Functionalized catalysts for use in a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) contain nanoparticles containing a transition metal enveloped in layers of graphene, which renders the nanoparticles resistant to passivation while maintaining an optimal ratio of transition metal and transition metal oxide in the nanoparticles. The catalysts can be utilized with anionic exchange polymer membranes for hydrogen production by alkaline water electrolysis.

Functionalized catalysts for use in a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) contain nanoparticles containing a transition metal enveloped in layers of graphene, which renders the nanoparticles resistant to passivation while maintaining an optimal ratio of transition metal and transition metal oxide in the nanoparticles. The catalysts can be utilized with anionic exchange polymer membranes for hydrogen production by alkaline water electrolysis.

A novel solar-powered desalination and water purification system is disclosed herein. The system includes a nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel, an untreated water source, a water collection surface, and a purified water storage container. A novel photocatalytic nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel for desalination and photodegradation of contaminants for use in the disclosed system is also disclosed herein. The nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel exhibits excellent hydrophilicity, thermal insulation, and photodegradation capability, and allows for efficient solar-powered evaporation of water. The introduction of photocatalytic nanofibers into the graphene aerogel allows effective interfacial evaporation and in situ photodegradation of contaminants. The rate of water evaporation is preferably greater than 1.3 gal/ft.sup.2 per day, and the contaminant removal is preferably greater than 90%. A method of desalinating and purifying water using the disclosed system is also disclosed herein.

A novel solar-powered desalination and water purification system is disclosed herein. The system includes a nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel, an untreated water source, a water collection surface, and a purified water storage container. A novel photocatalytic nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel for desalination and photodegradation of contaminants for use in the disclosed system is also disclosed herein. The nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel exhibits excellent hydrophilicity, thermal insulation, and photodegradation capability, and allows for efficient solar-powered evaporation of water. The introduction of photocatalytic nanofibers into the graphene aerogel allows effective interfacial evaporation and in situ photodegradation of contaminants. The rate of water evaporation is preferably greater than 1.3 gal/ft.sup.2 per day, and the contaminant removal is preferably greater than 90%. A method of desalinating and purifying water using the disclosed system is also disclosed herein.

A porous carbon material composite formed of a porous carbon material and a functional material and equipped with high functionality. The porous carbon material composite is formed of (A) a porous carbon material obtainable from a plant-derived material having a silicon (Si) content of 5 wt % or higher as a raw material; and (B) a functional material adhered on the porous carbon material, and has a specific surface area of 10 m.sup.2/g or greater as determined by the nitrogen BET method and a pore volume of 0.1 cm.sup.3/g or greater as determined by the BJH method and MP method.

A porous carbon material composite formed of a porous carbon material and a functional material and equipped with high functionality. The porous carbon material composite is formed of (A) a porous carbon material obtainable from a plant-derived material having a silicon (Si) content of 5 wt % or higher as a raw material; and (B) a functional material adhered on the porous carbon material, and has a specific surface area of 10 m.sup.2/g or greater as determined by the nitrogen BET method and a pore volume of 0.1 cm.sup.3/g or greater as determined by the BJH method and MP method.

The present invention describes a mixture comprising carbonaceous raw material of low value as a fuel and a nanocatalyst. The catalytic mixture comprises from 1% to 50% by weight of a nanocatalyst; and from 99% to 50% by weight of carbonaceous raw material selected from petroleum coke, coal, heavy residual fraction of oil, or a mixture thereof. The nanocatalyst comprises a carbon nanomaterial of between 99.99% and 80% by weight in contents and at least one alkali metal of between 0.01% and 20% by weight in contents, based on the total weight of the nanocatalyst, and the specific surface area of the nanocatalyst ranges between 400 and 1300 m2/g. Furthermore, the present invention also describes a process for gasifying the catalytic mixture which comprises the steps of placing the mixture in a gasifier; heating the mixture in the presence of an oxidizing agent selected from air, pure oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, or a mixture thereof at a temperature ranging between 200 and 1,300° C.; and obtaining a gaseous product comprising H2, CO, CO2, CH4.

The present invention describes a mixture comprising carbonaceous raw material of low value as a fuel and a nanocatalyst. The catalytic mixture comprises from 1% to 50% by weight of a nanocatalyst; and from 99% to 50% by weight of carbonaceous raw material selected from petroleum coke, coal, heavy residual fraction of oil, or a mixture thereof. The nanocatalyst comprises a carbon nanomaterial of between 99.99% and 80% by weight in contents and at least one alkali metal of between 0.01% and 20% by weight in contents, based on the total weight of the nanocatalyst, and the specific surface area of the nanocatalyst ranges between 400 and 1300 m2/g. Furthermore, the present invention also describes a process for gasifying the catalytic mixture which comprises the steps of placing the mixture in a gasifier; heating the mixture in the presence of an oxidizing agent selected from air, pure oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, or a mixture thereof at a temperature ranging between 200 and 1,300° C.; and obtaining a gaseous product comprising H2, CO, CO2, CH4.

A catalyst is provided for hydrodeoxygenation and hydroisomerization of paraffins having higher activity. The catalyst contains a molecular sieve, such as SAPO-11, a metal component such as platinum and/or palladium or nickel tungsten sulfide or nickel molybdenum sulfide and a binder such as gamma alumina. The catalyst exhibits a high proportion of weak acid sites and a relatively equal distribution of the metal component on the molecular sieve and the binder.

A washing device includes executors for executing a normal washing step and a reverse washing step before executing a plate opening step and a cake peeling step. The normal washing step is a step for supplying a washing water to a filter chamber, allowing the washing water to pass through a cake, and then discharging the washing water from filtrate discharge outlets. The reverse washing step is a step for supplying a washing water from the filtrate discharge outlet(s) to the filter chamber, allowing the washing water to pass through the cake, and then discharging the washing water from the filtrate discharge outlet(s) which are different from the filtrate discharge outlet(s) from which the washing water is supplied. The thickness of the electrode catalyst precursor-containing cake at the time of the injection step is adjusted to that of a range that has been previously and experimentally determined.