Abstract: Embodiments for the invention include a process for the production of hydrogen comprising a protic solution, a photocatalyst capable of a two-electron reduction of hydrogen ions; and a coproduct trap. The embodiment includes exposing the reaction medium to radiation capable of photoexciting the photocatalyst to produce hydrogen. The protic solution may comprise at least one of hydrohalic acid, a silane, and water, and the hydrohalic acid may be hydrochloric acid, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen fluoride or hydrogen iodide. The present application also describes novel transition metal compounds. Embodiments of the compounds include a compound comprising two transition metal atoms, wherein the transition metal atoms are in a two-electron mixed valence state and at least one transition metal is not rhodium; and at least one ligand capable of stabilizing the transition metal atom in a two-electron mixed valence state.

Abstract: Embodiments for the invention include a process for the production of hydrogen comprising a protic solution, a photocatalyst capable of a two electron reduction of hydrogen ions; and a coproduct trap. The embodiment includes exposing the reaction medium to radiation capable of photoexciting the photocatalyst to produce hydrogen. The protic solution may comprise at least one of hydrohalic acid, a silane, and water and the hydrohalic acid may be hydrochloric acid, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen fluoride or hydrogen iodide.

Abstract: Chemical warfare agents, including vesicants and nerve agents distributed throughout the world, are destroyed when chemically reacted according to the method and utilizing the apparatus of this invention. The method comprises reacting the chemical warfare agents with nitrogenous base, optionally containing solvated electrons which are conveniently produced by dissolving an active metal like sodium in a nitrogenous base such as anhydrous liquid ammonia.

Abstract: Solid and liquid substrates, such as soil and solvents having radioactive metals or hazardous non-radioactive metals are decontaminated with the aid of cyanide ion generated in-situ to form co-ordination compounds with the unwanted metal contaminants. Cyanides are prepared by introducing into an ammoniacal liquid-containing slurry of a contaminated soil, or other solid or liquid substrate, a refrigerant compound, such as a hydrochlorofluorocarbon which produces ammonium cyanide, which in-turn forms a complex with the hazardous metal contaminant for separation with the ammoniacal liquid. The process may also utilize solvated electrons to at least partially dehalogenate a perhalogenated refrigerant like diclorodifluoromethane (R-12). Process avoids exposure to potentially hazardous cyanides through in-situ generation, while simultaneously destroying unwanted refrigerants which are potentially harmful to Earth's ozone layer.

Abstract: Soil including sand and clays contaminated with nuclear waste materials and/or ions of hazardous non-radioactive metals or metalloids are decontaminated by treating with anhydrous liquid ammonia alone or in combination with solvated electrons. Methods include removing ions of hazardous metals or metalloids by mixing with ammoniacal solutions to provide an ammoniacal liquid-containing product with coordination complexes. Methods also comprise concentrating contaminants, such as plutonium, uranium and thorium, for example, in the fines of soil and clay to yield residual soil products which are sufficiently free of contaminants to allow reclamation. Economics are improved over aqueous systems since ammonia can be recovered and recycled. By concentrating nuclear and nonnuclear wastes in soil fines space requirements ordinarily needed for storage of untreated soil and handling costs can be significantly reduced.

Abstract: Ozone depleting fluorocarbon compounds are dehalogenated through more economic reduction reaction with solvated electrons formed from lower equivalents of reactive metals than previously used by reacting the partial reduction products with nitrogen-containing bases, such as ammonia, or alternatively, without any reactive metal by reacting with the base alone. Mixtures of fluorocarbon refrigerants including difficult to separate azeotropes of dichlorodifluoromethane contaminated with chlorodifluoromethane are reclaimed by treating only with weak non-aqueous nitrogen-containing bases to provide essentially chemically pure dichlorodifluoromethane refrigerant suitable for recycling/reuse. Hazardous cyanides which may develop are converted to relatively benign products during the process by introducing a base to convert volatile cyanides to more stable salts which in turn are converted to useful compounds of lesser toxicity.

Abstract: Improved methods for purification and recovery of individual refrigerants from refrigerant mixtures without chemical destruction of the contaminating refrigerant. Aqueous solutions are employed in extraction methods by relying on differences in water solubilities and partition coefficients at ambient temperatures. All refrigerants can be recovered and the aqueous solutions reused to form a cyclic process. Methods include countercurrent extraction.