Abstract:
The invention discloses method and system of drying renewable sources of energy and raw material. The drying process is carried out under partial vacuum conditions and at lower temperatures than conventional dryers. The temperature to dry the material and the rate of water removal are controlled by regulating the degree of vacuum and the intensity of heat input. A method for drying material to moisture content below 10% by weight, comprises introducing into an ejector a stream with a pressure above ambient pressure, creating partial vacuum in a drying chamber through the secondary nozzle of the ejector when the stream enters the ejector and provides the motive pressure to the primary nozzle of the ejector, said drying chamber having an inlet into which a wet material is introduced and an outlet for taking out the dried material after the drying treatment, drying the wet material using low temperature waste heat.
Abstract:
The invention discloses use of a catalyzed particulate filter loaded with a silver-zirconia catalyst prepared by citric acid-assisted sol-gel method for soot removal from engine exhaust. The invention discloses a method of making xAg/ZrO 2 where x is 20 mol%, said method comprises: mixing aqueous solutions of AgNO 3 and ZrO(NO 3 ) 2 hydrate to produce a first mixture, adding an aqueous solution of citric acid to the first mixture, wherein the molar ratio of metal ions to citric acid is about 1:3 to produce a second mixture; heating the second mixture to about 80–90 °C to evaporate excess water in the second mixture to form a viscous gel, charring the viscous gel at about 200 °C for about 12 hours to produce a foam-like material, grounding the foam-like material to form a grounded material, and calcinating the grounded material at 500 °C for about 10 hours.
Abstract:
The present application provides a process and system for recovery of rare earth elements. In particular, the present application provides a process for obtaining a precipitate of rare earth elements (REE), comprising: (a) obtaining an acidic composition comprising the REE (such as, for example, a pregnant leach solution); (b) adding a reducing agent to the acidic composition and adjusting the pH with a basic agent; (c) adding oxalate directly to the composition formed in step (b) and mixing to form an REE oxalate preciptate; (d) removing the REE oxalate preciptate from the mixture of step (c).
Abstract:
A direct reduction process for the production of ferrochrome from chromite ore or concentrate is disclosed. According to the present invention, calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ) is added as a catalyst to accelerate the solid reduction and enhance the particle growth of the metallic phase (i.e. ferrochrome) during reduction. The reduction of chromite ore or concentrate takes place at much lower temperatures (e.g. 1200 to 1400 °C) compared to the conventional smelting technologies, and the ferrochrome particles formed are segregated from the unwanted residual gangue and spinel particles, facilitating their subsequent physical separation.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to modified ceramic membranes for the treatment of water. The invention discloses a modified ceramic membrane, comprising: a ceramic membrane, and an outer surface of said ceramic membrane is grafted by a hydrophilic organosilane, wherein said organosilane is selected from the group consisting of: CH30(C2H40)x(CH2)ySi(OCH3)3, where x is > 4 and y is >0; CH30(C2H40)x(CH2)ySi(OCH2CH3)3, where x is > 4 and y is >0; (CH30)3Si(CH2)yO(C2H40)x(CH2)ySi(OCH3)3, where x is > 4 and y is >0; and (CH3CH20)3Si(CH2)yO(C2H40)x(CH2)ySi(OCH2CI-l3)3, where x is > 4 and y is >0.
Abstract:
A conversion burner, a system of conversion burners, and a method of conversion of a solid fuel selected from at least one of biomass and peat. The burner is constructed and arranged to be affixed to a combustor, and comprises a housing defining a burner chamber; a grate within the burner chamber defining an upper chamber region and a lower chamber region; at least a first solid fuel inlet; at least a first air inlet operatively connected to the upper chamber region and connectable to a first air source; a product gas outlet operatively connected to the combustion region of the combustor; and at least one waste outlet. The product gas is delivered to the combustor for firing or co-firing, overcoming fouling problems which result from direct delivery of solid fuel to the combustor, and problems raised by remote conversion or storage of solid fuel.
Abstract:
The invention relates to modifications of a non-ammoniacal thiosulfate process of leaching precious metals (e.g. gold or silver) from precious metal-containing ores. The process involves leaching the ore with an aqueous lixiviant containing a soluble thiosulfate other than ammonium thiosulfate, a copper compound and an organic compound that serves as a copper ligand (i.e. a ligand-forming compound). Four modifications of this process are effective for increasing the amount of precious metal that can be extracted, reducing the consumption of materials, or for improving the rate of extraction. These four process, which may be used singly or in any combination, include (a) additions of soluble lead (e.g. as lead nitrate), (b) additions of thiourea, (c) increases in dissolved oxygen, and (d) increases of temperature at ambient pressure. This avoids the use environmentally harmful chemicals and allows for extraction from a variety of ores, e.g., containing substantial amounts of sulfides and/or quartz.
Abstract:
Asphaltene components are useful as organic electronic materials, especially in the form of thin films, in organic electronic devices, such as optoelectronic devices, for example, photodiodes (e.g., photovoltaic cells), phototransistors, photomultipliers, integrated optical circuits, photoresistors, and the like.
Abstract:
A system and method for capturing and separating carbon dioxide from mixed gas streams. The gas stream is processed in a structure including a compression module comprising a plurality of compressors, intercoolers and inter-stage condensate separators. The flow path from the compression module includes a plurality of flow separators, gas stream splitters, heat exchangers and at least a first mixer and a first expander. The gas stream is sequentially compressed and cooled to form process condensate and separate it from the compressed gas stream. The gas stream is further dried and cooled to liquefy carbon dioxide and separate it from the non-condensable portion. Selective expansion of liquid carbon dioxide streams provides cooling for the system, and further energy efficiency is achieved by selective recycling of portions of gas streams, allowing for compact equipment and economical operation, while providing for high purity product streams of carbon dioxide.
Abstract:
A method and system for improving high excess air combustion system efficiency, including induration furnaces, using a re-routing of flue gas within the system by gas recirculation. Flue gas is drawn from hot system zones including zones near the stack, for re-introduction into the process whereby the heat recovery partially replaces fuel input. At least one pre-combustion drying zone, at least one combustion zone, and at least a first cooling zone exist in these furnaces. At least one exhaust gas outlet is provided to each pre-combustion drying and combustion zone. At least part of the gaseous flow from each system zone exhaust outlet is selectively delivered to an overall system exhaust, the remaining flow being selectively delivered via recirculation to cooling zones. Recirculation flow is adjusted to meet required system temperatures and pressures. The method and system provide efficiency improvements, reducing fuel requirements and greenhouse gas emissions.