A system and a method for producing silicon from a SiO.sub.2-containing material that includes solid SiO.sub.2. The method uses a reaction vessel including a first section and a second section in fluid communication with said first section. The method includes: heating the SiO.sub.2-containing material that includes the solid SiO.sub.2 to a SiO.sub.2-containing material that includes liquid SiO.sub.2, at a sufficient temperature to convert the solid SiO.sub.2 into the liquid SiO.sub.2; converting, in the first section, the liquid SiO.sub.2 into gaseous SiO.sub.2 that flows to the second section by reducing the pressure in the reaction vessel to a subatmospheric pressure; and reducing, in the second section, the gaseous SiO.sub.2 into liquid silicon using a reducing gas. The reducing of the pressure is performed over a continuous range of interim pressure(s) sufficient to evaporate contaminants from the SiO.sub.2-containing material, and removing by vacuum, the one or more evaporated gaseous contaminants.

The present invention concerns a device for the production of hydrogen and solid carbon from C.sub.1 to C.sub.4-alkane-containing gas by means of thermal plasma, a process for the production of hydrogen and solid carbon from C.sub.1 to C.sub.4-alkane-containing gas by means of thermal plasma, and the use of a device in a process for the production of hydrogen and solid carbon from C.sub.1 to C.sub.4-alkane-containing gas by means of a process of the invention.

Methods for separating gaseous components, such as unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent, from polyolefin solids are provided. The methods include flowing a first stream including polyolefin solids and gaseous unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent through a portion of a gas-solid separation vessel having a volume sufficient so that polyolefin solids present in the first stream have an increased residence time within the gas-solid separation vessel to separate gaseous unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent from the polyolefin solids to produce a second stream including polyolefin solids substantially free of gaseous unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent and a third stream including the gaseous unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent. Systems for carrying out such methods are also provided.

The production method according to the present disclosure comprises obtaining a product comprising a fluoroethane from a fluoroethylene by a reaction in the presence of at least one catalyst. The reaction is performed in two or more reaction zones. Each reaction zone comprises a catalyst, and the fluoroethylene is supplied to each reaction zone to perform the reaction.

A method of continuously producing a polyol includes: (i) feeding a solid catalyst into a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR); (ii) contacting a reaction mixture comprising one or more epoxides and carbon dioxide with the solid catalyst and a chain transfer agent comprising a plurality of sites capable of initiating copolymerization of epoxides and carbon dioxide in the CSTR; (iii) allowing polymerization reaction to proceed until a desired molecular weight polyol has formed; and (iv) terminating the polymerization reaction.

The invention provides a method for continuously producing composite nanoparticles, the method comprising heating a precursor mixture with supercritical water, wherein the mixture contains a first compound capable of transitioning from a monoclinic to a tetragonal rutile crystal state; cooling the heated mixture to obtain core particles of a predetermined shape and size; encapsulating the core particle with a second precursor to create a core-shell construct; and encapsulating the construct with an organic material. Also provided is a device for continuously synthesizing composite nanoparticles, the device comprising a water supply and a precursor supply; a means for heating the water, a continuous flow hydrothermal reaction chamber adapted to receive the heated water and precursor, a means for chilling the heated water and precursor, and a capping agent supply positioned downstream of the reaction chamber. The invention also provides a nanocomposite particle comprising a core region, and a conformal organic overcoat.

An improved hydrogen generation system comprising a multi-port wave reformer in which shock and expansion waves are created in a manner causing head-on colliding shock waves and multi-stage compression where reacting gases within a six port wave reformer are mtiply heated and compressed to thermally crack or decompose one or more fuel sources, such as hydrocarbon fuels, to generate a fuel product containing hydrogen.

A method and system for continuous production of contaminant free and size specific biochar using downdraft gasification of variable quality feedstock. The system and process of the present invention includes the transfer of biochar from a gasifier after gasification to a temperature-controlled cooling screw conveyor, into a drum magnet for ferrous metal removal into multiple diverters to separate and remove ungasified materials and non-ferrous metal contaminants, then transferred into a granulator for grinding and screening the biochar to a pre-selected size. By directly attaching a novel and continuous product treatment process to the biochar stream as it exits the gasifier, the particle size, moisture content, carbon content and yield of a contaminant free biochar product can be narrowly controlled and improved to meet strict product quality specifications required by specialty applications.

The present invention relates to methods and devices for providing microbial control and/or disinfection/remediation of an environment. The methods generally comprise: generating a Purified Hydrogen Peroxide Gas (PHPG) that is substantially free of, e.g., hydration, ozone, plasma species, and/or organic species; and directing the gas comprising primarily PHPG into the environment such that the PHPG acts to provide microbial control and/or disinfection/remediation in the environment, preferably both on surfaces and in the air.

Disclosed is a method and a device for purification and desulfurization of liquid hydrocarbons, which, compared to sodium dispersion desulfurizing processes like already been disclosed, open up additional fields of application and greatly improves economy and achievable results.