Abstract: Accelerated dechlorination of soil and water contaminated with chlorinated solvents is achieved by stimulating anaerobic microorganisms and thus increasing the rate of biological mineralization of the solvents. This is accomplished by a treatment process consisting of colloidal suspension of iron powder, polylactate ester such as glycerol tripolylactate, xylitol pentapolylactate, and sorbitol hexapolylactate, chemical oxygen scavengers in solution with essential nutrients, and vitamin stimulants such as B2 and B12 delivered via compressed gases N or C02 so as not to oxygenate an environment targeted for anaerobic processes. The treatment stimulates naturally occurring microorganisms while oxidizing dissolved phase target compounds via the surface action of the iron particles resulting in the breakdown of chlorinated solvents such as tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, carbon tetrachloride and their daughter products.

Abstract: This invention provides novel stable metallic mesoporous transition metal oxide molecular sieves and methods for their production. The sieves have high electrical conductivity and may be used as solid electrolyte devices, e.g., in fuel cells, as sorbents, e.g. for hydrogen storage, and as catalysts. The invention also provides room temperature activation of dinitrogen, using the sieves as a catalyst, which permits ammonia production at room temperature.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for processing perfluorocompounds exhaust, that employs thermal energy produced by the reactions occurred in a plasma reactor to convert liquid water into steam. The steam is then directly introduced into the plasma reactor to participate in the reactions of plasma stream. This invention resolves the high temperature problem encountered by the reaction chamber during combustion. In addition, this invention is provided with a combustion chamber connecting to the reacting chamber. Air is introduced into the combustion chamber to combust with hydrogen so as to remove a great mount of hydrogen produced by the combustion of the perfluorocompounds exhaust.

Abstract: A bed of calcium oxide and/or barium oxide in particulate form is continuously moved through a contact reaction zone such that it enters into countercurrent reaction with the feedstock and the reaction is performed in a reaction column equipped with an agitating/moving device by which the halide which is the product of reaction between the organic halide and the oxide is continuously discharged to the outside of the reaction zone.

Abstract: The catalytic exhaust gas decomposition apparatus spirals an exhaust gas containing therein a substance to be decomposed and a reactant gas, rectifies the spiral flow, and lets the substance to be decomposed contained in the exhaust gas react with the reactant gas after the spiral flow has been rectified. This arrangement rectifies the spiral flow of the exhaust gas and the reactant gas with a plate-like baffle wall having therein a through hole at a portion near the center thereof. The spiral flow is allowed to pass through the through hole so as to be centralized temporarily. The spiral flow then passes through an enlarged section of a flow path downstream of the through hole before being introduced into the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A method of decreasing nitrate nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in soil and groundwater by burying a fatty acid having 10 or more carbon atoms, an alcohol having 12 or more carbon atoms, an ester of a linear saturated fatty acid having 14 or more carbon atoms and a monohydric alcohol, an ester of a linear saturated fatty acid having 14 or more carbon atoms and a polyhydric alcohol, an ester of a fatty acid having 16 or more carbon atoms and glycerine, and the like in soil containing nitrate nitrogen and volatile organic compounds or by contacting groundwater with same. This method allows for on site treatment, high biological denitrification and a decrease in volatile organic compounds secondary pollution by the release of organic matter and nitrogen into the environment.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for energy efficient remediation of soil contaminated with hydrocarbons, including desorbing the hydrocarbon contaminants from a bed of the soil by thermal desorption in a treated desorption chamber (20) and thereafter combusting the contaminants in a thermal oxidiser (30). The combustion air for the desorption chamber and the thermal oxidiser, and the desorbed contaminants prior to admission to said thermal oxidiser, are preheated by heat exchange (40) with offgases from the thermal oxidiser. The offgases are then rapidly quenched at below 200° C.

Abstract: A method for destroying halocarbons. Halocarbon materials are reacted in a dehalogenation process wherein they are combined with a solvent in the presence of a catalyst. A hydrogen-containing solvent is preferred which functions as both a solvating agent and hydrogen donor. To augment the hydrogen donation capacity of the solvent if needed (or when non-hydrogen-containing solvents are used), a supplemental hydrogen donor composition may be employed. In operation, at least one of the temperature and pressure of the solvent is maintained near, at, or above a critical level. For example, the solvent may be in (1) a supercritical state; (2) a state where one of the temperature or pressure thereof is at or above critical; or (3) a state where at least one of the temperature and pressure thereof is near-critical. This system provides numerous benefits including improved reaction rates, efficiency, and versatility.

Abstract: The invention consists of a method for treating polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated media by: a) combining the media with a fluid containing one or more liquid hydrocarbons to form a media/fluid mixture; b) sonicating the mixture at audio frequency to extract PCB from the media into the fluid; and c) treating the fluid with sodium-containing alkali metal. The method may include additional steps to reduce the size of the media. Alternatively, the fluid can be decanted from the media after sonication and treated separately with sodium-containing alkali metal.

Abstract: A method for the removal of micro-pollutants, in particular PCDD and PCDF, from the combustion gases resulting from the incineration of chlorinated organic wastes (ICG), the gases containing acidic products and traces of metals and being treated with catalytically active reactants. The treatment reactants (R1 . . . Ri) are obtained from the gases during treatment and are fed back to the catalytic treatment unit of the untreated gases under conditions such that the treatment reactants act as effective pollutant removal agents.

Abstract: A method of decreasing nitrate nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in soil and groundwater by burying a fatty acid having 10 or more carbon atoms, an alcohol having 12 or more carbon atoms, an ester of a linear saturated fatty acid having 14 or more carbon atoms and a monohydric alcohol, an ester of a linear saturated fatty acid having 14 or more carbon atoms and a polyhydric alcohol, an ester of a fatty acid having 16 or more carbon atoms and glycerine, and the like in soil containing nitrate nitrogen and volatile organic compounds. This method allows for on site treatment, high biological denitrification and a decrease in volatile organic compounds secondary pollution by the release of organic matter and nitrogen into the environment is extremely small.