TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Microorganisms: (I) belongs to the Polyporales having the accession number FERM P-19293 of Hapalopilaceae family, which has the accession number FERM P-19294. EXAMPLE - A TY-8 test strain was cultured for 10 days at 25 degreesC in potato dextrose agar. The genomic DNA was separated from the cultured microorganism and 28S rDNA was isolated and subjected to sequence analysis. The 28S rDNA fragment was amplified by PCR using the primers NL1:5'-gcatatcaataagcggaggaaaag-3' and NL4:5'-tggtccgtgtttcaagacgg-3'. The amplified DNA fragment was purified and the base sequence of target 28S rDNA was determined. The TY-8 strain 28S rDNA comprised a fully defined 604 nucleotides (SEQ ID No.1) sequence given in specification. A homologous gene sequence was searched from GenBank International DNA-sequence database. The results of the research suggested that the TY-8 strain belongs to Hapalopilaceae family of the order Polyporales.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The high concentration fraction liquid containing sulfuric acid (20-35 wt.%) is recycled to the saccharification apparatus of raw material. The low concentration fraction liquid containing sulfuric acid (1-6 wt.%) is recycled as eluant water of pseudo moving bed chromatographic separation apparatus and/or saccharification apparatus of raw material.Preferred Apparatus: The saccharification processing apparatus further has concentration apparatus (9) for concentrating the high concentration fraction liquid. The concentrated acid is recycled to the saccharification apparatus. SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - The acid is sulfuric acid.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: A first cyclone separator collects liquid in a range of greater than or equal to5 microns. A meandering pipe follows the first cyclone separator to collect liquid having a sub-micron particle range or greater. A BioOil, wax and char collection tank is coupled to a discharge outlet of the first cyclone separator, operating in a temperature low enough to condense remaining free flowing liquids but about a freezing point of the liquids to increase retention time of the gas stream and slow down a rate of gas volume flow. A settling section follows the hot inertial separation section. The settling section includes a gas tank. The condensing section is at 5-20degreesC. It includes a gas cooler. A second cyclone separator is coupled to an outlet of the gas cooler operative to collect condensate that has been re-entrained in the gas stream in gas cooler. A condensate collection tank is coupled to an outlet of the second cyclone separator. Return lines coupled to outlets of the first cyclone collection tank, gas tank and condensation collection tank are operative to return collected liquid to the gas stream prior to the separation step.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - IMAGING AND COMMUNICATION - Preferred Components: The storage device further comprises a heater thermally coupled to the storage medium, and an electrical coupling coupled to the yarn. The collapsible container comprises panels of Mylar film, and aluminum coating on the panels of Mylar film. The aluminum coating is applied to exterior surfaces of the panels of Mylar film. The hydrogen storage device further comprises a heater including metal traces on interior surfaces of the panels of Mylar film.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Component: One of the fifth and sixth webs of FTL material comprises an anode catalyst and the other of the fifth and sixth FTL material webs comprises a cathode catalyst. One of the first and second active regions of the membrane web comprises an anode catalyst and the other of the first and second active regions of the membrane web comprises a cathode catalyst.Preferred Method: The third and fourth gasket material webs are cut to produce the spaced apart windows. The positions of the respective bonding material windows relative to the first and second active regions of the membrane web when laminating the first and second bonding material webs to the first and second surfaces of the membrane web are optically sensed. A liner of the first and second bonding material webs is removed to expose the bonding material prior to laminating the third and fourth gasket material webs to the bonding material disposed on the first and second surfaces the membrane web. The multiple layer web of fuel cell material and a liner are wound into a roll. The multiple layer web of fuel cell material is singulated to produce discrete fuel cell sheets. The produced web of fuel cell material is sealed using heat and pressure.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Product: The bio-origin polymeric material decomposed product is manufactured using diaphragm or dividing wall type electrolytic cell.Preferred Substance: The biological substance comprises beans, wheat, algae, heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidney, muscles, bone, cartilage, tooth, tendon, tongue, digestive apparatus, digestive tract, blood, egg, nail, skin, scale, hair milk, cocoon, and whole living body of mammal, birds, reptiles, amphibian, fish, shellfish, crustacean and insects, preferably egg of hen, quail, pigeon, silky fowl, duck, goose, sparrow, ostrich, pheasant, duck, salmon, codfish, herring, mullet, alligator, tortoise, snake, frog, crab and shrimp.Preferred Method: The biological substance is applied with changing polarity of voltage for predetermined time interval and decomposed.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Anode: The anode is formed of carbon, which is an insoluble anode, dimensionally stable anode or titanium soluble anode, zinc or iron.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Agent: The desulfurizing agent is silica, silica-alumina or metal supported zeolite. Preferred Method: Color change of desulfurizing agent is detected by irradiation with an ultraviolet ray. The transparent portion is provided to at least exit vicinity of the desulfurizer.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: Water vapor is sprayed on the carbide material produced by high temperature carbonization, and activated carbon is generated. The biomass resources processed in low temperature carbonization apparatus are heated at 100-150 degrees C, after separating and recovering water vapor.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: A barrier layer (22) is arranged on the portion(s) of the external surface of the support. The catalyst is arranged on the barrier layer. An additional catalyst layer (24) is arranged on the barrier layer at each regions of the external surface of support. The sealing layer (26) is arranged on the catalyst layer. The catalyst layers are at regions spaced apart of the support. The catalyst layers at the regions have different areas, i.e. at region increase in area form the first end to the second end of the support. The barrier layer had apertures. The first end is an inlet for hydrocarbon fuel to be reformed. The second end is an outlet for reformed fuel. The support comprises two parallel external surfaces. The barrier, catalyst and sealing layers are arranged on both the parallel external surfaces. The support is porous or non-porous.Preferred Properties: The barrier layer has different thickness at different regions. The barrier layer decreases in thickness fro first to second end of the support. The total cross sectional area of the apertures in the barrier layer at the different regions increases from the first to second end of the support. The dimensions and/or number of the apertures increase. The catalyst layer has different activity at different regions. The catalyst layers at different regions increase in activity from first to second end of the support.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The primary reactor is consisting of series of discrete reactor zones each to be used for charging with organic material, anaerobic decomposition of organic material, aerobic decomposition of organic material, and excavation of compost. Physical barriers separate the reactor zones from each other. The inventive system has a mobile shelter for containing odors to expose a reactor zone for charging and/or excavation operations. It has biogas treatment mechanism consisting of energy production, combustion, or filtration for exhaustion. The aeration mechanism includes liquid circulation mechanism, drainage mechanism, and gas recovery mechanism.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The non-thermal plasma is generated by dielectric barrier discharge. The plasma energy that is required to vary depending on the types of metals is regulated by the magnitude of power via voltage regulation. The reduction method is conducted in conjunction with existing methods of gaseous hydrogen reduction by heating, electrochemical reduction methods, or methods of reduction by adding organic or inorganic reducing agents.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Condition: The carbon is heated to 490-550 (preferably 550)degreesC. The nickel catalyst is heated to 400 (preferably 350)degreesC. The gas chromatograph is maintained at 90degreesC.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The carrier gas is helium.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The method includes digitally filtering the reflection data prior to the computing step. The digital filtering is implemented with median smoothing.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The fuel comprises diesel; and mixed alcohols comprising 1-30 vol.% methanol, 40-75 vol.% ethanol, 10-20 vol.% propanol, 3-10 vol.% butanol, and 1-8 vol.% pentanol. It also comprises 1-3 vol.% nananol and 1-3 vol.% decanol. The mixed alcohols comprise 5-20 vol.% fuel. They comprise 1-6 vol.% hexanol, 1-6 vol.% heptanol, and 1-6 vol.% octanol.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Property: The hen-dropping carbide material and condensed water of shochu-liquor lees are mixed such that the soil improvement material exists between neutral and alkali state.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: The method of processing organic refuse by managing C/N ratio rate is carried out by managing pH at the time of fermentation of organic matter, where the initial value, middle period value and late stage value of pH is 8, 7-8 and 6.5-7, respectively.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Trapping Agent: The carbon dioxide trapping agent is an alkali metal compound, an alkaline-earth metal compound or basic carbonate.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The ceramic porous material is alumina, magnesia, titania, silica and/or zirconia. Preferred Shape: The ceramic porous material has formed column, hollow column, honey-comb or pellet shape. Preferred Property: The ceramic porous material has porosity of 70% or more, with open pore (19) of 0.5-10 mm. Preferred Catalyst: The catalyst contains gamma-alumina, and is palladium, nickel, potassium and/or ruthenium. The metal particles in catalyst have particle size of 10-500 Angstrom . Preferred Arrangement: The concentration of catalyst in the modified pipe is maximum at the entrance side along the flow of original fuel, and minimum at the exit side.
EXAMPLE - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The gas purification apparatus has a sulfuric acid circulation unit for circulating sulfuric acid produced by catalyst layer, within purification tower, a heating unit for heating filter layer (151), humidification unit for supplying moisture content, and water supply device provided at upwards of catalyst layer. The purification tower has filter layer (F) provided on waste-gas later-flow side of catalyst layer, and a gas introduction portion at the lower portion. The exhaust gas-de-sulfurization system has a thickener tank for concentrating dilute sulfuric acid obtained from gas purification apparatus, a modification unit for modifying purified gas to liquid fuel, a fuel cell, which uses purified gas as fuel, and dust removal unit for removing dust contained in gas.Preferred Composition: The saturated water vapor amount expressing ratio of moisture content to humidification gas +0.5-10 volume%, when catalyst layer is contacted with moisture content.Preferred Layer: The filter layers (1,2) are formed using activated carbon fiber.Preferred Properties: The mist particle size contained in gas for humidification is 10-150 mum. The circulation velocity of humidified gas in purification tower is 0.5-10 m/s. The particle size of additional water or dilute sulfuric acid from water supply unit is 100-1000 mum.Preferred Conditions: The humidification temperature is 60degreesC or more. The feed rate of additional water or dilute sulfuric acid from water supply unit is 5-50 mL/m3 of gas.Preferred Gas: The gas is produced from coal gasification furnace and used for fuel cell of integrated gasification fuel cell power generation.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: An annular sleeve is positioned around the upstream end of the heat exchange tube. The upstream end is mounted in a tube sheet. The annular sleeve has an opening to allow the mixture of extracted cooling medium and part or all fresh cooling medium to enter and an outlet opening fluidly connected to the cooling medium compartment. A supply mechanism is included to supply part of the fresh cooling medium to an elevated position in the vessel. Preferred Ratio: The ratio of fresh cooling medium and the defined part of the cooling medium as extracted from activity is 1:4-4:1. Preferred Condition: The hot gas has a temperature of 1300-1500degreesC and 240-450degreesC after cooling.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The hot gas is obtained in a gasification process comprising the partial oxidation of a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon feedstock to a mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: The shift conversion stage comprises a converter operating at medium temperature or a high-temperature converter followed by a low-temperature converter. Technically pure carbon dioxide is separated from the scrubber and used for technical purposes or converted to a product of food-grade quality.Preferred Apparatus: The apparatus includes a purification unit (9) for concentrating the carbon dioxide from the scrubber.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The residual gas emitted from the top portion of the column is used as cooling medium. The raw material gas contains ethane and low volatile hydrocarbon.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Material: The polymeric material is alkyd, diallyl phthalate, epoxide, phenolic, melamine, polyester, urea, acrylate, polyolefin, polystyrene or its copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoro ethylene or its copolymer, polyimide, polysulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyester, nylon, liquid crystal polymer, polyarylketone, natural rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, chloroprene, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone, ethylene propylene rubber, polyurethane, ether-amide block copolymer and/or styrene olefin block copolymer.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The plate component further contains a filler material chosen from glass fiber, glass bead, stainless steel fiber, metal particle, mineral, carbon powder, carbon fiber, graphite, carbon fibril and carbon nanotube.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The bipolar plate comprises a plate body made from alkyds, diallyl phthalates, epoxies, phenolics, melamines, polyesters, ureas, acrylates, polyolefins, polystyrene and its copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene and its copolymers, polyimides, polysulfones, polyphenylene sulfides, polyesters, nylons, liquid crystal polymers and blends, polyarylketones, natural rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, chloroprene, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone, ethylene propylene rubber, polyurethanes, ether-amide block copolymers, and/or styrene-olefin copolymers. The plate body may also comprise thermosetting vinyl ester resin.Preferred Starting Gases: The starting gas is preferably selected from ethylene oxide, nitroethane, 1-nitropropane, 2-nitropropane, ethylene, methane or trimethylamine.Preferred Process: Cathode flooding is inhibited by forming a lyophilic polymer layer on the flow channel wall. The lyophilic polymer layer may be formed by compression molding a thin crosslinked sheet of polymer onto the surface of the components, by insert molding a thin film of polymer on the surface of the component, by coating a liquid solution of polymer on the surface of the components or by plasma deposition.Preferred Lyophilic Polymer: The lyophilic polymer is preferably polyalkylene glycol, (functionalized) cellulose, polyacrylonitriles, polyacrylamides, polyvinylamides, polyvinylsaccharides, polyaminoacrylates, polyhydroxyalkylacrylates, polyacrylic acids, polyacrylic acid salts or functionalized styrene ionomers preferably polyvinyl alcohol.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The process may comprise the step of introducing silane or chlorosilane into the hermetic chamber and depositing a silicon oxide layer on the plate body.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The sonic energy source supplies sonic energy to the cellular matter in the first zone in a frequency range of 1 - 10 kHz; and in the second zone in a frequency range of 1 - 2000 kHz. The method further involves removing biogas produced within the bioreactor, and supplying a process controller to monitor and modify sonic disruption and providing disrupted cellular material for microbial production.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The cell gas inlet is connected to a source of gas emissions, and the cell gas outlet discharges treated gas for discharge to the atmosphere. The apparatus further includes a gas mixing chamber (22) having a first mixing chamber gas inlet connected to the cell gas outlet and a second mixing chamber gas inlet. The NTP generation cell comprises NTP generation cells arranged in parallel configuration.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Material: The hot electrodes are hermetically sealed with a ceramic material, e.g. borosilicate glass. The borosilicate glass is in the form of sheets placed on opposite flat sides of the electrode and the edges of the glass sheets are sealed with an electrically insulating material.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Material: The electrically insulating material is a high voltage silicone sealant.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: Power is applied to the electrodes to generate a NTP field between the electrodes. It can be alternating current voltage of 4000-100000 volts at a frequency of 50-50000 Hz.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: A portion of the first products is utilized for drag reduction. The further products are utilized for propulsion.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: Water is added to the excavated land reclamation garbage, water-soluble component is flushed out, and the excavated garbage is recycled. The excavated land reclamation garbage is passed through a sieve having opening of 100 mm or less. The garbage passed through the sieve is recycled as raw material and fuel for cement manufacture, and the garbage remaining the sieve is combustible solid contaminant, and is recycled as fuel for cement manufacture. The precipitate is drained continuously or intermittently from the disposal site, and water soluble component is flushed out. Preferred Material: The land reclamation garbage is sludge, cinder, slag and smoke dust.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The bisphenol A residue contains a basic catalyst. The mixing ratio of bisphenol A residue with respect to phenol byproduct oil is 0.3:1-1.3:1. An aromatic hydrocarbon compound is added during processing. The addition rate of aromatic hydrocarbon compound with respect to total amount of phenol byproduct oil and bisphenol A residue is 0.5:1-2:1.Preferred Method: The phenol byproduct oil, bisphenol A residue containing the basic catalyst and water are mixed and stirred. Subsequently, oil-and-water are separated.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Material: The base material is a laminate of polyolefin and non-woven fabric.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: (M1) involves using support immobilized with microorganisms for fluid beds. The microorganisms are cultured and continuously added into the bioreactor tank. The processing method of the colored wastewater is performed with two or more bioreactor tanks. EXAMPLE - Microbes of Bacillus sp. were cultured and immobilized in a support containing low-density polyethylene. The cultured microbes (108 cells/ml) were added to the bioreactor tank and the ability of the microbes to decolorize the wastewater was determined. Wastewater containing azodye were added to the bioreactor tank and were processed. After completion of the reaction, the decolorization effect was assessed. The results show that microbes were able to decolorize more than 80% of the wastewater.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microorganism: The methane fermentation is carried out using methane bacterium selected from Methanobacterium, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methanosaeta and Methanohalophillus genus. EXAMPLE - No relevant example given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus : An inlet (25) for working medium (24) is positioned tangentially to mantle (21) and a rotor (32) with an axis (33) coaxial to axis (18) operates at an angular velocity of 10-25 s-1. Base and/or cover plates (22, 23) form a exit opening (26) coaxial to axis (18), this exit (26) taking the form of a suction lance with a phase separation device or of a suction funnel and being connected to throttle valve. Generator (6) has a sound source coaxial with axis (18) or an IR source, the sound source operating at 25-55 (especially ca. 40.5) kHz and at least part of internal limiting surface (20) acting as a sound-concentrating reflector. Generator (6) can also be formed by magnets, the magnetic field direction in the vicinity of axis (18) being antiparallel to a direction of the angular velocity (34) of rotor (32). A pressure vessel for the working medium (24) is provided, as is also a heater with a thermogenerator with an interior of a sintered material and the gas generator (6), the thermogenerator, a ventilated heat-exchanger, the pressure vessel and a pump form a cycle for the working medium. Operation of the apparatus is automatically controlled. Preferred Process : The water and/or Brown gas are conveyed in a closed circuit and are subjected to a magnetic field such that magnetic induction in the vicinity of axis (18) is antiparallel to the direction of the angular velocity (34), the water and/or Brown gas being subjected to sound and/or IR. The rotation of the water is periodically altered, as can also be the working medium pressure and/or the sound intensity, the frequency of such alterations (and also of the angular velocity) being 0.1-10 Hz. Recombination of the hydrogen-oxygen mixture or Brown gas takes place in the thermogenerator with the generated heat being removed by water and the Brown gas being passed through a sintered material.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The heating of the pressurized water takes place in two stages using a preheater and a heater. The preheater heats the pressurized water to a temperature of above 80 (preferably 88)degreesC and the heater heats the pressurized water from the heater to a temperature of above 600 (preferably 650)degreesC. The pressurized water is fed to the heating stages via a pump having a delivery pressure of up to 300 bar. A flow control valve is mounted in a delivery line to the preheater. The heating of the pressurized water is achieved using high temperature hydrogen and oxygen gases returning from the superheating chamber. The preheater and heater are in the form of shell and tube type heat exchangers. The hot hydrogen and oxygen gases from the superheating chamber flow through at least one tube located in the heater and preheater. The temperature of the non-catalytic heating element is above 1200 (preferably 2000)degreesC. The non-catalytic element is suspended in the superheating chamber. The heat produced by the non-catalytic heating element causes the temperature in the superheating chamber to rise to above 2000degreesC.Preferred Components: The non-catalytic heating element is in the form of a tungsten filament. The preheater, heater and superheating chamber are manufactured from the non-oxidizing material selected from stainless steel, a chrome plated metal or metal alloy or tungsten. The non-oxidizing material is selected to withstand pressures of up to 300 bar and temperatures of at least 3200degreesC. The hydrogen and oxygen gas mixture is withdrawn from the superheating chamber and fed to the heater and preheater to cool the gas mixture while heating the pressurized water. EXAMPLE - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Process: Inoculation with Aspergillus is preferred. The aerobic plant-based sludge of step (b) may be replaced, entirely or in part, by a sludge of cellulose or paper. Preferred Product: (A) contains condensates of soluble molasses; fermentable organic substrates; ammonium phosphates; trace elements and sludge-derived microorganisms. ACTIVITY - Fertilizer.    No details of tests for fertilizer activity are given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The sulfur-containing hydrocarbon feedstock is natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel, or methane. EXAMPLE - A catalyst composition was prepared and comprised of (w/w%) nickel (15), cerium oxide (30), chromium oxide (5), zirconium (20), lanthanum oxide (3), and aluminum oxide (27). The catalyst support comprising a mixture of oxides of cerium, lanthanum and aluminum was prepared by co-precipitation of their hydroxides from appropriate quantities of the mixtures of their nitrates, prolonged digestion at 80 degrees C, filtering, washing drying, and calcinations. To the mixture of calcined oxides of cerium, lanthanum and aluminum obtained, the oxide of chromium was impregnated from an aqueous solution containing chromic acid. The material, after drying at 120 degrees C and calcining at 500 degrees C, constituted the catalyst support. Nickel (15 wt.%) was deposited on the catalyst support by dry impregnation by immersing the solid support in a volume of aqueous solution containing nickel as nickel nitrate, in which the volume of the aqueous solution was equal to a pore volume of the solid support (0.6 ml/g solid). The catalyst was designated as catalyst B.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The system also comprises fuel cell in fluid connection with and downstream of the reformer catalyst and water shift catalyst, praseodymium oxide catalyst in fluid connection with and downstream of water gas shift catalyst and in fluid connection with and upstream of the fuel cell, heater exchanger upstream of the fuel cell, second water gas shift catalyst on tungsten gallium silicon substrate of water gas shift reactor downstream of and in fluid connection with the reformer device, oxidation catalyst device (14) downstream of an engine (12), particulate filter device (16) connected with the oxidation catalyst device, nitrogen oxide adsorber device (18) connected with the particulate filter device, selective catalyst reduction (20) in connection with the nitrogen oxide adsorber device, clean up oxidation catalyst device in fluid connection with nitrogen absorber device, and temperature sensor device proximate to outlet of device containing the reformer catalyst. The fuel cell is proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The fuel cell is solid oxide fuel cell. The reformer catalyst and water gas shift catalyst are on a reformer substrate of the reformer device. The water gas shift catalyst is on a filter of the particulate filter device or on a second substrate of the reformer device. The reformer catalyst is on a first substrate of the reformer device. Preferred Methods: The method of using the system can also comprises supplying hydrogen to oxidation catalyst (22), particulate filter device, nitrogen oxide adsorber, on-board ammonia generator or selective catalytic reduction device to selectively regenerate each of them.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The tube-like carbon containing crystalline graphite sheet, is reacted in atmosphere containing oxygen gas and/or fluorine group gas, which is pure fluorine gas, helium, neon, argon and krypton.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Material: The water area environmental preservation material has water permeable bag in which divalent iron-containing substance and humus-containing material are stuffed. The divalent iron-containing substance is steel-making slag or coal melting ash. The humus-containing material is scrap-wood chip.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Medium: In (I), the concentration of nitrogen source is 5 ppm or less.Preferred Method: (M1) involves adding 5-amino levulinic acid to a culture medium, when the nitrogen source in the culture medium is 5 ppm or less. (M2) involves adding 5-amino levulinic acid, after culturing the solution for 5 days from 5 hours. The processing step of (M3) is performed at pH 1-6. The insoluble agent is a sulfidizing agent. EXAMPLE - The stock (Iwakuni, Iwakuni-shi, Yamaguchi-ken castle) which has the decomposition capacity of dioxin from 52 shares of white decay bacillus stock extracted from the domestic forest was screened. Inoculation of each white decay bacillus was carried out to 15ml test tubes which contained 9.6 g/l bacto potato dextrose broth and shaking culture was performed for ten days (30degreesC, 160rpm). Then, the fungus body was processed with the ultrasonic homogenizer and inoculation was carried out to the test tube containing the liquid medium (pH5.9) having 200microl of a cell suspension comprising (g/l): NH4NO3 (2.5), KH2PO4 (1), K3HPO4 (0.5), MgSO4.7H2O (0.5), MnCl2.4H2O (0.2), NaCl (2), FeSO4.5H2O (0.01), CaCl2 (0.01) and ZnCl2 (0.01). Then, non-chlorinated dibenzofuran dissolved in ethanol was added to provide 500 mg/l and culture shaking was performed. The culture medium was extracted 2, 4 and 12 weeks after and the dibenzofuran which remained was analyzed in GC-MS. One share (MS-325) which clearly decomposed dibenzofuran was discovered as a result of this analysis. The MS-325 share showed excellent dibenzofuran biodegradability and decomposed 54%, 88% and 99% after 2, 4 and 12 weeks of culture respectively. Subsequently it was demonstrated that a batch of culture solution could reduce the amount of dioxins in a sample of fly ash collected from a city incineration disposal site.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The selective adsorption of the compound is performed under water, and the compound is condensed and removed from the gas. The gas is obtained by performing reforming reaction of a hydrocarbon fuel and removing the carbon monoxide present in the gas produced by the reforming process. The hydrocarbon fuel comprises liquefied petroleum gas, town gas, natural gas, naphtha, kerosene or light oil. The reforming process comprises steam reforming, auto-thermal reforming or partial oxidative reforming of the fuel. Carbon monoxide is removed by performing shift reaction and selective oxidation reaction, sequentially.Preferred Fuel: The hydrocarbon fuel comprises ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, butane, butene, or dimethyl ether.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Methods: The reforming reaction is performed in a reformer unit arranging in contact with the fuel cell so that in use, the heat generate by the fuel cell is conveyed to the reforming reaction. The reforming reaction is performed in a reformer. The reformers are provided in fuel cell stack.Preferred Components: The reformer is provided within the fuel cell stack. A heat conveyor is provided to convey heat generated by the fuel cell to the reformer.The heat conveyor comprises conduit arranged to convey fluid. Methanol is injected into the reformer, preferably anode compartment (15).The methanol is evaporated prior undergoing reforming reaction.The anode of fuel cell is in an anode compartment. The reforming reaction is performed in the anode compartment. The reformer is arranged in thermal contact with the fuel cell and is in the fuel cell stack. The system also comprises methanol and water or methanol/water mixture supplying mechanism to supply methanol and water to the reformer or evaporator (13) connected to the reformer. The system includes variable speed air compressor and air flow measurement device where air can be supplied to the system at variable and controlled rate. The system also includes air heater to heat air prior to it being fed to the stack, afterburner to mix and burn any fuel gas not consumed in the fuel cell with air.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: The waste material stream is dried to moisture content of 8 - 15%. The waste disposal method for landfill material formation involves utilizing a twin-screw extruder machine for production of the extrudate; selecting from a pre-determined set, an extrusion dye for attachment to an output of the twin-screw extruder machine, in response to varying requirements for a cross-section of the extrudate; segmenting the extrudate so as to form solid briquettes of predetermined dimensions; and adjusting a range of particle size of the fluff, a moisture content of the fluff following the drying, and a rate of the extruding, in order to control product properties of the extrudate. The drying is accomplished via a rotary kiln and it includes separating a heavy fraction of the waste stream from a light fraction of the waste stream. The light fraction is passed through a cyclonic separator. The waste disposal method includes after processing step, employing rotating kiln heated by methane or waste gas burner; producing a waste intermediate with residual moisture content of about 10%, and also removing ferrous and non-ferrous metal particles and inert materials; and assembling the briquette formed in geometric packs of different size and shape, and optimizing disposal of the packs in landfills. Preferred Briquette: The briquettes are packed in a landfill in a repetitive three-dimensional pattern having density of not less than 90% of individual briquette. The briquette contains metal (less than 0.3 wt.%) and further includes crushed coal and/or petroleum in an amount of 0.5 - 50 wt.%.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Features: The axis of rotation of the container is aligned parallel to the horizontal. The container is aligned at a slanted angle between the horizontal and vertical. An inlet (4) and an outlet (5) for biogenic materials are arranged on a face of the container. Stirring elements (3) are arranged on the inner wall. The container is closed on at least one face using a covering element (2).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Component: The second hydrogen storage material is activated by oxidizing a proportion of the hydrogen released from the first hydrogen storage material in a hydrogen burner unit (4). The system further includes heat exchangers to remove heat from the hydrogen released from first or second hydrogen storage material. The hydrogen consumption system comprises a fuel cell or internal combustion engine.Preferred Condition: A proportion of the hydrogen released from the first hydrogen storage material is made available to the hydrogen consumption system. A proportion of the hydrogen released from the second hydrogen storage material is used to recharge the first hydrogen storage material. The first hydrogen storage material can be activated to release hydrogen at less than 100 degrees C. The second hydrogen storage material can be activated to release hydrogen at 250-350 degrees C.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Material: The first hydrogen storage material (1) comprises AB5, AB2 or AB (sic) type material. It preferably comprises lanthanum (V) nickel (LaNi5), aluminum doped LaNi5, cerium (V) nickel (CeNi5), aluminum doped CeNi5, calcium (V) nickel (CaNi5), manganese doped CaNi5, titanium vanadium manganese, zirconium doped titanium chromium manganese, zirconium doped titanium (II) chromium, cobalt doped titanium (II) vanadium, iron/titanium, titanium/zirconium, titanium (manganese vanadium) and/or titanium (manganese chromium). The second hydrogen storage material comprises magnesium or platinum group metal, preferably magnesium hydride and/or magnesium hydride/nickelide.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compound: The desulfurizing agent contains iron ion.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The nickel reactant is in the form of a surface coating on the support structure. The support structure is formed from alumina. The foam support structure is formed from nickel.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The nickel reactant is in the form of a surface coating on the support structure. The support structure is formed from alumina. The foam support structure is formed from nickel.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: (a) Is animal fat or vegetable oil. The alcohol is methanol, ethanol, propanol or other monoalkyl alcohol.Preferred Method: The transesterification occurs in a reaction chamber comprising a horn that irradiates the emulsion at a frequency of 20 - 50 kHz and operates at a power density of 18 - 65 Ws/ml. The reaction chamber is maintained at a specific temperature of 70 - 80 degrees C and at an operating pressure of 1 - 5 atmospheres. The gravitationally separated fatty acid alkyl ester is washed in the centrifuge using warm, deionized water. The method involves use of excess alcohol loading of 0 - 2.4% stoichiometric requirements/wt. of (a).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The alkaline solution is a concentrated form of one of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, potassium methodoxide or other strong mineral alkaline solution.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Apparatus: The reaction chamber comprises a first inlet for the introduction of the emulsion; a first outlet for the removal of the transesterified version of the emulsion; a cooling jacket containing a pump fed flow of a cooling liquid for maintaining the reactor chamber at a defined temperature; and a horn that enhances the transesterification of the emulsion using ultrasonic irradiation. The natural gravity separation operates to separate the transesterified emulsion into glycerol solution and fatty acid alkyl ester. (I) Is introduced into the centrifuge for washing and drying.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The cosurfactant is water soluble glycol ether comprising ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol tertbutyl ether and mono-, di-, and/or tri-propylene glycol monobutyl ether. The anticorrosion system comprises sodium benzoate, sodium silicate, sodium salicylate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, and/or ammonia.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The inorganic magnesium salt is magnesium sulfate-heptahydrate. EXAMPLE - Propellant (Part I) was composed of 60 wt.% butaine, 20 wt.% isobutaine, and 20 wt.% propane. A cleaning composition (Part II) was composed of 3 wt.% ethanol, 3 wt.% propylene glycol mono butyl ether, 0.055 wt.% perfume, 0.21 wt.% 12-14C sodium salt of 12-14C alkyl ether sulfate, 0.133 wt.% choline chloride, 0.08 wt.% magnesium sulfate hepta hydrate, and 93.522 wt.% water. A final cleaning composition was composed of 3.5 wt.% Pert I, and 96.5 wt.% Part II.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Component: The exhaust outlet is oriented perpendicular to the conduit inlet. The combustible gas sensor is inside the conduit. It is mounted to the conduit generally perpendicular to the exhaust outlet. It includes a sensing surface, and is positioned such that the sensing surface is adjacent the exhaust outlet. It is electrically grounded to the conduit. The conduit is metallic, a conductive polymer, or stainless steel. The combustible gas detection system may comprise a bracket having a main body, a first flange on one end of the body, and a second flange on an end of the body opposite the first flange; a housing mounted to the bracket, and having an opening to receive a gas stream; and the combustible gas sensor mounted to the first flange. The first flange includes an opening. The second flange includes an opening. The first and second flange openings are sized to receive different combustible gas sensors. The housing includes tabs sized to be received in slots in the bracket main body. The bracket is metallic or steel. The vent conduit is metallic. The combustible gas sensor is electrically grounded to the vent conduit. The vent conduit further comprises an exhaust outlet. The combustible gas sensor is positioned adjacent to the exhaust outlet.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Absorbents: The carbon monoxide adsorbent comprises platinum as main material. The oxygen adsorbent comprises ruthenium as main material.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: Carbon dioxide is introduced in pressurized state, before or after transesterification. A basic compound is added before or after transesterification. The transesterification mixture phase is separated into alcohol phase containing glycerol and monoalkyl carbonic acid (or its salt), and ester phase containing bio-diesel fuel. The bio-diesel is separated from ester phase. The alcohol phase is pressure reduced and glycerol is separated. The monoalkyl carbonic acid (or its salt) is converted to carbon dioxide, alcohol and basic compound.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compound: The basic compound is volatile nitrogen compound.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Oil: The fats and oil is chosen from palm oil, palm kernel oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil and waste edible oil. EXAMPLE - Palm oil (in mL) (8), methanol (6) and triethylamine (2) were added to an autoclave and reacted at 260 degreesC for 1 hour under argon pressurization. The reaction liquid was returned to autoclave, since phase separation was not possible, and stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes under carbon dioxide pressurization. The removed reaction liquid was phase-separated to upper phase (10) and lower phase (5.5). Each phase was recovered separately. The upper phase contained methyl palmitate (2.2 g), methyl oleate (3.26 g) and methanol (1.13), and small amount of triethylamine. The lower phase contained methyl palmitate (0.1), methyl oleate (0.13) and glycerol. The large amount of produced ester was contained in upper phase.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The hen droppings ash is formed by incinerating hen droppings at 400degreesC or more, completely. The raw excretion of livestock is raw pig feces and cattle feces. ACTIVITY - Fertilizer. No test details are given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The fuel is kerosene.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: Biogas is sequentially passed to a gas-compression machine, a gas heater and the hollow tube-like separation membrane, before selectively permeating carbon dioxide. The concentration of to-be-recovered methane gas is controlled by controlling the flow rate of gas recovered from the separation membrane.Preferred Membrane: The hollow tube-like separation membrane is a module having a bundle containing several hollow tube-like separation membranes.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Membrane: The hollow tube-like separation membrane is made of polysulfone, acetic acid cellulose or polyamide.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The raw material is sawdust, wood chips, rayon, acryl, petroleum pitch, coal pitch, and/or phenol resin.Preferred Composition: The molar ratio (H/C) of hydrogen atom (H) with respect to carbon atom (C) of the hydrogen storage material, is 0.079-0.09.Preferred Condition: The impregnated product is baked by adjusting the temperature conditions.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The monomer is a combination of aromatic quinone and aromatic carboxylic dianhydride, or aromatic amine and aromatic carboxylic dianhydride, or acrylic-type monomer, or ammonium dicarboxylate. A polymer is obtained by polycondensation or polymerization of the monomer. EXAMPLE - Mixed solution (in weight parts) (50) obtained by mixing 10% anthraquinone and pyromellitic dianhydride in a molar ratio of 1:1, and zinc chloride (1) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, were impregnated into wood chip as raw material at normal temperature. The impregnated product was vacuum-heat dried at 120degreesC and baked at 500degreesC for 1 hour, to obtain a hydrogen storage material containing hydrogen and carbon in a molar ratio of 0.083. The obtained hydrogen storage material had pore having diameter of 1.12 nm and hydrogen storage capacity of 1.5 wt.% at 10 MPa.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalyst: The sponge-metal catalyst is sponge nickel. Preferred Process: The hydrocarbon fuel and sponge-metal catalyst are heat-stirred and sulfur component is removed. Preferred Apparatus: The apparatus has several serially arranged reactor flow paths. The reactor flow paths are divided and packed with the catalyst.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalyst: The sponge-metal catalyst is sponge nickel. Preferred Process: The hydrocarbon fuel and sponge-metal catalyst are heat-stirred and sulfur component is removed. Preferred Apparatus: The apparatus has several serially arranged reactor flow paths. The reactor flow paths are divided and packed with the catalyst.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - The plastic liners can be e.g. of Cloisonyl (RTM) or Biodec (RTM).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: The bioproduction process where the byproducts are hydrolyzed for 0-5 hours at 50-60degreesC. The filtrate is concentrated in a vacuum evaporation system. The filtrate is concentrated until the solids are increased from 10-15% to 30-40%, preferably 14-35%. The squid processing byproduct is blended with fish meat for autolysis. The fish meat is recovered from frame waste or underutilized fish species such as herring. The hydrolysate increases feed attractability and survival rate as a fish feed ingredient. The hydrolysate is a growth promoter in fish feed. The hydrolysate is a strong feed attractant and stimulant in aquaculture feed. The hydrolysate may be used as an aquaculture feed ingredient or organic fertilizer turf grass, organic farming and home gardening. The squid hydrolysate includes phosphoric acid to prepare a shelf-stabilized product. The hydrolysate is an aquaculture feed ingredient, a larval feed formulation for all finfish at all ages and for all crustaceans, a diet supplement for brood fish, as a fish feed supplement to improve palatability and nutrition and as an organic fertilizer.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The first and second adsorbent beds are disposed in a common reaction vessel. The system further comprises third adsorbent bed for adsorption of inorganic sulfur-containing compounds and high molecular weight organic sulfur-containing compounds; fourth adsorbent bed for adsorption of low molecular weight organic sulfur-containing compounds; conduit and valve assembly; and filter (118) for removal of particulate matter from fuel. The third and fourth adsorbent beds are disposed in a second common reaction vessel. The first adsorbent bed has a volume of 15 ft3; the second adsorbent bed has a volume of 2 ft3; the fuel processing system operates at 50-120degreesF and 10-100 psig; and the gas hourly space velocity of the fuel flowing through the first adsorbent bed and the second adsorbent bed is 100-500 /hour. The conduit and valve assembly is such that the first and second common reaction vessels can be connected in series or in a lead lag system. A purging system purges the fuel processing system. The purging system comprises a purge gas supply and a purge line for removal of purge gas from the fuel processing system.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The first adsorbent comprises copper-based activated carbon or copper-chromium based activated carbon. The second adsorbent comprises a zeolite such as sodium form zeolite.Preferred Compositions: The copper-chromium based adsorbent has at least 5 wt.% copper and at least 2 wt.% chromium.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Properties: The high molecular weight organic sulfur-containing compounds have molecular weights greater than 65 and the low molecular weight organic sulfur-containing compounds have molecular weights at most65.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Methods: The method also comprises receiving and mechanically pulverizing waste and treating the waste so that it is transformed into slurry; providing the pumping plant with inlet conduit coupling the pumping plant to the earthen chamber; pumping treated slurry into the earthen chamber; delivering excess slurry from the pumping plant to the redox plant and storages the treated slurry in the redox plant; providing equipment housing building with ventilation conduit, specie collection conduit, electronic monitoring pipe, displaceable chamber extraction conduit (142), and gas-burning electricity generating subsystem; obtaining the solid specimen of the treated slurry via the specimen collection conduit; electronically monitoring waste products within the earthen chamber with the electrical monitoring pipe; vertically displacing the chamber extracting conduit, obtaining gaseous samples at different levels in the earthen chamber; providing spent oil well for earthen chamber; burning methane gas for production of electricity via gas-burning electricity generating subsystem. Preferred Components: The chamber extraction conduit has displacement mechanism connected to it for vertical displacement of the chamber extraction conduit. The equipment housing building comprises ventilation conduit, specimen collection conduit, electronic monitoring pipe, displaceable chamber extraction conduit, and gas-burning electricity generating subsystem. The earthen chamber is spent oil well.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Process: The conducting polymer coated substrate is subjected to doping with a doping agent when the polymer deposition is carried out only with the monomer. The step of coating the conducting polymer on the metal pre-coated insulating substrate is carried out by dipping the pre-treated insulating substrate in an aqueous electrolyte containing 0.1-0.5 M hydrogen-containing mineral acids, e.g. hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, together with a monomer and a macrocyclic compound, by applying a potential of 0.7-0.9 Volt.Preferred Component: The insulating polymer is polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetate or styrene butadiene co-polymer, having adhesion strength higher than 10 g/mum. The insulating polymer solution is used in a concentration of 1-2 wt./v. The substrate comprises an insulating polymer coated substrate. It is a glass plate, or a polyester film having a smooth surface and an electrical resistivity of greater than 1010 OMEGA-cm. The metallic backing layer comprises a vacuum deposited thin film of gold, platinum or chromium. The conducting backing layer is dip-coated carbon or graphite dispersions having inert nature in the potential range of 0-1.0 Volt with respect to saturated calomel electrode (SCE).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The monomer used for depositing conducting polymer film is aromatic or heterocyclic compounds containing nitrogen. It is preferably aniline, pyrrole, anisidine or toluidine.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The activating agent is halides of multivalent metals with electronegativity of 1.2-1.5. The doping agent contains electron acceptor compounds, e.g. copper chloride, ferric chloride, cobalt chloride, and like Lewis acid compounds. It is used in a concentration of 0.001-0.1 M, preferably 0.006-0.012 M.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: Processing of a pollutant comprises an acidogenic step that is predominant in a first nest space and a methanogenic step that is predominant in a second nest space. The biological processing of a wastewater produces methane. The production of methane is at least 1, preferably at least 2 l/l/d at 22 degrees and 10 g/l/d. It results in an energy output/input ratio of 3:1 to 7:1. The method further comprises seeding wastewater or the reactor with active biomass sludge.Preferred Condition: Production of methane occurs at below 25 degrees C. The method comprises a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of less than 30, preferably less than 15 hours. A ratio of solids retention time (SRT) to HRT is at least 40:1, preferably 100:1 to 250:1. The reactor reaches a steady state of biogas production within less than 20 days from initiation. It has an overall void volume of at least 85 % or at least 90 %. It has an efficiency of removal of organic pollutant(s) of at least 50 %, preferably 50-85 % chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal at a loading of over 10 g/l/d.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The nest material comprises polyvinylchloride.Preferred Composition: The biomass exists in association with the nest material at at least 10 g/l.Preferred Property: The nest material has a surface to volume ratio of at least 10000 or 30000-100000. It has a thickness of less than 100, preferably less than 50 micrometers. It retains constant biomass at a hydraulic retention time of 10-30 hours.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Component: The biomass comprises anaerobic bacteria.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The wastewater comprises a lipid of at least 25 % of total COD in the wastewater. It comprises 100-2000 mg/l lipid.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The fuel cells are high temperature fuel cells, which operate at 400degreesC or higher. They are molten carbonate fuel cells or solid oxide fuel cells. The pyrolysis reactors operate by the pyrolysis of hydrocarbon fuels, or by thermal or catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbon fuels. They comprise at least two reactors, one in pyrolysis mode and one in regeneration mode, the two reactors periodically alternating their role.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The hydrocarbon fuels include natural gas, methane, propane, butane, paraffins, liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, diesel, methanol, ethanol, or propanol.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The system may comprise pressure vessels, each being a cylinder oriented with a vertical axis; and vent pipe(s) (140) to vent the hydrogen gas to the atmosphere near or above the top end. The vent pipe is oriented with a vertical axis and is located near the pressure vessel. The piping comprises supply pipe(s) to carry the hydrogen gas to the pressure vessel. The supply pipe is connected to the pressure vessel near the top end and is partially located inside the vent pipe. The pressure vessel has all penetrations within the top quarter. The bottom end of pressure vessel is below grade and has secondary containment forming an interstitial space that is ducted to vent pipe to vent the hydrogen gas to the atmosphere above or near the top end of pressure vessel. The hydrogen source is a hydrogen generator including electrolysis unit(s) to generate the hydrogen gas by electrolysis of water, and/or reformer(s) to generate the hydrogen gas by reforming natural gas. The pressurizing apparatus comprises pump(s) to pressurize the water. The system includes compressor(s). The system is shop assembled and certified. In other embodiment, a hydrogen handling system comprises hydrogen-handling equipment including piping(s) and valves contained within a structure. The structure has wall(s), a floor, and an open top. At least one wall is designed to lean away from the equipment so that the open top has a larger area than the floor area. The hydrogen-handling equipment comprises hydrogen generator(s) to generate hydrogen gas, compressor(s) to compress the hydrogen gas, pressure vessel(s) to store the hydrogen gas, and a pressurizing apparatus. The equipment may be contained within a sealed cylindrical enclosure vented to the atmosphere through a vent pipe terminating at a location higher than the equipment. A fire suppression system introduces inert gas into the enclosure.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Method: The substance/wood component isolated as a solid residue from the hot water processed material is further treated with an enzyme derived from raw material of Basidomycete cultivation, preferably cellulase and/or xylanase. The hot water processing is performed at 0.5-10 Mpa and 160-230 degreesC.Preferred Material: The biomass resources are corncob waste culture medium and broad-leaved tree/needle-leaf trees waste culture medium ejected after utilizing for Basidomycete cultivation.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The apparatus is provided with a mixer for mixing natural gas with impurity-removed fermentation methane gas (14), a removal unit for removing scent material of natural gas which is town gas, and a controller to control feed-rate of natural gas. The controller has a measurement unit to measure the flow rate of fermentation methane gas. The supply of natural gas is controlled according to the fluctuation of amount of fermentation of fermentation methane gas. The natural gas is supplied according to the gas volume of fermentation methane gas. Fermentation methane gas is supplied after removal of hydrogen sulfide.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Agent: The surface-active agent is a cationic surface-active agent, anionic surface-active agent, amphoteric surfactant and/or non-ionic surfactant.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Composition: The kneading amount of surface-active agent is 0.01-10 weight parts (wt.pts) with respect to 100 wt.pts of resin before foaming the independent gas-bubble property polyolefin-type foam.Preferred Particle: The ground particle is raw material bead obtained by bead method and/or foam molded product obtained by foam molding-in-mold method.Preferred Property: The closed cell of independent gas-bubble property polyolefin-type foam has diameter of 10-500 microm. The breadth of ground particle is 1-30 mm.Preferred Process: Different kinds of surface-active agent are kneaded with the resin of ground particles.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The amount of the surface active agent is 0.01-10 weight parts with respect to 100 weight parts of resin foam.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Property: The grain of gas-bubble property polyolefin-type resin foam has diameter of 10-500 mm and breadth of 1-30 mm.
EXAMPLE - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Composition: The composition additionally comprises at least one of another ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymer, a comb polymer, polar nitrogen compounds, a compound containing a cyclic ring system, a hydrocarbon polymer, a polyoxyalkylene compound, a hydrocarbylated-aromatic pour point depressant, or alkyl phenol formaldehyde condensate. The composition includes cold flow additive (1 - 10000, preferably 10 - 5000) parts per million/weight of the oil.Preferred Components: The copolymer has vinyl ester (17 - 25) mole%. The vinyl copolymer has 6 - 8 alkyl branches. The vinyl ester is vinyl acetate (17 - 19) mole%.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The major portion of (b) is a biofuel selected from methyl esters of rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, soya bean oil, sunflower oil, olive oil or palm oil. EXAMPLE - A composition was prepared by dissolving (parts per million (ppm)): a polymer (having vinyl acetate (40 wt.%), number average molecular weight of 3700 and containing 6 alkyl branches per 100 methylene units) (1782); an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer (having vinyl acetate (15 wt.%), number average molecular weight of 6500 and containing 8 alkyl branches/100 methylene units) (137); and a comb polymer of di-n-dodecyl fumarate/vinyl acetate (80) in rapeseed methyl ester fuel. The composition was subjected to Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) test by a procedure as described in ''Journal of the Institute of Petroleum'', Volume 52, Number 510, June 1966, pp. 173 - 285. The composition showed CFPP of -26 thus exhibiting improved performance.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The oxygen is reduced by reaction with a fuel in a fuel cell, internal combustion engine, turbine or combustion chamber or on a catalyst or electrically heated wires. The fuel is methane, ethane, propane, butane or especially natural gas or hydrogen. The hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water or by reforming hydrocarbons, especially fuel gas or gasoline. The oxygen-depleted air has an oxygen content of 12-16 vol.%.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The dispensing mechanism is a nozzle, injector, grinder, or atomizer. The dissociating mechanism converts hydrocarbon fuel into solid particles by using radio frequency discharge plasma. The separating mechanism is acoustic flocculation, filter membrane, electromagnetic separating technique, or use of bias voltage on substrate.Preferred Methods: The method includes reforming hydrocarbon fuels for a fuel cell which does not oxidize the hydrocarbon fuel
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The mixed gas is purified after tar modification process, to remove unreacted tar. The biomass and water vapor are heated at 800-1200 degreesC in the gasification process. The molar ratio of water vapor with respect to carbon in biomass is adjusted such that molar ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is approximately equal to 1. The biomass is reacted with water vapor and oxygen at the gasification process. The volume concentration of oxygen supplied during biomass gasification is 5 volume% or less. The tar is heated and modified at 250-800 degreesC in the tar modification process. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide mixed gas is pressurized at 1-30 MPa and reacted at 150-400 degreesC in the dimethyl ether synthesis process.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The catalyst for fuel reformation consists of ruthenium chloride, rhodium chloride, palladium chloride, platinum chloride, ruthenium nitrate, rhodium nitrate, palladium nitrate and platinum nitrate.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Gas: The to-be-purified gas is noble gas, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, and/or sulfur hexafluoride.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microbe: The microbe is Rhodococcus genus microbe.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Agent: (II) comprises (a) one or more strains having protein decomposing ability, and chosen from Bacillus sp. BY-4 strain, B. subtilis BY-5 strain, B. subtilis BY-7 strain, and B. subtilis BY-8 strain, (b) one or more strains having starch decomposing ability, and chosen from B. licheniformis BY-6 strain, B. subtilis BY-7 strain, and B. subtilis BY-8 strain, (c) one or more strains having microbial droplet decomposing ability, and chosen from Bacillus licheniformis BY-1 strain, B. licheniformis BY-2 strain, B. firmus BY-3 strain, Bacillus sp. BY-4 strain, B. subtilis BY-5 strain, B. licheniformis BY-6 strain, B. subtilis BY-7 strain, B. subtilis BY-8 strain, Bacillus sp. BY-9 strain, and Bacillus sp. BY-10 strain, (d) a strain having lipid decomposing ability such as Bacillus sp. BY-10 strain, or (e) a strain having dietary fiber decomposing ability such as Bacillus sp. BY-9 strain. (II) further comprises an implantation material containing (I).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Fuel: The raw fuel is hydrocarbon, hydride, methanol, dimethylether, synthesis gas, land fill gas, bio gas, liquid natural gas, and/or liquid petroleum gas, preferably dimethyl ether.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Cell: The fuel cell is a solid oxide fuel or molten carbonate type fuel cell.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Layer: The 1st selective combustion layer contains an alumina binder. One of the selective combustive layers contain gamma alumina paste containing 7.0 wt.%. of palladium, 5-20 wt.%. of alumina sol and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether. Another selective combustive layer comprises gamma alumina paste containing 7.0 wt.%. of palladium, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and silica sol binder.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Catalyst: A noble metal catalyst of the selective combustion layer comprises a mixture of metals, such as platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The support is cloth, non-woven fabric, fiber, gelatin, carbon material, ceramic material, peat-moss, porous cellulose, sponge, porous polyethylene or urethane foam.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microorganisms: The methane utilizing microbe is Methylocaldum sp. T-025 deposited under FERM P-18645.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred features: The frame and fibers are made from the same material or share a component. The fibers have an internal diameter of not more than 1 mm, especially 0.05-280 microns, and a wall thickness of 0.01-50 microns. The fibers open into an annular groove in the frame. The system contains a static mixer.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Microorganisms: The microorganisms are one or more of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Bacillus subtilis, cyanobacteria, various strains of yeasts (e.g. Saccharomyces rouxii), Enterobacter cloacae, Chromobacterium, Aspergillus oryzae, all species of Rhizopus, Serratia, Acinetobacter, Lactobacillus, 'Leucaandhtbacteria' (sic), some species of Citrobacter, Moritella (e.g. Moritella marina), Shewanella, Methanogenia, S. thermophilus or the mesophilic or Geobacillus families. Preferred Process: The electromagnetic radiation has a frequency of ca. 2 Hz, 9-10 Hz, 50-90 Hz or 120 Hz. The microorganisms are optionally recycled. The salt water optionally contains (or is treated with) hydrocarbons. One or more of sugar, mannitol, sugar alcohols (e.g. glycerol), trehalose, glycine betaine, ectoine and/or proline is added to the microorganism-salt water mixture. EXAMPLE - North Sea water (25 l; from the Cuxhaven area) was filtered through silica sand to remove algae. A premixture of the filtered sea water and a suspension of Bacillus subtilis was irradiated with electromagnetic radiation of wavelength 9-10 Hz and 50-120 Hz (alternated after 1 minute or a few minutes) in a special bioreactor under gentle stirring for 20 minutes, left to stand for 5 minutes, treated with a special mixture of growth promoting natural materials, stirred gently for 5 minutes and left to stand for 10 minutes. The precipitated salt was decanted or withdrawn from the bottom of the reactor. The bacteria were then removed by filtration to leave high quality drinking water.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Features: Hydrogen and oxygen are produced in the electrolysis partial system with simultaneous concentration of the electrolyte of the electrolysis partial system. The electrolysis consumes water from the electrolyte solution.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The hydrogen storage component contains hydrogen storage material (2) dispersed and arranged in hollow region of hydrogen storage material (1).Preferred Materials: The hydrogen storage material (1) is a carbon type material. The hydrogen storage material (2) is an alloy of hydrogen storage property. The hydrogen storage material (2) contains iron, titanium, manganese, zirconia, nickel, tellurium, magnesium and potassium.Preferred Method: During the manufacture of hydrogen storage component, the inorganic oxide material is removed from the carbon precursor composite porous component. Carbon type material is coated by gas phase reaction to the surface of porous component.Alternately, porous component having inorganic oxide material structure and material having hydrogen storage characteristic is prepared.Alternately, hydrogen storage component is formed by adding a material having hydrogen storage characteristics to the hollow portion of hydrogen storage material.Preferred Precursor: The carbon precursor is a polyimide precursor. EXAMPLE - Raw material liquid containing tetramethoxysilane, ethanol and 0.1 N ammonia aqueous solution were mixed in a molar ratio of 1:3:4 and introduced into a predetermined mold, gelatinized and solidified to form a silica moisture gel. Silica dry gel was put into quartz-tube-like furnace. Propylene was poured into the silica dry gel at 800 degrees C, to form a carbon type material at the porous structure surface of silica dry gel by gaseous phase method. A carbon film was formed at the internal portions of silica dry gel, and a composite gel having appearance density of 350 kg/m3 and specific surface area of 450 m2/g was obtained. Immersion processing of composite gel was carried out for 30 minutes at room temperature using a fluoride hydro acid. The processed composite gel was dried to form a hydrogen storage component having network-like hollow structure.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The potential applied between anode and cathode is preferably 0.2-0.7 volts. The aqueous medium is maintained at a pH of 3-9, preferably 5-8. The anodophilic bacteria are derived from activated sludge and/or anaerobic sludge. The anodophilic bacteria are replaced by or supplemented with non-anodophilic bacteria. An electron mediator is present in the reactor. In a stage subsequent to the hydrogen production stage, electric power is produced by interrupting the application of the potential and passing oxygen to the cathode. The duration of hydrogen production stages and the power production stages have a ratio of 1:4-4:1. Pure carbon dioxide is collected at the anode. EXAMPLE - A cell consisting of anodic and cathodic compartments separated by proton exchange membrane, was maintained at 30degreesC. The anode comprised a round graphite felt electrode. The anode compartment was inoculated with effluent from biological fuel cell containing anodophilic microorganisms and was continuously fed with an aqueous solution containing 1 g/l of sodium acetate. During operation, the pH in the anode was set to 8.1. The anodic compartment was kept anaerobic by flushing it with nitrogen gas. The cathode was filled with 0.1 M phosphate buffer of pH 6.7. Platinum was used as cathode material. Before performing reaction, the cathodic compartment was flushed with nitrogen gas for removing oxygen from catholyte. When the current in the cell was kept at 2.5 mA, a voltage of 0.3 V was necessary to get hydrogen evolution at the cathode. The hydrogen evolution was found to be stoichiometric with the current flowing through the cell and lasted until the current was stopped.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The electrolytic cell is operated using electricity generated from a variable source of energy as an intermittent. The anode is partially formed using a semiconductor material. Water is decomposed in the aqueous electrolyte, by two methods (A, B).In method (A), water is photo-electro-chemically decomposed by electricity generated by exposing the semiconductor material to solar energy, and hydrogen is produced.In method (B), water is decomposed at anode, by using electron holes generated from the semiconductor material, and oxygen gas and hydrogen gas are produced. Hydrogen ions are transported from anode to cathode through the aqueous electrolyte, and electrons are transported from semiconductor material to cathode through an external circuit. Hydrogen ion is reduced at cathode by electrons, to generate hydrogen. The semiconductor material is exposed to solar energy, to perform solar energy-induced intrinsic ionization of semiconductor material, and thereby electronic charge carriers such as quasi-free electrons and electron holes are formed.Preferred Material: The semiconductor material is titanium oxide, preferably titania, which has modified structure by doping with selected impurities and/or partial reduction, to change the stoichiometry of titania. The metal hydride-forming material is metal, intermetallic compound or metal alloy, capable of forming metal hydride by absorption of hydrogen, and capable of desorbing hydrogen.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Alloy: The metal/intermetallic compound/metal alloy is iron titanium based alloy, magnesium based alloy and lanthanum nickel based alloy.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The refrigerant composition comprises greater than 36 but less than 50 molar% nitrogen; greater than 15 and less than 30 molar% methane; and 15-30 molar% ethane and/or ethylene. EXAMPLE - A refrigerant composition comprising 41.2 molar% nitrogen, 25.5 molar% methane, 18.4 molar% ethylene, 11.9 molar% propane, 3.0 molar% neon gave exergy efficiency of 0.51 and produced refrigeration of 150 J/L of refrigerant compressed.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Device: The foam is preferably of polyurethane (PU).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The WGS conditions are high or low temperature shift conditions at different points in the WGS reaction zone. The method involves passing a feed comprising CO and water over a catalyst comprising gold on sulfated zirconia at high temperature (preferably 250 - 450degreesC) WGS conditions to produce a first effluent having a reduced (preferably 1 - 10 wt.%) CO content; and passing at least a portion of the first effluent over a catalyst comprising gold on sulfated zirconia which is predominantly in the tetragonal form at low temperature (preferably 100 - 250degreesC) WGS conditions to produce a second effluent having a CO content of less than 0.2 wt.% and comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The WGS reaction is carried out in the fuel processor associated with a fuel cell. Before activation, the catalyst has at least 90% of the gold dispersed in particles of less than 10 Angstrom when measured by TEM. EXAMPLE - Sulfated zirconia catalyst supported on alumina (2 cc) was diluted with acid-washed alundum (6 cc) and loaded into a stainless steel tube reactor. The catalyst was held in place with alundum and glass wool plugs on both ends. The catalyst was heated to 1 - 250degreesC at a rate of 50degreesC/h in a 200 sccm flow of nitrogen overnight and then cooled to 135 - 420degreesC at space velocities of 2000 - 50000/h. The gas mixture was produced either by blending four syngas components, CO, H2, N2 and CO2 in a manifold. Water was introduced into the gas stream as vapor produced by heating the stream of liquid water in a small flash vessel below the boiling of water at the reactor pressure. The results of catalyst performance at 240degreesC over a range of space velocities were found to be (vol.%): CO (4.65), H2 (34.31), CO2 (7.43), N2 (13.83) and H2O (36).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: The gas diffusing member is porous. The insulated conductor is a twisted-wire conductor. The tap connector comprises a longitudinally extending cylindrical member, and the tubular runway is mounted in the cylindrical member. The gas diffusing porous member is cylindrical and shaped to fit over the outside portion of the tubular runway. The gas permeable but liquid impermeable membrane comprises a gas permeable membrane having a thickness of 20-120 microns. The gas diffusing porous cylindrical member has a porosity of 10-30 microns. Pores in the gas diffusing porous member represent 30-50 vol.% of the gas diffusing cylindrical member. The tap connector has a forward end in contact with a rear end of the gas diffusing porous member, with the forward end comprising a circular step (81). At least one flaring port extends from a face of the forward end through the circular step and arranged to communicate with the gas storage chamber. A circular casing projects from the opening of the transformer bushing and is constructed to enclose the tap connector including the tubular runway and the gas diffusing porous member and to define the gas storage chamber, and a test tap cover closing the circular casing and sealing the gas storage chamber.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The gas diffusing porous member is made of a polyethylene nonconductive material. The nonconductive material of the gas diffusing porous member is made of polyvinylidene fluoride. The gas permeable membrane is made of a nonporous polymer material comprising a copolymer. The copolymer comprises perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole with variable amounts of tetrafluoroethylene. The perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole is copolymerized with other fluorine containing monomers, namely vinylidene fluoride, chlorotrifluoroethylene, vinyl fluoride, and perfluoromethyl vinyl ether.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Method: The ICP is used to reform the carbonaceous feedstock by reforming the carbonaceous feedstock under atmospheric pressure conditions. A high temperature exhaust from the fuel cell is used to generate steam. The steam is used to generate an additional quantity of distributed electrical power. A portion of the distributed electrical power is used to provide energy to maintain the ICP. The ICP is generated by using an electrical power provided by a battery; an electrical power distributed over an electrical grid; and/or an electrical power produced by the electrical generator while the electrical generator is fueled by an alternative fuel source.The electrical power is required to maintain the ICP by using an oxidizer when performing the step of using the ICP to reform the carbonaceous feedstock. A portion of the distributed electrical power generated by the electrical generator is employed by using the fuel gas reformed by the ICP, to separate air into an oxygen fraction and at least one other fraction. The oxygen fraction is used for the oxidizer. The carbonaceous feedstock cannot be used as a fuel for the electrical generator without first being reformed. The carbon dioxide or steam is used as a plasma gas to produce the ICP.Preferred Component: The electrical generator comprises a fuel cell. The high temperature exhaust from the fuel cell includes combustible gases. The fuel cell comprises molten carbonate fuel cell and/or a solid oxide fuel cell.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The cylindrical heat shield has a bottom portion including a truncated cone. The reactor includes a pressurized mixing vessel for supplying biomass feed to the reactor coil. The mixing vessel is pressurized by a transport gas and the transport gas carries the biomass feed to the reactor coil. The mixing vessel includes conical mixing chamber at the bottom of the mixing vessel. The mixing vessel has a rotary valve at the top of the vessel for the input of biomass feed. The rotary valve is pressurized or cooled by a purge gas. The reactor includes a secondary reactor connected to the output of the reactor for completing the conversion of the biomass to an equilibrium gas. It also includes a pressurized mixing vessel for supplying biomass feed to the reactor coil.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: Alternately, fatty-acid alkyl ester is manufactured by carrying out phase separation of the reaction product into heavy liquid and light liquid, removing light liquid, adding acid to the light liquid to adjust the pH to 3-7.5, and removing metal salt from light liquid.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Acid: The acid is 10-95% sulfuric acid or 20-95% phosphoric acid.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The hydrogen manufacturing system further comprises a hydrogen circulation line to return a portion of hydrogen removed by the reformer, at 2 or more places in the front end of desulfurizer, front end of primary modifier or front end of hydrogen separating-type reformer. The primary modifier has a high-pressure vessel filled with granular modifying catalyst.
ACTIVITY - Fertilizer. No biological data given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The organic waste is fermented aerobically and produced biogas is collected. Ammonia is collected by evaporating-concentrating fermented liquor containing ammonia and isolating ammonia. The heat obtained from heat dissipation apparatus such as gas engine, hot water boiler, steam boiler, gas turbine or fuel cell using the biogas as fuel is utilized as heat source in the fermentation process or ammonia collecting process. Fermentation is performed aerobically and produced ammonia gas is collected. The produced ammonia gas is absorbed in the liquid obtained in ammonia collection process. The fermentation residue obtained after isolating ammonia is matured. The ammonia is concentrated before processing ammonia, by contacting ammonia with feed raw material. EXAMPLE - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: The effective microorganisms such as the first anaerobic bacteria, facultative anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, and second anaerobic bacteria are separately cultivated within the continuous enlargement culture apparatus, and are introduced into the wastewater at a predetermined ratio. The first and second anaerobic bacteria are Lactobacillus, and the facultative anaerobic and aerobic are photosynthetic bacteria. The 70% or more anaerobic bacteria and 5-10% of facultative anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, are added to the wastewater.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microorganisms: The mixture of cellulose and starch is saccharified and fermented with cellulose decomposition microbes and Lactobacillus. The cellulose decomposition microbes are wood-rotting fungi such as timber white-rot fungi e.g. Pycnoporus coccineus microbes. EXAMPLE - Peptone (5 wt.%), calcium carbonate (0.2 g) and carboxy methylcellulose (0.2 g) were added to MRS culture medium solution (20 ml). The culture solution was sterilized at 121 degrees C for 15 minutes. 1 platinum loop of Pycnoporus coccineus microbes and Lactobacillus (20 mul) were inoculated and shaking culture was performed at 37degreesC. The carboxy methylcellulose was saccharified by fermentation and lactic acid (4 g/L, 40 % yield) was obtained.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Microbe: The C.satsumae is C.satsumae YMO 803 strain (FERM P-19412), YMO 806 strain (FERM P-19413), YMO 811 strain (FERM P-19414), YMO 812 strain, or YMO 813 strain (FERM P-19415).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The organic matter is bean curd lees.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microorganisms: The microorganisms are microorganisms belonging to Enterobacter.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Film: The hydrophilic film consists of polysulfone film. EXAMPLE - No relevant example given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Dinitramine: Dinitramine is ammonium dinitramine NH4N(NO2)2 or potassium dinitramine KN(NO2)2. 4% Silica is also added.
EXAMPLE - No relevant example given.
EXAMPLE - No relevant example given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: The synthesis gas is supplied to fuel cell (26) for generation of electricity, when gas is rich in hydrogen, and supplied to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor (32) for generation of liquid hydrocarbon, when gas is rich in carbon monoxide. The biogas is desulfurized and condensed by cooling, and water vapor is separated, before supplying biogas into catalytic reformer unit.Preferred Unit: The biological waste material treatment plant further has fuel cell, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor, control unit for controlling proportion of synthesis gas supplied to fuel cell or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor, and unit for removing water vapor from biogas.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Properties: The gaseous hydrogen defines at least 15-50 wt.%. It has a pressure of at least 248-690 bars. The hydrogen storage composition has equilibrium desorption plateau pressure at 20 degrees C of greater than 40 bars.Preferred Materials: The hydrogen storage material is metalliferous material, preferably metal hydride in particulate form.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The polyol is polyester polyol. The HFC is 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (245fa), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (365mfc), or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (134a). The pentane is n-pentane or iso-pentane. The premix contains HFC blowing agent.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: Certain amount of the second carbon particles is ground and reintroduced to the reactor to balance the total bed surface area.Preferred Parameter: The reactor is at approximately 1000- approximately 2800 degrees C, and has a pressure of approximately 0.1 - approximately 2000 psi.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The first and second carbon particles are nanostructured carbon particles. The hydrogen-containing gas is free from carbon oxide.Preferred Property: The first carbon particles are 0.1-2 mm, preferably 0.3-0.5 mm. The second carbon particles are 0.1-5 mm. The second carbon particles have the purity of at least 95 %.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The heating system comprises electrical resistive heating; radio frequency inducting heating; microwave heating; thermal plasma heating; combustion heating by a self-heating using hydrogen, un-reacted hydrocarbon, carbon particles, or other fuels; solar energy; or nuclear energy heating.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS - The compost meets the standards of NFU 44-095.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - AGRICULTURE - The mixture is degraded and air is forced through for aeration during decomposition of the organic matter. The compost is passed through a sieve. The mixture undergoes maturation to reduce its water content to 40% and to decompose organic matter.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The combustion air inlet is rotatable. A grate is positioned in the ash removal opening. A grate agitator (52) is provided. The grate agitator causes movement of ash through the ash removal opening. A layer of ceramic balls (40) is provided above the grate that thermally insulates the grate from excessive heat from the lower combustion portion of the cavity. The grate agitator agitates the ceramic balls such that the balls serve as ball-mill to break up clinkers formed by fusion of ash. A feed auger is provided for carrying organic waste to the fuel entry port.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - The conductive film is made of metals selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, manganese, chromium, titanium, zirconium, nickel, iron, silver, copper, platinum, palladium.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - The electroconductive film consists of a metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, manganese, chromium, titanium, zirconium, nickel, iron, silver, copper, platinum and palladium.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Process: The first stage anaerobic bioreactor is operated with zero headspace, at 45-60degreesC, and under thermophilic conditions. A retention time for the feedstock in the first stage anaerobic bioreactor is sufficiently short to establish methanogenic bacteria in the first stage anaerobic bioreactor is prevented. The process further comprises adding a methanogenic bacteria specific chemical inhibitor to the second stage anaerobic bioreactor. The second stage anaerobic bioreactor is maintained at a hydraulic retention time in 24-48 hours. The carbon dioxide (CO2) is formed in the lumen from which it is transmitted through a CO2 scrubber system to recover the CO2. The first stage anaerobic bioreactor generates biosolids.Preferred System: The system further comprises a recycling device for recycling a portion of the liquid effluent disposed in the second stage anaerobic bioreactor vessel into the first stage anaerobic bioreactor vessel; and CO2 scrubber system having a gas inlet in fluid communication with the hydrogen gas outlet. The hydrogenogenic bacteria are an axenic culture or a mixed culture. The first stage anaerobic bioreactor vessel and the second stage anaerobic bioreactor vessel are constantly stirred tank reactors.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The amount of volatile is 25 weight% or more with respect to whole amount of carbide material. The residual amount of volatile is controlled by the thermal decomposition temperature during carbonization of waste material. Preferred Condition: The thermal decomposition temperature is 500degreesC or less during the carbide material molding method.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Device: The carbide material is molded by a ring-die-type molding machine.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The amount of volatile is 25 weight% or more with respect to whole amount of carbide material. The residual amount of volatile is controlled by the thermal decomposition temperature during carbonization of waste material. Preferred Condition: The thermal decomposition temperature is 500degreesC or less during the carbide material molding method.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: The fermented material produced after methane fermentation is dispersed in soil.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The denitrifying waste materials consist of calcium carbonate.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Metal: The metal is iron, aluminum and/or magnesium. Preferred Material: The contact material is porous material, and is provided at the upper side of a support (3) installed in the tank. One portion of contact material is in contact with water contained in tank.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Bacterium: The anaerobic bacterium is derived from excrement of livestock or human.
EXAMPLE - No relevant example given.
EXAMPLE - No relevant example given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The reformer also includes a second reforming catalyst layer. The inlets are arranged at a location where the oxidation agent gas is to be fed to the catalyst layers and at a location where the oxidation agent gas is to be fed to the second reforming catalyst layer. They are arranged at different locations where the oxidation agent gas is to be fed to the catalyst layers.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - The possible materials for coating the roating lids of the proposed rolling bearing arrangement include PTFE and polyethylene. PTFE is also used as an ingredient of the dry lubricant for the proposed bearing.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Sheet: The activated carbon sheet is obtained by carrying out wet-molding of an emulsion containing granular or powdery activated carbon, and latex, carboxy methyl cellulose and water as a main component, and drying the wet-molded product. The activated carbon sheet is alternately obtained by paper-making a slurry obtained by adding water to a mixture consisting of granular or powdery activated carbon and a binder, and drying the paper product.Preferred Product: The activated carbon sheet molded product is an adsorption layer of transpiration fuel. The adsorption layer has several connected adsorption layers. EXAMPLE - Coconut-husk charcoal (1 kg) was crushed, classified and activated by introducing carbon dioxide (5 l/minute). Introduction of carbon dioxide was terminated after 12 hours, and the activated product was cooled. The obtained activated carbon had benzene absorption capacity of 57% and b/a ratio (ratio of amount of n-butane of 1% and 100% concentrations absorbed by 100 weight parts of the activated carbon at 40degreesC) of 0.395. The obtained activated carbon, pulp, Kuralon VPB107-1 and Kuralon VPX203 were mixed in a weight ratio of 60/20/10/10. The obtained mixture (in weight parts) (100) and water (4000) were mixed to obtain slurry. The slurry was subjected to paper-making process to obtain activated carbon paper molded product. The obtained molded product was shaped in the form of a corrugate to obtain a corrugate-like honeycomb molded product. The corrugate-like honeycomb molded product had a gasoline working capacity of 200.1 and cell density of 190 cpsi.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The aqueous solution of iodine and aqueous solution of sulfur dioxide are reacted across the membrane for reducing concentration of iodine in second solution. First solution is concentrated until the concentration of sulfuric acid is higher than reported for the liquid-liquid separation methods which is H2SO4 to 4H2O molar ratio and second solution is concentrated until the concentration of hydroiodic acid is higher than the pseudo-azeotropic composition.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The separated sludge from solid-liquid separation process is returned to anaerobic process (I) by a return process. Anaerobic process (I) is an acid generation process. Anaerobic process (II) uses granular sludge for anaerobic processing. The method further has a nitrogen removal process which denitrifies process liquid of anaerobic process (II). One portion of process liquid of nitrogen removal process is returned to anaerobic process (I).Preferred Unit: The anaerobic processing unit (I) has acid production tank and the methane fermentation tank (2) to which process liquid of acid production tank is introduced. The anaerobic processing unit is UASB (4) or EGSB reaction tank.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The organic halogen compound contains fluorine. The flammable material is hydrocarbon or alcohol. Preferred Process: The temperature of the reaction portion during generation of plasma by the plasma processing is 600 degrees C or more.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The organic halogen-compound processing apparatus further has a washing apparatus (50). The washing apparatus injects alkaline aqueous solution and removes toxic substances contained in reaction gas, which carried out plasma processing. SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - The organic halogen compound is perfluoro carbon gas (PFC), and the flammable material is propane gas or methanol.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Process: The bioreactor is filled with slurry through an inlet (2). During filling, a gas deodorization system is started up by means of a vacuum pump (5) connected to the system by a pipe network (1). At the same time, two stirring mechanisms as above are actuated by means of motors (11), each mounted on a platform (10) fixed to the outside of a support cylinder. Gas released by the slurry collects in gas chambers in the upper part of the bioreactor. The gas is displaced by injecting fresh air through air inlets (4) and is withdrawn by means of the vacuum pump and transferred to diffusers (14) at the bottom of the gas purifiers, which contain a treatment solution (15). The pipe network is equipped with an odor testing valve (17) and a discharge valve (18). Treated slurry is discharged though a slurry outlet (13).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: Alternately, the catalyst comprises platinum (15-50 atomic%), chromium (5-45 atomic%), and copper (15-50 atomic%). The concentration of copper and/or nickel is at least 45 atomic%, preferably 50-65 atomic%, the concentration of platinum is less than 40 atomic%, preferably 20-30 atomic%, the concentration of chromium is not greater than 55 atomic%, preferably 5-25 atomic%, and the concentration of copper is 20-45 atomic%. The catalyst consists of an alloy of platinum, chromium, and copper and/or nickel.Preferred Particles: The electrically conductive support particles are chosen from inorganic supports, organic supports, carbon supports, and electrically conductive polymer supports. The electrocatalyst particles comprise electrically conductive support particles on which the catalyst is dispersed.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Fuel: The fuel is a hydrocarbon-based fuel consisting of hydrogen and methanol. The hydrocarbon-based fuel is saturated hydrocarbon, garbage off-gas, oxygenated hydrocarbon, and/or fossil fuel. Preferably, the hydrogen-containing fuel is methanol.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Arrangement: The catalyst is provided on the surface of the proton exchange membrane and in contact with the anode or cathode, or is provided on the surface of the anode or cathode and in contact with the proton exchange membrane.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The fluid is a gas, a liquid, and/or a solid suspension. The reactant is halogen or bromine. The reversible fuel cell is a hydrogen bromide fuel cell. The input fluid comprises stack gas from a hydrocarbon burning power plant. It comprises sulfur-containing natural gas. It comprises a sulfide-containing waste gas from a refinery or a natural gas treatment plant.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Component: The multiple stage reactor/gas washing apparatus comprises a solar reactor, in which water and bromine from the reactant are reacted, the reacting comprising heating by solar energy to produce hydrogen bromide and oxygen.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: Each plate of the heat exchange body includes an integral fixing bush to fix the plates to each other by engagement of fixing bushes (17) of adjacent plates. The fixing bushes are shaped conically to nest with a bush of an adjacent plate. They are aligned to form the channel for the coolant. They fix the plates parallel to each other at a predetermined distance to form space between adjacent plates. The nested fixing bushes are in contact with each other and in which the contacts are brazed in fix the engagement of the fixing bushes. The channel for the coolant is positioned in horizontal direction. The fixing bushes has circumferential rim. The plates include center hole to form mixing chamber for mixing the syngas and vaporized coolant. The heat exchange body is positioned within the tube such that a conduit is formed on the inner peripheral wall of the tube and such that the spaces between the plates of the heat exchange body communicate with the conduit.Preferred Condition: The coolant passes through the channel countercurrently with respect to the initial syngas flow direction. The plate's body is made by punching.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The mobile refinery also includes a wash chamber (60) for cleaning the cooking oil after conversion to fuel in the reaction chamber, a pH balance system for monitoring and adjusting the pH of the converted fuel, and a delivery tank (80) for storing converted fuel on the trailer.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The doped tin oxide (SnO2) layer consists of fluorine doped tin oxide (SnO2:F). The doped SnO2 layer and TCO layer are spaced apart from one another and an electrically conductive material is arranged to contact both the doped SnO2 layer and TCO layer, providing electrical contact. The electrically conductive material comprises conductive metal-epoxy sealant (13). The doped SnO2 layer directly overlies the TCO layer to provide the electrically conductive contact. It is co-extensive with the TCO layer. It is disposed on a non-conductive transparent substrate, which is between the TCO layer and the doped SnO2 layer. An impervious insulative material overlies peripheral surfaces of the electrically conductive substrate, semiconductor, and TCO layer. The doped SnO2 layer comprises a transparent substrate having a first major surface facing the TCO and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, a peripheral surface defined by a thickness between the major surfaces of the transparent substrate, doped SnO2 coated on at least a portion of the peripheral surface between the two major surfaces of the substrate, thus providing the electrically conductive contact between the TCO layer and doped SnO2 layer.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - AGRICULTURE - Preferred Amount: The amount of inorganic waste material added with respect to 1 kg of organic waste is 0.2 kg.Preferred Method: The mixture of organic waste and inorganic waste material is stirred and maintained at 40-65 degrees Centigrade in presence of air and ozone. The obtained decomposed product is dried to obtain agricultural material. ACTIVITY - Fertilizer.    No biological data given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.    EXAMPLE - Paper sludge incinerated ash (in kg) (5) was added to cattle feces (10). Then, water (2) was added to obtain cattle feces-paper sludge incinerated ash mixture. The obtained mixture was stirred at 40-50 degrees Centigrade for 48 hours in batch-type reactor. Subsequently, 60 degrees Centigrade warm air was supplied and dried to obtain granular agricultural material. The obtained material had excellent fertilizing effect.
ACTIVITY - Fertilizer. No biological data is given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The heat exchange unit has a hydrogen gas separation unit for separating and ejecting hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas production apparatus further has a storage unit having a hydrocarbon group fuel storage portion (41) and dehydrogenated product storage portion (42). The catalyst exists in ring-form, and ring enclosure of heater is carried out. The catalyst is supplied using several gas-liquid supply units.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The fuel storage portion and dehydrogenated product storage portion contain elastic resin material.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The mediator is 1-hydroxy benzotriazole, violuric, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium, 1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic acid sodium and/or 4-hydroxy benzoic acid. The polyurethane decomposition is performed in a reaction system having an unsaturated fatty acid. The unsaturated fatty acid is linoleic acid, linolenic acid and/or oleic acid.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Enzyme: The enzyme is laccase. EXAMPLE - Reaction solution (10 ml), which contained 10 mM sodium tartrate buffer of pH 4.5, Tween20 (0.05% 1-hydroxy benzotriazole), 9 mM linoleic acid and laccase (10U), were filled in a tube. Polyurethane sheet (25 mg) was added, and soaked for 5 days at 35degreesC. The sheet was removed after the reaction completion and washed. The sheet was dried at 80degreesC for 8 hours. Weight of polyurethane sheet was reduced effectively.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The organic halogen compound contains fluorine, and is perfluoro carbon gas (PFC). The flammable material is hydrocarbon of gas or liquid at the time of mixing. The hydrocarbon is propane gas or kerosene. The catalyst layer is nickel, titanium, cobalt, manganese, chromium, palladium, iron, platinum and/or phosphorus, supported with activated alumina or titanium dioxide. The catalyst layer is preferably activated alumina or titanium dioxide. Preferred Apparatus: The organic halogen compound processing apparatus has a washing apparatus (50) which sprays alkaline aqueous solution and performs treatment for making harmless of the reaction gas with respect to the reaction gas which passed through the catalyst layer of the catalyst. The reactor is formed with a ceramic.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Device: The apparatus comprises a compressor, condenser, expansion device and evaporator are connected to one another in an annular form to form a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant mixture flowing through the condenser and a non-heated fluid are allowed to flow such that they are opposed to each other, to exchange heat. In the apparatus a gas-liquid separator is provided between an outlet of the expansion device and an inlet of the evaporator, where the refrigerant mixture is separated by the gas-liquid separator into a gas and liquid phase refrigerant mixture, a pipe of the gas-liquid separator is connected to the evaporator such that the liquid phase refrigerant mixture flows into the evaporator, and a pipe of the gas-liquid separator is connected to a suction line of the compressor such that the gas phase refrigerant mixture flows into the suction line of the compressor. In the apparatus a lubricant which is solved into the refrigerant mixture under an operation condition of the compressor and which has viscosity of at least2 cm stokes is used as a lubricant to be charged into the compressor. The compressor is a low pressure shell type compressor.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Mixture: To the refrigerant mixture a leakage detecting additive of odorant or coloring agent is added. EXAMPLE - A refrigeration mixture comprising (wt.%): carbon dioxide (30) and cyclopropane (70) was prepared. The obtained mixture was used in a refrigeration cycle apparatus, the average condensation temperature and the compression ratio was lowered and excellent characteristics were exhibited.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Device: The apparatus comprises a compressor, condenser, expansion device and evaporator are connected to one another in an annular form to form a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant mixture flowing through the condenser and a non-heated fluid are allowed to flow such that they are opposed to each other, to exchange heat. In the apparatus a gas-liquid separator is provided between an outlet of the expansion device and an inlet of the evaporator, where the refrigerant mixture is separated by the gas-liquid separator into a gas and liquid phase refrigerant mixture, a pipe of the gas-liquid separator is connected to the evaporator such that the liquid phase refrigerant mixture flows into the evaporator, and a pipe of the gas-liquid separator is connected to a suction line of the compressor such that the gas phase refrigerant mixture flows into the suction line of the compressor. In the apparatus a lubricant which is solved into the refrigerant mixture under an operation condition of the compressor and which has viscosity of at least2 cm stokes is used as a lubricant to be charged into the compressor. The compressor is a low pressure shell type compressor.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Mixture: To the refrigerant mixture a leakage detecting additive of odorant or coloring agent is added. EXAMPLE - A refrigeration mixture comprised (50 wt.%) difluoromethane and pentafluoroethane, into which propane (50 wt.%) was added. The obtained mixture was used in a refrigeration cycle apparatus, the discharging temperature in a compressor was lowered due to the discharging effect of propane.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Methods: The amide compound is heated to produce reaction product comprising imide material and ammonia. A portion of ammonia is separated from the reaction product to provide imide material. Liberating of hydrogen is conducted at greater than 125, preferably greater than 150degreesC. Regenerating is conducted at elevated pressure, preferably at greater than 10, and more preferably at greater than 200 kPa.Preferred Compounds: The imide is lithium imide and the amide is lithium amide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Materials: The M, MI, and MII are elements consisting of methyl, aluminum, arsenic, boron, barium, beryllium, calcium, cadmium, cerium, cesium, copper, europium, iron, gallium, germanium, hafnium, mercury, indium, potassium, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, neodymium, nickel, lead, praseodymium, rubidium, antimony, scandium, silicon, samarium, tin, strontium, thulium, titanium, tungsten, ytterbium, zinc, and/or zirconium.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The hydrogen generation further comprises a pressure monitor configured to monitor the accumulation and storage of hydrogen within the void volume. The hydrogen generation section comprises hydrogen injector(s) to control release of hydrogen stored within the void volume. The device further comprises a controller to monitor accumulation and storage of hydrogen in the void volume. The electrolysis unit comprises an external box type manifold on an exhaust input side of the electrolysis unit. Flow field grooves defined by the electrolysis unit extend as far as the external box type manifold. The hydrogen generation section comprises an electrolysis unit configured to generate an amount of hydrogen from a diverted exhaust characterized by a fractional relative humidity of 3% at 125degreesC, preferably 80% at 92degreesC. The device comprises an engine to generate torque, and the engine generates the exhaust. The engine comprises a diesel engine. The device comprises a vehicle body, and an engine to generate the exhaust and sufficient torque to accelerate the vehicle body.Preferred Property: The void volume is at 0.01 mL/cm2 electrolysis unit cell area at 300 psi. It is preferably at 0.01-10 ml electrolysis unit cell area at 5-1500 psi. The electrolysis unit is configured to generate an amount of hydrogen from a diverted exhaust characterized by a fractional relative humidity of 1-3%.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The engine is configured such that the exhaust is characterized by 1-20 wt.% oxygen.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The non-ionic gelling agent comprises laureth-2, laureth-4, C12/13 pareth-3, ceteareth-4, oleth-3, and/or glycol esters, preferably laureth-4. The composition comprises anionic surfactant(s) together with amphoteric surfactant(s). The post-foaming agent comprises saturated 4-6C aliphatic hydrocarbon.Preferred Composition: The composition comprises 0.01-8 wt.% non-ionic gelling agent, 0.01-30 wt.% total surfactant and 0.01-14 wt.% post-foaming agent. EXAMPLE - A cleansing composition was prepared comprising (wt.%): water (68.8-75), disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (0.05-0.3), citric acid (0.05-0.3), methyldibromo glutaronitrile and phenoxyethanol (0.05-0.1), sodium laureth sulfate (17.5-22), cocamidopropyl betaine (0.5-3), polyethylene glycol-7 glyceryl cocoate (0.5-1.5), glycerin (0.1-2), color (0.0005-0.001), perfume (0.7), and laureth-4 (1). The composition exhibited a clear thin liquid appearance of gel concentrate for 40 minutes, and had a clear rigid gel for finished product gel appearance/rigidity.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The media in the aerobic and anaerobic biofilter reactors are fabricated from polyethylene. The carbon source introduced into the anaerobic biofilter reactor is starch, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide or polysaccharide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The media in the aerobic and anaerobic biofilter reactors have a wheel shape with a 10-mm diameter. The aerobic biofilter reactor was fed daily with 13-25% system effluent. The anaerobic biofilter reactor was fed daily with 13-25% system effluent after passing through the aerobic biofilter reactor. The system effluent was retained for 1-6 hours to reduce concentration of nitrates in the system effluent. The aerobic and anaerobic biofilter reactors comprise 60-75% of its volume with the biomass carrier structures.Preferred Conditions: The biomass carrier structures (17) in the aerobic and anaerobic biofilter reactors are kept in continuous motion at an effluent velocity of 0.15-2.00 cubic feet per second. The aerobic biofilter reactor comprises a dissolved oxygen concentration of 4-8 mg/L.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Materials: The anaerobic microorganisms comprise an anammox bacteria of the order Planctomycetes capable of anammox activity using nitrite in place of oxygen as the preferred electron acceptor and carbon dioxide as a sole carbon source.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Substance: The porous substance is a carbonized material and/or mineral derived from natural substance. The colored slurry comprises paper material containing cellulose and lignin.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: In (M1), the 16S rRNA or rDNA which serves as target for the analysis has a fully defined sequence of 1407 nucleotides, as given in the specification or has a sequence which is 90% or more homologous to the above sequence.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The steam turbine electric power is generated using the remaining heat of the refuse incineration magnetohydrodynamic power generation. A temperature difference is given by giving the remaining heat of the water vapor after turning the turbine to the junction portion of the semiconductor as a hot section and making the mixture of dry ice of carbon dioxide and methanol into low temperature portion, to generate electric power by Seebeck effect.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Arrangement: The electrode arrangement is coaxial type, and hence the plasma is coaxial magnetron capacitive-coupling-type plasma. SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - The volatile metallic compound is titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4), silica tetrachloride (SiCl4), silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4) or silane (SiH4).    EXAMPLE - Liquid titanium tetrachloride was heated more than a boiling point of 136.4 degrees C, vaporized, and introduced to a plasma apparatus. Hydrogen gas and carrier gas were introduced to the plasma apparatus from the upper direction. Reduction/dissociative reaction was carried out, and reduced titanium metal and hydrochloric acid gas were separated. The reduced high purity metal was precipitated in plasma, and fine powder-like metal was obtained. Batch extraction of the fine powder was carried out. Hydrochloric acid, which was simultaneously generated, was liquefied and reacted with crude titanium. Titanium tetrachloride and hydrogen were produced, and the process was repeated. Thus, high purity titanium metal was obtained.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The hydrogen reduction water treating unit has hydrogen supply unit for supplying hydrogen to water of water tank, a gas-liquid mixing tank (4) for mixing water with hydrogen, and a nitrogen supply unit for supplying nitrogen and removing dissolved oxygen from the water. The hydrogen and nitrogen supply units are hydrogen cylinder (10) and nitrogen gas cylinder (10'), respectively. Hydrogen and nitrogen are simultaneously supplied in the mixing tank (4). Alternately, an electrolytic cell is used as hydrogen supply unit and nitrogen supply unit. The cathode of the cell produces hydrogen and nitrogen by electrolyzing water.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The hard thermoplastic resin is a mixture of high-density polyethylene and/or polypropylene or resin containing polystyrene (10 wt.% or less).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - AGRICULTURE - Preferred Method: The tomato is planted permanently in the solid culture medium or soil containing carbon material obtained by carrying out carbonization processing of the tomato waste material and red clay. The solid culture medium or the soil has nitrate nitrogen content of 0.27 mg/l or more, silicic acid content of 3.2 mg/l or more, coliform bacteria count of 1.8 MPN/100 ml and bacteria number of less than 1/ml or less. The diluted liquid of seawater is obtained by diluting ocean deep water to 10 times or more with water.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The photoanode is indium tin oxide coated glass, or indium tin oxide coated fused silica. The photoanode additionally comprises a layer of semiconductor nanoparticles. The nanoparticles comprise tin oxide or titanium dioxide. The catalyst is an hydrogenase (preferably NiFe hydrogenase), platinum (preferably E-TEK PT/C). The catalyst-coupled electrode is contained within the photoanode half-cell; or is coupled to the photoanode half-cell via a semi-permeable device. The semi-permeable device is a membrane, frit or salt bridge. The fuel is reduced carbon. EXAMPLE - No relevant example given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - The fuels are selected from the group consisting of methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microorganisms: The microorganisms are Alpha proteobacterium MKNP-004 strain.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The hydrogen gas production apparatus has blocking layers (31a-31h) and a stirring unit provided in separation tank. The blocking layer has network structure, and disturbs passing through of hydrogen gas. The storage tank is classified into several chambers.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The solvent is hydrocarbon-type fuel such as decalin. Preferred Process: The hydrogen gas and the solvent ejected from the separation tank are supplied into the hydrocarbon-type fuel stored by the storage tank. The hydrocarbon-type fuel is supplied to the separation tank, and the solvent ejected to one of the chambers of the separation tank, is stored. The discharge port ejects the hydrogen gas to the storage tank. SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - The dehydrogenated product is naphthalene.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred polymer: The precursor polymer is silicon group polymer having polysilazane as basic structure.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred System: The biomass utilization system is further equipped with an alcohol synthesizing apparatus, a solid-liquid contact-processing unit (U1), a biomass squeeze unit (U2) and a heating unit (U3).The alcohol synthesizing apparatus produces alcohol using the purified gas.The unit (U1) enables water vapor to contact the biomass or immerses the biomass into warm water, to carry out solid-liquid contact-processing of biomass.The biomass after solid-liquid-contact is squeezed into ash-content-decreased biomass and squeeze containing ash-content.The unit (U2) separates the obtained squeeze from the ash-content-decreased biomass.The unit (U3) obtains warm water or the water vapor supplied to the solid-liquid contact-processing unit.The ash-content-decreasing processing apparatus is equipped with a combustion furnace, which burns the ash-content-decreased biomass.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Metal: The metal (A) consists of tantalum, niobium, vanadium and/or their alloys and/or hydrogen occlusion alloy. The metal has particle diameter of 10 nm-50 microns.Preferred Substance: The substance (B) consists of copper, gold, silver, platinum, iron, aluminum or their alloys.Preferred Composition: The ratio of metal in composite is 30-80 atomic%.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The porous material (preferably coke (especially high specific surface coke from the lignite industry) or laval rock) is present in the reactor, which is at least partially filled with nutrient solution (preferably comprising water, starch and glucose compounds). After being charged to the reactor the nutrient solution is heated (specifically to ca. 55 degrees C). The solution is charged with microorganisms, specifically a Methanosarcina and/or Thermoautotrophicum strain, after or during the heating. The carbon dioxide (or carbon dioxide-containing waste gas) is then supplied to the reactor. The temperature in the reactor (especially that of the nutrient solution) is increased to 75-78 degrees C during or after supplying the gas, preferably by a slow, stepwise increase over several days, especially at 5 degrees C per day. The mixture of carbon dioxide and methane recovered from the gas dome (14) of the reactor is preferably recycled to the process to increase the methane content, specifically until a methane content of 80-95% (based on the mixture of carbon dioxide and methane) is obtained.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Reactor: The top (4) of the container (1) is removably from the container wall (2). The lower part of the container is provided with a grating screen (8), on which the porous material (12) is placed to fill 1/2 to 2/3 of the reactor. The container includes a heater (9), and is up to 2/3 filled with microorganism-containing nutrient solution. The top of the reactor forms a gas dome (14), form which an extractor device (17) is provide to recycle the gas via line (19) and pump (20). The container includes a sensor (21) for determining the carbon dioxide and/or methane content, pH and temperature.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Features: The stripping gas obtained is cooled and fed into an acid gas absorption stage. Purified process gas or desulfurized natural gas is used as the stripping gas. The absorbent in the desorbed acid gas is condensed out and mixed with an absorbate before being heated. The pressure in the high pressure flash stage is higher than in a recycle flash stage.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Composition: The prepolymer (A) has terminal silane groups of formula (2).A1-CH2-SiR3z(OR4)3-z (2)A1 = O, N-R5 or S; andR5 = H, 1-10C alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl or aryl or a -CH2-SiR32(OR4)3-z group.The mixture (I) is isocyanate-free. The propellant (B) is a 1-4C hydrocarbon or dimethylether. The solvent (C) is an ether, ester or alcohol and is present in a concentration of 0.1-20 vol.% (with respect to the prepolymer (A)).The prepolymer (A) comprises a polyurethane core and is prepared by reduction of optionally at least partially halogenated polyols with di- or poly-isocyanates and alkoxysilanes. The mixture (I) contains a partially esterified phosphoric acid derivative as a catalyst. EXAMPLE - A prepolymer mixture (50 g, isocyanate group-free, prepared from toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, polypropylene glycol (mol. wt. 425 g/mol), 1-cetyl alcohol, dimorpholinodiethyl ether, vinylmethoxysilane and N-phenylaminomethyl-methyldimethoxysilane) was placed in a pressure vessel and mixed with B8443 (RTM; foam stabilizer) (1.5 g), isopropyl phosphate (0.5 g) and ethyl acetate (0.5 ml). Dimethyl ether (1 ml) and a propane-butane mixture (18 ml; propane:butane ratio of 2:1) was added to form a two-phase mixture which readily formed a stable emulsion.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Hydrocarbon: The oxygen-containing hydrocarbon is methanol, ethanol, dimethyl ether and/or methyl ethyl ether.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Features: The wall on the inner surface facing the reaction chamber has a heat insulating layer (7) having a porous foam and/or fibrous structure. A cylindrical region of the reaction chamber is connected to the inlet region. The cylindrical region and/or the outlet region contain a catalytic material. The heat insulating material is made from aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, zirconium dioxide and/or tungsten.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Features: The light source emits light having a wavelength of 3240 nm, 3220 nm, 3249 nm, 3270 nm or 3290 nm. The oscillator is coupled with an emitter optic (44) via an optical fiber (42), preferably made from sapphire fibers.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: When the pressure swing adsorption mechanism has stopped previously according to a sequence, an operation program for controlling the amount of the combustion air supplied to the heating unit is started, and when the pressure swing adsorption mechanism has not stopped previously according to the sequence, operation of the air compressor is started at a constant number of revolutions that is a predetermined number or less. After the operation program of the air compressor is started, temperature of the heating unit is detected, and if the detected temperature is not within a predetermined range of temperature, revolution of the air compressor is controlled.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The fuel gas production apparatus further comprises an air compressor for controlling the amount of the combustion air supplied to the combustion catalyst.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The composition also comprises water. Preferred Composition: The composition comprises 40-98 pbw n-butane and 5-25 pbw HFC-365mfc; or 65-85 pbw n-butane, 10-20 pbw HFC-365mfc, and 5-15 pbw water. The composition may comprise 50-99 pbw n-butane and 1-50 pbw HFC-365mfc. Preferred Property: The composition has a constant boiling point of -1.64+/-4degreesC, preferably -1.66+/-4degreesC at 14.41 psia.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The conveying of fluid mixture by way of a transport vessel is performed in the absence of any temperature control of the transport vessel other than by exposure to environment conditions. The fluid mixture is conveyed by, pumping the fluid mixture through the pipeline. The method for extracting elemental sulfur from the sulfur containing, substantially water-free geologic formation further comprises recycling to the geologic formation at least a portion of the ammonia remaining after recovery of elemental sulfur from the liquid solution where the elemental sulfur is recovered. The method for storing elemental sulfur further comprises, withdrawing anhydrous ammonia from the formation apart from the sulfur, for re-use.Preferred Component: The geologic formation is a geologic mineral formation.Preferred Condition: The fluid is conveyed at most 35, preferably at most 20 degrees C.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The transport vessel is a pipeline having an inner surface of ferrous metal in contact with the fluid mixture. The pipeline is an underground pipeline or an underwater pipeline.Preferred Condition: The pipeline is surrounded by air.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The fluid mixture is slurry of solid elemental sulfur in a liquid solution of sulfur dissolved in the non-aqueous liquid carrier. The non-aqueous liquid carrier is anhydrous ammonia or sulfur dioxide.Preferred Composition: The elemental sulfur constitutes 1800 parts per million by weight to at most 65 wt.%, preferably 10-50 wt.% of the fluid mixture.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: Pyrolysis of feedstock further involves injecting a gas into the pressure vessel to enhance the conversion of the residual carbonized feedstock exiting the reactor tube via the exit orifice (29) to gases and/or liquids. The flow of the gas injected into the pressure vessel is controlled, to adjust the conversion of the residual carbonized feedstock into the gases and/or liquids. Pyrolysis of feedstock further involves introducing feedstock into and moving the feedstock through additional reactor tube(s) and heating the feedstock within the additional reactor tube(s) to a temperature, such that pyrolysis occurs to produce a residual carbonized feedstock.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), steam, natural gas, oxygen, or air.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Particles: The catalyst particles are iridium and/or platinum.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The water absorptive particle material is shell fossil, coral fossil, activated carbon, charcoal, hornblende and/or ceramics.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The support contains silicon dioxide.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The voltage application unit has a structure for supplying the electric power removed by the unit (13) to unit (10). The apparatus further has purification unit for purifying hydrogen produced by unit (10), compression unit for compressing purified hydrogen, and electric power supply unit for supplying electric power to the purification and compression units.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Gas: The hydrocarbon gas contains methane as main component.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Film: The oxygen ion permeable film is solid oxide.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Arrangements: The stirring unit is equipped with moving device.The apparatus has a screw type-stirring unit for stirring the sediment of decompose-treatment tank.The stirring unit has drive angle of 45-60 degree and the length of the stirring unit is expandable.The liquid dispersion unit is controlled to perform automatic dispersion of livestock farming excretion waste material.The apparatus has air supply unit (30) for supplying air with respect to bottom portion of decompose-treatment tank and bucket (40) attached to the horizontal unit for accommodating the livestock farming excretion waste material. ACTIVITY - Fertilizer.    No test details are given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None Given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: The process liquid is passed through a separation membrane (21) provided in the upper portion of bed (20), or is supplied in another treatment tank having the separation membrane. The methane fermentation tank has fermenters (I,II). The filter bed is provided in the fermenter (II). The organic waste slurry is passed through fermenters. Process liquid is collected from the upper portion of fermenter (II) and sludge is collected from lower portion of fermenters (I,II). Methane fermentation is performed at 50-60degreesC. The fermentation process is performed during circulation of slurry in the tank (14) and/or during blowing in of gas produced by methane fermentation in the slurry and stirring.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Condition: The increase percentage of charge load of organic waste is controlled to 1.1 fold per day or more, when increasing charge load to 1.3 fold per day or less, at which charge load amount of target organic waste is attained. The death rate (kd) of number of microbes in fermentation treated substance contained in methane fermentation tank after suspension, satisfies the relationship:Y=Y0exp(-kd.t)where Y is number of microbes, Y0 is number of initial stage microbes, and t is days, after restarting fermentation. The survival rate of viable count during restarting is calculated using death rate and suspension time. The final charge load amount is multiplied with survival rate at the time of suspension, and initial stage charged load amount of organic waste is determined. The increase percentage of charge load is controlled.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microorganisms: The microorganisms are Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Escherichia and Lactobacillus.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The reaction mixture is heated to 120-180 degreesC (preferably 150-170 degreesC). By-products of reaction are removed during processing. The reaction mixture reacts to completion. Dissolved water is removed from the reaction product and subjected to further reaction. Removing dissolved water involves vacuum drying the reaction product.Preferred Conditions: The catalytic acid is present in an amount of 0.1-0.25 wt.% compared to the weight of the vegetable oil source. Methanol comprises 1.5-3.0 molar equivalents compared to the total moles of free fatty acids or glycerides. The reaction mixture has a starting acid value of 107-187. The reaction product has an acid value less than 10.0 (preferably less than 2.5). The reaction time is less than 5 (preferably less than 2.5) hours to proceed to greater than 80.0% completion.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The catalytic material comprises a catalytic metal at the interface of the electrolyte layer and the anode layer. It is active to produce protons and electrons from hydrogen. The voltage source comprises an electron transport path for produced electrons. The anode layer, cathode layer, and electrolyte layer are hermetic, pinhole free layers. Preferred Property: The storage tank contains hydrogen at approximately 5000-10000 psi.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The catalytic metal is platinum, ruthenium, tungsten, molybdenum, or tin.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The polymer material of the anode and cathode layers comprises a dense polymer or porous polymer. It comprises a dense, proton-conducting electrolyte or a dry electrolyte material. It can be polybenzimidazole, microporous polymer matrix filled with an inorganic proton conductor, a perfluorinated sulfonic acid derivative, a polytetrafluoroethylene, tetrafluoro-ethylene(perfluoroalkyl) vinyl ether copolymer, a poly(trifluorostyrene) copolymer, sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone), sulfonated polyaromatic based system, or sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide).
EXAMPLE - No relevant example given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Process: The organic waste is fermented by the thermophilus microorganism at 50degreesC or more. The fermented waste is then dried using the fermentation heat obtained by fermenting a portion of organic waste. The fermentation heat is used for heating process in methane-fermentation process performed using a high temperature methanation microbe. EXAMPLE - No relevant example given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Gas: The reducing gas is hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalyst: The zirconium oxide is a complex oxide of aluminum and zirconium, or a complex oxide of zirconia, and titanium or zirconium.The upstream-side catalyst body and said downstream-side catalyst body do not contain a halogen atom.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: The foodstuff residue is the organic refuse and the scum. The biodegradable raw material is non-wood type pulp. The food container is a composite container which is fixed in the outer side of the biodegradable raw material and containing mesh-shaped corrugations at both outer side and inner side material (1, 2).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Apparatus: A co-generation unit produces electric power using the gas obtained from the digester, as a fuel. The unit comprising a gas engine, fuel cell, or gas turbine, has a boiler which produces high-pressure steam using a portion of the produced electric power. A desulfurizer performs desulfurization of the gas obtained from the digester, a holder which stores the desulfurized gas, a pump and a dehumidifier, are provided between digester and steam generator, and the digester and cogeneration unit. An impurity absorption/removal unit is provided between the holder and the pump, or at the downstream side of the dehumidifier. The pump and the cogeneration unit are operated based on the detected amount of gas stored in the holder.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Portion: A carbon monoxide selective-oxidation portion, which carries out oxidation removal of carbon monoxide concentration in reformed gas, and/or a denaturation portion (16), which reduces carbon monoxide in reformed gas, is provided between modification portion and gas-liquid separation portion.Preferred Arrangement: The modification portion or gas-liquid separation portion are arranged in line along a perpendicular direction. A wall portion extending from modification portion to gas-liquid separation portion in perpendicular direction, is prevented by extending continuously to direction, which is inclined from horizontal direction.
WIDER DISCLOSURE - it is disclosed that the paper diaper includes a water absorbing resin.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: The oxidation-treated waste liquid is diluted with water to 1-4 times before biological treatment. The dilution magnification is given by the ratio of waste-liquid volume after adding water and volume of field waste liquid. The biological treatment is carried out by forcibly dissolving oxygen in the waste liquid. The biological treatment is an activated sludge treatment. The biological treatment is processing by microorganisms fixed by a support by entrapping elasticity.Preferred Conditions: The photography waste liquid has a BOD/COD (biological oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand) ratio of 0.5 or less. The biological treatment is carried out at a dissolved oxygen amount of 3 mg/L or more. The water used for dilution of the waste liquid contains forcibly dissolved oxygen.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Components: The components comprise fats (specifically saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated fatty acids), proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, water, dry solids and/or sugars. The active agent is D- and/or L-lactic acid. The bacteria are Gram-positive and/or -negative, aerobic cocci and/or rods (with or without spores) and/or Actinomyces, especially Rhodospirillium, Rhodopseudomonas, Chromatium, Chlorobium, Pseudomonas, Gluconobacter, Methylomonas, Clostridium, Desulfotomaculum, Lactobacillus, Propionibacterium, Frankia and/or Streptomyces. The fungi are Mastigomycotina, Saprolegnis, Zygomycotina, Mucor, Rhizopus, Ascomycotina, Emericella, Neurospora, Basidiomycotinia, Lentinus, Deuteromycotinia and/or Trichoderma. The yeasts are Saccharomycetacea, Saccharomyces, Pichia, Ustilainaceae, Rhodosporidium, Sporobolomycetaceae, Bullera and/or Sporolomyces. The minerals comprise sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, iron and/or zinc. The vitamins are vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D and/or E, biotin, niacin, folic acid and/or pantothenic acid. The aminoacids are L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, glycine, L-glutamic acid, L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-methionine, L-serine, L-threonine, L-tyrosine, L-valine, L-lysine, phenylalanine and/or proline. EXAMPLE - None given in the source material.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Features: The region for converting the starting material is formed by a porous carrier material (2) for the membrane and has a catalytically active material arranged on the carrier material. The carrier material is made from microstructured silicon.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: (C1) is in the form of shaped bodies or in the form of particles with a diameter of less than 500 nm. (C1) additionally comprises an organic polymer.Preferred Method: Preparation of (C1) and (C2) further involves calcination, reduction and sulfidation.Preferred Component: (a1) is built up from at least one divalent metals selected from Ni2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Fe2+ and Mn2+. EXAMPLE - Ammonium monovanadate (NH4)VO3 (1.25 g) was dissolved (overnight) in de-ionized water (500 ml) under continuous stirring. The pH of the clear colorless solution was adjusted to 8, using ammonia solution (10%). Crushed Zn-MHS-Zn5(NO3)2(OH)8.2H2O (1 g) was added under vigorous stirring. After 5 minutes, the mixture was filtered and dried overnight at 65degreesC. The product was a fine white powder. The elemental composition (calculated as oxides) was 0.79 wt.% V2O5 and 99.2 wt.% ZnO.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The honeycomb base material contained in the catalyst is made from ceramics or metal.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The refrigerant composition comprises methane (more than 5 and less than 20), propane (more than 30 and less than 50), ethane (5-40), combination of propane and neon (30-60), combination of propane and argon (30-60), and combination of propane and helium (30-60). EXAMPLE - A refrigerant composition was prepared by mixing nitrogen (in mol%) (28.5), methane (18.5), ethane (18) and propane (35). The refrigerant composition had exergy efficiency of 28%, refrigeration of 65 Joules per liter of low pressure refrigerant entering the compressor, volumetric efficiency of 0.621 (0.89-0.04x20/3) and net available refrigeration of 40.4 J/l of compressor displacement volume (65x0.621).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The electrode assembly includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode spaced apart from the upper electrode to define an electrode gap. At least a portion of the upper electrode is positioned in the interior region of the cap. The upper electrode is spaced apart from the cap. The cap is electrically coupled to the lower electrode. The electrode assembly includes a lower electrode housing electrically coupled to the lower electrode. The cap is threaded to the lower electrode housing. The cap comprises a cylindrically shaped sleeve defining the interior region and a flange extending radially from the sleeve to press the upper electrode toward the lower electrode when the cap is threaded to the lower electrode housing. A fuel injection assembly (28) extends into the interior region through an aperture (58) defined by the cap.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The reducing agent is selected from hydrogen peroxide or methanol.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Unit: The solid-gas separator is a cyclone.Preferred Arrangement: A rotary valve (41) is in the discharge pipe which ejects the organic fuel from the cyclone, and an injection feeder at the edge of the discharge pipe. A dispensing machine (1) having a storage tank which quantitatively supplies the gas-separated organic fuel is at the exit side of the cyclone. The fuel is temporarily stored in the storage tank. The particulate-material supplier supplies the organic fuel with heated air. The organic fuel is biomass.Preferred Method: All the gases used for air flow conveyance are separated, and the gas-separated organic fuel is separately supplied with a gas.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The organized ferment material is wood sawdust.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - TEXTILES AND PAPER - Preferred Carrier: The living material carrier is material containing activated carbon fiber and synthetic fiber.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Raw Materials: The raw material is sludge, sediment and corrosive soil, in lakes, marshes, sea, rivers and ditches.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The compound is pyruvic acid, acetaldehyde, oxaloacetic acid, fumaric acid, 2-ketoglutaric acid and glutamic acid.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Properties: The ethanol production microbe is coryneform group of bacteria transformed under expressible control sequence by DNA, which expresses alcohol-dehydrogenase activity and pylbate decarboxylase activity. The ethanol production microbe does not have gene, which expresses lactate-dehydrogenase activity. The ethanol production microbe is microorganisms, which does not have phosphoenolpyruvic acid carboxylase activity and/or pyruvate carboxylase activity. The ethanol production microbe is Corynebacterium or Brevibacterium. EXAMPLE - Glucose aqueous solution (4 ml) was added to the sterilized culture medium containing (in g) urea (4), ammonium sulfate (14), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (0.5), dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (0.5), magnesium sulfate hepta hydrate (0.5), ferrous sulfate hepta hydrate (20 mg), manganese sulfate (20 mg), D-biotin (200 mug), thiamin hydrochloride (100 mug), yeast extract (1), amino acids (1) and distilled water (500 ml). Corynebacterium glutamicum was inoculated to the culture medium and shaking culture was performed at 33degreesC for 14 hours. The microbial cells were collected by centrifugation. Pyruvic acid (10 mM) was added to the culture solution and reacted at 33degreesC. The culture solution was centrifuged to obtain ethanol (14).
EXAMPLE - Isolation and characterization of yeast capable of performing alcohol fermentation was as follows. Twenty five ml of screening culture medium was mixed with 25 ml of water extracted from a hot spring and shaking culture was performed at 30degreesC. The culture solution was mixed with GPY medium and 5 N sulfuric acid (pH 2.5) and was further cultured. The culture solution having the smell of ethanol was extracted. The solution was plated and the yeast capable of alcohol fermentation in the highly acetic medium was isolated. The isolated strain was fermentative yeast Issatchenkia orientalis MF-121 strain of acceptance number FERM P-19368. The alcohol fermentation ability of the isolated strain was compared with other yeast strains. The isolated strain was found to be reactive at acidic pH (preferably 3), was salt tolerant and enabled efficient fermentation of carbohydrates such as cellulose into alcohol (concentration of 2.0% at pH 2.5).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: In (M1), the thin film contains a coloring agent and the evaluation of the active state of the microorganism is performed based on the color change during the reduction of the thickness of the thin film accompanying the decomposition of the film by the microorganism. (M1) involves adding a nutrient (4) that can be degraded by the microorganism and easily absorbed by the polymeric material, and capable of improving the decomposition rate of the polymeric material. In (M2), the evaluation of the decomposition rate is performed based on the color change during the reduction of the thickness of the film by biodegradation.Preferred Sensor: (I) is formed by coating a base material with solution containing coloring agent and polymeric material dissolved in the solvent, to form a thin film like polymer film on the support base material, and adding a nutrient solution. The thin film has a thickness of 1-100 micron.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - A gas manifold is composed of an elastic material. The electrically insulating layer comprises a resin or a rubber.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Component: The unit receives organic waste by a chute that passes through the plant cultivation structure. The chute that provides access to the worm composter has a removable lid to prevent entry by pest or vermin and other unwanted material. The unit conceals the worm composter from view by the housing inside the container. It has a structure provided for the cultivation of herb plants drains internally into the area provided for the worm composter.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The pressure is maintained at 100 - 300 psi. The reaction mixture is heated to 120 - 180 (preferably 150 - 170)degreesC. The method further involves removing by-products of the reaction during processing; and removing dissolved water from the reaction product and then subjecting it to further reaction. The reaction mixture reacts to completion. The step of removing dissolved water involves vacuum drying the reaction product. The reaction time is less than 5 (preferably less than 2.5) hours to proceed to, greater than 80% completion. Preferred Components: The catalytic acid is present in an amount of 0.1 - 0.25 wt.% and the methanol is present in an amount of 1.5 - 3 molar equivalents compared to the total moles of free fatty acids or glyceride. The reaction mixture has starting acid value of 107 - 187. The reaction product has acid value less than 10 (preferably less than 2.5). The vegetable oil source is acidulated soap stock. The biodiesel comprising alkyl ester contains (wt.%): vegetable oil source (60 - 90), methanol (10 - 40), and catalytic acid (0.05 - 2). EXAMPLE - An autoclave charged with acidulated soap stock (100 g), methanol (35 g) and sulfuric acid (0.125 g) was heated at 180degreesC within 45 minutes and held at this temperature for 30 minutes before being quenched. The content was transferred to separatory funnel and 14.29 g of the bottom phase was removed. The remaining amount was brought back to autoclave and heated at 180degreesC for 60 minutes. The reaction was cooled again and 10.83 g was removed. After work up biodiesel was obtained in 90.6% yield with acid value of 6.3.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Disclosed solid materials include a granular graphite-like material produced as described in US4978649, other carbonaceous materials, molybdenum disulfide, other transition metal sulfide, mixed metal sulfides, Raney nickel and other porous transition metals, porous nickel boride, and binary compounds of transition metals and Group 3-7 nonmetals. EXAMPLE - Natural gas containing 3 vol.% hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was passed at 25degreesC through a bed of granular graphite-like material produced as described in US4978649. The gas exiting the bed contained up to 3 vol.% hydrogen and also nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor, but no H2S. After 45 minutes, when H2S started to break through, the H2S-containing gas supply was stopped and a regenerating gas comprising nitrogen, methane and carbon dioxide was passed through the bed at 150degreesC. The effluent gas was cooled in a condenser to collect liquid sulfur. After 30 minutes, a new cycle was started.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The production of high-pressure hydrogen involves maintaining a pressure of 2000 - 12000 (preferably 3200 - 12000) psi at 375 - 640degreesC in the catalytic reformer; and separating hydrogen from other reformer output gases (including carbon dioxide and water) by using a condenser. The separated carbon dioxide is recovered for sequestration or other utilization option. The hydrogen carrier and water are heated prior to injection into the catalytic reformer.Preferred Components: The hydrogen feedstock is natural gas, methanol, methane, ethanol, propane, butane, naphtha, gasoline, ammonia, military specification turbine fuel, commercial turbine fuel, diesel fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, natural gas condensate liquids or natural gasoline.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The separator further includes a porous base layer for supporting the first porous layer. The porous base layer is not composed of hydrogen permeable material. The separator further includes at least one bonding layer disposed between the porous base layer and the first porous layer; and a second porous layer made of the hydrogen permeable material, where the solid layer of the hydrogen permeable material is interposed between the first porous layer and the second porous layer. The porous base layer is shaped as a tube that defines a central conduit, where the first porous layer surrounds the base layer, and the solid layer surrounds the first porous layer. Preferred Material: The porous base layer is a sintered powder having a predetermined average particle size.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The segments open or expand with heat when burned. The corrugations in the segments channel oxygen throughout the segments. The segments are adhered together in an overlapping configuration.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: Biomass material comprises a portion of the artificial firelog material. The biomass material comprises sawdust, almond shells, walnut shells, peanut shells, olive pits, cherry pits, or coal.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The infrared optical radiation source arrangement includes a dichroic beam splitter in which radiation emitted in the first wavelength range passes unhindered through the dichroic beam splitter and reaches the first multispectral detector and the radiation emitted in the second wavelength range is reflected by the dichroic beam splitter and reaches the second multispectral detector through the interior space of the cuvette.Preferred Methods: The signals of the radiation in the first wavelength range are used by the evaluating and control unit for the correction of the signals of the radiation in the first wavelength range in order to compensate cross sensitivities of the multispectral detector to the first group of gases contained in the gas mixture in the calculation of the concentrations of the second group of gases contained in the gas mixture.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: Alternately, sulfur is added before solidification of alkaline sludge.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: Timber powder as a moisture content adjustment material, and an adsorption deodorizing material are further added during decomposition of organic refuse. Two or more types of hard porous ceramic are used during decomposition.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Microorganism: The microorganism is aerobic bacterium e.g. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The porous carbonized material is adjusted to a particle size of 0.5-5 mum or 0.5 mum or less, supplied to modification space and activated by adjusting the temperature of modification space to 800-1100degreesC.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The biomass processing apparatus further has a gas-engine electric power generating apparatus or fuel cell-type electric power generating apparatus, a cooling unit, a mixing unit, a circulating fluid-bed furnace and a regenerative furnace. The modification-activating furnace has an inlet of the porous carbonized material provided at downward direction of thermal decomposition gas introduction port, while setting temperature of the modification furnace as 800-1100degreesC. The electric power generating apparatus is driven by reformed gas, which is reformed by the modification-activating furnace. The cooling unit cools the thermal decomposition gas, and the mixing unit mixes the liquid component with the ground porous carbonized material. The carbonization apparatus, which is rotary kiln, is equipped with an exclusive burner, which burns with the flow fuel. The circulating fluid-bed furnace reforms the thermal decomposition gas using a fluid-cracking waste catalyst (FCC) as a flow medium, and the regenerative furnace regenerates the FCC waste catalyst. The cooling temperature of the cooling unit is below the condensation point of a high-boiling-point component, preferably 100degreesC or more. The furnace temperature of both circulating fluid-bed furnace and regenerative furnace are 1000degreesC or less.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Arrangement: A carbon-dioxide adsorption agent consisting of a low silica zeolite which adsorbs carbon dioxide, is arranged in tank (I) in a similar manner.The apparatus is provided with treatment tank (II), gas supplier (II) for circulating the gas distributed from tank (I) to one side of tank (II), and pressure reduction exhausting unit (II) for evacuating tank (II).The carbon-dioxide adsorption agent is also arranged in tank (II). Several treatment tanks are connected in parallel. An exhaust-gas re-supply unit is provided for circulating the gas in tank (I) from one side to the other. A switching unit is provided for joining the gas distributed inside tank (I) by exhaust-gas re-supply unit, with purified gas (1d) or original gas.The organic silicon group impurity adsorption agent is arranged at the upstream side in the circulation direction of the gas, and the carbon-dioxide adsorption agent is arranged at the downstream side.The adsorption agent has a honeycomb shape.The original gas is biogas or discarded heat cracked gas.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Composition: The organic binder contains methylcellulose, cellulose acetate, carboxy methylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, stearate, glycerol and/or curdlan.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The inorganic binder is inorganic-type oxide chosen from clay mineral containing bentonite, Kibushi clay, potter's clay, kaolin or (gamma)-alumina, alumina sol and/or silica sol, preferably glass fiber.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Film: The metal film of wafer is selected from a group of metals consisting of molybdenum, tantalum or titanium.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The non-equilibrium plasma is microwave plasma produced when a frequency of 1 to several GHz, is irradiated into atmosphere which consists of nitrogen gas or inert gas. The output of microwave is 50-1000 W preferably 100-250 W. The frequency of microwave is 2.455 GHz. Processing is carried out for 1-60 minutes preferably 5-30 minutes under reduced pressure of 1-6 KPa and atmospheric temperature of 800degreesC or less. A gas of 1-1000 sccm flow amount is introduced into plasma generation portion. EXAMPLE - Coal fly ash (1 g) which contained dioxin (2 mg) (dibenzodioxin, dibenzo furan and biphenyl), was subjected to decomposition treatment at a pressure of 15 Torr for 5 to 10 minutes, by microwave plasma of 100W and 250 W, using nitrogen gas as reactive gas. A portion of the decomposed product was extracted using organic solvent (toluene or diethyl ether) and evaluated for residual amount of each compound. The dioxin compound was completely decomposed by the plasma irradiation processing.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Component: The sensor(s) solely detects hydrogen and operates where no oxygen is present. It comprises palladium nickel chemiresistor, and hydrogen sensing field effect transistor. The chemiresistor or field effect transistor is being active dependent upon the respective location of the sensor. The nozzle further includes shroud surrounding an output of the nozzle, and coupling position between the nozzle and transfer line from the hydrogen gas source where one of the sensor is positioned inside the nozzle at the coupling position. The sensor(s) is positioned at the shroud, or inside a wall of the nozzle for detecting hydrogen concentrations in the open air immediately adjacent the nozzle.