A method of supplying ammonia to a gas chromatography-chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (GC/CI-MS/MS) includes the steps of: providing ammonium carbonate and diethanolamine in a reaction vessel; heating the reaction vessel to a temperature of 50-60? C. to decompose the ammonium carbonate to form ammonia, carbon dioxide and water; absorbing the carbon dioxide and water by the diethanolamine to form diethanolamine carbonate; and supplying the ammonia to the GC/CI-MS/MS. Another method of supplying ammonia to a gas chromatography-chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (GC/CI-MS/MS) includes the steps of: providing ammonium carbonate and a mixture of monoethanolamine and diethanolamine in a reaction vessel; reacting the ammonium carbonate with the monoethanolamine to form ammonia and monoethanolamine carbonate; and supplying the ammonia to the GC/CI-MS/MS.

A transition metal amino borohydride material includes a first row transition metal in conjunction with an amine ligand and borohydride, in a condition of having been thermally treated to a temperature of at least 70 C. and up to but not including 800 C. An exemplary such material, Fe(DETA)(BH.sub.4).sub.2 having been heat treated at 300 C., had good hydrogen storage characteristics.

A transition metal amino borohydride material includes a first row transition metal in conjunction with an amine ligand and borohydride, in a condition of having been thermally treated to a temperature of at least 70 C. and up to but not including 800 C. An exemplary such material, Fe(DETA)(BH.sub.4).sub.2 having been heat treated at 300 C., had good hydrogen storage characteristics.

A vehicle system comprising a fuel cell, at least one container for the storage of ammonia precursor, and a first and second fuel generator. The first and second fuel generators are configured to convert the ammonia precursor into fuel for use in the fuel cell. The first fuel generator is configured to carry out the ammonia precursor conversion within a lower temperature range than the second fuel generator.

Disclosed are methods and compact apparatus for controlled, on-demand ammonia generation from urea. The process gasifies an aqueous urea solution in a chamber utilizing hot gas while controlling the flows of aqueous urea solution and hot gas to achieve complete gasification of the aqueous urea solution and form a gas mixture comprising ammonia, isocyanic acid, carbon dioxide and water vapor, which is passed through a catalyst bed containing particulate transition metal oxide to convert substantially all of the isocyanic acid to ammonia. A catalyst support and the catalyst bed are aligned with the gasification chamber at the lower end of said chamber to provide a degree of back pressure on the gases in the gasification chamber to isolate the gasification chamber from turbulent exit effects caused by equipment downstream of the thermal reactor. A sample of the product stream is treated to remove water and ammonia, and analyze for carbon dioxide content to control the process. The apparatus to perform the process includes flow managing equipment and catalyst supports that facilitate continuous operation with accurate control.

Disclosed are methods and compact apparatus for controlled, on-demand ammonia generation from urea. The process gasifies an aqueous urea solution in a chamber utilizing hot gas while controlling the flows of aqueous urea solution and hot gas to achieve complete gasification of the aqueous urea solution and form a gas mixture comprising ammonia, isocyanic acid, carbon dioxide and water vapor, which is passed through a catalyst bed containing particulate transition metal oxide to convert substantially all of the isocyanic acid to ammonia. A catalyst support and the catalyst bed are aligned with the gasification chamber at the lower end of said chamber to provide a degree of back pressure on the gases in the gasification chamber to isolate the gasification chamber from turbulent exit effects caused by equipment downstream of the thermal reactor. A sample of the product stream is treated to remove water and ammonia, and analyze for carbon dioxide content to control the process. The apparatus to perform the process includes flow managing equipment and catalyst supports that facilitate continuous operation with accurate control.

An ammonia gas generator for producing ammonia from a solution of an ammonia precursor substance, comprising a catalyst unit that comprises a catalyst for the decomposition and/or hydrolysis of ammonia precursor substances into ammonia and a mixing chamber provided upstream of the catalyst; an injection device for injecting the solution of the ammonia precursor substance into the mixing chamber; at least one inlet for the carrier gas; and an outlet for the formed ammonia gas, said ammonia gas generator also comprising a perforated disc.

An ammonia gas generator for producing ammonia from a solution of an ammonia precursor substance, comprising a catalyst unit that comprises a catalyst for the decomposition and/or hydrolysis of ammonia precursor substances into ammonia and a mixing chamber provided upstream of the catalyst; an injection device for injecting the solution of the ammonia precursor substance into the mixing chamber; at least one inlet for the carrier gas; and an outlet for the formed ammonia gas, said ammonia gas generator also comprising a perforated disc.

A method for reducing condensate in a subsurface formation is disclosed. The method includes introducing a reactive mixture including an aqueous solution, urea, dopamine, a silica nanoparticle precursor, a silane grafting compound, and an alcohol compound into the subsurface formation. The method also includes allowing generation of ammonia through thermal decomposition of the urea and allowing the silica nanoparticle precursor to hydrolyze, thereby forming silica nanoparticles. The method further includes allowing the silane grafting compound to graft onto the silica nanoparticles, thereby forming functionalized silica nanoparticles. The method also includes allowing polymerization of the dopamine, thereby forming polydopamine. The method also includes allowing the functionalized silica nanoparticles to attach to the subsurface formation via the polydopamine, thereby reducing condensate in the subsurface formation.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing alpha-hydroxycarboxylic esters from the alcoholysis of alpha-hydroxycarboxamides in the gas phase, characterized in that the conversion is effected in the presence of water.