Provided is a method for desulphurizating and denitrating a flue gas in an integrated manner based on low-temperature adsorption. The method includes: decreasing a temperature of the flue gas below a room temperature by using a flue gas cooling system; removing moisture in the flue gas by using a dehumidification system; sending the flue gas to a SO.sub.2 and NO.sub.x adsorbing column system; and simultaneously adsorbing SO.sub.2 and NO.sub.x of the flue gas with a material of activated coke, activated carbon, a molecular sieve or diatom mud in the SO.sub.2 and NO.sub.x adsorbing column system to implement an integration of desulphurization and denitration of the flue gas based on the low-temperature adsorption. With the present method, SO.sub.2 and NO.sub.x of the flue gas can be adsorbed simultaneously in an environment having a temperature below the room temperature.

The present invention provides a heat-driven adsorption vacuum dehumidification system including a vapor adsorption apparatus having a water permeable hydrophilic membrane separating the apparatus into at least a feed section and a low-pressure or vacuum section (evaporator), and providing a water vapor pressure difference to extract moisture from the air flowing through the apparatus into the evaporator, followed by adsorption in an adsorption chamber, and subsequently desorbed when acted as a desorption chamber to form water vapor which is condensed in a condenser. Adsorption and desorption chambers inter-change periodically to form a complete system cycle. Heating of chamber/compartment can be from waste heat or a renewable source in the absence of any electricity supplied externally. Related method for using a heat-driven adsorption vacuum dehumidification system to remove moisture from the air is also provided. The present invention is superior to the adsorption chiller over a wide range of operating conditions.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing degradation and/or alteration in an evaporative emission control system of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during a refueling, monitoring a fuel tank pressure and a fuel fill level, and detecting a presence or an absence of a fuel vapor canister of the EVAP system based on a change in fuel tank pressure with an increase in fuel level.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing degradation and/or alteration in an evaporative emission control system of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during a refueling, monitoring a fuel tank pressure and a fuel fill level, and detecting a presence or an absence of a fuel vapor canister of the EVAP system based on a change in fuel tank pressure with an increase in fuel level.

A method of operating an air purification system (24″) of an ion mobility spectrometer, the method comprising: operating the ion mobility spectrometer in a first sampling mode comprising circulating a flow of air around a closed air circulation system comprising a drift chamber (12) of the ion mobility spectrometer and a first sieve (70) of the air purification system; and operating the ion mobility spectrometer in a first regeneration mode comprising heating the first sieve and circulating a first flow of air through a second sieve (72) of the air purification system and through the drift chamber (12) while passing a second flow of air through the first sieve (70) to an outtake (76).

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide in a gas stream derived from exhalation air from a patient. The apparatus (1) comprises an inlet arrangement (2) with a gas inlet (3) for the exhalation air, an outlet arrangement (11) with a gas outlet (12) for an outlet gas, and between these arrangements a through-flow decomposition chamber (9) containing a catalyst material. According to the invention the apparatus is provided with a nitrous oxide adsorption/desorption means (4) in the inlet arrangement (2) for level out variations in the concentration of nitrous oxide fed to the decomposition chamber (9).

Systems and methods are provided for separation of CO.sub.2 from dilute source streams. The systems and methods for the separation can include use of contactors that correspond radial flow adsorbent modules that can allow for efficient contact of CO.sub.2-containing gas with adsorbent beds while also facilitating use of heat transfer fluids in the vicinity of the adsorbent beds to reduce or minimize temperature variations. In particular, the radial flow adsorbent beds can be alternated with regions of axial flow heat transfer conduits to provide thermal management. The radial flow structure for the adsorbent beds combined with axial flow conduits for heat transfer fluids can allow for sufficient temperature control to either a) reduce or minimize temperature variations within the adsorbent beds or b) facilitate performing the separation using temperature as a swing variable for controlling the working capacity of the adsorbent.

A carbon processing system comprises an air mover and a multi-stage reactor. The multi-stage reactor processes ambient air and generates carbon dioxide and generates exhausted gas released to ambient air. In operation, air contacts the base solution via the air mover. The air reacts with the base solution thereby generating a base solution having carbon dioxide and generating exhaust (absorption reaction). Next, the exhaust is released from the reactor. Next, heat is applied to the base solution having carbon dioxide thereby generating carbon dioxide and generating a base solution without carbon dioxide (desorption reaction). The base solution without carbon dioxide generated after applying heat is reusable in processing new air. The absorption reaction and desorption reaction are reversible reactions resulting in regeneration of the base solution into its form prior to contact with the air yielding high scalability and less processing volume as required by many conventional carbon processing techniques.

An ink for three dimensional printing a ceramic material includes metal oxide nanoparticles and a polymer resin, where a concentration of the metal oxide nanoparticles is at least about 50 wt % of a total mass of the ink. A method of forming a porous ceramic material includes obtaining an ink, where the ink comprises a mixture of metal oxide nanoparticles and a polymer, forming a body from the ink, curing the formed body, heating the formed body for removing the polymer and for forming a porous ceramic material from the metal oxide nanoparticles. The forming the body includes an additive manufacturing process with the ink.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a heating element coupled to a canister of an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system. In one example, a method (or system) may include evacuating the canister at different temperature conditions, and diagnosing the heating element based on the different times taken to evacuate the canister at the different temperature conditions.