The present invention generally relates to microfluidic droplets and, in particular, to multiple emulsion microfluidic droplets. In certain aspects, particles such as gel particles can be prepared in an aqueous carrier from aqueous droplets (or a non-aqueous carrier from non-aqueous droplets). For example, in some embodiments, double-emulsion droplets of a first fluid, surrounded by a second fluid, contained in a carrier fluid may be prepared, where the first fluid forms a gel and the second fluid is removed. For instance, the second fluid may be dissolved in the carrier fluid, or the second fluid may be hardened, then removed, for example, due to a change in pH. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to kits containing such microfluidic droplets, microfluidic devices for making such microfluidic droplets, or the like.

This invention provides producing having an objective ketone and/or alcohol by decomposing of a hydrocarbon compound rapidly and selectively having a same number of carbon atoms as a hydrocarbon compound by decomposing a hydroperoxide in a reaction solution obtained from oxidizing the hydrocarbon compound using molecular oxygen of this invention involves, a hydroperoxide decomposition step for decomposing the hydroperoxide into the ketone and/or alcohol by contacting the reaction solution with an aqueous solution containing a carbonate of an alkaline earth metal or a carbonate of an alkali metal and a transition metal compound, a separation step for separating into an oil phase comprising the ketone and/or alcohol, and a water phase comprising the carbonate of an alkaline earth metal or carbonate of an alkali metal and the transition metal compound, a recovery step for recovering the carbonate of an alkali metal or carbonate of an alkaline earth metal and the transition metal compound by combusting the water phase, and a recycling step for recycling to the hydroperoxide decomposition step by dissolving at least the carbonate of the alkali metal or the carbonate of the alkaline earth metal among the recovered substances obtained from the recovery step in water.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a positive electrode active material precursor for secondary batteries which allows maintenance of the crystallinity of an obtained positive electrode active material precursor at a high level while allowing control of a particle diameter of the positive electrode active material precursor. More particularly, the method of preparing a positive electrode active material precursor for secondary batteries includes (1) a preparation step of preparing a continuous-type reactor that includes a non-rotatable cylinder, inside which a reaction chamber is included; a stirring motor disposed at one side of the non-rotatable cylinder; a stirring rod that is coupled with a motor shaft of the stirring motor and is embedded inside the reaction chamber while being spaced from a wall of the reaction chamber; and a pH sensor for measuring pH inside the reaction chamber; (2) a gap adjustment step of adjusting a gap that is an interval between an outer surface of the stirring rod and an inner surface of the non-rotatable cylinder to be proportional to an average particle diameter of a positive electrode active material precursor to be obtained; and (3) a reaction step of supplying a metal solution and an alkaline solution for precipitation of the metal solution, to constitute the positive electrode active material precursor to be obtained, into the reaction chamber while rotating the stirring rod of the gap-adjusted continuous-type reactor, and allowing reaction for 30 minutes to 24 hours while maintaining pH inside the reaction chamber at 10.5 to 12.8.

Method to obtain methylene malonate and related monomers following a bis(hydroxymethyl) malonate pathway. A bis(hydroxymethyl) malonate intermediary is subsequently reacted (i.e., subjected to thermolysis) to provide a methylene malonate monomer species. A source of formaldehyde (e.g., formalin) is provided in the presence of a basic catalyst (e.g., calcium hydroxide), to which a malonate (e.g., diethyl malonate) is added under suitable reaction conditions to obtain the desired intermediary (e.g., dialkyl bis(hydroxymethyl) malonate). The intermediary is reacted (i.e., subjected to thermolysis) under suitable conditions in the presence of a suitable catalyst (e.g., a zeolite) to obtain a methylene malonate monomer. In an exemplary embodiment, the thermolysis reaction includes the addition of the bis(hydroxymethyl) malonate intermediary onto a heated catalyst. The reaction product is collected and purified. The disclosed methods may be performed in a continuous operation. Discrete steps may be performed by using modular units within a plant.

Provided is a discharge device for discharging pretreated biomass from a pressurized reactor. The device comprises: a vessel having an opening to a high pressure region at the top, and configured to be connected with a pressurized biomass pretreatment device; one or more inlet openings situated along the sides of the vessels through which water or liquid may be added; an orifice or valve at a lower part of said vessel, said orifice or valve being configured to eject pretreated biomass, optionally into a pipeline. The discharge device is characterised in that it comprises mechanical agitation means, said agitation means comprising an agitation element arranged in the interior of said vessel at a lower part of said vessel, and being configured to provide agitation of the content of said vessel, wherein said agitation means being adapted to withstand a pressure in the interior of a said vessel of 10 bar or more. The agitation means provides for a temperature equalization within a specific vertical range of heights of an aqueous slurry present in said vessel, thereby eliminating disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods.

Provided are various methods and systems for producing peroxycarboxylic acid compositions, and in particular, nonequilibrium compositions of peracetic acid. The methods and systems control flow rates and proportions of feedstocks/reactants, perform the required sequence of reaction steps to produce high yield peroxycarboxcylic acid solutions in a continuous manner, and provide optimal reaction time and reactant mixing for continuous and safe on-site production.

A rotating apparatus and a method for measuring acid-rock reaction characteristics in high temperature and pressure are provided. The apparatus for measuring the acid-rock reaction characteristics includes: a first reactor configured to react a rock disk with an acid; a second reactor configured to produce a spent acid through reaction of a rock with an acid aqueous solution, and to introduce the spent acid into the first reactor; and a sample extractor configured to extract a predetermined amount of acid reacting with the rock disk in the first reactor. Accordingly, the rock disk is rotated in the acid at high temperature and pressure in consideration of the reaction characteristics of the rock dissolved in the acid, and then a predetermined amount of acid reacting the rock is obtained with time. In addition, a flow of an acid in a real reservoir can be implemented by producing a spent acid and then reacting the rock disk with the spent acid at a reservoir condition.

Mixed rare earth carbonate may be prepared by mixing a rare earth sulfate solution with a precipitating agent comprising a first sodium carbonate (Na.sub.2CO.sub.3) solution, to form a first mixture, and generating a higher sulfate rare earth carbonate wet cake from the first mixture. The higher sulfate rare earth carbonate wet cake can be mixed with a second sodium carbonate (Na.sub.2CO.sub.3) solution to form a second mixture, and a lower sulfate rare earth carbonate can be generated from the second mixture.

A highly efficient and safe N-cyanation and N-phosphorylation reagent for the de novo synthesis of pharmaceutically acceptable cyclocreatine and salts was achieved using trichloroacetonitrile in lieu of highly toxic cyanogen bromide (CNBr) for generating the required cyclocreatine (CCr) intermediates, followed by highly effective N-phosphorylation through pH control using phosphoryl chloride with high conversion to the corresponding cyclocreatine phosphate (CCrP) targets. A continuous flow reactor system was engineered to improve the efficiency of the process and deliver a product with improved yield, safety, and cost efficiency.

Provided are various methods and systems for producing peroxycarboxylic acid compositions, and in particular, nonequilibrium compositions of peracetic acid. The methods and systems control flow rates and proportions of feedstocks/reactants, perform the required sequence of reaction steps to produce high yield peroxycarboxcylic acid solutions in a continuous manner, and provide optimal reaction time and reactant mixing for continuous and safe on-site production.