Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for treating a contaminated environmental medium. In one example, the treatment includes adding a first jarosite-group mineral to the contaminated environmental medium to form a wet mixture under a set of conditions. The set of conditions is maintained over a duration of time to expedite precipitation of a second jarosite-group mineral, the second jarosite-group mineral incorporating contaminant cations and contaminant anions into a structure of the second jarosite-group mineral. The first jarosite-group mineral is added in situ at a contamination site.

Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are destroyed by oxidation in supercritical conditions. PFAS in water can be concentrated and prepared for destruction in a pretreatment phase. Following annihilation of the PFAS in supercritical conditions to levels below 5 parts per trillion (ppt), the water effluent can be used to recover heat, returned to sub-critical conditions, and then released back into the environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of acrolein and/or acrylic acid from glycerol, and more particularly to a method for continuous production of a stream comprising acrolein by dehydration of glycerol, comprising cycles of reaction and regeneration of a dehydration catalyst.

Abstract: A membrane filtration process includes pretreating an influent solution to remove suspended solids, to produce a pretreated solution. pH of the pretreated solution is adjusted to at least 8.3 or lower by injecting CO2 into the pretreated solution, to produce a conditioned solution. Injecting CO2 also serves to supplement bicarbonate in the conditioned solution. The conditioned solution is flowed through a membrane filtration unit, to produce a permeate solution and a retentate solution. The membrane filtration unit comprises reverse osmosis membranes or nanofiltration membranes, or both. The retentate solution is then treated to cause precipitation, to produce a supernatant solution and a reject solution. At least a portion of the supernatant solution is recirculated by combining it with the influent solution prior to the step of pretreating.

Abstract: A method for the purification of spent sulfuric acid and particularly the purification of spent acid, from titanium dioxide rutile manufacture through a chloride route, is provided. In the chloride route of titanium dioxide manufacture, sulfuric acid is used to clean the un-reacted gaseous flow coming out of the oxidizer, so the spent acid mainly contains un-reacted Ti4+ ions, trace amounts of Fe3+ ions, and NO2 gas. Titanium phosphate can be precipitated using acidic and or alkaline phosphate-containing precipitants in stoichiometric amounts. The method can include the addition of cutting water. NO2 gas evolved during the reaction can be scrubbed in water. The resulting aqueous acid-rich portion, or supernatant, can be separated from the precipitated phosphates and is very clear. Evaporation under vacuum conditions can increase the sulfuric acid concentration. The resultant purified acid can be re-used.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to the desalination of aqueous solutions containing one or more dissolved salts are generally described.

Abstract: The systems and processes disclosed herein relate generally to multi bed temperature controlled adsorption for use in the recovery of sorbates that are removed from process streams by adsorption. Multi bed temperature controlled adsorber systems can include three or more temperature controlled adosrbers that operate in parallel. Each temperature controlled adsorber through a series of steps including an adsorption step, a first bed to bed interchange, a regeneration step, and a second bed to bed interchange.

Abstract: Flow and product waste water from fracturing can be cleaned and reused utilizing a precipitation methodology incorporating, in part, a super critical reactor 30. Initially, the waste water is treated to remove solids, destroy bacteria, and precipitate out certain salts, such as barium, strontium, calcium, magnesium and iron. The waste water then can be passed through a radioactive material adsorption unit 20 to remove radium, as well as other radioactive materials, and then introduced into the super critical reactor 30. The super critical reactor is designed to bring the waste water to super critical conditions at a central portion of the reactor. This causes any dissolve solids, in particular sodium chloride and the like, to precipitate out of solution in the center 42 of the reactor 30 thereby avoiding scale formation on the walls of the reactor. A catalyst can be utilized to promote the breakdown of carbon bonds and promote the water/gas shift reaction.

Abstract: A method for treating low barium frac water includes contacting a frac water stream with a radium selective complexing resin to produce a low radium stream, passing the low radium stream through a thermal brine concentrator to produce a concentrated brine; and passing the concentrated brine through a thermal crystallizer to yield road salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to demulsifying and dehydrating formulations of heavy crude oil based block copolymers amine bifunctionalized with low polydispersities. These formulations can contain solvents whose boiling point is in the range from 35 to 200° C., preferably: dichloromethane, chloroform, toluene, xylenes, turbosine, naphtha or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing arsenic as scorodite from solutions that contain iron and arsenic. In accordance with the method, arsenic is first precipitated as ferric arsenate and subsequently processed hydrothermally into crystalline scorodite.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting solid materials from a fluid is provided. The apparatus includes a conduit configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough. The apparatus further includes a mesh extending across the conduit. The mesh is configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough and to allow a solid material to precipitate out of the fluid onto the mesh.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of water/oil (W/O) emulsions is described which includes the addition of an ionic liquid, under heating, to a water/oil emulsion containing between 0.5% and 85% of water per volume as a dispersion phase, until the concentration of the ionic liquid in the emulsion remains within the range of 0.01 ?L/g to 100 ?L/g. The ionic liquid used is a salt of a general C+ A? formula in a liquid state at temperatures below 150° C., where A? is an anion and C+ is a cation, which has at least a hydrophobic alkyl chain connected to a cation group. The heating method includes conventional heating and heating via microwaves. In the heating via microwaves, the salts of the general C+ A? formula present synergic behavior in separation efficiency in relation to conventional heating.

Abstract: A method and system for purifying liquid using waste heat is provided. Initially, a liquid is mixed with an anti-sealant agent in a first filtering unit to form a liquid mixture. Thereafter, the liquid mixture is filtered in the first filtering unit to separate foreign objects from the liquid mixture. Subsequently, the liquid mixture is heated in a pipe arrangement connecting the first filtering unit and one or more second filtering units to generate steam. The steam obtained from the heated liquid mixture is then purified in the one or more second filtering units. Thereafter, the purified steam is condensed in the pipe arrangement to obtain the purified liquid.

Abstract: A process for purifying water via freezing is disclosed. The process may include: contacting an aqueous mixture with a flotation medium, wherein the flotation medium has a density greater than or equal to the density of ice or hydrate and less than the density of the aqueous mixture or concentrated brine at its freezing point; reducing the temperature of the aqueous mixture to a temperature equal to or below the freezing point of the aqueous mixture to form ice or hydrate and a concentrate; phase separating the concentrate and the flotation medium; recovering the concentrate; and recovering the ice or hydrate and flotation medium as a slurry. Upon melting, phase separation of the resultant water from the flotation medium may provide a purified water product.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an enhanced process for separating dissolved and suspended solids from valuable or harmful liquids and more particularly to improving the operational aspects and separation efficiency of treating certain water miscible fluids including those used for oil and gas processing such as glycols, as well as automobile and aircraft fluids, that have become contaminated with dissolved and/or suspended solid matter.

Abstract: A continuous thermal process for treating oilfield produced water and generating steam from the same is provided. Raw water in is passed in direct counterflow heat exchange with produced steam to heat the raw water to a temperature at which a substantial portion of dissolved calcium and magnesium ions in the raw water are precipitated as insoluble salts. The raw water is further passed into a reaction zone for completion of reactions. A strong base is added to the raw water prior to passing the raw water in direct counterflow heat exchange with the produced steam in amount such that pH of the reaction zone is at least 10.5 as measured by a pH sensor to promote silica soluability. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method including electrolysis processing using sulfate-based electrolytes includes precipitating sodium sulfate decahydrate from a salt solution and then redissolving sodium sulfate decahydrate to prepare feed of electrolyte solution for the electrolysis processing. Front-end processing may be used to treat mixed salt solutions, including brine solutions. Calcium sulfate reagent may provide a sulfate source to regenerate electrolyte solution following carbon capture, and with carbon dioxide being sequestered in the form of calcium carbonate.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing metal salt co-constituents from an iron-containing solution comprising: (a) decreasing the free acidity of the solution to produce a slurry; (b) optionally heating the solution or the slurry to a temperature at least 30° C.; (c) optionally aging the slurry; (d) adding one or more cationic polyelectrolyte flocculants to the slurry; and (e) separating a solid-containing portion from a liquid portion of the slurry.

Abstract: Systems and methods relate to treating wastewater, such as blowdown from steam generators used in oil sands production. The systems rely on precipitation by acidification of the wastewater along with passing the wastewater at a pressure of at least 138 kilopascals through a multiphase centrifuge to remove at least partially organic and/or silica solids. A resulting treated aqueous stream may meet thresholds desired for injection into a disposal well.

Abstract: We provide a process for treatment of produced water, including but not limited to water produced by a “steam flood” process for extraction of oil from oil sands, including the removal of color from the water. This removal may be accomplished through addition of color-removal polymers and flocculents. This process may also be useful for other water treatment processes including reverse osmosis and filtration.

Abstract: An emulsion treating unit and process. A subcooled boiling zone in the unit comprises a heat transfer surface to contact an emulsion at a temperature in excess of the saturation temperature of an aqueous phase in the emulsion, wherein the boiling zone is atmospherically vented. The unit also provides means for recovering an oil-rich layer from adjacent a vapor-liquid interface; and means for recovering an aqueous-rich layer from below the oil-rich layer. The process provides operation of the treating unit to heat an emulsion in the subcooled boiling zone, wherein the boiling zone is atmospherically vented, recovering an oil-rich layer and recovering an aqueous-rich layer from below the oil-rich layer. In one embodiment the boiling zone comprises a heat transfer surface having a temperature in excess of the saturation temperature of the aqueous-rich layer, wherein the vapor-liquid interface is subcooled with respect to the saturation temperature of the aqueous layer.

Abstract: A process for purifying a lipid composition having predominantly neutral lipid components having at least one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid is disclosed. The process employs contacting the lipid composition with a polar solvent, such as acetone, wherein the solvent is selected such that contaminants are less soluble in the solvent than is the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid. The process is typically conducted at cooler temperatures, including about 0° C. Upon precipitation of the contaminants from the lipid composition, a separation is conducted to remove the precipitated material from the lipid composition. The long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids can include ARA, DPA, EPA, and/or DHA. The process of the present invention effectively winterizes lipid compositions, thereby reducing the tendency of such compositions to become hazy.

Abstract: A system and method of removing product from sludge at a bottom of a storage tank that includes introducing a liquid to the tank, heating and agitating the liquid to separate the product from the sludge, and then removing the separated product and removing the introduced liquid.

Abstract: Processes and systems are provided with a hydrophilic liquid or solution for clarifying drilling mud to separate diesel oil or other oil lubricants out from the drilling mud such that the diesel oil or other oil lubricants may be recycled to a well for reuse as a lubricant for drilling components, such as a drilling bit. The hydrophilic liquid or solution may be recovered and reused/recycled in the processes and/or systems as well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for desalinating water combined with power generation, wherein a desalination system is used for desalinating coastal seawater and is operationally related to a power generation system, wherein such dual purpose co-generation facility captures the heat vapor exhausted or a steam turbine generator's condenser is replaced by the desalination plant's heat exchanger enabling such captured heat energy to reduce the energy requirements of the desalination plant, and wherein brine solution being utilized by the desalination plant is circulated from and to the substrata sea water table via supply and return wells.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process and apparatus for utilization of waste heat of flue gas liberated from different heat sources to provide high quality water from sea/brackish.

Abstract: Processing of wet biomass feedstock by liquid-phase catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a pre-treatment temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent removal of soluble sulfate contaminants, or combinations thereof. Processing further includes reacting the soluble sulfate contaminants with cations present in the feedstock material to yield a sulfate-containing precipitate and separating the inorganic precipitates and/or the sulfate-containing precipitates out of the wet feedstock. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfate contaminants that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a process for removing dissolved niobium, titanium, and zirconium impurities from an iron chloride solution having an iron concentration of about 50 to about 250 grams/liter comprising: (a) heating the iron chloride solution comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of a niobium compound, titanium compound, zirconium compound, and mixtures thereof, in a vessel, at a temperature of about 120° C. to about 300° C., and at least autogenous pressure, to precipitate the compound as a solid; and (b) separating the solid from the iron chloride solution. The separation of the solid is accomplished by filtration, settling, or centrifugation. In one embodiment, the iron chloride solution is a byproduct of the chlorination process for making titanium dioxide.

Abstract: Precipitation vessel for precipitation of flocculants from lubricating oil includes a hollow housing having an interior volume capable of containing oil; an entry port capable of allowing oil to enter into the interior volume; a stirrer capable of stirring contained oil; a heater capable of heating the contained oil; a product exit port capable of allowing oil to exit the interior volume; an upper exterior access port; and a lower exterior access port. Contaminated lubricating oil can be cleaned from solid particulates by a method of providing a vessel for containing oil; providing contaminated lubricating oil to the vessel; contacting the contaminated lubricating oil with a coagulant, and, maintaining the resulting mixture at a mildly elevated temperature throughout the vessel, inducing flocculation of solid particles and settlement of flocculated particles under low thermo-current, if not thermo-current-free, conditions; and drawing off lubricating oil cleaned from settled flocculated solid particles.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of treating waste water produced during the nitration of compounds, which includes an appropriate pretreatment process and a vacuum evaporation process, so that acidic or alkaline aqueous waste water which is difficult to treat via conventional processes can be easily treated without performing microorganism treatment.

Abstract: The present application relates to systems and methods for the desalination of water. The systems and methods receive source water containing particles therein from a source of water such as, for example, the ocean. The source water may be pre-treated to remove suspensions and/or sub-micron organics in the source water. The source water is used to generate supercritical water having a pressure and temperature above a critical pressure and a critical temperature, respectively. The supercritical water is run through a spiral separator to generate effluent water and waste water containing aggregated particles therein. Energy may be recovered from the effluent water and used to generate additional supercritical water.

Abstract: Treated sewage sludge containing a flocculant is discharged from bottom of a bin, with the discharge being facilitated by heating sloped walls of the bin an amount sufficient to increase the ability of the sludge to slide along sloped bin walls. The flocculant in the sludge includes a polymeric material which, when heated to a sufficient temperature effects a phase separation of the polymeric material from water, decreasing the viscosity of the polymeric material, facilitating its sliding along the sloped walls. The heating of the polymeric material in the flocculant enables the sloped walls of the bin to be flatter than they would otherwise be, allowing an enhanced volume of sludge to be present in the bin. A programmable logic computer controls the provision of heat to the sloped walls, as well as controlling an openable closure at the bottom of the bin and/or controlling the rotation of a displacement device in the bin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purifying an ionic liquid, which comprises the steps (a) partial crystallization of the ionic liquid from its melt and (b) separation of the crystals from the residual melt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating raw water. The apparatus includes a vessel having an inlet for the raw water, an outlet for the skimmed water, a rotor mechanism for creating a plurality of gas bubbles within the raw water, and a disperser device operatively associated with the rotor mechanism for dispersing the plurality of gas bubbles from the rotor mechanism within the vessel. The vessel contains raw water. The gas bubbles create an oily froth on top of the raw water. The apparatus further includes a skim tray positioned about the rotor mechanism for removing the oily froth from the top of the raw water and a secondary skimmer positioned within the skim tray. An external skim tank may be configured to deliver a gas to the rotor mechanism and to receive the oily froth from the secondary skimmer.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus and method with stair-like heat treatment tanks for performing a breakdown process are disclosed, in which the apparatus comprises: a mixing tank, for evenly mixing wastewater with reaction agents and thus forming a mixed solution; a plurality of heat treatment tanks, for enabling the mixed solution to circulate therein while being heating for a period of time so as to perform an organic destruction process upon the mixed solution and thus cause a discharging liquid to be formed; a heat exchanger, for enabling a heat exchanging process between the discharging liquid and the mixed solution to be performed therein; a condensation tank, for receiving and cooling the discharging liquid; a water purifier, for purifying and thus separating the discharging water into a cleaned water and a concentrated liquid for outputting; an agent recycling unit, for electrolyzing the concentrated liquid so as to recycle the reaction agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of operating steam generators, particularly evaporators, in hard water environments characterized by high Si and Mg content in which the pHcold of the feed water stream is maintained within a range of about 11 to 12 in order to reduce, eliminate or remove scale from internal evaporator surfaces. Additional components may be added to the feed water stream including surfactants, chelants, dispersants, sequestrants and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: This invention intends to enable silicon compound to be removed from waste etching solution at a high removal rate and waste etching solution to be recycled without disposing it. The etching solution reproducing apparatus includes: temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of taken out waste etching solution; atomizing means for atomizing waste etching solution adjusted in temperature by the temperature adjusting means; precipitating means for collecting waste etching solution atomized by the atomizing means and precipitating silicon compound in the waste etching solution; and separating means for separating silicon compound precipitated from the waste etching solution by the precipitating means so as to obtain reproduced etching solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating off coloring components from aqueous plant extracts in which magnesium ions (Mg2+) are added to the plant extract, at least one alkaline component is added to the plant extract, a precipitate is formed, and the precipitate formed is separated off from the plant extract.

Abstract: Substitution of a single Ga-atom or single Ge-atom (GaAl12 and GeAl12 respectively) into the center of an aluminum Keggin polycation (Al13) produces an optimal water-treatment product for neutralization and coagulation of anionic contaminants in water. GaAl12 consistently shows ˜1 order of magnitude increase in pathogen reduction, compared to Al13. At a concentration of 2 ppm, GaAl12 performs equivalently to 40 ppm alum, removing ˜90% of the dissolved organic material. The substituted GaAl12 product also offers extended shelf-life and consistent performance. We also synthesized a related polyaluminum chloride compound made of pre-hydrolyzed dissolved alumina clusters of [GaO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)12]7+.

Abstract: A process for the separation of production fluids is provided. The production fluids comprise an oil/water emulsion stabilized with fine solids. The emulsion may further comprise asphaltenes and naphthenic acids and resins. The process includes subjecting the emulsion to a flocculating agent to flocculate solids within the emulsion, and separating water and solids from crude oil in a first separator. The process further includes subjecting the separated crude oil to a demulsifier after subjecting the emulsion to a flocculating agent, and further separating water from the crude oil in a second separator. A process for producing fluids from a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir is also provided, using the separation processes herein.

Abstract: A process for treatment of an aqueous stream to produce a low solute containing distillate stream and a high solute/solids containing blowdown stream utilizing a method to increase the efficiency of an evaporator while providing an essentially scale free environment for the heat transfer surface. Multi-valent ions and non-hydroxide alkalinity are removed from aqueous feed streams to very low levels and then the pH is increased preferably to about 9 or higher to increase the ionization of low ionizable constituents in the aqueous solution. In this manner, species such as silica and boron become highly ionized, and their solubility in the concentrated solution that is present in the evaporation equipment is significantly increased. The result of this is high allowable concentration factors and a corresponding increase in the recovery of high quality reusable water with essentially no scaling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering an organic-inorganic element-doped metal oxide from a hydrolysable metal compound, accompanied with contaminated water treatment. The present invention comprises steps of: a) adding a hydrolysable metal compound as a coagulant to a contaminated water to form a separable floc between the hydrolysable metal compound and contaminants present in contaminated water; b) separating the separable floc and the pre-treated water after flocculation treatment; and c) calcinating the separated floc over 500° C. to produce an organic-inorganic element-doped metal oxide. More preferably, the present invention further comprises subjecting the pre-treated water of the step b) to a microwave treatment to cause a photocatalytic degradation of an organic contaminant that remains in the pre-treated water, with the assistance of the remaining hydrolysable metal compound.

Abstract: Toxic substances such as heavy metals are extracted from a medium using a sorbent composition. The sorbent composition is derived by sulfidation of red mud, which contains hydrated ferric oxides derived from the Bayer processing of bauxite ores. Exemplary sulfidizing compounds are H2S, Na2S, K2S, (NH4)2S, and CaSx. The sulfur content typically is from about 0.2 to about 10% above the residual sulfur in the red mud. Sulfidized red mud is an improved sorbent compared to red mud for most of the heavy metals tested (Hg, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Se, Th, and U). Unlike red mud, sulfidized red mud does not leach naturally contained metals. Sulfidized red mud also prevents leaching of metals when mixed with red mud. Mixtures of sulfidized red mud and red mud are more effective for sorbing other ions, such as As, Co, Mn, and Sr, than sulfidized red mud alone.

Abstract: A method for neutralizing brines that contain high levels of silica accompanied with a high pH. Brine is processed through a reactor in which the pH is lowered and the resultant silica precipitate is adsorbed onto a sacrificial crystal structure. The resultant stream is then processed through a solids removal zone wherein the solids are removed and recovered for reuse. The neutralized solids-free brine is then suitable for down-hole injection in the heavy oil industry or further treatment by common water treatment methods if further adjustment is required for other industries.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for treating a chlorine-containing waste, which can separate and recover a chlorine component from a chlorine-containing waste, and also can achieve a high chlorine removal thereby obtaining a high purity chlorine compound, and can decrease the amount of water for recovering chlorine.

Abstract: A method for disposing of carbon dioxide is provided. According to the invention, CO2 is dissolved in seawater and the salinity of the seawater is increased to produce CO2-containing brine. The CO2-containing brine is denser than the seawater from which it is made. Therefore, when it is released into the ocean, the CO2-containing brine sinks to depth and sequesters the carbon dioxide. The brine may be produced by forming CO2 hydrate, which extracts fresh water from the seawater. Alternatively, the brine may be produced by forming water ice from the seawater and injecting CO2 into the seawater either before or, more preferably, after the water ice has been formed.

Abstract: A method for purifying used antifreeze is disclosed. An antifreeze recycling systems uses a simple-distillation apparatus adapted to distill clean antifreeze from used antifreeze. A novel scraper blade is used in the simple-distillation apparatus. Also, antifreeze recycling methods that minimize waste and generate nontoxic, landfillable waste are provided. An antifreeze product produced by the present method, and a nontoxic, landfillable sludge product produced by the present method, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for recovering tallow from meat processing wastewater includes adding a coagulant composition to the wastewater to agglomerate suspended fat, oil and grease particles in the wastewater, separating solid waste materials from the wastewater and isolating tallow from the solid waste materials. The coagulant composition includes tannin.

Abstract: The present application relates to systems and methods for the desalination of water. The systems and methods receive source water containing particles therein from a source of water such as, for example, the ocean. The source water may be pre-treated to remove suspensions and/or sub-micron organics in the source water. The source water is used to generate supercritical water having a pressure and temperature above a critical pressure and a critical temperature, respectively. The supercritical water is run through a spiral separator to generate effluent water and waste water containing aggregated particles therein. Energy may be recovered from the effluent water and used to generate additional supercritical water.