Abstract: A plant for treatment of urban run off water where a body of water (50) is separated from a water recipient (60) by means of a flexible curtain (13) extending between the bottom (80) and the surface (90) of the water recipient. The bottom end of the curtain is anchored (14) to the bottom while the surface end is provided with float means (11) being movable across the surface to change the volume of the body of water.

Abstract: This invention relates to microbial methods and materials useful in the degradation of organic chemicals having toxic and obnoxious characteristics into innocuous materials compatible with the environment and to the process comprising identification, production and utilization of microorganisms for said purposes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for hydraulically disposing of animal waste utilizing a water container in which the waste is stored temporarily. Duct work supported in the container is connected to a pressurized water source effective to aspirate water and waste into a submerged inlet and conducting it to a place of waste disposal. A jet of pressurized water aids in comminuting the waste, circulating the same past the waste inlet, and in flushing away larger elements tending to obstruct the inlet.

Abstract: The aqueous substance, for example sea water, is boiled, the steam produced is fed under pressure into a turbo-alternator turbine producing electricity, the residual steam is reduced into soft water and the residue of evaporation, for example sea salt, is recovered as a by-product.The steam is fed directly or on leaving the turbine onto iron heated to about 800.degree. C., which supplies hydrogen and as a by-product ferric oxide. The initial source of energy is, besides solar energy, any known source of energy, such as coal situated at great depths. The starting aqueous substance is, apart from sea water, waste sludges, a rock salt solution or a mixture of sludges and salt solution. In the case of sludges, the by-product is a dry and sterilized fertilizer transformable into fuel bricks. The salt residue is transformable by electrolysis into hydrogen and sodium chlorate, which is a fuel. The sludge-salt residue supplies a combustible mixture.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for working up an effluent containing nitro-hydroxy-aromatic compounds which comprises heating said effluent to 150.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. with the exclusion of air and oxygen and under elevated pressure. The process results in a decrease of nitro-hydroxy-aromatic compound concentration in the effluent to below 20 ppm. and the resulting material can then be fed to a microbiological sewage plant for further working up, without the microorganisms therein being killed by the bactericidally active nitro-hydroxy-aromatic compounds.