A reaction system and method for preparing compounds or intermediates from solid reactant materials is provided. In a specific aspect, a reaction system and methods are provided for preparation of boron-containing precursor compounds useful as precursors for ion implantation of boron in substrates. In another specific aspect, a reactor system and methods are provided for manufacture of boron precursors such as B.sub.2F.sub.4.

A system and method are provided for the separation of hydrogen from natural gas feedstock to form hydrocarbon radicals. Aspects of the system include perpendicular magnetic and electric fields, a method of radical formation that separates hydrogen from the reaction process, and a separation method based on centrifugal forces and phase transitions. The gases rotate in the chamber due to the Lorentz force without any mechanical motion. Rotation separates gases and liquids by centrifugal force. The lighter species are collected from the mid region endpoint of the apparatus and fed back for further reaction. A new concept of controlled turbulence is introduced to mix various species. A novel magnetic field device is introduced comprised of two specially magnetized cylinders. A novel control of temperatures, pressures, electron densities and profiles by, RF, microwaves, UV and rotation frequency are possible especially when atomic, molecular, cyclotron resonances are taken into account. The electrodes can be coated with catalysts; the entire apparatus can be used as a new type of chemical reactor.

A solution containing an ionic liquid, a polymer compound including at least one of a hydrolyzable polymer compound and a thermally-decomposable polymer compound, and a laminate of layered substances is irradiated with at least one of sonic waves and radio waves. Alternatively, a solution containing an ionic liquid, a polymer compound including at least one of a hydrolyzable polymer compound and a thermally-decomposable polymer compound, and a laminate of layered substances is heated.

An apparatus for forming diamond, which contains a reaction chamber, means for providing tetrahedranoidal reactant molecules to the reaction chamber; and means for providing single carbon atoms in the reaction chamber to provide for reaction between the single carbon atoms and tetrahedranoidal reactant molecules.

A plant for drying and solid state polycondensing a granular moisture-containing polymeric material includes a conduit feeding material to be treated longitudinally, a treatment zone located along the conduit, a blower of an inert gas into the conduit, and a radiating device emitting an alternating electromagnetic field in the radio-frequency band to dry and upgrade the material. The radiating device includes applicators, located at the treatment zone and external to the conduit in longitudinally offset positions, which are connected to the terminals of an electromagnetic wave generator and include pairs of opposed radiating elements that generate an alternating electromagnetic field in the conduit, with field lines at least partially parallel to the direction of feed of the material, and that define magnetic dipoles with opposite polarities along the conduit. A method of drying and solid state polycondensing a polymeric material in granular form obtained by polycondensation using the plant.

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.

There is provided a thermal reactor (100) comprising: a vessel (101), said vessel comprising: a gas inlet (102), an outlet (103), a gas permeable cage (104) arranged in the vessel (101), and in fluid connection to the gas inlet (102), wherein the vessel (101) and the cage (104) are provided with a mutual gas outlet (103), and temperature generating means (105:105) arranged to create a thermal reaction zone (106) within the cage (104), wherein the cage (104) is provided with holes (107), and wherein a first subset of the holes (107) is arranged along at least a portion of a first circumferential surface (110) of the cage (104) and a second subset of the holes (107) is arranged along at least a portion of a second circumferential surface (111) of the cage (104), wherein the first (110) and second (111) circumferential surfaces are offset and non-parallel, and the first subset of holes (107) and the second subset of holes (107) are mutually distinct.

Methods and apparatus for refining feedstocks, such as crude or synthetic oil, and like feedstocks, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a reactor for refining a feedstock includes: a chamber having an inner volume to hold a liquid feedstock, a feedstock inlet port, a process gas inlet port, and an outlet port; a gas diffuser housed within the chamber and coupled to the process gas inlet port; and a radical generator coupled in fluid communication with the inner volume via the gas diffuser. In some embodiments, a method for refining feedstock includes: providing liquid feedstock to an inner volume of a reactor; flowing a radicalized process gas from a radical generator into the inner volume and into contact with the feedstock via a gas diffuser to fractionate the feedstock and produce one or more fractions of product in a vaporous mixture; and collecting a desired product from the vaporous mixture.

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for applying radio frequency (RF) energy to an object in an energy application zone. At least one processor may be configured to cause RF energy to be applied at a plurality of electromagnetic field patterns to the object in the energy application zone. The processor may be further configured to determine an amount of power dissipated in the energy application zone, for each of the plurality of field patterns. The processor may also be configured to determine a spatial distribution of energy absorption characteristics across at least a portion of the energy application zone based on the amounts of power dissipated when the plurality of field patterns are applied to the energy application zone.

This invention relates to the design of a process by intermittent dielectric heating combined with a recycling system. This process consists in subjecting reagents to electromagnetic waves selected in the frequencies ranging between 300 GHz and 3 MHz intermittently using a recycling system. This process enables the treatment of oils that are hardly absorbent as well as great investment savings. This process enables operation on different scales, whether in laboratories, on a semi-industrial or industrial scale, without forfeiting the advantages of continuous dielectric heating.