Abstract: The present invention is generally related to the correlation of physical and/or chemical measurements with other physical and/or chemical measurements and the application of the correlation to transform a product or process (e.g., to formulate, mix, blend compounds or materials of various natures and origins) upon predicting/estimating certain property(ies) and/or performance index(ices) as indicated by a dependent variable estimate. Embodiments of the inventive technology applies specifically to the problem of producing a correlation when the independent variables of interest exceed the number of observations. This situation is common in many fields of science and technology, such as, but not limited to, spectroscopy, calorimetry, thermogravimetric, chromatography and others. A perhaps primary advantage of embodiments of the inventive method over prior art is the ability to generate correlations directly in terms of measured variables.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of tank bottom wastes employing a flash tank fed with hot, pressurized tank bottom wastes and separating a vapor component and heavier bottoms then fed to a stripping reactor along with hot gas producing an overhead vapor with a solid remainder. Such remainder is alternatively fed to a pyrolyzing reactor at elevated temperatures producing vapors with a solid residue. The vapor streams are used with a regenerative heat exchanger to heat said tank bottom wastes to a temperature appropriate for entering the flash tank. Certain recycled material is employed as fuel.