Abstract: Organic and/or inorganic substances and water are thermally separated from contaminated materials, solid aggregates, the contaminated material is pretreated and is subsequently heated in a directly or indirectly heated furnace, which includes a rotary kiln, a fluidized bed furnace or a floating zone reactor, and during the heating the material is treated with recycled hot gases or recycled hot steam and with oxidizing agents. The exiting processing gases, which contain water vapor, are dedusted, and 80 to 90% by volume of the water vapor-containing processing gases are recycled to the furnace to act as entraining gas. The remaining water vapor-containing processing gases are condensed, the resulting liquid phase is withdrawn, and pollutants are removed from the withdrawn liquid phase by a wet chemical or physical processing.

Abstract: For the thermal treatment of contaminated soils, excavated soil is heated by indirect heat exchange up to 650.degree. C. in a rotary drum in the absence of oxygen. Pollutants are separated from the soil by a desorption medium. Moisture in the soil vaporized to steam can serve as the desorption medium. The resultant gaseous pollutant stream is condensed, and the pollutants are separated.

Abstract: A method of and device for sterilizing the hose of a hose pump in a system operating in sterile conditions. Before the system is sterilized, the hose is transferred from the pump, but not disconnected from the system's lines, to a device that surrounds it snugly. The device comprises two halves. Each half has a depression shaped and dimensioned to match half the outer surface of the hose and accordingly surrounding it tightly over its total length when the two halves are together.

Abstract: A method for killing zebra mussels from a bottom surface of a waterway and from the surfaces of watercraft, docks, pilings and similar facilities located within a waterway. The surfaces to be treated are isolated in a batch of water enclosed within a chamber. The isolated batch of water is thereafter heated to a temperature lethal to the zebra mussels and held at that temperature for a sufficient time to kill the zebra mussels. The isolated batch of water and the treated surface are thereafter released from the chamber and the isolated state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for heat sterilizing pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foodstuffs and other materials, which are labile to oxidation by atmospheric oxygen at elevated temperature and labile to other degradative changes through interaction with volatiles raised by exposure of the material to elevated temperature, comprising heating, for a given length of time, the material to be sterilized at a temperature required to achieve a predetermined degree of sterilization in a gaseous medium substantially devoid of oxygen; typically such a gaseous medium comprises a non reactive gas, such as, nitrogen, which is otherwise innocuous and capable of being purged at the end of the sterilization process at a pressure sufficient to facilitate the distribution of heat throughout the material being treated by convection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling zebra mussels in the inlet cell of a utility power plant by isolating a batch of water in the cell from the water supply of a lake or river and the equipment plant by shutting an inlet gate and shutting outlet valves from said cell. The batch of isolated water is thereafter heated to a lethal temperature which is maintained for a sufficient period of time to ensure 100 percent mortality to the zebra mussels within the cell. The water may be maintained in a static condition and heated by a heat exchanger disposed within the cell. Alternatively the water may be fed to a heat exchanger, heated outside the cell, and returned to the cell. The water is heated to a range of approximately 95.degree. F. to 100.degree. F. and held at the heated temperature within the cell for approximately 30 minutes.

Abstract: Medical wastes are placed in a medical waste container which is then placed in a closed apparatus body. The container is heated by a heater so that the medical wastes are sterilized and melted or softened. The container containing the medical wastes is then compressed and molded by a compression device. The compression-molded product containing the medical wastes and the container is then discharged from a door of the apparatus body. Alternatively, medical wastes are heat-sterilized by operating a microwave generator. The microwave generator is controlled by detecting the concentration of the combustible gases contained in the exhaust gases discharged from a closed apparatus body, the concentration of hydrogen chloride gas and/or a ratio of reflected power to incident power by using a power monitor connected to a waveguide of the microwave generator. At the same time, hot air can also be circulated.

Abstract: A system for safely disposing of pathogenic waste materials. The waste material is disposed in a chamber and heated by forced hot air to temperatures above approximately 450.degree. F. to destroy harmful bacteria within several minutes. The high temperatures melt plastic waste materials. The harmless waste is cooled providing a solid block in which syringes and other sharp items are generally encased. The temperature within the chamber is continuously sensed and the operation of the apparatus is microprocessor controlled to adjust the process time in accordance with the load size. The microprocessor further stores the sensed temperature to provide verification that the waste has been exposed to sufficient temperatures and for a sufficient time to render such waste harmless.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously treating infectious waste, which comprises: (a) introducing bulk unseparated infectious waste material into a receiving container means, the receiving container means adapted to receive a flow of disinfectant such that the receiving container means remains substantially free of infectious contaminants; (b) shredding the waste material by a primary shredding means; (c) separating the shredded waste material from waste residue in a separation tank means having a predetermined fluid level thereby producing a waste slurry; (d) pumping the waste slurry into a reactor vessel means; (e) contacting the waste slurry with a disinfecting fluid in the reactor vessel means for a sufficient amount of time to disinfect the waste slurry; and (f) dewatering the disinfected waste slurry to recover solid disinfected waste material.

Abstract: A process for sterilizing biological waste such as medical waste and a biomass fuel product from sterilized waste are disclosed. The biological waste preferably includes waste capable of sorbing substantial amounts of a liquid fuel having a boiling temperature higher than about 240.degree. F. The waste is shredded and then introduced into a container holding the liquid fuel, which is maintained at atmospheric pressure at a temperature between about 240.degree. F. and the boiling temperature of the liquid fuel. The shredded waste is immersed in the liquid fuel for a time sufficient to effect sterilization of the shredded waste. Thereafter, the sterilized shredded waste is removed from the container, and ground to either make it pumpable or increase its pumpability, and to further destroy the physical shape of the waste as to make it unrecognizable. The ground waste is then pumped to a desired location. The waste with sorbed liquid fuel is atomizable and usable as a fuel for many applications.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously treating infectious waste, which comprises: (a) introducing bulk unseparated infectious waste material into a receiving container, the receiving container adapted to receive a flow of disinfectant such that the receiving container remains substantially free of infectious contaminants; (b) shredding the waste material by a primary shredder; (c) separating the shredded waste material from waste residue in a separation tank having a predetermined fluid level thereby producing a waste slurry; (d) pumping the waste slurry into a reactor vessel; (e) contacting the waste slurry with a disinfecting fluid in the reactor vessel for a sufficient amount of time to disinfect the waste slurry; and (f) dewatering the disinfected waste slurry to recover solid disinfected waste material.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing infectious waste includes placing the waste in a disposal apparatus which has an isolated volume for holding the waste. A dry granulated medium which has a disinfectant constituent is also placed within the isolated volume along with the waste. When the disposal apparatus is activated, an atomized mist is introduced into the volume and the waste, the medium, and the moisture in the mist are thoroughly blended together. The resulting destroyed waste is thoroughly moistened with the disinfectant solution which is formed by the mist and the disinfectant constituents of the medium. Then, the moistened, destroyed waste is heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to ensure efficacious sterilization of the waste.

Abstract: A batch sterilization system is disclosed having a plurality of retorts mounted on at least one indexable turret which sequentially and simultaneously indexes one retort with a loader for receiving containers to be sterilized, while a second retort with sterilized containers therein is indexed with an unloader for unloading. A second embodiment includes a pair of loader/unloaders for loading and unloading a first product in first retorts and a second product in the other retorts.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the batch treatment of infectious waste material in a fluidized bed reactor utilizing gas oxidation, preferably ozone gas diluted in air. The process and apparatus provide for the disinfecting of infectious waste in a rapid, cost efficient manner allowing for disposal of such infectious waste material in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Abstract: A disinfectant vaporizing apparatus for dropwise flowing a disinfectant liquid on a heating unit so as to provide a uniform disinfection gas on a surface of a material to be sterilized, characterized in that at least one supply port for supplying heated carrier gas at a high temperature is provided in a vaporization chamber for the disinfectant liquid. A vaporization part is provided with a plurality of cavities on an upper surface thereof and at least one dropping nozzle is provided above each cavity, wherein the disinfection gas carried by the heated carrier gas is applied on a surface of a material to be sterilized through a droplet splash removing apparatus. The droplet splash removing apparatus has a series of vertically, spaced-apart shield plates with staggered holes therein through which the vaporized disinfectant and carrier gas pass and entrained droplets of disinfectant liquid are removed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the batch treatment of infectious waste material in a fluidized bed reactor utilizing gas oxidation, preferably ozone gas diluted in air. The process and apparatus provide for the disinfecting of infectious waste in a rapid, cost efficient manner allowing for disposal of such infectious waste material in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Abstract: In order to render harmless the aerosol laden smoke stream which results from the operation of medical lasers in or on mammalian bodies, the stream is moved in a closed circuit maintained at negative pressure. The circuit includes a container of sterilizing fluid to retain and destroy the larger aerosol particles and downstream of that container a chamber having an oxygen enriched atmosphere which is heated to a temperature sufficient to incinerate the remaining aerosol particles which are too small to filter. The thus purified stream is then cooled and released to ambient.

Abstract: A water insoluble material useful for making biocidal barriers and biocidal filter for use in fluid systems, said material comprising a water insoluble thermoplastic copolymer consisting of an alpha olefin and an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, said copolymer having at least one biocidal agent ionically bonded to said copolymer.

Abstract: In order to render harmless the aerosol laden smoke stream which results from the operation of medical lasers in or on mammalian bodies, the stream is moved in a closed circuit maintained at negative pressure. The circuit includes a container of sterilizing fluid to retain and destroy the larger aerosol particles and downstream of that container a chamber having an oxygen enriched atmosphere which is heated to a temperature sufficient to incinerate the remaining aerosol particles which are too small to filter. The thus purified stream is then cooled and released to ambient.

Abstract: A machine for sterilizing lipstick has a carriage which moves on a bench and holds and rotates the lipstick bar in front of a bank of Bunsen burners. The carriage rotates the lipstick in front of the Bunsen burners to sterilize and smooth the exterior of the lipstick bar. The carriage prevents the lipstick from rotating when the lipstick bar is not in front of the Bunsen burners.

Abstract: A method of forming a unitary, sterile fluid dispensing assembly includes forming a fluid-filled container with a vinyl disposing port and forming a fluid transfer set with a vinyl spike connector. The spike connector is inserted into the vinyl disposing port thereby placing the set in fluid flow communication with the fluid in the container. The assembly is sterilized in an autoclave. The heat of sterilization melds at least a surface portion of the vinyl spike connector and softens an interior adjacent surface portion of the port on the container. After sterilization, the transfer set is permanently bonded to the container. The presence of the fluid in the transfer set during sterilization prevents fusing and closing of the lumens of the set due to the heat of sterilization.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing an artificial organ with high pressure steam in an autoclave which comprises passing a sterilized high temperature liquid maintained at a temperature sufficient for the sterilization through the artificial organ, thereby raising the inner temperature of the artificial organ approximately to a sterilization temperature, heating the artificial organ externally to a sterilizing temperature and maintaining that temperature for a predetermined time to sterilize the artificial organ, and passing a sterilized low temperature liquid through the artificial organ to cool it from the inside thereof, while cooling the artificial organ from the outside thereof. The sterilized low temperature liquid is one sterilized thermally followed by cooling, and in a preferable embodiment, the sterilized high temperature liquid is cooled and then introduced into the artificial organ.

Abstract: A sterilization container is provided with relatively large top and bottom apertures to allow hot steam to rapidly pervade the interior of the container through the top while flushing cool air out the bottom. The apertures are provided with pressure actuated valves with large cross sections to minimize impedance to gas flow when the valves are open. The pressure-sensitive elements of the valves are set such that the valves close to seal the apertures when the external pressure is at atmospheric, and rapidly open fully when the pressure begins to rise in the autoclave as steam is admitted at the start of a sterilization cycle. When the external pressure is returned to atmospheric at the end of the cycle, the pressure-actuated valves close to provide a sealed container for removal from the autoclave.

Abstract: A device for disinfecting the gap between two relatively movable elements such as a shaft and housing wherein a gap is defined by those elements and the gap contains a gaseous medium which is heated by an adjacent heating loop to provide a germicidal barrier in the gap.

Abstract: Temporarily insulating frozen surfaces, such as ice rinks, from the ambient air by spreading a metastable liquid foam over the ice surface to remain thereon when the ice surface is not in use, then prior to the next use period, removing the aged, partially frozen foam. Fire fighting foam liquids are preferred embodiment foaming agents.

Abstract: A method of operating an expandable chamber formed with a valve opening in a wall of the chamber, which permits the surrounding environment, such as high temperature steam, to enter the chamber is used. A temperature responsive delay valve closes the chamber to capture a quantity of the steam in an autoclave sterilizing cycle. The closing of the valve is delayed until the high temperature steam has been applied for a predetermined time. A later reduction in pressure surrounding the chamber causes the chamber to expand, which provides an indication that an adequate sterilizing cycle has been provided. The expansion force may also be used to permit a container to close at the end of a sterilizing cycle.

Abstract: A method is proposed for sterilizing packaging material of plastic, cardboard or combinations of the two, in particular for sterilizing preshaped packaging containers intended for receiving acidic products. In this method, damage to the packaging material or the packaging apparatus is to be avoided because of the mild thermal treatment involved. By subjecting the surface to be treated to a flow of a moist mixture of water vapor and air at a temperature of from 80.degree. to 140.degree. C. and having a moisture content of from 5 to 50%, sufficiently high degrees of sterility for the sterile packaging of acidic food products are attainable within relatively short treatment periods.

Abstract: An electrically energized soft contact lens disinfecting unit formed of a surfactant resistant plastic material to render the unit immune from attack by detergents used to clean the lenses prior to placing the lenses in the unit.

Abstract: An aqueous gel comprising water and a cross-linked polyacrylamide provides a transparent, thermally insulating cover for a solar pond. Heat losses from the top of the pond to the atmosphere due to convection currents are minimized as well as losses due to evaporation. Advantage is taken of convection currents to maximize heat extraction efficiency.

Abstract: An electrically energized evaporator and/or soft lens heating and disinfecting unit is provided which is compact in size in that it does not require a separate holder for the lenses. Instead, the unit itself forms the lens holder, and the holder has compartments for the left and right lenses and which are adapted to be filled with an appropriate saline solution, the compartments being heated by electrical heating elements to perform the desired disinfecting and sterilizing functions. These heating elements may take the form of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) elements. The unit is equipped with an electric plug which may be directly plugged into an electric receptacle to energize the heating elements.

Abstract: Contaminated plastic waste material in the form of used Petri dishes, so-called agar plates, is rendered harmless and cleaned by placing the agar plates in a bacterium-tight heating chamber maintained substantially at atmospheric pressure and contacting them with water at an elevated temperature, preferably 90.degree.-98.degree. C. for a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period the agar plates are rinsed with water which is then drained off through an outlet in the bottom of the heating chamber. The agar plates to be treated are loaded into the heating chamber in batches contained in bags wholly or partly consisting of a plastic sheet material which is solid and substantially insoluble in water at room temperature but soluble in water at the elevated temperature.

Abstract: Modular lens disinfecting device comprises a plastic housing with a heater and a heat sink lining a portion of the cavity and pressing against opposed caps on a lens case within the housing, thereby transmitting heat to opposed lens cavities within the lens case. A radial flange on the lens case body projects laterally from the housing when the lens case is inserted into the housing, thereby to facilitate manipulation of the lens case upon insertion into or removal from the housing. In making the lens case, the parting plane for the mold that forms the lens case body is positioned so that flash at said plane is precluded from projecting into either of the lens chambers.

Abstract: An electrically energized heater is provided which has particular application as a dry disinfecting and sterilizing device for items such as soft lenses, dental handpieces, baby bottles, or the like, which cannot be placed in sterilizing solutions, and which cannot be subjected to excessive temperatures. The unit includes a housing, and a heat conductive substance such as wax, oil, or both, contained in the housing and used as a uniform heat transfer medium between electrical heating elements in the housing and the surface of a well which also is supported in the housing.

Abstract: An artificial organ embodying this invention is adapted for heat sterilization and allows for simple aftertreatment following said heat sterilization. The artificial organ is previously filled with a solution (8) harmless to the human body. A liquid pressure-buffering tube holding such an amount of gas as is capable of quantitatively absorbing the expansion of said solution (8) occurring during the heat sterilization of the artificial organ is connected to at least one of liquid ports (3), (4), (5), (6) communicating with the interior of the artificial organ. A process embodying the invention for heat sterilizing an artificial organ simplifies aftertreatment of said artificial organ following said heat sterilization, and comprises the steps of vacuum packaging the whole artificial organ device and heat sterilizing the artificial organ device while a gas held in the liquid pressure-buffering tube (2) is kept in the upper part of said artificial organ device.

Abstract: A contact lens bathing case, in which a pair of contact lenses is sealed with a cleaning and disinfectant solution, and a heating unit, for receiving and heating the filled case therein, cooperate to eliminate leakage problems, i.e. loss of solution, associated with improperly closed contact lens cases. The heating case includes a heating element and a movable lens case holder which is movable from an open position remote from the heating element to a closed position adjacent to the heating element whereat the solution and lenses may be heated. Closure prevention means prevent the holder which has received an improperly closed case from being moved to the closed position.

Abstract: A conventional cooker or retort for heat processing sealed containers, such as sealed pouches, jars or cans, has an evaporator associated therewith. A source of water is coupled to the evaporator through a valve and a source of a liquid having a higher vapor pressure than water, such as ethyl alcohol, is connected to the evaporator through a metering pump. Pressure and temperature within the retort are monitored and signals indicative thereof are connected to controllers for metering the heat supplied to the evaporator and for metering the ethyl alcohol and water delivered to the evaporator. One controller is configured to operate so that as pressure rises, proportions of ethyl alcohol introduced into the evaporator is reduced while the proportion of water introduced is increased. Another controller functions to restrict the amount of heating medium, such as steam, delivered to the evaporator as the retort temperature increases.

Abstract: Apparatus and a process for quietly injecting live, high pressure steam into water in a sterilizer chamber, wherein a minute quantity of air at higher pressure than the steam is quietly mixed with the steam prior to passing the stream of air mixed with steam into water in the chamber. The water can be drawn from the chamber by a recirculating pipe into a venturi ejector into which the stream of air mixed with steam is passed. The water quietly mixes with the stream of air and steam and the combined stream of air, steam and water is quietly recirculated back into the chamber.

Abstract: An end of thermoplastic tubing which is exposed to a temperature capable of causing dimensional distortion of the tubing end may be maintained by enclosing the tubing end with a tubular end cap. The end cap defines an inner member projecting axially into the bore of the tubing end, with the inner member defining an outer diameter of essentially the diameter of the bore of the tubing end, so that the dimensional integrity of the tubing end is maintained during the heating step to thereafter sealingly receive a luer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for freeing solids, in particular pharmaceutical active ingredients, from germs by sterile filtration using supercritical gases.

Abstract: Semi-permeable membranes of regenerated cellulose are subjected to wet-heat sterilization at a temperature of 105.degree. to 140.degree. C. During the treatment, the membranes are maintained in contact with an aqueous medium such as water or physiological saline. For the dialysis of body fluids, hollow fiber, semi-permeable membranes so sterilized exhibit a sonic modulus of at least 6.5.times.10.sup.10 dynes/cm.sup.2. Hollow fibers made of cuprammonium regenerated cellulose are particularly preferred for the above purpose.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for steam sterilizing articles having an inner chamber for receiving said articles and an outer space between the outer wall of the chamber and the inner wall of the chamber. A constant pressure difference is maintained between the chamber and the outer space. This constant pressure difference permits the thermodynamic optimum steam flow to the chamber with a minimum of energy losses.