % or lower. The splash screen provides reduced moisture induced corrosion of the glass surface.

Abstract: A coated article includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a subcritical metallic layer having discontinuous metallic regions, a primer over the subcritical layer, and a second dielectric layer over the primer layer. The primer can be a nickel-chromium alloy. The primer can be a multilayer primer having a first layer of a nickel-chromium alloy and a second layer of titania.

Abstract: A tempered glass has a sheet thickness of 0.6 mm or less and having a compression stress layer resulting from chemical tempering at a surface thereof, which satisfies requirements of CS×(DOL?20)/DOL>360 and DOL/t?0.20 when the compression stress value of the compression stress layer is represented by CS (Mpa), the depth of the compression stress layer is represented by DOL (?m), and the sheet thickness is represented by t (?m).

Abstract: A system and method for applying a construction material is provided. The method may include mixing blast furnace slag material, geopolymer material, alkali-based powder, and sand at a batching and mixing device to generate a non-Portland cement-based material. The method may also include transporting the non-Portland cement-based material from the mixing device, through a conduit to a nozzle and combining the transported non-Portland cement-based material with liquid at the nozzle to generate a partially liquefied non-Portland cement-based material. The method may further include pneumatically applying the partially liquefied non-Portland cement-based material to a surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bypass system for use with off gases that have exited a cement kiln utilized in a cement making process. The bypass system is adapted to remove both NOx and volatile components that are present in the off gases while the off gases are in the bypass duct.

Abstract: The invention: a procedure to manufacture recycled waste concrete, and the recycled waste concrete itself, which is produced through a simple processing of various types of waste and is suitable for serving as a material to manufacture concrete products widely used in the construction industry, where such products include road bases, strip foundations, bases of houses, noise barriers, traffic barriers for highways/roads, lane separators, sandwich panels, to fill formwork and even, depending on the type of waste used, to build walls. The recycled waste concrete contains cement, water and shredded waste aggregates, such as shredded tyres and/or any shredded plastic waste, and/or any shredded scrap metal, and/or any shredded garden waste, and/or shredded mixed waste, and/or shredded fibre waste, and/or any shredded glass waste, and/or shredded and effectively neutralised municipal waste.

Abstract: A concrete composition is obtained by dry mixing cement and an aggregate, adding thereto a water dispersion which is preformed by dispersing a low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose having a hydroxypropoxy substitution of 5-16 wt % in the form of fibrous particles having an aspect ratio of 4-7 in water, and mixing the ingredients. Because of reduced drying shrinkage, only a little drop of fluidity, and proper flow, the concrete composition is useful to form concrete buildings having frost damage resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an addition for producing thermally conductive mortars and structural concrete, said addition being a specific powdery formulation in each case, which, when added as an addition to a conventional concrete or mortar, allows the production of a structural concrete or mortar with improved thermal characteristics (thermal conductivity ?). If the addition is added to a conventional concrete in a plant, a structural concrete with increased thermal conductivities is produced, which can adapt to the thermal requirements of the building, thereby being highly suitable for the heat activation of structures or the geothermal activation of foundations. The concrete containing the addition takes on special rheological characteristics which, inter alia, allows a self-compacting concrete to be produced. If the addition is added to a conventional mortar in a mixer, a mortar is produced with very high thermal conductivities which make it highly suitable for geothermal probes.

Abstract: A method for strengthening perlite microspheres may include providing a plurality of perlite microspheres, and heating the plurality of perlite microspheres at a temperature of at least about 600° C. for at least about five minutes to form strengthened perlite microspheres. A composition may include the strengthened perlite microspheres formed from the above-noted method. At least one of a drilling fluid and a well cement may include a slurry including at least one fluid, and a composition including strengthened perlite microspheres. A slurry may include at least one fluid and a plurality of perlite microspheres. The plurality of perlite microspheres may be strengthened by at least one of (1) heating the plurality of perlite microspheres at a temperature of at least about 600° C. for at least about five minutes: and (2) adding at least one metal component and at least one silicate component to the plurality of perlite microspheres.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods directed to carbonation of a cement mix during mixing. The carbonation may be in a stationary mixer or a transportable mixer, such as a drum of a ready-mix truck.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions, tools and methods for the manufacture of construction materials, masonry, solid structures and compositions to facilitate dust control. More particularly, the invention is directed to the manufacture of bricks, masonry and other solid structures using small amount of aggregate material that is pre-loaded with spores and/or vegetative bacterial cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising at least one binder based on calcium sulfate and at least one polymer obtainable by polymerization of monomers based on alkoxylates of S-vinylthioalkanols. Furthermore a molding, in particular a gypsum plasterboard, a gypsum wallboard, a screed or a knifing filler, obtained by setting of the composition of the invention is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to enhance mechanical property and improve complex and fine processability for a cordierite-based sintered body without compromising low thermal expansibility, high dimensional long-term stability, high stiffness (high elastic modulus) and precision polishing characteristic. The cordierite-based sintered body of the present invention comprises cordierite as a primary crystal phase and LaMgAl11O19 as a secondary crystal phase, wherein a ratio ILMA (114)/IMAS (004) is in the range of 0.01 to 0.8, where the ILMA (114) denotes a peak intensity of a (114) plane of LaMgAl11O19 as measured by powder X-ray diffractometry, and the IMAS (004) denotes a peak intensity of a (004) plane of cordierite as measured by powder X-ray diffractometry.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for synthesizing ceramic composite powder and ceramic composite powder, pertaining to the technical field of inorganic non-metallic materials. Among them, the method includes preparing an aqueous slurry of ceramic raw materials, the aqueous slurry including ceramic raw material, water and low polymerization degree organometallic copolymer, the ceramic raw material including at least two components; adding a crosslinking coagulant into the aqueous slurry to obtain a gel; dehydrating and drying the gel to obtain the dried gel; heating the dried gel to the synthesizing temperature of the ceramic composite powder and conducting the heat preservation to obtain ceramic composite powder or ceramic composite base powder; conducting secondary doping on ceramic composite base powder to obtain the ceramic composite powder.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of synthetic garnet materials for use in radiofrequency applications. In some embodiments, increased amounts of bismuth can be added into specific sites in the crystal structure of the synthetic garnet in order to boost certain properties, such as the dielectric constant and magnetization. Accordingly, embodiments of the disclosed materials can be used in high frequency applications, such as in base station antennas.

Abstract: A sintered polycrystalline body and a method of forming the sintered polycrystalline body are disclosed. The sintered polycrystalline body comprises a plurality of particles cubic boron nitride dispersed in a matrix. The matrix includes materials selected from compounds of any of titanium and aluminium. The polycrystalline body further comprises 0.1 to 5.0 volume % of lubricating chalcogenide particles dispersed in the matrix. The chalcogenide particles have a coefficient of friction of less than 0.1 with respect to a workpiece material. Preferably sulfide particles are used as lubricant. Preferably 30-70 vol.-% cBN is contained. Sintering takes place at 1100-1600° C. and 4-8 GPa.

Abstract: An outer peripheral coating member contains first particles containing titanium oxide, second particles containing zirconium oxide, third particles containing niobium oxide or aluminum oxide, and a dispersion medium. It is preferable for the first particles to have at least two peak values R1 in a distribution of particle sizes of the first particles. One of the peak values R1 is within a range of 1 to 50 nm, and the other peak value R1 is within a range of 100 to 500 nm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inorganic solid nutritive composition comprising at least one polyphosphate and at least one source of iron as micronutrient, wherein said composition is water-soluble and comprises an iron content of between 0.1% and 5% by weight of iron relative to the total weight of said solid composition.

Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a formulation of a chelating agent according to general formula (I): R1—CH(COOX1)—N(CH2COOX1)2, wherein R1 is selected from C1-C4-alkyl, linear or branched, phenyl, benzyl, CH2OH, and CH2CH2COOX1, X1 is (MxH1-x), M being selected from alkali metal, x is in the range of from 0.6 to 1, said formulation comprising in the range of from 0.01 to 20% by weight of water, and at least one organic solvent selected from alkanols with a boiling point at normal pressure that is higher than the boiling point of water, from alkandiols, alkantriols and polyols and mixtures of at least two of the foregoing, said process comprising the following steps: (a) providing an aqueous solution of chelating agent according to general formula (I), (b) adding said organic solvent and (c) removing the water completely or the majority of the water by distillation.

Abstract: Endophytic microbial strains as biocatalysts isolated from fresh plant samples, compositions, and methods of use thereof to enhance the growth and/or yield of a plant in the presence of reduced synthetic phosphate fertilizers are provided. Endophytic microbial strains serve as biocatalysts to solubilize mineral-P and mineralize organic-P otherwise unavailable to plants for their nutritional phosphate needs. Thus defined, biocatalysts, will serve to replace synthetic phosphate fertilizers. Also provided are materials and methods for inoculating plants with these biocatalysts at carefully selected inoculum densities to reliably reduce the amount of synthetic phosphate fertilizer by 50% thus accomplishing obtaining optimal yields in technically and cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A high density, generally recognized as safe hybrid rocket motor is described which has a density-specific impulse similar to a solid rocket motor, with good performance approaching or equal to a liquid rocket motor. These high density hybrid motors resolve the packaging efficiency/effectiveness problems limiting the application of safe, low cost hybrid motor technology.

Abstract: Disclosed are sp2 carbon nanogranules with iron incorporated from heavy petroleum residue of a refinery. The nanogranules may be used for improved synthesis of light olefins (C2-C4) from syngas in a single step Fischer Tropsch synthesis to lower olefins, (FTO). The efficient iron incorporated carbon nanogranules derived from low value heavy petroleum residue are very attractive as a catalytic system for direct synthesis of light olefin (C2-C4) from syngas at CO conversion up to 30%.

Abstract: Ethylene is produced from ethanol in a one-step process by reacting ethanol with hydrogen chloride over a catalyst composed of silica alumina catalyst in intimate admixture with activated charcoal.

Abstract: Nanowires useful as heterogeneous catalysts are provided. The nanowire catalysts are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to C2 hydrocarbons. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process is presented for the dehydrogenation of paraffins. The process utilizes heated air for the combustion of a fuel within the dehydrogenation reactor to provide the heat of reaction for oxidative dehydrogenation. The nitrogen in the air is utilized as a diluent. A paraffin feedstream is mixed with a fuel, and the fuel/paraffin feedstream is mixed with an oxidant air stream at the inlet of dehydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method capable of producing butadiene from a product stream.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the purification of gas streams comprising methane and hydrophobic pollutants. The invention provides a method for purifying a gas stream comprising methane and one or more hydrophobic pollutants comprising the steps of contacting the gas stream with a lean liquid stream comprising micelles of a surfactant or a separate surfactant phase. The resulting rich liquid stream comprises at least part of the hydrophobic pollutants. By subsequently changing the temperature of the rich liquid stream, a system of a pollutants-poor phase and a pollutants-rich phase is obtained. These phases are optionally separated and from the aqueous stream the lean liquid stream comprising micelles and/or surfactant can be regenerated.