Abstract: A system for removing at least one pollutant from an air stream exhaust, the system including a plurality of enclosures through which the air stream exhaust is directed to cool the air stream exhaust, a plurality of barriers within each respective enclosure to impede a flow of the air stream exhaust, a liquefied material, comprising bone glue, gelatin and/or skin glue, mixed with water provided within at least one of the plurality of enclosures, and wherein the air stream exhaust passes therethrough the liquefied material and at least one pollutant attaches to the liquefied material.

Abstract: Method for producing pigment nano-particles may include vaporizing a pigment precursor material; drawing the vaporized pigment precursor material into a precipitation conduit; contacting the vapor in the precipitation conduit with a collection fluid at a first location within the precipitation conduit, the contacting cooling the vapor and precipitating pigment nano-particles, the contacting occurring in the absence of a temperature change in the vapor at locations within the precipitation conduit that are upstream of the first location; and collecting the pigment nano-particles in a collection fluid.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there is provided a method of binding a gas or volatile compound in a cucurbituril, by contacting the gas or volatile compound with the cucurbituril to form a cucurbituril-gas/volatile complex. There is also provided a method of separating a gas or volatile compound from a mixture of compounds wherein the mixture is contacted with a cucurbituril and whereby at least some of the gas or volatile compound is bound to the cucurbituril to form a cucurbituril complex, followed by the release of at least some of the bound gas or volatile compound from that complex. The present invention is thus advantageous in that it allows use of cucurbiturils in binding gases and volatile compounds for storage, safety, delivery or other uses, such as the trapping of an unpleasant or toxic gas or volatile compound.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for removing undesired particles from a gas stream including the steps of contacting an additive containing nitrate and/or nitrite anions with the gas stream; collecting the undesired particles and additive on a collection surface to form an aggregate on the collection surface comprising the additive and undesired particles; and removing the agglomerate from the collection zone. The anions can be compounded with one or more of potassium, sodium, calcium, and aluminum. In a preferred composition, the anion(s) is/are compounded with potassium. The process may be applied to electrostatic precipitators to improve undesired particle collection efficiency.

Abstract: An improved methane wash cycle is disclosed wherein a reduced amount of methane wash is required, thereby allowing for savings in energy costs in operation of the cycle and capital costs in constructing the cycle. Further embodiments allow for an energy recovery and an enhanced recovery of a carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen product.

Abstract: A method and a system for treating an internal combustion engine exhaust gas using a hydrocarbons as fuel. The internal combustion engine exhaust gas contains particulates and toxic substances. Such particulates and toxic substances being liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and Nox. The system uses carbon dioxide to interact with the exhaust gas. The carbon dioxide is stored within a container at its triple state. The carbon dioxide and the exhaust gas are conducted through an emission exchanger. The exhaust gas is scrubbed or cleaned by the carbon dioxide and the hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, Nox, and particulate emissions are carried away by a carbon dioxide gas stream. The cleaned exhaust gas can be discharged into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide gas stream can be cleaned by passing the same through separator components which remove the pollutants therefrom.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there is provided a method of binding a gas or volatile compound in a cucurbituril, by contacting the gas or volatile compound with the cucurbituril to form a cucurbituril-gas/volatile complex. There is also provided a method of separating a gas or volatile compound from a mixture of compounds wherein the mixture is contacted with a cucurbituril and whereby at least some of the gas or volatile compound is bound to the cucurbituril to form a cucurbituril complex, followed by the release of at least some of the bound gas or volatile compound from that complex. The present invention is thus advantageous in that it allows use of cucurbiturils in binding gases and volatile compounds for storage, safety, delivery or other uses, such as the trapping of an unpleasant or toxic gas or volatile compound.

Abstract: A process for separating carbon dioxide from a multicomponent gas mixture containing carbon dioxide and a hydrocarbon, such as natural gas or associated gas, using gas-separation membranes selective for carbon dioxide over the hydrocarbon. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: An improved methane wash cycle is disclosed wherein a reduced amount of methane wash is required, thereby allowing for savings in energy costs in operation of the cycle and capital costs in constructing the cycle. Further embodiments allow for an energy recovery and an enhanced recovery of a carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen product.

Abstract: A gas treatment device comprises an oxygen-mixed unit, a treatment unit, a working fluid and a sprayer. The sprayer has an inner wall and a plurality of nozzles circumferentially arranged on the inner wall. The nozzles are used for outputting the working fluid to form a filtering region so that the particles can be easily and efficiently removed.

Abstract: A weld chamber has an air intake and an exhaust or evacuating ductwork for evacuating gases and other particles from the welding chamber. The evacuating ductwork is connected to a vacuum source to remove gases and by products from the weld chamber during welding. A throttle plate is provided in the evacuating ductwork adjacent the weld chamber to adjust or regulate the air velocity evacuating from the weld chamber. The evacuating duct then leads to a sealed water filtering tank. All of the exhausted/evacuated gases and by products are led beneath the water line and bubble through the water before emerging from the sealed water. The soot and iron particles are immediately cooled and trapped in the water tank. Moreover, particles become wet and are less likely to become airborne thus leading to a substantial portion of the particles being trapped in the sealed water tank. Thee remaining gases are then evacuated to the vacuum source and further filtered by a mechanical filtration device.

Abstract: A Method for purifying gas loaded with dust particles of various sizes, which method includes the following steps: (a) the gas loaded with dust particles is subjected to wet gas scrubbing at or above the dew point, during which operation any acid gaseous components present in the gas are absorbed and the major proportion of coarse dust particles having a size of ≧50 &mgr;m is removed by a scrubbing liquid, after which (b) the remaining dust particles present in the gas are collected at or above the dew point in an installation for removing dust from gas, purified gas being obtained.

Abstract: A method for treating diverse pulp and paper products to produce a homogenous cellulosic feedstock comprises the steps of feeding diverse pulp and paper products into a vessel, introducing steam into the vessel while agitating the products, purging the gases from the vessel while agitating the products, sealing the vessel so that the vessel is pressure tight, saturating the products with steam at sufficient temperature and pressure to expand molecular structure of the products, while agitating the products, depressurizing the vessel to further enhance the molecular expansion of the products, and discharging the processed products. Alternatively, the method can be performed without purging the gases, if the temperature in the range of about 287° F. to about 312° F., and the pressure is in the range of about 40 to 65 psig.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for removing gaseous contaminants and aerosols from a vapor-saturated gas stream, in which method a gas stream containing a) at least one gaseous contaminant which is soluble in a scrubbing liquid, with or without salt formation, and b) at least one aerosol with a particle size from 0.01 to 10 &mgr;m, is brought into contact, in a scrubber column, with a scrubbing liquid, the temperature of which is lower by at least 2° C. than the temperature of the gas stream, resulting in the formation of a vapor phase, the degree of saturation S of which is greater than 1, and in the removal of the gaseous and particulate contaminants from the gas stream.

Abstract: A particulate capture system has an air circulating chamber that separates a first portion of particulates trapped within an air stream. The particulate capture system also has a water injection chamber that separates a second portion of particulates trapped within the air stream. The first portion of particulates is separated via circulating air flow. The second portion of particulates is separated via encapsulating the particulates in water and returning the encapsulated particulates to a cooling chamber where the particulates are blended with a bulk product being processed within the cooling chamber prior to collection of the bulk product.

Abstract: A device for improving the quality of indoor air comprising a casing (2) with an air inlet (3) and an air outlet (5), a member (7) arranged to cause air in a room, in which the casing is placed, to flow in through the inlet and inside the casing to the outlet and therefrom out into the room again, and leaf surfaces and water nozzles (9, 11) adapted to influence the quality of the air passing through the casing. The casing also contains leaf plants (9) and the member (7) is provided in order to cause the air to flow past the leaf surfaces of the plants in order to remove contaminations and particles from the air by absorption thereof by the leaves of the plants.

Abstract: An ozone-oxygen gas stream produced by passing oxygen into an ozone generator is introduced into a membrane separation unit containing an ozone-permeable membrane. Ozone-enriched gas passes through the membrane and is recovered or it contacts a liquid or gas stream which contains ozone-reactive substances, thereby oxidizing the substances. The oxygen-enriched gas stream produced on the feed side of the membrane by permeation of ozone through the membrane is recycled to the ozone generator. Prior to being recycled, the oxygen-enriched stream may be purified to remove gaseous impurities which permeate through the membrane from the liquid or gas stream being treated.

Abstract: A scrubber assembly for removal of water soluble and/or alkaline gases from an exhaust stream uses a scrubber mixture contained within at least one scrubber vessel. Preferably the scrubber mixture include a liquid phase including an aqueous acid solution, and solid phase including a solid organic acid. Preferably, the scrubber mixture includes a solid carboxylic acid having low toxicity and low corrosiveness to system components. In one embodiment, a plurality of scrubber vessels, each containing the scrubber mixture are connected in series. The scrubber assembly may further include an indicator tank containing an indicator mixture. The pH of the scrubber mixture and/or indicator mixture may be monitored, thereby making operation of the system not only simpler and more reliable, but also more efficient. A method for removal of water soluble and/or alkaline gases from an exhaust stream is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which continuously filters scrubbed gases prior to emission to the atmosphere. In particular, the method and apparatus can continuously scrub the effluent stream from a chemical vapor deposition process, such as the process used to deposit epitaxial silicon. In order to provide this continuous scrubbing, a separation housing having a filter housing is provided that permits the filter to be replaced during and without interruption of the scrubbing and filtering process. The filter housing can define a pair of tracks that guide the insertion and removal of a filter such that inserting a clean filter into one end of the pair of tracks causes a spent filter to be pushed out of the opposed end of the tracks as the clean filter is slid down the tracks.

Abstract: Method for recovering oxygen from a medium containing O.sub.2 using polynitrogenated compounds that have five coordinating functions which are capable of binding a metal atom, particularly a cobalt atom. In the recovery method, oxygen is first absorbed by the metal complex and then desorbed from the complex and recovered in an appropriate vessel.

Abstract: Highly purified ammonia for use in processes for the production of high-precision electronic components is prepared on-site by drawing ammonia vapor from a liquid ammonia reservoir, passing the vapor through a filter capable of filtering out particles of less than 0.005 micron in size, and scrubbing the filtered vapor in a high-pH aqueous scrubber.

Abstract: A silane-containing gas is treated by contacting it with a liquid containing silanes or disilanes which are higher boiling than the silanes in the silane-containing gas, thereby easily removing or reducing the amount of silanes in the gas and enabling the recovery of these silanes.

Abstract: Processes and systems to recover at least one perfluorocompound gas from a gas mixture are provided. In one embodiment the inventive process comprises providing a gas mixture comprising at least one perfluorocompound gas and at least one carrier gas, the gas mixture being at a predetermined pressure; providing at least one size selective membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; contacting the feed side of the at least one membrane with the gas mixture; withdrawing from the feed side of the membrane as a non-permeate stream at a pressure which is substantially equal to the predetermined pressure a concentrated gas mixture comprising essentially the at least one perfluorocompound gas; and withdrawing from the permeate side of the membrane as a permeate stream a depleted gas mixture comprising essentially the at least one carrier gas.

Abstract: A high-resistance rare earth magnet having a metal structure in which a rare earth magnet phase is dispersed throughout a compound phase comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of fluorides and oxides of Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Ba and Sr. The fluorides and oxides are effective for increasing the electrical resistance of a rare earth magnet to a level sufficient for practical use while maintaining high magnetic properties of the magnet.

Abstract: An absorbent for use in absorption refrigeration systems, air conditioning systems, heat pumps or dehumidifiers comprising a solution of potassium formate. The absorbent is relatively non-toxic and relatively non-corrosive towards metals. The absorbent is generally water-based but may also comprise ammonia or methanol. Additives such as corrosion inhibitors or other absorbent salts may be included.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separation of heavy noble gas in a gas volume. An apparatus and method have been devised which includes a reservoir containing an oil exhibiting a clathrate effect for heavy noble gases with a reservoir input port and the reservoir is designed to enable the input gas volume to bubble through the oil with the heavy noble gas being absorbed by the oil exhibiting a clathrate effect. The gas having reduced amounts of heavy noble gas is output from the oil reservoir, and the oil having absorbed heavy noble gas can be treated by mechanical agitation and/or heating to desorb the heavy noble gas for analysis and/or containment and allow recycling of the oil to the reservoir.

Abstract: The process for introducing a filling gas into an enclosure initially containing a holding gas includes a step of introducing the filling gas into the enclosure as well as a step of extracting a specific gas initially contained in the filling gas or the holding gas from a mixture collected at the outlet of the enclosure, and possibly a step of recycling this extracted specific gas. Before the step of introducing the filling gas, the enclosure is purged using a purging gas which differs from the fill and holding gases.

Abstract: A process for determining if intermittent water injection is the best way to remove deposits such as salts from refinery process streams. A water vapor pressure, P1, at stream conditions and a water vapor pressure, Ps, at saturation conditions in the stream, are used to calculate a ratio P1/Ps. If the ratio is less than 0.1 intermittent water washing is preferred. An optimized intermittent injection procedure, frequency, duration, and constraints, is disclosed. Chemical speciation calculations ensure that all accumulated salts are removed, and that an aqueous phase forms downstream of the water injection point having a salt concentration within acceptable limits.

Abstract: A continuous water washing process for removing salts from refinery process streams is disclosed. The salt and salt precursor content of a process stream is determined, and iterative calculations made to ensure an aqueous phase forms downstream of the water injection point with a salt and ion concentration within acceptable limits. Preferably chemical speciation calculations are used to check for corrosive, transient aqueous phases intermediate the point of water injection and the process outlet.

Abstract: Oil and water continuously collected during an oil spill skimming operation s initially heated for flow through a separator wherein water is separated and discharged into the sea to reduce the water content of a heated oil and water solution fed to a combustion chamber under pressure for continuous in-situ burning interrelated by feedback control with the heating step to provide combustion products, including combustion gas that is cooled and cleansed by scrubbing before discharge to atmosphere, and a slurry of cooled non-gaseous combustion products that are evaporatively dried to form a reduced quantity of carbonaceous solid waste.

Abstract: A method for the design and performance of a process such as scrubbing, stripping, heat transfer from one stream to another, and removal of particulate constituents from a gas stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing particulate and gaseous pollutants from flue gas. The flue gas enters a presaturation section and is treated with a coarse spray of solution recovered from the system. The saturated gas enters a primary contacting section and is contacted by an ultrafine mist of fresh solution containing a gaseous pollutant absorption agent. The fine mist has an average droplet size of approximately 20 microns. The gas moves to a secondary contacting section where it is contacted by a coarse spray of recirculated solution. If necessary, the gas is demisted. Finally, the gas is discharged into the environment. Usable spent solution is regenerated and reused. Unusable water byproducts containing contaminants are discharged.

Abstract: An absorption process for separating a feed gas stream having components with a spectrum of volatilities including volatile (light) components, intermediate volatility components, and least volatile (heavy) components. The disclosed process includes the steps of: (1) contacting the feed gas stream with an internally generated liquid lean solvent stream in an absorber to produce a light product gas stream that is composed of predominantly light components and a rich solvent stream containing most of the intermediate and heavy components; (2) flashing the rich solvent stream at reduced pressure in a flash zone to produce an intermediate product gas stream composed predominantly of intermediate components and a lean solvent stream; (3) conveying the lean solvent stream from the flashing zone to the absorber, wherein the lean solvent is composed predominantly of heavy components supplied from the feed; the process does not use an external lean solvent.

Abstract: A membrane process for separating chlorine from chlorine-containing gas streams is disclosed. The process employs a permselective membrane that is selective to chlorine and is stable in the long-term presence of chlorine. The process can be used to treat tail-gas from chlor-alkali plants, for example.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation, deposition, and adherency of scale-forming salts, including calcium sulfite, in process waters. The method is particularly suited for use in pulp mill lime kiln flue gas scrubber systems and multi-effect evaporators. Additionally, the method is effective at high pH and high calcium sulfite saturation levels.

Abstract: An absorption process for separating a feed gas stream having components with a spectrum of volatilities including volatile (light) components, intermediate volatility components, and least volatile (heavy) components. The disclosed process includes the steps of: (1) contacting the feed gas stream with a liquid lean solvent stream in an absorber to produce a light product gas stream that is composed of predominantly light components and a rich solvent stream containing most of the intermediate and heavy components; (2) flashing the rich solvent stream at reduced pressure in a flash zone to produce an intermediate product gas stream composed predominantly of intermediate components and a lean solvent stream; (3) conveying the lean solvent stream from the flashing zone to the absorber, wherein the lean solvent is composed predominantly of heavy components taken from the feed; the process does not use an external lean solvent.

Abstract: A process for removing a water-soluble acid gas from a gaseous stream containing normally gaseous hydrocarbon compounds, hydrogen and the acid gas to produce an aqueous solution containing the dissolved acid gas and having a very low level of normally gaseous hydrocarbon compounds. The gaseous feed stream is contacted with a lean aqueous stream to remove water-soluble acid gas. The resulting acid gas rich aqueous stream is stripped with a hydrogen-rich gas to produce an aqueous stream containing dissolved acid gas and essentially no normally gaseous hydrocarbon compounds.