Abstract: Apparatus for gathering valuable substances, such as uranium, gold, silver or the like from sea water. The features characterizing the invention are that the sea waves are caused, by using the energy thereof, to rush up a ramp (2) which leads the waves into a basin from above, which thereby is filled to a level (B.sub.Y) higher than the external still-water surface (L.sub.Y), the water quantity within the level difference (.DELTA.H) applying a hydrostatic pressure which brings the water in the basin to flow through one or several layers of filters (4) containing sorbing, ion-exchanging or bioactive mass, whereafter the water is directed back to the sea on a level lower than the upper edge of the ramp (2).

Abstract: A process for the preparation of saturated, nonbranched aliphatic or alicyclic sulphonic acids by reacting the corresponding hydrocarbons with sulphur dioxide and elementary oxygen is disclosed, in which process the reaction is carried out in the presence of copper as a catalyst. Reaction rates, considerably higher than those previously reported in literature, are obtained and the formation of by-products resulting in discolouration of the sulphonic acid is counteracted.