Abstract: The present invention relates to novel ex situ processes for simple and economical destruction of air, water, and soil contaminants using naturally occurring microorganisms that are widely available in the environment. The processes utilize novel closed-loop recycle schemes which dramatically improve the efficiency, economics, and practicability of destruction of a wide variety of contaminants, especially VOCs and chloroethylenes, and particularly trichloroethylene (TCE). The processes may be applied on a batch or continuous basis to contaminated soil and groundwater, to contaminated effluents from a wide variety industrial operations, or to wherever such amenable contaminants are present. Certain contaminants, particularly chloroethylenes, are known to be difficult to biodegrade aerobically to non-toxic products without the employment of a primary substrate to induce cometabolic degradation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel ex situ processes for simple and economical destruction of air, water, and soil contaminants using naturally occurring microorganisms that are widely available in the environment. The processes utilize novel closed-loop recycle schemes which dramatically improve the efficiency, economics, and practicability of destruction of a wide variety of contaminants, especially VOCs and chloroethylenes, and particularly trichloroethylene (TCE). The processes may be applied on a batch or continuous basis to contaminated soil and groundwater, to contaminated effluents from a wide variety industrial operations, or to wherever such amenable contaminants are present. Certain contaminants, particularly chloroethylenes, are known to be difficult to biodegrade aerobically to non-toxic products without the employment of a primary substrate to induce cometabolic degradation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel ex situ processes for simple and economical destruction of air, water, and soil contaminants using naturally occurring microorganisms that are widely available in the environment. The processes utilize novel closed-loop recycle schemes which dramatically improve the efficiency, economics, and practicability of destruction of a wide variety of contaminants, especially VOCs and chloroethylenes, and particularly trichloroethylene (TCE). The processes may be applied on a batch or continuous basis to contaminated soil and groundwater, to contaminated effluents from a wide variety industrial operations, or to wherever such amenable contaminants are present. Certain contaminants, particularly chloroethylenes, are known to be difficult to biodegrade aerobically to non-toxic products without the employment of a primary substrate to induce cometabolic degradation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to techniques for successful storage, handling, shipment, and utilization of an inexpensive, poor-quality form of by-product ammonium sulfate (AS). Such AS undergoes rapid and severe caking almost immediately after production because the crystals are too small and often contain excessive moisture. Such rapid and severe caking renders the AS nearly impossible to move or use "as is" without expensive crushing and screening of the material. Accordingly, such poor-quality AS is often used in production of solution or suspension fertilizers. In the present invention, long-storing, non-caking, highly-flowable AS fines are produced by practicing an unconventional technique of mixing the attapulgite gelling clays normally used in production of such suspensions directly with the fresh, poor-quality, caking-type ammonium sulfate fines and storing the resulting improved AS fines dry until needed for production of suspensions or other uses.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes inexpensive, low-quality by-product ammonium sulfate (AS) characterized as having poor storage, handling, and use properties and normally unsuitable for use as a solid fertilizer because crystals thereof are very fine and of a undesirably high-moisture content. This invention involves production of high-quality, long-storing suspension intermediates directly from AS slurries or AS crystals, followed by storage of the resulting suspensions as intermediate raw materials, and further followed by production of solution fertilizers from such suspension intermediates.

Abstract: The present invention teaches novel compositions and techniques for economically producing highly concentrated nitrogen-sulfur suspension fertilizers using cheap and readily available by-product ammonium sulfate or by-product sulfuric acid and ammonia in conjunction with solid, liquid, or suspension nitrogen fertilizers and suspending clay. The products of the instant invention exhibit unique and very desirable physical properties and long-term storage characteristics not heretofore encountered in suspensions containing soluble fertilizer salts. Some of these unique characteristics include virtually no crystal growth during exceptionally long storage periods and near-constant or decreasing viscosity with decrease in temperature.

Abstract: Highly concentrated nitrogen suspension fertilizers which have excellent long-term storage and handling properties in both warm and severely cold weather are produced from urea, ammonium nitrate, water, and attapulgite clay and contain urea crystals suspended in a saturated solution containing urea and ammonium nitrate. The compositions must be maintained within a very narrow range to produce satisfactory suspensions. Deviation from this narrow range results in poor quality, unusable products. For prevention of scale formation and production of small crystals, the products are cooled in two or more stages with gelling-type clay added prior to or during crystallization and with air cooling used in the cooling stage(s) involving crystallization.

Abstract: A process for production of highly concentrated nitrogen sulfur suspension fertilizers, with excellent long-term storage and handling properties, from ammonia, sulfuric acid, and urea. Satisfactory operation of the process and production of high-quality suspensions requires the use of a novel cooling procedure. For prevention of scale formation and production of small crystals, the product is cooled in two or more stages with gelling type clay added prior to or during crystallization and with air cooling used in the cooling stage(s) involving crystallization.

Abstract: Highly concentrated nitrogen suspension fertilizers which have excellent long-term storage and handling properties in both warm and severely cold weather are produced from urea, ammonium nitrate, water, and attapulgite clay and contain urea crystals suspended in a saturated solution containing urea and ammonium nitrate. The compositions must be maintained within a very narrow range to produce suspensions satisfactory for commercial use. This narrow composition range is such that the saturation temperatures and nitrogen contents of the products fall within specific ranges. Deviation from these ranges results in poor quality, commercially unusable products. If the saturation temperature or nitrogen content is too high, the product is too viscous to be pumped or applied to the soil. If the saturation temperature is too low, the product contains excessively large crystals which settle to the bottom of storage and shipping tanks and clog spray nozzles in suspension application equipment.

Abstract: Process and Apparatus for preparing O--X--O and O--X--X (i.e., zero nitrogen) suspension fertilizers wherein phosphate rock is acidulated with merchant-grade wet-process orthophosphoric acid. The instant invention requires only a minimal amount of relatively inexpensive equipment. The process comprises a first-charging step wherein a reactor vessel is partially filled with water of formulation, phosphoric acid, and phosphate rock. The resulting mixture is subjected to a digestion step for a predetermined period of time to effect reaction of the acid and phosphate rock added thereto. Said digestion step is subsequently followed by a second-charging step wherein predetermined amounts of potassium chloride and/or suspending agent are added to said reactor vessel.