Microwave systems and new applications of microwave in medical, chemical and materials manufacturing and processing, food and health industries as well as in analytical chemistry instrumentation for in situ study of microwave effects are provided. In the case of medical applications, the microwave based damage is conducted in a way to diminish ablating or damaging the collateral tissue and to increase the probability of procedure achievement.

Disclosed are single atom dispersions and multi-atom dispersions, and systems and methods for synthesizing the atomic dispersions. An exemplary method of synthesizing atomic dispersions includes: positioning a loaded substrate which includes a substrate in which is loaded with at least one of: a precursor of an element or a cluster of an element, applying one or more temperature pulses to the loaded substrate where a pulse of the temperature pulse(s) applies a target temperature for a duration, maintaining a cooling period after the pulse, and providing single atoms of the element dispersed on the substrate after the one or more temperature pulses. The target temperature applied by the pulse is between 500 K and 4000 K, inclusive, and the duration is between 1 millisecond and 1 minute, inclusive.

A pyrolysis method and a pyrolysis reactor for recovering silica from a polymer waste material containing silica, particularly a rubber or plastics waste material containing silica, using thermal decomposition for separating silica from at least one non-silica component of the polymer waste material, are disclosed. The waste material is delivered to a pyrolytic chamber, and heated to a decomposition temperature of at least one non-silica component of the waste materiel by microwave radiation. The decomposition temperature is selected such that the at least one non-silica component includes a higher microwave absorptivity than silica.

A cap closes a sample vessel for the microwave treatment of samples. The cap contains a closure body for closing the sample vessel. The closure body is fitted to the sample vessel and closes the sample vessel at a sealing surface. A spring-loaded pressure relief valve and a vent duct are provided. The vent duct, the pressure relief valve and the closure body are configured in such a manner that the vent duct connects the closure body via the pressure relief valve to the surrounding area such that when a defined first pressure level is exceeded at the closure body excess pressure can escape through the vent duct into the area surrounding the cap. A reservoir is provided. The reservoir and the vent duct are configured such that condensate precipitating in the vent duct accumulates in the reservoir when the cap is in the state fitted to the sample vessel.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of this gas processing system.

A method of thermal compacting of an airbag cushion is described where rapid heating is conducted by a microwave beam directed at a mold through a radiation transparent wall without materially heating the mold itself.

According to an embodiment, a method for preparing a sea urchin-shaped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire comprises preparing a mixture of a ZnO nano-powder and a graphite powder and irradiating the mixture, in a container, with a microwave.

An apparatus for large batch chemical reactions using microwave energy includes a chamber defined by an outer wall, and a vessel disposed inside the chamber, the vessel defined by an inner wall, the inner wall being separated from the outer wall by a gap. The vessel is configured to receive and hold a load. The apparatus further includes a first applicator and a second applicator configured to emit the microwave energy at the load, wherein points at which microwave energy emitted by the first applicator and the second applicator enter the load are spaced at a distance from each other that is longer than a penetration depth of the microwave energy into the load such that no electromagnetic intercoupling occurs between the first applicator and the second applicator upon emission of the microwave energy.

Conversion of heavy fossil hydrocarbons (HFH) to a variety of value-added chemicals and/or fuels can be enhanced using microwave (MW) and/or radio-frequency (RE) energy. Variations of reactants, process parameters, and reactor design can significantly influence the relative distribution of chemicals and fuels generated as the product. In one example, a system for flash microwave conversion of HFH includes a source concentrating microwave or RF energy in a reaction zone having a pressure greater than 0.9 atm, a continuous feed having HFH and a process gas passing through the reaction zone, a HFH-to-liquids catalyst contacting the HFH in at least the reaction zone, and dielectric discharges within the reaction zone. The HFH and the catalyst have a residence time in the reaction zone of less than 30 seconds. In some instances, a plasma can form in or near the reaction zone.

A fluid treatment device with a new configuration is provided. The fluid treatment device is provided with an upstream treatment unit defined by treatment surfaces that rotate relative to each other, and a downstream treatment unit arranged downstream of the upstream treatment unit. The upstream treatment unit is configured such that, by passing the fluid to be treated into an upstream treatment space defined by the treatment surfaces, the fluid to be treated is subjected to upstream treatment. The downstream treatment unit is provided with a downstream treatment space which performs the function of retaining and mixing the fluid to be treated by means of a labyrinth seal. An upstream outlet of the fluid to be treated from the upstream treatment unit opens into the downstream treatment space, and the downstream treatment space is configured to use the labyrinth seal to perform the function of controlling retention time. The downstream treatment space is provided with narrow seal spaces, and retention spaces arranged upstream of the seal spaces and wider than the seal spaces, and the upstream outlet opens to a retention space.