Abstract: A packing material unit for use in liquid-gas contact apparatuses, which comprises outer and inner rings, and a plurality of pairs of arched filaments positioned side by side such that their curved outer surfaces are oriented alternately to opposite sides of the plane involving the outer and inner rings to form a plurality of circular or elliptic loops arranged about an imaginary circle which is concentric with the outer and inner rings. A connecting member is bridged between intermediate portions of each pair of the filament. A plural number of reinforcing members extend between apex portions of oppositely arched filaments of adjacent filament pairs. The connecting members and reinforcing members serve both to prevent the interlocking of adjacent packing material units and to improve mechanical strength of the unit.

Abstract: A waste fluid containing nitrogen compounds is combusted in an incinerator having cylindrical primary and secondary combustion chambers connected in series by a venturi throat member. The waste fluid is combusted in the primary combustion chamber at a temperature of at least 1200.degree. C. while injecting air into the primary combustion chamber in a direction tangential to the inner periphery thereof so that the combustion gas forms a vortex pattern therein. The whirling combustion gas containing nitrogen oxides is caused to pass through the venturi throat into which a gas or liquid containing a compound having a nitrogen-hydrogen bond is injected for mixing with the combustion gas and the mixture is combusted in the secondary combustion chamber at a temperature of between 850.degree. and 1150.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of a waste liquid containing boron compounds and organic compounds, such as resulting from the oxidation of paraffins with oxygen in the presence of boron compounds, includes combusting the waste liquid in a furnace at a temperature higher than 1000.degree. C. in the presence of a large amount of steam. The combustion gas may be introduced into a heat recovery zone, preferably a boiler, to recover the heat thereof and then into a contacting vessel to bring same into contact with water and to recover the boron components contained in the gas. Since substantially all the boron components contained in the combustion gas are present in the form of gaseous metaboric acid, there is caused no deposition of boron oxide onto the interior walls of the combustion furnace or gas passages in the boiler.

Abstract: A process for treating a waste liquid which is obtained from a fermentation process, e.g., an alcohol fermentation, and contains organic and inorganic substances which are useful as fertilizer, is provided which includes combusting a concentrate of the waste liquid and bringing the combustion products containing the ashes which are formed from the inorganic substances and the hot combustion gases into direct contact with a fresh portion of the waste liquid. Thereby the liquid is concentrated by evaporation and a slurry of the ashes in the concentrated waste liquid is formed. The slurry is separated into a solid sediment containing the minerals and a part of the organic components of the liquid and a concentrates mother liquid, at least a portion of which is combusted as the concentrate. By drying the sediment with agitation, a granulate which can be used as a fertilizer can be produced.