Abstract: A process and composition for the treatment of animal excrement that has collected in an enclosure housing animals is disclosed. The process includes the steps of flushing the enclosure to produce a stream containing water and suspended particulate excrement and passing the stream through a filtration system comprising at least one filter having a filter medium for trapping substantially all of the solid animal excrement and filtering liquid from the excrement to produce an animal excrement mixture containing the solid animal excrement and the filter medium. A deodorizing composition is mixed into this animal excrement mixture. The deodorizing composition contains about 5 percent to about 90 percent by weight of lime, and about 10 percent to about 95 percent by weight of cellulose. The deodorizing composition is mixed with animal excrement mixture in a relative proportion of about 1 to 20 parts by weight animal excrement mixture to about 1 part by weight deodorizing composition.

Abstract: Polystyrene baler for extreme compaction of expanded polystyrene or other similar materials where a ram forcibly acts to compress the expanded polystyrene material into a narrowing chamber where the narrowing chamber walls further act to compress the expanded polystyrene material to allow for air or gases trapped in the polystyrene material to escape so that a densely packed polystyrene bale is formed. A continuous bale is formed which can be broken or cut into desired lengths or weights. Vertically aligned walls of the bale chamber can be hydraulically actuated to accommodate the degree of compaction desired.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating chemical contaminants such as volatile and semi-volatile chemicals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), even if the contaminants are present at low concentrations, from mixed wastes, such as soils or sludges contaminated with hazardous and radioactive components. The process comprises subjecting the mixed waste to vacuum at a temperature effective to volatilize the contaminants but below incineration temperature, while continuously removing the evolved vapors, for a period of time sufficient to effect the desired degree of separation of the volatile and semi-volatile contaminants. The evolved vapors may be collected and condensed for off-site disposal and the remaining solids may be properly disposed of or further treated.

Abstract: A method for reducing reducible metals comprising combining one or more reducible metals with an elemental metal, and then with a reducing agent to form a reduced metal. The mixture may then be stabilized and recovered.

Abstract: An improved method for detoxifying waste materials contaminated with halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method provides for detoxification of halogenated aromatic compounds by electrophilic aromatic substitution. The method also provides for the dehalogenation of the lower congeners of such halogenated aromatic compounds, as a result of chemical activation via electrophilic aromatic substitution, followed by nucleophilic aromatic dehalogenation. In addition, the method provides for the more complete dehalogenation of mixtures of halogenated aromatic compounds that contain both higher and lower congeners by increasing the efficiency of dehalogenation of the lower congeners.

Abstract: A method for economically separating chemical contaminants such as volatile and semivolatile organic chemicals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), even if the contaminants are present at low concentrations, from inert materials such as soils or sludges is disclosed. The process comprises subjecting inert materials contaminated with chemical compounds to vacuum at a temperature effective to volatilize the contaminants but below incineration temperature, while continuously removing the evolved vapors, for a period of time sufficient to effect the desired degree of separation of contaminants. The evolved vapors may be collected and condensed for off-site disposal.

Abstract: A process is presented for the treatment of wastewater containing non-volatile pollutants and volatile chemically oxidizable organic and inorganic pollutants. The process combines efficient evaporation to concentrate the non-volatile compounds and a catalytic oxidation reaction to convert the volatilized organic and inorganic pollutants. A condensate product may be obtained by treating wastewater according to the inventive process that is of distilled water quality and substantially free of minerals and organics.

Abstract: Metal complexes and especially nickel EDTA is decomposed by adding an oxidizing agent to an aqueous solution containing metal complexes to define an oxidizable aqueous solution. The oxidizable aqueous solution is then exposed to a source of ultraviolet radiation in the range of from 185-300 nanometers for a period of time sufficient to destroy the complex portion of the metal complex. The remaining metal is recovered.

Abstract: An improved method for detoxifying waste materials contaminated with halogenated hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method achieves dehalogenation of such halogenated hydrocarbons in a manner as efficient as previous methods, but at a considerably lower cost. The economic advantages of the present invention arise from the use of lower temperatures and/or smaller quantities of reagents, which in turn are made possible by the discovery of a surprisingly superior reagent, 2-methoxyethanol.

Abstract: A process is presented for treating and detoxifying mixed wastes, especially those containing volatile chemically oxidizable organics, nonvolatile inorganics and radioactive pollutants. The process combines an efficient extraction system, a filtration step, and evaporation system to concentrate the pollutants originally present in the mixed waste and a catalytic oxidation reaction to convert the volatilized organic and inorganic pollutants. A condensate product is obtained that is recycled internally to provide a closed system that discharges only inert gases and treated solid products.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing waste material from a container and for separating the waste material into a pumpable slurry fraction and a solids fraction, the apparatus comprising a mechanical means for removing waste material from the container, and a waste pulper for receiving the waste material and for grinding and separating the waste material into at least a pumpable slurry fraction and a solids fraction.

Abstract: An improved method for detoxifying waste materials contaminated with halogenated hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method achieves dehalogenation of such halogenated hydrocarbons in a manner as efficient as previous methods, but at a considerably lower cost. The economic advantages of the present invention arise from the use of lower temperatures and/or smaller quantities of reagents, which in turn is made possible by the discovery of a surprisingly superior reagent, 2-methoxyethanol, and superior catalysts, the crown ethers, which allow reagents other than 2-methoxyethanol to function very efficiently in dehalogenation reactions.

Abstract: A system for disposing of solid waste which recovers a portion of the energy and materials value of the waste. The system includes a plurality of sealable containers for the solid waste, and a rotary kiln. An air cannon propels the containers into the vessel on a trajectory generally parallel to the axis of the vessel. The kiln is of the type including a cylindrical vessel containing materials to be processed therein. The vessel has first and second longitudinally opposite ends, and rotates about its longitudinal axis. A burner heats gases in the interior of the vessel for processing the material in the vessel. The temperature in the vessel progressively increases from the first end to the second end of the kiln.

Abstract: Method for disposal of oily refinery sludges containing a hydrocarbon component, a solids component comprising sediments such as sand, silt, rust or scale, and water in an operating rotary kiln comprising a heated, rotating cylinder containing in-process mineral matter comprising analyzing the oily refinery sludge to determine its composition, drying the oily refinery sludge to a bulk granular material having an energy content of at least about 4,000 BTU per pound, and charging the dried bulk granular material to the rotary kiln and burning the bulk granular material therein.

Abstract: An improved powdered adsorbent enhanced sludge process for the treatment of wastewater is disclosed that allows for in situ recovery of unregenerated powdered adsorbent. In situ recovery is performed by contacting a mixture of activated sludge and spent powdered adsorbent at disassociation conditions whereby cell lysis occurs. The cell lysis allows for physical separation of the spent powdered adsorbent from the activated sludge, thus allowing for recycle of adsorbent without the need for a regeneration process.

Abstract: An improved method for detoxifying waste materials contaminated with halogenated hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method achieves dehalogenation of such halogenated hydrocarbons in a manner as efficient as previous methods, but at a considerably lower cost. The economic advantages of the present invention arise from the use of lower temperatures and/or smaller quantities of reagents, which in turn are made possible by the discovery of a surprisingly superior reagent, 2-methoxyethanol.

Abstract: A process for removing metal salts from an H.sub.4 EDTA precipitate by esterification with an esterification reagent to produce an esterification mixture comprising a solid metal salt an EDTA ester and thereafter separating the solid metal salt from the esterification mixture.

Abstract: A method for economically separating chemical contaminants such as volatile organic chemicals (VOC's) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), even if the contaminants are present at low concentrations, from inert materials such as soils or sludges, comprising subjecting inert materials contaminated with chemical compounds to a temperature effective to volatilize the contaminants but below incineration temperature, with continuous removal of evolved vapors, for a period of time sufficient to effect the desire degree of separation of contaminants. The evolved vapors may be subjected to catalytic oxidation to destroy the volatilized chemical compounds.

Abstract: A method for temporarily covering a large land area and an apparatus for suspending a flexible cover from a front loader bucket of an earth-moving vehicle. One example of the apparatus includes a cross member having a mid-portion connected by extension arms to the bucket. Tubular enclosures on the bucket receive the free ends of the extension arms for cantilever support thereof. The method of covering the land area includes releasably attaching opposed ends of the flexible cover to the cross member and moving the vehicle to a first location of the land area. The bucket is lowered and a first end of the cover is released. The bucket is raised and the vehicle is moved to a second location so as to spread the cover over increasingly larger portions of the land area. The second end of the cover is thereafter released so that the cover is laid out over the land area. The steps of the method are reversed to remove the cover from the land area.