Abstract: Volatile organic compounds and other volatile contaminants are removed from soils and granular solids by contacting the soil with steam at superatmospheric pressure and thereafter rapidly reducing the pressure by flashing off steam and vaporized contaminants leaving a cleaned soil product. The steam fraction containing the contaminant compounds is condensed and the contaminants can then be separated from the water for recovery or disposal.

Abstract: Volatile organic compounds including hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds and other hazardous and toxic chemicals are removed from air streams by contacting the air with a suspension of tiny aqueous droplets sized such that the droplets have an internal pressure significantly greater than atmospheric. The capacity of aqueous droplets to hold organic compounds and the rate of transfer of organic compounds from an air stream to the droplets increase rapidly as the droplet size decreases and the droplet internal pressure rises. After substantial transfer of volatile organic compounds from the air into the droplets is accomplished, the droplets are caused to grow and to coalesce and are separated from the air stream. The resulting liquid effluent is disposed of in a manner which prevents escape of contained contaminant compounds.

Abstract: Volatile organic compounds including hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds and other hazardous and toxic chemicals are removed from air streams by contacting the air with a suspension of tiny water droplets sized such that the droplets have an internal pressure significantly greater than atmospheric. The solubility of organic compounds in water droplets and their rate of transfer from an air stream to the droplets increases rapidly as the droplet internal pressure rises. After substantial transfer of volatile organic compounds from the air into the droplets is accomplished, the droplets are separated from the air stream and the resulting liquid effluent is disposed of in a manner which prevents escape of contained contaminant compounds.

Abstract: Apparatus, particularly adapted to the removal of odorous constituents from waste gas streams, is described. The apparatus comprises a treatment vessel or chamber preferably of cylindrical shape containing a coaxially-mounted exhaust duct which serves also as a columnar support for the chamber top or roof. An odorous gas is introduced tangentially into an upper portion of the reactor and is caused to move in a spiral flow around the central column and to exahust through an exit port into the central duct adjacent the chamber floor. An arcuate, spiral baffle is mounted on the chamber floor and extends continuously from the inner vessel wall to the central duct thereby directing gas flow into the exit port to reduce pressure drop through the treatment chamber. A finely divided spray of a reagent reactive toward the odorous compound is introduced into the chamber through nozzles ringing the chamber wall or mounted in the chamber roof.

Abstract: Apparatus, particularly adapted to the removal of odorous constituents from waste gas streams, is described. The apparatus comprises a treatment vessel or chamber preferably of cylindrical shape containing a coaxially-mounted exhaust duct which serves also as a columnar support for the chamber top or roof. As odorous gas is introduced tangentially into an upper portion of the reactor and is caused to move in a spiral flow around the central column. A finely-divided spray of a reagent reactive toward the odorous compound is introduced into the chamber through nozzles ringing the chamber wall or mounted in the chamber roof. Reagent droplets coalesce on the chamber floor and are removed from the vessel. The treated gas exhausts up the central duct through openings located near the bottom thereof.