Abstract: In a process for treating the organic fraction of solid waste and cellulosic material with acid to form an embrittled material reducible to a powdered material, increased embrittlement and grinding efficiency are obtained by including an embrittlement additive with the acid. The embrittlement additive is a quaternary ammonium compound. Increased efficiency is evidenced by a decrease in embrittlement temperature and an increase in the amount of embrittled material which will pass through a 40 mesh screen after grinding. The resulting product has a wide variety of uses including as a fuel, a fuel in combination with other fuels, as a building material and as a chemical feed stock, among other things.

Abstract: A burner of the double vortex type wherein combustibles travel in an outer spiral during which time the combustibles ignite and burn and the combustion products are expelled from the burner by travelling along an inner spiral. The inner and outer spiral layers are separated by a cylindrical wall to prevent disruption of the currents and countercurrents and adverse turbulence as a result thereof in order that the combustibles and particularly solid fuels are entrained in the combustion stream for a sufficient residence time for maximum combustion and minimum particulate emission. The burner is particularly suitable for operation at slagging temperatures so that the slag can be collected and drawn off to further reduce particulate emission.

Abstract: Apparatus for the detection and/or analysis of pollutant gases comprising a light-reflective surface sensitive to a pollutant gas which is capable of reaction with the pollutant gas to cause a decrease in the reflectivity of the surface, light source means positioned to pass a beam of light angularly onto the surface and light-sensing means positioned to receive light reflected from the surface and means to contact a gas stream containing the pollutant gas with the surface whereby the decrease in light-reflectivity serves as a measure of the concentration of the pollutant gas in the sample and the rate of decrease in reflectivity serves as a measure of the dose rate of the pollutant gas to which one in the environment from which the pollutant gas is taken is subjected.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for removing sulfur dioxide from gases such as stack gases. The gases are scrubbed with an alkali metal compound in an aqueous solution to form alkali metal sulfite/sulfate salts which are then reacted with barium sulfide to precipitate barium sulfite/sulfate and form alkali metal sulfide/bisulfide in solution. The alkali metal sulfide/bisulfide is oxidized to form elemental sulfur and regenerated wash liquid; and the barium sulfite/sulfate is reduced by roasting to form the barium sulfide required. In a preferable embodiment, coal is used as both the reductant and fuel in the roasting of the barium sulfite/sulfate and the stack gases from the roasting are scrubbed along with the primary stack gases. As an optional step a portion of the alkali metal sulfite salts may be oxidized to sulfate prior to reaction with barium sulfide.

Abstract: Apparatus for the disposal of solid wastes by converting the organic fraction of such wastes to a fuel or fuel supplement and by recovering one or more of the constituents of the inorganic fashion. A minimum amount of sterile land fill remains. No significant pollution problems are created. The apparatus comprises shredding means, primary separating means, magnetic separating means, fines separating means, acid applying means, drying/heating means, grinding means and means to separate the fine product fuel. The system can, if desired, be essentially self-contained in heat energy requirements.

Abstract: Apparatus for the detection and/or analysis of pollutant gases comprising a light-reflective surface sensitive to a pollutant gas which is capable of reaction with the pollutant gas to cause a decrease in the reflectivity of the surface, light source means positioned to pass a beam of light angularly onto the surface and light-sensing means positioned to receive light reflected from the surface and means to contact a gas stream containing the pollutant gas with the surface whereby the decrease in light-reflectivity serves as a measure of the concentration of the pollutant gas in the sample and the rate of decrease in reflectivity serves as a measure of the dose rate of the pollutant gas to which one in the environment from which the pollutant gas is taken is subjected.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing sulfur dioxide from stack gases. The stack gases are scrubbed with an aqueous wash liquid containing one or more alkali metal compounds which react to form the bisulfite, sulfite and sulfate salts of the alkali metal. The spent absorbent liquid effluent is then treated with calcium compounds in at least two separate reaction stages, the conditions of ion concentration and pH of the first stage being maintained to favor the precipitation of calcium sulfate in the presence of SO.sub.3.sup.= ions. In the succeeding reaction stages the precipitation of the desired amount of SO.sub.3.sup.= ions is carried out to form calcium sulfite. The resulting compound of calcium with sulfite and sulfate (which may in part be in the form of mixed crystals) are removed and the regenerated liquid is recycled.

Abstract: A process for treating the organic fraction of solid waste material with acid at an elevated temperature to form an embrittled material reducible to a powdered fuel having a caloric value and weight (on a dry basis) essentially equivalent to the waste material from which it was formed. The density of the fuel may be materially increased over that of the original waste material without the expenditure of excessive energy such as would be required in the grinding of untreated waste. The resulting fuel can be used alone or in combination with other fuels including fossil fuels in gas, liquid or solid form.

Abstract: A process for treating the organic fraction of solid waste material with acid at an elevated temperature to form an embrittled material reducible to a powdered fuel having a caloric value and weight (on a dry basis) essentially equivalent to the waste material from which it was formed. The density of the fuel may be materially increased over that of the original waste material without the expenditure of excessive energy such as would be required in the grinding of untreated waste. The resulting fuel can be used alone or in combination with other fuels including fossil fuels in gas, liquid or solid form.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing sulfur dioxide from stack gases. The stack gases are scrubbed with an aqueous wash liquid containing one or more alkali metal compounds which react to form the bisulfite, sulfite and sulfate salts of the alkali metal. The spent absorbent liquid effluent is then treated with calcium compounds in at least two separate reaction stages, the conditions of ion concentration and pH of the first stage being maintained to favor the precipitation of calcium sulfate in the presence of SO.sub.3.sup.= ions. In the succeeding reaction stages the precipitation of the desired amount of SO.sub.3.sup.= ions is carried out to form calcium sulfite. The resulting compounds of calcium with sulfite and sulfate (which may in part be in the form of mixed crystals) are removed and the regenerated liquid is recycled.