Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treating radioactive material, in particular for cleaning radioactive contaminated water, are described. One apparatus comprises a process chamber with a combustion zone for generating an oxygen rich gas and an oxidation zone, which is arranged to receive the oxygen rich gas from the combustion zone. The process chamber further comprises a feed opening for feeding the radioactive material into the oxidation zone and is configured to use the oxygen rich gas for oxidizing the radioactive material to obtain oxidized material. The apparatus further comprises a separation device operationally connected to an outlet of the process chamber and configured to at least partly separate the oxidized material into a gaseous fluid and a non-gaseous residue. This way a greatly reduced volume of the radioactive material is achieved, enabling safe and efficient handling and/or compact and space-saving disposal of the radioactive material.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide adsorbents are provided. The carbon dioxide adsorbents include a polymeric amine and a porous support on which the polymeric amine is supported. the polymeric amine consists of a polymer skeleton containing nitrogen atoms and branched chains bonded to the nitrogen atoms of the polymer skeleton. Each of the branched chains contains at least one nitrogen atom, the polymeric amine is modified by substitution of at least one of the nitrogen atoms of the polymer skeleton or the branched chains with a hydroxyl group-containing carbon chain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a technique for handling liquid radioactive waste from a nuclear fuel-energy cycle, and may be used in a process for processing liquid radioactive waste for maximally reducing the volume thereof and removing radionuclides by concentrating same in a solid phase. The aim is achieved by means of a method for processing liquid radioactive waste and for the recovery thereof, including waste oxidation, separating sludge, colloids and suspended particles from a liquid phase, and removing, from the liquid phase, radionuclides to be subsequently recovered using selective sorbents and filters; the method is characterized in that, prior to the stage for separating sludge, colloids and suspended particles from the liquid phase of the radioactive waste, selective sorbents in the form of powders are added and mixed into the liquid waste.

Abstract: A multi-ply absorbent sheet includes a first absorbent ply of cellulosic sheet; a second absorbent ply of cellulosic sheet; and a ply bonding adhesive interposed between the first absorbent ply and the second absorbent ply, the ply-bonding adhesive thereby adhering said absorbent plies together. The ply-bonding adhesive comprises polyvinyl alcohol and nanofibrillated cellulose. In a particularly preferred embodiment the adhesive is applied as a dilute aqueous composition to tissue plies and the nanofibrillated cellulose has a Characteristic Breaking Length of 6.5 km or above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a superabsorbent polymer including a) preparing a hydrogel phase polymer by thermopolymerizing or photopolymerizing a monomer composition including a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a polymerization initiator; b) adding particles having properties of the following i) and ii) to the hydrogel phase polymer, i) BET specific surface area of 300 m2/g to 1500 m2/g and ii) porosity of 50% or greater; c) chopping the particle-added hydrogel phase polymer; d) drying the hydrogel phase polymer; e) milling the dried hydrogel phase polymer; f) adding a surface crosslinking agent to the milled hydrogel phase polymer; and g) carrying out a surface crosslinking reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed are a surface-modified superabsorbent polymer and a method of preparing the same, wherein a superabsorbent polymer is surface-modified with the addition of a water-soluble salt having a multivalent cation and superhydrophobic microparticles, thereby improving attrition resistance, permeability and absorption speed without significantly deteriorating the other properties thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are a steel composition and a spring steel comprising the same. The steel composition comprises: an amount of about 0.51 to 0.57% by weight of carbon (C), an amount of about 1.35 to 1.45% by weight of silicon (Si), an amount of about 0.95 to 1.05% by weight of manganese (Mn), an amount of about 0.60 to 0.80% by weight of chromium (Cr), an amount of about 0.25 to 0.35% by weight of copper (Cu), an amount of about 0.05 to 0.15% by weight of vanadium (V), an amount of about 0.25 to 0.35% by weight of nickel (Ni), an amount of about 0.003 to 0.015% by weight of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.003 to 0.010% by weight of sulfur (S), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the steel composition, all the % by weights are based on the total weight of the steel composition.

Abstract: A composition for use as a swellable seal includes a base polymer, a super absorbent polymer, and a predetermined amount of cotton flock.

Abstract: This invention relates to the vitrification of radioactive waste products. According to this invention, a glass composition, which is suitable for flammable waste products, such as gloves, working clothes, plastic waste, and rubber, and a method of vitrifying the flammable waste products using the same are provided to significantly reduce the volume of radioactive waste products and to vitrify the flammable waste products using the glass composition, which is suitable for vitrifying the flammable waste products, thereby maximally delaying or completely preventing the leakage of radioactive materials from a molten solidified body.

Abstract: This invention relates to the vitrification of radioactive waste products. According to this invention, a glass composition that is suitable for mixed waste products, which include flammable waste products, such as gloves, working clothes, plastic waste, and rubber, and low-level radioactive waste products, and a method of vitrifying the mixed waste products using the same are provided to significantly reduce the volume of radioactive waste products and to vitrify the mixed waste products using the glass composition, which is suitable for vitrifying the mixed waste products, thereby maximally delaying or completely preventing the leakage of radioactive materials from a glass solidified body.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a desulphurization agent for removing sulphurous species from a diluent or process stream, and a use of such agent. In some examples, the agent may include a compound of manganese, pore forming particles and a compound of copper. The agent may be introduced into or mixed with the diluent or process stream to effectuate removal of sulphurous species from the diluent or process stream.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for combusting coke from catalyst two stages is disclosed. Catalyst and flue gas from a lower chamber ascends to an upper chamber to be roughly separated by swirl ducts extending from a combustion conduit. The swirl ducts may discharge into a container in the upper chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to desalination systems are described herein. According to some embodiments, the desalination systems are transiently operated and/or configured to facilitate transient operation. In some embodiments, a liquid stream comprising water and at least one dissolved salt is circulated through a fluidic circuit comprising a desalination system. In some embodiments, a portion of the desalination system (e.g., a humidifier) is configured to remove at least a portion of the water from the liquid stream to produce a concentrated brine stream enriched in the dissolved salt. In certain cases, the concentrated brine stream is recirculated through the fluidic circuit until the concentrated brine stream reaches a relatively high density (e.g., at least about 10 pounds per gallon) and/or a relatively high salinity (e.g., a total dissolved salt concentration of at least about 25 wt %).

Abstract: A fiber for protein adsorption has a water absorption percentage of 1 to 50%, and the fiber includes a polymer containing as repeat units an aromatic hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof, wherein part of aromatic rings contained in the repeat units are cross-linked through a structure represented by Formula (I). A column for protein adsorption uses the fibers. A in Formula (I) is selected from an alkyl aliphatic group, phenyl aromatic group and amino group.

Abstract: A method of decommissioning a nuclear reactor including a vessel defining an inner chamber and reactor internal components positioned within the inner chamber includes removing at least some of the internal components and repackaging at least some of the removed internal components in at least one of the first and second predefined sections of the vessel defining a cutting zone between the at least first and second predefined sections. The method further includes disposing the vessel in a container, and encapsulating the internal components in the vessel and encapsulating the vessel in the container to generate a package. A package including components from a decommissioned and dismantled nuclear reactor includes a vessel and a plurality of components encapsulated in the vessel.

Abstract: A method of preparing a superabsorbent polymer is provided. The method of preparing the superabsorbent polymer according to the present disclosure is able to provide the superabsorbent polymer having an improved absorption rate while having superior centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) and absorbency under pressure (AUP).

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a porous body by which a porous body including a plurality of layers different from each other in pore diameter may be manufactured by a fewer steps than before. The method includes: synthesizing a mixture of a non-interpenetrated metal-organic framework and an interpenetrated metal-organic framework; and obtaining a porous body including a stack of a non-interpenetrated metal-organic framework layer and an interpenetrated metal-organic framework layer from the mixture synthesized in the synthesizing, via a process of separating the non-interpenetrated metal-organic framework and the interpenetrated metal-organic framework from each other by utilizing density differences.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for regeneration of an adsorber (A) by contact with a stream (S1), wherein the stream (S1) is heated in advance by at least two heat exchange units (HEU1) and (HEU2). As outflow of the adsorber (A) a stream (S2) is obtained, which is passed through at least two heat exchange units (HEU1) and (HEU2) traversed by stream (S1), wherein the temperature of stream (S2) fed into each heat exchange unit is higher than the temperature of stream (S1) fed into the heat exchange units (HEU1) and (HEU2), in order to directly transfer heat from stream (S2) to stream (S1).

Abstract: A system (21) for the continuous treatment of products such as waste by thermal input, includes: —a product treatment chamber (210), —a device (211) for supplying heat by microwave generators (211a), arranged with respect to the chamber (210) such that the microwaves are contained in the chamber (210), —a moving floor transportation device (212) resting on the bottom of the chamber (210), capable of transporting a layer of products (D) from the entry thereof into the chamber until the exit thereof from the chamber, —a containment device (213) for the products and the vapors released by same, inside the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbent polymer particles by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution comprising less than 0.3% by weight of persulfate and at least 0.05% by weight of azo initiator and thermal aftertreatment of the formed polymer particles at less than 100° C. in a fluidized bed for 60 to 300 minutes.