Apparatus and methods are provided that are capable of mass production of particulate materials, such as graphene particulates. The apparatus comprises an ignition assembly that comprises readily interchangeable electrode cassettes and that may be configured to self-clean in between the combustion cycles in which the particulate materials are generated. Methods of generating the particulate materials require low energy inputs in order to initiate the combustion reaction, which is then self-sustaining until the reactants are depleted.

Devices suitable for use in an advanced oxidation method for organic and inorganic pollutants deploying OH* radicals and ozone is disclosed. Optionally, a first discharge device, providing OH* radicals and second discharge device providing ozone, are combined to provide desirable chemical and biocidal characteristics. Further, efficient mixing systems for transferring the radicals to the target fluid are disclosed.

In a method and device for conversion of water into hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2), a corona discharge zone is generated between a first electrode (10) and a second electrode (6) one of which is insulated and another of which is not insulated and wherein a respective surface of each of the electrodes face one another. The first electrode (10) is rotated so as to induce relative rotation between the first electrode and the second electrode; and liquid water is conveyed on to a surface of the first electrode facing the second electrode close to the axis of rotation (4) of the first electrode whereby the liquid water advances outward through the corona discharge zone towards a periphery of the first electrode under the action of centrifugal force caused by rotation of the first electrode.

A reactor for forming a plasma in a flowing fluid that includes a central rod belonging to a first electrode, an insulator, a tubular body belonging to a second electrode and defining a cylindrical space for the flow of the fluid between the tubular body and the insulator. The reactor further includes control disk having a front face linked to a downstream end of the central rod, and a permanent magnet juxtaposed against a back face of the control disk. One or more ribs are on a front face of the control disk according to a pattern in relief defining successive starting points for an electric arc distributed around the central axis of the reactor so as to generate electric arcs situated on a reaction cone and appearing to turn around the central axis.

An alternative process and device for carrying out Fischer Tropsch (FT) syntheses is proposed, allowing the reactant entities that take part in the FT reaction to be activated and their contributions, whether by quantity or by proportion, to be adjusted. The process consists in making a particulate phase, optionally consisting of catalytic particles, flow through a reactor. While flowing through the reactor, the particulate phase is subjected at regular intervals to the action of a plasma obtained from a gas, such as hydrogen, thus enabling hydrogen activation for hydrogenation of carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide activation in order to lengthen the carbon chains.

Methods of processing particulate carbon material, such as graphic particles or agglomerates of carbon nanoparticles such as CNTs are provided. The starting material is agitated in a treatment vessel in the presence of low-pressure (glow) plasma generated between electrodes. The material is agitated in the presence of conductive contact bodies such as metal balls, on the surface of which plasma glow is present and amongst which the material to be treated moves. The methods effectively deagglomerate nanoparticles, and exfoliate graphitic material to produce very thin graphitic sheets showing graphene-type characteristics. The resulting nanomaterials used by dispersal in composite materials, e.g. conductive polymeric composites for electric or electronic articles and devices. The particle surfaces can be functionalized by choosing appropriate gas in which to form the plasma.

The present invention relates to a continuous method for producing products with molecules or macromolecules attached thereto and apparatus for carrying out this method. The method comprises the steps of: (a) placing the object on or in the proximity of a surface; (b) controlling the electrical potential of the surface with respect to its surroundings; (c) activating the object by exposing it to an electrical discharge; (d) contacting the object with the molecule or macromolecule to be attached. Such macromolecules include bacteriophage. Thus products of methods of the invention are for prevention and amelioration of bacterial contamination of the product of methods of the invention or materials in contact with said products.

In order to attain an efficient decomposition process by water plasma, a decomposition processor includes a water plasma generator which is configured to inject water plasma, from the injection port, by arc discharge generated between negative and positive electrodes; and a supply device configured to supply a decomposition target object to a water plasma jet stream injected from the water plasma generator, wherein the decomposition target object is decomposed by the water plasma. The supply device has a nozzle for providing the decomposition target object from a tip, and the negative electrode, the injection port, the positive electrode and the nozzle are arranged in that order along the center axis line of the injection port. The tip of the nozzle is placed inside of the water plasma jet stream.

In order to stabilize injection of water plasma, a vortex water flow generator forms a vortex water flow for passing arc discharge. The vortex water flow generator includes a cylindrical portion configured to form a vortex water flow along an inner circumference, a first middle partition and a second middle partition protruding from the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion. The first middle partition and the second middle partition respectively have an opening to include a center axis line position of the cylindrical portion. An opening of the second middle partition on the side of the positive electrode is larger than an opening of the first middle partition on the side of the negative electrode.

A vortex water generator forms a vortex water flow for passing arc discharge. The vortex water flow generator includes a cylindrical portion configured to form a vortex water flow along an inner circumference; first middle partition and second middle partition protruding from the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion, a rear partition formed in a rear end side of the cylindrical portion, and a front partition provided in a front end side of the cylindrical portion. Each partition has an opening to include a center axis line position of the cylindrical portion. Each opening has a different opening shape in size. The middle partition and the front partition have negative electrode side surfaces formed by tapered surfaces receding from the negative electrode as close to the center axis line. Arc-shaped beveled portions are formed between the tapered surfaces and inner circumferential surfaces of the openings.