Abstract: Infectious medical materials is rendered innocuous by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio frequency electric field. The medical materials are exposed to the radio frequency electric field in order to heat the medical waste. The medical waste may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be shredded and recycled.

Abstract: Infectious medical materials are rendered harmless by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio-frequency electric field. The medical materials may be comminuted prior to heating. The medical materials are exposed to the radio-frequency electric field in order to heat the medical materials. The medical materials may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be recycled.

Abstract: Infectious medical materials are rendered harmless by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio-frequency electric field. The medical materials may be comminuted prior to heating. The medical materials are exposed to the radio-frequency electric field in order to heat the medical materials. The medical materials may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be recycled.

Abstract: Infectious medical materials are rendered harmless by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio-frequency electric field. The medical materials are exposed to the radio-frequency electric field in order to heat the medical materials to inactivate microorganisms thereon. The medical materials are then irradiated with gamma radiation to inactivate microorganisms remaining viable thereon after application of the radio-frequency electric field.

Abstract: Infectious medical materials is rendered innocuous by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio frequency electric field. The medical materials are exposed to the radio frequency electric field in order to heat the medical waste. The medical waste may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be shredded and recycled.

Abstract: Electrical heating system for mineral wells, particularly oil wells, in which the reservoir or "pay zone" is heat stimulated or some well components (e.g., the tubing) are heated, or both, by electrical power supplied to a multi-perforate electrode have the operating efficiency enhanced by effectively terminating the heating electrode, at both its top and bottom, at a distance inwardly of the pay zone equal to at least three times the diameter of the well casing. In some systems the electrical power connection to the main heating electrode is made through a section of the production tubing of the well, with an electrical contactor interconnecting the tubing and the electrode in the level of the pay zone; these systems also provide electrical isolation, within critical height limits, for the production tubing and the pump rod. Delivery of electrical power downhole of the well may be accomplished through an electrical cable, which may or may not be appropriately armored.

Abstract: Corrosion inhibition apparatus in an electromagnetic heating system for in situ downhole heating in an oil well or other mineral fluid well that includes an A.C. power source for a high amperage, low frequency heating current (e.g. over 50 amperes at 0.01 to 35 Hz) and a D.C. bias source for generating a low amplitude (e.g., less than one ampere) current for corrosion inhibition, both sources connected to a downhole electrode. The bias source includes at least one semiconductor device, connected in the main A.C. heating circuit, in a bias circuit that develops a net D.C. voltage differential of the polarity required for corrosion inhibition in response to the A.C. heating current.