Abstract: An apparatus for mineralising a biological material includes an ultrasonic source, operable to generate an ultrasonic signal, an ultrasonic probe and one or more mineralising probes, operable to receive a mineralising agent. The mineralising agent is transferred from at least one mineralising probe to the biological material using the ultrasonic signal. Also disclosed are a mineralisation agent and a method of mineralising a biological material that includes the steps of: providing an ultrasound source, providing a mineralising agent, generating an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasound source, and applying the ultrasonic signal and the mineralising agent to the biological material separately, sequentially or simultaneously.

Abstract: Identifying a stable phase of a binary alloy comprising a solute element and a solvent element. In one example, at least two thermodynamic parameters associated with grain growth and phase separation of the binary alloy are determined, and the stable phase of the binary alloy is identified based on the first thermodynamic parameter and the second thermodynamic parameter, wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

Abstract: A method of depositing a film of a metal having a volatilization temperature higher than 350° C., as well as, a composite material including the same are disclosed. The method can include providing the source material in a vacuum deposition processing chamber, and providing a substrate in the vacuum deposition processing chamber. The substrate can be spaced apart from, but in fluid communication with, the source material, and also maintained at a substrate temperature that is lower than the volatilization temperature. The method can also include reducing an internal pressure of the vacuum deposition processing chamber to a pressure between 0.1 and 14,000 pascals; volatilizing the source material into a volatilized metal by heating the source material to a first temperature that is higher than the volatilization temperature; and transporting the volatilized metal to the substrate using a heated carrier gas, whereby the volatilized metal deposits on the substrate and forms the metal film.

Abstract: Metal-accumulating plants for preparing compositions including a metal catalyst derived from the plants. The composition is substantially devoid of organic matter. Also, carrying out chemical reactions with the compositions prepared from metal-accumulating plants.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of identifying a stable phase of an ordering binary alloy system comprising a solute element and a solvent element, the method comprising: determining at least three thermodynamic parameters associated with grain boundary segregation, phase separation, and intermetallic compound formation of the ordering binary alloy system; and identifying the stable phase of the ordering binary alloy system based on the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter by comparing the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter with a predetermined set of respective thermodynamic parameters to identify the stable phase; wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing high-purity calcium, the method being characterized by the following: performing first sublimation purification by introducing calcium starting material having a purity, excluding the gas components, of 4N or less into a crucible of a sublimation vessel, subjecting the starting material to sublimation by heating at 750° C. to 800° C., and causing the product to deposit (evaporate) onto the inside walls of the sublimation vessel; and then, once the calcium that has been subjected to first sublimation purification is recovered, performing second sublimation purification by introducing the recovered calcium again to the crucible to the sublimation vessel, heating the recovered calcium at 750° C. to 800° C.

Abstract: Catalyst that is used in the catalytic pyrolysis of biomass is regenerated by oxidation and washing with a liquid to remove minerals and restore catalyst activity and selectivity to aromatics.

Abstract: A sorption apparatus for gas purification consists of a vertical flow column with gas tight walls, inlet and outlet filters, and a disintegrator producing reactive powder in the medium of the gas to be purified at ambient temperature, i.e. without forced heating or cooling. A process of sorption purification of gas flow using the sorption apparatus, where the reactive powder is produced as needed by mechanical milling of a monolithic ingot structure in the medium of the gas to be purified and a reactive sorption material. The composition of the sorption material corresponds to an eutectic on the basis of a reactive metal Me or an intermetallic compound MenM with a relatively low melting point, where M is the second metal and n 2:1, wherein the sorption material is obtained according to the above process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a substantially phase pure compound including a cation and an anion. The compound is made by mixing in a ball-milling device a first amount of the anion with a first amount of the cation that is less than the stoichiometric amount of the cation, so that substantially all of the first amount of the cation is consumed. The compound is further made by mixing in a ball-milling device a second amount of the cation that is less than the stoichiometric amount of the cation with the mixture remaining in the device. The mixing is continued until substantially all of the second amount of the cation and any unreacted portion of anion X are consumed to afford the substantially phase pure compound.

Abstract: The inventors demonstrate herein that various Zintl compounds can be useful as thermoelectric materials for a variety of applications. Specifically, the utility of Ca3AlSb3, Ca5Al2Sb6, Ca5In2Sb6, Ca5Ga2Sb6, is described herein. Carrier concentration control via doping has also been demonstrated, resulting in considerably improved thermoelectric performance in the various systems described herein.

Abstract: Provided is a sputtering target for forming a phosphor film in an electroluminescence element, which can maintain high strength even when it is allowed to stand in the atmosphere for a long time. The target has a chemical composition of Al: 20 to 50 mass %, Eu: 1 to 10 mass %, and the remainder containing Ba and inevitable impurities, and has a structure wherein Ba in which Eu is solid-solubilized and Al form an intermetallic compound phase, wherein the intermetallic compound phase of Ba in which Eu is solid-solubilized and Al includes a BaAl4 intermetallic compound phase and a Ba7Al13 intermetallic compound phase, and Eu forms a solid solution with Ba in the BaAl4 intermetallic compound and in the Ba7Al13 intermetallic compound, respectively.

Abstract: The presence of mycotoxins in agricultural products necessitates large scale testing of a wide range of sample material to ensure the safety of food and feed. The mycotoxin ochratoxin A represents an enablement for all mycotoxins as the level of sensitivity necessary for regulatory requirements for this compound at the part per billion level are as low or lower than any other mycotoxin. This invention describes the identification of a set of DNA ligands with sufficiently high binding affinity and specificity for ochratoxin A to enable an improvement over existing methods for the separation, concentration and quantitative determination of ochratoxin A in sample material.

Abstract: A method of fractionating biomass, by permeability conditioning biomass suspended in a pH adjusted solution of at least one water-based polar solvent to form a conditioned biomass, intimately contacting the pH adjusted solution with at least one non-polar solvent, partitioning to obtain an non-polar solvent solution and a polar biomass solution, and recovering cell and cell derived products from the non-polar solvent solution and polar biomass solution. Products recovered from the above method. A method of operating a renewable and sustainable plant for growing and processing algae.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for atomic transformations carried out under conditions akin to chemical catalysis. Liquid and solid state catalysts are used in a two-step process. We have found that the high ionic/electric activity of concentrated sodium hydroxide solution in combination with heating is sufficient to induce atomic transformation and provide a solid phase catalyst of high aluminum and silicon content. This product when heated at a temperature of 1000° C. yields numerous elements of higher atomic masses.

Abstract: Compositions suitable for use as an inoculant for cast iron. The composition includes granules of intermetallic alloys selected from Al4Sr, Al2Sr, and AlSr. The composition consists essentially of 40 to 81 percent strontium by weight.

Abstract: The calcium-aluminum system hydrogen absorbing alloy of the present invention is an alloy which is composed of a mixture P of Ca with (optional) Mg and an Al base alloy Q, has a molar ratio P:Q of 1:1.5 to 2.8 and shows a Laves phase with the C15-type structure as the fundamental structure thereof.

Abstract: Aqueous compositions for use as drilling fluids or as workover fluids/completion fluids comprise calcium chloride and calcium nitrate. The compositions have a density of at least 1.35 g cm.sup.-3 and the weight ratio of calcium chloride to calcium nitrate is 5:95 to 95:5. The compositions may be formulated so as to have low crystallisation temperatures. Additional densifying agents such as calcium bromide and/or zinc bromide may also be included.

Abstract: A new ternary sulfide alloy exhibits a metal-semiconductor phase transition with hysteresis as a function of temperature. One embodiment of the bistable material includes barium, cobalt, nickel and sulfur in amounts in accordance with the formula Ba(Co.sub.1-x Ni.sub.x)S.sub.2-y, and x is between 0 and 1 and y varies from 0 to 2.

Abstract: Intermetallic compounds and hydrides thereof, characterized in that they have been prepared by reacting hydrides of the elements of the main groups I, II, III and IV of the Periodic Table, magnesium hydridehalides or magnesium dialkyls having the general formula MgR.sub.2 (R=alkyl) in a solvent with bisallyl metal compounds of the metals of the subgroup VIII of the Periodic Table or of zinc or with the homologues of the bisallyl compounds of said metals, and processes for preparing said compounds.

Abstract: Intermetallic compounds and hydrides thereof, characterized in that they have been prepared by reacting hydrides of the elements of the main groups I, II, III and IV of the Periodic Table, magnesium hydridehalides or magnesium dialkyls having the general formula MgR.sub.2 (R=alkyl) in a solvent with bisallyl metal compounds of the metals of the subgroup VIII of the Periodic Table or of zinc or with the homologues of the bisallyl compounds of said metals, and processes for preparing said compounds.

Abstract: A granular additive alloy designed for addition of calcium to molten steel to obtain maximum calcium effects with minimal additions, especially in steels which cannot tolerate the other elements commonly accompanying calcium additions. An alloy is described which contains a ratio of not more than 2.85:1 nor less than 0.35:1 calcium to aluminum, and can contain other reactive metals such as, but not limited to, rare earths, boron, titanium, and zirconium in amounts up to 40% by weight of the alloy. The preferred embodiment is an alloy with 60% by weight calcium and 40% by weight aluminum. The particles are intended to dissolve in the molten steel and form a boundary layer adjacent their surfaces. The particles are sized such that substantially all of the particle is consumed in the formation of this boundary layer, according to a given relationship based on the concentration of calcium and aluminum in the alloy.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage electrode comprising a body of an alloy of the general formula, AB.sub.a, or a hydride thereof, in which A represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti, Hf, Ta, Y, Ca, Mg, La, Ce, Pr, Mm, Nb, Nd, Mo, Al and Si, B represents at least one element selected from Ni, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Al, Si, Nb, Mo, W, Mg, Ca, Y, Ta, Pd, Ag, Au, Cd, In, Sn, Bi, La, Ce, Mm where Mm is a mixture of rare earth elements, Pr, Nd, Th and Sm provided that A and B are different from each other, and a is a value of from 1.0 to 2.5. The alloy has an alloy phase which is substantially a Laves phase of an intermetallic compound of A and B, and has a crystal structure of a hexegonally symmetric C14 type having crystal lattice constants, a and c, of from 4.8 to 5.2 angstroms and from 7.9 to 8.3 angstroms, respectively, and/or a cubically symmetric C15 type having a crystal lattice constant of from 6.92 to 7.70 angstroms.

Abstract: A master alloy containing strontium magnesium and aluminum for modifying the aluminum-silicon eutectic phase of hypoeutectic, eutectic and hypereutectic aluminum-silicon based casting alloys.

Abstract: A substantially homogeneous calcium/aluminum alloy having a calcium/aluminum atomic ratio of from about 60/40 to 80/20 and with useful and unexpected properties of brittleness, passivity to atmospheric moisture and low volatility is prepared by a process which comprises adding aluminum under an inert atmosphere to molten calcium at a temperature of from about 550.degree. to 1100.degree. C. and at a rate to prevent substantial solids formation in the melt during the addition. The molten alloy is converted to particulate solid either by melt atomization or by casting, crushing and grinding. Lead/calcium/aluminum and tin/calcium/aluminum alloys are prepared by adding the calcium/aluminum alloy to the molten lead or tin, while calcium/aluminum/lithium alloy is prepared by adding lithium to the molten calcium/aluminum alloy.