Abstract: In a process for detoxifying a coal-tar deposit, effective amounts of carbon and a calcium oxide containing substance are added at a mixing station to at least a portion of the coal-tar deposit. The reaction mixture thus formed is mixed at a temperature of about 70.degree. F. to 130.degree. F. for a time sufficient to detoxify it and convert it into a non-hazardous reaction product. The coal-tar deposit may be either a substantially homogeneous coal-tar or a heterogeneous coal-tar contaminated substrate. The mixing station site may be either subsurface or surface and may include a container. The non-hazardous reaction product may be separated into small particles, suitable as fuel, and large particles, suitable as safe fill.

Abstract: An uninterruptible gas-fired forced hot air furnace utilizes a thermoelectric generator in the path of the hot combusted gas to a heat exchanger. The combusted gas (combustion products) flows through the pipes of the heat exchanger to an exhaust which may lead to the chimney,or direct vent, in the building in which the furnace is located. The thermoelectric generator is also in the path of the forced cold air which also goes to the heat exchanger. The cold air thus picks up heat in the process of cooling the cold junctions of the thermoelectric generator and picks up more heat in the heat exchanger from the combustion products before being ducted into the heating system. The thermoelectric generator cold junctions may be air-cooled by fins connected thereto through which the stream of air from the blower passes or the cold junctions may be cooled by liquid which is circulated through a liquid-to-air heat exchanger.