Abstract: A treatment zone 10 in the form of a basin 12 having an inlet port 14 and an outlet port 16. The inlet port 14 allows water to flow into the basin 12. The outlet port 16 allows water to flow out of the basin 12. The inlet port 14 and the outlet port 16 are located at opposite ends of the basin 12 so as to allow water from a body of water having a concentration of water soluble metal ions contained therein to flow substantially through the entirety of the basin 12. A porous matrix 22 is disposed within the treatment zone 10. The porous matrix 22 is inoculated with a population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria. The population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria is capable of metabolizing water soluble metal ions in the water from the body of water into water insoluble metal oxides. Thus, there is an overall decrease in the concentration of the metal ions in the water flowing out of the treatment zone 10 as compared to water flowing into the treatment zone 10.

Abstract: A treatment zone 10 in the form of a basin 12 having an inlet port 14 and an outlet port 16. The inlet port 14 allows water to flow into the basin 12. The outlet port 16 allows water to flow out of the basin 12. The inlet port 14 and the outlet port 16 are located at opposite ends of the basin 12 so as to allow water from a body of water having a concentration of water soluble metal ions contained therein to flow substantially through the entirety of the basin 12. A porous matrix 22 is disposed within the treatment zone 10. The porous matrix 22 is inoculated with a population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria. The population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria is capable of metabolizing water soluble metal ions in the water from the body of water into water insoluble metal oxides. Thus, there is an overall decrease in the concentration of the metal ions in the water flowing out of the treatment zone 10 as compared to water flowing into the treatment zone 10.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the concentration of water soluble ionic manganese species in aqueous waste solutions containing the same. The process comprises passing said waste solution through a treatment zone containing a porous matrix on which are retained populations of at least one manganese oxidizing bacterium, such as members of the genus Metallogenium. The passing of said aqueous solution through said treatment zone is carried out at predetermined rates of flow, and contact between said solution and said bacteria is conducted under aerobic conditions and at predetermined pH and temperature levels. The process provides for the conversion of water soluble ionic manganese species to water insoluble manganese oxides, which are retained on the porous matrix and can be recovered therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of an improved purified short fiber cellulose suitable for human consumption from agricultural by-product materials, such as legume hulls, preferably soybean hulls. The legume hulls are comminuted into a particulate feed which is admixed with water to form a slurry. The slurried particulate legume hulls are oxidized, hydrolyzed and extracted with a caustic oxidizing agent utilizing an initial pH of about 12 to effect solubilization of the greater portion of non-cellulose material in the feed. A solid cellulose containing material is thereafter removed from the slurry, for example, by filtration or centrifugation. The recovered solid mass is slurried in water and the resulting slurry if pH adjusted to about 7 by the addition of phosphoric acid. The resulting suspension is agitated and H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is added, and the mixture is heated to promote bleaching and breakdown of the non-cellulose components.