Abstract: The invention is a consortium of thermophilic methanotrophic organisms in culture medium containing said consortium reproduced at temperatures of 50.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., said consortium being comprised primarily of ovoid or rod-shaped organisms. The consortium can be instilled into soil or water to degrade pollutants, especially hydrocarbons and substituted hydrocarbons.

Abstract: An artificial neural network is used to predict the current state of a process based upon sensor measurements of the process variables at previous times. The output of the neural network provides the process control system with the predicted process state, thereby reducing the time lag of the sensors and providing improved control of the process.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved drive train which includes an engine having at least one power cylinder with a power piston mounted for reciprocating motion therein. The power piston is connected to a crank shaft in the usual manner for translation of the reciprocating motion of the power piston into rotation of the crankshaft, which in turn, is transmitted in the conventional manner to the drive wheels of the vehicle. Provision is made for the feed of fuel into a combustion chamber located within the power cylinder at one side of the power piston. Intake and exhaust valves, in fluid communication with the combustion chamber serve, respectively, to allow intake of air during an intake stroke of the power piston and exhaust of combustion products during an exhaust stroke of the power piston. A floating piston at least partially closes the combustion chamber opposite the power piston and is mounted for reciprocating motion relative to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A hydropneumatic powertrain includes a fluidic driver connected in parallel with first and second liquid tanks connected, respectively, with first and second gas vessels. The gas within each gas vessel is in fluid communication with the liquid within the corresponding liquid vessel. A prime mover drives a pump to pump liquid alternately into one of the two liquid tanks connected in parallel with the pump. Switch valving directs the discharge of the pump to either the first liquid tank or the second liquid tank, while the liquid tank not receiving liquid from the pump discharge is discharging its liquid, driven by expansion of gas within the corresponding gas vessel, to drive the fluidic driver which, in turn, drives the drive wheels of the vehicle. Each gas tank is equipped with a heater and a cooler whereby the gas vessel, in the compression portion of the cycle, is cooled while the other gas vessel is heated for expansion of the gas contained therein.

Abstract: An intelligent oxygen injection control system for afterburners which minimizes transient incinerator pollutant emissions while simultaneously minimizing oxygen consumption. A fuzzy logic-based controller utilizes inputs from sensors that measure gas phase pollutant species such as hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide to control oxygen injection and thus minimize pollutant emissions while minimizing oxygen consumption.

Abstract: A non-halogenated solvent mixture for gravimetric determination of grease and oil in an aqueous or a solid matrix comprising a mixture of n-hexane and methyl tertiary-butyl ether present in a volume ratio of 80% to 20% respectively. A method of gravimetric determination of grease and oil in an aqueous or a solid matrix which comprises preparing a sample; extracting the same using this non-halogenated solvent mixture; distilling; evaporating and weighing the extraction residue.

Abstract: Organic liquid-like hazardous waste is loaded with a sorbent in a container including interior and exterior compartments. The container is supplied to a rotary incinerating kiln. The waste is loaded in the container and the compartments are arranged so that the waste in the exterior compartment is initially vaporized in the kiln without the waste in the interior compartment mixing and being vaporized with the waste in the exterior compartment. The waste in the exterior compartment acts initially as a thermal and mass transfer barrier to prevent initial vaporization in the kiln of the waste in the interior compartment to substantially delay the vaporization of the waste in the interior compartment relative the vaporization time of waste in the exterior compartment and relative to the time when the waste in the interior compartment would have been vaporized if the container did not include the compartments.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator includes a plurality of collector sections having parallel collection plates, defining gas flow lanes therebetween, and a bag filter section containing a plurality of parallel, elongated filter fabric bag elements. A plurality of corona discharge wires for charging solid particulates entrained in the gas flow entering the bag filter section are disposed parallel to and interspersed among the bag elements. Both the bag elements and the corona discharge wires within the bag filter section depend from a common plate member. Gas flow is from the outside of the bag elements to the inside and out through apertures in the supporting plate.

Abstract: A single chamber wood stove has primary and secondary combustion zones in direct fluid flow communication with each other. Air from outside the stove is supplied to the primary and secondary combustion zones. Gaseous hydrocarbon fuel from a source located outside the stove is selectively supplied to the secondary combustion zone and is ignited by a glow plug in the secondary combustion zone in response to a signal derived by a temperature detector in the secondary zone. The gaseous hydrocarbon fuel flows to the secondary combustion zone at a rate in the range of about 0.25 to 3 cubic feet per hour. The fuel is supplied to the secondary zone when the secondary zone temperature is above carbon monoxide ignition temperature.

Abstract: A method of degrading halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons is disclosed comprising incubating microorganisms capable of degrading halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons by an aromatic degradative pathway together with the halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons under conditions such that said aromatic degradative pathway is active.

Abstract: A method for the decomposition of halogenated and non-halogenated organic contaminant compounds contained in a contaminated medium comprises adding an alkali or alkaline earth metal carbonate, bicarbonate or hydroxide to the contaminated medium in an aqueous solution or in a solvent having a boiling point of at least 200.degree. C., or in the form of a solid dispersion or suspension. The medium includes a hydrogen donor compound. The hydrogen donor compound may be originally contained in the medium or may be added to the medium. The medium further includes a catalytic source of carbon, for example, a carabohydrate, which will cause formation of a free radical hydrogen ion from the hydrogen donor compound. The medium is heated to dehydrate the medium and then is further heated at a temperature between about 200.degree. and 400.degree. C. to cause formation of the free radical hydrogen ion and effect reductive decomposition of the halogenated and non-halogenated organic contaminant compounds.

Abstract: A method for the decomposition of halogenated organic compounds contained in a contaminated medium comprises adding an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate to the contaminated medium in an aqueous solution or in a solvent having a boiling point of at least 200.degree. C., or in the form of a solid dispersion or suspension. The medium is heated to dehydrate the medium and then is further heated at a temperature between about 250.degree. and 400.degree. C. to effect decomposition of the halogenated organic compounds. An acid is then added to the medium in an amount sufficient to neutralize the same.

Abstract: A method for the destruction of halogenated organic compounds contained in a contaminated medium comprises adding an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol to the contaminated medium in an amount to provide from about 0.1 to about 20 weight percent of polyethylene glycol, based on the weight of the contaminated medium. An alkali metal hydroxide is then added in an amount of from about 2 to about 20 weight percent, based on the weight of the contaminated medium. The medium is then heated to substantially dehydrate the medium and then further heated at a temperature between about 100.degree. and 350.degree. C. to effect destruction of the halogenated organic compounds. An acid is then added to the medium in an amount sufficient to neutralize the same.

Abstract: An inlet apparatus for gas-aerosol sampling comprises an elutriator column and an impactor member. The elutriator column comprises an inlet and an impact accelerator jet outlet, and the inner surface of the column is provided with a coating of polytetrafluoroethylene-containing polymer. The impactor member includes a housing which surrounds the impact accelerator jet outlet and an impactor surface arranged within the housing and opposite the impact accelerator jet outlet. The inner surface of the housing is also provided with a polytetrafluoroethylene-containing polymer coating.

Abstract: A method of degrading chloroethylene compounds is disclosed comprising incubating microorganisms capable of degrading chloroethylene compounds by an aromatic degradative pathway together with the chloroethylene compounds under conditions such that the aromatic degradative pathway is active.

Abstract: An inlet apparatus for gas-aerosol sampling comprises an elutriator column and an impactor member. The elutriator column comprises an inlet and an impact accelerator jet outlet, and the inner surface of the column is provided with a coating of polytetrafluoroethylene-containing polymer. The impactor member includes a housing which surrounds the impact accelerator jet outlet and an impactor surface arranged within the housing and opposite the impact accelerator jet outlet. The inner surface of the housing is also provided with a polytetrafluoroethylene-containing polymer coating.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the vacuum distillation of volatile organic pollutants contained in various environmental sample matrices, such as sediments, soils, water and fish is connected to a cryogenic concentrating means. The volatile organic pollutants in the sample are first separated from the water vapors in the mixture which emanates from a sample chamber by condensing the water vapors in a precooling trap. The volatile organic compounds are first condensed in a cryogenic concentration trap which is subsequently warmed to transfer the volatile organic vapors to a cryogenic focusing trap cooled to -196.degree. C. A series of manually activated or automatically solenoid activated valves controls passage of the various fluids through a conduit network selectively connecting the various cooling traps and the outlet of a sample chamber to one another. A cooled pump oil trap may be connected into the conduit network to condense pump oil vapors and thus prevent pump oil contamination of the apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing pollutant emissions, and in particular, for reducing NO.sub.x and particulate emissions, from spreader-stoker-fired furnaces. A combustible material is introduced into the spreader-stoker-fired furnace and combusted while the stoichiometric ratio of oxygen to combustible material in different regions of the furnace is carefully controlled. Control of the stoichiometric ratio is accomplished by controlling the amount of air injected into different regions of the furnace and by controlling the amount of smaller particles of combustible material or fines introduced into the furnace.

Abstract: An automatic bottle sealing mechanism is provided for use with an automatic liquid sampling apparatus of the type having a plurality of sample receiving bottles and a movable sample distributing spout for sequentially filling the bottles with liquid samples. The bottle sealing mechanism includes a cap body adapted to be fitted over the mouth of a sample bottle in place of the usual screw cap or other type of closure. The cap body includes an open throat for allowing liquids to be poured into the sample bottle, a movable closure member for opening and closing the cap body throat, and a spring loaded latch mechanism for automatically moving the closure member to a closed position in response to the movement of the sample distributing spout.

Abstract: A method of transmitting half-sinewave ultrasonic monopulses utilizes a flip-flop (22) to reverse the states of a bridge circuit (Q.sub.1 -Q.sub.4) with each output pulse from a timing pulse generator (20). This reverses the polarity of a dc voltage which stresses a piezoelectric transducer (24) to substantially its limit. Each pulse from the timing generator thus causes one mechanical transition of the transducer and clamps it in its reversed stress condition, thereby producing a half-sinewave ultrasonic output for each timing pulse.