Abstract: A process and device for combined oxidation of polluted water, e.g. industrial waste water or effluents, to make it suitable for drinking, involves injection of hydrogen peroxide (pure aqueous solution or diluted) and ozone (gaseous, or ozonized oxygen or air) simultaneously and in a flow direction co-current with the circulation of the water to be treated, at the inlet of the oxidation reactor. For example, a reactor is endowed with mechanisms to inject ozone and hydrogen peroxide at its base, at very closely-spaced points and simultaneously, in a flow direction the same as the water to be treated, with an automatic control system to regulate the levels of the oxidizing agents.

Abstract: Oil well production fluid composed of oil and water and containing in excess of 100 ppm water soluble petroleum carboxylates in anionic form dissolved in the water is treated by acidifying the fluid to a pH of 6.0 or lower with a combination of a strong organic acid and a strong mineral acid and then is intimately mixed. The oil and water are separated one from the other. The content of the water soluble organics in the water is thereby substantially transferred to the oil phase. In a second aspect of the invention, water used to extract corrosive compounds to render the oil suitable for fueling gas turbine power plants is acidified to a pH of 6.0 or lower and is thereafter intimately mixed with fuel oil.

Abstract: A process for dehalogenating hydrocarbon compounds that contaminate aqueous compositions is disclosed. The process admixes the contaminated aqueous composition with ferrous oxide and citric acid. The reaction can be performed in situ and ex situ on contaminated groundwaters, ponds and streams.

Abstract: A process for significantly improving the rate of dehalogenation of aqueous compositions contaminated with halogenated hydrocarbon compounds is disclosed. The process involves admixing the contaminated aqueous composition with metallic iron in the presence of citric acid both in-situ and ex-situ. The use of citric acid as an additive in the reaction substantially increases the rate of iron-induced dechlorination of chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene.

Abstract: A catalyst for oxidizing aqueous organic contaminants includes about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % noble metal crystallites selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, and combinations thereof deposited on a high surface area catalyst support. The crystallites are about 100 .ANG. or smaller. A system for catalytically oxidizing aqueous organic contaminants has a catalyst bed containing such a catalyst, means for heating a reactor feed stream to a desired reaction temperature, means oxygenating the feed stream, and a phase separator for separating gaseous reaction products from a reactor effluent stream.

Abstract: Waste water chemical oxygen demand is reduced from a waste water by passing the water in the presence of an oxidizing agent through an adsorbent porous solid substrate, preferably zeolite A, zeolite X, zeolite Y, ZSM-5, erionite, or chabazite which has been partially ion exchanged with a water insoluble metal compound, copper (Cu), that cataytically facilitates oxidation of the offensive substances or the components in the waste water that increase its chemical oxygen demand, such as cyanide, sulfide, thiosulfate, sulfite, mercaptan, or disulfide. The preferred oxidizing agent is air. It is desired to develop a process for waste water treatment that is effective at reducing the concentration of the offensive substances in the waste water while minimizing the deposition of undesirable residues into the treated waste water.

Abstract: A process for preparing ultrapure polymers (or solutions thereof) which contain at least 20% by weight of N-vinylpyrrolidone as copolymerized units and have a Fikentscher K value of from 10 to 45 by customary free-radical polymerization in solution and subsequent purification of the solution with or without drying comprises purifying the solutions of the polymers by separating off the low molecular weight impurities by means of ultrafiltration at from 20.degree. to 100.degree. C. and from 1 to 80 bar.

Abstract: A method of converting a toxic composition containing an aldehyde to a composition which is substantially non-toxic. The aldehyde is reacted with a polymer having protic oxygen or nitrogen atoms, a polyimine or polyimine derivative, and an active aromatic to couple or react with the aldehyde-containing composition. Preferably, this aldehyde conversion process will yield a substantially fluid reaction product by way of a substantially irreversible reaction.

Abstract: A continuous process for the extraction of halogenated hydrocarbons from a dilute, halogenated hydrocarbon-containing aqueous fluid, in high efficiency, while dramatically reducing the stripping medium requirement for the extraction and without substantially increasing the amount of halogenated hydrocarbons discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating wastewater from a polymerization process. The wastewater contains volatile residual monomer, for example acrylonitrile monomer. The method includes the steps of pretreating the wastewater with an amount of oxygenated waste activated sludge to reduce the levels of residual monomer in the wastewater stream in order to reduce the volatilization of the volatile residual monomer into the atmosphere during further treatment of the wastewater stream. Preferably the process involves steps of neutralization, primary clarification, cooling, aeration and secondary clarification to provide a wastewater treatment process that has a minimum of air emissions of residual volatile hydrocarbon monomer and which provides a final treated water effluent that has the desired pH level, temperature, biological oxygen demand and a suspended solids level for emission of the treated water into the environment.

Abstract: A chemical process for selectively removing organometallic compounds from water supplies. The process utilizes a combination of a transition metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, iron and zinc, and an electropositive metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium and aluminum to effectively remove organometallic compounds from water whether present in ionic or non-ionic form.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing a compound comprises contacting the compound with iodide ions and irradiating the iodide ions with UV light of a wavelength sufficient to generate iodine atoms. The compound is then oxidized with the resulting iodine atoms. The iodine atoms are reduce to iodide ions as a result of the oxidation of the compound.

Abstract: The aqueous effluent from the wash and/or rinse cycles of a process for cleaning electronic circuit assemblies of rosin flux and other organic residues with an aqueous amine cleaning solution comprises treating the effluent with an alkaline earth metal oxide which reacts with the rosin flux to cause precipitation of an alkaline earth metal rosinate and the retention of free amine in aqueous solution.

Abstract: The aqueous effluent from the wash cycle of a process for cleaning electronic circuit assemblies of rosin flux and other organic residues with an aqueous alkaline cleaning solution comprises treating the effluent with an alkaline earth metal compound which reacts with the rosin flux to cause precipitation of an alkaline earth metal rosinate. Alkali saponifiers such as alkali metal carbonates and bicarbonates and carboxylate organic adjuvants in the cleaning solution are also removed from the effluent by reaction with the alkaline earth metal compound to form water insoluble alkaline earth salts which are precipitated from solution.

Abstract: A method of converting a toxic composition containing an aldehyde to a composition which is substantially non-toxic. The aldehyde is reacted with a compound having protic oxygen or nitrogen atoms and a polyimine or polyimine derivative to absorb or swell the aldehyde-containing composition and preferably to yield a substantially solid reaction product by way of a substantially irreversible reaction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating industrial waste water which comprises either: (a) pretreating the waste water with at least two different pretreatments selected from adsorption, membrane filtration and oxidation and then, biologically purifying the waste water or, (b) neutralizing and biologically purifying the waste water and then after-treating the waste water either by membrane filtation in combination with adsorption or oxidation or, by oxidation optionally in combination with adsorption or filtration on a nanofiltration membrane or, by filtration on a nanofiltration membrane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for destroying organic compounds is described. The apparatus utilizes a mixture of oxidants to "burn" the organic compound. The oxidants can be generated in a separate apparatus and then added to the organic compound. If the organic compound is present in the form of an aqueous solution, the oxidants can be generated in the aqueous solution itself.

Abstract: A method for treating liquid wastes containing photoresist polymers and heavy metals is disclosed. The method includes adding to the liquid wastes an aqueous solution of water soluble FE.sup.+3 and Al.sup.+3 salts at a pH in the range of from about 0.1 to 1.0, and a water soluble salt of Mg.sup.+2 or Ca.sup.+2. The ratio of the amount of the Fe.sup.+3 and Al.sup.+3 to the amount of the Mg.sup.+2 or Ca.sup.+2 is in the range of from 2 to 3 moles to 1 to 3 moles. A precipitate containing the heavy metals and photoresist polymers is formed.

Abstract: A method and process for the treatment of liquids, including moving injection wands into a tank containing the liquid to be treated and injecting a treating solution through the injection wands to increase the reaction mixing between the injected treating solution and the liquid being treated.

Abstract: A process for treatment of caustic sulfide liquor by wet oxidation in a ferrous-based alloy system at temperatures less than about 175.degree. C. is described. The liquor is first analyzed for alkalinity consuming species and for nonsulfidic alkalinity. If excess alkalinity consuming species is present compared to nonsulfidic alkalinity, then additional nonsulfidic alkalinity is added to the raw liquor such that excess alkalinity is present during wet oxidation treatment, thus preventing excessive corrosion to the ferrous-base alloy system.

Abstract: Regulated processes for biodegrading halogenated organic compounds in an aqueous subsurface environment through stimulation of bacteria are provided. The processes provide an electron donor source to anaerobic dehalogenating bacteria as a stimulus for biodegradation of the contaminants. When necessary to limit the biological formation of vinyl halide monomer, the processes provide for a sulfate reducing environment in the region of biological activity by the addition of an inorganic sulfate. One embodiment provides for converting the aqueous subsurface environment from anaerobic dehalogenating conditions to aerobic conditions. Another embodiment provides for converting the aqueous subsurface environment from anaerobic dehalogenating conditions to anaerobic methanogenic conditions followed by conversion to aerobic conditions in order to completely degrade the contaminants to carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a method for the photocatalytic treatment of aqueous mixtures of polluting substances. Such a method consists in submitting such mixtures to irradiation in the presence of titanium dioxide while they are circulating inside a reactor formed by a hollow space of not more than 5 cm of thickness, whose inner wall is the wall of a lamp emitting at least a fraction of its radiations with a wavelength shorter than 400 nm.In this reactor a cooling sheath is not provided between the lamp and the reaction mixture and temperature control is accomplished by means of the circulation of the same reaction mixture inside the reactor.

Abstract: A high rate multi-stage bubble separation process is developed for: (a) initially generating coarse gas bubbles with diameters greater than 80 microns in turbulent hydraulic condition to mix an influent water with chemicals, enzymes, microorganisms, or combinations thereof, to produce chemical flocs, biological flocs or both, and to strip volatile contaminants from water; (b) subsequently terminating coarse gas bubbles and generating extremely fine gas bubbles with diameters smaller than 80 microns in laminar hydraulic condition to float suspended, oily and surface-active contaminants together with said chemical flocs and said biological flocs from water, to settle heavy contaminants from water, and to produce a clarified effluent water, a floating scum, and a sludge; (c) terminating the fine gas bubbles and discharging the clarified effluent water; (d) discharging the floating scum and the sludge upon demand; and (e) optionally collecting and treating an emitted gas stream resulting from said coarse gas bubb

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of treating a process stream from a process producing a non-biodegradable alkylene carbonate stream. The alkylene carbonate is hydrolyzed in a strong, aqueous, alkaline solution to form an aqueous alkaline solution of the corresponding alkylene glycol. This solution is then acidified to a pH of about 8 to 8.5. The acidified solution is aerated in activated sludge to reduce the biological oxugen demand (BOD) of the solution.

Abstract: A curable composition, useful for impregnating porosity of porous articles, comprising acrylate monomer, heat- and/or anaerobic-cure initiator, and non-peroxy, actinic radiation photoinitiator. A method of treating waste water produced by aqueous washing of a porous article to remove excess impregnant therefrom, wherein the impregnant comprises acrylate monomer and actinic radiation photoinitiator, includes the steps of exposing the waste water to actinic radiation polymerizingly effective for the monomer, and recovering the resulting polymer from the waster water to yield a polymer-depleted effluent which may be discharged to receiving waters.

Abstract: In a process for biodegrading under highly alkaline conditions organics in a waste stream derived from a Bayer processing system for producing aluminum oxides,i) the waste stream being typical of oxalate waste streams resulting from alkaline treatment of bauxite, the oxalate waste streams being rich in oxalates, formates, acetates, benzoates and sodium ions and having a pH in excess of 8,ii) treating the highly alkaline waste stream to neutralize and thereby lower pH and to reduce sodium ion concentration prior to introducing the waste stream into a bioreactor,iii) biodegrading the oxalates in the bioreactor by use of Pseudomonas genus microorganisms, andiv) discharging at least a portion of the biodegraded waste stream, the improvement being characterized by:a) introducing the highly alkaline waste stream rich in sodium ions to the bioreactor to avoid the treatment of step ii),b) biodegrading the organics in the waste stream with the Pseudomonas genus microorganisms characterized by ATCC 53883 deposited micr

Abstract: A method for treating soil contaminated by organic compounds wherein an ozone containing gas is treated with acid to increase the stability of the ozone in the soil environment and the treated ozone applied to the contaminated soil to decompose the organic compounds. The soil may be treated in situ or may be removed for treatment and refilled.

Abstract: A method for treating an aqueous waste or groundwater containing organic contaminants.

Abstract: Groundwater is contained under highly reducing conditions. The Eh value is brought down to -100 or -200 mV, at which the contaminant breaks down, probably by a hydrolysis reaction. The contaminated groundwater is fed through a trench containing a metal such as iron filings, which is effective, under strict exclusion of oxygen, and over a period of time, to lower the Eh. Alternatively, the water may be pumped through an enclosed tank containing iron, or other metal, filings or other high-surface-area form.

Abstract: A process and system are provided for treating wastewater having at least a hydrocarbon component and water in which a multi-phase liquid system including an aqueous hydrocarbon-contaminated layer is formed and isolated from a remaining hydrocarbon-enriched layer. The aqueous hydrocarbon-contaminated layer is treated to remove volatile hydrocarbon contaminant, insoluble organic contaminant and dissolved hydrocarbon contaminant.

Abstract: A process for purifying water, which comprises passing water contaminated with halogenated compounds through one or more fixed or fluidized bed reactors which are connected in series and packed with an adsorbent material which is inoculated with one or more microorganisms. The process results in almost complete elimination of the halogenated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for treating an aqueous waste water or groundwater containing organic contaminants degradable by hydrated electrons comprises contacting the aqueous waste water or groundwater with an agent which generates hydrated electrons on photolysis. Additionally, the aqueous waste water or groundwater is irradiated with UV light to photolyse the hydrated electron generating agent, thereby generating hydrated electrons to degrade the contaminants. In one embodiment, the aqueous waste water or groundwater is contacted with the hydrated electron generating agent and a reducing agent to recycle the hydrated electron generating agent.

Abstract: The removal of organo-toxins from aqueous sources can be achieved efficiently by contacting the water source with hydrotalcite-like materials. The toxins include organo-chlorines, insect resist agents, and wool treatment byproducts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for oxidation of aqueous mixtures of organic material, including toxic material in the presence of inorganic materials, by reaction of said material with water and oxygen at supercritical conditions. Oxygen and the aqueous mixture are separately pressurized to greater than about 218 atmospheres, combined to form a reaction mixture and then directed through a tubular reactor having a substantially constant internal diameter. The velocity of the reaction mixture is sufficient to prevent settling of a substantial portion of solids initially present in the reaction mixture and of solids which form during passage through the reactor. The mixture is heated to temperature above about 374.degree. C. in the tubular reactor. A substantial portion of the organic material in the reaction mixture is oxidized in the tubular reactor to thereby form an effluent mixture.

Abstract: The use of aluminum sulfate to neutralize alkaline solutions yields a gelatinous precipitate. When neutralization of the solution causes other materials to precipitate along with the gel, filtration of the precipitated materials is very difficult because of the gel. The addition of water soluble magnesium, aluminum, and/or calcium salts as primary neutralizing agents for an alkaline stripper solution of a photoresin, followed by the acidification of the resulting slurry to a pH of from about 2 to about 3 gives a slurry of the precipitated resin which may be filtered quickly.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved wet oxidation process for the destruction of organic components in a wastewater stream contaminated with inorganic salts. In wet oxidation, the wastewater stream is contacted with an oxygen-containing water stream at elevated temperatures and pressures. The improvement for treating aqueous wastewater streams contaminated with inorganic salts wherein the organic contaminants are present in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight resides in oxidizing the organic components in a tubular reactor at a temperature ranging from 325.degree. C. to not more than 370.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 220 to 345 bar. The oxidation reaction is carried out in a reaction time of 5 minutes or less.

Abstract: A process is shown for deabsorbing oil from an oil absorbent material. A citric oil-in-water emulsion is formulated having an aqueous external phase and having a dispersed internal phase which is comprised of a distilled citric oil. The hydrocarbon contaminated material is immersed within the citric oil-in-water emulsion, whereby absorbed hydrocarbons are extracted from the oil absorbent material.

Abstract: A chemical process for the catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde and other organic compounds contained in a dilute aqueous solution, particularly waste water. The inventive feature resides in the use of a cobalt catalyst, at ambient temperature, at a pH of 5.5, to increase the rate of oxidation of the organic compounds when hypochlorous acid is the oxidant. The latter may be provided by a chlorine compound, such as sodium hypochlorate, calcium hypochlorite or chlorine gas dissolved in water.

Abstract: Hydrophobic contaminants are removed from a particulate matter by contacting the particulate matter with a solid organic phase. The hydrophobic contaminants have greater affinity for the solid organic phase than for the particulate matter and repartition to the solid organic phase. The solid organic phase is then separated from the particulate matter. A typical embodiment utilizes polystyrene particles to remove polychlorinated biphenyls from soil.

Abstract: A process for removing undesired material from a chosen substrate by exposing the substrate simultaneously to ultraviolet radiation and a selected dense fluid, wherein the radiation produces a photochemical reaction that removes the undesired material from the substrate and the dense fluid enhances the removal of the undesired material. In an alternative embodiment, a reactive agent may additionally be used. The process may be used to remove contaminants from a substrate, etch a substrate surface, or destroy toxic organic material in industrial wastes.

Abstract: Raw water such as polluted ground water can be recovered to clean water through the following processes. Firstly, oxidizing agent is added to raw water to disinfect bacteria, and then after suspended solid is removed from the water, ultraviolet rays are irradiated on the water so that organic chlorine compounds can be decomposed by active oxygen generated by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays. Finally, the residual oxidizing agent remaining in the treated water is reduced by activated carbon and catalytic resin. Further, the organic chlorine compound decomposition reaction is promoted at pH of 9 or below and in a temperature range of 15 to 30.degree. C.

Abstract: Contaminated soils are treated in that an aqueous slurry of the soil is separated into a coarse fraction and a fine fraction, the fine fraction is subjected to flotation, the resulting froth is dewatered and then carried away as a pollutant concentrate, and the underflow from the flotation is dewatered and is then carried away as purified soil. An emulsified oily vegetable oil is used as a collector agent for the selective flotation or an emulsified light mineral oil is used as a collector agent for the selective flotation and a light mineral oil is stirred as a conditioning agent into the fine fraction before it is subjected to the selective flotation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for denitrification of compounds containing nitrogen present in aqueous waste streams. The method comprises the steps of (1) identifying the types of nitrogen compounds present in a waste stream, (2) determining the concentrations of nitrogen compounds, (3) balancing oxidized and reduced form of nitrogen by adding a reactant, and (4) heating the mixture to a predetermined reaction temperature from about 300.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C., thereby resulting in less harmful nitrogen and oxygen gas, hydroxides, alcohols, and hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the pretreatment of activated carbon, capable of being employed especially for the purification of concentrated solutions of hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: An improved method for detoxification of contaminated liquids or solid materials by the application of ultrasonic energy to the material in the presence of agents capable of initiating chemical reactions with toxic contaminants, which chemical reactions facilitate the removal of the toxic contaminants.

Abstract: Methanotropics are grown in a bioreactor containing a solid support. They decompose halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons found in ground water. The growth of the bacteria and the methane concentrations in the biomass reactor are controlled to significantly enhance the degradation of the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process is disclosed which limits the corrosion of the materials of construction of a wet oxidation system treating wastewaters. The process is particularly useful in the wet oxidation treatment of ammonium sulfate containing wastes such as acrylonitrile wastewaters. The wastewater is mixed with an oxygen containing gas such that a substantial residual oxygen gas concentration is maintained from before the stream-gas mixture is heated for wet oxidation until after the oxidized stream-gas mixture is cooled and separated. Preferably, in the treatment of acrylonitrile waste water the shutdown procedure comprises cooling said waste stream by introducing an aqueous liquid substantially free of organic impurities and containing a basic material.

Abstract: A method of the present invention is provided for removing low molecular weight contaminants from a contaminant-containing material. This contaminant-containing material can include alcohol compounds, aldehyde compounds and peroxide compounds. The method comprises providing an alcohol oxidase enzyme-based catalyst system including coimmobilized transition metals comprising platinum and copper for catalytically oxidizing the contaminant-containing material. Then, the contaminant-containing material is catalytically oxidized in the presence of the alcohol oxidase enzyme-based catalyst system to form organic acid compounds. The organic acid compounds can then be removed.

Abstract: A multilayer membrane is composed of a carrier layer, a porous supporting layer and a separating layer. The carrier layer consists of fibers of polyamide, polyvinylidene difluoride, polyester or glass; the porous supporting layer consists of a polysulfone, polyvinylidene difluoride, polyethersulfone, polyimide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile or polyether imide; the separating layer consists of polyvinyl alcohol. The separating layer is nonporous and has a structure having a high microcrystalline content. A process of manufacturing that membrane is also described.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating an aqueous waste stream containing a photoresist waste component. Under this process the pH of the waste stream is adjusted in a range from about 4.0 to about 6.0 and an additive is added to the waste stream in a concentration effective to separate a precipitant from the waste solution in the form of a non-sticky residue. The additive is selected from the group consisting of FeCl.sub.3, CuCl.sub.2, NH.sub.4 Cl, AlCl.sub.3, and combinations thereof.