Abstract: A method of treating an organic waste water, which is capable of separating and recovering phosphorus components in a liquid or solid form, is provided. According to the method of the present invention, reuse of phosphorus components can be facilitated, while the content of phosphorus components contained in a large quantity of a primary treated liquid can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of water using ozone, and more particularly to an ozone-based water purification system for use in animal houses and the like. In the embodiment described herein, the water treatment system comprises a main holding or contact tank, a relatively small re-circulation pump, an ozone generator, and an ozone injector. Normal operation of this water treatment system involves the receipt of raw or untreated water from a pressurized water main, such as that typically provided by a public water works system. This raw or untreated water is held in the contact tank at or near the pressure of the supplying water main. Actuation of the ozonation re-circulation loop causes water to be drawn from the contact tank by the re-circulation pump and passed through the adjacent venturi-type ozone injector.

Abstract: In a method of removing organic contaminants from a liquid, an oxidizing gas is formed into sub-micron size bubbles which are dispersed into a flowing initially contaminated liquid, after which the treated liquid is recovered. The oxidizing gas is preferably selected from a group including ozone and chlorine dioxide and is utilized immediately upon its manufacture.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for optimizing the electrolytic production of a halogen in a water treatment system having a halogen salt dissolved therein. The flow rate to the electrolytic cell is maintained below a predetermined maximum beyond which the remaining flow is diverted from the cell. The flow going to the cell is monitored for flow rate, water temperature and conductivity and the operation of the electrolytic cell is adjusted in response.

Abstract: The phytotoxic action of too high a concentration of peroxygen compounds such as peroxycarboxylic acids and hydrogen peroxide in the combating of phytopathogenic microorganisms, such as fusaria, in the water systems of plant irrigation systems, especially greenhouses, can be eliminated. The water is treated with a peroxycarboxylic acid solution which is brought in contact with a solid decomposition catalyst for active-oxygen compounds before the water is used for irrigation, in order to reduce the content of peroxycarboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The water contacts and flows through a fixed bed of decomposition catalyst, by trickling over it or flowing through the conduits of a monolithic block coated with a decomposition catalyst such as platinum, palladium or rhodium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating contaminated water to precipitate metals without increasing the total dissolved solids content. In particular, the invention relates to the use of phosphoric acid and calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide to adjust the pH of chromium contaminated groundwater during the treatment process without increasing the total dissolved solids (TDS).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the pre-treatment of hazardous biological and chemical contaminants from a waste fluid stream prior to discharge to a waste water treatment facility such as a publicly owned water treatment works or a similar privately operated facility. The method includes breaking apart tissue samples with a macerator, contacting a waste fluid stream with ozone, preferably in a vibrational mixer, which thereby acts as a promoter of hydroxyl radicals, passing the mixture through strong and weak unpolarized magnetic fields, static discharge and neutralization units, and finally, exposing the mixture to ultraviolet radiation. If found necessary, a subsequent static discharge and neutralization unit may be employed.

Abstract: A photocatalyst composition containing a substantially non-oxidizable binder which allows large amounts of photocatalytic particles to be adhered to a surface. Upon application to a surface, the composition dries or cures to form an adherent, abrasion-resistant, thermostable, and photocatalytic coating.

Abstract: A novel UV-oxidation and UV-disinfection system uses a highly-efficient, electrodeless microwave-excited lamp combined with a coaxial flow-through reactor design in which a liquid to bc treated is pumped from the bottom of the reactor and flows vertically upward through a reactor vessel against gravity. A hydrogen peroxide solution is injected into the liquid to be treated and thoroughly mixed by an inline mixer just before the liquid enters the reactor vessel. The solution is irradiated during its entire passage through the reactor vessel by the lamp which is configured to evenly irradiate the entire cross section of the reactor vessel and which has a substantial part of its spectral output in the wavelength most effectively absorbed by hydrogen peroxide molecules. A method of using the coaxial flow-through reactor to destroy toxic chemicals in water is also provided. The reactor is also used for UV disinfection of water supplies. The system is scaleable to enable high-volume application.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting a substance has a fluid source providing pressurized fluid, a heating device, a heat transferring device and a vacuum producing device. The heating device is coupled to the fluid source and is adapted to cause a first pressurized fluid from the fluid source to become heated. The heat transferring device is coupled to the heating device for receiving the heated first pressurized fluid, and is adapted for transferring heat from the first pressurized fluid to a heatable substance. The vacuum producing device has first and second inlet openings, the first inlet opening is fluidly coupled to the fluid source for receiving a second pressurized fluid from the fluid source and the second inlet opening is adapted for receiving the heatable substance. The variation of the apparatus can recycle heated fluid back into the apparatus once used to heat the heatable substance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new method for dewatering difficult sludges, such as autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion sludges. The method incorporates a three-component treatment system. Initially, the difficult sludge is dosed with an inorganic coagulant and then the resulting sludge-inorganic mixture is dosed with a microparticle component. Lastly, the resulting mixture is dosed with a high molecular weight flocculant.

Abstract: Organic materials such as raw refuse, waste plastics, waste biomass, sludges, etc. are decomposed by the use of supercritical water to selectively produce hydrogen. A thermochemical reaction is promoted to reduce the supercritical water and selectively produce hydrogen, without substantially adding any oxidizing agent to the supercritical water of a specific temperature and pressure, in the presence of a carbon dioxide-absorbing substance in an amount sufficient to absorb all of the generated carbon dioxide, so that carbon contained in the organic wastes reduces the supercritical water, and hence the organic materials are completely decomposed and also hydrogen gas is removed.

Abstract: Apparatus for active in situ multi-element gas sparging for bioremediation or physico-chemical degration for removal of contaminants in a soil formation containing a subsurface groundwater aquifer or a substantially wet unsaturated zone, the multi-gas contained in bubbles, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of injection wells extending to a depth of a selected aquifer; introducing an oxidizing agent comprising ozone mixed with ambient air to provide a multi-element gas by means of microporous diffusers, without applying a vacuum for extraction of stripped products or biodegration by-products, wherein said diffusers form micro-fine bubbles containing said multi-element gas that oxidizes, by stripping and decomposition, chlorinated hydrocarbons from the aquifer and surrounding saturated soil formation into harmless by-products; also including a pump for agitating water in the well selecting microbubbles, injecting them into the aquifer and effective to alter the path of micro-fine bubbles through a poro

Abstract: A column of solvent containing foaming contaminants is provided. Gas is injected into the solvent in the column so as to generate foam in the column. Foam generation continues so as to push the foam up in the column, wherein much of the solvent that is in the foam is allowed to drain back down into the column. The drier foam is pushed out of the column and into a container. The foam is broken up into gas and the liquid foaming contaminants. The gas is vented and recirculated for injection into the column for foaming purposes. A portion of the liquid in the container is recirculated as a spray, which spray breaks up the foam. Another portion of the liquid in the container is recirculated into the column as reflux. Another portion of the liquid in the container is removed from the system in order to remove foaming contaminants therefrom.

Abstract: A method of controlling the deposition of silica-containing scales and their adhesion to surfaces in contact with an aqueous system is disclosed which comprises adding to the aqueous system a synergistic combination of:(a) diethylenetriamine penta methylene phosphonic acid; and(b) a material selected from the group consisting of 2 phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid; high molecular weight, 3:1, acrylic acid/allylhydroxypropylsulfonate ether copolymer; ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymers; and polyepoxysuccinic acid and salts thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for wastewater treatment is described and is particularly suitable for manure lagoons and pits. Specifically, an ozone gas is homogeneously distributed through an upper stratum of a contained liquid thereby creating an aerobic "cap", while still maintaining an anaerobic lower stratum. A perforated tube or plurality of tubes fixed within the upper stratum serves to distribute the ozone. Alternately, a buoyant vehicle propelled across the surface of the liquid may also serve to distribute the ozone and create the ozonated "cap". The vehicle provides an additional benefit of crust fragmentation and prevention thereby inhibiting and eliminating fly propagation, and hygienically improving lagoon or pit operation. In either embodiment, the ability to create an aerobic and anaerobic balance within the liquid facilitates a reduction in odor, a significant improvement of organic digestion and solids control, and a reduction in pathogens sometimes found in water recycled from the containment area.

Abstract: The reduction of halogenated organic compounds with an iron powder can be markedly accelerated to realize an enhanced reaction rate by the combined use of a reducing substance that is water-soluble and which exhibits weak acidity in water. The reducing substance such as sodium hydrogensulfite may be injected into the ground simultaneously with the iron powder or it may be preliminarily added to the contamination source via a different route than the iron powder which is subsequently injected. An amount of water containing 100 ppm of trichloroethylene (TCE) as a halogenated organic compound was provide; 500 ppm of sodium hydrogensulfite was added and 6,000 ppm of an iron powder was subsequently added; the time profile of the TCE concentration in the mixture was measured; as shown in FIG. 1, the TCE concentration decreased rapidly with the lapse of time and more than 90% of TCE was reduced in 8 days.

Abstract: A water purification system is disclosed using a recirculation loop to extract water from a vessel, injecting ozone into the extracted water and then introducing the water/ozone mixture into the vessel to blend the ozone with all of the water in the vessel.

Abstract: A safe and efficient hydrothermal reaction apparatus for converting waste plastic into oil is described herein. The apparatus comprises a receiver tank for containing therein a mixture of plastic and water; a high-pressure injection pump in communication with the receiver tank through a flow passage change-over valve, the flow passage change-over valve being in communication with a water injection passage; a reactor device including a curved piping in communication with the injection pump, the curved piping being provided with a heating means; and an effluent tank in communication with the reactor device through a pressure reducing valve. The flow rate of the mixture injected into the reaction device may be controlled by regulating the pressure reducing valve.

Abstract: In the present state of art, use is made of aqueous mixtures of sodium phosphates, preferably mixtures of pentasodium triphosphate (for softening) and sodium dihydrogen phosphate (to reduce the pH) of hard and slightly alkaline water in aquaria to values acceptable especially for ornamental tropical fish. This inherently effective preparation for softening and acidifying the aquarium water leads, however, to the clouding of the water after a short time and to chalk flocculation, while the hydrolysis of the triphosphate results in an increased level of orthophosphate which is particularly favorable to the growth of algae. The invention prevents these drawbacks by the use of phosphonic acid compounds which complex the alkaline earth metal ions determining the hardness of water. Preferred phosphonic acids here are ethylene diamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) and its pentasodium salt and diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) and its heptasodium salt.