The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of this gas processing system.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of the gas processing system.

The present invention is a vitrification and gasification system that operates at elevated pressures. The system includes a processing chamber having numerous penetrations, and seals for effectively sealing the penetrations to the processing chamber.

Materials such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) and hydrocarbon-containing materials are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, or oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and coal to produce altered materials such as fuels (e.g., ethanol and/or butanol). The processing includes exposing the materials to an ion beam.

An improved process and for removing NO.sub.x from exhaust gases produced by combustion-based energy sources. Catalyst-free exhaust gas is directed into one or more ducts. The gas is cooled and then passes through the duct, wherein the gas flow rate and the electron beam pulse rate are configured to cause each successive volume of gas that flows past the window to be subjected to only a single electron beam pulse in the reaction chamber. A single short, intense electron beam is fired into the exhaust through a window in the reaction chamber as the exhaust flows past the window, with some of the electrons being reflected back into the gas by a reflective plate situated opposite the window. The deposited electron energy causes NO.sub.x from the exhaust to be converted into N.sub.2 and O.sub.2 which are output into the atmosphere with the thus-scrubbed exhaust.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of through-holes in a layer of first material by subjecting part of the layer of said first material to ion beam milling.

For batch-wise production, the method comprises after a step of providing the layer of first material and before the step of ion beam milling, providing a second layer of a second material on the layer of first material, providing the second layer of the second material with a plurality of holes, the holes being provided at central locations of pits in the first layer, and subjecting the second layer of the second material to said step of ion beam milling at an angle using said second layer of the second material as a shadow mask.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Materials such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) and hydrocarbon-containing materials are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, or oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and coal to produce altered materials such as fuels (e.g., ethanol and/or butanol). The processing includes exposing the materials to an ion beam.

A method for producing a reaction product employing a phases interface reaction that to efficiently bring about a reaction between a plasma-form substance (ozone, nitrogen plasma, etc.) and water or the like; a phases interface reactor; and a method for producing a secondary reaction product. The phases interface reactor that includes a reaction vessel, a plasma supply means for supplying a plasma-form substance into the reaction vessel, a water/aqueous solution supply means for supplying the reaction vessel, and an ultraviolet ray irradiation means for irradiating the plasma-form substance in the reaction vessel; said device causing the plasma-form substance and a solute contained in water or aqueous solution to react at the phases interface in a reaction vessel. Methods for producing a reaction product in which a phases interface reaction is provided, and also a secondary reaction product producing method for producing a secondary reaction product using the reaction product.

An improved process and for removing NO.sub.x from exhaust gases produced by combustion-based energy sources. Catalyst-free exhaust gas is directed into one or more ducts. The gas is cooled and then passes through the duct, wherein the gas flow rate and the electron beam pulse rate are configured to cause each successive volume of gas that flows past the window to be subjected to only a single electron beam pulse in the reaction chamber. A single short, intense electron beam is fired into the exhaust through a window in the reaction chamber as the exhaust flows past the window, with some of the electrons being reflected back into the gas by a reflective plate situated opposite the window. The deposited electron energy causes NO.sub.x from the exhaust to be converted into N.sub.2 and O.sub.2 which are output into the atmosphere with the thus-scrubbed exhaust.