Abstract: A process for increasing throughput in a spent sulfuric acid dissociation furnace by injecting dewatered biosolids pre-conditioned to enhance combustion into the furnace while enriching the oxygen content of the air used in the process.

Abstract: Process and apparatus are set forth for ascertaining and controlling the flammability of produced gas from an in-situ combustion enhanced petroleum production well whereby the produced oil is sampled, the produced gas is periodically sampled, the temperature, pressure and produced gas flow rate are sensed, and a moderant gas is added to the production well to avoid flammability when the sampled and sensed parameters indicate a flammability condition exists.

Abstract: In an injection well for underground gasification of carbonaceous materials, either liquids or solids, by partial combustion with oxygen-rich gas in the presence of a moderating fluid such as steam, air, CO.sub.2 or the like, in which the moderating fluid is introduced through an annular path surrounding the injection tube through which the oxygen-rich gas is injected, back flow of gasification products from the well is prevented by providing a flow restriction in the annular path to increase the linear flow velocity of the moderating fluid while maintaining the designed mass flow rate of said moderating fluid. The flow restriction is so designed that at the predetermined downward flow rate of said moderating fluid the critical velocity of the moderating fluid at the restriction corresponds to the formula:V.sub.c =.sqroot.gDwherein g is the gravity constant, D is the equivalent diameter of the largest opening in the restriction.

Abstract: Organic contaminants are removed from waste water streams by initially pretreating the stream to remove suspended solids and oil therefrom and thereafter passing the pretreated waste water through bed(s) of activated carbon while adding a controlled amount of oxygen to the bed(s) in an amount ranging from about 0.05 to about 0.15 pound of oxygen consumed per pound of total COD contaminants removed from the waste water by this process. By following the method of the present invention, the balance between the aerobic/anaerobic biological oxidation of the contaminants adsorbed on the activated carbon may be controlled so as to suppress the evolution of hydrogen sulfide from the bed while minimizing the formation of aerobic biological sludge which would plug the bed(s). This controlled biological activity that occurs in the carbon adsorption system provides for a substantial increase in the effective organic contaminant removal capacity of the activated carbon.