A gastight chamber (E) containing an inert gas, such as argon, the gastight chamber (E) including an inlet air lock (E1), the gastight chamber being characterized in that it further contains a polymerization station (K) for grafting a bioactive polymer, such as PolyNaSS, on an implant, the polymerization station (K) comprising: a vessel for containing a monomer; catalyst means (M) that act on the monomer of the vessel (T) so as to accelerate polymerization; and an elevator (L) including a carriage (L1) that is movable vertically above the vessel so as to dip the implants into the vessel and extract them therefrom.

Compositions and methods for generating ClO.sub.2 gas are disclosed. A composition that includes a chlorite salt is activated by exposure to ultraviolet light. After an optional storage period, the composition is then exposed to moisture, resulting in the generation of ClO.sub.2 gas. Exemplary compositions include polymers in which the chlorite salt is dispersed. The polymers may be used to form films that can be used to package, e.g., food products, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and/or laboratory devices. Upon exposure to ultraviolet light and moisture, the packaging releases controlled quantities of ClO.sub.2 gas, which may disinfect and/or deodorize the packaged device or product.

Apparatus and methods for facilitating an intramolecular reaction that occurs in single collisions of CO.sub.2 molecules (or their derivatives amenable to controllable acceleration, such as CO.sub.2.sup.+ ions) with a solid surface, such that molecular oxygen (or its relevant analogs, e.g., O.sub.2.sup.+ and O.sub.2.sup.? ions) is directly produced are provided. The reaction is driven by kinetic energy and is independent of surface composition and temperature. The methods and apparatus may be used to remove CO.sub.2 from Earth's atmosphere, while, in other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to prevent the atmosphere's contamination with CO.sub.2 emissions. In yet other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to obtain molecular oxygen in CO.sub.2-rich environments, such as to facilitate exploration of extraterrestrial bodies with CO.sub.2-rich atmospheres (e.g. Mars).

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.

A multilayer produce packaging film includes a first layer and a chlorine dioxide-producing layer. The chlorine dioxide-producing layer includes a polymer composition and a plurality of chlorite ions. The chlorine dioxide-producing layer is substantially free of an energy-activated catalyst and is substantially free of an acid-releasing compound. However, the film is capable of generating chlorine dioxide when exposed to UV light and moisture.

Methods for the photoreduction of molecules are provided, the methods comprising illuminating an amino-terminated diamond surface comprising amino groups covalently bound to the surface of diamond with light comprising a wavelength sufficient to excite an electronic transition defined by the energy band structure of the amino-terminated diamond, thereby inducing the emission of electrons from the amino-terminated diamond surface into a sample comprising molecules to be reduced, wherein the emitted electrons induce the reduction of the molecules to form a reduction product; and collecting the reduction product.

A method for producing chlorinated polyvinyl chloride includes placing polyvinyl chloride in a powder form in a reactor; introducing chlorine gas into the reactor, wherein the chlorine gas is brought into contact with polyvinyl chloride; irradiating the polyvinyl chloride with UV light The UV light has a wavelength ranging from 280 to 420 nm and an irradiation intensity in a range of 0.0005 to 7.0 W per kg of the polyvinyl chloride.

A fluid is processed between processing surfaces capable of approaching to and separating from each other, at least one of which rotates relative to the other. A first fluid is introduced between processing surfaces, by using a micropump effect acting with a depression arranged on the processing surfaces from the center of the rotating processing surfaces. A second fluid, independent of this introduced fluid, is introduced from another fluid path that is provided with an opening leading to the processing surfaces, whereby the processing is done by mixing and stirring between the processing members.

The method for low temperature microencapsulation of phase change materials or other components includes the following steps: (a) preparing a phase change emulsion including droplets of at least one active phase-change material in water with a surfactant; (b) adding a monomer of at least one encapsulating agent; (c) introducing the phase change emulsion into a UV reactor while stirring the emulsion; and (d) initiating the photo polymerization of monomers using at least one UV lamp inside the UV reactor for photo polymerization until the phase change material is encapsulated within a polymeric shell to form microcapsules. The microcapsules obtained by this process may have a diameter between about 0.5 to about 2 m. Other sizes can also be obtained by changing stirring speed of the emulsion.

The invention provides an anti-fouling lighting system (1) configured for preventing or reducing biofouling on a fouling surface (1201) of an object (1200) that during use is at least temporarily exposed to a liquid, by providing an anti-fouling light (211) to said fouling surface (1201), the anti-fouling lighting system (1) comprising: a lighting module (200) comprising a light source (210) configured to generate an anti-fouling light (211); and an energy system (500) configured to locally harvest energy and configured to provide electrical power to said light lighting module (200), wherein the energy system (500) comprises (i) a sacrificial electrode (510), and (ii) a second energy system electrode (520), wherein the energy system (500) is configured to provide electrical power to the lighting module (200) when the sacrificial electrode (510) and the second energy system electrode (520) are in electrical contact with the liquid.