Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described which utilize an aqueous hydrogen peroxide composition of hydrogen peroxide and at least one additive which serves to catalyze the rapid decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radicals. When contacted with an atmospheric effluent containing odor and/or noxious components, the hydroxyl radicals formed oxidize the odor and noxious components to non-odor offensive, environmentally acceptable by-product.

Abstract: A method for chemically decontaminating radioactive material. The method includes reducing-dissolving step for setting surface of radioactive material in contact with reducing decontamination liquid including mono-carboxylic acid and di-carboxylic acid as dissolvent; and oxidizing-dissolving step for setting the surface of the radioactive material in contact with oxidizing decontamination liquid including oxidizer. The method may include repeated pairs of steps, each pair including the reducing-dissolving step and the oxidizing-dissolving step. The mono-carboxylic acid may include formic acid, and the di-carboxylic acid includes oxalic acid. The oxidizer may be ozone, permanganic acid or permanganate.

Abstract: A process for the production of liquid ferric sulfate from finely-divided ferric oxide, sulfuric acid and water in a closed reaction vessel at temperatures ranging from about 130.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. and pressures from about 30 psi to about 70 psi. The reaction time ranges from Four to eight hours and produces liquid ferric sulfate having at least 10% trivalent iron. Yield and efficiency are provided by controlling the specific gravity prior to the reaction and by counter current cycling the waste stream from the reaction through the dilution water and use of a polymeric settling agent to remove unreacted iron content from the digester output.

Abstract: A method for the automated production of liquid SO2 having a purity above 99.9% from elemental sulfur and pure oxygen, in the presence of SO2 recirculated from a closed circuit production system. The temperature of the combustion is controlled by means of pre-defined S, O2 and SO2 ratios. The automation is made based on oxygen sensors and on sulfur and SO2 flow meters with their respective control connections and proportional valves permitting a fine control of the sulfur combustion reaction. Liquefaction of gaseous SO2 produced is carried out alternatively by a cool plant working between ?10 and ?60° C. or with a compression unit working at a pressure between 3.8 and 5.0 bar. The automation permits an optimum temperature control and a clean production of SO2.

Abstract: A method of extracting a halide and sulphate from an aqueous sulphate solution, such as a zinc sulphate solution, comprises subjecting the solution to solvent extraction to extract halide and sulphate from the solution and controlling the amount of sulphate extracted by selective adjustment of the acidity of the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing and removing mercury in industrial gases, such as a flue gas, produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, adds sulfide ions to the flue gas as it passes through a scrubber. Ideally, the source of these sulfide ions may include at least one of: sulfidic waste water, kraft caustic liquor, kraft carbonate liquor, potassium sulfide, sodium sulfide, and thioacetamide. The sulfide ion source is introduced into the scrubbing liquor as an aqueous sulfide species. The scrubber may be either a wet or dry scrubber for flue gas desulfurization systems.

Abstract: A process for the production of sulphuric acid from a sulphur dioxide containing feed gas with concentration of SO2 fluctuating between 0 and 100 mole % SO2 comprising the steps of contacting the feed gas with an aqueous solution comprising 0–50% by weight H2SO4 at a temperature between the freezing point of said aqueous solution and 80° C.; and during the contact of the feed gas with the aqueous solution absorbing at least a part of SO2 in the feed gas in the aqueous solution or desorbing at least a part of SO2 from the aqueous solution, wherein the at least a part of SO2 is desorbed by stripping the aqueous solution with the feed gas and passing at least part of the thus treated feed gas to a sulphuric acid plant.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for obtaining inorganic fullerene-like nanostructures. A metal oxide is evaporated at predetermined temperature conditions, and is swept towards a reacting zone, to which first and second gas phase reacting agents are concurrently swept. The evaporated metal oxide thus interacts with the first reacting agent and is converted into metal suboxide nanoparticles in the gas phase. The condensing metal suboxide nanoparticles interact with the second reacting agent in the gas phase resulting in substantially pure phase of the inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles.

Abstract: A process for the production of a lithium transition metal sulphide such as lithium iron sulphide, the process comprising reacting a transition metal sulphide with lithium sulphide in a solvent comprising a molten salt or a mixture of molten salts. Lithium transition metal sulphides obtained using this process are useful in the production of electrodes, in particular for rechargeable lithium batteries.

Abstract: Pyrogenically prepared titanium dioxide doped by means of an aerosol contains an oxide from the group zinc oxide, platinum oxide, magnesium oxide and/or aluminium oxide as the doping component. It is prepared as follows: in the pyrogenic preparation of titanium dioxide, a metal salt solution is atomised to form an aerosol and injected into the production stream. The titanium dioxide may be used as a photocatalyst or as a UV adsorber or in processes for purification of waste water or waste air/gases.

Abstract: The invention consists of a method for treating polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated media by: a) combining the media with a fluid containing one or more liquid hydrocarbons to form a media/fluid mixture; b) sonicating the mixture at audio frequency to extract PCB from the media into the fluid; and c) treating the fluid with sodium-containing alkali metal. The method may include additional steps to reduce the size of the media. Alternatively, the fluid can be decanted from the media after sonication and treated separately with sodium-containing alkali metal.

Abstract: A step (1) of heating a fluoronickel compound to release a fluorine gas, a step (2) of allowing a fluorine gas to be occluded into a fluorinated compound, and a step (3) of heating the fluoronickel compound and reducing an inner pressure are conducted in a container, respectively, at least once, and thereafter a high-purity fluorine gas is obtained in the step (1). Also, a step (5) of heating a fluoronickel compound and reducing an inner pressure and a step (6) of allowing a fluorine gas reduced in a hydrogen fluoride content to be occluded into the fluoronickel compound are conducted in a container having a fluorinated layer formed on its surface, respectively, at least once, the step (5) is further conducted, and thereafter a fluorine gas containing impurity gases is contacted with the fluoronickel compound to fix and remove the fluorine gas, and the impurities are analyzed by gas chromatography.

Abstract: An efficient process for the preparation of magnesium thiosulfate involves reaction of magnesium hydrosulfite and sulfur at elevated temperature. Magnesium hydrosulfite can be prepared from commercial magnesium oxide and sulfur. Sulfur dioxide can be used to maintain pH. The resulting product is an emulsion of liquid magnesium thiosulfate and solid byproducts. Under controlled conditions, including mole ratios of MgO to sulfur, temperature of the reaction process, and pH, as well as rate and duration of SO2 purging, production of byproducts can be reduced to less than about 2% by weight. The magnesium thiosulfate solution can be prepared with concentrations of at least about 25%, preferably at least about 30%.

Abstract: A method of decreasing nitrate nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in soil and groundwater by burying a fatty acid having 10 or more carbon atoms, an alcohol having 12 or more carbon atoms, an ester of a linear saturated fatty acid having 14 or more carbon atoms and a monohydric alcohol, an ester of a linear saturated fatty acid having 14 or more carbon atoms and a polyhydric alcohol, an ester of a fatty acid having 16 or more carbon atoms and glycerine, and the like in soil containing nitrate nitrogen and volatile organic compounds. This method allows for on site treatment, high biological denitrification and a decrease in volatile organic compounds secondary pollution by the release of organic matter and nitrogen into the environment is extremely small.

Abstract: A bioremediation system converts a waste stream, at least part of which is a fluid containing energetics, to carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and environmentally benign end products. It uses gas-enhanced sequencing-batch-reactors (SBRs), treating the waste stream in three SBRs seriatim. The first SBR uses a nitrogen purge, the second a hydrogen gas supplement, and the third an oxygen gas or forced air supplement. Each reactor may be supplemented with additives to optimize conditions such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient level. The system may be implemented under manual control, semi-automated, or fully automated, as needed. A waste stream of consideration is the pink water resultant from munitions fabrication and handling.

Abstract: An adsorbent for removing sulfur compounds from sulfur compounds-containing fuel gas contains a zeolite ion-exchanged with Ag and has an excellent performance when used to remove sulfur compounds from the fuel gas, irrespective of the moisture concentration in the fuel gas, and a method for removing sulfur compounds from sulfur compounds-containing fuel gas by use of an adsorbent of the above-mentioned type. The zeolite is a Na—+Y type zeolite.

Abstract: A flue gas processing apparatus for removing sulfur oxide contained in a gas, including a desulfurization tower through which the gas flows, the desulfurization tower including a catalyst unit having at least one activated carbon fiber board which adsorbs the sulfur oxide and a water-supply device configured to supply water to the catalyst unit so as to form sulfuric acid from the sulfur oxide adsorbed to the at least one activated carbon fiber board, the water-supply device being positioned above the catalyst unit in the desulfurization tower, and a pressurizing device configured to apply pressure to the gas supplied to the desulfurization tower so as to flow the gas through the catalyst unit by the pressure.

Abstract: A method for treating and upgrading effluents containing at least a metallic sulphate comprising adding at least a base to the effluent to precipitate the metallic ions in the form of iron oxy-hydroxides Fe(OHx) wherein x=2 and/or 3; separating the precipitated hydroxide calcium sulphate CaSO4; and separating the calcium sulphate CaSO4 precipitated during the preceding step. Said method enables obtainment of calcium sulphate (white gypsum) substantially free of metals and therefore capable of being upgraded and iron oxy-hydroxides likewise capable of being upgraded.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of hydrogen sulphide from the bacterial reduction of a mixture of a liquid and elemental sulfur with an electron donor, such as hydrogen gas, carbon monoxide or organic compounds. The bacteria may be Desulforomonas sp. (mesophilic), Desulfotomaculum KT7 (thermophilic), etc. The liquid/sulfur mixture is at a pH ranging from 5 to 9, and the liquid/sulfur mixture contacts the bacteria at a hydraulic retention time of at least 1 day. The hydrogen sulphide is stripped from the liquid medium to produce a gas containing at least 1 volume percent hydrogen sulphide.