An improved device and process for the production of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) having a novel plasma reactor assembly (105) with a gas and water injector (104) that mixes gas (10) and water (103) to produce gas and micro-fine water droplets (106) and injects same into a plasm reactor vessel (125) between electric diodes (128, 129) to yield a nitrous-rich plasma product (107) which is useful in a variety of commercial, agriculture, medical and industrial arenas.

The present invention relates to a method for treating a sample using glow-discharge plasma, in an apparatus comprising a treatment vessel, an electrode, a counter-electrode, and a power supply comprising one or more transformers and having a first transformer setting and a second transformer setting, the method comprising: (i) a loading step, involving loading the sample into the treatment vessel; (ii) a first treatment step involving treating the sample in a glow-discharge plasma formed within the treatment vessel by applying an electric field between the electrode and counter-electrode at the first transformer setting; (iii) a second treatment step involving treating the sample in a glow-discharge plasma formed within the treatment vessel by applying an electric field between the electrode and counter-electrode at the second transformer setting; and (iv) a removal step, involving removing treated sample from the treatment vessel. The method can be used to functionalize a sample. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for use in such a method.

A method for exfoliating and/or functionalising lamellar objects is discussed. The steps include immersing at least one portion of a first electrode in a liquid containing the lamellar objects to be exfoliated and/or functionalised, placing a second electrode outside the liquid, at least one portion of the second electrode being opposite a surface of the liquid, generating a plasma between at least one portion of the second electrode facing the surface of the liquid and the surface of the liquid by applying a pulse voltage difference between the first and the second electrode.

The disclosure relates to a process to perform an endothermic dehydrogenation and/or aromatization reaction of hydrocarbons, said process comprising the steps of providing at least one fluidized bed reactor comprising at least two electrodes and a bed comprising particles; putting the particles in a fluidized state to obtain a fluidized bed; heating the fluidized bed to a temperature ranging from 480° C. to 700° C. to conduct the reaction; and obtaining a reactor effluent containing hydrogen, unconverted hydrocarbons, and olefins and/or aromatics; wherein the particles of the bed comprise electrically conductive particles and particles of a catalytic composition, wherein at least 10 wt. % of the particles are electrically conductive particles and have a resistivity ranging from 0.001 Ohm.Math.cm to 500 Ohm.Math.cm at 500° C. and wherein the step of heating the fluidized bed is performed by passing an electric current of through the fluidized bed.

Method for transforming a gas mixture into a gas mixture of higher added value, comprising a step of injecting a gas mixture into a pulsed plasma reactor, a dissociation step using pulsed discharges to generate a shock wave between two electrodes to produce gases, and a step of releasing the produced gases to an area where they can be cooled down and/or separated and/or collected. The dissociation step is also designed to provide passive re-ignition of the plasma in the event that the latter is blown out by the continuous stream of gas in the reactor.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for triggering an exothermic reaction under a high hydrogen loading rate. It is generally understood that a high hydrogen loading ratio is an important factor. The present application teaches that a high hydrogen loading rate, that is, achieving a high hydrogen loading ratio in a short period of time, is another important factor in determining whether excess heat can be observed in an exothermic reaction. The present application discloses methods and apparatus for achieving a high hydrogen loading rate in order to trigger an exothermic reaction.

The present disclosure is related to the field of chemistry and provides methods and devices for stimulation of endothermic reactions in gas phase with high activation barriers by nanosecond pulsed electrical discharge. It can be used for, e.g., CO.sub.2 functionalization of methane, H.sub.2S dissociation, hydrogen and syngas production, for processing ammonia synthesis and dissociation, etc. Some embodiments include methods and devices associated with the stimulation of plasma chemical reactions with nanosecond pulse electric discharge in the presence of gas flow.

The device for pyrolysis of carbonaceous materials comprises a working chamber comprising a non-magnetic wall comprising an inner graphite lining; one or more electrodes adapted to be inserted within a carbon-based bedding; a solenoid coiled around the device exterior, the solenoid adapted to create a magnetic field within the working chamber such that when the solenoid is energized, the carbon-based bedding is caused to move; a lower solids outlet comprising an airlock, the solids outlet adapted to permit solids to exit the device; and a lower gas outlet adapted to permit gaseous substances to exit after having traveled through the carbon-based bedding. The method comprises the steps of loading carbon-containing materials into the working chamber; using the first and second electrodes to heat the carbon-containing materials by passing electric current through the carbon-containing materials without air access; collecting, cleaning and releasing gaseous pyrolysis products produced by the heating.

Systems and methods for eliminating carbon dioxide and capturing solid carbon are disclosed. By eliminating carbon dioxide gas, e.g., from an effluent exhaust stream of a fossil fuel fired electric power production facility, the inventive concepts presented herein represent an environmentally-clean solution that permanently eliminates greenhouse gases while at the same time producing captured solid carbon products that are useful in various applications including advanced composite material synthesis (e.g., carbon fiber, 3D graphene) and energy storage (e.g., battery technology). Capture of solid carbon during the disclosed process for eliminating greenhouse gasses avoids the inefficiencies and risks associated with conventional carbon dioxide sequestration. Colocation of the disclosed reactor with a fossil fuel fired power production facility brings to bear an environmentally beneficial, and financially viable approach for permanently capturing vast amounts of solid carbon from carbon dioxide gas and other greenhouse gases that would otherwise be released into Earth's biosphere.

A device and a process to propagate molecular growth of hydrocarbons, either straight or branched chain structures, that naturally occur in the gas phase of a first gas to gas phase molecules of a second gas having higher molecular chain lengths than the hydrocarbons of the first gas. According to one embodiment, the device includes a grounded reactor vessel having a gas inlet, a product outlet, and an electrode within the vessel; a power supply coupled to the electrode for creating an electrostatic field within the vessel for converting the first gas to a second gas.