Abstract: An aqueous composition comprising a blend of surfactants including (a) a mixture of C6 alkyl glucoside, propylheptanol, and ethoxylate, (b) sorbitan monooleate, (c) polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, (d) trietanolamine, and (e) sodium ether sulfate.

Abstract: A sealed storage vessel containing volatile organic vapor over a bottom sludge layer is cleaned by (a) determining the level of free oil in the vessel and then using (b) either a two-stage or one-stage treatment regime, adding a cleaning agent thereto. If the free oil is greater than 2 volume percent the two-stage regime is used where an oil release agent is initially mixed with the sludge to separate the oil from solids in the sludge. The separated oil floats on the surface of water and is removed without substantially exposing the vessel's interior to the atmosphere, leaving within the vessel a mixture of water, solids, and trace amounts of hydrocarbons. Next, a predetermined amount of an emulsifying agent is added to substantially emulsify the trace hydrocarbons, so the level of volatile organic compounds remaining in the interior of the vessel is no greater than 5,000 ppmv, measured as methane, at least one hour after adding the emulsifying agent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for the detoxification of polymeric film chip materials which have been contaminated with cyanide compounds during the process for the reclamation of their silver content. The present invention includes the steps of providing within a substantially impervious container a quantity of polymeric film chip materials containing a cyanide compound, and then submerging the cyanide containing polymeric film chip materials in a solution containing hypochlorite ion at a pH of approximately 9.5 to 10.5 until the cyanide in the polymeric film chip material is substantially converted into cyanate. In preferred alternative embodiments the treatment solution is replaced with a second treatment solution containing hypochlorite ion and having a pH of approximately 7.5 to 8 until the cyanate is substantially converted into carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases. Mixing means in the form of influent and effluent means are provided in such apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for the detoxification of polymeric film chip materials which have been contaminated with cyanide compounds during the process for the reclamation of their silver content. The present invention includes the steps of providing within a substantially impervious container a quantity of polymeric film chip materials containing a cyanide compound, and then submerging the cyanide containing polymeric film chip materials in a solution containing hypochlorite ion at a pH of approximately 9.5 to 10.5 until the cyanide in the polymeric film chip material is substantially converted into cyanate. In preferred alternative embodiments the treatment solution is replaced with a second treatment solution containing hypochlorite ion and having a pH of approximately 7.5 to 8 until the cyanate is substantially converted into carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases. Mixing means in the form of influent and effluent means are provided in such apparatus.