Methods and systems for making calcium oxide (CaO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and/or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2) from aragonite, for example, oolitic aragonite, are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a reactant mixture in a vessel. The reactant mixture includes oolitic aragonite and can be heated to a temperature from 500° C. to 950° C. The system can include a vessel and a means for applying solar energy to heat a supply of oolitic aragonite disposed inside the vessel. Methods of converting the CO.sub.2 to ethanol, ethylene, graphene, and/or methane are also provided.

Use of a porous precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) to retain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a method of reducing emission of VOCs from a composition, the method comprising adding a porous PCC to the composition, said compositions such as polymer compositions and methods of making said compositions.

Use of a porous precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) to retain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a method of reducing emission of VOCs from a composition, the method comprising adding a porous PCC to the composition, said compositions such as polymer compositions and methods of making said compositions.

A process and apparatus for manufacture of biocide products are described. The biocide properties arise from the caustic calcined powder, from carbonates such as such as magnesite and dolomite, and from hydroxides such as brucite. The method of manufacture is based on the production of high surface area oxide particles using an indirectly heated counterflow reactors for specifically calcining the carbonates and the hydroxides without significant sintering. The biocide products may be a powder or a hydrated slurry. A hydrated slurry is preferred for agricultural applications as a spray. For aquaculture applications, the products have a preferred particle size distribution to impact the aquatic and benthic ecosystems, and a Ca/Mg ratio that promotes the growth of the cultivates species when applied as a powder or a slurry. For applications such as a marine paint, the powder product or the slurry product is mixed with various agents to form a setting coating, and is applied to the infrastructure that is otherwise subject to biofilm growth.

A process and apparatus for manufacture of biocide products are described. The biocide properties arise from the caustic calcined powder, from carbonates such as such as magnesite and dolomite, and from hydroxides such as brucite. The method of manufacture is based on the production of high surface area oxide particles using an indirectly heated counterflow reactors for specifically calcining the carbonates and the hydroxides without significant sintering. The biocide products may be a powder or a hydrated slurry. A hydrated slurry is preferred for agricultural applications as a spray. For aquaculture applications, the products have a preferred particle size distribution to impact the aquatic and benthic ecosystems, and a Ca/Mg ratio that promotes the growth of the cultivates species when applied as a powder or a slurry. For applications such as a marine paint, the powder product or the slurry product is mixed with various agents to form a setting coating, and is applied to the infrastructure that is otherwise subject to biofilm growth.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising heating a strontium-containing compound using radiation in a first reactor; decomposing the strontium-containing compound into an oxide and carbon dioxide as a result of heat generated by the exposure to the radiation; reacting the oxide and the carbon dioxide in a second reactor; where the oxide and carbon dioxide react to produce heat; heating a working fluid using the heat produced in the second reactor; and driving a turbine with the heated working fluid to generate energy. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising strontium carbonate; and strontium zirconate; where the mass ratio of strontium carbonate to strontium zirconate 2:8 to 8:2.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising heating a strontium-containing compound using radiation in a first reactor; decomposing the strontium-containing compound into an oxide and carbon dioxide as a result of heat generated by the exposure to the radiation; reacting the oxide and the carbon dioxide in a second reactor; where the oxide and carbon dioxide react to produce heat; heating a working fluid using the heat produced in the second reactor; and driving a turbine with the heated working fluid to generate energy. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising strontium carbonate; and strontium zirconate; where the mass ratio of strontium carbonate to strontium zirconate 2:8 to 8:2.

A device including an LED light source optically coupled to a phosphor selected from [Y,Gd,Tb,La,Sm,Pr,Lu].sub.3[Al,Ga].sub.5−aO.sub.12−3/2a:Ce.sup.3+ (wherein 0<a<0.5), beta-SiAlON:Eu.sup.2+, [Sr,Ca,Ba][Al,Ga,In].sub.2S.sub.4:Eu.sup.2+, alpha-SiAlON doped with Eu.sup.2+ and/or Ce.sup.3+, Ca.sub.1−h−rCe.sub.hEu.sub.rAl.sub.1−h[Mg,Zn].sub.hSiN.sub.3, (where 0<h<0.2, 0<r<0.2), Sr(LiAl.sub.3N.sub.4):Eu.sup.2+, [Ca,Sr]S:Eu.sup.2+ or Ce.sup.3+, [Ba,Sr,Ca].sub.bSi.sub.gN.sub.m:Eu.sup.2+ (wherein 2b+4g=3m), quantum dot materials, and combinations thereof; and a green-emitting U.sup.6+-doped phosphor having a composition selected from the group consisting of U.sup.6+-doped phosphate-vanadate phosphors, U.sup.6+-doped halide phosphors, U.sup.6+-doped oxyhalide phosphors, U.sup.6+-doped silicate-germanate phosphors, U.sup.6+-doped alkali earth oxide phosphors, and combinations thereof, is presented.

A device including an LED light source optically coupled to a phosphor selected from [Y,Gd,Tb,La,Sm,Pr,Lu].sub.3[Al,Ga].sub.5−aO.sub.12−3/2a:Ce.sup.3+ (wherein 0<a<0.5), beta-SiAlON:Eu.sup.2+, [Sr,Ca,Ba][Al,Ga,In].sub.2S.sub.4:Eu.sup.2+, alpha-SiAlON doped with Eu.sup.2+ and/or Ce.sup.3+, Ca.sub.1−h−rCe.sub.hEu.sub.rAl.sub.1−h[Mg,Zn].sub.hSiN.sub.3, (where 0<h<0.2, 0<r<0.2), Sr(LiAl.sub.3N.sub.4):Eu.sup.2+, [Ca,Sr]S:Eu.sup.2+ or Ce.sup.3+, [Ba,Sr,Ca].sub.bSi.sub.gN.sub.m:Eu.sup.2+ (wherein 2b+4g=3m), quantum dot materials, and combinations thereof; and a green-emitting U.sup.6+-doped phosphor having a composition selected from the group consisting of U.sup.6+-doped phosphate-vanadate phosphors, U.sup.6+-doped halide phosphors, U.sup.6+-doped oxyhalide phosphors, U.sup.6+-doped silicate-germanate phosphors, U.sup.6+-doped alkali earth oxide phosphors, and combinations thereof, is presented.

A method of preparing an ionized calcium oxide powder is provided, including steps of washing and drying shellfish, pulverizing the shellfish into a powder, subjecting the powder to a heat treatment, subjecting the powder to an electrolysis treatment, and subjecting the powder to an ultrasonic treatment.