Abstract: The invention provides a process for treating a soil contaminated with a pollutant selected from the group consisting of petroleum products and aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising bringing into contact with said soil an aqueous solution in which hydrogen peroxide and hydroxide source are combined.

Abstract: Mixed chloride-bromide bismuth oxyhalide compounds, with the molar ratio chloride:bromide being equal to or greater than 1:1, in the form of microspheres exhibiting flower-like surface morphology, are disclosed. Processes for preparing the compounds, formulations of the compounds and a method for purifying water using said compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: Bismuth oxyhalide-added building materials are disclosed. The building material is a binder-containing building material, which sets and harden when mixed with water, such as gypsum and cement-based building material. Methods for applying bismuth oxyhalide—comprising coatings onto surfaces of building materials, to protect them against pollutants, are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane comprising at least one positively charged, synthetic, hydrophobic polymer, at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one plasticizer; wherein said membrane is flexible and is capable of supporting at least one of cell adherence, cell proliferation or cell differentiation. The invention further relates to use of a membrane of the invention in the preparation of an implantable devices including cell delivery systems, cell growing surfaces and scaffolds. The invention further provides methods for promoting tissue regeneration in a defected tissue region applying membranes of the invention.

Abstract: Process for treating a medium by the removal or destruction of one or more undesired substances present in said medium, comprising combining hydrogen peroxide and alkali hydroxide in an aqueous solution to form superoxide, and bringing the resultant superoxide-containing solution into contact with said medium. The process is useful for the destruction of halogenated organic pollutants and also for carbon dioxide removal from flue gases. The process can also be applied for soil remediation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane comprising at least one positively charged, synthetic, hydrophobic polymer, at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one plasticizer; wherein said membrane is flexible and is capable of supporting at least one of cell adherence, cell proliferation or cell differentiation. The invention further relates to use of a membrane of the invention in the preparation of an implantable devices including cell delivery systems, cell growing surfaces and scaffolds. The invention further provides methods for promoting tissue regeneration in a defected tissue region applying membranes of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for treating a soil contaminated with a pollutant selected from the group consisting of petroleum products and aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising bringing into contact with said soil an aqueous solution in which hydrogen peroxide and hydroxide source are combined.

Abstract: The invention is a process for absorbing sulfur dioxide from a gaseous stream with the aid of an ionic liquid, followed by the release of sulfur dioxide from the ionic liquid on addition of a polar solvent and the regeneration of the ionic liquid.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of hydrogen, comprising catalytically decomposing a concentrated aqueous solution of potassium formate in a reaction vessel to form bicarbonate slurry and hydrogen, discharging the hydrogen from said reaction vessel, and treating a mixture comprising the bicarbonate slurry and the catalyst with an oxidizer, thereby regenerating the catalyst. Pd/C catalysts useful in the process are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of bismuth oxyhalide, comprising a precipitation of bismuth oxyhalide in an acidic aqueous medium in the presence of a reducing agent. Also provided are bismuth oxyhalide compounds doped with elemental bismuth B(0), The use of Bi(0) doped bismuth oxyhalide as photocatalysts in water purification is also described.

Abstract: The invention is a process for absorbing sulfur dioxide from a gaseous stream with the aid of an ionic liquid, followed by the release of sulfur dioxide from the ionic liquid on addition of a polar solvent and the regeneration of the ionic liquid.

Abstract: Provided is a process for controlling heavy metal (e.g., mercury) emission in SO2-containing flue gas, comprising passing a stream of the flue gas (2) through a wet scrubber (1) where it is brought into contact with a liquid absorbent (8) comprising an ionic liquid, an oxidizer (11) and polar protic organic solvent, wherein the amount of said organic solvent is adjusted such that the SO2 absorption is minimized while operating said wet scrubber at a temperature lower than the normal working temperature that would be used in the absence of said solvent. The process may be preceded by an initial stage where a fluoride-containing liquid is used for reducing the amount of sulfur dioxide in the flue gas stream; the sulfur dioxide can be subsequently desorbed from the fluoride-containing liquid upon the addition of a polar solvent.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for preparing aqueous nitric oxide solutions, by means of introducing a nitric oxide gas stream into an acidic, halide-containing aqueous solution, or by means of nitrite reduction in an acidic environment in the presence of halide ion. The resultant solutions are stable and can be used for treating surfaces prone to the formation of biofilm, or having biofilm thereon.

Abstract: Provided is a process for controlling heavy metal (e.g., mercury) emission in S02-containing flue gas, comprising passing a stream of the flue gas (2) through a wet scrubber (1) where it is brought into contact with a liquid absorbent (8) comprising an ionic liquid, an oxidizer (11) and polar protic organic solvent, wherein the amount of said organic solvent is adjusted such that the SO2 absorption is minimized while operating said wet scrubber at a temperature lower than the normal working temperature that would be used in the absence of said solvent. The process may be preceded by an initial stage where a fluoride-containing liquid is used for reducing the amount of sulfur dioxide in the flue gas stream; the sulfur dioxide can be subsequently desorbed from the fluoride-containing liquid upon the addition of a polar solvent.

Abstract: Process for treating a medium by the removal or destruction of one or more undesired substances present in said medium, comprising combining hydrogen peroxide and alkali hydroxide in an aqueous solution to form superoxide, and bringing the resultant superoxide-containing solution into contact with said medium. The process is useful for the destruction of halogenated organic pollutants and also for carbon dioxide removal from flue gases. The process can also be applied for soil remediation.

Abstract: Mixed chloride-bromide bismuth oxyhalide compounds, with the molar ratio chloride:bromide being equal to or greater than 1:1, in the form of microspheres exhibiting flower-like surface morphology, are disclosed. Processes for preparing the compounds, formulations of the compounds and a method for purifying water using said compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for enhancing the generation of hydroxyl radicals in aqueous mixtures containing hydrogen peroxide, which process comprises supplying oxygen and magnesium oxide to the mixture and irradiating it with UV light. The process can be used, for example, for processing ballast water, industrial waste waters, and municipal waste waters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane comprising at least one positively charged, synthetic, hydrophobic polymer, at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one plasticizer; wherein said membrane is flexible and is capable of supporting at least one of cell adherence, cell proliferation or cell differentiation. The invention further relates to use of a membrane of the invention in the preparation of an implantable devices including cell delivery systems, cell growing surfaces and scaffolds. The invention further provides methods for promoting tissue regeneration in a defected tissue region applying membranes of the invention.

Abstract: A wet scrubber for absorbing elemental heavy metal from a gas stream, a liquor for a wet scrubber, and a power-plant comprising a wet scrubber are described. The wet scrubber includes a vessel having a gas inlet and outlet. In the vessel is a liquor including a oxidizer capable of oxidizing the elemental heavy metal and an ionic liquid. The liquor is substantially free of any ligand capable of bonding an ion of the heavy metal.

Abstract: A wet scrubber for absorbing a heavy metal from a gas stream, a liquor for said wet scrubber, and a power-plant comprising said wet scrubber are described. The wet scrubber has a liquor containing an oxidizer in ionic liquid. Optionally, the oxidizer has, in pure state, high vapor pressure, and in the ionic liquid, the oxidizer forms a complex that has a much lower vapor pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the liquor is substantially free of any ligand that binds to the metal to be absorbed by the liquor.