A method for producing process vapor and boiler feed steam in a heatable reforming reactor for producing synthesis gas. The sensible heat of a synthesis gas produced from hydrocarbons and steam can be used so that two types of vapor are produced during the heating and evaporation of boiler feed water and process condensate. The method also includes a conversion of the carbon monoxide contained in the synthesis gas. The method includes an optional heating of the boiler feed water using the flue gas from the heating of the reforming reactor. The sensible heat of the synthesis gas and of the flue gas originating from the heating can be used more efficiently. The disadvantages from the flue gas heating, which are caused by the fluctuating heat supply in the flue gas duct, are avoided. A system for practicing the method is also disclosed.

An improved method of making a baked pastry, particularly, a shell or wrap for a samosa from a pastry dough in a convection baking oven having a convection atmosphere, the method comprising baking the dough in the oven at a baking temperature for a baking period of time, the improvement having the convection atmosphere with a sufficiently moist atmosphere for the duration of the baking time to prevent the pastry from becoming dry.

An improved animal prod having a base shaped to engage a portion of the animal's hindquarter and a thigh engaging assembly shaped and positioned to engage a portion of at least one of the animal's hind legs generally near the animal's inside thigh and generally near the animal's hindquarter in an operating position of the animal prod with the base engaging the animal's hindquarter.

The animal prod comprises one or more electrodes attached to an insulating case and is usable to apply electrical stimulus shocks to control the behavior of animals. Structures are provided to restrain the electrodes and bias the electrodes in forceable contact with electrical terminals. The electrical terminals are electrically connected to a high-voltage oscillator circuit which is actuated by a weather-resistant, flush-mounted push-button switch. The push-button switch is provided with a slidable cover to prevent unintentional actuation. The insulative case is equipped with a removable battery cover, the cover being held to the case by a retaining mechanism which includes a sliding fastener.

A stock or cattle prod for applying an electric shock to stock to induce them to move when loading them for transportation or through a cattle chute or the like comprises a handle having a high voltage generator and a battery therein. A head, which is angularly rotatable relative to the handle structure, is provided, this head having electrical contact means adapted to electrically, conductively contact said handle in any selectable angular position therebetween the head being adapted to extend forward from said handle and comprising a shaft carrying the contact means and, forward from this shaft terminating in a pair of spaced conducting tips or electrodes. The handle is constructed to insulate and protect the high voltage conductors and to provide a convenient switch for energizing the tips. The handle and shaft are constructed to afford rotation of the tips to any desired angle with respect to the operator's hand, both the handle and head being provided with external electrical insulation means effective to protect the operator from the electrical shock voltage, insulation while maintaining the electrical connections to the tips. The head on which the tips are mounted is relatively flat and is adapted to be held in face engagement with an animal's body, this facilitating the effective handling of the prod during use.

The shock prod comprises a circuit for producing high-voltage electrical pulses. The circuit is mounted in a housing and communicates electrically with two conductors integral with a prod extension. The prod extension extends from the housing in a fixed predetermined direction with respect to the housing. The extension is elongated in the fixed direction, terminates in a free end, and is generally flat with a high width-to-thickness ratio, having sufficiently high flexural rigidity and buckling resistance to avoid excessive deflection or deformation in use. With this novel configuration, the extension is constrained to bend in a preferred plane parallel to the thickness dimension. Loads applied in the other planes produce torsional deflection so as to allow bending in this preferred deflection plane. This wide, thin cross-section permits a wide electrode spacing simultaneously with a thin bending surface, resulting in the following: A minimum bending radius which greatly reduces instances of breakage; allows electrification and desired electrode spacing over any desired portion of the prod extension; eliminates need for separate electrode mounting hardware; remains operational even if the extension is snapped in two, when a sufficient electrode-conductor spacing geometry exists along the length of the prod extension.

An improved stun-gun or electrical shock device which includes improved circuit elements to eliminate the frequent product failure due to corrosion and pitting of an internal spark gap as found in prior art electrical shocking devices. The conventional internal spark gap found in prior art stun-guns is replaced with a pair of surge arrestors, thereby eliminating the problems caused by corrosion and pitting of the internal spark gap which has caused prior art stun-guns to have a limited life and fail.

A multi-functional electronic self-protection device is disclosed. The device includes a flashlight with reflector which also mounts shock blocks. The casing includes a circuit board and booster together with a battery, and in the base thereof, a buzzer is mounted. A first switch controls the flashlight so that rotation of the lens case will turn the light on and off. A second switch controls the generation of an electric charge at the shock blocks so that when the casing is rotated and a switch depressed, a strong electrical charge whill be generated at the shock blocks. The base is also slidably mounted on the casing and by slidably displacing the base, a third switch activates the buzzer which is coupled also to the battery.

An electrically powered animal prod, particularly for use in motivating larger animals to move in the desired direction, having a flexible shaft is disclosed. The animal prod can also be powered with rechargeable batteries located in the handle and can be recharged without removing the batteries from the handle. The flexible shaft provides for better, more definite contact, longer contact and a more durable animal prod.

A device designed to prod livestock is intended to create an audible sound to aid in the controlled movement of animals. The device takes the form of a long pole comprising an upper end provided with a comfortable handle and a wrist strap and a lower end provided with a whistle. To use, the user would hold the device by the handle in one hand and whip it in a fast, circular motion, causing the whistle to make a sound. When done near an animal, the sound will cause the animal to move away, thus allowing the user to control the movement of the animal. The device is suitable for use by farmers, ranchers, auctioneers, herdsmen, or anyone who loads or moves livestock.

The present invention provides an apparatus and process for making softgel capsules having incorporated therein other solid dosage forms selected from the group consisting of pellets, smaller capsules, smaller tablets, sustained release solid dosage forms, immediate release solid dosage forms, extended release solid dosage forms and zero order release solid dosage forms, said apparatus comprising: (a) two spreader boxes; (b) two casting drums; (c) a pair of rotary dies having means for suction; (d) a liquid fill system; (e) a wedge for heating gelatine ribbons and feeding said fill; and (f) two lateral dispensing devices said lateral dispensing devices including hoppers having said solid dosage forms, channelguides for transporting said solid dosage forms and a grasping claw for dispensing said solid dosage form into the softgel pocket formed in the rotary dies.

A method for processing application forms comprising extracting content from filled first forms of consumers, each of the first forms comprising one or more fields, arranging the extracted content of one or more fields of the plurality of fields of the plurality of filled first forms in a first matrix; encoding the content of each of the rows of the first matrix to define a second matrix; and disposing the encoded content of the second matrix in multiple empty second forms such that content of one column is disposed on only one of the empty second forms, each of the second forms includes the same type and number of fields as that of one of the filled first forms, further wherein the number of the filled second forms is based on the number of the one or more fields in the filled first forms.

A product dispenser including a housing for housing dispensable products in a product reservoir defined by the housing and a cover member defining a dispensing opening through which the products are dispensed. The cover member includes a lid member and a support member and the lid member is openable relative to the support member about a hinge. The cover member is removably mountable to the housing by at least one engagement member of the support member engaging at least one complementary engagement member of the housing. A strength of connection of the hinge to the support member and a strength of connection of at least one engagement member of the support member for removably mounting the support member to the housing is such that when the lid member is opened to a stop position and further opening force is applied to the lid member, at least one engagement member dismounts between the housing and the support member before the force gets so great as to break the hinge.

Pharmaceutical product dispensers (e.g., in the shape of a common ink pen) are operable to indicate information regarding a dosing schedule of a pharmaceutical product dispensable from the dispenser. Embodiments of the dispensers may include a plurality of dosing segments, each corresponding to a different dose of the pharmaceutical product. Actuation of an actuator may result in interaction between the actuator and the pharmaceutical product storage area such that a dose of pharmaceutical product contained in the pharmaceutical product storage area is dispensed, along with a corresponding advancement of the plurality of dosing segments. The dispenser may also include one or more locks to prevent unauthorized access to the pharmaceutical product (e.g., by a child or the like). Furthermore, the pharmaceutical product dispenser may include a disabling mechanism to permanently disable actuation of the actuator of the dispenser.

A product distribution device for accommodating at least one row of products with products which can be arranged in succession on a support surface of a product guide element in a receiving space with the following features: at least one door for stocking the receiving space with the products, guide means which are guided along the support surface in one conveyance direction F for advancing the products in the conveyance direction F, a catch element which can be switched between one catch position of the conveyance means and one conveyance position of the conveyance means.

The present invention relates to a device for the treatment of a workpiece, in particular of a substantially flat substrate, comprising a table (2) for supporting the workpiece (5), a flow generation apparatus (6, 11) producing a gas flow (22) on a top face (17.1, 17.2) of the table (2) in a region between the workpiece (5) and the top face (17.1, 17.2) of the table (2), on which gas flow the workpiece (5) is supported during the treatment.

The present invention is generally directed to a grinder tool preferably having one or more of the following aspects or features: (i) some, preferably most, of the footprint of its bit being shielded by the disc; (ii) the peripheral edge of the disc is at least partially covered by a rock stop hard surface layer; (iii) non-rigid mounting hardware structured to provide a non-rigid mechanical connection between the well and the bit sub-assembly (for example, the non-rigid mounting hardware may include: a rubber isolator; a mesh isolator; and/or a fluid filled isolator); (iv) a stump grinding tool rotating disc assembly having at least one first type bit sub-assembly (including a bit) and at least one second type bit sub-assembly (including a bit), where: (a) the first type bit sub-assembly has a first bit footprint geometry, (b) the first type bit sub-assembly has a first bit footprint geometry, and (c) the first bit footprint geometry is different than the second bit footprint geometry; (v) a rotating disc assembly includes a disc that includes multiple guide protrusions extending axially from both axial ends of the disc around an angular range leading the angular position of each bit sub-assembly; (vi) a rotating disc assembly having rollers built into the peripheral edge of the disc; and/or (vii) disc assembly with a bit holder member that extends over a portion of the opposite axial faces of the disc.

This application is directed to groove milling devices for milling a groove in a component. In one example, a groove milling device includes a milling disk which is rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein the groove milling device comprises a displacement device for moving the milling disk along the rotational axis during the milling process. In an example, the groove milling device may include a control device which actuates the displacement device automatically when a predetermined depth of the milled groove is reached during the milling process. In an example, the groove milling device may include a switch for activating the displacement device by an operator during the milling process. In an example, the energy required for actuating the displacement device may be generated by a generator coupled to a main drive spindle of the groove milling device.

A tree processing head for processing a tree element. The tree processing head includes: a body; a scissor assembly mounted to the body and a chainsaw assembly also mounted to the body. The scissor and chainsaw assemblies are selectively usable individually or cooperatively to process the tree element.

Methods are described for mechanically scraping surfaces of boards, such as flooring boards, to impart random-looking scraped profiles therein. An apparatus for mechanically scraping boards to form the scraped board products also is described. A board, such as a flooring board, having a random-looking scraped appearance that includes overlapping multiple scrape patterns is described. Boards, such as flooring boards, having a simulated rustic or distressed appearance made with the methods and apparatus also are described.

A roller for a sheet product dispenser includes a roller shaft, a roller frame molded onto the roller shaft, and a plurality of flexible rubber portions overmolded onto the roller frame and spaced along a length of the roller frame. The rubber portions are configured to contact a sheet product for dispensing from the sheet product dispenser. A dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis and a roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis. The roller includes a roller shaft, a roller frame molded onto the roller shaft, and a plurality of flexible rubber portions overmolded onto the roller frame and spaced along a length of the roller frame. The rubber portions are configured to contact a sheet product for dispensing from the sheet product dispenser.

An agricultural implement system that includes a control system configured to receive a first signal to initiate seeding operations, to transition a ground engaging tool toward a working position at a first time after receiving the first signal, and to activate a product delivery system at a second time, different from the first time, after receiving the first signal.

A system for controlling air flow within an agricultural product metering system is provided. One system for distributing an agricultural product includes an air conveyance system having a blower configured to provide an air stream for moving metered product toward a distribution device. The air conveyance system is mounted on an air cart. The system also includes control circuitry mounted on an agricultural vehicle, and configured to adjust a speed of the blower based at least partially on a product flow rate from the air cart.

A stack-fold implement having a central bulk fill hopper assembly is provided. The bulk fill hopper assembly is mounted to the center frame section of the stack-told implement and does not affect the narrowness of the stack-fold implement when it's in a stacked, transport position, The hopper assembly includes a pair of bulk fill hoppers or tanks supported by cradle that is in turn supported by a pair of wheels. The cradle is removably coupled to the center frame section by a plurality of rigid frame members.

A seed metering assembly for a farm implement has a meter roller that can be accessed and removed in a relatively quick manner. The seed metering assembly includes a fluted meter roller that is segmented into a number of discrete fluted sections. Each fluted section has an associated flow control member that is selectively operable to impede the flow of granular material from a seed hopper to its corresponding section of the fluted meter roller.

A method and system enables sectional control for an air seeding system of a farm implement by exposing a main header, or selected ports of the main header, to a purging air flow when product flow through the selected ports is stopped. A plenum of air is fluidly coupled to the main header and provides a purging air flow to any exit port of the main header that has been shut off from product flow. Valves are used to selectively flow couple the exit ports of the main header to the product flow and to the purging air flow.

A nanogap device includes a first insulation layer having a nanopore formed therein, a first nanogap electrode which may be formed on the first insulation layer and may be divided into two parts with a nanogap interposed between the two parts, the nanogap facing the nanopore, a second insulation layer formed on the first nanogap electrode, a first graphene layer formed on the second insulation layer, a first semiconductor layer formed on the first graphene layer, a first drain electrode formed on the first semiconductor layer, and a first source electrode formed on the first graphene layer such as to be apart from the first semiconductor layer.

A method to inexpensively and efficiently produce conductive materials on the surface of which a nano-level fine structure is formed includes surface modification including immersing a stable anode electrode and a workpiece as a cathode electrode, the workpiece including a conductive material with a work surface, in an electrolytic solution, then applying a voltage not less than a first voltage and less than a second voltage between the stable anode electrode and the workpiece as the cathode electrode immersed in the electrolytic solution, thereby modifying the work surface, the first voltage being a voltage corresponding to a current value that is ½ of the sum of a first maximum current value appearing first in a positive voltage region and a first minimum current value appearing first in the positive voltage region with respect to voltage-current characteristics of a surface modification treatment system, the second voltage exhibiting a complete-state plasma.

A sputtering target with low generation of particles in which oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, intermetallic compounds, carbonitrides, and other substances without ductility exist in a matrix phase made of a highly ductile substance at a volume ratio of 1 to 50%, wherein a highly ductile and conductive metal coating layer is formed on an outermost surface of the target. Provided are a sputtering target capable of improving the target surface in which numerous substances without ductility exist and preventing or inhibiting the generation of nodules and particles during sputtering, and a method of producing such a sputtering target.

Interconnect structures and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The interconnect structures provide highly reliable copper interconnect structures for improving current carrying capabilities (e.g., current spreading). The structure includes an under bump metallurgy formed in a trench. The under bump metallurgy includes at least: an adhesion layer; a plated barrier layer; and a plated conductive metal layer provided between the adhesion layer and the plated barrier layer. The structure further includes a solder bump formed on the under bump metallurgy.

The invention relates to a method for producing alkaline amides or imides of ethylenically unsaturated C3 to C6 carboxylic acids by reacting amines that contain at least one primary and/or secondary amino group and at least one tertiary amino group with ethylenically unsaturated C3 to C6 carboxlic acids to form an ammonium salt and said ammonium salt is subsequently converted into the alkaline amide or imide by means of microwave radiation, with the proviso that the primary and/or secondary amino group is devoid of alkoxy groups.

A method for producing a transparent and conductive metal oxide layer on a substrate, includes atomizing at least one component of the metal oxide layer by highly ionized, high power pulsed magnetron sputtering to condense on the substrate. The pulses of the magnetron have a peak power density of more than 1.5 kW/cm2, the pulses of the magnetron have a duration of ≦200 μs, and the average increase in current density during ignition of the plasma within an interval, which is ≦0.025 ms, is at least 106 A/(ms cm2).

A metal material is provided with a bismuth coating which enables the subsequent coating to be accomplished at a high throwing power, and has excellent corrosion resistance, coating adhesion and is able to be produced with reduced damage to the environment. The metal material has a surface and a bismuth-containing layer deposited on at least a part of the surface of the metal material, wherein the percentage of bismuth atoms in the number of atoms in the surface layer of the metal material with a bismuth coating is at least 10%.

An agricultural system includes an agricultural row unit movable on a field between a first soil condition and a second soil condition, the first soil condition having a different soil hardness than the second soil condition. A down-pressure actuator applies an initial first pressure associated with the first soil condition. A soil-hardness sensing device is positioned at a distance D forward of the row unit and outputs a soil-hardness change signal when detecting a change from the first soil condition to the second soil condition. At least one memory device stores instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the down-pressure actuator to change, in response to receiving the soil-hardness change signal, the initial first pressure to a different second pressure when the row unit encounters the second soil condition.

A cleanup device having a first board having a first edge, a second board having a first edge, a first hinge attached to the first edge of the first board and the first edge of the second board, an aperture defined by a portion of the first edge of the first board and a portion of the first edge of the second board, a first plate slidably attached to the first board, wherein the first plate is movable from a first, open position where the aperture is open to a second, closed position where the first plate extends over at least a portion of the aperture, and wherein a top surface of the first board is movable towards a top surface of the second board to form a V-shaped surface for directing dirt or soil off of the first board and the second board.

The present invention relates to a film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface to be formed on a back surface of a semiconductor element flip chip-connected to an adherend, the film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface containing an inorganic filler in an amount within a range of 70% by weight to 95% by weight based on the whole of the film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface.

A partition for separating front and rear occupant areas of a vehicle comprises a frame and multiple panel members. The frame is attached to the vehicle and has an upper lateral member, respective angled side tubular members and a window. The multiple panel members are configured to fit vertically between the window and a floor pan and horizontally between first and second sides. The multiple panel members comprise a first panel member for positioning adjacent the first side, a second panel member for positioning adjacent the second side and a center section laterally adjacent and separating the first and second panel members. The center section protrudes rearwardly relative to the first panel member and the second panel member. The second panel member is recessed forwardly of the first panel member and forwardly of the center section to increase space available in a rear seat aligned with the second panel member.

A retractor includes a spool configured to selectively wind and unwind the webbing, a lock base configured to operate in a free position and a locked position, a first energy absorbing member coupled to the spool and the lock base, and a second energy absorbing member coupled to the spool and the lock base. When the lock base is in the free position, the spool and lock base freely rotate together when a force is applied on the spool through the webbing. When the lock base is in the locked position and a force is applied on the spool through the webbing, rotation of the spool is permitted while rotation of the lock base is prevented, such that the first energy absorbing member absorbs a first energy and the second energy absorbing member is configured to absorb a second energy after a predetermined rotation of the spool.

Methods and systems are described for improved drilling operations through the use of real-time drilling data to predict bit wear, lithology, pore pressure, a rotating friction coefficient, permeability, and cost in real-time and to adjust drilling parameters in real-time based on the predictions. The real-time lithology prediction is made by processing the real-time drilling data through a multilayer neural network. The real-time bit wear prediction is made by using the real-time drilling data to predict a bit efficiency factor and to detect changes in the bit efficiency factor over time. These predictions may be used to adjust drilling parameters in the drilling operation in real-time, subject to override by the operator. The methods and systems may also include determining various downhole hydraulics parameters and a rotary friction factor. Historical data may be used in combination with real-time data to provide expert system assistance and to identify safety concerns.

A drill bit assembly for measuring reservoir formation properties comprises a bit head and a pin body, and an electrically insulated gap joint between two conductive parts of the drill bit assembly. The bit head has a cutting end and an opposite connecting end with an engagement section. The pin body comprises a connecting end with an engagement section. The pin connecting end is connected to the bit head connecting end such that the engagement sections overlap. The electrically insulating gap joint can fill a gap between the bit head and pin body engagement sections such that the bit head and pin body are mechanically connected together at the connecting ends but electrically separated. Alternatively or additionally, the pin body can have two pieces which are separated by an electrically insulating gap joint. An electrical conductor is electrically connected at a first end to the bit head and is communicable at a second end with an alternating current signal to transmit an alternating current into the bit head, thereby inducing an electric current into a reservoir formation adjacent the bit head. Electronic equipment includes measurement circuitry configured to determine the alternating current at the bit head, the alternating current being inversely proportional to a bit resistivity of the formation.

According to an embodiment, a drilling fluid comprises: water and a set accelerator, wherein the drilling fluid has a 10 minute gel strength of less than 20 lb*ft/100 sq ft, wherein the drilling fluid has a density in the range of about 9 to about 14 pounds per gallon, wherein the drilling fluid remains pourable for at least 5 days, and wherein when at least one part of the drilling fluid mixes with three parts of a cement composition consisting of water and cement, the drilling fluid cement composition mixture develops a compressive strength of at least 1,200 psi. According to another embodiment, a method of using the drilling fluid comprises the steps of: introducing the drilling fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein at least a portion of the drilling fluid is capable of mixing with a cement composition.

Systems and methods for processing drilling data. One embodiment provides a method comprising building user-designed contexts (which can be designated as built-in contexts) for drilling structures. The method also comprises orchestrating module execution within the user-designed contexts. The method further comprises providing data from the user-designed contexts to such modules via an interface. Some methods include monitoring drilling data to detect events (for instance departure from a pseudolog) and orchestrating module execution responsive thereto. The method can include exposing the orchestration of the execution of the module instances as a service. Moreover, some embodiments provide extra-contextual application program interfaces. In addition, or in the alternative, some embodiments schedule the orchestration of the modules based on declarations related to the inputs and/or outputs of the modules.

A spatially-aware radiation probe system/method allowing for detection and correction of radiation readings based on the position and/or movement of a radiation detector is disclosed. The system incorporates a radiation detector combined with a spatially-aware sensor to permit detection of spatial context parameters associated with the radiation detector and/or object being probed. This spatial context information is then used by analysis software to modify the detected radiation values and/or instruct the radiation probe operator as to appropriate measurement activity to ensure accurate radiation measurements. The spatially-aware sensor may include but is not limited to: distance sensors to determine the distance between the radiation detector and the object being monitored; accelerometers integrated within the radiation detector to detect movement of the radiation detector; and/or axial orientation sensors to determine the axial orientation of the radiation detector.

Disclosed is a scintillator panel provided with on a support a phosphor layer comprising columnar crystals and a protective layer sequentially in this order, wherein degraded areas on lateral surfaces of columnar crystals at an end of the phosphor layer and produced by a cutting treatment account for not less than 0% and not more than 40% of an area of all of the side surfaces of the columnar crystals. A production method of the scintillator panel is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a thermal conduction element (20) for a package for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, comprising: an internal part (30) intended to be in contact with a lateral body (14) of the package;an external part (34) intended to form a portion of an external envelope (24) of said package, holding radiological protection means (22);an intermediate part (32) arranged between the internal and external parts,the internal, external and intermediate parts being produced from copper and one of the alloys thereof. According to the invention, the external part (34) is equipped, at each of its two opposite ends, with an area (36) for connection by welding to another thermal conduction element (20), each connection area (36) being produced from steel.

A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology.

The invention relates to a device (10; 10a;10b; 10c; 50) for checking pharmaceutical products (1), in particular hard gelatin capsules, by means of at least one radiation source (30; 60) preferably embodied as an X-ray source, and a conveying device which conveys the products (1) in a clocked manner in a radiation area (31) of the radiation source (30; 60). The radiation emitted by the radiation source (30; 60) penetrating the products (1) preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axes thereof (2), and the radiation is captured on the side of the products (1) opposite the radiation source (30) by means of at least one sensor element (35) which is coupled to an evaluation device (36). The invention is characterized in that the conveyor device is embodied as a conveyor wheel (15; 15a; 51) which can rotate in a stepped manner about an axis (12; 52), and the products (1) are arranged, while being conveyed in the radiation area (31), in receiving areas (28; 37; 56) of the conveyor wheel (15; 5a; 51).

The present invention is directed to additives for coal-fired furnaces, particularly furnaces using a layer of slag to capture coal particles for combustion. The additive(s) include iron, mineralizer(s), handling aid(s), flow aid(s), and/or abrasive material(s). The iron and mineralizers can lower the melting temperature of ash in low-iron, high alkali coals, leading to improved furnace performance.

The inventive technology includes methods and apparatus for the generation and application of segregated catalytic additives for the pre-combustion treatment of carbonaceous fuel and/or feedstocks. The application of such segregated additives results in the reduction of environmentally harmful emissions during combustion as well as gasification processes. Specifically, pre-combustion treatment of carbonaceous materials with the inventive additives results in the reduction of NOx and/or mercury emissions by least 20% and 40% respectively.

An aspect of the present invention is a method of processing a waste material that contains mercury or a mercury compound, and chlorine or a mercury chloride, the method including a step of adding a chlorine scavenger to the waste material, and stowing the waste material in a treatment vessel; and a step of subjecting the waste material to a blasting treatment by fitting an explosive to the treatment vessel and detonating the explosive inside a pressure-proof container.