A process for producing nitric acid by the Ostwald process involves reacting ammonia with atmospheric oxygen as primary air to afford a NOx-containing gas stream in an ammonia oxidation reactor at a first pressure and absorbing the NOx-containing gas stream in water in an absorption apparatus at a higher, second pressure. Nitric acid is bleached with bleach air as secondary air at approximately the first pressure. The secondary air is brought to an operating pressure of the bleaching operation via a separate secondary air compressor or compressor stage. The separate secondary air compressor is independent of the compressor that brings the primary air to the first pressure. Compression to the second higher pressure at which the absorption of the NOx gases is performed in the absorption apparatus is provided only downstream of the bleaching operation.

A distillation apparatus for use in microwave-assisted pyrolysis includes a microwave, a pyrolysis reactor, a microwave-absorbent bed, and a condenser. The pyrolysis reactor is located within the microwave and configured to receive a liquid input stream and to output a vapor. The microwave-absorbent bed is located within the pyrolysis reactor that converts microwave energy provided by the microwave to thermal energy to initiate pyrolysis within the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the pyrolysis reactor provides a vapor output. The condenser is configured to receive the vapor output of the pyrolysis reactor and to cool and condense the vapor into a recoverable product.

A heating system and a process for heating a pressurized feed gas is provided, where the heat for the reaction is provided by resistance heating by means of electrical power.

A method for producing a refractory lining in a combustion chamber operating in a reducing atmosphere. The lining includes at least one or more Zirconia (Zr)-based refractory lining members comprising one or more Zr-based parts. The Zr-based parts comprise at least 90 wt. %, preferably at least 95 wt. %, of monoclinic ZrO.sub.2 and/or partially stabilized ZrO.sub.2 and/or fully stabilized ZrO.sub.2, wherein the total content of tetragonal and cubic ZrO.sub.2 amounts to at least 20 wt. %, preferably more than 35 wt. %, as well as Zr based refractory lining members and methods for manufacturing the Zr based refractory lining members.

A refractory lining in a combustion chamber operating in a reducing atmosphere. The lining includes at least one or more Zirconia (Zr)-based refractory lining members comprising one or more Zr-based parts. The Zr-based parts comprise at least 90 wt. %, preferably at least 95 wt. %, of monoclinic ZrO.sub.2 and/or partially stabilized ZrO.sub.2 and/or fully stabilized ZrO.sub.2, wherein the total content of tetragonal and cubic ZrO.sub.2 amounts to at least 20 wt. %, preferably more than 35 wt. %, as well as Zr based refractory lining members and methods for manufacturing the Zr based refractory lining members.

A method of producing a hydrocarbon fuel from a soapstock includes supplying a pyrolysis reactor that includes a microwave absorbent bed susceptible to microwave irradiation, applying microwave energy to the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the microwave absorbent bed converts the microwave energy to thermal energy, supplying the soapstock to the microwave absorbent bed, and condensing a vapor generated by pyrolysis of the soapstock sufficient to collect the hydrocarbon fuel.

Disclosed is a system and method related to removal of carbon from carbon dioxide via the use of plasma arc heating techniques. The method involves generating C atoms and H atoms from C.sub.xH.sub.y. The method involves generating graphite and H.sub.2 from the C atoms and H atoms, and extracting the graphite. The method involves quenching the H.sub.2 with C.sub.xH.sub.y. The method involves receiving, at a generator, the quenched the H.sub.2 and C.sub.xH.sub.y and generating electricity. The method involves generating a concentrated stream of H.sub.2 from the quenched H.sub.2 and C.sub.xH.sub.y. The method involves receiving CO.sub.2 and the concentrated stream of H.sub.2 and generating C, O, and H atoms. The method involves receiving the C, O, and H atoms and generating graphite, wherein the graphite is extracted. In the hydrocarbon C.sub.xH.sub.y: x is an integer 1, 2, 3, . . . , and y=2x+2.

An apparatus that forms liquid silicon includes a. a device by which a gas can be brought to a high-temperature state in which it is at least partially present as plasma, b. a reaction space and a feed conduit for the high-temperature gas opening into the reaction space, c. a nozzle having a nozzle channel that opens directly into the reaction space and through which a gaseous or particulate silicon-containing starting material can be fed into the reaction space, and d. a device adapted to introduce an inert gas into the reaction space such that it protects the exit opening of the nozzle channel against thermal stress resulting from the high-temperature gas.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out reverse water gas shift reaction of a feedstock comprising CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 to a first product gas comprising CO are provided, where a methanation reaction take place in parallel to the reverse water gas shift reaction, and where the heat for the endothermic reverse water gas shift reaction is provided by resistance heating.

Described herein are thermal condensation reactors and processes of using the same. A presently described thermal condensation reactor includes a heat transfer chamber, wherein the heat transfer chamber is a fluidized bed having a fluidization gas flow in a first direction, and wherein the heat transfer chamber has a plurality of heating zones that may be maintained at different temperatures, and a plurality of reaction tubes disposed in the heat transfer chamber in a second direction perpendicular to the fluidization gas flow, each reaction tube having a reactant gas flow that passes through the plurality of heating zones.