Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for decreasing the viscosity and/or cohesiveness of and/or increasing the liquefaction of excessively or abnormally viscous or cohesive mucus or sputum. The composition contains a protein or peptide containing a thioredoxin active-site in reduced state and optionally further contains a reducing system.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering magnesium from foundry sludge and cell bleed electrolytes includes structure and/or steps for: (i) dissolving, in a water slurry, soluble chloride compounds in the magnesium-containing material; (ii) acidifying the water slurry to between substantially pH 4 and substantially pH 6; (iii) further acidifying the water slurry to between substantially pH 1 and substantially pH 0, and providing a magnesium chloride solution; (iv) precipitating calcium from the magnesium chloride solution; (v) separating solids from the magnesium chloride solution; (vi) stripping SO2 from the magnesium chloride solution; and (vii) precipitating NaCl from the magnesium chloride solution to provide a concentrated magnesium chloride solution.

Abstract: A method to increase cellular MnSOD production in an animal to treat oxidative damage by administering a protein having a thioredoxin active-site in reduced state. A composition and a method to protect an animal from lung disease are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method for the substantially selective extraction of tellurium from copper electrorefining slimes. The method comprises maintaining a molar ratio Ag/Se, Ag/S or Ag/Se+S at a value of about 2 or less in the slimes during leaching thereof in an autoclave. The excess of selenium and/or sulphur allows the formation of Ag.sub.2 Se or Ag.sub.2 S, which remains insoluble during autoclave leaching.

Abstract: A method of increasing the extraction of tellurium from copper electrorefining slime comprises leaching the slime with dilute sulphuric acid in a reactor under a partial oxygen pressure of up to 150 psi and at an elevated temperature between about 100.degree. and 200.degree. C. until copper, nickel and substantially all of the tellurium is dissolved, thereby forming a leach slurry, and contacting the slurry with an appropriate reducing agent immediately after the leaching operation has been halted and the leaching reactor brough back to atmospheric pressure to reprecipitate any excessive quantities of silver and selenium solubilized during the leaching operation.