A system for fluidizing particles includes a fluidization reactor having a base, a gas injection surface positioned at the base configured to inject a first gas into the fluidization reactor, and a gas outlet, a secondary gas injector comprising a nozzle, positioned in the fluidization reactor and configured to deliver a secondary flow of a second gas into the fluidization reactor, a vibration inducing device rigidly attached to the fluidization reactor and configured to induce a vibrational acceleration on the fluidization reactor, and a vibration isolating device rigidly attached to the fluidization reactor and a mounting surface, configured to isolate vibrational forces from the vibration inducing device from the mounting surface. A method of fluidizing particles is also described.

The present invention relates to a process for taking up one or more nitrogen oxide(s) from a gaseous and/or aerosol or liquid medium using at least one particulate earth alkali carbonate-comprising material and/or at least one particulate earth alkali phosphate-comprising material as well as an adsorbing material comprising said at least one particulate earth alkali carbonate-comprising material and/or at least one particulate earth alkali phosphate-comprising material.

Nitrogen oxides formed in combustion engines are recycled such that the nitrogen oxides can be utilized for producing liquid or solid chemicals. The nitrogen oxides are recycled by a method including an adsorber material adsorbing nitrogen oxides from an exhaust-gas stream of the combustion engine, removing the adsorber material laden with nitrogen oxides, desorbing the adsorbed nitrogen oxides from the adsorber material, and converting the nitrogen oxides desorbed from the adsorber material into liquid or solid nitrogen-containing compounds.

A waste gas is contacted with a mercury removal agent to remove mercury and a flue gas conditioning agent to alter a resistivity and/or cohesivity of particulates. The flue gas conditioning agent can be substantially free of SO.sub.3 and/or comprise more than about 25 wt. % SO.sub.3, and/or the mercury removal agent can be substantially unaffected by the flue gas conditioning agent. An amount of mercury removed from the waste gas in the presence of the flue gas conditioning agent can be the same or more than that removed from the waste gas in the absence of the flue gas conditioning agent. An amount of the acid gas removed, by an acid gas removal agent, from the waste gas in the presence of the flue gas conditioning agent can be the same or more than that removed from the waste gas in the absence of the flue gas conditioning agent.

Puncture elements and methods for using the same are disclosed. The puncture elements according to the disclosed concept include a cutting edge or a sharp and are composed of a mineral loaded polymer. The minerals of the mineral loaded polymer include an active agent, such as a desiccant. Optionally, the puncture elements are used to puncture a cover (e.g., foil seal) of a package.

Systems and methods use oxygen uncoupling metal oxide material for decomposition of NO.sub.x. A gaseous input stream comprising NO.sub.x is contacted with a metal oxide particle, generating nitrogen (N.sub.2) gas and an oxidized metal oxide particle. After contacting the first gaseous input stream with the metal oxide particle, a first gaseous product stream is collected. The first gaseous product stream includes substantially no NO.sub.x. A second gaseous input stream comprising at least one sweeping gas is also contacted with the oxidized metal oxide particle. After contacting the oxidized metal oxide particle, the sweeping gas includes oxygen (O.sub.2) and a reduced metal oxide particle is generated. Then a second gaseous product stream is collected, where the second gaseous product stream includes oxygen (O.sub.2) gas.

The present invention relates to a process for taking up one or more nitrogen oxide(s) from a gaseous and/or aerosol or liquid medium using at least one particulate earth alkali carbonate-comprising material and/or at least one particulate earth alkali phosphate-comprising material as well as an adsorbing material comprising said at least one particulate earth alkali carbonate-comprising material and/or at least one particulate earth alkali phosphate-comprising material.

Glass melting process including the introduction of a vitrifiable solid charge into a furnace, heating and melting of charge thereby obtaining molten glass. Discharging the molten glass from the furnace and discharging a CO.sub.2-containing gaseous effluent from the furnace. The charge having at least one carbonate undergoing a dissociation reaction and releasing gaseous CO.sub.2 when heated and melted. The gaseous effluent discharged from the furnace being used to produce, at least one additive in the form of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate, at least a part of which is incorporated in the charge which is introduced into the furnace.

A method of removing buffer gas from a mixture comprising the buffer gas and hyperpolarized noble gas is described. The method includes reacting the buffer gas to produce a reaction product different to the buffer gas. The buffer gas may be reactively removed by one or more of oxidation, reduction, polymerization and binding reactions with solid surfaces. The buffer gas may be molecular hydrogen and/or molecular nitrogen. Apparatus for carrying out the method are also disclosed.

The present application pertains to methods for making metal oxides and/or citric acid. In one embodiment, the application pertains to a process for producing calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or both from a material comprising calcium and magnesium. The process may include reacting a material comprising calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Separating, concentrating, and calcining may lead to the production of oxides such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In other embodiments the application pertains to methods for producing an alkaline-earth oxide and a carboxylic acid from an alkaline earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt. Such processes may include, for example, reacting an alkaline-earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt with aqueous sulfur dioxide to produce aqueous alkaline-earth-bisulfite and aqueous carboxylic acid solution. Other useful steps may include desorbing, separating, and/or calcining.