In one aspect, the disclosure relates to processes for production of ammonia and hydrogen under low reaction severity using as reactants nitrogen and at least one C1-C4 hydrocarbon, e.g., methane. The disclosed processes are carried out using a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a metal selected from Group 7, Group 8, Group 9, Group 10, Group 11, and combinations thereof; wherein the metal is present in an amount from about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % based on the total weight of the heterogeneous catalyst; and a metal oxide support. The processes can be carried out at about ambient pressure and at a heterogeneous catalyst temperature of from about 50° C. to about 250° C. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Disclosed apparatuses, systems, and materials relate to the disassociation of feedstock species (such as those in gaseous form) into constituent components, and may include an energy generator configured to provide a microwave energy. A first chamber defines a first volume and is configured to guide the microwave energy along the first chamber as a sinusoidal wave having an energy maxima at a point along the first chamber. A second chamber contains a plasma plume and is positioned substantially proximal to the first chamber, and is configured to enable propagation of the microwave energy through the first chamber and the second chamber such that the microwave energy demonstrates, at a radial center of the second chamber, a coaxial energy maxima configured to ignite the plasma plume contained in the second chamber. Carbon-containing materials may be formed by controlling flow parameters of the feedstock species into the first or second chamber.

A magnetic field thermal generator has one or more heat elements comprised of rotating pipes placed so they travel across the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field chamber, with said magnetic field being generated by either permanent magnets or electromagnets. The relative motion of the heat element to the magnetic flux from the magnetic field magnets results in heat generation, as well as in the generation of Oxyhydrogen (HHO). An optional hydrogen separator may be used to separate the HHO into the Hydrogen and Oxygen components.

A solar thermochemical processing system is disclosed. The system includes a first unit operation for receiving concentrated solar energy. Heat from the solar energy is used to drive the first unit operation. The first unit operation also receives a first set of reactants and produces a first set of products. A second unit operation receives the first set of products from the first unit operation and produces a second set of products. A third unit operation receives heat from the second unit operation to produce a portion of the first set of reactants.

One or more embodiments relates to compositions, method of using and methods of producing a gas mixture. The method includes supplying a composition La.sub.xSr.sub.yCo.sub.zM.sub.wO.sub.3, where x ranges from 0.5 to 1, y ranges 0.0 to 1-x, z ranges from 0.1 to 1.0, and M is a dopant or dopants where w ranges from 0.0 to 1-z; and energizing the composition directly using electromagnetic energy to heat the composition to a temperature above 700° C. The method further includes contacting the composition with a reactant gas mixture comprising methane and an oxidant forming a product gaseous mixture.

The present invention provides a process for (a) recycling plastic; and/or (b) producing hydrogen; and/or (c) producing syngas; and/or (d) producing carbon nanotubes, wherein the process comprises exposing a solid composition comprising one or more thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers to electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a solid catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises elemental iron (Fe) or an oxide thereof. Also provided is a solid composition comprising a catalyst in intimate mixture with one or more thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers, wherein the catalyst comprises elemental iron (Fe) or an oxide thereof. Also provided is the use of said solid composition to produce hydrogen, syngas and/or carbon nanotubes, and a microwave reactor comprising said solid composition.

In a process for producing hydrogen or syngas by methanol cracking, whereby methanol is catalytically decomposed into hydrogen and carbon monoxide in an endothermal reaction, said reaction takes place in a reactor with direct inductive heating in the reaction zone. The heating is obtained by passing an alternating current through a metallic coil located inside the reactor or by using induction heated catalyzed hardware in the shape of a ferromagnetic structure, which is coated with an oxide impregnated with the catalytically active phase.

There is provided an apparatus comprising a microwave generator, for heating catalyst material, and an electrochemical pump. A reactive process is catalyzed by the heated catalyst material to produce reaction products, and some of the reaction products are recovered via the electrochemical pump.

The invention relates to a process to convert hydrocarbons into hydrogen and a separate carbon phase, whereby in step a) the hydrocarbons are contacted with a molten salt, preferably comprising Zinc Chloride, at temperatures preferably above 500 C. and in step b) a solid or liquid carbon phase is separated from the molten salt at a lower temperature, preferably below 150 C. The molten salt is then preferably re-heated to the desired temperature and recycled to step a). The process avoids the emission of CO.sub.2, making the hydrogen produced in this way a zero CO.sub.2 emission fuel and which also produces a carbon product produced having a use value.

The invention relates to a chemical reactor comprising reformer tubes for reforming a first feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon gas and steam. The chemical reactor comprises one or more reformer tubes arranged to being heated by an electrically driven heat source. The reformer tube comprises a first inlet for feeding said first feed stream into a first reforming reaction zone of the reformer tube, and a feed conduit arranged to allow a second feed stream into a second reforming reaction zone of the reformer tube. The second reforming reaction zone is positioned downstream of the first reforming reaction zone. The feed conduit is configured so that the second feed stream is only in contact with catalyst material in the second reforming reaction zone. The invention also relates to a process of producing CO rich synthesis gas at low S/C conditions.