Aspects of the present disclosure involve a gliding-arc type plasma reactor for use in nitrogen-based fertilizer production. The plasma reactor may include a pair of electrodes oriented in a plane within an enclosure. A pair of sheaths may attach to a corresponding electrode, with each included a strike point surface oriented to face the other sheath. The electrodes may further include an inner channel through which a cooling fluid may be pumped for heat control. A gas injection system may also be included to inject a gas into the chamber for interacting with the plasma arc and may or may not include an adjustable nozzle. The nozzle may direct air flow, including the gas, at a location at which the plasma arc may occur. The device provides for a long lifetime of components within the device and easy replacement and maintenance of the components of high-wear items.

Disclosed is the synthesis of novel supported metal catalytic materials for electromagnetic radiation absorption and chemical catalysis especially in the presence of plasma used in the conversion of nitrogen from air and hydrogen from water to useful products such as nitric acid, hydrogen, ammonia and fertilizers. These materials can also generate plasma when subjected to microwave irradiation thus form the basis of catalytic plasma reactors. They can be used in chemical looping reactions because plasma generation under microwave irradiation in air results in the reduction of catalyst oxides and oxidation of nitrogen.

Disclosed is the synthesis of novel supported metal catalytic materials for electromagnetic radiation absorption and chemical catalysis especially in the presence of plasma used in the conversion of nitrogen from air and hydrogen from water to useful products such as nitric acid, hydrogen, ammonia and fertilizers. These materials can also generate plasma when subjected to microwave irradiation thus form the basis of catalytic plasma reactors. They can be used in chemical looping reactions because plasma generation under microwave irradiation in air results in the reduction of catalyst oxides and oxidation of nitrogen.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a non-rectangular noble metal net (5) on flat bed knitting machines, comprising the steps of providing noble metal wire or noble metal alloy wire providing combustible yarn knitting a net (5) using noble metal wire or noble metal alloy wire for the reaction zone (7), wherein combustible yam is used for the offcut area (9), which is singed off or otherwise removed after the knitting process.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a non-rectangular noble metal net (5) on flat bed knitting machines, comprising the steps of providing noble metal wire or noble metal alloy wire providing combustible yarn knitting a net (5) using noble metal wire or noble metal alloy wire for the reaction zone (7), wherein combustible yam is used for the offcut area (9), which is singed off or otherwise removed after the knitting process.

A process for producing nitric acid comprising: catalytic oxidation of ammonia in the presence of oxygen to form a nitrous gas containing NO, O2, N2O and water vapor; a catalytic abatement of N2O which is performed over a first catalyst; a catalytic conversion of NO into NO2 which is performed over a second catalyst; the so obtained nitrous gas is then subject to absorption in water to produce nitric acid.

The invention includes a system for producing a nitrogen fixation product, where the system includes a nitrogen gas source providing nitrogen gas; a delivery system for the nitrogen gas in fluid communication with the nitrogen gas source, wherein the delivery system delivers the nitrogen gas into a plasma reactor, and wherein the plasma reactor energizes the nitrogen gas as a plasma to produce activated nitrogen species; a secondary reactant source providing a secondary reactant in a secondary reactant stream that is separated from the nitrogen gas, wherein the secondary reactant stream is directed to contact the activated nitrogen species in a reaction zone, and wherein contact between the activated nitrogen species and the secondary reactant produces a reaction that yields the nitrogen fixation product. The invention also includes methods of the use of such a system for producing a nitrogen fixation product.

The invention includes a system for producing a nitrogen fixation product, where the system includes a nitrogen gas source providing nitrogen gas; a delivery system for the nitrogen gas in fluid communication with the nitrogen gas source, wherein the delivery system delivers the nitrogen gas into a plasma reactor, and wherein the plasma reactor energizes the nitrogen gas as a plasma to produce activated nitrogen species; a secondary reactant source providing a secondary reactant in a secondary reactant stream that is separated from the nitrogen gas, wherein the secondary reactant stream is directed to contact the activated nitrogen species in a reaction zone, and wherein contact between the activated nitrogen species and the secondary reactant produces a reaction that yields the nitrogen fixation product. The invention also includes methods of the use of such a system for producing a nitrogen fixation product.

Provided is a novel 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. A production system for a product selected from a nitrogen-containing product and a fermented and cultured product 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; and a production apparatus that produces a product selected from a nitrogen-containing product and a fermented and cultured product using ammonia originating from the ammonia-containing gas obtained by using the ammonia synthesis apparatus.

Nanocrystalline metal powders comprising tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium and/or niobium can be synthesized using a combustion reaction. Methods for synthesizing the nanocrystalline metal powders are characterized by forming a combustion synthesis solution by dissolving in water an oxidizer, a fuel, and a base-soluble, ammonium precursor of tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, or niobium in amounts that yield a stoichiometric burn when combusted. The combustion synthesis solution is then heated to a temperature sufficient to substantially remove water and to initiate a self-sustaining combustion reaction. The resulting powder can be subsequently reduced to metal form by heating in a reducing gas environment.