Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a composite material for use in recovery of radionuclides, metals, and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media. The material has very high surface area, and includes nanometer sized, zero-valent iron on a support. The material can be used to remediate aqueous media which have contaminants such as radionuclides, metals and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media.

Abstract: The present invention provides a PCB decomposing apparatus capable of decomposing PCB efficiently. The PCB decomposing apparatus comprises a PCB extracting container for extracting PCB from a PCB-containing material with an organic solvent. A distilling tower provided on the downstream side of the PCB extracting container distills the organic solvent to separate the PCB. A primary reactor provided on the downstream side of the distilling tower includes a nozzle for supplying aqueous Na2CO3 solution and a nozzle for supplying an oxidizing agent into the container. A liquid cyclone provided on the downstream side of the primary reactor can remove Na2CO3 having a large particle size. A secondary reactor formed by a long pipe is connected to the liquid cyclone. A gas-liquid separator provided on the further downstream side of the secondary reactor can separate a gas from a solution.

Abstract: A method for neutralization of the explosive content of mines and UXO by essentially completely consuming the explosive by combustion or decomposition before any explosion occurs. A charge of a compound that reacts with an extremely high heat-release rate is ignited on or near the casing of the device to be neutralized. The intense exothermic reaction generates high temperature combustion products that will disrupt the casing, thus leading to combustion or decomposition of the explosive. The holes melted in the mine casing enable ignition of a large area of the explosive charge and provide easy access for atmospheric air to support active burnout of the explosive. The apparatus comprises the compound that reacts with a high heat release rate, an ignition source, and a container for the assembly.

Abstract: A waste substance such as toxic compounds used in chemical weapons and industrial wastes including incineration ash is treated by a thermit reaction agent by way of supplying the waste substance to a combustion region of the thermit reaction agent or by adding way of heating the blended material comprising the waste substance and thermit reaction agent. The waste substance is fed into the combustion region of a thermit-type hypergolic fuel containing as its principal component a thermit reaction agent composed of an aluminum powder and a metal oxide powder, thus breaking down such a waste substance using the combustion heat of the thermit-type hypergolic fuel. The waste substance can be blended with a thermit reaction agent and fed into a combustion chamber so that the blended material is heated by way of a burner, so that the blended material is directly heated by a burner during the continuation of thermit reaction following the start of the thermit reaction of the thermit reaction agent.

Abstract: A process and system for the recovery of desirable constituent materials from vehicle tire pieces through pyrolysis. The system includes a pyrolysis section that is divided into a plurality of individual heating zones. Each of the heating zones is heated to a distinct operating temperature that is independent from the operating temperature of the remaining heating zones. Vehicle tire pieces are fed into the infeed end of the pyrolysis section by a rotatable feed cylinder that includes a screw-like flight extending from the inner wall of the feed cylinder. As the feed cylinder rotates, the flight directs the supply of vehicle tire pieces into the infeed end of the pyrolysis section. The pyrolysis section includes a rotary kiln that is divided into the plurality of heating zones.

Abstract: A method of processing sulfur-containing heavy hydrocarbon fuels in the substantial absence of steam through catalytic partial oxidation is described. The process comprises the steps of vaporizing a heavy hydrocarbon fuel and bringing the vaporized fuel and oxidizer mixture in contact with a noble metal catalyst supported on an open channel structure. The hydrocarbon fuel is considered to be a liquid hydrocarbon having at least six carbon atoms and a sulfur content of at least 50 ppm. The feed, containing only the vaporized fuel and oxygen in the oxidizer mixture, is subsequently routed through a reactor containing a noble metal catalyst (typically Rh/Alumina) at contact times of not more than about 500 milliseconds and a LHSV of not less than about 0.5 h−1. The feed is partially oxidized by a catalytic reaction occurring at a temperature of no less than about 1050° C.

Abstract: A method of forming and classifying a precipitate containing large, coarse and fine particles from a super-saturated precipitating mother slurry, e.g. sodium aluminate from the Bayer process. The method comprises separating the precipitating mother slurry into a plurality of separate streams, introducing each stream into a vessel provided with an agitated lower zone and a quiescent upper zone to form the precipitate, with the large and coarse particles remaining as a slurry in the agitated lower zone and the fine particles migrating to the quiescent zone, removing product slurry from the lower agitated zone, and removing spent liquor containing the fine particles from the quiescent upper zone. The invention also provides apparatus for carrying out the method. The combined precipitation and partial classification (separation of fine particles) makes it possible to deal with high solids charges increasingly encountered in industrial processes.

Abstract: A method of removing mercury from a mercury-containing flue gas, especially flue gas from a refuse incinerator, is provided. The mercury-containing flue gas may also contain dust, further heavy metals, and further gaseous noxious gas components. The mercury, using an alkali sulfide solution, especially sodium sulfide solution, and in particular sodium tetrasulfide solution, is converted to mercury sulfide and the mercury sulfide is precipitated out via a dust separator. The alkali sulfide solution is introduced into the flue gas accompanied by the simultaneous addition of heat.

Abstract: The AVS invention provides for an apparatus and process for its practice involving the vitrification of waste materials, such as nuclear waste, inside a disposable canister. The preferred embodiment of the process includes a canister having outer and inner containers with thermal insulation therebetween. Solid frit sections are placed inside the inner container to create one or more regions for receiving waste. The waste is then loaded into the regions. The inner canister is heated to melt the frit and waste and mix them once molten. The melted mixture is then cooled to form a vitrified product in the module. In an alternative process, chunks of frit are mixed with waste and loaded into the empty canister. The mixture is then melted and cooled inside the disposal canister.

Abstract: An integrated process for vent gas treatment for the abatement of volatile emissions is disclosed. The vent gas comprises dioxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other organic compounds comprising one or more alkyl halide compound of 1 to 5 carbon atoms. In the preferred embodiment, the vent gas is heated and mixed with an amount of combustible fluid. Then the mixture is directed to a catalytic oxidation reactor having a suitable oxidation catalyst disposed therein, wherein the mixture is catalytically oxidized. The effluent from the catalytic oxidation reactor is directed to heat the incoming vent gas and subsequently to a scrubber wherein the effluent is scrubbed of soluble compounds and the resultant treated gas stream is vented. Importantly, the amount of combustible fluid supplied to the vent gas stream is controlled so at to provide sufficient reactants for the catalytic oxidation to maintain reaction temperatures from 200° C. and 600° C.

Abstract: A method for treating infectious organic waste material such as dewatered sewage sludge, mixed organic wastes and animal waste. The method includes mixing the infectious organic waste material with a comminuted organic fibrous material to provide a reaction mixture. An oxidizing agent is an optional additive. The reaction mixture is heated in a hyperbaric reactor vessel at an elevated pressure and temperature for a time sufficient to create saturated steam and to produce a substantially denatured product containing inactivated pathogenic agents. The denatured product is dehydrated to produce a free-flowing solid product that may be used in various agricultural, industrial or commercial applications. Odor is controlled so that malodorous compounds are not released to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Method of recovering calcium carbonate from waste material or contained natural calcic material. Calcium is recovered by prepariag an aqueous suspension the material containing calcium to be recovered and by lowering the pH of the suspension to pH<6, preferably pH<4, for providing a spension including an acidic liquid phase containing the calcium compounds in soluble form. Thereafter the pH of the liquid is raised to pH>6, preferably pH>7, by mixing a base therein, for precipitating the main portion of aluminium therein. Thereafter the neutral or basic liquid phase is carbonized by introducing Na2CO3 or NaHCO3 therein, for precipitation of the calcium compounds as CaCO3.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effectively conducting removal of an indoor volatile organic substance in a closed system without ventilation so that a volatile organic substance given off by bakeout is oxidized and removed in the presence a catalyst, especially a noble-metal-base oxidation catalyst in a closed system without ventilation of the indoor while using a heat source for the bakeout as a heat source for heating the catalyst.

Abstract: Non-explosive water in oil emulsion fertilizer compositions comprise a discontinuous aqueous phase comprising at least one fertilizer component, a continuous organic phase, an emulsifying amount of an emulsifier composition comprising: the reaction product of an amine (C) characterized by the presence within its structure of at least one H—N group and an intermediate formed in the reaction of (A) at least one olefinic compound containing at least one group of the formula and (B) at least one carboxylic reactant selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula R3C(O)(R4)nC(O)OR5   (III) wherein each of R3 and R5 is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group, R4 is a divalent hydrocarbylene group, and n is 0 or 1, and reactive sources thereof and optionally, from about 0.5 to about 2 moles, per mole of (B), of (D) at least one aldehyde or ketone. The fertilizer compositions provide for controlled release of the fertilizer components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making NK-fertilizers basically from calcium nitrate fertilizers and potassium nitrate and homogeneous NK-fertilizer products. Calcium nitrate fertilizer is melted together with potassium nitrate to form a melt or suspension thereof which is particulated to form a homogeneous NK-fertilizer. The calcium nitrate fertilizer and the potassium nitrate are melted at 90-120° C. and then heated to the desired particulation temperature being 160-190° C. for prilling and 90-140° C. for granulation. The components are mixed in ratios giving a melt or suspension comprising 40-14 weight % calcium nitrate, 55-85 weight % potassium nitrate, 0.5-6 weight % water, 0-4 weight % ammonium nitrate and 0-5 weight % magnesium nitrate.

Abstract: Homogeneous calcium nitrate based fertilizers containing sulphur, and method for their preparations. Solid gypsum and/or a slow reacting sulphate mineral is mixed with melted calcium nitrate fertilizer at a temperature of 90-110° C. and kept at this temperature for 3-15 minutes and subsequently particulated at a temperature of 80-110° C. The particulation by prilling is preformed at 95-110 ° C. and the particulation by granulation is performed at 90-110° C. The fertilizer is a homogeneous composition of a calcium nitrate fertilizer and gypsum and/or a slow reacting sulphate mineral comprising 0.1-5.0 weight % SO4—S, 14-19 weight % water soluble calcium and 16-21 weight % total calcium, and 0-3.0 weight % water soluble magnesium. The fertilizer may contain microamounts of Se and/or Co. and/or micronutrients like Mn, Cu, B and Zn.

Abstract: Elemental phosphorus was produced by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) at Muscle Shoals, Ala. by smelting phosphatic material with carbon in electric furnaces. Solid wastes containing elemental phosphorus accumulated at the production facility as a result of TVA's operation at Muscle Shoals. Soil became polluted with elemental phosphorus from contact with phosphorus-containing wastes and remediation of the polluted soil is needed to restore land at the site to usefulness. The present invention entails agglomeration of the polluted soil by nodulizing to prepare feedstock for electric furnaces; reacting phosphoric acid with finely divided phosphate ore forming a porous, monolithic mass of monocalcium phosphate monohydrate; disintegrating the monolithic mass to form lumps; heating lumps to obtain anhydrous monocalcium phosphate; and simultaneous smelting of agglomerated soil and anhydrous monocalcium phosphate with carbon in an electric furnace.

Abstract: Sour natural gas is processed to remove the sulfur compounds and recover C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons by scrubbing the gas with an amine solution to remove most of the sulfur, followed cooling the gas to remove C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons and more sulfur compounds as liquid condensate to produce a gas having less than 20 vppm of total sulfur. The condensate is sent to a fractionator to recover the C4+C5+ hydrocarbons. The sulfur and hydrocarbon reduced gas is contacted first with zinc oxide and then nickel, to produce a gas having less than 10 vppb of total sulfur which is passed into a synthesis gas generating unit to form a very low sulfur synthesis gas comprising a mixture of H2 and CO. This synthesis gas is useful for hydrocarbon synthesis with increased life of the hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst and greater hydrocarbon production from the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor. Contacting the synthesis gas with zinc oxide further reduces the sulfur content to below 3 vppb.

Abstract: Substances to be processed and a hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution are enclosed in a process vessel, and a the process vessel is enclosed in an autoclave together with water. Oxidation processing of the substances is performed by changing the state in the autoclave and the process vessel to a supercritical state which is realized by heating an outer wall of the autoclave with a heater. Further, even if the substances leak from the process vessel, by oxidizing the leaking substances in the autoclave the leaking of the substances to the outside of an oxidation processing apparatus is prevented.

Abstract: A method for decomposing a perfluorocarbon in the presence of water vapor or water vapor and molecular oxygen in gas phase, in which a catalyst of a phosphate comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, alkali earth metal, titanium, zirconium, lanthanum, cerium, yttrium, rare earth metal, vanadium, niobium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt and nickel, and phosphorus oxide, is used.