Abstract: A method for aerobic composition of organic waste material including high flow-rate aeration to provide beneficial soil amendments, fertilizers, and supplemental heat sources.

Abstract: Controlled-release fertilizers comprise one or more water-soluble fertilizer(s) together with improved magnesite cements, comprising cements selected from magnesium oxychloride and/or magnesium oxysulphate together with one or more organic carboxylic acid(s) and/or their carboxylate salts and/or their acid anhydrides.

Abstract: Granules can be prepared from powders of active compounds by the counter-current principle by fluidization in a stream of air and spraying of a solution of adhesive. Dispersions or solutions of active compounds can be granulated in accordance with the invention if the aqueous dispersion or solution is sprayed by the counter-current principle into the gas stream of a fluidizing chamber and is caused to fluidize, the formation of granules being started, in a start-up phase, at 10 to 60% of the maximum gas flow and at only up to 30% of the maximum feed rate of dispersion or solution, and subsequently the feed rate and the gas flow are increased up to the maximum values for the feed rate and the gas flow, and, in the main phase, the formation of granules is continued at maximum gas flow and maximum feed rate.Granules prepared in this way, containing pesticides as the active compounds, can be used as plant protection agents or pest control agents.

Abstract: This generally concerns the treatment of a moist fermentable organic product (10) involving circulation of air through the product controlled in accordance with the value of a parameter related to its state.In accordance with the invention, the measured value of the parameter concerned is compared with a specific value programmed in advance and regarded as ideal for the current air flowrate and this air flowrate is modified if the measured value of this parameter departs from this ideal value.

Abstract: The present invention provides for controlled release chemical compositions having improved controlled release properties wherein core substrate particles comprising a water soluble chemical compound, such as a fertilizer or oil well chemical, which are surrounded and encapsulated by a controlled release coating which is slowly permeable to water, such as a thin layer of polymeric material, are further overcoated with one or more coating layers comprising a finely divided filler preferably talc, dispersed in a metal or ammonium lignosulfonate binder. The outer coating serves to protect the underlying, thin film, controlled release coating from abrasion and impact damage occasioned by packaging, blending and dispensing equipment, thereby preserving the water permeating properties designed into such coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a improved process for the biological transformation of phosphorus and nitrogen containing storm water runoff into ecologically manageable materials by a process wherein aqueous storm water runoff is passed to a bioreactor where soluble phosphorus is precipitated with metallic salts, the aqueous fluid is aerobically and anaerobically treated to form an active biomass that actively bioconverts remaining soluble phosphorus and nitrogen, and the aqueous fluid containing bioconverted phosphorus and nitrogen is passed to an ecoreactor wherein at least a portion of the biomass is bioconverted to a beneficial humus material.

Abstract: A soil adjuvant of fungal mycelium which has been treated with quicklime and a process for the preparation of the soil adjuvant. The soil adjuvant contains at least 10% quicklime, preferably 10-15% quicklime, and in particular 10-11% quicklime.

Abstract: The present invention is a device and method for selectively dispensing at least one target compound into a selected environment. A target compound is dissolved within an elastomer compound in a concentration that supersaturates the elastomer compound. The elastomer compound is then shaped into a selected form that is conducive to placement within the selected environment. The target compound within the elastomer compound begins to bloom to the surface of the elastomer compound where it is exposed to the surrounding environment. The bloom of the target compound into the surrounding environment continues until the concentration of the target compound within the elastomer compound reaches its saturation point. As such, the duration of the bloom of the target compound from the elastomer compound can be regulated by the concentration of the target compound within the elastomer compound, the volume of the elastomer compound and the surface area of the elastomer compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced biodegradation process by applying to petroleum contaminated soil or water essential microbial nutrients in a form capable of releasing the nutrients over time at a rate which, at 25.degree. C., is substantially linear. Importantly, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microbial nutrients that are applied to the soil or water are in a form such that the release of nutrients at 38.degree. C. will be greater than that at 25.degree. C. by a factor of about 2.5 to 6.0, and preferably from a factor of about 3 to about 5.0.

Abstract: Pollution from industrial plants which produce NO.sub.x and waste water is reduced by utilizing waste water to prepare aqueous NO.sub.x -reducing solutions. Total water hardness in the waste water is preferably maintained below 2500 ppm, silicate below 200 ppm and the calcium to magnesium ratio above 2:1. The aqueous NO.sub.x -reducing solution will preferably contain hardness suppressing compostions in effective amounts.

Abstract: Method for the processing of animal excrements and liquid manure--called liquid materials--for the purpose of utilization of the ammonia contained in the liquid materials as a chemically bound non fugitive plant fertilizer, as well as the thermal disposal of the chemical unreactive, environmental hazardous ingredients of the liquid materials, respectively of the residues remaining from the processing like ammonia residues, methane gas or gaseous odorous compounds, for example of the skatole--or mercaptan type, wherein said the ammonia unbound and/or solubilized in the liquid materials is transformed into a non fugitive, easy resorbable nitrogen fertilizer for plants by adding carbon dioxide and gypsum to the liquid materials and using stable exhaust as preferred carbon dioxide source and the liquid materials are generally purified by the striping method from the odorous substances, ammonia residues or, from the stable exhaust originating methane by feeding in air or especially stable exhaust and which are com

Abstract: Novel methods for biodegrading nitroaromatic compounds present as contaminants in soil or water using microorganisms are disclosed. Water is treatable directly; dry soil is first converted into a fluid medium by addition of water. The preferred method comprises two stages, each employing microorganisms: a fermentative stage, followed by an anaerobic stage. The fermentative stage is rapid, wherein an inoculum of aerobic and/or facultative microorganisms ferments a carbohydrate added to the fluid medium, exhausting the oxygen in the fluid medium and thereby inhibiting oxidative polymerization of amino by-products of the nitroaromatics. In the subsequent anaerobic stage, an inoculum of a mixed population of anaerobic microorganisms completes the mineralization of the contaminant nitroaromatics, using the remaining carbohydrate as a carbon and energy source.

Abstract: A process for producing oxygen-free or low-oxygen shaped bodies of silicon carbide, particularly SiC fibers, by using chemically reactive polysilanes and/or polycarbosilanes as precursors. In accordance with the invention green fibers are stabilized preferably in the presence of reactive gases.

Abstract: A surfactant-fertilizer compound for enhancing the biodegradation of hydrocarbons in soil or water comprising the reaction product of guanidine and at least one carboxylic acid is provided.

Abstract: A powdered cellulose, containing essentially 3-8% of ammonium sulfate forms a biologically active media which preferentially adsorbs hydrocarbons in the presence of water and supports the growth of naturally occurring hydrocarbon reducing bacterial forms resulting in rapid decomposition of the adsorbed hydrocarbons into water, carbon dioxide and other benign waste products.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved process for absorbing and decontaminating an organic chemical spill comprising the steps of: partially composting plant material; mixing approximately 80% of the partially composted plant material with approximately 20% of dry plant material; inoculating the mixture with about 50 to 100 parts per million by weight of an organic chemical to form an absorbent; mixing the absorbent with about 20% to 40% by volume of spilled organic chemical; adding water; and allowing the mixture to incubate for a suitable time at ambient temperature until the organic chemical spill is neutralized. The plant material may be cotton gin trash or alfalfa hay; or cotton, legumes, alfalfa, tomatoes or their mixtures. The mixture of absorbent and spilled organic chemical may allowed to incubate in a perforated drum with a lid.

Abstract: An artificial soil composition and a method of growing vegetation on a sloped surface, especially a cut rock surface are disclosed. The artificial soil composition includes peat, granular soil, sewage sediment formed by the treatment of urban waste for example and pulp sludge formed by the de-watering of fibrous material and is a byproduct of the manufacture of paper from wood pulp. The artificial soil composition is applied over a meshing which is secured over a sloped cut rock surface. Plants are grown in the layer of artificial soil. Experimentally, the artificial soil is shown to have an increased adhesion to the inclined surface compared to natural soil, promotes plant growth and retains water to a greater extent than natural soil but does not cause an environmental hazard resulting from the leaching of compounds in the run-off water.The preferred concentrations of the constituents by weight are: peat (10-30%) granular soil (10-30%) sewage sediment (40-60%) and pulp sludge (25-44%).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for establishing optimum soil conditions by biologically disintegrating minerals in the presence of Ca compunds, clay and protein- and lignocellulose-containing organic vegetable waste, as well as protein-containing organic animal waste. The process includes the following steps: a) finely crushing a mixture of minerals containing at least potassium, magnesium, phosphate and silicate, all in insoluble form; b) subjecting the vegetable and animal organic waste to an usual preliminary crushing step; c) micronizing the organic waste, preferably while homogeneously mixing it with the mixture of minerals; and d) fermenting the mixture of micronized organic waste and finely crushed minerals in the presence of finely crushed Ca-compound and clay, in microbially appropriate conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural composition and a conditioning agent. The agricultural composition comprises a substrate, being a nitrate-containing fertilizer, and 0.1-2 weight % of a coating comprising 10-50 weight % wax, 90-40 weight % oil and 1-30 weight % resin being oil-soluble and miscible with wax. The conditioning agent is useful for reducing hygroscopicity and dust formation of fertilizers. It comprises 10-50 weight % wax, 90-40 weight % oil and 1-30 weight % oil being oil soluble and miscible with wax. When applied for nitrate of lime, this agent comprises preferably 15-30 weight % wax, 70-85 weight % white oil and/or vegetable oil and/or refined mineral oil and 2-15 weight % resin, which comprises non-crystalline tall oil resin and/or esters of stabilized resin acids.

Abstract: A multi-step process for treating soil that has become contaminated with heavy metals is disclosed. The process may be conducted on the site where contaminated soil is present and allows replacement of the original contaminated soil with decontaminated soil, thus avoiding the need to transport contaminated soil. The contaminated soil is separated and analyzed to determine which soil fractions contain metal contaminants, further processed to isolate the contaminants and treated with oxidizing agents. The contaminating metals are removed from the soil mixture by chelation. Decontaminated soil is replaced at the site and the metals that are removed from the soil are recovered and recycled.