Solid materials may be processed using shockwaves produced in a supersonic gaseous vortex. A high-velocity stream of gas may be introduced into a reactor. The reactor may have a chamber, a solid material inlet, a gas inlet, and an outlet. The high-velocity stream of gas may be introduced into the chamber of the reactor through the gas inlet. The high-velocity stream of gas may effectuate a supersonic gaseous vortex within the chamber. The reactor may be configured to facilitate chemical reactions and/or comminution of solid feed material using tensive forces of shockwaves created in the supersonic gaseous vortex within the chamber. Solid material may be fed into the chamber through the solid material inlet. The solid material may be processed within the chamber by nonabrasive mechanisms facilitated by the shockwaves within the chamber. The processed material that is communicated through the outlet of the reactor may be collected.

Disclosed is a method for enhancing leaching of metals in zinc hypoxide powder by mechanochemistry coupling with sonochemistry, comprising the following: mechanical activation: a raw material containing zinc hypoxide powder is mechanically activated so that an activated material is obtained; and ultrasonic treatment: the activated material is mixed with an acidic leaching solution to obtain a mixture, the mixture is subjected to ultrasonic treatment, and a liquid phase is obtained as the leachate. Mechanochemical activation and ultrasonic chemistry synergistically enhance the leaching efficiency and leaching rate of multiple metals through the destruction and cavitation of the zinc oxide powder structure. This process can indirectly reduce the concentration of the used acidic leaching solution and shorten the leaching duration. In practical production, the specific application of the process can reduce the anticorrosion cost and running cost of reaction equipment, indirectly leading to excellent production benefit.

A device and method are provided for manipulating petroleum, non-conventional oil and other viscous complex fluids made of hydrocarbons that comprise enforcement of fluid in a multi-stage flow-through hydrodynamic cavitational reactor, subjecting said fluids to a controlled cavitation and continuing the application of such cavitation for a period of time sufficient for obtaining desired changes in physical properties and/or chemical composition and generating the upgraded products. The method includes alteration of chemical bonds, induction of interactions of components, changes in composition, heterogeneity and rheological characteristics in order to facilitate handling, improve yields of distillate fuels and optimize other properties.

A device and method are provided for manipulating petroleum, non-conventional oil and other viscous complex fluids made of hydrocarbons that comprise enforcement of fluid in a multi-stage flow-through hydrodynamic cavitational reactor, subjecting said fluids to a controlled cavitation and continuing the application of such cavitation for a period of time sufficient for obtaining desired changes in physical properties and/or chemical composition and generating the upgraded products. The method includes alteration of chemical bonds, induction of interactions of components, changes in composition, heterogeneity and rheological characteristics in order to facilitate handling, improve yields of distillate fuels and optimize other properties.

A method for synthesizing nanoparticles by sonofragmentation includes dispersing ultra-thin substrate units in a solvent chosen for suitability for sonofragmentation of the substrate, forming a suspension; ultrasonicating the suspension for a length of time sufficient to fragment the substrate into nanoparticles that are dispersed in the solvent; and evaporating the solvent. Solvent exchange with a second solvent may be performed. The synthesized nanoparticles are highly crystalline and monodispersed. The surface of the synthesized nanoparticles may be functionalized by choosing the solvents according to chemistry related to the intended surface functionalization of the synthesized nanoparticles, by adding surfactants to one or more of the solvents, and/or by performing ligand exchange or chemical modification to replace surface-bonded solvent or surfactant molecules with other functional groups to produce nanoparticles having the desired surface functionalization.

A method for synthesizing nanoparticles by sonofragmentation includes dispersing ultra-thin substrate units in a solvent chosen for suitability for sonofragmentation of the substrate, forming a suspension; ultrasonicating the suspension for a length of time sufficient to fragment the substrate into nanoparticles that are dispersed in the solvent; and evaporating the solvent. Solvent exchange with a second solvent may be performed. The synthesized nanoparticles are highly crystalline and monodispersed. The surface of the synthesized nanoparticles may be functionalized by choosing the solvents according to chemistry related to the intended surface functionalization of the synthesized nanoparticles, by adding surfactants to one or more of the solvents, and/or by performing ligand exchange or chemical modification to replace surface-bonded solvent or surfactant molecules with other functional groups to produce nanoparticles having the desired surface functionalization.

The present application is directed towards systems and methods for continuously reacting a combination of materials by use of an acoustic agitator and a continuous process vessel. The system can react, fluidize, mix, coat, dry, combine or segregate materials. The continuous processing system can include an acoustic agitator capable of being removably coupled to a continuous process vessel. The continuous process vessel can include a first inlet for introducing at least one process ingredient, a plurality of plates configured for directing a flow of the at least one process ingredient through the continuous process vessel and capable of transferring acoustic energy generated by the acoustic agitator into the at least one process ingredient, an outlet for discharging a product of the at least one process ingredient, and a fastener for removable coupling the continuous process vessel to the acoustic agitator.

The present application is directed towards systems and methods for continuously reacting a combination of materials by use of an acoustic agitator and a continuous process vessel. The system can react, fluidize, mix, coat, dry, combine or segregate materials. The continuous processing system can include an acoustic agitator capable of being removably coupled to a continuous process vessel. The continuous process vessel can include a first inlet for introducing at least one process ingredient, a plurality of plates configured for directing a flow of the at least one process ingredient through the continuous process vessel and capable of transferring acoustic energy generated by the acoustic agitator into the at least one process ingredient, an outlet for discharging a product of the at least one process ingredient, and a fastener for removable coupling the continuous process vessel to the acoustic agitator.

Methods and systems for concentrating and allowing for separation of nanoparticles from fluids use acoustically driven nanoparticle concentrators which have an aerogel as the reflecting material and include tuning capabilities to alter the location at which the particles are being concentrated.

Methods and systems for concentrating and allowing for separation of nanoparticles from fluids use acoustically driven nanoparticle concentrators which have an aerogel as the reflecting material and include tuning capabilities to alter the location at which the particles are being concentrated.