Compositions containing a first reactant; an emulsion comprising a surfactant and silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) nanoparticles; and a carrier fluid containing a second reactant and methods of making. When the first and second reactants react, they generate heat. At a first time, the emulsion surrounds the first reactant, and the carrier fluid with the second reactant surrounds the emulsion. At a second time, the emulsion surrounds a first portion of the first reactant; and a second portion of the first reactant surrounds the emulsion.

A catalyst bed includes a structure defining a plurality of channels configured to receive flow of fluid to be chemically catalyzed. The plurality of channels are oriented at least partially non-parallel to an overall flow direction of the flow from inputs of the plurality of channels to outputs of the plurality of channels. A catalyst is exposed at an exterior of the structure.

A catalyst bed includes a structure defining a plurality of channels configured to receive flow of fluid to be chemically catalyzed. The plurality of channels are oriented at least partially non-parallel to an overall flow direction of the flow from inputs of the plurality of channels to outputs of the plurality of channels. A catalyst is exposed at an exterior of the structure.

Activated metal low temperature reaction processes and products are disclosed. A method for capturing a target element from a target source includes providing a matrix comprising an activated metal dispersed in a metal activating agent. The method also includes contacting the target source with the matrix. The target element is selected from the group consisting of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing. The target source comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a target carbon compound, a target sulfur compound, a target nitrogen compound, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

Activated metal low temperature reaction processes and products are disclosed. A method for capturing a target element from a target source includes providing a matrix comprising an activated metal dispersed in a metal activating agent. The method also includes contacting the target source with the matrix. The target element is selected from the group consisting of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing. The target source comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a target carbon compound, a target sulfur compound, a target nitrogen compound, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

In a method for capturing carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen from a target source, a matrix including activated metal dispersed in a metal activating agent is provided. The target source may be or include a carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen target compound. The target source is contacted with the matrix, wherein the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce elemental carbon, elemental sulfur, elemental nitrogen, and/or one or more compounds transformed from the target compound(s). The matrix may be produced by contacting a metal with the metal activating agent, and maintaining contact between the metal and the metal activating agent for a period of time sufficient for metal atoms from the solid metal to disperse in the metal activating agent. The reaction may also produce a metal compound. The activated metal may also be utilized in alkylation and other synthesis processes.

In a method for capturing carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen from a target source, a matrix including activated metal dispersed in a metal activating agent is provided. The target source may be or include a carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen target compound. The target source is contacted with the matrix, wherein the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce elemental carbon, elemental sulfur, elemental nitrogen, and/or one or more compounds transformed from the target compound(s). The matrix may be produced by contacting a metal with the metal activating agent, and maintaining contact between the metal and the metal activating agent for a period of time sufficient for metal atoms from the solid metal to disperse in the metal activating agent. The reaction may also produce a metal compound. The activated metal may also be utilized in alkylation and other synthesis processes.

The invention concerns new types of porous coordination polymers (MOF) and a method for their preparation. MOFs have been prepared through synthesis of salts of trivalent cations M.sup.3+, the source of which are aluminium, chromium, iron or yttrium salts, it is advantageous if of chlorides, nitrates or sulphates, with linkers carrying two or more phosphinic groups under presence of solvent. Linkers are phenylene-1,4-bis(R phosphinic acid) (PBPA) and biphenylene-4,4′-bis(R phosphinic acid) (BBPA). For the prepared MOFs, the structure has been tested using x-ray powder diffraction, specific surface and porousness which have been characterised through adsorption isotherm of nitrogen and further the stability of prepared MOFs has been determined using thermogravimetric analysis. All the prepared MOFs have been stable around 400° C. and have contained mesopores or micropores where hydrogen or CO.sub.2, for example, can be stored.

The invention concerns new types of porous coordination polymers (MOF) and a method for their preparation. MOFs have been prepared through synthesis of salts of trivalent cations M.sup.3+, the source of which are aluminium, chromium, iron or yttrium salts, it is advantageous if of chlorides, nitrates or sulphates, with linkers carrying two or more phosphinic groups under presence of solvent. Linkers are phenylene-1,4-bis(R phosphinic acid) (PBPA) and biphenylene-4,4′-bis(R phosphinic acid) (BBPA). For the prepared MOFs, the structure has been tested using x-ray powder diffraction, specific surface and porousness which have been characterised through adsorption isotherm of nitrogen and further the stability of prepared MOFs has been determined using thermogravimetric analysis. All the prepared MOFs have been stable around 400° C. and have contained mesopores or micropores where hydrogen or CO.sub.2, for example, can be stored.

A method for converting excess liquid oxygen into liquid nitrogen, including introducing a gaseous nitrogen stream into a main heat exchanger, therein exchanging heat with a vaporized oxygen stream, a vapor phase nitrogen steam, and a waste liquid nitrogen stream; thereby producing a cold gaseous nitrogen stream, an oxygen vent stream, a nitrogen vent steam, and a gaseous nitrogen waste stream, introducing the cold gaseous nitrogen stream into a secondary heat exchanger, therein exchanging heat with a liquid oxygen stream; thereby producing the vaporized oxygen stream and a cold liquid nitrogen stream, introducing the cold liquid nitrogen stream into a nitrogen pressure reduction valve thereby producing a two-phase nitrogen stream, introducing the two-phase nitrogen stream into a nitrogen flash vessel thereby producing a liquid phase nitrogen stream and the vapor phase nitrogen stream, wherein the method is performed in the absence of refrigerant turbo-expanders, refrigerant expansion turbines, or refrigerant compressors.