Abstract: A method for substantially reducing cyanide and formate concentrations in gasification wastewater streams comprising first removing suspended solids from the wastewater stream, then adding sufficient hydrogen peroxide to completely oxidize contained cyanide ions and formate ions to form a feed solution, and then irradiating the resultant solution with sufficient UV light so as to substantially reduce said contained cyanide ions and formate ions.

Abstract: A method for substantially reducing cyanide and formate concentrations in gasification wastewater streams comprising first removing suspended solids from the wastewater stream, then adding sufficient hydrogen peroxide to completely oxidize contained cyanide ions and formate ions to form a feed solution, and then irradiating the resultant solution with sufficient UV light so as to substantially reduce said contained cyanide ions and formate ions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for oil gasification. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for oil gasification while reducing wastewater and costly purification systems. The method comprises providing feedstock and water to an oil gasification system; receiving flash gas from the oil gasification system at a flash gas condensing section; extracting vapor generated by the flash gas condensing section; returning water produced by the extracting step to the flash gas condensing section; outputting dry flash gas produced by the extracting step; receiving spent wash water at a syngas cooling section from a syngas washing section; and outputting washed syngas from the syngas washing section.

Abstract: A corrosion sensor for sensing corrosion in a pipeline. The sensor includes a housing and a device for joining the housing to a wall of an enclosure that receives a fluid. The sensor also includes a rupture member which extends across a portion of the housing to define a sealed chamber in the housing. The rupture member, upon rupture, provides an opening to the sealed chamber. The rupture member is formed of a material and thickness such that the rupture member will fail from corrosion before the enclosure wall will fail from corrosion. The rupture member is arranged such that fluid received in the enclosure can contact the rupture member. The sensor also includes a sensory device which is connected to the housing at the sealed chamber to signal a rupture condition of the rupture member when the sealed chamber opens.

Abstract: A corrosion sensor (20) for sensing corrosion includes a housing (28) and a device (36) for jointing the housing (28) to a wall of a pipeline (10) that receives a fluid (24). The sensor (20) also includes a rupture member (44) which extends across a portion of the housing (28) to define a seal chamber (48) in the housing (28). The rupture member (44), upon rupture, provides an opening to the sealed chamber (48). The rupture member (44) is formed of a material and thickness such that the rupture member (44) will fail from corrosion before the enclosure wall will fail from corrosion. The sensor also includes a sensory device (100) which is connected to the housing (28) at the sealed chamber (48) to signal a rupture condition.

Abstract: A corrosion sensor for sensing corrosion in a pipeline. The sensor includes a housing and a device for joining the housing to a wall of an enclosure that receives a fluid. The sensor also includes a rupture member which extends across a portion of the housing to define a sealed chamber in the housing. The rupture member, upon rupture, provides an opening to the sealed chamber. The rupture member is formed of a material and thickness such that the rupture member will fail from corrosion before the enclosure wall will fail from corrosion. The rupture member is arranged such that fluid received in the enclosure can contact the rupture member. The sensor also includes a sensory device which is connected to the housing at the sealed chamber to signal a rupture condition of the rupture member when the sealed chamber opens.

Abstract: A method to remove heavy metals concentrations in water down to very low levels is described. The method calls for the addition of a soluble sulfide to the water. This is followed adding a soluble iron reagent such as ferrous sulfate or ferrous chloride. The water is aerated. As an alternative to aeration, the pH of the water can be increased. Finally, the solids generated from the above steps are separated from the water. This method has been shown to remove heavy metals, particularly copper and zinc, from actual industrial wastewater to very low concentrations, i.e., below about 100 ppb. Furthermore, the treated water is free of sulfide. The byproduct sludge comprises iron sulfide, iron oxides, iron hydroxides, and the heavy metal sulfides.

Abstract: A process for minimizing evaporator scaling during the recovery of liquids and solids from the aqueous effluent discharged during a partial oxidation gasification, wherein the aqueous effluent contains ammonium chloride (NH.sub.4 Cl). The aqueous effluent is evaporated to produce a distillate water and a brine having an NH.sub.4 Cl concentration of about 10 to 60 weight percent. The brine can be further concentrated and ammonium chloride crystals are recovered. The distillate water is recycled to the gasification reaction. No effluent discharges to the environment.

Abstract: Fluoride-containing scale can be removed from metal surfaces such as titanium, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, and stainless steel by contacting the metal surfaces with an aqueous salt solution of an inorganic acid, including its hydrates. The cationic portion of the salt can be aluminum, iron and mixtures thereof. The anionic portion of the salt can be a chloride, a nitrate, a sulfate, and mixtures thereof. The contracting occurs in the absence of the addition of an acid, such as hydrochloric, nitric, or sulfuric acid. The presence of the aqueous salt solution with the dissolved fluoride scale does not accelerate or increase the normal rate of metal corrosion that can occur in the absence of the aqueous salt solution or any acidic cleaning agent.

Abstract: A corrosion sensor for sensing corrosion in a pipeline. The sensor includes a housing and a device for joining the housing to a wall of an enclosure that receives a fluid. The sensor also includes a rupture member which extends across a portion of the housing to define a sealed chamber in the housing. The rupture member, upon rupture, provides an opening to the sealed chamber. The rupture member is formed of a material and thickness such that the rupture member will fail from corrosion before the enclosure wall will fail from corrosion. The rupture member is arranged such that fluid received in the enclosure can contact the rupture member. The sensor also includes a sensory device which is connected to the housing at the sealed chamber to signal a rupture condition of the rupture member when the sealed chamber opens.

Abstract: An integrated liquefaction and gasification process converts bulk particulate halogen-containing waste plastic materials with minimal particle size reduction into a synthesis gas and a non-leachable, vitreous environmentally nontoxic slag. The process involves melting and cracking bulk particulate halogen-containing waste plastic material to form a lower boiling point, lower molecular weight halogen-containing oil composition which then undergoes partial oxidation in a quench gasifier to produce a synthesis gas. Any hazardous gases, liquids or solids that are produced can be purified into commercially valuable byproducts or recycled to the process, which does not release hazardous materials to the environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for minimizing hydrogen halide corrosion in quench gasifier during the non-catalytic partial oxidation reaction of a halogen-containing hydrocarbonaceous feed, to produce a hydrogen halide-containing synthesis gas, finely divided particulate solids, and a nontoxic slag. The hydrogen halide-containing synthesis gas is contacted with water in the quench zone of the gasifier. The quench water contains a neutralizing agent, in excess of the amount necessary to neutralize hydrogen halide acids present therein, to thereby form halide salts. The quench water containing the halide salts is purified to recover the halide salts. The salt-free water is essentially environmentally non-toxic and can either be recycled to the process or discarded in conformity with environmental regulations.

Abstract: A method has been discovered for stripping aromatic hydrocarbon contaminants from wastewater and retaining the aromatic hydrocarbons on activated carbon. The wastewater is contacted countercurrently with stripping gas. The stripping gas is passed over a bed of activated carbon to regenerate the stripping gas. The entire volume of stripping gas is recycled to the stripping vessel. There is no purge of stripping gas or aromatic hydrocarbons to the atmosphere. The removed aromatic hydrocarbons are retained by the activated carbon and periodically recovered. An activated carbon particularly adapted for retaining and recovering aromatic hydrocarbons has been found.

Abstract: A method has been discovered for recovering hydrocarbon contaminants from wastewater. The wastewater is contacted countercurrently with stripping gas. The stripping gas is passed over a bed of activated carbon to remove hydrocarbon contaminants. Periodically, the activated carbon bed is regenerated with steam. Steam condensate and hydrocarbon contaminants are passed to a petroleum desalter. Hydrocarbon contaminants are transferred to the petroleum.

Abstract: Deposition of ash in the outlet conduit of a synthesis gas quench chamber is reduced or eliminated by providing a wetted-wall at the mouth and throat of the outlet conduit.

Abstract: A hydrogen blistering corrosivity meter includes a cavity filled with a monitoring liquid. A liquid to be tested is separated from the monitoring liquid by a steel membrane. A device, which allows the volume of the measuring liquid to be monitored, is connected to the cavity. Dissolved hydrogen atoms, if any, formed by the test liquid diffuse through the steel membrane and enter the cavity, forming molecular hydrogen and causing an increase in volume in the measuring liquid which corresponds to the rate of corrosion activity.