Abstract: The disclosure relates to bio-secure equipment for protecting surfaces prone to exposure to microbes. The bio-secure equipment is for the protection of surfaces, with a coating layer comprising a sulfonated polymer, having a sufficient degree of sulfonation to kill in less than 120 minutes at least 90% of microbes in contact with the surfaces, and for extended protection of the surfaces for at least a month. The coating material is particularly suitable to provide bio-secure protection for applications including but not limited to protective facemasks, surgical instruments and supplies, garments, surfaces frequently used by members of the public that may have contagious diseases, etc., to decrease the transmission of microbes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removal of organic compounds, such as acetic acid, from waste water streams in processes for production of (meth)acrylic acid. In particular, a mixed product gas, comprising (meth)acrylic acid, acetic acid, propylene and acrolein, is subjected to fractional absorption to produce an aqueous product stream comprising (meth)acrylic acid, water and acetic acid, and an absorber off-gas stream comprising propylene and acrolein. The aqueous product stream is distilled to produce a purified (meth)acrylic acid stream and a waste water stream comprising water and acetic acid. The absorber off gas is then contacted with the waste water stream and at least a portion of the acetic acid moves from the waste water stream to the absorber off gas to produce a stripped waste water stream and an enriched absorber off gas.