Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

A venting cap is disclosed for pressure vessels for microwave-assisted chemistry. The venting cap includes a flexible circular cover for closing the mouth of a reaction vessel, a flexible annular wall depending from the circular cover, and a flexible annular ring at the bottom of the annular wall and parallel to the circular cover for positioning the cap on a reaction vessel. At least one indentation in the circular cover minimizes distortion when any contents of a reaction vessel exert pressure against the cap, and at least one opening in the annular wall provides a ventilation path through the cap when gas pressure in a reaction vessel flexes the cap sufficiently to partially disengage at least a portion of the cap from the mouth of the reaction vessel.

Relating to a technology for separating a suspended matter in a suspension using ultrasonic waves, a technology that can realize high separation ability capable of highly efficient separation of the suspended matter in the suspension is provided. A suspension flow-through separation apparatus includes a flow-through separator including a flow-through separation unit. The flow-through separation unit includes a cavity structure that functions as a channel through which a suspension flows, a side surface portion which extends in an x-direction of the cavity structure, a supply port which is provided at one side surface portion, an outlet port which is provided at the other side surface portion, two planar portions that extend in a y-direction in the cavity structure and face to each other, and an ultrasonic oscillator that is provided at least one of two planar portions, and emits ultrasonic waves to the channel. The suspended matter in the suspension is captured by the ultrasonic waves and separated in a z-direction that is a vertical direction while the suspension flows through the channel of the flow-through separator. A first angle formed by the x-direction or the y-direction and a flow-through direction corresponding to a straight line connecting a center point of the supply port and a center point of the outlet port is an acute angle.

The invention relates to macro- and micro-liquid marbles (i.e. droplets of liquid with a particulate-based shell), and in particular, to photo-responsive macro- and micro-liquid marbles encapsulating a substance therein. Methods for forming the macro- and micro-liquid marbles, and use of the macro- and micro-liquid marbles, in controlled release applications are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a porous nano structure and a method of manufacturing same. The porous nano structure exhibits excellent mechanical strength and has a wide specific surface area and is therefore useful as an absorbent, a vibration absorber, a sound absorber, a shock absorber, a catalyst support, a membrane for separation, etc., and can be applied to various technical fields such as electronics, composite materials, sensors, catalysts, energy storage materials, and ultra-high capacity storage batteries. In particular, the porous nano structure exhibits excellent hydrogen storage capability and is thus very useful as a hydrogen storage material.

An apparatus, comprising a magnetically conductive conduit having a fluid entry port, a fluid impervious boundary wall and a fluid discharge port defining a fluid impervious flow path through the magnetically conductive conduit, at least one end of the conduit having a taper forming a planar surface extending from an outer to an inner surface; an electrical conductor comprising a length of an electrical conducting material having a first and second conductor lead, the electrical conductor coiled with at least one turn to form an uninterrupted coil of electrical conductor encircling a section of the outer surface of the magnetically conductive conduit; and an electrical power supply operably connected to at least one of the first and second conductor leads, wherein the at least one coiled electrical conductor is thereby energized to provide a magnetic field having lines of flux directed along a longitudinal axis of the magnetically conductive conduit.

The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a core-shell catalyst, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a core-shell catalyst, in which a particle in the form of a core-shell in which the metal nanoparticle is coated with platinum is manufactured by substituting copper and platinum through a method of manufacturing a metal nanoparticle by emitting a laser beam to a metal ingot, and providing a particular electric potential value, and as a result, it is possible to continuously produce nanoscale uniform core-shell catalysts in large quantities.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

The invention relates to macro- and micro-liquid marbles (i.e. droplets of liquid with a particulate-based shell), and in particular, to photo-responsive macro- and micro-liquid marbles encapsulating a substance therein. Methods for forming the macro- and micro-liquid marbles, and use of the macro- and micro-liquid marbles, in controlled release applications are also disclosed.

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.