Abstract: A process for atomically converting gaseous waste materials into nonhazardous forms and a medium BTU gas is described. The reactor includes molten layers of iron and reactive slag in an upwardly flowing reactor operated under oxygen lean conditions.

Abstract: A vessel arrangement and process for contacting a fluid reactant with a particulate catalyst in a plurality of flow channels and discharging fluid and particles from the flow channels. The particles are discharged axially from the bottom of the flow channels into an unconfined bed of particles. Fluid is discharged in a transverse direction through the sides of the flow channels and across screen openings located a short distance above the channel outlets. A plurality of chambers, additional particulate material or baffles regulate fluid flow through sections of the screens and prevent excessive fluid velocity in any section from holding up particle flow through the flow channels. The reactor arrangement and process of this invention is a particularly useful for arrangements that may be used to operate a reactor under isothermal or other controlled temperature conditions where a heat transfer fluid surrounds a plurality of tubular conduits or multiple flow channels that confine the particles and fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to water-soluble corrosion inhibiting compositions and the method of making the same. Specifically, this invention relates to inhibiting the corrosion of metals, particularly those employed in the production, processing, and transportation of petrochemical products. These water-soluble corrosion inhibiting compositions are created by neutralizing a C.sub.22 tricarboxylic acid with aminoethylethanolamine and a member selected from the group consisting of imidazoline, amidoamine, and combinations thereof. The resulting compositions exhibit excellent film persistency characteristics even when utilized in small amounts.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed at an apparatus for removing VOC's from an exhaust gas stream comprised of the following: a heatable adsorber located in the exhaust stream capable of desorption; and, an oxidizer structure having a lightoff temperature and located in the exhaust stream downstream from the adsorber structure. One particular embodiment of the apparatus comprises the following two elements: (1) a resistively heatable adsorber possessing an activated carbon phase located in the exhaust stream and having a desorption temperature; and, (2) an electrically heatable catalyst structure having a lightoff temperature and located in the exhaust stream downstream from the adsorber structure.The method enabled as a result of the development of the aforementioned apparatus, i.e.

Abstract: A coal gasifier has an inner wall surface made by metal of an inlet part of a heat recovery vessel, the inlet part having a inner cooling mechanism, and gas for peeling deposits on the inner wall surface is injected from plural gas injection holes, the injected gas forming a slewing flow and further being intermittently increased. And at least one cooling medium injection nozzle is provided at a side wall in the upper part of a gasification chamber.

Abstract: Two or more (preferably three) simple single-chamber crucibles contain molten metal and are successively fed hydrocarbon feed to produce hydrogen, then fed oxygen-containing gas to produce CO, then fed hydrocarbon again, etc. Their operation is controlled by a swing valving sequence which connects the crucibles to a hydrogen header when they are producing hydrogen and to a CO header when they are producing CO, and possibly to a vent (or to the CO header) during the transition between H.sub.2 production and CO production (see FIG. 2). Each crucible (FIGS. 3, 4) preferably is in a pressure-tight steel housing, uses segmented refractories for simplicity in construction and reduction of thermal expansion effects and has an inlet lance (sparging tube) for feeding hydrocarbon and an outlet which emits product gases. Both inlet and outlet are preferably located in the head of each crucible. Swing valves are preferably located downstream of product heat-exchangers for lower temperature operation.

Abstract: A pyrolysis gasifier includes a first auger (26) which moves carbon from a carbon collection tank (24) through an air lock valve (30) to a carbon holding tank (28). The gasifier includes an inner cylindrical sleeve (80) which is configured such that there is a small air gap between it and an interior wall of the gasifier (16). The air lock valve (30) includes an inlet member (96) which connects the housing to a connecting tube from the first auger (26). A plate (100) within the housing is mounted such that in a closed position, the plate is sealingly positioned against a lower edge of the inlet member (96), while in an open position, the plate is away from the inlet member, permitting carbon to move into the carbon holding tank. A fuel spreader apparatus 53 is positioned at the top portion of the gasifier. It includes a stirring rod (44) and two opposed fuel paddle assemblies (67, 69) at the lower end thereof to spread the fuel over the cross-sectional area of the gasifier.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying bacterial pathogens including at least one pair of electrodes secured in a housing configured to constrain flow of water through the region between the electrodes. In one construction, the electrodes are supported in a tube with sides of each member of an electrode pair conforming to the inner surface of the tube and electrode surfaces form a slotted space through which the water passes. In another constrcuction, one electrode is a tube and the other electrode is a rod supported concentrically inside the tube. The treated fluid passes axially through the space between the electrodes. A conductivity meter and flow meter applies a conductivity signal and a flow rate signal to maintain the field in a value that is not too excessive so as to prevent undesired reactions.

Abstract: The invention discloses a composition and method for the enhancement of polyguanide based water sanitizing systems and for conversion of such systems to alternative water sanitizing systems if desired. The method includes the addition of an enhancing or conversion agent selected from the group consisting of a halogen salt, a Bromohydantoin and a chlorobromohydantoin in an amount to provide a concentration of approximately from 1 to 50 parts per million. Sodium borate and/or polyphosphate may also be added to the system to improve the effectiveness of the enhancing agent. The system may be converted to an alternative water sanitizing system by the addition of a sanitizing agent selected from the group consisting of chlorine, copper, silver, quaternary ammonium compounds, and polyquaternary ammonium compounds, which may be released into the water at a rate of 0.01 to 1 ounces per hour per 10,000 gallons of water for a period until conversion is complete.

Abstract: In a process for cleaning a glass window of a motor vehicle with a wiper apparatus having a wiper, including applying a washer fluid including a cleaning agent and water to the glass window from a container located in the motor vehicle, and moving the wiper over the glass window with the wiper apparatus to at least partially clean the glass window with the washer fluid, the improvement includes spraying or blowing a polishing composition containing a metal oxide powder on the glass window, advantageously from a container located in the motor vehicle, and cleaning the glass window with the polishing composition containing the metal oxide powder by action of the wiper together with the polishing composition, so that, when present on the glass window, a hydrophobic dirt layer formed on the glass window is removed. The metal oxide powder advantageously has a particle size from 10 nm to 1 micrometer and is cerium oxide.

Abstract: A sterilization process is disclosed which utilizes an oscillating magnetic field to control the state of free radicals in a sterilizing media and which synergetically induces a molecular structural change in the microorganism, thereby increasing the vulnerability of the microorganism to the sterilizing media. This process significantly enhances the efficiency of the sterilizing media and reduces the exposure time necessary for a lethal dose to harmful microorganisms. It is also disclosed that this process can be used directly on living human tissue or fragile medical devices or implants with no detrimental effects to the patient. It is also disclosed that this process can be used on the hands of health care or food service personnel to reduce the likelihood of nosocomial infection.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses include a liquid medium containing hydrogen peroxide and a defined ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer. An advantageously reduced amount of foaming occurs when the hydrogen peroxide is destroyed, particularly by the action of catalase.

Abstract: A waste water treatment system includes a preliminary first stage separator for separating an aqueous phase from other materials. A pressure vessel sedimentation follows for removing most of the remaining solids from the waste material. The liquid and a minor fraction of the solids then pass on to an evaporation vessel where the water vapor is removed, compressed and passed through a condenser inside the evaporator vessel to recycle heat in the evaporator. The condenser is a stacked plate heat exchanger of unique design with the plates separated by steam gaskets and water gaskets to provide a very high heat transfer surface area to volume ratio. The condensate from the condenser passes through a second heat exchanger that heats the liquid flowing into the evaporator. The effluent water is purified by the evaporation. The residual solids may be heat treated to evaporate residual moisture and to sterilize the solids using a steam-jacketed auger. The resultant solids may be used as fertilizer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for producing oxides of metals and of metal alloys. The metal or alloy is placed in an oxygen atmosphere in a combustion chamber and ignited. Products of the combustion include one or more oxides of the metal or alloy in powdered form. In one embodiment of the invention a feeder is provided whereby material to be oxidized by combustion can be advanced into a combustion chamber continuously. A product remover receives the powder product of the combustion.

Abstract: A fuel gas reformer assemblage for use in a fuel cell power plant is formed from a composite plate assembly which includes spaced-apart divider plates with interposed columns of individual gas passages. The reformer assemblage is constructed from a series of repeating sub-assemblies, each of which includes a core of separate regenerator/heat exchanger gas passages. The core in each sub-assembly is sandwiched between a pair of reformer gas passage skins, which complete the sub-assembly. Adjacent reformer gas/regenerator/reformer gas passage sub-assemblies in the composite plate assembly are separated from each other by burner gas passages. The regenerator/heat exchanger gas passages and the reformer gas passages in each sub-assembly are connected by gas flow return manifolds which form a part of each sub-assembly.

Abstract: A plurality of oligonucleotides are synthesized at a plurality of locations on a substrate using a plurality of dispensing bars. Each of the plurality of dispensing bars has a respective plurality of dispensing heads arranged along a respective axis. Each of the plurality of dispensing bars is operative to selectively deposit a volume of a respective one of a plurality of nucleotide bases in any of a row of locations. A positioning mechanism positions the substrate with respect to the plurality of dispensing bars. A controller controls the plurality of dispensing bars and the positioning mechanism so that, at each of the plurality of locations, a respective sequence of nucleotide bases is deposited to form a respective oligonucleotide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for manufacturing synthesis gas.The reactor according to the invention comprises within a single housing:A non catalytic combustion chamber (1) comprising at least one device (2) for injecting a fuel and at least one device (3) for injecting an oxidizer so as to achieve a partial combustion in said chamber, andat least one catalytic bed (4) which the gases coming from combustion chamber (1) run into, and also comprising at least one device (6) for injecting an additional oxidizer.The reactor and the process according to the invention may be applied to any chemical manufacturing utilizing synthesis gas, such as the manufacturing of ammonia, urea, methanol, higher hydrocarbons, etc.

Abstract: A contact structure, useful as a distillation structure, has a rigid frame made of two substantially vertical duplicate grids spaced apart and held rigid by a plurality of substantially horizontal rigid members and a plurality of substantially horizontal wire mesh tubes mounted to the grids to form a plurality of fluid pathways among the tubes. For use as a catalytic distillation structure, which serves as both the distillation structure and the catalyst, at least a portion of the wire mesh tubes contain a particulate catalytic material. The catalyst within the tubes provides a reaction zone where catalytic reactions may occur and the wire mesh provides mass transfer surfaces to effect a fractional distillation. The spacing elements provide for a variation of the catalyst density and loading and structural integrity.

Abstract: A process for recovering phthalic anhydride as a liquid from a vapor phase oxidation product which comprises mixing the vapor phase oxidation product having a temperature of about 130.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for gasifying liquid and/or fine-grain solid gasification substances and/or for reforming a gas, using a gasification agent, in a reaction (1). In the process the process heat is supplied by heat carrier particles which are heated within a substantially closed circuit in a heater (5) by combustion gases which are produced in a combustion chamber (3), and passed through the reactor (1) in counter-flow relationship with the gasification substance or the gas to be reformed and the gasification agent, and then returned to the heater (5) for renewed heating. In accordance with the invention the particles and the combustion gas form a fluidized bed above at least one grid (34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e) arranged in the heater (5).