Abstract: A method of solvent recovery from oil sand extraction plant tailings, using 180 degree opposing steam-assisted accelerating nozzles, impacting on each other's high velocity jets, thus creating an impact area at the point of collision, creating an exceedingly large number of small droplets having a very large surface area exposed to the depressurized environment inside the vessel in which the nozzles are mounted. The diluent thus escaping from the tiny droplets is collected from the vessel space and recovered by condensation in a surface condensor and returned to the process.

Abstract: A fire ant pesticide consisting of a liquid derived from a solution of water and animal waste; oil, molasses, and a surfactant.

Abstract: A unitary structure containing a vertically integrated system for deodorizing composting gaseous effluents using scrubbers packed with means providing both extensive surface area for microorganism growth sites and cascading dispersion of microorganism-impregnated liquid media while concomitantly providing sufficient void space to permit substantially unimpeded flow of effluents undergoing treatment within the system.

Abstract: An odor control system consisting of a cylindrical bio-scrubber (20) packed with means providing an extensive surface area over which liquid media is caused to cascade, an oxidation pond (22) containing selected microorganism in a fluid media, and means (25) for introducing gases to be treated into the bio-scrubber (20) while concurrently causing microbial-impregnated fluid from the oxidation pond (22) to flow through and into contact with effluent gases passing through the bio-scrubber (20), thereby to effect transport of gases to the oxidation pond (22) where volatile organic compounds are metabolically destroyed. When necessary to achieve optimum odor reduction a further element can be added to the overall combination in the form of a biofilter (30) through which gases emanating from the bio-scrubber (30) are passed before their release to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A process for removing hydrogen sulfide out of liquid sulfur is provided by passing liquid sulfur and saturated steam through at least one acceleration nozzle within a container maintained at less than atmospheric pressure. The saturated steam and liquid sulfur discharged from the acceleration nozzles converge at a common point outside the acceleration nozzle and collide against an impact target so that hydrogen sulfide is removed out of the liquid sulfur. Two acceleration nozzles may be used positioned on a common plane with the outlets of the nozzles facing each other. The discharged steam adiabatically expands within the container which causes the discharged streams to accelerate and which also causes the temperature of the liquid sulfur drop.

Abstract: A waste separation device for removing wrappable materials such as film plastics, rags and rope from a moving stream of solid waste material which device consists of a pole like casing rotatable about it longitudinal axis housing an endless chain drive carrying a plurality of spaced spikes extending from the casing in their movement along the length of the casing in the direction towards the free or discharge end of the casing and retracted within the casing in their movement in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An air floor for curing compost made of a series of light weight, relatively short grates each containing a plural of air slits narrow at the top of the grate openings and progressively widening toward the bottom of the opening and structure supporting the grates to provide a span spaced to limit the bending moment to which the grates are subjected and to provide space beneath the grates to facilitate removal of compost passing through the air slits and to permit unobstructed air flow through the grates.

Abstract: A compost curing and odor control system in which biofilters are disposed in overlying relation to the compost curing area the floors of both the biofilters and curing area consist of a series of elongated planks of generally trapezoidal cross sectional configuration placed in abutting relation with the longer parallel sides of the trapezoid lying in the plane of the floor and forming between them a narrow slit through which air is passed by means of an underlying air plenum in pneumatic communication.

Abstract: A compost curing and odor control system in which biofilters are disposed in overlying relation to the compost curing area the floors of both the biofilters and curing area consist of a series of elongated planks of generally trapezoidal cross sectional configuration placed in abutting relation with the longer parallel sides of the trapezoid lying in the plane of the floor and forming between them a narrow slit through which air is passed by means of an underlying air plenum in pneumatic communication.

Abstract: A compost curing system utilizing a compost turner of generally V-shaped configuration, one leg of the "V" being formed by counter-rotating ribbon augers and the other leg of the "V" being formed by pair of over-under conveyors, the lower conveyor being adjustably extendable to vary the throw of the conveyor system. The legs of the "V" are piviotally interconnected to permit their angular adjustment and are pivotally mounted on a frame structure for attachment to a motorized conveyance. The system includes means for injecting air into compost undergoing treatment and air collection and air treatment apparatus for controlling the temperature of process air emanating from the compost pile for reuse and for deodorizing the air prior to its release to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A rotatable digester drum for convening organic waste material into compost which has internally disposed along its longitudinal axis a series of spaced-apart baffles, each baffle having a variable cross sectional area ranging from 60 to 100% of the cross sectional area of the drum and arranged with respect to one another when in the partially open mode to cause material and air introduced into the drum to traverse a non-linear path through the drum, the drum having a plurality of longitudinally extending internal ribs arranged in spaced array around its circumference.

Abstract: A water manifold and air supply system for use with a multi-compartment rotating drum apparatus for the fermentation of natural organic material which provides for selective injection of air and predetermined amounts of water into compartments of the drum during its rotation which system includes an air supply conduit concentrically aligned with the rotational axis of the drum, a first water-conduit section fixedly secured to the rotating drum, a second water-conduit section concentric with the rotational axis of the drum residing within the air supply conduit and connected to the first section through a water-tight seal, the two water-conduit sections and air supply conduit being respectively connected to stationary water-supply and air-supply means by swivel joints.

Abstract: In a composting process, a heat conductive ventilation hood overlying a compost pile undergoing active composting. The hood is shaped so that process air emanating from the pile contacts the undersurface of the hood while ambient outside cool air is caused to traverse the upper surface of the hood. As a result of this heat exchange arrangement process air is dehumidified while concomitantly the ambient air is heated. The hood is pitched to cause condensate to run down its surface and not to drip. Warmed ambient air is used to heat the composting facility and dehumidified process air and condensate is reused in the composting process.

Abstract: A compost curing air circulating and odor control system including a channel for storage of compost to be cured, the channel being provided with a retractable cover to permit periodic turning of the compost within the channel while concomitantly maintaining the channel as a closed vessel and an air circulating system for venting air from the closed vessel and recirculating the air through the stored compost whereby to enhance pathogen destruction through improved control of temperature gradients within the compost pile and to improve odor control.

Abstract: A compartmentalized horizontally mounted rotatable cylindrical digester drum is provided with inter-compartment transfer buckets each having an inlet opening substantially congruent to a segment of the circular partition separating one compartment from the next. In addition one or more annular flanges are located in each treatment compartment extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall of the drum. The transfer buckets may be rectangular prismatic in contour with a bottom wall within the confines of the drum coincident with the chordal boundary of the segment and an upper wall spaced radially outwardly of the cylindrical wall of the drum.

Abstract: An adjustable composite wrench adapted for use both as a box or socket wrench and as an Allen wrench. A plurality of work-engaging elements are individually mounted for translational movement along radial paths. Restraining means prevent rotational movement of the work-engaging elements relative to the path of movement. Gear means are operatively associated with each of said elements such that rotation of the gear means causes, in cooperation with the restraining means, translational movement of the element along its radial path. Drive means common to each of the individual gear means provide synchronous movement of the gear means and their associated work-engaging elements whereby such elements are brought into engagement with a work piece.