Abstract: The Takahax gas desulfurization method is rendered more energy-efficient and compact by providing separate scrubbing and regeneration loops operating from a common reservoir (31,33) and by using hyperbaric pressure in the oxygenating or regenerator vessel (59). The overall height of a plant of comparable capacity can be reduced from the 13 meters (about 40 feet) required by the prior art to 3.3 meters (10 feet) and can therefore be transported by truck. The preferred washing or scrubbing liquid is an alkaline solution using sodium 1,4 napthoquinone-2-sulfonate as the catalyst. By oxidation, elemental sulfur is made to precipitate and this is filtered out continuously in a filter (77). Regenerated washing liquid flows via a degassing vessel (69) into the common reservoir (27,31,33). In the degassing vessel, under relaxed pressure, degassing occurs, and the sulfur foam, along with the oxygen or air it contains, is returned via a pump (55) to the regenerator pressure vessel (59) or to the filter (77).

Abstract: Gas containing sulfide is washed in the washing vessel (13) with a washing liquid that normally comprises an alkaline solution having sodium 1,4-naphthoquinone-2-sulfonate as the catalyst. Contaminated liquid is subjected in a pressure vessel (59) to aeration under pressure with air or pure oxygen. By oxidation, elementary sulfur precipitates out and this is filtered out continuously in the filter (77). Regenerated washing liquid flows via a degassing vessel (69) into the storage container (27) and from there returns to the washing vessel (13). In the degassing vessel, under relaxed pressure, degassing occurs, and the sulfur foam along with the oxygen or air it contains is returned via the pump (55) to the presure vessel (59) or to the filter (77).

Abstract: Heat can be recovered by biological generation of heat upon aeration of refuse, such as garbage or sludge, in an aeration vessel (11) by introducing oxygen-containing gas, such as air, in a closed cycle (11, 33, 31, 35) to thereby enrich gas withdrawn from the vessel with the oxygen, typically by reintroduction of gas withdrawn from an upper gas portion (43) of the vessel, after introduction of additional oxygen, for example controlled by a valve (65) into a lower portion of the contents of the aeration chamber. Control can be effected automatically, by a control unit (55, 55') through a valve (51, 51') or manually; automatic control can be effected, for example, by sensing oxygen or carbon dioxide concentration by suitable sensors (57, 59) within the vessel.

Abstract: The biological reactor contains in a vessel (11) a bundle (13) of tubes (15). The bundle (13) is formed by a plurality of plastic tubes (15) being of preferably square cross-section. The walls of the plastic tubes serve as growth surfaces for microorganisms. A distributing device (17) feeds the different ducts (18) evenly with liquid organic refuse. The ducts (18) are not completely filled. The liquid level in the reactor is at a certain distance from the top of the tubes (15). Accordingly, if one of the ducts (18) tends to clog, it is filled more than the remaining ducts so that in the clogging duct a hydrostatic pressure is created having the tendency to free the duct. This freeing of the duct is assisted by the control unit 58 which from time to time lowers the liquid level in the reactor and then increases it again.