Abstract: A one step process is provided which denitrifies explosives and propellants and reclaims the evolved nitrogen therefrom while concurrently modifying the remaining carbonaceous materials into humic acid suitable for plant fertilizer applications. Explosives and propellants are hydrolyzed with a solution of ACTOSOL.RTM. humic acid extract. The humic acid extract fixes the free nitrogen evolved, preventing its loss as ammonia or NO.sub.x gases. The ACTOSOL.RTM. fixed nitrogen is then available directly to plants as slow-release nitrogen, and can directly replace nitrogen derived from urea or other sources in plant fertilizers., The carbonaceous material remaining from the denitrification process is non-explosive and is taken up in the humic acid matrix. This material is immediately available to plants as a carbon source.

Abstract: Controlled release, particulate fertilizer products having a water soluble fertilizer central mass encased in a plurality of water insoluble, abrasion resistant coatings plus unique coating compositions and methods for the production of such products are disclosed. At least one essential inner coating is a urethane reaction product of (1) a polyisocyanate selected from diphenylmethane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, derivatives thereof, polymers thereof and mixtures thereof which contain about 1.5 to 3 isocyannate groups per molecule and between about 10 and 50% NCO, and (2) a polyol having about 2 to 6 hydroxyl moieties and at least one alkyl moiety containing about 10 to 22 carbon atoms, e.g. hydrogenated castor oil. An essential outer coating is formed of an organic wax having a drop melting point of between about 50.degree. and 120.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nutrient rich humus material produced by a process wherein solids in an aqueous slurry of the excrement are precipitated in a solids ecoreactor, the treated slurry is passed to a bioreactor wherein soluble phosphorus is precipitated with metallic salts, the slurry is aerobically and anaerobically treated to form an active biomass that actively bioconverts remaining soluble phosphorus and the aqueous slurry containing bioconverted phosphorus is recycled to said solids ecoreactor wherein the at least a portion of slurry is bioconverted and recovered as a beneficial humus material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a compost product from organic matter having high water content: the method involving (1) holding organic matter with a large amount of water in a treatment tank for one to three hours while providing a supply of air, heating to not more than 60.degree. C. and agitating and grinding the organic matter so that the matter is reduced to a rice porridge state and aerobic fermentation occurs, extracting generated gas and water vapor to the outside of the tank, thereby dehydrating and drying the organic matter to form a fermentation and decomposition product having a water content of not more than 65%, (2) holding the fermentation and decomposition product for one to six hours at a temperature between 60.degree. C. and 100.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for converting municipal solid waste and sewage sludge into an organic fertilizer has a Stage 1 and a Stage 2, and includes a vessel that has three climate zones. Stage 1 has three climate zones, wherein the first climate zone contains thermophilic microorganisms, the second climate zone contains mesophilic microorganisms, and the third climate zone contains other microorganisms. The product of Stage 1 is reintroduced into Stage 2 and is then inoculated with a biodegrading enzyme and a bacteria species to produce a different final product fertilizer from Stage 2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a plant activator, a mycelial fertilizer, and a method of producing the fertilizer. The essential component of the activator and the fertilizer is purified pyrolignous acid. The plant activator includes 80-97 parts by weight of purified pyrolignous acid and 3-20 parts by weight of saccharide containing glucose. The mycelial fertilizer having purified pyrolignous acid includes predominant thermoactinomyces as mycelium. The mycelium is obtained by incubation and fermentation on a porous carrier while a pH of 7.5-9.5 is maintained. The plant activator revives plants weakened by stress. The mycelial fertilizer and method of producing that fertilizer includes predominant thermoactinomyces which beneficially affect farm products.

Abstract: A process includes the steps of: introducing, in a sequential manner and at a predetermined frequency, a substrate of organic waste substances by loading from above inside at least one cylindrical container of circular, polygonal or other cross-section having a vertical axis and at least one transverse horizontal dimension of which is small, in other words of the order of 1 m or even less, the vertical walls of which are at least partially made from a non-gastight material, such as a porous or aerated material; introducing into this pile or windrow lumbricids which will climb upwards; withdrawing, in a sequential manner and at a predetermined frequency, the lower substrate layer of previously lumbricid-composted organic material, this withdrawal causing the substrate to be lowered sequentially, under gravity, at a speed at most equal to that at which the lumbricids climb; and, removing the substrate of previously lumbricid-composted organic material.

Abstract: A catalyst includes or consists essentially of the oxides of silicon, aluminum and titanium, characterized in that the catalyst particles are built up from a core with the composition (SiO.sub.2).sub.y (AlO.sub.2).sub.y M.sub.y, wherein x/y=10 to .infin. and M=H, Na, K, NH.sub.4, or NR.sub.4, wherein R is a C.sub.1-8 -alkyl, and a shell with the composition (SiO.sub.2).sub.n (TiO.sub.2).sub.m, wherein n/m=12 to 1000. Both the core and the shell have a crystal structure of MFI or MEL. The catalyst can be prepared by preparing a synthesis gel for the preparation of a titanium silicalite, thereafter introducing an aluminosilicate of the MFI or MEL structural type into this synthesis gel, and working up the synthesis gel in a known manner to obtain the product.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved bioremediation process comprising the steps of: (a) inoculating cotton gin trash or an equivalent plant material with soil from a contaminated site; (b) composting the inoculated cotton gin trash; (c) mixing the contaminated soil at a ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:5 by volume with the composted, inoculated cotton gin trash and certain chemical accelerators; and (d) allowing the mixture to incubate for a suitable time at ambient temperature until the contaminated soil is cleansed.

Abstract: The process of using a single layer of aeration support blocks to form a composting field having an inclusive air chamber beneath the blocks to maintain the heaps environment for the accelerated composting of vegetation, municipal solid waste, municipal sludge or other compostable material. Further the unique placement, on the individual blocks, of the support footers and the penetrating air nozzles to increase the structural strength of the individual blocks and therefore the entire field. Composting of vegetation, municipal solid waste and municipal sludge is required to reduce the volume of waste deposited into landfills. To provide for a cost efficient method of allowing for the large scale composting operations the following criteria must be met. First the operation must be reusable, through many composting cycles, without requiring replacement of material such as current use piping.

Abstract: A process for forming a microelement deficiency-corrector comprising a mixture of trace elements, in hydrated sulfate form, optionally containing carbonates and including iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc, with the following typical elemental analysis: Magnesium 3.5-6%; iron 12-19%; Manganese 11.5%; zinc 0.2-0.3% and organic matter 0-45%.The process comprises mixing 50-95% of the by-product of manufacture of titanium bioxide via sulfate, 5-10% alkaline earth carbonate or magnesite and, optionally, 10-45% organic matter, grinding the mixture, granulating it and drying it, cooling it and screening it.The corrector is used in agriculture to prevent and control ferric chlorysis, to favour physiological processes of harvests in which iron takes part and to avoid deficiencies of manganese and zinc farmland.

Abstract: Environmental release of carcinogenic polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo-furan compounds that typically result from combustion of materials containing chlorine or hydrochloric acid-generating components is minimized by preferential sorption of the precursor reactants on sorbents added to exhaust gas at high temperatures containing such precursors prior to conversion of the precursors to carcinogenic compounds normally occurring as the exhaust gas is cooled.

Abstract: A process for producing high-purity silicon for solar cells continuously directly from inexpensive silicon containing a comparatively large amount of impurities. This process comprises melting continuously supplied raw material silicon in a bottomless crucible placed in an induction coil, while blowing a hot plasma gas incorporated with an oxygen-containing substance on the surface of the melt for purification, and continuously discharging the solidified silicon downward from said bottomless crucible, with at least an axial part of said bottomless crucible being divided into a plurality of electrically conductive pieces spaced circumferentially.

Abstract: A method of wet flue gas desulfurization of combustion gases that incorporates both calcium scrubbing with forced oxidation and ammonia scrubbing of the gas in a scrubber tower. The end product or result from such a process is gypsum and ammonia sulfate which may be used in agriculture.

Abstract: In the removal of hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream by use of a liquid catalyst containing ferric ions, the ferric ions of the liquid catalyst are converted to ferrous ions. Regeneration of the ferric ions can be accomplished by bubbling air through the liquid catalyst. A significant decrease in regeneration time for transforming the ferrous ions back to the original ferric ion state can occur when a culture of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans bacteria is introduced to the liquid catalyst. Optimization indicates a pH range between 6.0 and 9.0, a temperature between 20.degree. C. and 45.degree. C. and a cell concentration of 12.5.times.10.sup.8 cells per liter.

Abstract: Bacterial strains can be reproducibly isolated from the rhizosphere that enhance yield in nonroot crops under field conditions.

Abstract: Bacterial strains can be reproducibly isolated from soil that are root-colonizing and directly promote plant development. For example, strains of soil bacteria are provided that are good root colonizers and that promote plant growth under gnotobiotic conditions.

Abstract: A delayed release fertilizer composition consisting essentially of a mixture of a urea-formaldehyde resin and a lignosulfonate prepared by spray-drying an aqueous mixture of a urea-formaldehyde resin and a lignosulfonate. The composition of this invention, is also use as a fertilizer carrier as a replacement for expanded vermiculite fertilizers.

Abstract: This invention is a method to produce a substitute for peat moss comprising:mixing in a mixer adsorptive cellulosic material with an effective amount of an inoculum containing cellulose degrading microorganism such as lignin cellulose degrading bacteria upon anaerobic fermentation and manure municipal waste or similar waste, manufactured feedstock or a blend of these,transferring said mixture to a chamber,allowing the temperature of said mixture to rise in said chamber until said cellulosic material changes color, thenaerating said mixture to remove water vapor, ammonia and other gases in an exhaust gas and then removing said mixture from said chamber for use as a substitute for peat moss and other uses.

Abstract: Utilizing exhaust materials from various plants and industrial wastes containing CaO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2 and Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 as major components, inexpensive ground-strengthening/soil-improving material is obtained by blending thereinto clay minerals and sintering the resultant mixture. A high unconfined compressive strength is conferred upon the ground-strengthening/soil-improving material upon the addition of alumina.