A process and catalyst for the in situ generation of hydrogen via the microwave irradiation of a ruthenium chitosan composite catalyst has enabled the convenient reduction of nitro compounds in aqueous medium.

[Problem] To provide a microwave plasma treatment apparatus that is not provided with complicated, long gas flow paths inside a dielectric substrate, to stabilize generation and retention of a plasma, and can generate a highly uniform, high-density, stable low-temperature plasma not only at low atmospheric pressures but also at middle atmospheric pressures and high atmospheric pressures.

[Solution] In a micro plasma treatment apparatus including a dielectric substrate, a microwave introducing section, a microstrip line, an earth conductor, a gas inlet, a plasma generating section, and a nozzle for blowing out a plasma, the gas inlet is provided at the earth conductor or the microstrip line, and the gas inlet is provided with a diameter preferably smaller than a cut-off wavelength determined depending on a cross-section of the gas inlet, to prevent leakage of a microwave.

A method of treating particles by disaggregating, deagglomerating, exfoliating, cleaning, functionalizing, doping, decorating and/or repairing said particles, in which the particles are subjected to plasma treatment in a treatment chamber containing a plurality of electrodes which project therein and wherein plasma is generated by said electrodes which are moved during the plasma treatment to agitate the particles.

A process for the conversion of a feedstock containing one or more fatty acid triglycerides to a mixture containing one or more fatty acid alkyl esters and t-alkyl glycerols, including reacting the feedstock with a compound of formula (I):
ROR.sup.I(I) wherein: R.sup.I is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl having 1-18 carbon atoms; R is H or a tertiary alkyl group, wherein the reaction takes place in the presence of an acid transesterification catalyst by irradiation with microwaves and/or ultrasound and/or radio waves.

A spinel-type lithium titanium oxide/graphene composite and a method of preparing the same are provided. The method can be useful in simplifying a manufacturing process and shortening a manufacturing time using microwave associated solvothermal reaction and post heat treatment, and the spinel-type lithium titanium oxide/graphene composite may have high electrochemical performances due to its excellent capacity and rate capability and long lifespan, and thus be used as an electrode material of the lithium secondary battery.

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 (RF) 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.

Systems, methods, and devices using plasma to reform a hydrocarbon feedstock are described. A hydrocarbon feedstock is introduced to a first reaction zone having a first plasma, where the first plasma increases the excitation of the hydrocarbon, which could be up to 100% of the dissociation level. The excited hydrocarbons are then introduced to a glide arc plasma, which raises the excitation levels of the hydrocarbons past the dissociation level. Microwave energy is introduced to the glide arc plasma to propagate the hybrid plasma and maintain dissociation of the hydrocarbons, allowing for filtration of particulate and capture of hydrogen and carbon. Inductive coupling to the hybrid plasma may be further used to monitor reaction conditions in the hybrid plasma and maintain desired excitation of the hydrocarbons.

A method for controlling a microwave-assisted treatment including: injecting an initial substance into a cavity; propagating microwaves into the cavity, thereby obtaining a treated substance; extracting the treated substance; injecting part of the extracted substance into the cavity; measuring a complex reflection coefficient; comparing the measured complex reflection coefficient to a target value; when the measured complex reflection coefficient is different from the target value, measuring operation parameters; comparing the measured operation parameters to given operation parameters; when the measured operation parameters correspond to the given operation parameters: removing a contaminant from the treated substance prior to injection into the microwave cavity; and/or varying a quantity of a given element within the microwave cavity, the given element comprising a catalyst, a microwave receptor, a reagent or an additive.

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.

Method of obtaining terephthalic acid from waste polyethylene terephthalate by depolymerization with microwave heating of the reaction mixture, and its subsequent purification, wherein, after depolymerization, the mixture of products of the depolymerization reaction is mixed with water, a solid phase is separated from the formed mixture, the obtained solution is extracted with water-immiscible organic solvent and, after separation of phases, dissolved impurities are removed from the aqueous phase by its contact with a sorbent that is then separated, wherein, after separation of the sorbent, terephthalic acid is precipitated from the solution by its acidification and subsequently separated from the formed suspension.