Microwave based systems and methods are provided for obtaining carbonaceous compounds from polypropylene-containing products. In one example, embodiment, a method is provided for recovering at least one organic decomposition product from a polypropylene-containing product, the method comprising: placing the polypropylene-containing product in a reduction zone of a material recovery system; flowing an inert gas through the reduction zone from a reduction inlet to a reduction outlet to purge the reduction zone and maintain a positive pressure therein; applying electromagnetic wave energy from an electromagnetic wave generator to the reduction zone via a bifurcated waveguide assembly, while maintaining the polypropylene-containing product in a stationary position for at least a portion of the applying, to yield at least one gaseous organic decomposition product; and exhausting the at least one gaseous organic decomposition product from the reduction zone along with the inert gas through the reduction outlet.

A nanometer-size-particle production apparatus and method are provided which can prevent the occurrence of waste fluids, and which makes quick and continuous syntheses feasible while suppressing damages to the electrode. The nanometer-size-particle production apparatus is for synthesizing nanometer size particles in a liquid by means of plasma in the liquid.

Microwave chemical processing system having a microwave plasma reactor, and a multi-stage gas-solid separation system are disclosed. The microwave energy source has a waveguide, a reaction zone, and an inlet configured to receive the input material, and the input material is converted into separated components. The separated components include hydrogen gas and carbon particles. The multi-stage gas-solid separation system has a first cyclone separator to filter the carbon particles from the separated components, and a back-pulse filter system coupled to the output of the first cycle separator to filter the carbon particles from the output from the first cyclone separator.

Conversion of heavy fossil hydrocarbons (HFH) to a variety of value-added chemicals and/or fuels can be enhanced using microwave (MW) and/or radio-frequency (RF) energy. Variations of reactants, process parameters, and reactor design can significantly influence the relative distribution of chemicals and fuels generated as the product. In one example, a system for flash microwave conversion of HFH includes a source concentrating microwave or RF energy in a reaction zone having a pressure greater than 0.9 atm, a continuous feed having HFH and a process gas passing through the reaction zone, a HFH-to-liquids catalyst contacting the HFH in at least the reaction zone, and dielectric discharges within the reaction zone. The HFH and the catalyst have a residence time in the reaction zone of less than 30 seconds. In some instances, a plasma can form in or near the reaction zone.

Systems, methods, and devices using plasma to reform a hydrocarbon feedstock are described. A hydrocarbon feedstock is introduced to a first reaction zone having a first plasma, where the first plasma increases the excitation of the hydrocarbon, which could be up to 100% of the dissociation level. The excited hydrocarbons are then introduced to a glide arc plasma, which raises the excitation levels of the hydrocarbons past the dissociation level. Microwave energy is introduced to the glide arc plasma to propagate the hybrid plasma and maintain dissociation of the hydrocarbons, allowing for filtration of particulate and capture of hydrogen and carbon. Inductive coupling to the hybrid plasma may be further used to monitor reaction conditions in the hybrid plasma and maintain desired excitation of the hydrocarbons.

Disclosed is a microwave irradiating and heating device including: a reaction furnace (1) for containing a sample material (50) to be irradiated with microwave and to be heated; a polarization grid (2) provided for the reaction furnace (1); a microwave irradiating source (3) for emitting a linearly polarized microwave, the microwave irradiating source (3) being disposed outside the reaction furnace (1); and a reflector (4) for reflecting the microwave emitted from the microwave irradiating source (3) toward the reaction furnace (1) through the polarization grid (2), the reflector (4) being disposed above the reaction furnace (1), wherein the microwave irradiating source (3) is arranged in such a way that the polarization direction of the reflected microwave which is made incident upon the polarization grid (2) is perpendicular to an orientation of the polarization grid (2).

A method for conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide comprises: introducing a flow of a dehumidified gaseous source of carbon dioxide into a reaction vessel; and irradiating dried, solid carbonaceous material in the reaction vessel with microwave energy. Heating of the irradiated carbonaceous material drives an endothermic reaction of carbon dioxide and carbon that produces carbon monoxide. At least a portion of heat required to maintain a temperature within the reaction vessel is supplied by the microwave energy. Carbon monoxide thus produced is allowed to flow out of the reaction vessel.

In order to suppress discharge of an unreacted content in a chemical reaction apparatus for irradiating a content with microwaves, a chemical reaction apparatus includes: a horizontal flow-type reactor in which a liquid content horizontally flows with an unfilled space being provided thereabove; a microwave generator that generates microwaves; and a waveguide that transmits the microwaves generated by the microwave generator to the unfilled space in the reactor, wherein the inside of the reactor is partitioned into multiple chambers to by overflow-type partition plates and that allow the content to flow thereover and an underflow-type partition plate that allows the content to flow thereunder.

Disclosed is a microwave irradiating and heating device including: a reaction furnace (1) for containing a sample material (50) to be irradiated with microwave and to be heated; a polarization grid (2) provided for the reaction furnace (1); a microwave irradiating source (3) for emitting a linearly polarized microwave, the microwave irradiating source (3) being disposed outside the reaction furnace (1); and a reflector (4) for reflecting the microwave emitted from the microwave irradiating source (3) toward the reaction furnace (1) through the polarization grid (2), the reflector (4) being disposed above the reaction furnace (1), wherein the microwave irradiating source (3) is arranged in such a way that the polarization direction of the reflected microwave which is made incident upon the polarization grid (2) is perpendicular to an orientation of the polarization grid (2).

Systems for the production of hydrogen and/or oxygen are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a system can include a first chamber, a microwave source configured to radiate microwave energy into at least the first chamber, a second chamber in communication with the first chamber, and an ultraviolet light source. The second chamber includes an outlet and a waveguide, and the ultraviolet light source resides within the waveguide of the second chamber. The first chamber includes an inlet that allows an input feed to enter the first chamber, the input feed including water. The ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light to at least partially breakdown the water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas as the water flows through the second chamber. Methods for the production of hydrogen and/or oxygen are also provided.