Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for removing and stabilizing mercury from mercury-containing gas streams. A gas stream containing vapor phase elemental and/or speciated mercury is contacted with reagent, such as an oxygen-containing oxidant, in a liquid environment to form a mercury-containing precipitate. The mercury-containing precipitate is kept or placed in solution and reacts with one or more additional reagents to form a solid, stable mercury-containing compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, composition and apparatus for stabilizing mercury and other heavy metals present in a particulate material such that the metals will not leach from the particulate material. The method generally involves the application of a metal reagent, a sulfur-containing compound, and the addition of oxygen to the particulate material, either through agitation, sparging or the addition of an oxygen-containing compound.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for detecting substances, such as high boiling and low vapor pressure materials, using high energy radiation imparted by a suitable radiation source, such as a strobe or laser over a short time period. The radiation source causes the materials to vaporize. A system handling system is used in conjunction with a detector to detect the presence of the materials including explosives, explosive-related compounds, chemical warfare agents, drugs, toxic industrial compounds, and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes for removing a contaminant from dental effluents and includes transporting a three-phase effluent through a suction line into a particle collection vessel, introducing a suction line cleaning solution which includes a reagent into the suction line, and introducing the three phase effluent and the line cleaning solution into the collection vessel, wherein the effluent separates into solid, liquid, and gas phases in the collection vessel and the reagent includes a flocculant and/or a precipitant, and removing the gaseous and liquid phases from the collection vessel. The contaminant includes mercury, lead, and arsenic.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for converting hazardous speciated and elemental mercury-containing wastes to environmentally acceptable wastes by mixing the wastes in the presence of a polysulfide, water, and an mercury-reactive material, such as elemental sulfur.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for removing undesired particles from a gas stream including the steps of contacting a composition containing an adhesive with the gas stream; collecting the undesired particles and adhesive on a collection surface to form an aggregate comprising the adhesive and undesired particles on the collection surface; and removing the agglomerate from the collection zone. The composition may then be atomized and injected into the gas stream. The composition may include a liquid that vaporizes in the gas stream. After the liquid vaporizes, adhesive particles are entrained in the gas stream. The process may be applied to electrostatic precipitators and filtration systems to improve undesired particle collection efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable data collection device that has a variety of sensors that are interchangeable with a variety of input ports in the device. The various sensors include a data identification feature that provides information to the device regarding the type of physical data produced by each sensor and therefore the type of sensor itself. The data identification feature enables the device to locate the input port where the sensor is connected and self adjust when a sensor is removed or replaced. The device is able to collect physical data, whether or not a function of time. The sensor may also store a unique sensor identifier.

Abstract: A mercury monitoring device that continuously monitors the total mercury concentration in a gas. The device uses the same chamber for converting speciated mercury into elemental mercury and for measurement of the mercury in the chamber by radiation absorption techniques. The interior of the chamber is resistant to the absorption of speciated and elemental mercury at the operating temperature of the chamber.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention discloses a deflagration suppression system, which is particularly applicable to delagrations involving combustible gases. The deflagration suppressant in the system is typically water which is dispersed in the combustible gas as a stream of droplets having a Sauter mean Diameter of no more than about 80 microns. The system can include a combustible substance detector to detect potentially explosive concentrations of a combustible substance, such as the combustible gas, before the onset of a deflagration.Another aspect of the subject invention discloses a liquid atomizing device which is particularly applicable to the deflagration suppression system. The liquid atomizing device atomizes the liquid in a carrier gas and the liquid droplets are further decreased in size by increasing the velocity of the droplets to a supersonic velocity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable data collection device that has a variety of sensors that are interchangeable with a variety of input ports in the device. The various sensors include a data identification feature that provides information to the device regarding the type of physical data produced by each sensor and therefore the type of sensor itself. The data identification feature enables the device to locate the input port where the sensor is connected and self adjust when a sensor is removed or replaced. The device is able to collect physical data, whether or not a function of a time.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention discloses a deflagration suppression system, which is particularly applicable to deflagrations involving combustible gases. The deflagration suppressant in the system is typically water which is dispersed in the combustible gas as a stream of droplets having a Sauter mean Diameter of no more than about 80 microns. The system can include a combustible substance detector to detect potentially explosive concentrations of a combustible substance, such as the combustible gas, before the onset of a deflagration.Another aspect of the subject invention discloses a liquid atomizing device which is particularly applicable to the deflagration suppression system. The liquid atomizing device atomizes the liquid in a carrier gas and the liquid droplets are further decreased in size by increasing the velocity of the droplets to a supersonic velocity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and process for removing particulate material and mercury-containing compounds from a gas stream. The apparatus includes a particulate removal means to remove the particulate material and a mercury collection means to remove the mercury-containing compounds. The apparatus can selectively remove particulate material and mercury-containing compounds which may be disposed of separately. The mercury collection means is positioned downstream of the particulate removal means and includes a regenerable sorbent. The sorbent is regenerated by elevating the temperature of the sorbent to release the mercury-containing compounds from the sorbent.

Abstract: An improved hot-side electrostatic precipitator is provided which more efficiently removes particulates such as fly ash from gases by substantially decreasing the occurrence of back corona discharge. The improved hot-side electrostatic precipitator is based upon the discovery that back corona discharge occurs primarily, if not entirely, in the accumulated particle layer in those sections of the collection plates having a temperature low enough to initiate back corona discharge.

Abstract: A calibration method and apparatus for use in measuring the concentrations of components of a fluid is provided. The measurements are determined from the intensity of radiation over a selected range of radiation wavelengths using peak-to-trough calculations. The peak-to-trough calculations are simplified by compensating for radiation absorption by the apparatus. The invention also allows absorption characteristics of an interfering fluid component to be accurately determined and negated thereby facilitating analysis of the fluid.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring the concentrations of components of a fluid stream. Preferably, the fluid stream is an in situ gas stream, such as a fossil fuel fired flue gas in a smoke stack. The measurements are determined from the intensity of radiation over a selected range of radiation wavelengths using peak-to-trough calculations. The need for a reference intensity is eliminated.