Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically and dynamically determining, at the time that items are being returned from customers, how to handle the returns of the items. A variety of factors may be considered to determine appropriate item return handling for an item, including by assessing current conditions at the time of the item return. In addition, the dynamic item return handling may include selecting one of a variety of potential return locations for each item being returned and one of a variety of types of return routing for the return. After the item return handling is dynamically determined, information may be provided to the customer to facilitate the item return in the determined manner. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method of enhancing plant growth comprises the step of introducing an alkane into a location adjacent to a plant. The alkane can be introduced intermittently, and can be combined with another gas and/or nutrients. The alkane preferably comprises a butane substrate. The butane substrate can stimulate the growth of butane-utilizing bacteria, such as Aeromonas caviae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Micrococcus varians, Aureobacterium esteroaromaticum, Aureobacterium barkeri, Rhodococcus fascians, Nocardia paradoxus, Comamonas acidovorans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The alkane can increase the amount of heterotrophic bacteria in the location adjacent to the plant, and thereby accelerate a heterotrophic nitrification process. The butane substrate can also stimulate the growth of butane-utilizing fungi. The method can also enhance the growth protists and/or prokaryotes. A system for enhancing plant growth in accordance with the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Bioventing methods create a bacterial treatment zone at a contaminated site by supplying a hydrocarbon food source to the treatment zone, and recirculating the hydrocarbon to the treatment zone. The inventing methods may inject, circulate, extract and reinject hydrocarbons such as butane or other alkanes to the subsurface at a contaminated site to create a bacterial treatment zone. Contaminated vapors extracted from the soil and/or groundwater may be reintroduced into the site. Hydrocarbons that are not consumed by the bacteria in the treatment zone may be extracted and recovered for recirculation into the treatment zone.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for remediating sulfur-containing pollutants with a hydrocarbon that is used to stimulate the growth of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. The hydrocarbon is preferably an alkane such as butane. The sulfur-containing pollutant may comprise sulfate, sulfite, sulfide, disulfides, mercaptans, alkanesulfonates, dialkyl sulfides, thiosulfate, thiofurans, thiocyanates, isothiocyanates, thioureas, thiols, thiophenols, thioethers, thiophene, tetrathionate, dithionite, dialkyl disulfides, sulfones, sulfoxides, sulfolanes, sulfonic acid, dimethylsulfoniopropionate, sulfonic esters, hydrogen sulfide, sulfate esters, sulfur dioxide and any other sour gases, elemental sulfur and any other sulfur-containing material considered to be a contaminant or pollutant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for treating agricultural waste with an alkane substrate to stimulate bacterial digestion. The alkane treatment may also reduce odor of the agricultural waste material. The agricultural waste may include animal waste, vegetable material, leaf material, plant material, composting material or waste paper products. The alkane preferably includes butane, propane, methane and/or ethane, with butane being particularly preferred. Methods and apparatus are also provided for recovering plant growth-enhancing material from the treated agricultural waste and for treating soil with alkane-utilizing bacteria and/or an alkane substrate in combination with a carrier material to increase seed, bulb, plant and crop growth.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for treating wastewater with alkanes such as butane. An oxygen-containing gas may also be introduced into the wastewater. Butane, because of its relatively high solubility, rapidly dissolves in the wastewater, thereby significantly increasing the heterogeneous microbial community and heterotrophic microbial population. This enhanced microbial population may rapidly absorb and mineralize materials in the wastestream. After an initial growth phase, the organic matter available in the wastewater effluent may be rapidly decreased, thereby reducing the amount of BOD, TDS, sludge and other pollutants. In addition, the use of butane reduces noxious odors associated with municipal wastewater sludges and other types of wastewater.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for remediating metal contaminants using hydrocarbons which stimulate the growth of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. The metal contaminants may include heavy metals such as arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, iron, manganese, magnesium, radium, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and zinc. The hydrocarbon may include alkanes, alkenes, Aalkynes, poly(alkene)s, poly(alkyne)s, aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbon polymers and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Butane is a particularly suitable hydrocarbon which stimulates the growth of butane-utilizing bacteria. Remediation may occur in-situ or ex-situ, and may occur under aerobic, anaerobic or dual aerobic/anaerobic conditions. Examples of applications include the remediation of heavy metals, the remediation of arsenic impacted surface water, groundwater and/or soil, the remediation of acid mine drainage, and the treatment of spent metal plating solutions.

Abstract: A method of enhancing aquatic organism growth is provided. The method comprises the step of introducing an alkane into water containing the organism. The alkane can be introduced intermittently, either alone or with another gas such as oxygen. Nutrients can be introduced with the alkane or separately. The alkane can comprise a butane substrate and can include at least one of n-butane and iso-butane. The organism can be selected from the group of: fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and aquatic plants. Organisms grown by the method and systems for practicing the method are also included.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for recovering metals from metal-containing support materials such as mineral ores. In one embodiment, the metal may be separated from crushed support material or ore in a bioleaching lagoon by the action of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria under anaerobic conditions. The bioleached material is then pumped into a precipitation lagoon where hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria oxidize the metals under aerobic conditions. In another embodiment, metals may be directly biooxidized from a heap of the metal-containing support material having a hydrocarbon/oxygen injection system embedded therein. A water sprinkler system may be used to wet the heap while the hydrocarbon/oxygen injection system stimulates the growth of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. The resulting effluent solution may be pumped or gravity fed to an aerobic precipitation lagoon where aerobic hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria are used to precipitate or otherwise deposit the metals onto a deposition material.

Abstract: Septic systems are treated with alkane-utilizing bacteria. Alkanes such as butane are injected into septic system wastewater in order to enhance growth of alkane-utilizing bacteria which degrade wastes. Aerobic processes may be achieved by injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the septic system. Alternatively, anaerobic processes may be used. The alkane and oxygen-containing gas may be injected at any suitable stage of the septic system, such as injection into a septic tank, drainfield and/or grease or oil interceptor tank.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for treating wastewater with alkanes such as butane. An oxygen-containing gas may also be introduced into the wastewater. Butane, because of its relatively high solubility, rapidly dissolves in the wastewater, thereby significantly increasing the heterogeneous microbial community and heterotrophic microbial population. This enhanced microbial population may rapidly absorb and mineralize materials in the wastestream. After an initial growth phase, the organic matter available in the wastewater effluent may be rapidly decreased, thereby reducing the amount of BOD, TDS, sludge and other pollutants. In addition, the use of butane reduces noxious odors associated with municipal wastewater sludges and other types of wastewater.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for treating wastewater with alkanes such as butane. An oxygen-containing gas may also be introduced into the wastewater. Butane, because of its relatively high solubility, rapidly dissolves in the wastewater, thereby significantly increasing the heterogeneous microbial community and heterotrophic microbial population. This enhanced microbial population may rapidly absorb and mineralize materials in the wastestream. After an initial growth phase, the organic matter available in the wastewater effluent may be rapidly decreased, thereby reducing the amount of BOD, TDS, sludge and other pollutants. In addition, the use of butane reduces noxious odors associated with municipal wastewater sludges and other types of wastewater.

Abstract: Septic systems are treated with alkane-utilizing bacteria. Alkanes such as butane are injected into septic system wastewater in order to enhance growth of alkane-utilizing bacteria which degrade wastes. Aerobic processes may be achieved by injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the septic system. Alternatively, anaerobic processes may be used. The alkane and oxygen-containing gas may be injected at any suitable stage of the septic system, such as injection into a septic tank, drainfield and/or grease or oil interceptor tank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for remediating odorous media using an alkane substrate. The alkane substrate, such as butane, is introduced to the odorous medium in order to reduce or eliminate odors. The alkanes may remediate water, wastewater, soil, gas, solid waste, fish waste, algae and algal material.

Abstract: A method of enhancing aquatic organism growth is provided. The method comprises the step of introducing an alkane into water containing the organism. The alkane can be introduced intermittently, either alone or with another gas such as oxygen. Nutrients can be introduced with the alkane or separately. The alkane can comprise a butane substrate and can include at least one of n-butane and iso-butane. The organism can be selected from the group of: fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and aquatic plants. Organisms grown by the method and systems for practicing the method are also included.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for treating wastewater with alkanes such as butane. An oxygen-containing gas may also be introduced into the wastewater. Butane, because of its relatively high solubility, rapidly dissolves in the wastewater, thereby significantly increasing the heterogeneous microbial community and heterotrophic microbial population. This enhanced microbial population may rapidly absorb and mineralize materials in the wastestream. After an initial growth phase, the organic matter available in the wastewater effluent may be rapidly decreased, thereby reducing the amount of BOD, TDS, sludge and other pollutants. In addition, the use of butane reduces noxious odors associated with municipal wastewater sludges and other types of wastewater.

Abstract: Microbiologically accelerated humus is produced by introducing an alkane and, optionally, an oxygen-containing gas into organic matter such as compost material, plant material or cellulosic material. The microbiologically accelerated humus can be mixed with a geologic mineral fraction such as sand, silt, clay and gravel to produce an agricultural-grade or engineered topsoil. The alkane can be introduced continuously or intermittently, and can comprise a butane substrate. Systems for producing microbiologically accelerated humus and topsoil are also included.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for remediating metal contaminants using hydrocarbons which stimulate the growth of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. The metal contaminants may include heavy metals such as arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, iron, manganese, magnesium, radium, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and zinc. The hydrocarbon may include alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, poly(alkene)s, poly(alkyne)s, aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbon polymers and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Butane is a particularly suitable hydrocarbon which stimulates the growth of butane-utilizing bacteria. Remediation may occur in-situ or ex-situ, and may occur under aerobic, anaerobic or dual aerobic/anaerobic conditions. Examples of applications include the remediation of heavy metals, the remediation of arsenic impacted surface water, groundwater and/or soil, the remediation of acid mine drainage, and the treatment of spent metal plating solutions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for remediating sulfur-containing pollutants with a hydrocarbon that is used to stimulate the growth of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. The hydrocarbon is preferably an alkane such as butane. The sulfur-containing pollutant may comprise sulfate, sulfite, sulfide, disulfides, mercaptans, alkanesulfonates, dialkyl sulfides, thiosulfate, thiofurans, thiocyanates, isothiocyanates, thioureas, thiols, thiophenols, thioethers, thiophene, tetrathionate, dithionite, dialkyl disulfides, sulfones, sulfoxides, sulfolanes, sulfonic acid, dimethylsulfoniopropionate, sulfonic esters, hydrogen sulfide, sulfate esters, sulfur dioxide and any other sour gases, elemental sulfur and any other sulfur-containing material considered to be a contaminant or pollutant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for recovering metals from metal-containing support materials such as mineral ores. In one embodiment, the metal may be separated from crushed support material or ore in a bioleaching lagoon by the action of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria under anaerobic conditions. The bioleached material is then pumped into a precipitation lagoon where hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria oxidize the metals under aerobic conditions. In another embodiment, metals may be directly biooxidized from a heap of the metal-containing support material having a hydrocarbon/oxygen injection system embedded therein. A water sprinkler system may be used to wet the heap while the hydrocarbon/oxygen injection system stimulates the growth of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. The resulting effluent solution may be pumped or gravity fed to an aerobic precipitation lagoon where aerobic hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria are used to precipitate or otherwise deposit the metals onto a deposition material.