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 or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

The present specification describes increasing the Brix degree, nutrient transport and density, and yields of cannabis crops through the application of photoacoustic resonance to a nutrient formulation. An activated nutrient solution is obtained by forming an unactivated nutrient solution and applying to the unactivated nutrient solution ultra-rapid impulses of modulated laser light, from one or more laser systems. An increase of at least 5% in the Brix degree of the crop, relative to an unactivated nutrient formulation, can be achieved. In addition, an increase of at least 5%, relative to an unactivated nutrient formulation, is seen with respect to nutrient density and crop yield through application of the activated nutrient solution.

A method for preparation of gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution through pulsed laser, comprises firstly preparing an aqueous solution including HAuCl.sub.4.H.sub.2O and H.sub.2O.sub.2, followed by allowing a catalytic light source to emit into the aqueous solution for catalysis, such that a plurality of gold nanoparticles are formed in the aqueous solution, the catalytic light source being a pulsed laser. Additionally, it is also possible for firstly placing a porous silicon substrate into the aqueous solution, and then allowing the catalytic light source to emit into the aqueous solution for catalysis, such that the gold nanoparticles are grown on the surface of the porous silicon substrate. In this way, the gold nanoparticles of smaller particle diameters with more uniform size may be obtained without adding a surfactant during the preparation.

A system and method are provided for the separation of hydrogen from natural gas feedstock to form hydrocarbon radicals. Aspects of the system include perpendicular magnetic and electric fields, a method of radical formation that separates hydrogen from the reaction process, and a separation method based on centrifugal forces and phase transitions. The gases rotate in the chamber due to the Lorentz force without any mechanical motion. Rotation separates gases and liquids by centrifugal force. The lighter species are collected from the mid region endpoint of the apparatus and fed back for further reaction. A new concept of controlled turbulence is introduced to mix various species. A novel magnetic field device is introduced comprised of two specially magnetized cylinders. A novel control of temperatures, pressures, electron densities and profiles by, RF, microwaves, UV and rotation frequency are possible especially when atomic, molecular, cyclotron resonances are taken into account. The electrodes can be coated with catalysts; the entire apparatus can be used as a new type of chemical reactor.

A hybrid slurry reactor for performing photocatalytic reactions is provided. The hybrid slurry reactor includes a photoreactor, including a conduit, having a transparent portion, a light-emitting diode (LED) array disposed within the conduit; wherein the conduit is configured such that photons from an external source enter the conduit through the transparent portion and the LED array is directed to emit photons into the conduit.

The invention provides a composite of silver nanoparticles decorated with graphene quantum dots (Ag-GQDs) using pulsed laser synthesis. The nanocomposites were functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG). A concentration of 150 g/mL of Ag-GQDs, a non-toxic level for human cells, exhibits strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria.

A flow reactor for photochemical reactions comprises an extended flow passage (20) surrounded by one or more flow passage walls (22), the flow passage having a length and a light diffusing rod (30) having a diameter of at least 500 m and a length, with at least a portion of the length of the rod (30) extending inside of and along the flow passage (20) for at least a portion of the length of the flow passage (20).

An apparatus for forming diamond, which contains a reaction chamber, means for providing tetrahedranoidal reactant molecules to the reaction chamber; and means for providing single carbon atoms in the reaction chamber to provide for reaction between the single carbon atoms and tetrahedranoidal reactant molecules.

Provided is a method for preparing boron nitride nanotubes, the method including: injecting a boron-metal catalyst composite into a reaction chamber; injecting a nitrogen precursor into the reaction chamber; producing a decomposition product of the boron-metal catalyst composite in a gas state by irradiating the boron-metal catalyst composite with a carbon dioxide laser or a free electron laser; and forming boron nitride nanotubes by reacting the decomposition product of the boron-metal catalyst composite in the gas state with the nitrogen precursor.

Working equipment includes a tool configured to work a structure at a working location thereon, with the structure having an applied marking at a known location with a known relationship with the working location. A computer system is configured to determine placement of the structure, and accordingly position the tool into at least partial alignment with the working location, and which in at least one instance, the tool is aligned with a second, offset location. A camera is configured to capture an image of the structure and including the marking, and further including the second location with which the tool is aligned. And the computer system is configured to process the image to locate the working location, reposition the tool from the second location and into greater alignment with the located working location, and control the repositioned tool to work the structure at the located working location.