Abstract:
Magnesiothermic methods of producing solid silicon are provided. In a first embodiment, solid silica and magnesium gas are reacted at a temperature from 400°C to 1000°C to produce solid silicon and solid magnesium oxide, the silicon having a purity from 98.0 to 99.9999%. The silicon is separated from the magnesium oxide using an electrostatic technology. In a second embodiment, the solid silicon is reacted with magnesium gas to produce solid magnesium suicide. The magnesium suicide is contacted with hydrogen chloride gas or hydrochloric acid to produce silane gas. The silane gas is thermally decomposed to produce solid silicon and hydrogen gas, the silicon having a purity of at least 99.9999%. The solid silicon and hydrogen gas are separated into two processing streams. The hydrogen gas is recycled for reaction with chlorine gas to produce hydrogen chloride gas.
Abstract:
A hydrogen fueling system uses solid and/or liquid material(s) to create hydrogen-bearing gas inside one or more fuel compartments. A fuel compartment may be of any size or shape, and its wall(s) may be single- or multi-layered, and of any total thickness. Solid, liquid, and/or gaseous material(s) may flow through one or more entry/exit ports in an individual compartment, or in two or more compartments. If the fueling system contains two or more compartments, material(s) may flow into, or out of, individual compartments in series or in parallel - e.g., sequentially or simultaneously, and hydrogen-bearing gas may flow from one compartment to another. However, solids and liquids do not flow between individual compartments. Hydrogen-bearing gas may be produced inside a compartment by: a reduction in gas pressure, creation of heat from one or more internal or external sources, and/or the occurrence of one or more chemical reactions.
Abstract:
Compressed hydrogen gas can be stored and transferred in hollow structures that include at least one porous metal, in order to protect one or more surrounding layers from being damaged by diffusive flux of hydrogen gas. The masses of hydrogen gas that enter the layer(s)/interlayer(s) of the porous metal(s) are removed from the interconnected pore space in the layer(s)/interiayer(s) of the porous metal(s) to ensure that the pressure(s) of the hydrogen gas remain(s) low-generally less than or equal to one atmosphere. When the structure that holds compressed hydrogen gas is a cylindrical pressure vessel, pipe or pipeline, a technique known as "C-forming" can be used to create a wall containing at least one layer of a porous metal.
Abstract:
In a method of extracting lithium from a lithium bearing mineral, the mineral is reacted with a basic material of sufficient strength to dissolve the mineral, in order to produce a product mixture containing lithium. The lithium is then recovered from the product mixture. A method of extracting lithium from a lithium bearing mineral may consist of a two-step process. An industrial scale method of extracting lithium from a lithium bearing mineral can be conducted at a temperature not greater than about 500 °C and without the production of sulfur. A lithium metal can be produced by the method.
Abstract:
A process of producing magnesium metal includes providing magnesium carbonate, and reacting the magnesium carbonate to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The carbon dioxide is used as a reactant in a second process. In another embodiment of the process, a magnesium silicate is reacted with a caustic material to produce magnesium hydroxide. The magnesium hydroxide is reacted with a source of carbon dioxide to produce magnesium carbonate. The magnesium carbonate is reacted to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The invention also relates to the magnesium metal produced by the processes described herein.
Abstract:
Enhanced containment, capture, transfer, and storage of hydrogen gas in sealed enclosures is achieved using multi-layered materials comprising polymer(s), metal(s), metal alloy(s) and/or metal oxide(s) that either form, line, or coat the wall(s) of the sealed enclosures. These composite materials decrease "loss" of hydrogen gas by combining equilibrium and kinetic barriers to hydrogen diffusion. Capture and separation of gaseous hydrogen permeating through the wall(s) of an enclosure is accomplished by trapping the gas in either one or more internal liquid layers, or in one or more attached, gas-tight covers. Tightly packed sets of sealed enclosures, especially pipes or tubes with one or more polymer/metal ± metal oxide/liquid layers or interlayers can be placed in hydrogen "warehouses" and/or "silos" to provide seasonally firmed supplies of hydrogen gas to local or city-gate markets.
Abstract:
In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of sequestering carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a metal silicate with a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide to produce a hydroxide of the metal formerly contained in the silicate; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with at least one of a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide and an alkali-metal silicate to produce at least one of an alkalimetal carbonate and an alkali-metal bicarbonate; and (c) reacting the metal hydroxide product of step (a) with at least one of the alkali-metal carbonate and the alkali-metal bicarbonate produced in step (b) to produce a carbonate of the metal formerly contained in the metal silicate of step (a).
Abstract:
A process of producing magnesium metal includes providing magnesium carbonate, and reacting the magnesium carbonate to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The carbon dioxide is used as a reactant in a second process. In another embodiment of the process, a magnesium silicate is reacted with a caustic material to produce magnesium hydroxide. The magnesium hydroxide is reacted with a source of carbon dioxide to produce magnesium carbonate. The magnesium carbonate is reacted to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The invention also relates to the magnesium metal produced by the processes described herein.
Abstract:
Magnesiothermic methods of producing solid silicon are provided. In a first embodiment, solid silica and magnesium gas are reacted at a temperature from 400°C to 1000°C to produce solid silicon and solid magnesium oxide, the silicon having a purity from 98.0 to 99.9999%. The silicon is separated from the magnesium oxide using an electrostatic technology. In a second embodiment, the solid silicon is reacted with magnesium gas to produce solid magnesium suicide. The magnesium suicide is contacted with hydrogen chloride gas or hydrochloric acid to produce silane gas. The silane gas is thermally decomposed to produce solid silicon and hydrogen gas, the silicon having a purity of at least 99.9999%. The solid silicon and hydrogen gas are separated into two processing streams. The hydrogen gas is recycled for reaction with chlorine gas to produce hydrogen chloride gas.
Abstract:
In a method of extracting lithium from a lithium bearing mineral, the mineral is reacted with a basic material of sufficient strength to dissolve the mineral, in order to produce a product mixture containing lithium. The lithium is then recovered from the product mixture. A method of extracting lithium from a lithium bearing mineral may consist of a two-step process. An industrial scale method of extracting lithium from a lithium bearing mineral can be conducted at a temperature not greater than about 500 °C and without the production of sulfur. A lithium metal can be produced by the method.