Abstract: An advanced oxidation process and apparatus for closed loop treating and recycling of cleaning solutions contaminated with used surfactants, fats, oils, greases, and inorganic and organic contaminates converts the contaminated cleaning solution into a reusable cleaning solution containing useful polar water soluble surfactants, detergents, wetting agents and emulsifiers. The contaminated cleaning solution is subjected to an ozone containing gas and alternating direct current. The reaction with ozone containing gas is carried out in a mixed vapor (gas/liquid mist) state. Fats, oils, greases and organic contaminates are converted into useful polar water soluble surfactants, detergents, wetting agents and emulsifiers and the excess organic surfactants, detergents, wetting agents, and emulsifiers are simultaneously converted into carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water. The treated cleaning solution is reused as the cleaning solution in the original cleaning process from which the contaminated cleaner was obtained.

Abstract: Pulping chemicals and hemicellulose are recovered from a starting solution essentially free of lignin but containing a mixture of hemicellulose and caustic by electrolyzing this solution in the anolyte compartment of an electrolytic cell. By electrolysis, the concentration of caustic in the anolyte is decreased and the concentration of caustic in a catholyte of said cell is increased so as to allow recovery, of about 60 to about 80 percent of the caustic contained in the hemicellulose caustic starting solution.

Abstract: A method for detecting and destroying various chlorinated hydrocarbons and unsaturated hydrocarbons in the environment using electrochemical techniques has been invented. By concentrating the chlorinated hydrocarbons or unsaturated hydrocarbons in a solvent by liquid-solid or liquid-liquid extraction, and then passing current through the solvent extractant containing the chlorinated hydrocarbons or unsaturated hydrocarbons electrochemically removes chlorine and oxidizes unsaturated hydrocarbons. The potential is measured to correlate to the concentration of the chlorinated hydrocarbon specie.

Abstract: A process for purifying streams which contain organic and/or inorganic impurities is disclosed. The stream to be treated is introduced into a water-containing reaction zone which includes a packed bed of activated carbon to which an electrochemical potential is applied and to which ozone or hydrogen is fed at the same time. The cell further uses a contact electrode placed in the packed bed for supplying or removing an electrical current, and a counterelectrode disposed in a reaction vessel. The counterelectrode is electrically insulated from the packed bed of activated carbon. The cell further includes an inlet for feeding in liquid to be treated, an inlet for feeding ozone or hydrogen gas, and an outlet for discharging treated liquid and a further outlet for discharging waste gas.

Abstract: The invention is a method of processing a waste liquid containing at least an organic quaternary ammonium hydroxide. The waste liquid is brought into contact with a cation-exchanging material so as to make the organic quaternary ammonium ions adsorbed by the material to thereby remove the ions from the liquid (adsorbing step), and optionally the cation-exchanged water obtained by the contact is again processed to separate and remove resist peelings and surfactants therefrom. The invention is also a method of processing the organic quaternary ammonium hydroxide-containing waste liquid for recovering a valuable substance of the organic quaternary ammonium hydroxide therefrom.

Abstract: A method of enhancing growth of aquatic organisms in an aqueous mineral-containing electrolyte such as sea water which comprises:(a) installing a cathode and an anode in the electrolyte,(b) applying a steady, pulsed or intermittent direct electric current across the cathode and the anode to effect electrolysis,(c) providing accreted mineral material on the cathode,(d) recruiting aquatic organisms on or in the vicinity of the cathode, and(e) creating by electrolysis conditions of higher alkalinity in the electrolyte in the vicinity of the cathode than in the electrolyte remote from the cathode to cause growth of the aquatic organisms in the conditions in the vicinity of the cathode, the placement of the anode being done in such a way as to minimize the effects of hydrochloric acid produced at the anode.The method is particularly described with reference to the growth of organisms which deposit calcareous substances, such as corals, for the creation of artificial reefs or coastal defence structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an installation for the destruction of organic solutes, particularly complexing agents, present in an aqueous solution such as a radioactive effluent.According to this process, the aqueous solution undergoes electrolysis in a cell (1) comprising a working electrode (5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, etc.) by applying to said electrode an adequate potential for destroying the solutes by electrolytic oxidation and periodic modification takes place to the potential applied or to the passage direction of the current passing through the cell so as to periodically carry out a regeneration of the working electrode.The solutes can be organic acids such as formic acid, dihydroxymalonic acid or oxalic acid.

Abstract: An electrochemical process and system for dehalogenating halogenated hydrocarbons. The process facilitates on-site processing and transformation of waste oils, PCB oils in electrical transformers and chlorinated solvents to salts. The system includes a two-piece tubular structure including an electrical insulating member, an electrode member having perforations leading into a hollow vessel portion. The process includes, by example, reacting the halogenated hydrocarbon compound with at least one metal hydroxide selected from a metallic hydroxide group consisting of sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, zinc hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide in the presence of an alcohol selected from an alcohol group consisting of methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol. The tubular structure is inserted into the container and energized by applying a voltage to the electrode member.

Abstract: An molecular complex is provided which includes a linear polymer associated with a cyclic molecule to form a rotaxane of the general formula, ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are blocking end groups of size and character sufficient to prevent dethreading of the rotaxane and said R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 the same or different;where the cyclic molecule comprises a cyclic skeleton and at least one A functional group, said functional group attached to the cyclic skeleton;where A is selected from the group consisting of polymerizable functional groups, cation complexing groups, anion complexing groups and ionic species; andwherein at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and A are selected from the group consisting of cation complexing groups, anion complexing groups and ionic species.The molecular complex may used in an electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of decreasing the metals content of metal containing petroleum streams by forming a mixture of the petroleum fraction containing those metals and an essentially aqueous electrolysis medium, and passing an electric current through the mixture at a voltage, pH and time sufficient to remove the metals such as Ni, V and Fe from the stream (i.e. to produce a petroleum fraction having decreased content of the metals). The cathodic voltage is from 0 V to -3.0 V vs. SCE at a pH of from 6 to 14, preferably 7 to 14, most preferably above 7 to 14.The invention provides a method for enhancing the value of petroleum feeds that traditionally have limited use in refineries due to their Ni and V content.

Abstract: An electrorheological crystalline mass of a molecule is formed by dispersing the molecule in a dispersion fluid and subjecting the molecule dispersion to a uniform electrical field for a period of time during which time an electrorheological crystalline mass is formed. Molecules that may be used to form an electrorheological crystalline mass include any organic or inorganic molecule which has a permanent dipole and/or which is capable of becoming an induced dipole in the presence of an electric field. The molecules used to form the electrorheological crystalline mass are preferably macromolecules, such as biomolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipoproteins and viruses.Molecules are crystallized by a method in which an electric field is maintained for a period of time after the electrorheological crystalline mass has formed during which time at least some of the molecules making up the electrorheological crystalline mass form a crystal lattice.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell/electrolyte/mediator combination for the efficient destruction of organic contaminants using metal salt mediators in a sulfuric acid electrolyte, wherein the electrodes and mediator are chosen such that hydrogen gas is produced at the cathode and no cell membrane is required.