Abstract: In one aspect, a soil slurry mixing apparatus comprises: a) a support structure configured to extend at least partially across a bioreactor vessel; b) at least one fluid inlet conduit supported by the support structure and configured to extend within the bioreactor vessel, the inlet conduit comprising an inlet port; c) a plurality of outlet nozzles supported by the support structure and configured to extend within the bioreactor vessel, the outlet nozzles being in fluid communication with the fluid inlet conduit and comprising outlet nozzle ports configured to be submerged beneath the surface of the slurry within the bioreactor vessel; and d) a pump in fluid communication with the fluid inlet conduit and outlet nozzles and being configured to draw soil slurry from the bioreactor vessel through the inlet conduit port and to discharge said slurry from the outlet nozzle ports to within the bioreactor vessel to mix the soil slurry within the bioreactor vessel.

Abstract: Beneficial endophytes which live within certain plants are known to provide desirable, cost-effective biological insect control. Many naturally occurring grasses host symbiotic endophytic fungi. However, beneficial endophytes have never been found in several species of turf grass, including species of bentgrasses and Kentucky bluegrasses, two commercially important turf grasses which are used extensively on golf courses and for lawn turfs. The invention of this application relates to new methods of inoculating plant tissues which allow the development of endophyte-enhanced varieties of turfgrasses, and to the turf grass varieties produced using the methods.

Abstract: A process for in situ immobilization of metals in waste stack affected zones including a waste stack and any adjacent boundary zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel transgenic plants with altered sugar levels and methods for producing them. The methods comprise introducing into the plant an expression cassette comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence substantially identical to a sequence from a gene encoding a protein associated with sucrose biosynthesis.

Abstract: A process for in situ immobilization of metals in waste stack affected zones including a waste stack and any adjacent boundary zone.

Abstract: An improved packaging machine is provided for vacuum packing elongated products such as french fries into a succession of sealed bags. The packaging machine includes a weigh station for dropping pre-weighed product charges through a vertical column for product free-fall into a bag at a fill station, with the bag being formed from a sheet of film material drawn downwardly about the column. A divider vane subdivides the vertical column and the fill station into a pair of passages of elongated cross section, whereby the products falling through the column passages are substantially aligned as they fall into the bag. The bag is transferred from the fill station to a settling station, preferably by displacement of the divider vane and fill station. The settling station includes vibratory members to achieve substantial product settling. The bag film material may also be retracted a short stroke through a seal jaw assembly, resulting in stripping and squaring of an open end of the bag.

Abstract: A foam control system is provided for eliminating foam in a process fluid system, such as foam generated in the course of blanching steps and the like involving processing of potatoes or other food products. The foam control system includes one or more capacitive type proximity probes for detecting the presence of foam in a corresponding number of process fluid systems or tanks, and for automatically supplying a spray of a selected defoamer agent to the tank. The defoamer agent spray is supplied to the tank for a selected time interval, with a portion of the spray being directed at the associated detector probe to insure clearing of foam from the probe.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for cutting oversized vegetable products or the like, such as potatoes in the course of producing french fry strips, to obtain a controlled product length distribution. The system includes a conveyor for transporting the products in single file to a length sensor station for detecting the length of each product, and then to a cutting station for cutting each overlong product at one of a plurality of different positions as a function of the detected product length. Such length-responsive cutting provides significant control over the distribution of product lengths, while minimizing or eliminating the presence of products which are too long or short.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic knife assembly is provided for cutting potatoes and the like, wherein the knife assembly includes a cross-cut knife used to facilitate removal of a stuck potato. The knife assembly comprises a grid of knife blades encased within a knife housing adapted for removable in-line mounting along a flow conduit. Potatoes are propelled through the flow conduit by an hydraulic flow stream for cutting engagement with the knife blades as the potatoes pass through the knife housing. In the event that a potato becomes stuck at an upstream side of the knife housing, the cross-cut knife is receivable through an open slot formed between the knife housing and the adjacent end of the flow conduit to sever the stuck potato and thereby permit substantially unobstructed disassembly of the knife housing from the flow conduit. The thus disassembled knife housing and flow conduit can then be cleared preparatory to re-assembly and resumed normal cutting operations.

Abstract: An improved refrigeration system is provided for use in a rail car or the like to refrigerate perishable items such as produce. The refrigeration system includes a plurality of modular ceiling panels mounted near the roof of a rail car or the like to define an upper ceiling compartment disposed over a main storage compartment. The ceiling compartment includes a central bunker for receiving a cryogenic material, such as carbon dioxide snow, wherein the bunker is separated by short partition walls from a pair of elongated plenum chambers extending along both sides of the bunker. Cryogenic gas formed by sublimation spills over the partition walls for passage from the bunker into the plenum chambers, and for further passage from the plenum chambers through downflow ports in the panels into the underlying main storage compartment to refrigerate perishable items therein.

Abstract: An improved broccoli trimming machine is provided for cutting or scalping broccoli heads in a manner yielding separated broccoli fleurettes of substantially uniform size and shape. The improved broccoli trimming machine includes an indexing mechanism with clamp units for holding and indexing broccoli heads to a scalping station. A bowl-shaped cutter at the scalping station is moved into cutting relation with the broccoli heads to scalp each head along a curved, substantially semi-spherical line to approximate the curved contour of the top of a broccoli head to be cut, thereby separating the head into individual fleurettes of substantially uniform size and shape.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for preparing parfried and frozen French fry potato strips for reconstitution for consumption by finish frying wherein the finish fry time period is substantially reduced. French fry potato strips which have been initially processed to a parfried and preferably frozen state, for example, in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,993, are subjected to a hot air impingement step including exposure to relatively high velocity air at a selected temperature and for a controlled time period to achieve a rapid yet controlled reduction in strip moisture content and to texturize the outer skin surfaces of the strips without frying. The strips are then frozen and stored awaiting rapid reconstitution by finish frying in hot oil within a substantially reduced frying time, with the reconstituted strips exhibiting substantially optimum taste, color, and textural characteristics.

Abstract: A process for beneficiating phosphate containing ores, wherein promoter reagents are added to the ore slurry prior to the addition of collectors and depressants for flotation of the carbonate and silica components. The promoters aid in increasing the rejection of the magnesium present during carbonate and silica flotation steps and recovery of phosphates, so that acceptably low magnesium levels for phosphoric acid production can be achieved in a phosphate concentrate in a single rougher stage. Preferred promoters include sodium carbonate and ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for cutting broccoli and other similar vegetables into a plurality of longitudinal sections wherein the head of the vegetable is firmly gripped with the stem thereof extending outwardly and then cut longitudinally through the stem and partially through the head. Broccoli can be sectioned in this manner at high production rates without generating an excessive amount of vegetable debris.

Abstract: An improved rotary cutting apparatus is provided for cutting vegetables, particularly such as potatoes, into a distribution of strip sizes not exceeding a predetermined length limit. The apparatus comprises a conventional rotary impeller having peripheral blades for carrying potatoes into cutting relation with a slicing knife on an impeller housing for dividing the potatoes into slices followed by subsequent cutting into strips by strips knives on an adjacent cross-cut spindle. The impeller further includes an axially centered divider ring defining a pair of annular chambers for potato passage outwardly to the slicing knife, wherein longer potatoes are required to orient with their longitudinal axes extending generally radially with respect to the impeller, and generally perpendicular to the slicing knife, to limit the maximum length of the cut slices and the resultant cut strips.

Abstract: This invention is a method of making frozen potato patties which can be final cooked in a wide variety of ways to provide potato patties having excellent taste and texture and handling characteristics. The processing comprises cutting up fresh potatoes into relatively large chunks with a minimum dimension of about 1/4 inch, cooking the chunks in water or steam at about 170.degree.-220.degree. F., cooking the partially cooked chunks in oil at about 300.degree.-375.degree. F., mixing the chunks with an aqueous solution of starches or gums, forming into a patty and then freezing. For patties which are to be final cooked by microwave heating or by toasting, it is preferred to further oil cook the patties after forming and then freeze them or, alternately, to freeze the patties after forming, further cook them in oil and then refreeze them.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing parfried and frozen potato product strips including but not limited to French fries, wherein the potato strips are adapted for reconstitution, immediately prior to consumption, in a microwave oven, conventional oven, convection oven, or finish fryer with highly desirable taste, color, and textural characteristics. The process comprises parfrying the potato strips under controlled time and temperature conditions to include two parfrying steps with an intermediate cooling step wherein the strips preferably are frozen to reduce the moisture content of the strips in accordance with a predetermined relationship of strip size, strip surface area, and moisture loss during processing.

Abstract: A process for preparing granulated fertilizer materials, wherein urea phosphate is used as a granulating agent to assist in the agglomeration of finely divided solid particles into relatively uniformly sized granules. Urea phosphate, prepared by dissolving urea in phosphoric acid, is coated onto finely divided particles of fertilizer materials, and granulation is accomplished at a temperature within the thermoplastic range of the urea phosphate, wherein the urea phosphate plasticizes and induces adherence of the fine particles into relatively uniformly sized granules. Optionally, ammonia gas, clay, or micro nutrients may be added after granulation.

Abstract: A process for the selective recovery of cadmium, molybdenum, zinc, nickel and other metal values from wet process phosphoric acid and other acidic to slightly basic carrier solutions, wherein the metal-bearing solution is contacted with an organophosphene extractant to precipitate the metal values for subsequent separation from the solution. Separation may be effected by mechanical means or by scrubbing with a water-immiscible organic solvent such as kerosene for subsequent recovery of the metal values. The metal specie recovered is determined by the concentration of the organophosphene, which may be selectively adjusted to recover a series of metal values in a sequence of stages.