Abstract: A sorting facility for items to be sorted, such as postal items, parcels, packages, baggage, suitcases, etc., includes carrying elements, conveyor paths at which the carrying elements are transported to target positions, to empty the items from a carrying element into a target position, a facility controller controlling movement of the carrying elements along the conveyor paths and emptying at the target positions, and a decentralized functional unit receiving process information regarding the conveyor paths and/or the carrying elements and, by comparison with nominal process information, detecting deviation from the nominal process information and reporting it to the controller. The functional units, which monitor the facility or surroundings, have computer-aided intelligence detecting and reporting deviations to the controller. Faults and/or impending faults, which can only be detected with difficulty or not at all, even in sorting facilities, are detected reliably and be reported timely to the controller.

Abstract: Process for recovering molybdate or tungstate from an aqueous solution, in which molybdate or tungstate is bound to a water-insoluble, cationized inorganic carrier material from the aqueous solution at a pH in the range from 2 to 6, the laden carrier material is separated off and the bound molybdate or tungstate is liberated once again into aqueous solution at a pH in the range from 6 to 14. The process is suitable for recovering molybdate or tungstate in the delignification of pulp with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of molybdate or tungstate as catalyst. The recovered molybdate or tungstate can be recycled to the delignification.

Abstract: Process for recovering molybdate or tungstate from an aqueous solution, in which molybdate or tungstate is bound to a water-insoluble, cationized inorganic carrier material from the aqueous solution at a pH in the range from 2 to 6, the laden carrier material is separated off and the bound molybdate or tungstate is liberated once again into aqueous solution at a pH in the range from 6 to 14. The process is suitable for recovering molybdate or tungstate in the delignification of pulp with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of molybdate or tungstate as catalyst. The recovered molybdate or tungstate can be recycled to the delignification.

Abstract: Process for recovering molybdate or tungstate from an aqueous solution, in which molybdate or tungstate is bound to a water-insoluble, cationized inorganic carrier material from the aqueous solution at a pH in the range from 2 to 6, the laden carrier material is separated off and the bound molybdate or tungstate is liberated once again into aqueous solution at a pH in the range from 6 to 14. The process is suitable for recovering molybdate or tungstate in the delignification of pulp with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of molybdate or tungstate as catalyst. The recovered molybdate or tungstate can be recycled to the delignification.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for thinning granular starch in an aqueous slurry employing a source of peracid without using metal catalysts. The thinning process is aimed at modifying granular starches by lowering viscosity/increasing alkaline fluidity. It can also be employed immediately before or during cooking (gelatinization) of starch. Sources of peracids are peroxomonosulfuric acid (Caro's acid) or organic peracids such as performic, peracetic or perpropionic acid. Reaction time and temperature are lower than for existing process while product properties are improved.