Methods and systems for producing activated silicate materials are disclosed. A silicate source material is provided for reaction with a reforming agent in a reforming process. The reforming process is a hydrothermal process and/or a high temperature silicate reforming (HTSR) process. The reaction materials are brought to the suitable reaction temperature via a heat source in the presence of the suitable reaction medium. The activated silicate materials exhibit improved reactivity compared to non-activated silicate materials and thus are advantageously employed in elemental extraction processes to produce a valuable material product.

A process for the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur trioxide with subsequent sulfur trioxide removal comprises oxidizing hydrogen sulfide to sulfur trioxide in at least one catalyst-containing reactor and feeding the effluent from the last reactor to a candle filter unit for SO.sub.3 removal, where it is mixed with an injected alkaline sorbent slurry or powder to form an alkali sulfate and a hot clean gas. Preferably the oxidation is done in two reactors, the first oxidizing H.sub.2S to SO.sub.2 over a monolith type catalyst and the second oxidizing SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3 over a VK type catalyst.

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for the hydrodeoxygenation of an oxygenate feedstock that increases the conversion of oxygenates to hydrocarbons while avoiding detrimental effects resulting from increasing the severity of the hydrodeoxygenation reaction.

Hydrogen energy systems for obtaining hydrogen gas from a solid storage medium using controlled photon and phonon sources. Additionally, structures of solid storage mediums, enhancements to interactions in the medium with photons and phonons, and manufacturing methods of the mediums are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems for charging/recharging magnesium with hydrogen to obtain magnesium hydride. Other relatively safe systems assisting storage, transport and use (as in vehicles) of such solid storage mediums are disclosed.

Methods and apparatuses for selective hydrogenation of olefins are provided. The method for selective hydrogenation of olefins comprises reacting a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock comprising olefins and aromatic compounds with hydrogen in a reaction zone. The reaction contains a catalyst producing a reaction zone product stream comprising aromatic compounds. The reaction zone product stream is passed to a flash vessel, recovering a first product stream and a second product stream from the flash vessel. The first product stream is passed to a liquid jet eductor, whereas the second product stream comprising aromatic compounds having a reduced concentration of olefins is subsequently recovered.

The invention preferably relates to an electrolytic cell for generating hydrogen and oxygen with a layer system comprising at least one pair of catalytically active layers between which a polymer membrane is arranged, wherein the layer system comprises electrically conductive ceramic or metallic nanofibers. In particular, the layer system comprises a pair of catalytically active layers, as well as transport layers close to the anode and/or close to the cathode, wherein the pair of catalytically active layers comprises catalytically active nanoparticles, and wherein, in order to increase in-plane conductivity or connectivity of the catalytically active nanoparticles, an intermediate layer comprising ceramic or metallic nanofibers is present between one of the catalytically active layers and one of the transport layers, or metallic or ceramic nanofibers are present within one of the catalytically active layers in addition to the catalytically active nanoparticles. The nanofibers can themselves be catalytically active or catalytically inactive.

A method for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed gas to methanol, including the steps of: providing a hydrocarbon feed gas; optionally, purifying the hydrocarbon feed gas in a gas purification unit; optionally, prereforming the hydrocarbon feed gas together with a steam feedstock in a prereforming unit; carrying out steam methane reforming in a reforming reactor heated by means of an electrical power source; providing the synthesis gas to a methanol synthesis unit to provide a product including methanol and an off-gas. Also, a system for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed gas to methanol.

Methods and systems for low emission power generation in hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes a gas turbine system configured to stoichiometrically combust a compressed oxidant and a fuel in the presence of a compressed recycle exhaust gas and expand the discharge in an expander to generate a gaseous exhaust stream and drive a main compressor. A boost compressor can receive and increase the pressure of the gaseous exhaust stream and inject it into an evaporative cooling tower configured to use an exhaust nitrogen gas having a low relative humidity as an evaporative cooling media. The cooled gaseous exhaust stream is then compressed and recirculated through the system as a diluent to moderate the temperature of the stoichiometric combustion.

This invention relates generally to new findings to improve a method of thermal energy storage or heat pump, i.e. increase the thermal energy from an external heat source, using a reversible condensation reaction with an inorganic oxoacid compound. It accordingly provides components to be used in said improved process as well as the use thereof in the aforementioned method, including the use in the manufacture of products of the condensation products or in the manufacture of the hydrolysis products.

A method of thermal energy recovery from production of at least one solid carbon material comprises reacting at least one carbon oxide material and at least one gaseous reducing material at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 400° C., at a pressure greater than or equal to about 1×10.sup.5 pascal, and in the presence of at least one catalyst material to produce at least one solid carbon material and a gaseous effluent stream comprising water vapor. Thermal energy is extracted from the gaseous effluent stream comprising water vapor. Other methods of generating recoverable thermal energy are disclosed, as is a solid carbon production system having thermal energy recovery.