Abstract: Methods for producing hydrocarbon oils from algal biomass are provided. The algal biomass is hydrogenolysed under reaction conditions sufficient to produce a partially deoxygenated lipid-based oil. The algal biomass may be whole algal biomass, residual algal biomass, or both. The algal biomass is hydrogenolysed by liquefying the algal biomass in the presence of a hydrogenolytic catalyst in a hydrogen atmosphere at an elevated temperature and pressure to produce an organic phase containing the partially deoxygenated lipid-based oil, an aqueous phase, and a solid phase. The aqueous and solid phases may be removed from the partially deoxygenated lipid-based oil. The partially deoxygenated lipid-based oil is then substantially deoxygenated using a hydroprocessing catalyst to produce the hydrocarbon oil.

Abstract: Packed bed reactors that have a series of alternating layers of packing. A first packing layer has open body packing elements randomly packed in a layer up to about 10 packing elements deep; and a second packing layer has porous support elements of hydrophobic foam. The porous support elements are randomly packed up to about 10 porous support elements deep. Further, the packing elements of the first layer include substantially cylindrical shapes and the porous support elements of the second layer include substantially rectilinear shapes. In some embodiments, the second layer supports microbial organisms in a biological reactor, and the first layer of open body packing provides fluid flow spaces to facilitate fluid flow and distribution, mass transfer, and to minimize channeling.

Abstract: A water purification system comprising a thermal hydrolysis catalytic reactor, an adsorbent media bed and a reverse osmosis unit is provided. The water purification system may provide potable water from non-potable water, such as non-potable water contaminated with chemical warfare agents, biological warfare agents, radioactive agents and/or Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs). Methods for providing potable water using the water purification system of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: A system for recovering and purifying water from a gas stream may include, a gas stream purification unit for purifying the gas stream, a water separation unit for separating water from the purified gas stream, and a water purification unit for purifying the water separated by the water separation unit. The gas stream purification unit may include comprise a soot reactor and a catalytic oxidation reactor or both. The water separation unit may include a condenser, a water extractor and a cyclic reverse osmosis system.

Abstract: A biological system for removing selenium from waste water comprises a first immobilized cell bioreactor (ICB) and a selenide removal module. The first ICB comprises a chamber having a substrate housed therein and situated to contact the waste water flowing therethrough during use. Anaerobic microorganisms are supported on the substrate, and comprise selenium respiring bacteria capable of reducing selenates and selenites to insoluble elemental selenium and/or sulfate reducing bacteria capable of reducing selenates and selenites to insoluble elemental selenium or to soluble selenides. The selenide removal module includes metallic or oxidized iron compounds capable of chemically reacting with selenide or sulfide compounds in the waste water to form iron selenide or iron sulfide precipitates.

Abstract: A biological system for removing selenium from waste water comprises a first immobilized cell bioreactor (ICB) and a selenide removal module. The first ICB comprises a chamber having a substrate housed therein and situated to contact the waste water flowing therethrough during use. Anaerobic microorganisms are supported on the substrate, and comprise selenium respiring bacteria capable of reducing selenates and selenites to insoluble elemental selenium and/or sulfate reducing bacteria capable of reducing selenates and selenites to insoluble elemental selenium or to soluble selenides. The selenide removal module includes metallic or oxidized iron compounds capable of chemically reacting with selenide or sulfide compounds in the waste water to form iron selenide or iron sulfide precipitates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering and purifying water from a gas stream, comprising a gas stream purification unit for purifying the gas stream, a water separation unit for separating water from the purified gas stream, and a water purification unit for purifying the water separated by the water separation unit. The gas stream purification unit may comprise at least one of a soot reactor and a catalytic oxidation reactor, the water separation unit may comprise at least one of a condenser and a water extractor, and the water purification unit may comprise a cyclic reverse osmosis system.

Abstract: A biologically active support is provided for removal of pollutants such as aliphatics, aromatics, heteroaromatics and halogenated derivatives from waste streams. The support contains a particulate adsorbent such as activated carbon bound by a polymer binder to a substrate such as a polymeric foam, and a bound pollutant-degrading microorganism. The adsorbent adsorbs a target pollutant, and the microorganism degrades the pollutant. Preferably, the microorganism is aerobic and the binder has a Tg of lower than or equal to about 25° C. The adsorbent adsorbs excess pollutant when the pollutant concentration increases and releases the pollutant when the concentration decreases. This maintains the pollutant concentration at a level which does not inhibit the microorganism. The biologically active support can be used in conventional biological waste treatment systems such as continuous stirred reactors, fixed-bed reactors and fluidized bed reactors.

Abstract: Tis invention relates to a process for reducing the concentration of an organic pollutant such as phenol in an aqueous stream which comprises passing the stream through a bioreacter containing a plurality of biologically active particles comprising a hydrophobic polyurethane substrate having an effective amount of one or more aerobic microorganism capable of metabolizing at least one of said organic materials on; in or on and in said substrate in the absence or in the substantial absence of a carbon absorbent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for remediating vaporous pollutants which comprises passing a vaporous stream containing one or more of pollutants through a bioreactor, the bioreactor comprising a plurality of biologically active bodies, the biologically active body comprising a macroporous substrate and one or more of microorganisms capable of remediating one or more of said pollutants, wherein the substrate is fabricated from a decomposition-resistant material. The present invention further provides an apparatus for this process.

Abstract: A method for converting hydrazine and/or substituted hydrazines, particularly unsymmetric dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH), to ammonia or ammonia and the corresponding amines by hydrogenation over a supported Group VIII metal catalyst. Preferably, the hydrazines are dissolved in a suitable solvent and then hydrogenated at a temperature of about 0.degree. to 250.degree. C., followed by separation of the commercially valuable ammonia and amines. Alternatively, a gas phase reaction may be used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant plasmid adapted for transformation of a host microorganism, the plasmid comprising a plasmid vector into which a polydeoxyribonucleotide segment that codes for ammonia monooxygenase and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase has been inserted, wherein the resulting transformant exhibits at least 50% of the overall level of ammonia monooxygenase and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase activity of the donor. Also provided are an isolated polydeoxyribonucleotide segment that encodes ammonia monooxygenase and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase, and a transformant containing the ammonia monooxygenase and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase gene segments.

Abstract: A method for converting hydrazine and/or substituted hydrazines, particularly unsymmetric dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH), to ammonia or ammonia and the corresponding amines by hydrogenation over a supported Group VIII metal catalyst. Preferably, the hydrazines are dissolved in a suitable solvent and then hydrogenated at a temperature of about 0.degree. to 250.degree. C., followed by separation of the commercially valuable ammonia and amines. Alternatively, a gas phase reaction may be used.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for remediating vaporous pollutants which comprises passing a vaporous stream containing one or more of pollutants through a bioreactor, the bioreactor comprising a plurality of biologically active bodies, the biologically active body comprising a macroporous substrate and one or more of microorganisms capable of remediating one or more of said pollutants, wherein the substrate is fabricated from a decomposition-resistant material. The present invention further provides an apparatus for this process.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved biological sludge dewatering process. The process comprises the steps of: (a) heating biological sludge to a temperature of about 90.degree. to about 150.degree. C. which corresponds to a pressure of about 0 to about 55 psig and retaining the biological sludge at that temperature for less than about 15 minutes; (b) centrifuging the heated biological sludge to isolate the solids of the heated biological sludge from the liquid of the heated biological sludge; (c) chemically conditioning the isolated solids; and (d) dewatering the conditioned solids to produce a high solids biological sludge. The present process is used for dewatering any biological sludge to produce a high solids cake. The resulting high solids cake may be used as landfill, incinerated, or used as fertilizer by spreading on land and plowing said fertilizer into the soil.