Abstract: Natural biomineral fertilizers for sustainable farming are produced in an environmentally sound manner from mine waste. Finely divided mine waste and process tailings serve as a novel source of rock powder for use as fertilizer. Mine waste and process tailings may be treated with non-toxic chemicals to selectively remove certain unwanted elements such as mercury. Solid and liquid fertilizers are also obtained by digesting mine waste and process tailings in combination with bio-waste plus selected bacteria under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic digestion also generates methane gas for use as fuel for generating electricity or for process heating.

Abstract: A high-speed chemical drill (20) for removing portions of a target material (30), comprises: an elongated tube (21) formed of a fuel material; a source (24) of oxidizer; a conduit (26) for establishing a controllable flow of oxidizer from said source through said tube; and a sleeve (28) formed of a material containing chlorine and/or fluorine mounted on said tube; whereby, when said drill is ignited and used to remove portions of a target material, the chlorine and/or fluorine in said sleeve material will react chemically with the target material to form gaseous reaction products.

Abstract: Hydrotalcite-like materials are stable in the crystalline oxide structure and essentially reversible in anion exchange. A novel process of sulfur oxide sorption is provided utilizing these hydrotalcite materials as contact solids. Large crystalline sheet materials having increased sorption of SO.sub.x are provided by incorporation of certain organic acid anionic species to modify the hydrotalcite/brucite structure. Typical industrial applications include sulfur removal from fluid catalyst cracking process, cold-side combustion gas sulfur abatement and cleaner coal gasification.

Abstract: A portable soil decontamination and remediation system comprising a high heat energy generator that supplies high heat energy to a soil decontamination unit. The heat energy generator comprises a closed chamber for gasifying used rubber tires for the production of volatile gases and high energy heat. The soil decontamination unit comprises an elongate rotating cylinder that rotates within a closed chamber. Contaminated soil is introduced into one end of the rotating cylinder and is caused to migrate to the opposite end in a cascading fashion as the cylinder rotates. High energy heat from the generator is directed at the rotating cylinder to indirectly heat the soil therein to vaporize the hydrocarbon contaminants in the soil as the rotating drum migrates the soil toward its collection end. Vacuum pressure withdraws the vaporized hydrocarbons from the cylinder, and the decontaminated soil exits the collection end of the rotating cylinder and housing for redistribution.