The present disclosure broadly relates to a process for preparing aqueous solutions of vanadium sulfates or aqueous solutions of transition metal sulfates. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a direct electrochemical process in which a suspension, obtained by slurrying transition metals oxides such as oxides of vanadium, oxides of iron, oxides of cobalt, oxides of nickel, oxides of chromium, oxides of manganese, oxides of titanium, oxides of cerium, oxides of praseodymium, oxides of europium, oxides of terbium, oxides of uranium, oxides of plutonium, or their mixtures thereof with sulfuric acid as carrier fluid, is reduced electrochemically inside the cathode compartment of an electrolyzer to produce an aqueous solution of vanadium sulfates or of transition metal sulfates. Simultaneously, oxidizing co-products are produced in the anode compartment.

Methods and catalysts for oxidizing ammonia to nitrogen are described. Specifically, diruthenium complexes that spontaneously catalyze this reaction are disclosed. Accordingly, the disclosed methods and catalysts can be used in various electrochemical cell-based energy storage and energy production applications that could form the basis for a potential nitrogen economy.

Methods and catalysts for oxidizing ammonia to nitrogen are described. Specifically, diruthenium complexes that spontaneously catalyze this reaction are disclosed. Accordingly, the disclosed methods and catalysts can be used in various electrochemical cell-based energy storage and energy production applications that could form the basis for a potential nitrogen economy.

A method for preparing hydrogen sulfide from sulfur dioxide by electrochemical reduction includes electrochemically reducing sulfur dioxide absorbed in an aqueous solution into gaseous hydrogen sulfide with a membrane electrode, resulting in efficient and selective conversion of the sulfur dioxide absorbed in the aqueous solution into the hydrogen sulfide to avoid a deactivation of a cathode due to colloidal sulfur produced on the cathode and adhesion onto a surface of the cathode, wherein the method is carried out at ambient temperature and normal pressure without addition of a reducing agent, having no waste salts produced, and is simple in operation, and is convenient for large-scale application.

A method for preparing hydrogen sulfide from sulfur dioxide by electrochemical reduction includes electrochemically reducing sulfur dioxide absorbed in an aqueous solution into gaseous hydrogen sulfide with a membrane electrode, resulting in efficient and selective conversion of the sulfur dioxide absorbed in the aqueous solution into the hydrogen sulfide to avoid a deactivation of a cathode due to colloidal sulfur produced on the cathode and adhesion onto a surface of the cathode, wherein the method is carried out at ambient temperature and normal pressure without addition of a reducing agent, having no waste salts produced, and is simple in operation, and is convenient for large-scale application.

A plant growth promoting system according to the present invention makes foliar application of nitric oxide containing a mineral material, an enzymatic material, and a soil microorganism to a root part and leaves of a plant by pressure spraying, makes foliar application of carbonated water containing a plant growth promoter and a moisture fluctuation inhibitor to leaves of the plant by pressure spraying, and applies quantum energy to a round surface and an aerial part of the plant, thus providing the effect of promoting the growth of the plant.

A plant growth promoting system according to the present invention makes foliar application of nitric oxide containing a mineral material, an enzymatic material, and a soil microorganism to a root part and leaves of a plant by pressure spraying, makes foliar application of carbonated water containing a plant growth promoter and a moisture fluctuation inhibitor to leaves of the plant by pressure spraying, and applies quantum energy to a round surface and an aerial part of the plant, thus providing the effect of promoting the growth of the plant.

Provides a method for producing aluminum oxide powder by electrochemical dissolving aluminum salt, comprise: (A) providing an electrochemical device with an aluminum material as an anode and an acidic solution as an electrolyte; (B) accelerating the dissolution of the aluminum material by current pulse method to form an acidic aluminum salt solution; (C) neutralizing the acidic aluminum salt solution with a basic solution to form an aluminum hydroxide sol; (D) adding an additive in the aluminum hydroxide sol, filtering the aluminum hydroxide sol and drying to obtain aluminum hydroxide powder; (E) roasting the aluminum hydroxide powder to form micron scale γ-aluminum oxide powder. Combines the acidic aluminum salt method and the electrochemical dissolution method to improve the dissolving rate of the aluminum material and increase the output efficiency of the acidic aluminum salt, and obtaining micron scale γ-aluminum oxide powder.

Provides a method for producing aluminum oxide powder by electrochemical dissolving aluminum salt, comprise: (A) providing an electrochemical device with an aluminum material as an anode and an acidic solution as an electrolyte; (B) accelerating the dissolution of the aluminum material by current pulse method to form an acidic aluminum salt solution; (C) neutralizing the acidic aluminum salt solution with a basic solution to form an aluminum hydroxide sol; (D) adding an additive in the aluminum hydroxide sol, filtering the aluminum hydroxide sol and drying to obtain aluminum hydroxide powder; (E) roasting the aluminum hydroxide powder to form micron scale γ-aluminum oxide powder. Combines the acidic aluminum salt method and the electrochemical dissolution method to improve the dissolving rate of the aluminum material and increase the output efficiency of the acidic aluminum salt, and obtaining micron scale γ-aluminum oxide powder.

Described herein are salt-splitting electrolysis systems, which comprise flow electrodes, and methods of operating such systems. Specifically, the flow electrodes comprise active particles (suspended in a solvent) with catalysts. These catalysts are configured to react with either cations or anions, provided in a feed stream. The flow electrodes allow using the same system for different feed streams, e.g., by flowing different types of electrodes through the system. Furthermore, the flow electrodes allow in-situ catalyst reconditioning. For example, the active particles can be flown from the current collectors to respective recovery devices where the particles are discharged or subjected to a reverse potential. The active particles can be conductive and provide more desirable electrical field distribution between the current collectors resulting in greater ionic mobility. Finally, the active particles concentrate ions around the particles thereby providing a higher concentration gradient through separating structures, which enclose the feed stream.