Abstract: A process (1, 2) for processing feedstock containing cotton fibres and PET fibres, the process (1, 2) comprises: i. heating a suspension of feedstock containing cotton fibres and PET fibres in water at a temperature above 180° C. to produce a mixture comprising char; ii. removing the water from the mixture comprising char; iii. adding a base to the mixture comprising char to produce a terephthalate salt in a liquid phase; iv. removing the char from the liquid phase to produce dried char; v. acidifying the liquid phase to produce terephthalic acid.

Abstract: An iron salt of an organic acid, selected from formic acid, carboxylic acids having (3) or more carbon atoms and sulphonic acids, is used to reduce the carbon content of the fly ash, when coal is combusted.

Abstract: A method for separating hydrocarbon content from a hydrocarbon contaminated matrix. The method includes controlling water content of a feed material having the hydrocarbon contaminated matrix; continuously conveying the feed material into a treatment cavity; exposing the feed material in a treatment area of the treatment cavity to microwave radiation arranged to cause rapid heating of at least a portion of the water content to form steam, wherein the rapid steam formation results in thermal desorption of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon content from the matrix; and continuously removing the treated matrix from the treatment cavity.

Abstract: An iron salt of an organic acid, selected from formic acid, carboxylic acids having (3) or more carbon atoms and sulphonic acids, is used to reduce the carbon content of the fly ash, when coal is combusted.

Abstract: A method for separating a hydrocarbon content from a hydrocarbon contaminated matrix is disclosed. The method comprises controlling a water content of a feed material comprising the hydrocarbon contaminated matrix; continuously conveying the feed material into a treatment cavity (3), exposing the feed material in a treatment area (8) of the treatment cavity to microwave radiation arranged to cause rapid heating of at least a portion of the water content to form steam, wherein the rapid steam formation results in thermal desorption of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon content from the matrix; and continuously removing the treated matrix from the treatment cavity.