Abstract: A process for the treatment of water contaminated by polar and/or apolar organic compounds, and/or by heavy metal salts, and/or by oil dispersed or in emulsion, comprises sending said contaminated water to a system comprising: at least one adsorption (3) unit including at least one microporous or mesoporous alumina-silicate; at least one nanofiltration unit (7) including at least one hydrophilic nanofiltration membrane; wherein said hydrophilic nanofiltration membrane has a contact angle with water lower than or equal to 45°, preferably ranging from 25° to 40°.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of water contaminated by polar and/or apolar organic compounds, and/or by heavy metal salts, and/or by oil dispersed or in emulsion, comprising sending said contaminated water to a system comprising: at least one adsorption (3) unit including at least one microporous or mesoporous alumino-silicate; at least one nanofiltration unit (7) including at least one hydrophilic nanofiltration membrane; wherein said hydrophilic nanofiltration membrane has a contact angle with water lower than or equal to 45°, preferably ranging from 25° to 40°.

Abstract: A process is described for the treatment of water contaminated by metals with a high oxidation degree, aliphatic compounds, aromatic compounds, halogen-aromatic compounds, chlorinated alkane and alkene compounds or mixtures thereof, which consists in circulating the contaminated water through a reactive system consisting of metallic iron and a zeolite having a silica/alumina ratio >50, placed in succession, wherein the first element through which the water passes is iron.

Abstract: A process is described for the treatment of water contaminated by apolar compounds consisting of halogenated solvents, aliphatic compounds, aromatic compounds or their mixtures which consists in treating the water with one or more apolar zeolites characterized by a silica/alumina ration >50 and by the presence of structural channels having dimensions similar to those of the molecules of the contaminating compounds.

Abstract: A process is described for the treatment of water contaminated by metals with a high oxidation degree, aliphatic compounds, aromatic compounds, halogen-aromatic compounds, chlorinated alkane and alkene compounds or mixtures thereof, which consists in circulating the contaminated water through a reactive system consisting of metallic iron and a zeolite having a silica/alumina ratio>50, placed in succession, wherein the first element through which the water passes is iron.

Abstract: A process is described for the treatment of water contaminated by apolar organic compounds and/or by heavy metals, which consists in circulating the water through a system comprising at least two types of zeolites having a silica/alumina ratio >50, placed in succession, wherein the first zeolite through which the water is passed is characterized by a high absorption capacity and structural channel dimensions ranging from 7 to 50 ?, whereas the second is characterized by a high removal capacity of molecules with a molecular diameter comparable with structural channel dimensions ranging from 5 to 7 ?.

Abstract: A process is described for the treatment of water contaminated by apolar organic compounds and/or by heavy metals, which consists in circulating the water through a system comprising at least two types of zeolites having a silica/alumina ratio >50, placed in succession, wherein the first zeolite through which the water is passed is characterized by a high absorption capacity and structural channel dimensions ranging from 7 to 50 ?, whereas the second is characterized by a high removal capacity of molecules with a molecular diameter comparable with structural channel dimensions ranging from 5 to 7 ?.

Abstract: A process is described for the removal of organic pollutants from sediments characterized by a water content ranging from 5% to the saturation of the sediment and with a prevalently fine particle-size content (<63 &mgr;m), which uses, as extractant, a lipophile solvent or a mixture thereof with a hydrophile cosolvent.

Abstract: Oil drill cuttings, containing an oil-based mud, may be treated by mixing the cuttings with an organic solvent. The oil drill cuttings are then separated from the organic solvent and extracted oil. The organic solvent is then separated from the oil, and mixed with the extracted oil drill cuttings to extract additional oil therefrom. The oil drill cuttings are again separated from the organic solvent and oil, the oil separated from the solvent, and recombined with the oil from the first extraction step. The oil base and other mud components are recycled, depending on the treatment procedure, for subsequent use in drilling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treatment of soils polluted by high-boiling organic substances, such as petroleum, polynuclear aromatics and chloro-organic substances, which process uses an extractant with high dissolving power for the pollutant, and which improves the soil-extractant contact thanks to the addition of a minimal amount of a hydrophilic co-solvent.

Abstract: A hollow fiber of amorphous, hydroxy-ethylated poly-(2,6-dimethyl-p-oxyphenylene) (PPO-OH) with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of from 180.degree. to 200.degree. C. is disclosed, which is formed by a high-density, microporous layer on a macroporous backing, and having an outer diameter comprised within the range of from 450 to 550 .mu.m and an inner diameter comprised within the range of from 250 to 400 .mu.m.The process for preparing the hollow fibre and the use of said fibre in the processes of separation of gas mixtures are disclosed as well.

Abstract: An amorphous modified poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-oxyphenylene) (PPO) is described with a glass transition temperature (Tg) within the range of 170.degree.-220.degree. C., of which the macromolecules contain units having trialkylsilyl groups bonded to the nucleus and/or to the methyl: ##STR1## together with units having hydroxyethyl groups bonded to the nucleus and/or to the methyl: ##STR2## This modified PPO is prepared by metalating PPO with a metalating agent and reacting the formed metalated PPO with a trialkylsilyl halide and with ehtylene oxide in succession.The use of the thus modified PPO for the preparation of flat, including asymmetric, membranes useful in gas mixture separation processes is described.

Abstract: A process for preparing a modified, amorphous poly-(2,6-dimethyl-p-oxyphenylene) (PPO) comprises:(a) metalating PPO with a metalating agent, and(b) functionalizing such a metalated PPO by reacting the PPO with a trialkylsilyl halide and/or ethylene oxide; and is characterized in that the reaction of metalation is carried out in an inert liquid vehicle which contains PPO in an at least partially suspended solid form, by operating under metalating conditions of gradually adding metalating agent to such a suspension, either continuously or as discrete portions. Depending on the functionalizing agents used, and on the sequence of addition thereof, the process makes it possible to obtain PPO polymers which are modified with trialkyl-silyl, hydroxyethylene and/or ethyleneoxytrialkyl-silyl functional groups. The modified PPO polymers are particularly suitable for preparing flat membranes, including asymmetrical membranes, for the separation of gas mixtures.

Abstract: A modified poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-oxyphenylene) with a glass transition temperature in the range of 180.degree.-220.degree. C. is described in which on the average between 10 and 60% of the macromolecules carry:a) an ##STR1## unit; or b) an ##STR2## unit. Said modified poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-oxyphenylene) is useful as a material in the preparation of flat membranes, in particular asymmetric membrane, for gas separation.