Northeastern University

Nano-c, Inc.

Ceramem Corporation

Yiannis A Levendis

Henning Richter

Donald L Wise

Thomai Panagiotou

Mohammad Esmaail Taslim

Richard F Abrams

Christopher Flanagan

Anna Craver

Brittne Rose Lynn

Mason Riley

Katherine Dixon

Richard Flagan

Najib Kahlil

Methods and apparatus to generate carbon nanostructures from organic materials are described. Certain embodiments provide solid waste materials into a furnace, that pyrolyzes the solid waste materials into gaseous decomposition products, which are then converted to carbon nanostructures. Methods and apparatuses described herein provide numerous advantages over conventional methods, such as cost savings, reduction of handling risks, optimization of process conditions, and the like.

Carbon nanostructures from pyrolysis of organic materials

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the conversion of solid organic waste material, such as waste plastics, into fuel for the generation of heat and power. In addition, embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein relate to converting solid organic waste material into a gasified material for mixing with an oxidizing gas to allow for clean combustion of the fuel, thereby minimizing emissions of pollutants.

Method and device for fuel and power generation by clean combustion of organic waste material

A process for forming polymer coatings on the surfaces of objects, e.g., medical stents, is disclosed. The coatings formed by the process of the invention comprise small spherical, spheroidal or irregular shape polymer particles, which may be adhered together. Coatings may have high porosity and high surface area. The process includes the steps of preparing a liquid feed solution of either mixtures of liquid organic monomers and polymerization catalysts which may optionally be pre-polymerized, or polymers dissolved in solvents; conducting the liquid feed solution into an aerosol generator; generating either a controlled or uncontrolled aerosol in the form of droplets; spraying the liquid feed solution from the aerosol generator into a thermal reactor on to the surface of an object; regulating the temperature and pressure of the reactor so that a portion of the solvent in the feed solution evaporates before the droplets are deposited on the object; and maintaining the spray of the liquid feed solution in the thermal reactor for an optimum period of time to allow the coating to form on the object. Optionally, another material, such as a drug, carbon black, calcium carbonate, etc., is added to the feed solution, as well. The experimental conditions are adjusted so that some of the solvent evaporates before the droplets hit the surface of the object. This can be done if the temperature of the surroundings is sufficiently high, the ambient pressure is significantly low, the residence time of the droplets is sufficiently long, or a combination of the above.

Process for producing polymer coatings with various porosities and

A method for the simultaneous control of SO.sub.2, NO.sub.x, HCl, air toxins, metal fumes, and particulate emissions (ash, soot, metal oxides) from fossil fuel burning combustion processes is provided by injecting a sorbent upstream of a filter in the furnace and collecting sorbent and particulates in the filter. Collecting the sorbent in the filter increases its residence time in the process. The sorbent is injected in the post-flame region of a furnace, where it reacts with the SO.sub.2, the NO.sub.x, the HCl, and the air toxics in the effluent gas. A surface filter that can withstand temperatures of approximately 1000.degree. C. is mounted, either fixedly or rotatably, in the furnace downstream of the sorbent injection region. The gas flows through the filter, and the sorbent and other particulates become embedded in the surface layer of the filter. Gases continue to flow through the filter past the embedded sorbent, where the reactions with the sorbent may continue for a long time, on the order of minutes, allowing high utilization of the sorbent to be achieved. The filter is periodically cleaned aerodynamically with a counterflow stream of compressed air, blown in pulses, through a section of the filter. Dislodged particulates are collected in a hopper.

Simultaneous control of SO.sub.2, NO.sub.x, HCl, and particulates by

A diesel engine exhaust gas recirculation system for control of NO.sub.x emissions is disclosed in hi h total particulate (soot, condensed polynuclear aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and ash) control system is employed to filter the exhaust gas prior to reintroduction to the diesel engine. By cleaning the recirculated exhaust gas of substantially all particulates, wear on the engine due to particulate abrasion is minimized, and NO.sub.x and particulate emissions are reduced. The particulate control system includes a high efficiency ceramic monolith trap that is periodically regenerated by one or more pulses of high-pressure air that move in the opposite direction of the engine exhaust flow through the trap. In one embodiment, a portion of the filtered diesel exhaust is recirculated to the engine. In a further embodiment, the particulate control system filters a portion of the diesel exhaust in the recirculation flow path. The system can retrofit any existing diesel-powered equipment.

Diesel engine exhaust gas recirculation system for NO.sub.x control

A flow-through particulate incineration system is coupled to an aerodynamically regenerated diesel engine exhaust gas particulate (soot, condensed polynuclear aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and ash) trap. An incineration chamber is provided downstream of the particulates dislodged from the particulate trap during regeneration thereof by a pulse of compressed air. During regeneration, a valve between the particulate trap and the incineration chamber opens to allows the air and entrained particles to pass into the incineration chamber. A secondary filter is mounted within the incineration chamber to allow passage of the regeneration air therethrough, but prevent passage of the particulates, whereby the particulates are retained in the incineration chamber. A heater in the incineration chamber is periodically activated to burn the particulates collected in the trap. The oxidation products may be exhausted to ambient or may be returned to the engine intake in an exhaust gas recirculation system.

Flow-through particulate incineration system coupled to an

A method is disclosed for removing pollutants from the exhaust of combustion systems burning fuels containing substantial amounts of sulfur and nitrogen. An exemplary method of the invention involves the formation and reaction of a sorbent comprising calcium benzoate. The calcium benzoate is either dry-sprayed (in the form of a fine powder) or wet-sprayed in an aqueous solution in a high temperature environment such as a combustion chamber. The latter technique is feasible since calcium benzoate is a water-soluble form of calcium. When the dispersed particles of calcium benzoate are heated to a high temperature, the organic benzoate burns off and fine calcium oxide particles are formed. These particles are cenospheric (hollow) and have thin and highly porous walls, thus, affording optimum external and internal accessibility for reacting with toxic gaseous emissions such as SO.sub.2. Further, the combustion of the organic benzoate portion of the sorbent results in the conversion of NO.sub.x to N.sub.2.

Use of aromatic salts for simultaneously removing SO.sub.2 and NO.sub.x

A method is disclosed for removing pollutants from the exhaust of combustion systems burning fuels containing substantial amounts of sulfur and nitrogen. An exemplary method of the invention involves the formation and reaction of a sorbent comprising calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). The CMA is either dry-sprayed (in the form of a fine powder) or wet-sprayed in an aqueous solution in a high temperature environment such as a combustion chamber. The latter technique is feasible since CMA is a uniquely water-soluble form of calcium and magnesium. When the dispersed particles of CMA are heated to a high temperature, fine calcium and magnesium oxide particles, which are hollow with thin and highly porous walls are formed, affording optimum external and internal accessibility for reacting with toxic gaseous emissions such as SO.sub.2. Further, the combustion of the organic acetate portion of the sorbent results in the conversion of NO.sub.x to N.sub.2.

Method for simultaneously removing SO.sub.2 and NO.sub.X pollutants from

A process for producing spherical polymer particles which may be either monodisperse of a predetermined and controlled size, or polydisperse, using a liquid atomization technique. The process includes an aerosol generator to create a stream or multiple streams of liquid droplets sprayed into a thermal reactor. The aerosol generator sprays the feed solution which comprises liquid organic monomers or semi-polymerized monomers, a polymerization catalyst and optionally, a solvent, into the thermal reactor environment. The solvent evaporates allowing polymerization reactions to commence. Polymerization may proceed by a variety of methods. Polymerization is completed during the flight-time of the droplets and the solid polymer particles are collected at the bottom of the reactor. The size of the particles in every batch may be predetermined and controlled by fine tuning the aerosol generator's configuration or operational parameters to adjust the size of the droplets of the feed solution being sprayed into the reactor. In one variation, the feed solution to the aerosol generator may be a polymer dissolved in an appropriate solvent. The aerosol generator then sprays the polymer solution in the thermal reactor to generate particles by evaporating the solvent.

Production of polymer particles in powder form using an atomization

A simple, low cost and reliable total particulate (soot, polynuclear aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons and ash) control system is disclosed that separates the particulate burning process from the body of a particulate filter and that needs very little compressed air to regenerate. The system can retrofit any existing diesel-powered equipment. The particulate control system includes a stationary ceramic monolith trap that is regenerated by one or more pulses of high-pressure and low-velocity air that move in the opposite direction of the engine exhaust flow through the trap. The particulate control system in a single trap embodiment conducts the engine exhaust to the atmosphere during regeneration periods, and in a dual trap embodiment, conducts the engine exhaust through two traps that are operated alternatively such that while one is filtering the exhaust the other is being regenerated, and vice versa.

Pulsed, reverse-flow, regenerated diesel trap capturing soot, ash and PAH's

A rotating particulate trap is disclosed, which may find application in diesel engines, air conditioning systems, industrial air-filters and the like. The invention includes a disk or cylinder which is formed from material suitable for filtering particulates which are present in the exhaust gases of diesel engines, gas turbines, industrial air or other particulate laden gases. The disk is mounted transversely in the exhaust duct of a diesel engine and in a fresh air duct which is disposed parallel to the exhaust duct. As the disk rotates within the exhaust duct, it filters particulates from the exhaust gases of the diesel engine. The filtered particulates are expelled from the disk by fresh air blowing in the air duct as the disk rotates within the air duct. The fresh air is blown in the air duct in a direction opposite to the flow of exhaust gases within the exhaust duct by a fan or compressor or compressed air jets. The counterflow arrangement of fresh air and combustion gases enhances the effectiveness of particulate removal as the disk rotates between the exhaust duct and the fresh air duct. Particulates expelled from the disk are blown into a filter bag which is attached to the end of the fresh air duct.

Growing community of inventors

Boston, MA, United States of America

Yiannis A Levendis