Systems and apparatuses for converting nitrogen gas, such as from ambient air, into fertilizer via interaction with a controlled plasma field using low energy inputs. Mechanisms and methods for cooling splitter apparatuses during production of fertilizer from nitrogen gas. Methods of producing fertilizer from nitrogen gas, such as ambient air, via a splitter creating a plasma output, and for collecting produced fertilizer.

Systems and apparatuses for converting nitrogen gas, such as from ambient air, into fertilizer via interaction with a controlled plasma field using low energy inputs. Mechanisms and methods for cooling splitter apparatuses during production of fertilizer from nitrogen gas. Methods of producing fertilizer from nitrogen gas, such as ambient air, via a splitter creating a plasma output, and for collecting produced fertilizer.

The present invention relates to a reactor R with apparatus D, the latter comprising a gas- and/or liquid-permeable tray B, in the edge region of which there is disposed a lateral boundary W which fully encloses the tray B and forms a volume V comprising catalytic and/or noncatalytic shaped bodies (F), wherein there is at least one braid made of precious metal and/or base metal on the upstream side opposite the tray B, and the catalytic and/or noncatalytic shaped bodies (F) are selected from (i) shaped bodies (F1) in the form of straight prisms, the footprint of which is selected from triangle, rectangle, hexagon or fragments of these polygons, and (ii) a combination of the shaped bodies (F1) with shaped bodies (F2) that are smaller than the shaped bodies (F1), wherein groups of m to n shaped bodies (F1), m and n being an integer from 3 to 30 with n>m, are framed in a metal cassette open in the upstream direction and closed in the downstream direction by a gas-permeable tray, in a virtually seamless manner with side face to side face and with their longitudinal axis aligned in vertical direction, virtually completely covering the cross section of the tray, to form modules (M), and the modules (M), optionally with cooperation of a joint filler material, with vertical alignment of the longitudinal axis of the shaped bodies (F1), are joined to one another virtually seamlessly in a mosaic-like manner.

The present invention relates to a reactor R with apparatus D, the latter comprising a gas- and/or liquid-permeable tray B, in the edge region of which there is disposed a lateral boundary W which fully encloses the tray B and forms a volume V comprising catalytic and/or noncatalytic shaped bodies (F), wherein there is at least one braid made of precious metal and/or base metal on the upstream side opposite the tray B, and the catalytic and/or noncatalytic shaped bodies (F) are selected from (i) shaped bodies (F1) in the form of straight prisms, the footprint of which is selected from triangle, rectangle, hexagon or fragments of these polygons, and (ii) a combination of the shaped bodies (F1) with shaped bodies (F2) that are smaller than the shaped bodies (F1), wherein groups of m to n shaped bodies (F1), m and n being an integer from 3 to 30 with n>m, are framed in a metal cassette open in the upstream direction and closed in the downstream direction by a gas-permeable tray, in a virtually seamless manner with side face to side face and with their longitudinal axis aligned in vertical direction, virtually completely covering the cross section of the tray, to form modules (M), and the modules (M), optionally with cooperation of a joint filler material, with vertical alignment of the longitudinal axis of the shaped bodies (F1), are joined to one another virtually seamlessly in a mosaic-like manner.

Methods are provided for synthesizing high purity niobium or rhenium powders by a combustion reaction. The methods can include: forming a combustion synthesis solution by dissolving in water an oxidizer, a fuel, and at least one base-soluble, ammonium salt of niobium or rhenium in amounts that yield a stoichiometric burn when combusted; and heating the combustion synthesis solution to a temperature sufficient to substantially remove the water and to initiate a self-sustaining combustion reaction.

A production system for a product selected from a nitrogen-containing product and a fermented and cultured product that does not involve (or can minimize) the transport of liquid ammonia can include: an ammonia synthesis apparatus in which an ammonia-containing gas is synthesized by reaction of a source gas containing hydrogen and nitrogen in the presence of a supported metal catalyst containing as a support one or more selected from the group consisting of: i) a conductive mayenite compound; ii) a two-dimensional electride compound or a precursor thereof; and iii) a complex formed of a support base containing at least one metal oxide selected from ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2, and MgO and a metal amide represented by a formula M(NH.sub.2).sub.x (where M represents one or more selected from Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Eu; and x represents a valence number of M) supported by the support base.

A production system for a product selected from a nitrogen-containing product and a fermented and cultured product that does not involve (or can minimize) the transport of liquid ammonia can include: an ammonia synthesis apparatus in which an ammonia-containing gas is synthesized by reaction of a source gas containing hydrogen and nitrogen in the presence of a supported metal catalyst containing as a support one or more selected from the group consisting of: i) a conductive mayenite compound; ii) a two-dimensional electride compound or a precursor thereof; and iii) a complex formed of a support base containing at least one metal oxide selected from ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2, and MgO and a metal amide represented by a formula M(NH.sub.2).sub.x (where M represents one or more selected from Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Eu; and x represents a valence number of M) supported by the support base.

Disclosed herein is an explosive composition for soft and wet ground. The explosive composition comprises an explosive comprising an oxidiser component in a water in oil emulsion or a water gel, and a bulking agent comprising discrete particles of a combustible substance. The combustible substance is water soluble but, in the explosive composition, migration of the combustible substance from the discrete particles to the oxidiser component is inhibited. Also disclosed is a method for delivering an explosive composition to a borehole, for example a borehole in soft and wet ground.

A method for the production of nitric acid, comprising a step of oxidation of ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, comprising a step of monitoring the temperature of said catalyst by at least one contactless infrared sensor.

A method for the production of nitric acid, comprising a step of oxidation of ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, comprising a step of monitoring the temperature of said catalyst by at least one contactless infrared sensor.