Abstract: A decontamination method of solid-state material contaminated by radiocesium comprising bringing the solid-state material containing radiocesium in contact with a first processing solution and preferably eluting cesium ion from the solid-state material to the liquid phase under the presence of potassium ion or ammonium ion.

Abstract: A device for carrying out gas reactions, comprising a plasma reactor with a through-flow of gases which has a, particularly cylindrical, plasma chamber, wherein flow-forming elements for forming a flow of gases are arranged before and/or in and/or after the plasma reactor in order to form a gas stream within the plasma chamber such that at least one, particularly central, zone in the gas flow is formed which is flow-reduced. A method for carrying out gas reactions is also provided.

Abstract: A method for conversion of a material including asbestos includes: crumbling a fibrous structure of the material such that the material is crumbled into smaller particles; transporting the crumbled material into a microwave reactor and mixing with an agent facilitating heating of the material; heating the crumbled material by beams of focused polarized electromagnetic radiation in a microwave band and maintaining the smaller particles at a temperature for a period of time for structural transformation; removing the heated crumbled material from the microwave reactor and cooling the material; and subjecting the cooled crumbled material to a process of final crumbling.

Abstract: The invention pertains to utilization of high power density microwave energy to reduce organic compounds to carbon and their constituents, primarily in a gaseous state. The process includes, but is not limited to, scrap tires, plastics, asphalt roofing shingles, computer waste, medical waste, municipal solid waste, construction waste, shale oil, and PCB/PAH/HCB-laden materials. The process includes the steps of feeding organic material into a microwave applicator and exposing the material to microwave energy fed from at least two linear polarized sources in non-parallel alignment to each other, and collecting the material. The at least two sources of microwave energy are from a bifurcated waveguide assembly, whose outputs are perpendicular to each other and fed through waveguide of proper impedance, such that the microwave sources are physically and electrically 90° out of phase to each other. The microwave frequency is between 894 and 1000 MHz, preferably approximately 915 MHz.

Abstract: A filtration separation method for waste resin containing highly radioactive uranium powder and device thereof is mainly used for the waste resin after water treatment process in a nuclear facility. The uranium powder contained in the waste resin is highly radioactive. Thus, prior to the treatment of the waste resin, it is necessary to filter and separate the highly radioactive uranium powder to reduce the radioactivity. It is to put the uranium powder containing waste resin into an underwater holding tank and withdraw the waste resin by an underwater pump into a uranium powder filtration box. Then the uranium powder filtration box is lifted by a hoist to move to an underwater ultrasonic cleaner. High-pressure water flushing is applied and followed by underwater ultrasonic cleaning. Then the cleaning water (containing precipitated uranium powder) from the ultrasonic cleaner is drained to uranium powder collection device.

Abstract: A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and at least one energy source coupled to the at least one drug-retaining region. The at least one drug-retaining region may be configured to retain a drug. The at least one energy source may be configured to transmit energy to the drug. The drug is capable of being rendered ineffective in the presence of the transmitted energy.

Abstract: A device and method for inactivating infectious biological or chemical agents using microwave-activated diazoluminomelanin (DALM). The agents are typically vacuumed into a load cavity, which is at least partially filled with DALM. The load is irradiated with microwaves via a cylindrical waveguide disposed under the load cavity, thereby inactivating or destroying the agents. The system is preferably temperature controlled and operation is preferably automated.

Abstract: A system and method for destruction of energetic compounds, medical wastes and unwanted pharmaceuticals using microwave energy. Waste materials are first mixed into a dilute water solution, slurry or emulsion. The dilute waste flows to a first microwave reactor containing silicon carbide. The silicon carbide absorbs the microwave energy, heats and vaporizes the liquid. The vapor flows to a second microwave reactor containing silicon carbide and an oxidation catalyst. Air is added and the waste portion of the vapor is oxidized to carbon dioxide. Water is recovered in a condenser and recycled. Carbon dioxide and remaining air is vented. Solid organic wastes such as contaminated disposable gloves and towels are gasified in a first microwave reactor with air and oxidized in the second microwave reactor.

Abstract: Ways of applying microwaves to feedstock to be processed are disclosed. One embodiment relates to heating inter-layer water in vermiculite to expand the vermiculite. Another embodiment relates to heating water in oil-contaminated materials and waste products, such as drilling cuttings, contaminated soils and certain types of animal by-products, to drive out oil. In some embodiments a microwave tunnel applicator has the microwaves applied from beneath the feedstock.

Abstract: Apparatus, process and article for treating an aqueous solution containing a chemical contaminant. The process includes contacting an aqueous solution containing a chemical contaminant with an aggregate composition comprising an insoluble rare earth-containing compound to form a solution depleted of chemical contaminants. The insoluble rare earth-containing compound can include one or more of cerium, lanthanum, or praseodymium. A suitable insoluble cerium-containing compound can be derived from a cerium carbonate, cerium oxalate and/or a cerium salt. The aggregate composition can include more than 10.01% by weight of the insoluble rare earth-containing compound, and in a particular embodiment consists essentially of one or more cerium oxides, and optionally a binder and/or flow aid. Although intended for a variety of fluid treatment applications, such applications specifically include removing or detoxifying chemical contaminants in water.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for decomposing and extracting compositions for the recovery of petroleum-based materials from composites comprising those petroleum-based materials, comprising subjecting the compositions and/or composites to microwave radiation, wherein the microwave radiation is in the range of from about 4 GHz to about 18 GHz. The present invention also provides for products produced by the methods of the present invention and for apparatuses used to perform the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: A system for neutralizing contaminants, such as pathogens, toxins, and biological organisms on or within an object, which may be housed in a container, such as an envelope, by focusing a plurality of energies or fields including electromagnetic, electrostatic, magnetic, or acoustic on the object in an amount effective to neutralize such contaminants without substantially deleteriously affecting the object or its contents is provided. A pressurizable chamber has means for focusing the energies or fields on the object, in a continuous fashion, and to concentrate the controlled energies at the object and its contents. A pressurization and evacuating system for expelling air and entrained contaminants from the object allowing a sensor to detect and classify contaminants within the chamber.

Abstract: A process is described for the degradation, detoxification and decontamination treatment of contaminated solid or liquid matrices and/or relative functional revalorisation and for their sterilisation, which comprises placing said matrix in contact with at least one saline catalyst and at least one oxidising agent chosen from among percarbonates, perborates or metal peroxides in the presence of a last one energy source chosen from among microwaves (MW), ultrasounds (US) and ultraviolet rays (UV).

Abstract: A method of heating asbestos containing materials and changing their structure from crystal fibrous to that deprived of fiber structure using an electromagnetic field is provided and is characterized by crumbling of utilized material. Crumbled material is being transported to microwave reactor. During transportation and the crumbling process, material chunks are being mixed with a heating facilitating agent. The device includes a utilized materials' crusher (1), crumbled material chunks's worm (2), heating facilitating agent's feeder (3) and microwave thermal reactor (4). The feeder (3) is adjoined to the crusher (1) and/or to the worm (2). The reactor (4) has a heating chamber (9) made of materials that do not absorb microwave radiation which is located at the transporter's (2) outlet.

Abstract: An economically viable process for the microwave destruction of contaminated water-based liquids, such as by chemical and biological agents, employs carbonaceous materials to enhance the efficiency of the microwaves while keeping the bulk temperature down to only a modest rise. A second absorption reactor is used not employing microwaves. The cyclic microwave use of both reactors allows high efficiency for the total process of destruction—adsorption.