Methods and systems include supplying pulsed microwave radiation through a waveguide, where the microwave radiation propagates in a direction along the waveguide. A pressure within the waveguide is at least 0.1 atmosphere. A supply gas is provided at a first location along a length of the waveguide, a majority of the supply gas flowing in the direction of the microwave radiation propagation. A plasma is generated in the supply gas, and a process gas is added into the waveguide at a second location downstream from the first location. A majority of the process gas flows in the direction of the microwave propagation at a rate greater than 5 slm. An average energy of the plasma is controlled to convert the process gas into separated components, by controlling at least one of a pulsing frequency of the pulsed microwave radiation, and a duty cycle of the pulsed microwave radiation.

A method of forming nanoscale diamond particles comprises providing C.sub.2 and CH radicals at a low pressure, and nucleating the C.sub.2 and CH radicals to form carbon nanoparticles comprising a diamond phase and a non-diamond phase. The method further comprises removing at least a portion of the non-diamond phase in flight during the nucleation of the C.sub.2 and CH radicals to form a carbon powder comprising a plurality of nanoscale diamond particles.

A device for preparing a high-temperature and active particle-containing steam. The device includes a steam generator including an inlet for introducing a plasma medium and an inlet for introducing a steam. In the steam generator, the steam is heated and activated by the plasma medium to form an active particle-containing steam which improves the gasification rate and efficiency in the gasification of coal, biomass, and garbage.

A solar thermochemical processing system is disclosed. The system includes a first unit operation for receiving concentrated solar energy. Heat from the solar energy is used to drive the first unit operation. The first unit operation also receives a first set of reactants and produces a first set of products. A second unit operation receives the first set of products from the first unit operation and produces a second set of products. A third unit operation receives heat from the second unit operation to produce a portion of the first set of reactants.

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.

Plasma polymerisation apparatus is disclosed including a reaction zone and at least one gas inlet for supplying at least one monomer in a gaseous form to the reaction zone, a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart and configured to generate an electric field in the reaction zone to form plasma polymer nanoparticulate material from the at least one monomer, a plurality of collectors configured to collect plasma-polymer nanoparticulate material formed in the reaction zone, the plurality of collectors being located adjacent the second electrode, and a cooling device located adjacent the second electrode and configured to cool the plurality of collectors. Also disclosed is plasma polymerisation apparatus that includes a confinement grid extending between a first electrode and a second electrode of the apparatus.

A nitric oxide generator generates nitric oxide from a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen such as air treated by a pulsating electrical discharge. The desired concentration of nitric oxide is obtained by controlling at least one of a frequency of the pulsating electrical discharge and duration of each electrical discharge pulse.

A method and apparatus for generation of fluorine gas (F.sub.2) in situ at the point of use is provided. The portable fluorine generator includes a dilution system disposed within a housing and operable to mix a feed gas comprising fluorine with an inert gas. The portable fluorine generator further includes a plasma reactor unit disposed within the housing and operable to separate fluorine from the feed gas comprising fluorine.

The present invention provides a hybrid reforming system for producing syngas through a reforming reaction between carbon dioxide plasma and a hydrocarbon material, the system comprising: a carbon dioxide feeder (110) which feeds carbon dioxide; a hydrocarbon material feeder (120) which feeds the hydrocarbon material; a plasma reformer (200) which respectively receives carbon dioxide and the hydrocarbon material from the carbon dioxide feeder (110) and the hydrocarbon material feeder (120), and produces primary syngas through a reforming reaction while producing the carbon dioxide plasma using electromagnetic waves; a wet carbon-refining device (130) which is arranged at a gas exhaust end of the plasma reformer (200) and filters and refines carbon contained in the primary syngas; and a catalyst dry-reformer (140) which is arranged at a gas exhaust end of the wet carbon-refining device (130) and produces secondary syngas by making the refined syngas undergo a catalyst dry-reforming reaction.

A method of processing a reaction product generated from a plasma-based reactive process includes: supplying a first electromagnetic energy to a flowing primary gaseous feed material, such that at least a fraction of the flowing primary gaseous feed material is excited by the supplied first electromagnetic energy into a first plasma within a first plasma zone, and such that at least a fraction of the flowing primary gaseous feed material is converted to a first plasma zone-conditioned product while flowing through the first plasma and the first plasma zone-conditioned product is flowed to a downstream reaction zone. A second gaseous material is then introduced to the downstream reaction zone. The first plasma zone-conditioned product is contacted with the second gaseous material within the downstream reaction zone.