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 system and a method for producing silicon from a SiO.sub.2-containing material that includes solid SiO.sub.2. The method uses a reaction vessel including a first section and a second section in fluid communication with said first section. The method includes: heating the SiO.sub.2-containing material that includes the solid SiO.sub.2 to a SiO.sub.2-containing material that includes liquid SiO.sub.2, at a sufficient temperature to convert the solid SiO.sub.2 into the liquid SiO.sub.2; converting, in the first section, the liquid SiO.sub.2 into gaseous SiO.sub.2 that flows to the second section by reducing the pressure in the reaction vessel to a subatmospheric pressure; and reducing, in the second section, the gaseous SiO.sub.2 into liquid silicon using a reducing gas. The reducing of the pressure is performed over a continuous range of interim pressure(s) sufficient to evaporate contaminants from the SiO.sub.2-containing material, and removing by vacuum, the one or more evaporated gaseous contaminants.

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.

Assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and method to extract or convey a material from a source of the material may include a vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly to enhance conveyance the material from the source of the material. The vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly may include a vacuum source including a plurality of vacuum generators. Each of the plurality of vacuum generators may be positioned to cause a vacuum flow between the source of the material and the vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly. The vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly may further include a sound attenuation chamber connected to the vacuum source. The sound attenuation chamber may include an attenuation housing at least partially defining a chamber interior volume being positioned to receive at least a portion of the vacuum flow from the vacuum source and attenuate sound generated by the vacuum source.

A method for removing boron is provided, which includes (a) mixing a carbon source material and a silicon source material in a chamber to form a solid state mixture, (b) heating the solid state mixture to a temperature of 1000° C. to 1600° C., and adjusting the pressure of the chamber to 1 torr to 100 torr. The method also includes (c) conducting a gas mixture of a first carrier gas and water vapor into the chamber to remove boron from the solid state mixture, and (d) conducting a second carrier gas into the chamber.

The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized reactor and introduced into a blow tank, wherein the absolute pressure in the blow tank is maintained below atmospheric pressure. The slurry of biomass separated in the blow tank is then enzymatically treated.

A method and apparatus for generation of fluorine gas (F2) in situ at the point of use is provided. The portable fluorine generator includes a dilution system disposed within a housing and operable to mix a feed gas comprising fluorine with an inert gas. The portable fluorine generator further includes a plasma reactor unit disposed within the housing and operable to separate fluorine (F2) from the feed gas comprising fluorine.

This invention relates to a robotic device 10.1, 10.2 and method for handling catalyst material 106, 206 in a reactor 100 by removing spent catalyst from the reactor and/or loading the reactor with fresh catalyst without an operator having to enter an interior of the reactor which increases operator safety. The robotic device includes a body 12, which is configured to engage a flange 104 of the reactor, and a handling arm which is configured for use both as a cleaning arm 18 and a loading arm 218. The handling arm is connected to the body and is angularly and longitudinally displaceable relative to the body. The handling arm has a segment which is telescopically extendible/retractable relative to the body. When used as a cleaning arm, the arm receives a vacuum line for removing catalyst. When used as a loading arm, a telescopic loading sleeve is connected to the segment.

The present inventive concept relates to a device for treating an exhaust gas, and more particularly, to a plasma device capable of, even when connected to a vacuum pump, extending a lifetime of an electrode of a plasma torch. In the plasma device according to the present inventive concept, since an orifice is installed in a connection unit for connection with a vacuum pump to prevent a decrease in pressure of the vacuum pump, a pressure of a plasma reaction unit including the plasma torch of the plasma device can be maintained similar to normal pressure, thereby reducing the wear of a tungsten electrode in the plasma torch to extend a lifetime of the electrode.

A method for preparing supercritical fluid by deep-sea pressure is provided and belongs to the technical field of supercritical fluid preparation. The method includes the following steps of: placing low-pressure fluid in a closed flexible container, sending the closed flexible container down to a location of a sea at a depth where a seawater pressure meets a requirement by using a powered or unpowered traction device, leaving the flexible container standing still until a volume of the flexible container does not change, wrapping the closed flexible container with a rigid pressure-bearing container, transferring the closed flexible container to the sea surface by the powered or unpowered traction device, and taking out the fluid in the flexible container as supercritical fluid. Then the supercritical fluid is produced. Therefore, the process of preparing supercritical (high pressure) liquid in deep-sea is safer and more stable than the preparation way on land.