Abstract: The smoke filtration unit described herein has an internal cylindrical duct for ducting exhaust smoke from an exhaust flue to a shutter pivotally mounted within the cylindrical duct. The shutter can move between at least two positions. The shutter, when located in a first position, directs exhaust smoke to a cylindrical filter. An exhaust fan draws the exhaust smoke through the filter. The residual gas is vented to the atmosphere. The cylindrical filter is mounted on a vibration mount that can vibrate the filter to dislodge particulate matter that collects on the surface of the filter. The dislodged particulate matter falls into an ash collection area. The smoke filtration unit is controlled by a microcontroller that monitors temperature and pressure conditions within the unit. If excessive pressure conditions are detected, the microcontroller energizes the vibration mount to dislodge particulate matter from the filter.

Abstract: An aqueous catalytic oxidation-reduction composition for oxidizing hydrogen sulfide to produce elemental sulfur and a method of removing hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream whereby a gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide is brought into contact with an aqueous catalytic oxidizing reaction composition containing a water soluble polyvalent metal salt having the metal in the higher valent state and at least one surfactant, preferably a low foaming nonionic surfactant, such as a linear alcohol alkoxylate surfactant, which is adapted to wet the elemental sulfur formed and having the surfactant present in the reaction solution in an amount sufficient to prevent formation of sulfur froth on the surface of the reaction solution.

Abstract: Industrial fumes or waste gases containing combustible noxious materials are preheated and passed upwardly through a bed of particulate oxidation catalyst comprising chromic oxide on alumina or other suitable inert support. Catalytic combustion of the combustible materials is effected, and the pollutant-free gas is discharged to the atmosphere. The particle size of the catalyst is relatively coarse, and the gas velocity is sufficient to agitate or fluidize the bed. The hardness of the catalyst is such that only limited attrition occurs, which assists in keeping the catalyst surface clean, and the catalyst loss in the effluent gas is less than one pound per million standard cubic feet of gas treated.

Abstract: A bed of spent solid adsorbent material previously used for removal of mixed solvent vapors from an air stream is steam stripped; the mixture of steam and vaporized solvent is passed through a condenser; and the resultant liquid condensate is passed to a decanter where the condensate separates into an upper layer of water insoluble solvent components and a bottom layer of water containing the water soluble solvent components. The upper layer is withdrawn for reuse, and the decanter bottoms stream is passed through another bed of solid adsorbent material which removes the organic solvent so as to produce substantially pure water suitable for discharge or reuse. After a period of use this adsorbent bed is also regenerated by steam stripping, and the effluent steam and solvent vapors are recycled to the same condenser serving the air treating adsorbent bed so that a combined condensate is passed to the decanter.

Abstract: A process for reacting a circulating liquid reaction solution with a gas in separate reaction zones within a single reaction vessel wherein the liquid reaction solution is continuously circulated between a first reaction zone and a second reaction zone within the reaction vessel but providing at least two side-by-side reaction chambers in open flow communication at their upper and lower ends with a gas supply means associated with each said chamber for introducing a gas in a finely divided form into the lower ends of each said chamber, and said gas supply means including flow control means whereby the rate of upwardly flow of gas in one of the chambers is greater than the rate of upwardly flow of gas in the other chamber so as to lower the density of the liquid reaction solution in the one chamber and provide continuous upwardly flow of liquid reaction solution and gas in the one chamber and downwardly flow of liquid reaction solution countercurrent to the flow of gas in the other chamber.

Abstract: A composition for use in an oxidation-reduction process for effecting the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen sulfide gas comprising a water soluble ferric iron salt and at least two iron chelating agents, preferably as an alkaline aqueous chelated iron solution, with at least one of said iron chelating agents being an amine compound selected from the group consisting of polyamino polycarboxylic acids, polyamino alkyl polycarboxylic acids, polyamino hydroxyalkyl polycarboxylic acids, and poly(phosphonoalkyl) amines, and their alkali metal salts, such as the sodium salt of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, and another of said iron chelating agents being selected from the group of polyhydroxy compounds consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, reduced monosaccharides, reduced disaccharides, monosaccharide acids, disaccharide acids, and their alkali metal salts, such as sorbitol.

Abstract: In a catalytic oxidation-reduction process of removing hydrogen sulfide gas from a gaseous fluid stream, the improved step of contacting a gaseous stream containing hydrogen sulfide gas with an aqueous solution containing iron chelate catalyst having iron in the ferric state wherein the iron chelate catalyst comprises at least two iron chelating agents with at least one of said agents being an amine compound selected from the group consisting of polyamino polycarboxylic acids, polyamino alkyl polycarboxylic acids, polyamino hydroxyalkyl polycarboxylic acids, and poly(phosphonoalkyl) amines, and their alkali metal salts and another of said iron chelating agents being selected from the group of polyhydroxy compounds consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, reduced monosaccharides, reduced disaccharides, monosaccharide acids, disaccharide acids, and their alkali metal salts; and said solution having a pH ranging between about pH 5.5 and about pH 13.

Abstract: A structure is provided for supporting and retaining bed of particulate material, such as a catalyst, in a reactor or the like, so that the material is prevented from falling through the structure when the material is in either a fluidized or agitated condition due to an upward flow of gas through the structure and material or when the material is quiescent. The support and retaining structure also provides a uniformly distributed gas flow through the material supported thereon and includes a first set of elongated, channel-shaped retaining members arranged in parallel, laterally spaced relation with the flanges of the channels extending upwardly and with elongated gaps between the flanges. A second set of elongated, inverted channel-shaped retaining members are also arranged in parallel, laterally spaced relation with their flanges extending downwardly and with elongated gaps between the flanges.

Abstract: Sour water is stripped with air in a tower to remove hydrogen sulfide, and the evolved gas is scrubbed with an aqueous chelated iron solution in an upper portion of the tower to absorb the hydrogen sulfide and oxidize it to sulfur. The treated gas is discharged from the top of the tower. In the lower portion of the tower the chelated iron solution mixes with the sour water and effects removal of residual hydrogen sulfide in solution in the water. The stripping air is introduced into the lower portion of the tower and also functions to reoxidize the chelated iron solution to maintain its activity. The treated water containing chelated iron and sulfur solids is withdrawn from the bottom of the tower and a major portion is preferably recycled and fed to the stripping zone along with the inlet sour water. After separation and recovery of the sulfur solids, if desired, the remainder of the stream is discharged to waste.

Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a gas stream in an oxidation-reduction system by contacting the gas stream with an aqueous chelated iron solution in which the iron is in the ferric state to absorb hydrogen sulfide and convert it to elemental sulfur. The solution is regenerated by aeration. A redox electrode is used to monitor the oxidation potential of the solution, and corrective action is taken, as required, to maintain the concentration of ferric iron in the solution so as to achieve efficient removal of hydrogen sulfide.