This disclosure provides a reactor system that includes a microwave energy source that generates a microwave energy, a field-enhancing waveguide (FEWG) coupled to the microwave source. The FEWG includes a field-enhancing zone having a cross-sectional area that decreases along a length of the FEWG. The field-enhancing zone includes a supply gas inlet that receives a supply gas, a reaction zone that generates a plasma in response to excitation of the supply gas by the microwave energy, a process inlet that injects a raw material into the reaction zone, and a constricted region that retains a portion of the plasma and combines the plasma and the raw material in response to the microwave energy within the reaction zone. An expansion chamber is in fluid communication with the constricted region facilitates expansion of the plasma. An outlet outputs a plurality of carbon-inclusive particles derived from the expanded plasma and the raw material.

A method for producing silicon using microwave and a microwave reduction furnace for use therewith are disclosed, with which it is possible to quickly reduce silica to quickly produce silicon. A material of a mixture of a silica powder and a graphite powder of a mixture of a silica powder, a silicon carbide powder and a graphite powder is set in a refractory chamber. Then, the material set in the chamber is irradiated with microwave. The graphite powder absorbs a microwave energy to increase the temperature, after which silica and graphite react with each other to further increase the temperature while producing silicon carbide, and the heated silica and silicon carbide react with each other. SiO produced through this reaction and silicon carbide are allowed to react with each other, thereby producing high-purity silicon.

A pyrolysis oil composition by an oxygen-starved microwave process from an organic-carbon-containing feedstock is described. Feedstock is introduced into a substantially microwave-transparent reaction chamber. A microwave source emits microwaves which are directed through the microwave-transparent wall of the reaction chamber to impinge on the feedstock within the reaction chamber. The microwave source may be rotated relative to the reaction chamber. The feedstock is subjected to microwaves until the desired reaction occurs to produce a fuel. A catalyst can be mixed with the feedstock to enhance the reaction process.

A char composition made by an oxygen-starved microwave process from an organic-carbon-containing feedstock is described. Feedstock is introduced into a substantially microwave-transparent reaction chamber. A microwave source emits microwaves which are directed through the microwave-transparent wall of the reaction chamber to impinge on the feedstock within the reaction chamber. The microwave source may be rotated relative to the reaction chamber. The feedstock is subjected to microwaves until the desired reaction occurs to produce a fuel. A catalyst can be mixed with the feedstock to enhance the reaction process.

A substance is treated using a device having: (a) a volute or cyclone head, (b) a throat connected to the volute or cyclone head, (c) a parabolic reflector connected to the throat, (d) a first wave energy source comprising a first electrode within the volute or cyclone head that extends through the outlet into the opening of the throat along the central axis, and a second electrode extending into the parabolic reflector and spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode, and (e) a second wave energy source disposed inside the throat, embedded within the throat or disposed around the throat. The substance is directed to the inlet of the volute or cyclone head and irradiated with one or more wave energies produced by the first and second wave energy sources as the substance passes through the device.

An apparatus for microwave assisted solid phase synthesis using solid-phase resin beads mixed with a liquid solvent comprising a generally cylindrical reactor made of microwave transparent material and having a central axis, the reactor having an inlet and an outlet; a porous frit associated with the outlet of the reactor, the porous frit preventing discharge of beads and allowing discharge of the solvent from the reactor; and means for concentric rotation of the reactor around the central axis in alternating clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. A method for microwave assisted solid phase synthesis using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Systems and methods for plasma based synthesis of graphitic materials. The system includes a plasma forming zone configured to generate a plasma from radio-frequency radiation, an interface element configured to transmit the plasma from the plasma forming zone to a reaction zone, and the reaction zone configured to receive the plasma. The reaction zone is further configured to receive feedstock material comprising a carbon containing species, and convert the feedstock material to a product comprising the graphitic materials in presence of the plasma.

In order to provide a treatment apparatus that can efficiently perform microwave irradiation, a treatment apparatus includes: a vessel made of a microwave-reflecting material, and having a first end and an irradiation opening portion, which is an emitting portion of microwaves that are emitted into the vessel; a first filter located so as to partition the vessel, and configured to separate solids that are to be separated, from the contents of the vessel; and a first reflecting member located closer to the first end than the emitting portion is and so as to partition the vessel, and configured to allow at least the contents having passed through the first filter to pass through the first reflecting member, and to reflect microwaves.

System and methods for plasma treatment of a fluidized bed of particles are disclosed. The systems include an energy coupling zone configured to generate a plasma from microwave radiation and an interface element configured to propagate the plasma from the energy coupling zone to a reaction zone. The reaction zone is configured to receive the plasma, receive a plurality of reactant particles in a fluidization plane direction from a fluidization assembly positioned below the reaction zone, and form a product in presence of the plasma. The fluidization plane is substantially perpendicular to the propagated plasma.

A system for producing carbonaceous materials is disclosed that includes an energy source configured to emit microwave energy and a plasma reactor coupled to receive the microwave energy and configured to produce plasma in response to exposure of one or more process gases to the microwave energy. In some instances, the plasma reactor includes a first chamber having a rectangular cross-section and configured to receive the microwave energy from the energy source as sinusoidal waveform, a second chamber having a cylindrical cross-section and configured to receive microwave energy from the first chamber as a radial waveform having an energy maxima at a radial center of the cylindrical cross-section, the second chamber including an opening to receive one or more process gases and configured to ignite a plasma plume, and a gas-solid separator configured to separate solid materials from the plasma plume.