Abstract: A process for treating a waste water containing uranium and fluorine comprises a neutralizing precipitation step wherein slaked lime is added to the waste water containing uranium and fluorine and precipitate thus formed in separated and removed, and an adsorption step wherein supernatant from the neutralizing precipitation step is contacted with a chelating resin which can selectively adsorb fluorine ions and another chelating resin which can selectively adsorb uranyl ions to thereby adsorb and remove the fluorine and uranyl ions remaining in the supernatant. Eluates of the ions adsorbed by the chelating resins and waste liquors for washing and regeneration of these resins are returned to the neutralizing precipitation step. Prior to the neutralizing precipitation step, a decarbonation step may be provided for decomposing carbonate ions, if they are contained in the waste water to be treated.

Abstract: A method of treating a heavy metal and/or a radioactive metal-containing natural water or liquid such as a radioactive metal-containing wastewater stream, a potable water supply containing naturally-occuring radioactive elements, an oil containing one or more radioactive metals, or other nuclear metal-bearing liquid by contacting the radioactive heavy metal-containing liquid with a water-insoluble carboxylated cellulose-transition metal oxide mixture to separate the heavy metals from the liquid. The heavy metal and radioactive heavy metals precipitate from the liquid onto the cellulose material to form a radioactive metal-laden solid material. The radioactive metal-laden solid then is air-dried, calcined and/or admixed with a leach-resistant matrix, such as grout or asphalt, for suitable disposal.

Abstract: A method of treating water comprises adding to the water a composition comprising a weighting agent and an electrolyte having a multivalent metal cation.The resultant floc absorbs suspended solids in the water and gives rise to a dense sludge which is easily removed from the purified supernatant liquor. A composition for use in the method is also disclosed. The composition may be in the form of a slurry or a friable solid (which may be briquetted).

Abstract: A treatment composition and method is provided for removing a plurality of contaminants from a wastewater system in the form of a nonleachable sludge. The treatment composition comprises an alkali or alkaline carbonate; activated montmorrilonite; a catalyst, such as zirconium and polyelectrolyte; one or more flocculants, such as a metal salt and calcium oxide, lime, or calcium hydroxide; and bentonite. Additionally, the treatment composition may contain soda ash, lignite, and activated carbon. The treatment composition is introduced and mixed with the wastewater, which is then filtered to produce a sludge containing the contaminants in a nonleachable form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for decontaminating and adjusting the pH of uraniferous solutions to render them compatible with the natural environment into which they may be discharged. This process is characterized in that the solutions to be treated having a natural pH from about 2.5 to about 6.5 and containing from about 1 to about 100 mg/l of uranium, are supplemented with an aluminum salt, such as sodium aluminate, in a sufficient amount for the final pH to be from about 5.5 to about 8.5 and for there to be precipitation, coagulation and adsorption of about 90% of the uranium initially contained in the solution and for the uranium content remaining in the final solution obtained to be equal to or less than about 1.8 mg/l.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of chemical process wastewaters and chemical waste landfill leachates containing obnoxious and hazardous halogenated organic chemicals by the use of a combination of physical, chemical and biological processes to produce a liquid discharge acceptable to the environment in an efficient and economical manner.

Abstract: For the purpose of increasing the efficiency during drying of brown coals having a high water content and for the purpose of facilitating the purification of process waste water resulting in a drying process according to Fleissner it is proposed to spray hot water onto the raw coal and to separate the proportion in fine grain having a maximum grain size of 5 mm, preferably of 1 mm. In the following, the proportion in fine grain is subjected to an adsorption stage (5), noting that after a reaction time of at least 1 min, preferably of 2 to 5 min, a major portion of the soluble substances burdening the waste water becomes adsorbed on this fine grain. Subsequently, the waste water is further purified after a flocculating step in a flocculating reactor (6) and after a separating step (8) for separating solid matter, for which purpose can be used sand filters (10), adsorbing resins and activated carbon.

Abstract: An improved process is described for removing phosphorus from industrial waste water by contacting the waste water with ozone to convert reduced or organic phosphates into ortho-phosphates, and precipitating the soluble ortho-phosphates by treatment with lime. The precipitated material can be filtered, and the filtrate treated with activated carbon to produce an effluent stream having low levels of phosphorus.The process of this invention is particularly effective at low treatment temperatures, enabling efficient treatment of the waste water during periods of cold weather.

Abstract: Waste water streams from the steam-extraction of heavy oils are treated to remove organic contaminants, suspended solids and mineral contaminants, so as to produce a purified water stream of a quality suitable for reuse in steam production. Suspended solids are removed by coagulation, flocculation and flotation, organic contaminants are removed by activated carbon adsorption, and mineral contaminants are removed by electrodialysis or reverse osmosis and ion-exchange. Thermal economy also is effected by passing the purified water stream in heat exchange relation with the waste water stream after suspended solids removal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for dewatering the sludges arising from the aerobic and/or anaerobic decomposition of e.g. household sewages, by treating with chemical agents, which comprises adjusting the pH of the sludge to a value between 9 and 12 by adding at least one of a compound selected from the group consisting of calcium and magnesium hydroxide and calcium and magnesium oxide, then mixing 50 to 5000 g./m.sup.3, of formaldehyde and/or dimethylolurea to the sludge suitably in the form of an aqueous solution, then optionally adding a dusty or granular substance capable of adsorbing oils and fats in an amount of 0.5 to 15% by weight as calculated for the dry substance content of the sludge, and adding prior to the adjustment of the pH or after the optional treatment with said substance capable of adsorption to the sludge 20 to 500 g./m.sup.3.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing copper from a solution containing same with a chelating agent. The process is advantageously practiced on aqueous effluents from electroless plating systems to remove copper from an aminopolycarboxylic acid chelating agent such as ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The process comprises contacting an acidic solution containing copper, and optionally ferric iron ions, and the chelating agent with a water insoluble ion exchange resin having a picolylamine or a pyridyl-imidozole functionality, whereby copper is selectively retained by the resin and the chelating agent remains in solution, and then removing the solution from the resin.

Abstract: Wastewater is treated with activated carbon, lime, and filter aid, and subjected to membrane filtration to provide water free from suspended solids and having a TOC level less than about 200 mg/l and total solids less than about 2000 mg/l.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating sludges that have resulted from chemical treatment of sulfuric acid wastes with lime are shown. The sludges are subjected to fluidization, dilution, and acidification to solubilize solids, clarification to concentrate solids for reacidification and produce a supernatant for carbon adsorption to remove organics and color, with regeneration of spent carbon including incineration of solids, and finally incineration of the spent carbon and all other remaining unsolubilized solids.

Abstract: To avoid formation of toxic trihalomethanes in drinking waters disinfected with halogens, these waters are treated with fine-particle-size ion exchange resin particles, optionally in the presence of a metal salt coagulant, to remove the trihalomethane precursors prior to halogenation.

Abstract: Novel compositions containing fluoride are provided for the removal of organic and heavy metal pollutants from waste waters and methods of utilizing same. The compositions comprise components selected from ion exchange absorbent gels, cements, water soluble fluoride containing salts and optionally alkali metal ortho phosphates. The procedures of the present invention yield not only clarified waters but provided a sludge which can be disposed of under environmentally acceptable conditions.

Abstract: Gypsum as a byproduct in the manufacture of phosphoric acid is converted into potassium sulphate or sodium sulphate by subjecting an aqueous slurry to anion exchange under acidic conditions. Adding solid potassium chloride to the obtained solution of potassium sulphate causes the latter to crystallize in pure state, the potassium chloride solution recovered after filtering off the crystallized potassium sulphate being used for the regeneration of the anion exchanger.

Abstract: A process for making magnesium hydroxide which comprises treating brine with an adsorptive magnesium hydroxide whereby at least part of the boron ions contained in the brine are adsorbed on to the adsorptive magnesium hydroxide, the brine being mixed counter-currently with the adsorptive magnesium hydroxide in a series of stages such that at each stage the brine is successively contacted with adsorptive magnesium hydroxide from a succeeding stage and there is recovered from the final stage a brine of reduced boron ion content, reacting the brine of reduced boron ion content with alkali to precipitate a low boron magnesium hydroxide and recovering the low boron magnesium hydroxide.

Abstract: A continuous process for the reclamation of a slurry of waste drilling mud fluids and water normally resulting from drilling operations. The process comprises the steps of conducting the drilling mud slurry to a slurry surge tank for liquid solid separation by chemical and physical methods.The mud slurry is subjected to a primary solids separation unit after pH adjustment is used to initiate coagulation and an organic flocculant is added to aid flocculation of the solids.The water is then subjected to a secondary solids removal, and the solids recovered are reintroduced in the primary solids separation unit. Thereafter the water obtained from the secondary solids removal is then subjected to a chemical oxygen demand reduction unit having a carbon adsorption unit or reverse osmosis membrane units therein to remove organic matter or dissolved solids to produce water meeting environmental discharge requirements.

Abstract: A process for removing anionic compounds from water which is recycled in manufacturing processes, and from waste water, by adding (1) water-soluble products obtained by reacting an alkylating agent, having an aromatic substituent, with a cationic polyelectrolyte and (2) mineral adsorbents and/or a magnesium salt, aluminum salt or iron salt, with formation and flocculation of water-insoluble reaction products.

Abstract: An environmentally sound system for the removal of elemental phosphorus from waste water resulting from phosphorus manufacture, use, conversion to other products, and storage, wherein the waste water is treated with a material such as lime that produces an insoluble phosphate, filtering the precipitate and passing the filtrate through a column of an adsorbent, such as activated carbon, to produce elemental phosphorus-free water which can be discarded without deleterious effects to the environment.

Abstract: Crystalline transition metal aluminates conforming generally to the formulaMA.sub.a.sup.v Z.sub.b.sup.v.nAl(OH).sub.3.mH.sub.2 Owhere M is a transition metal having a valence charge of +2 selected from the group consisting of Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, where AZ represents negative valence ions or radicals, v is a negative valence of 1, 2, or 3, n is a value to provide a mol ratio of Al/M of at least 1/1, preferably at least 1.5/1, and m is an integer of from zero to the maximum for waters of hydration, with (va)+(vb) equal to 2, are prepared in alkaline aqueous medium wherein transition metal compounds are caused to form adducts with amorphous hydrous alumina, Al(OH).sub.3, said adducts forming crystals when heated, said aluminates being useful, e.g., as ion exchangers and as spinel precursors among other things.

Abstract: Either commercial yellow phosphorus or a phosphorus sludge is reacted with a slurry of calcium hydroxide in aqueous sodium hydroxide to form a sodium hypophosphite solution containing calcium and hydroxide ions. The solution is neutralized with phosphoric acid or an acid phosphate salt with the co-production of an insoluble calcium phosphate. The neutral solution is contacted with an ion exchange resin charged with sodium ions to remove any remaining calcium ions.

Abstract: Heavy Metals contained in industrial waste streams are removed therefrom by flocculation using a source of ferric ions and an alkaline material at a basic pH. Both the flocculated heavy metals and the coagulant chemicals are recovered by acidifying the floc to a pH of between 3.2 and 3.7. This liberates the heavy metals back into solution but does not destroy the floc particles. After separation and removal of the concentrated heavy metal solution, the floc is further acidified to completely dissolve it. This dissolved ferric ion containing solution may then be reused to treat succeeding portions of heavy metal containing waste streams. The concentrated heavy metals solution may also be recycled or the metals contained therein recovered for reuse or disposed of in an acceptable manner.

Abstract: A process for extracting metal ions from a water insoluble metal base or salt dispersed in an aqueous solution using liquid ion exchange is described. The liquid ion exchange extractant is an alkyl phosphoric acid or acid phosphate (APA) which is dissolved in a water immiscible organic solvent. In contrast to prior art processes where the metal ion is dissolved in an aqueous solution, the insoluble metal base or salt is one which is reactive from an aqueous solution with the APA to replace one of the acid hydrogens to form an alkyl phosphate metal salt (APS) in the organic solvent. The metal ion can be recovered from the APS in the organic solvent by stripping with an aqueous acidic solution so that the metal ion is removed from the APS to form a metal salt in the aqueous acidic solution and the APA in the organic solvent is regenerated for reuse.

Abstract: A particulate coagulant/adsorbent for removing suspended impurities and colored substances from water by coagulation comprises a finely divided particulate mineral or clay material, the individual particles of which have been treated to produce a thin hydroxylated surface layer haivng a positive zeta potential at the adsorption pH.A process and an apparatus for water treatment utilizing the coagulant/adsorbent and providing for regeneration and recycling thereof are also described.