Abstract: An automated hydroponic growing and harvesting system for sprouts includes a continuous serpentine chain conveyor transporting suspended trays through a tray preparation zone where trays are cleaned, a seeding zone where a layer of seeds is deposited across each tray, a germination zone where environmental conditions and nutrients and water are provided for germination, a growing zone where lighting, nutrients and water are provided for growth, and a harvesting zone where sprouts are dumped from each tray.

Abstract: An automated hydroponic growing and harvesting system for sprouts includes a continuous serpentine chain conveyor transporting suspended trays through a tray preparation zone where trays are cleaned, a seeding zone where a layer of seeds is deposited across each tray, a germination zone where environmental conditions and nutrients and water are provided for germination, a growing zone where lighting, nutrients and water are provided for growth, and a harvesting zone where sprouts are dumped from each tray.

Abstract: A method for separating acid and sugars obtained from liquids resulting from the acid hydrolysis of a material containing at least one of cellulose and hemicellulose is disclosed, comprising adding the liquids to a separation unit comprising a bed of anionic exchange or exclusion chromatographic material whereby the acid is adsorbed onto the chromatographic material, thereby producing a series of first fractions comprising sugar solutions and a later series of fractions comprising acid solutions. A process for an economical, energy efficient production of ethanol from municipal solid waste and other cellulosic feedstocks is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for separating acid and sugars obtained from liquids resulting from the acid hydrolysis of a material containing at least one of cellulose and hemicellulose is disclosed, comprising adding the liquids to a separation unit comprising a bed of anionic exchange or exclusion chromatographic material whereby the acid is adsorbed onto the chromatographic material, thereby producing a series of first fractions comprising sugar solutions and a later series of fractions comprising acid solutions. A process for an economical, energy efficient production of ethanol from municipal solid waste and other cellulosic feedstocks is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of processing waste is disclosed wherein the municipal solid waste is segregated and processed to recover reusable rubber, metal, plastic, glass and the remaining organic portion of the waste stream is used to make ethanol and other chemicals. One process utilizes a pretreatment step with dilute sulfuric acid to reduce the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste which can inhibit the fermentation of the sugars obtained from such waste. In another, the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of municipal solid waste is removed via an ionic exchange process, after hydrolysis with sulfuric acid. A process for an economical, energy efficient production of ethanol from municipal solid waste is also disclosed.

Abstract: A back scattering collector, comprising: a first spherical reflective surface; a second spherical reflective surface having an annular form defining a central aperture; a refractive element, the first and second reflective surfaces and the refractive element being aligned along an optical axis; a light excitation source for illuminating a volume for analysis; the first and second reflective surfaces having respective diameters which reflect light rays back scattered from the volume at least three times between the first and second reflective surfaces, a last one of the at least three refections directing the light rays through the refractive element; and, a photo detector, the refractive element focusing the light reflected light rays onto the photo detector. The second reflective surface can be formed on the convex side of a plano-convex lens, the refractive element being formed by a central portion of the lens. The distance between the reflective surfaces is adjustable.

Abstract: A system for the treatment of waste water including hydrocarbons and of a high biological oxygen demand. Preferably, the system includes a portable platform suitable for transport from site to site. A reaction vessel defining a substantially vertically oriented flow path therethrough for flowable waste water is mounted with its lower portion within and surrounded by a collection basin which receives waste water for treatment and recycling via trickling down through a biomass disposed on packing material within the reaction vessel. Simultaneously with the trickle down of the waste water, ambient air is forced upwardly countercurrent to the flow of the waste water to provide oxygen to the biomass, to enhance the flow of waste water over the biomass, and to sweep gaseous products from the reaction vessel. Optionally, oxygen is introduced into the collection basin to enhance biodegradation reactions within the collection basin. The system may be operated in either batch mode or continuously.

Abstract: A method of processing waste is disclosed wherein the municipal solid waste is segregated and processed to recover reusable rubber, metal, plastic, glass and the remaining organic portion of the waste stream is used to make ethanol and other chemicals. One process utilizes a pretreatment step with dilute sulfuric acid to reduce the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste which can inhibit the fermentation of the sugars obtained from such waste. In another, the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of municipal solid waste is removed via an ionic exchange process, after hydrolysis with sulfuric acid. A process for an economical, energy efficient production of ethanol from municipal solid waste is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of processing waste is disclosed wherein the municipal solid waste is segregated and processed to recover reusable rubber, metal, plastic, glass and the remaining organic portion of the waste stream is used to make ethanol and other chemicals. One process utilizes a pretreatment step with dilute sulfuric acid to reduce the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste which can inhibit the fermentation of the sugars obtained from such waste. In another, the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of municipal solid waste is removed via an ionic exchange process, after hydrolysis with sulfuric acid. A process for an economical, energy efficient production of ethanol from municipal solid waste is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of processing waste is disclosed wherein the municipal solid waste is segregated and processed to recover reusable rubber, metal, plastic, glass and the remaining organic portion of the waste stream is used to make ethanol and other chemicals. One process utilizes a pretreatment step with dilute sulfuric acid to reduce the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste which can inhibit the fermentation of the sugars obtained from such waste. In another, the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of municipal solid waste is removed via an ionic exchange process, after hydrolysis with sulfuric acid. A process for an economical, energy efficient production of ethanol from municipal solid waste is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of processing waste is disclosed wherein the municipal solid waste is segregated and processed to recover reusable rubber, metal, plastic, glass and the remaining organic portion of the waste stream is used to make lactic acid and other chemicals. One process utilizes a pretreatment step with dilute sulfuric acid to reduce the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste which may contaminate the produced lactic acid or inhibit the fermentation of the sugars obtained from such waste. In another, the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of municipal solid waste is removed via an ionic exchange process, after hydrolysis with sulfuric acid. A process for an economical, energy efficient production of lactic acid from municipal solid waste is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of processing waste is disclosed wherein tile municipal solid waste is segregated and processed to recover reusable rubber, metal, plastic, glass and tile remaining organic portion of the waste stream is used to make ethanol and other chemicals. A pretreatment step with dilute sulfuric acid is employed to reduce tile heavy metal content of tile cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste which inhibits the fermentation of the sugars obtained from such waste.

Abstract: The apparatus is for crushing used automotive oil filters, and for squeezing out and collecting the dirty oil. The used filter is placed on the platen of a piston, which is actuated directly by pneumatic pressure. The piston has an area of 400 sq cm, giving a crush force of 3 to 4 tonnes. There are no other moving parts associated with the movement of the piston. The piston platen is set in a chamber with a window for receiving the filter, and a door closes off the chamber during crushing. A pneumatic trip valve is actuated by the act of closing the door, to pressurize the piston. The piston is guided in bearings, comprising strips of anti-friction material set in the cylinder walls, which rub on the same surface as the pneumatic seal. The piston is very heavy and returns under its own weight when pressure is released. The seal/bearing surface of the piston is well lubricated by being splashed with oil from the crushed filter. Grooves in the platen direct jetting oil away from the door.

Abstract: Precise quantification of turbidity is obtainable through multiple determinations of the light attenuation coefficient of the particulate-bearing medium at a plurality of path lengths in the attenuating medium, and through multiple determinations of the scattering coefficient of the particulate-bearing medium at a selected angle of incidence and at a plurality of path lengths in the attenuating medium. In the preferred apparatus, these determinations employ a common light source and a common detector. In the present system, there are eliminated such adverse factors as light-source instability, detector instability, variations in particulate deposits on windows, and other problems, through the use of the ratio of the intensity measurements at different locations in the medium.

Abstract: A system and method provides in situ measurements of the size of particulate matters suspended in fluid medium. A beam of intermittently interrupted electromagnetic radiation is directed through a portion of the fluid medium and radiation backscattered from a first optically defined region disposed within the fluid medium at a location having substantially uniform incident illumination is detected and utilized to provide an indication of the size and distribution of the suspended particles. To assist in assuring particles under surveillance are within the first region at the time the measurements are made, light backscattered from a further region disposed in the fluid medium and containing the first region is collected and compared with the intensity of the radiation backscattered from the first region prior to making the measurements.

Abstract: An improved system for accurately measuring temperature. The system is microprocessor based and automatically compensates for errors from such elements as cable resistance, drift and aging of the signal conditioning electronics. The system converts a non-linear electrical signal from a probe directly to a temperature indication in degrees Celcius. In the preferred embodiment, there is employed a multiplicity of probes and the system provides for automatically scanning of the probes and computation of the temperature for each.

Abstract: A system and method provides electro-optical in situ measurements of the mass per unit volume of particulate matter suspended in a fluid medium. A beam of electromagnetic radiation is directed through a portion of the medium and radiation back-scattered from an optically defined volume thereof is detected and utilized to provide an indication of the mass of the particles per unit volume of the medium. The beam is preferably a periodically interrupted beam of substantially monochromatic light having a wavelength of the order of magnitude of the mean diameter of the particles of interest. In one embodiment, the d.c. component of the detection signal is filtered out to eliminate the effect of any background radiation.