Abstract: A filling element includes a liquid valve having a valve element that forms part of the liquid channel. An electromagnetic drive couples to the valve element and moves it along a stroke axis such that the valve element moves while a valve body remains stationary. A gap across which the magnetic field extends lies outside the liquid channel.

Abstract: A connector assembly controllably couples a plurality of containers in a box. Each container has a fitment having a channel. The connector assembly includes a valve assembly and an actuator. The valve assembly is movable between an unengaged position and an engaged position. The valve assembly includes a plurality of fitment receptacles. Each fitment receptacle is associated with a respective fitment. A liquid flow channel of the valve assembly couples the fitment receptacles to the outlet. The actuator is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The valve assembly is configured to move from the unengaged position to the engaged movement in response to movement of the actuator from the unlocked to locked positions. The fitments are inserted into the respective fitment receptacles in response to movement of the valve assembly from the unengaged position to the engaged position.

Abstract: Methods are devices are provided for preventing fracture of a fluid-filled chamber or tank. In general an anti-fracture expansion device can be disposed internally within a fluid-filled chamber such that during a freeze event displaced fluid can compress or flow into the anti-fracture expansion device, thereby reducing the likelihood that the chamber will rupture. The internal disposition of the expansion device prevents it from interfering with other components that may be connected to or adjacent to the fluid chamber, thereby conserving space. In certain embodiments, the expansion device can have a dual function wherein it can act as a flow control valve in addition to functioning as an anti-fracture expansion device.

Abstract: Saddle comprising a central part having a top surface for providing a seat to a rider, a lower surface having a curvature for adapting to a back of a horse, elongated pad members coupled to said central part for forming a cushion, connecting places for mechanically coupling a reinforcing member to said central part for imposing a given curvature to said lower surface. The saddle is characterized in that it further comprises a hinge, mechanically coupled to the lower surface of the central part, for facilitating a modification of said curvature, and for coupling a reinforcing member to said central part, said connecting places being located on a portion of the hinge that is accessible from the lower surface of the central part.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) includes a proof mass, sense electrodes, sense circuitry, and a frequency matching circuitry. The proof mass is configured to move responsive to stimuli. The sense electrodes are configured to generate a signal responsive to the proof mass moving. The sense circuitry is coupled to the sense electrodes. The sense circuitry is configured to receive the generated signal and further configured to process the generated signal. The frequency matching circuitry is configured to apply a DC voltage to the sense electrodes. The DC voltage is configured to change a stiffness of a spring of the proof mass. According to some embodiments, the change in the stiffness of the spring matches a resonance frequency between a sense mode and a drive mode. According to some embodiments, the sense electrodes are a comb structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a MEMS device includes disposing at least one bonding portion having a smaller bonding area in a region where an airtight chamber will be formed, and disposing a metal getter on a bonding surface of the bonding portion. According to this structure, when substrates are bonded to define the airtight chamber, the metal getter is squeezed out of the bonding position due to the larger bonding pressure of the bonding portion with a smaller bonding area. Then, the metal getter is activated to absorb the moisture in the airtight chamber. According to the above process, no additional procedure is needed to remove the moisture in the airtight chamber. A MEMS device manufactured by the above manufacturing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a calculator in a MEMS manufacturing system, a stage control unit inclines a stage based on a stage angle 1 setting a stage inclination angle and a stage angle 2 of the inclination angle different from the stage angle 1. A stage-angle calculation unit calculates the stage inclination angles from first and second images acquired by a SEM apparatus when the stage control unit sets the stage at the stage angles 1 and 2. A 3D-data creation unit creates three-dimensional device data from a third image that is a device image acquired when the stage is set at the stage angle 1 and a fourth image that is a device image acquired when the stage is set at the stage angle 2. When the three-dimensional device data is created, a correction value calculated from the stage angles 1 and 2 and the first and second images is used.

Abstract: A system for containing an emission of sulfur trioxide, the system comprising a first pressurized vessel, the first pressurized vessel containing sulfur trioxide, a relief vessel containing a volume of a solvent solution, wherein the solvent solution comprises sulfolane, and a first relief conduit providing a first route of fluid communication between the first pressurized vessel and the relief vessel. A method for containing an emission of sulfur trioxide, the method comprising routing a first relief conduit so as to provide a first route of fluid communication between a first pressurized vessel and a relief vessel, wherein the first pressurized vessel contains sulfur trioxide, wherein the relief vessel contains a volume of a solvent solution, and wherein the solvent solution comprises sulfolane.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to crystalline solids having an empirical formula of M2A2X, wherein M is at least one Group IIIB, IVB, VB, or VIB metal, preferably Cr, Hf, Sc, Ti, Mo, Nb, Ta, V, Zr, or a combination thereof; wherein A is Al, Ga, Ge, In, Pb, or Sn, or a combination thereof; and each X is CxNy, where x+y=1. In some particular embodiments, the crystalline composition has a unit cell stoichiometry of Mo2Ga2C.

Abstract: Coated diamond particles have solid diamond cores and at least one graphene layer. Methods of forming coated diamond particles include coating diamond particles with a charged species and coating the diamond particles with a graphene layer. A composition includes a substance and a plurality of coated diamond particles dispersed within the substance. An intermediate structure includes a hard polycrystalline material comprising a first plurality of diamond particles and a second plurality of diamond particles. The first plurality of diamond particles and the second plurality of diamond particles are interspersed. A method of forming a polycrystalline compact includes catalyzing the formation of inter-granular bonds between adjacent particles of a plurality of diamond particles having at least one graphene layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing activated carbon from biomass or other solid carbonaceous feed within a housing containing boiler components, by spatial separation of drying, pyrolysis and activation zones as the feed is conveyed across the bottom of the housing, such that the thermal requirements for drying, pyrolysis, and activation of the solid carbonaceous feed occur by direct radiation from the combustion flame located above the drying, pyrolysis and activation zones. The balance of the heat not required for drying, pyrolysis, and activation is used to vaporize and superheat steam as part of a conventional steam/electric power plant.

Abstract: A titanium oxide aerogel particle includes a metallic compound that has a metal atom and a hydrocarbon group, the metallic compound being bonded to a surface of the aerogel particle via an oxygen atom. The titanium oxide aerogel particle has a BET specific surface area of 120 m2/g to 1000 m2/g, and has absorption at wavelengths of 450 nm and 750 nm.

Abstract: A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit.

Abstract: An electrolytic reduction module and a water purification device are provided. The electrolytic reduction module includes an electrode set, a first baffle, and a second baffle. The electrode set includes an anode, a first cathode, and a second cathode. The anode is disposed between the first cathode and the second cathode. The first cathode is disposed between the first baffle and the anode. The second cathode is disposed between the second baffle and the anode.

Abstract: Provided are liquid treatment systems (e.g., water desalinization systems, water softening systems, water purification systems), system components, methods of fabricating components and systems, and methods of operating the systems. A liquid treatment system may include a first electrode and a second electrode. During operation of the system, the treated liquid may flow between and, in some embodiments, through these electrodes and release contaminants that are electrolytically deposited on these electrodes. At least one electrode may include a non-conductive support and an active structure mechanically supported by the non-conductive support and a conductive assist structure disposed between the active structure and the non-conductive support. The non-conductive support may be a polymer film, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. Unlike conventional metallic substrates, the non-conductive support is more resistant to corrosion.

Abstract: A dechlorinating device includes a mixing chamber having an inlet and an outlet, and the dechlorinating device is configured to receive a fluid. The dechlorinating device also includes a dechlorinating conduit disposed within the mixing chamber and a recirculation zone disposed within the mixing chamber and positioned between the dechlorinating conduit and the outlet. A dechlorinating system includes a storage tank, an overflow pipe in fluid communication with the storage tank, and the dechlorinating device in fluid communication with the overflow pipe. A method of dechlorinating includes providing the dechlorinating device and feeding the fluid to the inlet of the dechlorinating device.

Abstract: A method for reducing nitrates, nitrites, and/or hydroxylamine in water using a homogeneous reduced copper tetra-substituted fluorinated pinacolate ligand catalyst complex. The method includes dissolving a copper(II) tetra-substituted fluorinated pinacolate ligand pre-catalyst complex in water having an excess amount of nitrates, nitrites, and/or hydroxylamine therein. The dissolved copper(II) tetra-substituted fluorinated pinacolate ligand pre-catalyst complex in the water is subjected to electrochemical reduction to form a homogeneous reduced copper tetra-substituted fluorinated pinacolate ligand catalyst complex. The homogeneous reduced copper tetra-substituted fluorinated pinacolate ligand catalyst complex reduces the nitrates, nitrites, and/or hydroxylamine in the water to compounds with nitrogen in a lower oxidation state with the homogeneous reduced copper tetra-substituted fluorinated pinacolate ligand catalyst complex.

Abstract: A method of treating an organic contaminated material includes producing manganese oxide media in a first treatment system; and contacting the organic contaminated material with the manganese oxide media in a second treatment system. The manganese oxide media may be coated aggregate having a layer of manganese oxide. The manganese oxide media may be manganese oxide solids. The manganese oxide solids can be formed by removing at least a portion of the manganese oxide layer from the coated aggregate.

Abstract: Catalytic water treatment is provided using an active material driven with an optical and/or electrical excitation. The active material is MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, WSe2, MoxW1-xS2, MoxW1-xSe2, MoSySe2-y, WSySe2-y, or MoxW1-xSySe2-y; wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<2. The active material is configured as one or more layered nanostructures having exposed layer edges. A metal catalyst is disposed on the active material. The combined structure of active material and metal catalyst is disposed in the water to be treated. The excitation is provided to the active material to generate one or more reactive oxygen species by dissociation of water, wherein the reactive oxygen species provide water treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water treatment. In one embodiment there is provided a method of treating an aqueous system to inhibit growth of one or more micro-organisms therein and/or to reduce the number of live micro-organisms therein. The method comprises adding treatment agents to said aqueous system and wherein said treatment agents comprise: (a) a phosphonium compound; and (b) a halogen oxide compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for degrading and inactivating at least one xenobiotic, the at least one xenobiotic being present in an aqueous medium. The method comprises the steps of (a) grafting at least one enzyme onto a solid support, (b) incubating the solid support with the at least one enzyme into the aqueous medium and (c) measuring the evolution of the concentration of the at least one xenobiotic. The method is remarkable in that the at least one enzyme is New-Dehli metallo-?-lactamase 1, a laccase extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus and/or a ?-lactamase extracted from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in that the solid support is a moving bed carrier.

Abstract: A method is presented for biological removal of contaminants like sulfide from ground waters and industrial waters. A fixed film compartmentalized bioreactor or bioreactors are used to convert sulfide to elemental sulfur and the subsequent conversion of the elemental sulfur to sulfates. The present invention uses a packed bed bioreactor configuration that uses packing material to maximize the concentration of sulfide oxidizing bacteria.

Abstract: We provide a process for treatment of produced water, including but not limited to water produced by a “steam flood” process for extraction of oil from oil sands, including the removal of color from the water. This removal may be accomplished through addition of color-removal polymers and flocculents. This process may also be useful for other water treatment processes including reverse osmosis and filtration.

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 method of continuous hydrothermal carbonization of sludge containing organic matter, involving a stage of hydrothermal reaction carried out in a reactor (4), includes: a step of introduction of sludge in which the sludge is introduced into the reactor (4) by a first inlet (11), a step of endogenous injection of steam in which steam is injected into the reactor (4) by a second inlet (15) distinct from the first inlet (11), a step of extraction in which at least a portion of the sludge contained in the reactor (4) is extracted continuously by a sludge outlet (16), a step of preheating in which the temperature of the sludge is raised prior to its introduction into the reactor (4) up to a temperature of preheating greater than 70° C. Also disclosed is a device making it possible to carry out such a method.

Abstract: Process for confinement of waste containing at least one chemical species to be confined, by in-can vitrification in a hot metal can into which waste and a vitrification additive are added, the waste and the vitrification additive are melted to obtain a glass melt which is then cooled, characterised in that at least one oxidising agent is also added into the metal can and in that the concentration of oxidising agent(s) expressed as oxide(s) in the glass melt is between 0.1 and 20% by mass, preferably 4 and 20% by mass, even more preferably 5 and 15% by mass, and even more preferably 10 and 13% by mass of the glass melt mass.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for conditioning molten glass. The apparatus includes a connecting tube assembly having a conduit for conveying the molten glass, the conduit (108) including at least two flanges (112, 114) and a sealing member (118) disposed between the at least two flanges (112, 114) around an outer peripheral region of the flanges, thereby forming an enclosed volume between an outer wall (110) of the conduit, the at least two flanges (112, 114) and the sealing member (118). An atmosphere within the volume may be controlled such that a predetermined partial pressure of hydrogen or a predetermined partial pressure of oxygen may be maintained within the volume. A current may be established between the at least two flanges to heat the conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laminated glass structure with one or more inner glass layers with at least one in tension and two outer glass layers in compression wherein one or both of the outer layers at least partially wrap around the one or more inner layers at one or more of the edges of the laminated glass structure. Also disclosed is a process for forming a laminated glass structure, comprising providing a laminated glass structure, removing at least some glass from at least one the edges of the structure to produce a concavity in at the at least one edge and applying heat to the at least one edge.

Abstract: A system for shaping glass or metal sheets or panels for use in solar collectors or microwave antennae may include an oven and an adjustable mold. The adjustable mold may comprise a molding surface located within the oven. The molding surface may be coupled to position actuators located outside of the oven via coupling elements. A sheet or panel may be placed in the oven and heated until the sheet or panel softens and takes the shape of the molding surface. The molding surface may be adjusted to achieve different shapes for glass or metal sheets or panels.

Abstract: Surface modification layers and associated heat treatments, that may be provided on a sheet, a carrier, or both, to control both room-temperature van der Waals (and/or hydrogen) bonding and high temperature covalent bonding between the thin sheet and carrier. The room-temperature bonding is controlled so as to be sufficient to hold the thin sheet and carrier together during vacuum processing, wet processing, and/or ultrasonic cleaning processing, for example. And at the same time, the high temperature covalent bonding is controlled so as to prevent a permanent bond between the thin sheet and carrier during high temperature processing, as well as maintain a sufficient bond to prevent delamination during high temperature processing.

Abstract: A method for cutting thin glass, wherein the thin glass is heated with a laser beam along a path forming a cutting line moving along a forward feed direction, such that a crack propagates along the cutting line and cuts through the thin glass. The laser beam is formed by a beam-forming optic in such a way that the beam profile thereof has an elongated shape. The laser beam is orientated on the surface of the thin glass such that the longitudinal direction thereof is aligned in the feed direction. The elongated shape of the beam profile is asymmetric, such that the intensity course differs at the ends of the beam profile in such a way that the increase in intensity at the front end crossing the thin glass first is steeper than the drop in intensity at the opposite rear end.

Abstract: An optical fiber cutter includes a device main body that includes a lid rotatably mounted with respect to a base and grips an optical fiber by an at least one lower gripper provided on the base and an upper gripper provided on the lid; a movable blade member that scratches a surface of the optical fiber gripped between the lower gripper and the upper gripper; and a pressing portion that presses the optical fiber scratched by the blade member to cut the optical fiber, wherein the at least one lower gripper is a gripping member separate from the base and is rotatable about a rotation fulcrum, and wherein a rotation fulcrum of the upper gripper paired with the at least one lower gripper is on the same center line as the rotation fulcrum of the at least one lower gripper.

Abstract: A lathe-based system may include chucks to retain a glass core rod, an arm, a slip joint, an actuator system, and a control system. The slip joint may couple the arm and a first chuck in fixed relation against relative axial motion with respect to an axis of rotation. The slip joint may also couple the arm and the first chuck in two-dimensionally movable relation with respect to a plane normal to the axis of rotation. The actuator system may be configured to two-dimensionally adjust a position of the first chuck in the plane. The control system may measure straightness of the glass core rod and control the actuator system in response to optical measurements of the straightness. In this manner, the system may straighten the glass core rod. The system may simultaneously elongate the glass core rod as it straightens the glass core rod.

Abstract: A building product in the form of an internal lining board (10) made up of a mixture of hemp shiv (14) and a binder which may be clay based or lime based. The mixture is located between two layers (12) of lining paper (10).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fiber reinforced cement composite materials incorporating a fiber blend that includes cellulose pulp and synthetic fibers in a ratio selected to provide the composite material with improved water absorption characteristics and the same or improved mechanical properties as compared to equivalent composite materials reinforced with predominantly or all cellulose fibers. Also disclosed herein are fiber blends comprised of a combination of cellulose fibers and polypropylene fibers adapted to reinforce cementitious composite articles manufactured by the Hatschek process and autoclave cured.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition including an amorphous calcium aluminate with a final lime:alumina molar ratio between lower and upper limits. The amorphous calcium aluminate is a combination including at least: a first amorphous calcium aluminate with a first lime to alumina molar ratio, strictly lower than the lower limit of the predetermined range; and a second amorphous calcium aluminate with a second lime to alumina molar ratio, strictly higher than the upper limit of the predetermined range. The combination includes a first amount of the first amorphous calcium aluminate and a second amount of the second amorphous calcium aluminate, the first and second amounts being determined in such a way that the final lime to alumina molar ratio of the amorphous calcium aluminate, corresponding to the average of the first and second lime to alumina molar ratios weighted by the first and second amounts, is within the predetermined range.

Abstract: An extrudable cement-based material formed from a mixture that includes cement, water, gypsum, secondary materials, reinforcement fibers and rheology modifying agent. The extrudable cement-based material is a lightweight material that has a density in the range of about 1.4 to 2.4 g/cm3, a compressive strength in the range of about 5 to 100 MPa, and a flexural strength in the range of about 5 to 35 MPa. Note that the cement may contain gypsum such that the gypsum is not added to the mixture.

Abstract: A ceramic slurry for forming a ceramic article includes a binder, a first plurality of ceramic particles having a first morphology, a second plurality of ceramic particles having a second morphology that is different from the first morphology; and a photoinitiator. A method for using this slurry for fabricating ceramic articles is presented as well.

Abstract: A method includes the following steps: a) the production of a slip including more than 4% and less than 50% of ceramic particles and including: b) a first particulate fraction including of orientable particles having a median length L?50 and representing more than 1% of the ceramic particles, and c) a second particulate fraction having a median length D50 at least ten times shorter than L?50 and representing more than 1% of the ceramic particles, the first and second particulate fractions together representing more than 80% of all of the ceramic particles, in volume percentages based on the total quantity of ceramic particles; d) oriented freezing of the slip by moving a solidification front at a lower speed than the speed of encapsulation of the ceramic particles; e) elimination of the crystals of the solidified liquid phase of the block; and f) optionally sintering.

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of a mineral foam of which the density in the dry state (d) is from 40 to 600 kg/m3, includes (i) mixing cement; a water reducing agent; 0.5 to 10%, % by weight with respect to the total weight of cement, of ultrafine particles having a liquid-solid contact angle comprised from 30° to 140°, and of which the D50 is from 10 to 600 nm; water, with a water/cement weight ratio from 0.3 to 2.5; (ii) adding to the mixture from 0.5 to 10% of a pore-forming agent, % by weight with respect to the weight of cement; (iii) applying the mixture obtained at step (ii) on a support; (iv) leaving the mixture to expand on the support.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a component of a turbomachine made of a composite material comprising a ceramic matrix and a corrosion protection layer arranged on the composite material. The corrosion protection layer comprises: 50-80 wt % silicon, 12-30 wt % nitrogen, 2-8 wt % oxygen, 2-8 wt % aluminum, and 0-3 wt % of at least one alkaline earth metal. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing a corresponding component of a turbomachine.

Abstract: A system and process for processing biologically-derived compounds or a complex bio-oil by converting cyclic compounds in a complex bio-oil or biologically-derived compounds to desired materials such as high molecular weight paraffins with minimal carbon loss by using a ring-contraction catalyst to selectively produce C5 ring containing compounds; and then reacting the C5 ring containing compounds with a C5 ring opening catalyst in a second reactor to minimize carbon loss via cracking reactions.

Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation is an alternative to the energy extensive steam cracking process presently used for the production of olefins from paraffins, but has not been implemented commercially partially due to the unstable nature of hydrocarbon/oxygen mixtures, and partially due to the cost involved in the construction of new facilities. An oxidative dehydrogenation chemical complex designed to reduce costs by including integration of an oxygen separation module that also addresses safety concerns and reduces emission of greenhouse gases is described.

Abstract: A process is presented for the production of butadienes. The process includes the separation of oxygenates from the product stream from an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor. The process includes quenching the product stream and solvent and oxygenates from the product stream. The oxygenates are stripped from the solvent with an inert gas to reduce the energy consumption of the process, and the solvent is recycled and reused in the process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing method of 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclopentene. The first reaction uses dicyclopentadiene as a starting material and nitrogen gas or another inert gas as a diluting agent in a gas-phase thermal cracking reaction to obtain cyclopentadiene. The second reaction uses cyclopentadiene as a starting material in a liquid phase chlorination reaction with chlorine gas to obtain 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorocyclopentane. The third reaction uses 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorocyclopentane as a starting material in a gas-phase chlorination and fluorination reaction with hydrogen fluoride and chlorine gas in the presence of a chromium-based catalyst to obtain 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclopentene. The method uses easily acquired starting material and a stable fluorination catalyst, provides a high yield for a target product, and is applicable for large-scale continuous gas-phase production of 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclopentene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of catalytic hydrogenation and, more particularly, to the use of Fe complexes with tridentate ligands, having one amino or imino coordinating group and two phosphino coordinating groups, in hydrogenation processes for the reduction of ketones or aldehydes, into the corresponding alcohol or diol, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing 1-octanol comprising a contact step between ethanol, n-hexanol and two catalysts A and B, wherein catalyst A comprises a metal oxide comprising Ga and a noble metal and catalyst B comprises a metal oxide comprising Cu, Ni or any mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of limonene-4-ol by an epoxide ring opening isomerization of terpinolene epoxide.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for the manufacture of bisphenol A, and to bisphenol A/phenol adduct crystals. The method of the invention comprises: a) reacting phenol and acetone in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form a reaction product comprising an initial concentration of bisphenol A and an initial concentration of impurities; b) diluting the reaction product with phenol, water and/or acetone, so as to decrease the impurity concentration to 50% by weight or less of the initial concentration of impurities, and adding bisphenol A to increase the concentration thereof in the reaction product; and thereafter c) crystallising a bisphenol A/phenol adduct from the reaction product to produce a crystallised bisphenol A product.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extraction process for the recovery of high-boiling aldehyde products and catalysts from a hydroformylation product solution.