Abstract: A process for treating sludge is disclosed. Sludge to which a flocculating agent has been added is stirred by a stirring pump or shear-stirred by a liquid shear-stirrer prior to initiation of flocculation reaction of the flocculating agent to render the flocculating agent in a fine particulate state to thereby disperse, diffuse or distribute the flocculating agent in a fine particulate state throughout the sludge, so that flocks or aggregate structure type flocks or blocks can be efficiently formed. A treating line is constructed such that the sludge can flow therein as a laminar flow. The distance from a flocculating agent injection part to a stirring pump is made to a distance such that the flocculating agent can pass through in a reaction initiation time obtained in advance for the flocculating agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a toxic contaminant from porous material by placing the material and a fluid solvent for the toxic in a drum and rotating the drum around its horizontal axis. Also provided is apparatus for placing the drum in a sealable container and sealing the container during the decontamination cycle.

Abstract: A microwave furnace for heating materials has a microwave chamber with two microwave compartments made of microwave reflective material for retaining microwaves. One of the compartments is fixed and has an opening for discharging heated material. The other compartment is a rotating drum. The furnace also includes an elongated tubular member having a first and second open end. The tubular member is made of a microwave transparent material and is retained within the microwave chamber. A feeding mechanism feeds the material to be heated into the first end of the tubular member. The microwave furnace is provided with a mount for supporting the tubular member within the rotating microwave chamber by clasping the tubular member. The mount is adapted to rotate the tubular member along its axis and to position the tubular member such that the second end of the tubular member is substantially adjacent to the discharge opening of the fixed microwave chamber.