Abstract: A computer and data network assisted automated method and system for determining factors limiting production locally and site-specifically in agriculture or related industrial fields, and for evaluating the mutual significance thereof by means of an expert system. Feedback comprising a solution is furnished via data network to the system of the production site and/or related industry for further measures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for digestion of sludge in water purification, which method comprises the steps: providing an enzyme mixture capable of digesting natural polymeric materials, adding the enzyme mixture to an aqueous sludge suspension, and thereafter, adding at least one species of fermenting bacteria to the suspension, thereby fermenting the resulting suspension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing thermally and mechanically stable ammonium nitrate by dissolving in nitric acid 1–3% by weight of reticulated metal silicate, before treatment with ammonia. The ammonium nitrate granules produced by this method swell very little, they do not considerably cake, and their granule strength is high.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of regenerating hydrogenated and/or oxygenated alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl anthrahydroquinones to alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl anthrahydroquinones, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst under electromagnetic irradiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photocatalyst containing titanium dioxide, to a method for using it and to its application. A sulphurous titanium dioxide hydrate precipitate is precipitated from an acid titanium oxysulphate solution at a temperature below the boiling point of the solution, e.g. in the range from 70 to 100° C., using crystal nuclei and without addition of base. The precipitate is separated, washed and calcinated. The photocatalytic titanium dioxide thus obtained has a specific area in the range from 100 to 250 m2/g and a 0.3 to 5% sulphur concentration. Catalytic activity has been confirmed in asetal dehyde decomposition and in anionic (SNC?)2 radical formation.

Abstract: The invention relates a process for producing an alkali metal nitrate and an alkali metal phosphate in the same process from a phosphate raw material and a nitrate raw material comprising the steps of: a) reacting the phosphate raw material with the nitrate raw material to provide an aqueous nitrophosphate feed, optionally followed by the separation of solid material, b) introducing the aqueous nitrophosphate feed into a first ion exchange step comprising an alkali metal-loaded cationic exchange resin for exchanging cations present in the feed with alkali metal ions present on the resin to obtain a stream enriched in alkali metal ions, c) subjecting the stream from step (b) to a first crystallization under such conditions that an alkali metal nitrate is crystallized and separating the crystallized alkali metal nitrate from the mother liquor, d) introducing the mother liquor from step (c) into a second ion exchange step comprising an alkali metal-loaded cationic exchange resin for exchanging cations present

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for deinking waste paper, optionally in non-alkaline or low-alkaline systems. Deinking compositions are provided that include a blend of an alkoxylated fatty alcohol and a fatty acid. The compositions may further include a second alkoxylated fatty alcohol. The deinking compositions also may include a first non-alkoxylated fatty acid and optionally a second alkoxylated fatty acid. Cationic derivatives such as cationic polymers also may be added to the deinking blend.

Abstract: A method of treating residual acid from production of chlorine dioxide is described. The method is characterized in that a compound containing iron is added to the residual acid to react therewith and form a product, which contains iron in trivalent form. As iron compound preferably ferrous sulphate is added, which under oxidation reacts with the residual acid to form ferric salt. Preferably sodium chlorate, sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide or an oxygen-containing gas is added as oxidant.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous composition comprising a salt of formic acid for use as a hydraulic medium in hydrostatic transmission of power.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solid product containing nitrogen and phosphor, particular a solid ammonium phosphate and/or urea ammonium phosphate product, in which method the solution containing urea and phosphoric acid is heated. Water then evaporates from the solution and the urea in the solution decomposes into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide exits the reactor together with water vapor; the generated ammonia neutralizes the phosphoric acid. A suspension containing ammonium phosphate and/or urea ammonium phosphate is obtained, which is solidified, dried, crushed, ground and/or granulated. The end product as such can be used as a fertilizer or it can be used as part of a mixed fertilizer.

Abstract: An adsorbent catalyst for reducing the amounts of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide contained in exhaust or combustion gases, which catalyst adsorbs nitrogen oxides, when the exhaust or combustion gases contain in excess of oxygen, and liberates and reduces the adsorbed nitrogen oxides, when the gases contain oxygen in stoichiometric amounts or less, which adsorbent catalyst include a porous support material the surface area of which is large and which contains at least the following: a first catalytic metal, which is preferably Pt, a first NOx adsorbent, which preferably contains at least one of the following metals: Ba and Sr, a second NOx adsorbent, which preferably contains at least one of the following metals: La and Y, and a redox NOx adsorbent, which preferably contains at least one of the following metals: Ce, Zr, Ti, Nb, Mn, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and G.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing simultaneously food-grade and fodder-grade phosphoric acid by crystallizing phosphoric acid hemihydrate, H3PO4×0.5H2O, from a prepurified feed acid, which is purified and crystallized with the help of the following steps, a) after the step of froth-flotation of phosphate concentrate, the concentrate is directed to a strongly magnetic separation step in order to decrease the Mg ion amount, b) the phosphate concentrate is leached in a mixture of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid according to the wet process, the precipitated SO4 and As ions are removed, and a silicon source is added in order to adjust the F/Si molar ratio to <6, c) the phosphoric acid is concentrated, the solids precipitate is removed, and the F ions are evaporated, d) the feed acid obtained from step c, having a concentration of >58% P2O5, solids concentration of <0.05%, Mg ion concentration of <1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the fertilization of cultivated plants by optimizing the quantity and quality of the yield with the help of a bio-indicator, in which method, before the establishing of the plant stand, the following steps are taken: the cultivated area is divided into sub-areas; in each sub-area the potential yield is determined on the basis of a bio-indicator; the optimal bio-indicator level aimed at for the potential crop is selected; the nitrogen fertilization required for achieving the desired optimal level of the bio-indicator in the potential crop is determined; and thereafter, in connection with the planting, a nitrogen fertilizer is spread, and nitrogen fertilizer is optionally spread once or several times, after the planting, according to the said fertilization requirement, the realization of the potential yield being monitored during the growing season in each sub-area by a plant stand measurement, and on the basis of these measurements additional nitrogen fertilizer is spre

Abstract: The present invention is a deinking method and composition that uses at least 50% by weight based on the total weight of surfactants of non-ionic, C16 to C25 aliphatic, monohydric alcohol alkoxylates having 14 to 40 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol and 0 to 10 moles of propylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Using deinking compositions to deink wastepaper pulp wherein the surfactants primarily include the C16 to C18 aliphatic alcohol alkoxylates of the invention produces paper having excellent brightness and low effective residual ink concentrations. In addition, a low amount of sizing agents is used to produce paper having acceptable levels of water repellency.

Abstract: A method of hydrogenating alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthraquinones to alkyl anthrahydroquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthrahydroquinones is disclosed. The reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst under electromagnetic irradiation, such as microwave irradiation. The invention further relates to a method of hydrogenating a working solution in a hydrogen peroxide production process, wherein the working solution contains alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthraquinones dissolved in at least one solvent to convert the quinines to the corresponding alkyl anthrahydroquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthrahydroquinones, where the reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst under electromagnetic irradiation such as microwave irradiation.

Abstract: A method in bleaching of pulp is described, in which the pulp is subjected to a peroxide bleaching step, whereupon the pulp is washed and the washing liquid from the washing is separated from the pulp in the form of a filtrate. The method is characterised in that the filtrate is treated with an aluminium compound, such as aluminium sulphate or polyaluminium sulphate, for precipitation of interfering substances, such as oxygen-demanding organic material and metals, that the precipitated material is removed from the filtrate, that the aluminium content of the filtrate after precipitation of interfering substances is adjusted to at most 20 ppm, and that the filtrate is then recirculated to the peroxide bleaching step. By the method, a reduced consumption of hydrogen peroxide in the peroxide bleaching step is achieved.

Abstract: Methods of sizing paper using a latex as a surface sizing agent are described, in which the latex is defined by acid number or particle size. Further described are methods of improving toner adhesion of papers that are surface sized with alkenylsuccinic anhydrides by employing latexes that have a glass transition temperature of from about 25 to about 65. Still further described are low shear methods of dispersing alkenylsuccinic anhydrides in sizing compositions using latexes as dispersing aids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of paper or board, wherein retention aids are added to the stream of stock. Improved retention and more effective dewatering are achieved by adding to the stream of stock a cationic polymer solution and a suspension-form microparticle mixture composed of a swellable clay of the smectite group and a colloidal synthetic metal silicate in which the prevalent cation is magnesium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of compound fertilizer granules containing at least two of the plant nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, said process including the steps of: providing a solid fee material including at least one solid fertilizer raw material and optionally recycle material, feeding the feed material or a part thereof into a melter for melting a desired portion thereof and keeping said portion in molten state, feeding the molten or partly molten material and optionally other desired solid raw materials to a granulator to obtain a granulated product, and cooling and optionally screening the granulated product to obtain dry compound fertilizer granules having a desired size distribution, provided that no water or aqueous liquid is introduced into the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid antimicrobial product suitable for the preservation of an organic material and for combating of detrimental microorganisms, as well as for pH control. The product contains, absorbed into a support a concentrated formic acid partly neutralized with gaseous ammonia, the water content of the formic acid being below 2% by weight. In addition, the invention comprises a method for preparing the product.