A universal chemical processor (UCP) including a reactor vessel having a central longitudinal axis and main chamber comprises a first inlet port for a main feedstock, a second inlet port for a fluidizing medium and a third inlet port for one or more reactants. The UCP also includes a reactive radioactive chemical processor (R.sup.2CP) that contains a radioactive element positioned extending along the longitudinal axis in the main chamber. In operation, a fluidized bed can be supported in the main chamber when a fluidizing medium and feedstock are supplied to the main chamber through the first and second inlet ports and the radioactive element of the R.sup.2CP emits ionizing radiation that is capable of ionizing feedstock and reactants, inducing chemical reactions, and sterilizing and decomposing any organic materials within a radiation zone.

A fluidized bed reactor for biomass treatment comprising a vessel extending in a first direction from a first end to a second end, an inlet at the first end of the vessel for feeding biomass particles into the vessel, an outlet at the second end of the vessel for outputting processed biomass, a first fluid inlet independently activatable to deliver a first volume of a gas in a second direction into a first region of the vessel, and a second fluid inlet spaced apart from the first fluid inlet in the first direction and independently activatable to deliver a second volume of the gas in the second direction into a second region of the vessel, the second region adjacent the first region.

A fluidized bed reactor for biomass treatment comprising a vessel extending in a first direction from a first end to a second end, an inlet at the first end of the vessel for feeding biomass particles into the vessel, an outlet at the second end of the vessel for outputting processed biomass, a first fluid inlet independently activatable to deliver a first volume of a gas in a second direction into a first region of the vessel, and a second fluid inlet spaced apart from the first fluid inlet in the first direction and independently activatable to deliver a second volume of the gas in the second direction into a second region of the vessel, the second region adjacent the first region.

A universal chemical processor (UCP) including a reactor vessel having a central longitudinal axis and main chamber comprises a first inlet port for a main feedstock, a second inlet port for a fluidizing medium and a third inlet port for one or more reactants. The UCP also includes a reactive radioactive chemical processor (R.sup.2CP) that contains a radioactive element positioned extending along the longitudinal axis in the main chamber. In operation, a fluidized bed can be supported in the main chamber when a fluidizing medium and feedstock are supplied to the main chamber through the first and second inlet ports and the radioactive element of the R.sup.2CP emits ionizing radiation that is capable of ionizing feedstock and reactants, inducing chemical reactions, and sterilizing and decomposing any organic materials within a radiation zone.

A universal chemical processor (UCP) including a reactor vessel having a central longitudinal axis and main chamber comprises a first inlet port for a main feedstock, a second inlet port for a fluidizing medium and a third inlet port for one or more reactants. The UCP also includes a reactive radioactive chemical processor (R.sup.2CP) that contains a radioactive element positioned extending along the longitudinal axis in the main chamber. In operation, a fluidized bed can be supported in the main chamber when a fluidizing medium and feedstock are supplied to the main chamber through the first and second inlet ports and the radioactive element of the R.sup.2CP emits ionizing radiation that is capable of ionizing feedstock and reactants, inducing chemical reactions, and sterilizing and decomposing any organic materials within a radiation zone.

A new process for the decomposition of hydrocarbon feed stream(s) that achieves the conversion of a hydrocarbon feed stream to hydrogen and filamentous carbon, with minimal resulting production of carbon oxides is described herein. In this invention it is proposed to achieve the hydrocarbon conversion by the use of dual fluidized bed reaction zones, fluidly connected, for (i). hydrocarbon reaction (the reactor) and (ii). catalyst regeneration and heating (the regenerator) and to use a transition metal supported catalyst to achieve high hydrocarbon conversion and to produce high quality filamentous carbon.

An apparatus for processing graphite particles is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise an electromagnetic radiation emitting device including a microwave device coupled to the reaction chamber for the creation of electromagnetic waves, the electromagnetic waves comprising microwaves. The apparatus may also comprise an inlet attached to the reaction chamber for introducing graphite particles, and an outlet attached to the reaction chamber for allowing processed graphite particles to exit the reaction chamber. The graphite particles in the reaction chamber thermally altered by exposure to the electromagnetic radiation such that the graphite particles are heated

Disclosed herein is a solar thermochemical reactor comprising an outer member, an inner member disposed within an outer member, wherein the outer member surrounds the inner member and wherein the outer member has an aperture for receiving solar radiation and wherein an inner cavity and an outer cavity are formed by the inner member and outer member and a reactive material capable of being magnetically stabilized wherein the reactive material is disposed in the outer cavity between the inner member and the outer member.

Disclosed herein is a solar thermochemical reactor comprising an outer member, an inner member disposed within an outer member, wherein the outer member surrounds the inner member and wherein the outer member has an aperture for receiving solar radiation and wherein an inner cavity and an outer cavity are formed by the inner member and outer member and a reactive material capable of being magnetically stabilized wherein the reactive material is disposed in the outer cavity between the inner member and the outer member.

Disclosed herein is a composite particle comprising a first non-metallic particle in which is dispersed a second non-metallic particle, where the first non-metallic particle and the second non-metallic particle are inorganic; and where a chemical composition of the first non-metallic particle is different from a chemical composition of the second non-metallic particle; and where the first non-metallic particle and the second non-metallic particle are metal oxides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal borides, metal silicides, metal oxycarbides, metal oxynitrides, metal boronitrides, metal carbonitrides, metal borocarbides, or a combination thereof.