Abstract: A method for removing pollutants from water, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of providing algal spores for seeding, providing a source of water for flowing through a floway, and the water contains a quantity of pollutants and has a pH on entry into said floway, providing a growing surface in the floway upon which the algal spores form an attachment, subjecting the algal spores in the floway to operating conditions resulting in the formation of an algal turf in which the algae has cell walls on its surface, adjusting the floway operating conditions such that a predetermined pollutant precipitates onto and/or into the algal cell walls but not into the water, and harvesting a portion of the algal turf including the cell walls onto and/or into which the pollutants have precipitated.

Abstract: In a method for reducing the content of heavy metals of solid materials, particularly of soils, a 0.1-10% aqueous solution of chemically modified biomasses of waste and residue materials is applied to the solid material whereby the heavy metals are released and extracted from the solid material. The biomass solution residues remaining in the solid material after the heavy metal extraction procedure is rapidly biodegradable so that no objectionable traces remain in the solid materials or soils.

Abstract: The present invention combines an alkaline mixture, adjuvant surfactant, and water, thereby creating a treatment mixture, for eliminating acid generation in sulfide bearing material. After determining a level of acidity of a sulfide bearing material, a user derives an alkaline mixture to neutralize the level of acidity of the sulfide bearing material. The alkaline mixture of the present invention comprises highly reactive calcium oxide and lower reactive calcium carbonate. The user then combines the alkaline mixture with an adjuvant surfactant and water to generate a treatment mixture. The treatment mixture is applied to the sulfide bearing material, thereby eliminating acid generation.

Abstract: A process for the decontamination of a medium including a particulate material contaminated with one or more organic species and one or more metal species, the process including the steps of: (1) treating said medium by breaking down the organic species by or through the action of microbial agents, (2) treating the medium with microbially produced sulfuric acid so as to solubilize and leach the metal species as a metal sulfate, (3) treating the leached metal sulfate by a bioprecipitation process which converts the said sulfate into one or more insoluble metal sulfides and hydrogen sulfide, (4) separating the hydrogen sulfide from the one or more insoluble metal sulfides and (5) oxidizing the separated hydrogen sulfide to form a reusable source of a sulfur-containing ingredient.

Abstract: A method for removing heavy metals and halogenated hydrocarbons from contaminated groundwaters is provided. The method provides utilizing a treatment solution comprising a soluble source of organic carbon, ferrous iron, and sulfate. Additionally, the treatment solution may comprise sulfate reducing bacteria as well as nutrients for bacterial metabolism. The treatment is designed to stimulate the growth of naturally occurring sulfate reducing bacteria such that the metals are coprecipitated in iron sulfide and the hydrocarbons are reduced to innocuous byproducts.

Abstract: It concerns a monomer, a polymer obtained from the monomer and a process for obtaining the said polymer. The monomer consists of a polyether containing at least 3 ether units and pyrrole or thiophene units bonded to the ends of the chains of this polyether via, for each of these heterocycic compounds, either their carbon atoms in the 3,3'-positions of their heterocycles or, as regards more particularly the pyrrole groups, via their respective nitrogen atoms, the 2- and 2'-positions of these heterocycles being, however, free of all substitutions or, at the very most, substituted by easily removable groups (protective groups, for example).Application to the purification and recovery of metal ions such as radioactive silver.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of removing paint containing heavy metal from a surface without the production of hazardous wastes. Specifically, this method involves applying a coating preparation to the heavy metal containing paint prior to its removal from its surface. The preparation contains lead reactive chemicals such as phosphates, metal sulfides and organic sulfides. The preparation may also contain buffers such as magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide. These chemicals react with the heavy metals rendering them nonhazardous. The invention also involves the coating preparation itself.

Abstract: Noxious wastes are detoxicated by admixing a detoxicating agent to noxious wastes containing heavy metals, PCB, or the like and eliminating noxious materials in the wastes, in which the detoxicating agent comprises sodium, potassium, calcium, lithium, barium, magnesium, strontium, cobalt or nickel, copper and zinc contained in an ionic state to a diluted aqueous solution comprising tannin and pyrolignous acid as the main ingredient. Further, the detoxicating agent is admixed together with cement to the noxious wastes containing heavy metals, PCB or the like, thereby eliminating noxious substances in the wastes and solidifying them.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable assembly for treating hazardous waste water having a plurality of paired filter units having filter mediums and operated at high filter rates to minimize solids build up wherein solids are caused to be smashed and broken by shear forces and wherein chemicals are sequentially added to facilitate solids reduction, to oxidize organic compounds and to precipitate dissolved solids and wherein the process stream is subjected to ultraviolet light to reduce organic loading and downstream ultra filtration units to further reduce solids followed by reverse osmosis and/or ionization treatment.

Abstract: A method of treating a spent dry film stripping and/or developing solution comprising the steps of adding about 0.01 to 15 grams of an aluminum source per liter of solution; adding about 0.05 to 25 grams of a metal precipitating agent per liter of solution; mixing the aluminum source, the metal precipitating agent and the solution with one another to form a mixture; adding an acid source to the mixture to lower the pH to less than about 6.5; and filtering the mixture to separate the metals and the photoresist from the remainder of the solution. The composition may also include 0 to 10 percent by weight of a dust-suppression agent, per liter of the solution, 0.1 to 10 grams of siliceous particulates per liter of spent stripper solution and/or an agent to enhance flocculation of the polymer precipitate.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of barium sulphide or strontium sulphide for the removal of heavy metals in industrial acidic solutions.The invention is applicable to the purification of contaminated acids, in particular of spent battery acid, or of industrial solutions of titanyl sulphate.

Abstract: A process for treating a photographic processing waste solution which comprises:placing a polymer precipitate in a lower portion of a tank having a U-shaped treating space which comprises (i) a first partition, (ii) a second partition and (iii) an interconnecting partition for interconnecting the first partition and the second partition in the lower portion of a tank;introducing into the first partition a photographic processing waste solution containing a processing solution having fixing ability which has processed a silver halide photographic material;treating the photographic processing waste solution in the U-shaped treating space in the presence of a polymer having S atom which can coordinate with a metal; andremoving the metal in said photographic processing waste solution.

Abstract: A system and method for disposing of vacuum degasser contaminants which includes adjusting the pH, in a reactor vessel, of a vacuum degasser underflow stream to precipitate lead and zinc into particulate matter. The solids are then concentrated in a thickener to produce an underflow stream that is communicated to a holding vessel to settle. The overflow from the thickener is filtered through a sand filter and discharged to meet applicable NPDES permit limits. Lime is added to the slurry in the holding vessel to further settle the solids, to aid in filtration, and to prevent leaching of lead from the filter cake during TCLP testing. An overlaying supernatant is decanted from the holding vessel and returned to the reactor vessel for further treatment. Limestone is added to the underflow stream. The resulting slurry is dewatered to produce a friable, non-hazardous filtrate cake and a filtrate. The filtrate is directed back to reactor vessel prior to discharge for further treatment.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for treating an aqueous waste material in order to reduce the volume of the material for disposal and/or landfill. In the method, an aqueous waste material containing organic compounds is contacted with calcium carbide under conditions which cause water and calcium carbide to react to produce acetylene and a residue. The acetylene is burned in the presence of the residue to further reduce the volume of material for disposal.

Abstract: A method of extracting metal and metalloid species from a solid or liquid substrate using a supercritical fluid solvent containing one or more chelating agents followed by back-extracting the metal and metalloid species from the metal and metalloid chelates formed thereby. The back-extraction acidic solution is performed utilizing an acidic solution. Upon sufficient exposure of the metal and metalloid chelates to the acidic solution, the metal and metalloid species are released from the chelates into the acid solution, while the chelating agent remains in the supercritical fluid solvent. The chelating agent is thereby regenerated and the metal and metalloid species recovered.

Abstract: Methods of removing contaminant metals from aqueous waste streams. A preferred method includes providing an aqueous waste stream containing a metal having a valence of at least one, such as zinc, lead, chromium, copper, iron, aluminum, manganese, cadmium, gold, silver, and mixtures of these metals. The waste stream is substantially free of calcium and magnesium. The process also includes forming a substantially insoluble precipitate of said metal by mixing with the waste stream fatty acids; zinc, potassium, and sodium salts of fatty acids; and mixtures of these materials. The metal precipitate is separated from the waste stream and the water that is subject to the removal process remains substantially free of calcium and magnesium throughout the entire process. The methods of the present invention are particularly effective for the removal of trace amounts of zinc from aqueous waste streams from polystyrene processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a water purification composition including silver metal and a second metal. The second metal is relatively reducing and helps control the overall silver cation concentration in solution. The composition effectively disinfects and removes toxic metal ions from water.

Abstract: An in situ method for extraction of arsenic contaminants from a soil medium and remediation of the medium including contacting the medium with an extractant solution, directing the solution within and through the medium, and collecting the solution and contaminants. The method can also be used for arsenate and/or arsenite removal.

Abstract: A method of extracting metalloid and metal species from a solid or liquid material by exposing the material to a fluid solvent, particularly supercritical carbon dioxide, containing a chelating agent is described. The chelating agent forms chelates that are soluble in the fluid to allow removal of the species from the material. In preferred embodiments, the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide and the chelating agent comprises a trialkyl phosphate, a triaryl phosphate, a trialkylphosphine oxide, a triarylphosphine oxide, or mixtures thereof. The method provides an environmentally benign process for removing contaminants from industrial waste. The method is particularly useful for extracting actinides from acidic solutions, and the process can be aided by the addition of nitrate salts. The chelate and supercritical fluid can be regenerated, and the contaminant species recovered, to provide an economic, efficient process.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method for treating sludge as a by-product of a process of tin electroplating a steel plate by means of a plating bath containing haloid ions, together with an equipment therefor. More specifically, by immersing the sludge in water prior to filtration, the residual sludge is subjected to alkali hydrolysis in the presence or absence of the ions of an alkali earth metal within a temperature range of 100.degree. to 400.degree. C., whereby cyanide compounds and fluoride compounds contained therein under environmental regulations are prepared into environmentally non-hazardous matters. By adjusting the filtrate to pH 7.5 to 10, the precipitate with the principal component of tin hydroxide is deposited to recover the tin components contained in the sludge. Furthermore, the recovered tin is refined into the metal tin, for recycling and use as the electrode by the plating.

Abstract: This invention refers to an original solution for the purification of contaminated water streams with the activated sludge method, involving: a) a two-stage aeration system operating at high rate and low rate conditions respectively, where the first stage operates in anoxic conditions promoting denitration, whereas the second stage operates under oxidant conditions so that nitrates are removed to an extent of 70%; b) a system for moving the biological sludge, where the sludge produced in the first aeration tank is totally rejected, and that produced in the second aeration tank is recycled to the first.

Abstract: A composition for treating water or flue gases that contains metal ions and possibly also organic and/or inorganic compounds is produced by reacting sulfur with an alkali- and/or alkaline earth metal hydroxide in the presence of water.The inventive composition corresponds to general formula IM.sub.x S.sub.y O.sub.z, (I)where M represents an alkali or alkaline earth metal,x is 1 or 2,y is in the range 0.5x-4.0x, andz is in the range 0.1-2.5.Alkali sulfite salts, particularly sodium salts, may also be added to the compound for reducing H.sub.2 S emission.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting a silver-mercapto-s-triazine precipitate to a solid containing silver and a solution containing mercapto-s-triazine by contacting the silver-mercapto-s-triazine precipitate with one or more reducing agents. In preferred embodiments, at least one of the reducing agents has a redox potential more negative than about -0.9 V vs. Normal Hydrogen Electrode, NHE.

Abstract: A method for recovering and separating precious and non-precious metals from waste streams, which removes, separates, and recovers such metals in a cost effective manner with more than 95% removal from waste streams and with minimal amounts of umprocessed solids and sludge remaining in the enviroment. Metals such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum, vanadium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, aluminum, tin; and the like are removed and recovered from the waste streams with at least 95% removal and other metals and compounds, such as antimony, sulfur, and selenium are removed and recovered from waste streams with at least 50% removal. The method employs a unique complexing agent comprising a carbamate compound and an alkali metal hydroxide which facilitates the formation of the metals into ionic metal particles enabling them to be readily separated, removed and recovered.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of waste water containing a harmful ion such as a heavy metal ion or fluorine ion by the coagulating sedimentation method using an inorganic coagulant such as an iron compound or an aluminum compound. After separating treated water from the sediment (sludge) in which the harmful ion is incorporated in insoluble form, the pH of a mixture of the sediment and water is suitably adjusted to cause elution of the harmful ion from the sediment. Then the sediment is separated from the eluate and reused as an inorganic coagulant. By reusing the sediment in this manner, the waste water treatment is accomplished without producing a large quantity of sludge and the consumption of inorganic coagulant and auxiliary chemicals can be greatly reduced, while the concentration of the harmful ion in the treated water becomes sufficiently low.

Abstract: Adsorbent alumina particulates which comprise coagulated droplets, extrudates or crushed alumina particles having a volume of pores with a diameter greater than 80 .ANG. of at least 0.15 cm.sup.3 /g and a particle size of less than 4 mm are well suited for adsorbing chelated organometallic compound values thereon, in particular from a medium of polymerization comprising same.

Abstract: In a process of remediating chemical contamination of a pond contaminated with one or more toxic heavy metals or aromatic compounds, the steps include: preparing a silage of grass clippings, placing the silage on the surface of a pond, and inoculating the pond with an alga and Bacillus cereus in sufficient quantities to cause a mixed algal and bacterial bloom to form on the pond surface and become annealed to the silage, leaving the silage with the annealed bloom on the surface of the pond for a sufficient amount of time to allow the bloom to withdraw at least some of the toxic heavy metal content or to degrade at least some of the aromatic compound content of the pond, and removing the silage with the annealed bloom from the pond.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating heavy metal ions from a processing solution includes a filter. A cylindrical separating member divides the filter into two discrete compartments, an inner cylindrical portion and an outer annular portion concentrically arranged outside the inner cylindrical portion. The separating member is made of chemical and heat resistant material. The processing solution is made to flow through the inner portion in one direction and a gas is made to flow through the outer portion in the opposite direction. The flowing has negatively charges the separating member, which results in formation of an electrical double layer on the surface where the processing solution contacts the separating member. The heavy metal ions in the processing solution, which ions are positively charged, are attracted and adsorbed to the negatively charged separating member, thus removing the heavy metal ions from the processing solution.

Abstract: A method of extracting metalloid and metal species from a solid or liquid material by exposing the material to a supercritical fluid solvent containing a chelating agent is described. The chelating agent forms chelates that are soluble in the supercritical fluid to allow removal of the species from the material. In preferred embodiments, the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide and the chelating agent is a fluorinated .beta.-diketone. In especially preferred embodiments the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide, and the chelating agent comprises a fluorinated .beta.-diketone and a trialkyl phosphate, or a fluorinated .beta.-diketone and a trialkylphosphine oxide. Although a trialkyl phosphate can extract lanthanides and actinides from acidic solutions, a binary mixture comprising a fluorinated .beta.-diketone and a trialkyl phosphate or a trialkylphosphine oxide tends to enhance the extraction efficiencies for actinides and lanthanides.

Abstract: Mine waste water is treated to remove both dissolved and particulate metal values by an improved process, the process comprising:A. Mixing with the mine waste water a sufficient amount of anionic polymer to combine with the dissolved and particulate metal values to form a polymer/metal particle complex,B. Mixing the polymer/metal particle complex of Step A with a source of ferric ions, e.g. ferric chloride, to form a ferric/polymer/metal particle complex,C. Mixing the ferric/polymer/metal particle complex of Step B with a source of hydroxyl ions, e.g. a solution of calcium oxide, to form a hydroxylated ferric/polymer/metal particle complex,D. Mixing sufficient flocculent, e.g. a polyacrylamide, with the complex of Step C to precipitate the complex, andE. Separating the slurry of Step D into a clean water effluent and a high density (e.g. >50% solids), low toxic sludge.

Abstract: Waste water sludge which contains phosphorous, heavy metals and at least one metal originating from a waste water treatment coagulant, is treated in order to recover the phosphorous and the at least one metal, and to discharge the heavy metals. The at least one metal includes iron.

Abstract: In the process for treating contaminated mud or suspended earth, the mud or the suspended earth in concentrations of 3% to 25% dry matter is wet-oxidized by addition of pure oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature of 120.degree. C. to 220.degree. C., under a pressure of 3 bar to 50 bar and at pH values <7. To accelerate the oxidation reaction, iron ions alone or in combination with quinones or quinone-forming substances are added to the mud or to the suspended earth.

Abstract: Disposable paper filters suitable for removal of contaminants from fluids such as water or air are disclosed. Specific embodiments include single-ply and multi-ply filters in which metal removal additives and/or halogen and organic contaminant removal additives have been distributed during the manufacturing process. Special manufacturing methods for producing such composite filters are also described.

Abstract: A method for preventing the formation of black marks on the walls of sunken pools containing water contaminated by copper ions, which consists in treating the water using an effective amount of a metal sulfide having a water solubility at least equal to the solubility of copper sulfide. The treatment reduces the concentration of copper ions in the water and prevents the formation of black marks on the walls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an installation for the decontamination of radioactive nitric effluents containing strontium and sodium. According to this process, contacting takes place in 1 of the aqueous effluent with an organic phase incorporating a crown ether such as DCH18C6 and a diluent such as CHCl.sub.3, in order to selectively extract the strontium with respect to the sodium, followed by the reextraction of the strontium in an aqueous solution in 3, followed by fixing in 5 on a cation exchange resin. This leads to a high strontium decontamination level with a very high concentration factor.

Abstract: A device for treating fluid, particularly polluted water such as add-sulphate water. The device includes a stainless steel chamber which is provided with buoyancy pontoons allowing it to float in communication with the polluted water in a reservoir. The chamber is provided at both ends with openings which allow water to flow freely into and out of the chamber for treatment. A trap door provides an entry for water treatment reagent and a motor and gearing system rotates the chamber about its axis. The rotation of the chamber combined with the action of the internal mixer flights serve to agitate the water and reagent mix with a milling action.

Abstract: A chemical composition for use in purifying water used in swimming pools having surfaces that are comprised of materials that do not react with or dissolve in water, comprising for 2.5 kg of the chemical composition, 1.25 kg of potassiumpersulphate, 300 g of sodium bisulfate, 250 g of ammonium chloride, 100 g of aluminum sulfate, 250 g of sodium bicarbonate, 250 g of calcium chloride and 100 g of ethylendiamine tetra acetic acid (abbreviated EDTA). The potassiumpersulfate and the ammonium chloride are effective in disinfecting water to be purified and in eradicating algae and bacteria therein. The sodium bisulfate, sodium bicarbonate and the calcium chloride are effective in balancing the pH of water to be purified to a pH value within an optimum range between 7.2 and 7.6. The aluminum sulfate serves as a flocculation aid and the copper sulfate is effective in the eradication of black algae. The EDTA is effective to complexing heavy metals in the water.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing contaminating metal ions and sulfate ions from acidic aqueous solution such as waste mine water which features passing the solution between pairs of electrodes, each pair of electrodes impressed with a voltage selected according to specific ion species and then adding chemical agents to raise the pH and form precipitates of the metal and sulfate ions. The precipitate is then separated from the water with settling and filtering steps. Application of a magnetic field is applied during at least the first mixing step.

Abstract: Spent solutions from photographic processors are fed into a conduit (18) to which subsequently are added precipitating agents from a first source (22) and flocculating agents from a second source (28); so that, well grown or ripened clumps of flocculated solids are formed along the conduit before being emptied into a gravity collecting vessel and shipping container (38) from which clarified liquids are displaced by a mass (50) of accumulated flocculated solids, typically through a filter (58, 142, 150, 158, 162, 166, 220)for removal of any unsettled fines. Many of the clumps of flocculated solids become enlarged enough to individually extend across and substantially fill a cross-sectional area of the conduit. As a result, the enlarged clumps substantially block passage of and strain from the solution remaining fine particles which then adhere to the clumps.

Abstract: Metal ions are removed from solution by contacting the solution with a combination of a water-soluble cationic polymer and a water-soluble polymer containing pendant hydroxamic acid or salt groups.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and processes for the photoassisted oxidation of dissolved species such as arsenic, iron, phosphorous and sulphur. Each aspect of the invention involves supplying to a solution including the species to be oxidized, an oxidant and a photoabsorber, and then irradiating the resultant solution with UV/electromagnetic radiation. The resulting oxidised species can then be subsequently treated, used and/or removed (e.g. through precipation/co-precipitation).

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus and method for ferrite formation and the removal of heavy metal ions by ferrite co-precipitation from an aqueous solution at ambient temperature have been developed. Magnetically susceptible ferrite crystals can be continuously formed from aqueous solution and the heavy metal ion solution can be continuously treated by the ferrite co-precipitation process. The heavy metal ions are incorporated into the lattice points of the spinel ferrite structures. The precipitates of ferrite materials can then be magnetically separated. The main apparatus includes a ferrous sulfate mixing tank with a feeder assembly; a reaction tank or, alternatively, neutralization and oxidation tanks; settling and polishing tanks; and a magnetic separator. The reaction tank or oxidation tank includes an air distributor; a pH controller; and promoter feeding and ferrite product recirculating systems.

Abstract: A method for recovering metals from solutions is described. A particular embodiment of the method concerns recovering copper metal from aqueous solutions containing copper ions, such as ammoniacal circuit-board etching solutions. A working embodiment of the invention comprises first treating a solution containing copper ions with a sufficient amount of an acid to obtain a solution pH of from about 1 to less than about 2.5. A reducing metal, such as iron, is then added to the solution to precipitate metal ions as metals. The reducing metal has a mesh size of about 230 or greater. The metal precipitate is recovered from the solution. The method is generally sufficiently efficient to allow discharge of solutions treated according to the method of the invention into public waste waters wherein the solution has less than about 5 ppm, and preferably less than 2 ppm, metal ions.

Abstract: For the removal of heavy metal contaminants from industrial waste water, a method is proposed for preparing a dense precipitate having superior handling and disposal properties. The method comprises incremental adjustment of the pH to maintain a low saturation ratio and recycling of slurry to provide seed crystals for secondary nucleation.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of lead based paint mixtures by treating the lead based paint mixture with an additive from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, monocalcium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate, either alone or in combination with Portland Cement.

Abstract: A process for removing lead from drinking water discharged from a drinking water outlet comprising:(a) directing the water through a first matrix comprising a calcium mineral of between 10 and 100 weight percent of a solid calcium phosphate mineral which is slightly soluble in water, the remaining portion being a solid calcium carbonate mineral which is slightly soluble in water, such that there is sufficient contacting between the water and the first matrix to introduce sufficient phosphate ions into the water to form lead precipitate and reduce the lead concentration in the water to below 15 parts per billion,(b) directing the lead depleted water from step (a) through a second matrix, the second matrix comprising a mineral that when in equilibrium with the water reduces the phosphate ion concentration to 60 mg/L or below.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for disinfecting water which provides a visual indication after the disinfection is complete. First, the water to be disinfected is generally simultaneously intermixed with at least three items. The items are: (1) a disinfectant which is adapted to render harmless substantially all pathogens present in the water upon the disinfectant being intermixed with the water for a time period T.sub.k ; (2) a colorant; and (3) a material which can remove substantially all of the disinfectant and colorant from the water over a time period T.sub.r, where T.sub.r is greater than T.sub.k. Secondly, the water, disinfectant, colorant and the removing material are allowed to remain intermixed for a time period of T.sub.r or greater. At the end of the time period T.sub.r, substantially all pathogens in the water will be rendered harmless, substantially all of the disinfectant will be removed from the water and substantially all of the colorant will be removed from the water.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to remove metals from solutions by precipitating the metals and adding cellulosic fiber to the solution. The precipitates attach to the cellulosic fibers to form products. The products may be removed from the solution by gravity separation techniques or by filtration. The removed products may be dewatered and incinerated. The method provides a simple and effective technique for removing low concentrations of metals from high volume solution streams.

Abstract: Process for the inertization of liquid waste, mud and solid waste, containing sulphates and heavy metals, which comprises a neutralization step of the compounds to be treated and an anaerobic reduction step of the sulphate ion to allow the formation of sulphide ions necessary for the process. A consortium of sulphate-reducing bacteria and lactobacilli is used, with whey as a carbon and nitrogen source.

Abstract: An ultrapure water purification scheme that incorporates the use of certain RO filtration membranes that are especially susceptible to oxidative attack employs the combination reducing/metals scavenger/biocidal agent dithiocarbamate as a pretreatment additive to maintain a non-oxidizing environment, to bind contaminant metals to improve their removal from source water, and to reduce microbial content. In addition, the generation of oxidants by cavitation effects is avoided by a reduced pressure retentate recycle. Both measures prevent oxidative attack and fouling of the RO membranes.