Abstract: A method for the production of biofuels from the open ocean comprises the steps: testing the currents to determine that a biomass remains in a zone suitable for harvesting; harvesting a portion of the biomass; and processing a portion of the harvested biomass to produce useful components of biofuels. An improved method of production of a biofuel comprises the additional steps of testing the ocean surface waters to determine any nutrients that are missing, and applying a fertilizer with any missing nutrients. The currents should be such that the biomass created stays in the ocean waters suitable for harvest rather than washed up on shores, or dispersed to other areas of the ocean. Suitable currents include ocean gyres such as the Sargasso Sea. Suitable biomass includes seaweeds that float in the open ocean and aggregate together in floating patches, such as the Sargassum weed in the Sargasso Sea.

Abstract: A method for the production of biofuels from the open ocean comprises the steps: testing the currents to determine that a biomass remains in a zone suitable for harvesting; harvesting a portion of the biomass; and processing a portion of the harvested biomass to produce useful components of biofuels. An improved method of production of a biofuel comprises the additional steps of testing the ocean surface waters to determine any nutrients that are missing, and applying a fertilizer with any missing nutrients. The currents should be such that the biomass created stays in the ocean waters suitable for harvest rather than washed up on shores, or dispersed to other areas of the ocean. Suitable currents include ocean gyres such as the Sargasso Sea. Suitable biomass includes seaweeds that float in the open ocean and aggregate together in floating patches, such as the Sargassum weed in the Sargasso Sea.

Abstract: A method for the production of biofuels from the open ocean comprises the steps: testing the currents to determine that a biomass remains in a zone suitable for harvesting; harvesting a portion of the biomass; and processing a portion of the harvested biomass to produce useful components of biofuels. An improved method of production of a biofuel comprises the additional steps of testing the ocean surface waters to determine any nutrients that are missing, and applying a fertilizer with any missing nutrients. The currents should be such that the biomass created stays in the ocean waters suitable for harvest rather than washed up on shores, or dispersed to other areas of the ocean. Suitable currents include ocean gyres such as the Sargasso Sea. Suitable biomass includes seaweeds that float in the open ocean and aggregate together in floating patches, such as the Sargassum weed in the Sargasso Sea.

Abstract: A method of increasing the fish catch in the ocean is to fertilize the ocean surface, creating a short-term phytoplankton bloom, which forms a fish attractive device (FAD). The FAD attracts the fish to a planned location for fishing boats to catch with reduced fishing effort. The bloom may be created by the short-term addition of a chelated iron fertilizer to the ocean surface, and may have a duration of from about 1 to about 2 months.

Abstract: A method of sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) in an ocean comprises testing an area of the surface of a deep open ocean in order to determine both the nutrients that are missing and the diffusion coefficient, applying to the area in a spiral pattern a first fertilizer that comprises a missing nutrient, and measuring the amount of carbon dioxide that has been sequestered. The fertilizer preferably comprises an iron chelate that prevents the iron from precipitating to any significant extent. The preferred chelates include lignin, and particularly lignin acid sulfonate. The method may further comprise applying additional fertilizers, and reporting the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered. The method preferably includes applying a fertilizer in pulses. Each fertilizer releases each nutrient over time in the photic zone and in a form that does not precipitate.

Abstract: A method of increasing seafood production in the oceans comprises testing the water at the surface of the ocean in order to determine the nutrients that are missing, applying to the surface of the ocean a first fertilizer that comprises an iron chelate, and harvesting the increased production of seafood that results. The method may further comprise applying a microorganism that fixes nitrogen such as phytoplankton, applying additional fertilizers, and seeding the ocean with fish. Each fertilizer releases the nutrient(s) over time in the photic zone and in a form that does not precipitate before use by the phytoplankton.

Abstract: A method of sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) in an ocean comprises testing an area of the surface of a deep open ocean in order to determine both the nutrients that are missing and the diffusion coefficient, applying to the area in a spiral pattern a first fertilizer that comprises a missing nutrient, and measuring the amount of carbon dioxide that has been sequestered. The application of the first fertilizer in a spiral pattern results in a patch of fertilizer where the concentration of the fertilizer does not vary by more than about 50% within two days of the local application. The concentration of the fertilizer at the center of the patch does not decrease through diffusion by more than about 5% during a time period of about 20 days after the application of the patch of fertilizer. The method may further comprise applying additional fertilizers, and reporting the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered. The method preferably includes applying a fertilizer in pulses.

Abstract: A method of sequestering carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) in an ocean comprises testing an area of the surface of a deep open ocean in order to determine the nutrients that are missing, applying to the area a first fertilizer that comprises an iron chelate, and measuring the amount of carbon dioxide that has been sequestered. The method may further comprise applying additional fertilizers, and reporting the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered. The method preferably includes applying a fertilizer in pulses. Each fertilizer releases each nutrient over time in the photic zone and in a form that does not precipitate.

Abstract: A method of increasing seafood production in the oceans comprises testing the water at the surface of the ocean in order to determine the nutrients that are missing, applying to the surface of the ocean a first fertilizer that comprises an iron chelate, and harvesting the increased production of seafood that results. The method may further comprise applying a microorganism that fixes nitrogen such as phytoplankton, applying additional fertilizers, and seeding the ocean with fish. Each fertilizer releases the nutrient(s) over time in the photic zone and in a form that does not precipitate before use by the phytoplankton.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of landfill mining which comprises the following steps: (1) converting the landfill to aerobic production by injection of moisture and air, and a raw material such as sewage sludge (if required), and venting of depleted air and moisture, thereby increasing the rate of waste decomposition; (2) excavating the landfill to remove material; (3) separating the removed material to substantially isolate at least one segregated material from the residual material; (4) disposing of at least one segregated material; and (5) returning the residual material to the landfill. The segregated materials preferably include decomposed waste and recyclables, and may also include toxic material and hazardous waste.

Abstract: A method of increasing seafood production in the oceans comprises (1) testing the water at the surface of the ocean in order to determine the nutrients that are missing, (2) applying to the ocean water a fertilizer that comprises a microorganism that fixes nitrogen and sufficient nutrients to cause the microorganism to fix nitrogen (if the ocean water is missing nitrates), and the other missing nutrients, and (3) harvesting the increased production of seafood that results from the fertilization.

Abstract: A method of passivating iron-containing cuttings and turnings to prevent overheating thereof during storage and transportation, wherein the cuttings and turnings are fed through a rotating tumbler drum while being mixed with an aqueous slurry of calcium oxide or hydroxide, the tumbling being continued until the cuttings or turnings are thoroughly coated with the slurry. In a preferred embodiment, the cuttings and turnings are passed through a tumbling drum continuously, with the slurry being sprayed onto them as they enter the drum.

Abstract: A process for economically recovering metal values, especially precious metal values, from waste waters comprising a mixture of natural surface water, industrial waste water and organic waste, where the metal values appear in concentrations below levels previously commercially of interest, including the steps of concentrating the metal values of the waste waters by bacterial treatment thereof to imbibe and capture the metal values from the waters and immobilize them in a sludge, coagulating and separating the sludge from the water, de-watering the sludge and burning off the organic matter, and recovering selected metal values by inorganic metal-winning process steps.