Abstract: Systems for processing a material by submerging the material in a fluid and directing laser pulses at the fluid and the material for processing the material. An embodiment removes the surface of concrete, brick, or rock or minerals in a relatively gentle, energy-efficient, and controlled manner that also confines the material that is removed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for irradiating of solids containing petroleum or petroleum derived compounds (PPDCs), such as soils, oily sludge, drill cuttings, sediments, and non-commercial petroleum industry products, with electron beams in order to physically and/or chemically alter the composition of the PPDCs. The method includes the step of separating PPDC gas and liquids in the presence of a gas driver. Optionally, the method includes the steps of treating off-gases and applying one or more amendments to PPCD-impacted solid material pre-irradiation, post-irradiation, or during electron beam irradiation.

Abstract: Reactors for conducting thermochemical processes with solar heat input, and associated systems and methods. A system may include a reactor having a reaction zone, a reactant source coupled in fluid in communication with the reactant zone, and a solar concentrator having at least one concentrator surface positionable to direct solar energy to a focal area. The system can further include an actuator coupled to the solar concentrator to move the solar concentrator relative to the sun, and a controller operatively coupled to the actuator. The controller can be programmed with instructions that, when executed, direct the actuator to position the solar concentrator to focus the solar energy on the reaction zone when the solar energy is above a threshold level, and direct the actuator to position the solar concentrator to point to a location in the sky having relatively little radiant energy to cool an object positioned at the focal area when the solar energy is below the threshold level.

Abstract: Methods for partially decontaminating radioactive waste wherein the waste is first mixed, or brought in contact, with at least one corrosive medium. Activation energy is then supplied to the corrosive medium, so that at least a portion of the radionuclide present in the waste is converted into at least one gaseous reaction product, or is dissolved, by hydrogen or hydrogen ions, oxygen or oxygen ions, and/or halogen (for example chlorine) or halogen ions from the corrosive medium. The aim is that of decontaminating a 12C/13C-containing porous solid waste, which is contaminated with the 14C radionuclide. For this purpose, CO2 and/or hydrogen are applied as corrosive media to the waste, so that at least a portion of the waste is reacted to form at least one gaseous reaction product, wherein the process temperature is selected so that the 14C radionuclide is enriched in the reaction product over 12C/13C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of ablating a surface layer of a wall by sweeping the said layer, comprising: a step of directional control by an optical deflector of a plurality of pulsed laser beams; a step of ablating the layer on impact zones created by the plurality of laser beams, each impact zone being defined by a centre and by a characteristic dimension; the method is characterized in that the impact zones are disjoint, the distance between each centre of the impact zones being equal to at least ten times the largest characteristic dimension of the impact zones. The invention also relates to a corresponding device.

Abstract: A method for conversion of a material including asbestos includes: crumbling a fibrous structure of the material such that the material is crumbled into smaller particles; transporting the crumbled material into a microwave reactor and mixing with an agent facilitating heating of the material; heating the crumbled material by beams of focused polarized electromagnetic radiation in a microwave band and maintaining the smaller particles at a temperature for a period of time for structural transformation; removing the heated crumbled material from the microwave reactor and cooling the material; and subjecting the cooled crumbled material to a process of final crumbling.

Abstract: A VOC treatment apparatus is provided for treating substantially opaque VOCs and comprises a processing chamber (24) in which VOCs are treated; and a solar energy introducing device (8). The solar energy introducing device (8) comprises a tubular structure having a first end located external to the processing chamber (24) and having a first inlet (14) through which concentrated sunlight is received and a second inlet (16) through which a flow of substantially optically transmittant gas is received. The solar energy introducing device (8) has a second end (18) that opens into the processing chamber (24) and terminates in a nozzle providing an outlet for the substantially optically transmittant gas and the concentrated sunlight. In use the optically transmittant gas exits the second end of the device in a jet to create an optically transmittant zone in the substantially opaque VOCs within the processing chamber (24), in which zone the sunlight can travel.

Abstract: A process for the remediation and treatment of tar sands tailings, all process waters and waste slurries comprises irradiating the waste slurry with gamma radiation to degrade naphthenic acids in the waste slurry and reduce the potential of environmental harm caused by waste slurry discharge and accelerate to natural or assisted rehabilitation of this material into the natural environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for removal of pesticide residues from aqueous solutions and food products by ionizing radiation. Standard pesticides concentrations recognized by international organizations as maximum residues limit (MRLs) were used as the targeted concentrations in both aqueous solutions and food products. Commercially known pesticides and recommended irradiation doses by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were selected for this investigation. Aqueous solutions and food products fortified with pesticide residues were subjected to selected doses of ionizing radiation. Radiation-induced removal of pesticide residues is generally greater in aqueous solutions than in food products. Ionizing radiation can reduce the residues of pirimiphos-methyl in potatoes, grapes and dates; malathion and cypermethrin in grapes to below MRLs at the recommended irradiation doses.

Abstract: A VOC treatment apparatus is provided for treating substantially opaque VOCs and comprises a processing chamber (24) in which VOCs are treated; and a solar energy introducing device (8). The solar energy introducing device (8) comprises a tubular structure having a first end located external to the processing chamber (24) and having a first inlet (14) through which concentrated sunlight is received and a second inlet (16) through which a flow of substantially optically transmittant gas is received. The solar energy introducing device (8) has a second end (18) that opens into the processing chamber (24) and terminates in a nozzle providing an outlet for the substantially optically transmittant gas and the concentrated sunlight. In use the optically transmittant gas exits the second end of the device in a jet to create an optically transmittant zone in the substantially opaque VOCs within the processing chamber (24), in which zone the sunlight can travel.

Abstract: A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and at least one energy source coupled to the at least one drug-retaining region. The at least one drug-retaining region may be configured to retain a drug. The at least one energy source may be configured to transmit energy to the drug. The drug is capable of being rendered ineffective in the presence of the transmitted energy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for disposal of photocurable fluid waste may include a conduit for conducting photocurable fluid waste from a source of photocurable fluid waste; a dispenser for automatically dispensing a receptacle made of material that is impermeable to the photocurable fluid waste and that transmits radiation capable of curing; a welder or other sealing device for welding the receptacle to form a bag with a portion of the photocurable fluid waste inside; and a source of radiation for curing the photocurable fluid waste in the bag.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus useful for the separation of hazardous and non-hazardous organic and inorganic constituents from various matrices. A method of separating such constituents is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the laser ablation of a surface located in a first clean area, said ablation using a laser beam which is emitted by a cavity that is associated with pumping means for supplying electromagnetic radiation to the cavity. The inventive method is characterized in that the cavity is associated with pumping means by means of an optical fibre that transmits the electromagnetic radiation such that the pumping means are maintained outside the above-mentioned cleaning area. According to the invention, the wavelength of the pump radiation is slightly attenuated in the fibre, said fibre having a length of more than 10 meters.

Abstract: Parts, structural components, etc. that have their surfaces contaminated by radioisotopes in the accelerators, nuclear reactors, RI product manufacturing factories, nuclear fuel factories, nuclear fuel reprocessing factories, etc. are decontaminated by non-thermal laser peeling without suffering re-melting, re-diffusing and re-contaminating such that upon non-thermal laser irradiation, areas near the irradiated surface are evaporated and removed faster than the heat generated in the irradiated surface is transmitted to nearby areas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for purifying organic chemical-containing contaminated substances by which various organic chemicals (contaminants) can be readily and sufficiently decomposed in a short time, the method comprising the steps of adding a metal salt and a transition metal ionic compound to water or soil that contains organic chemicals, decomposing the organic chemicals by irradiating with light, and separating/collecting the detoxified organic chemicals.

Abstract: A loose mixture formed of one or more solid inert materials and a hardenable resin dissolved in an organic solvent, in particular the remainder of the initial mix used for the manufacture of conglomerate stone sheets, is rendered inert by means of dielectric heating at a frequency of less than 300 MHz. The invention also relates to the plant for implementing this method.

Abstract: A molecularly imprinted polymer and production process therefor and a process for selective treatment of poorly degradable and/or toxic compounds in liquids using the molecularly imprinted polymers. Such polymers and processes are required for selective removal and/or degradation of biological, poorly degradable pollutants or toxic compounds, for example from wastewaters. Consequently, a molecularly imprinted polymer suitable for the selective treatment of at least one poorly degradable and/or toxic compound is provided having a polymeric network which is made up of monomers and has cavities of predetermined size, wherein the cavities are arranged at predetermined spacings and have specific binding sites and/or patterns for the poorly degradable and/or toxic compounds.

Abstract: A photocatalyst nanocomposite which can be used to destroying biological agents includes a carbon nanotube core, and a photocatalyst coating layer covalently or ionically bound to a surface of the nanotube core. The coating layer has a nanoscale thickness. A method of forming photocatalytic nanocomposites includes the steps of providing a plurality of dispersed carbon nanotubes, chemically oxidizing the nanotubes under conditions to produce surface functionalized nanotubes to provide C and O including groups thereon which form ionic or covalent bonds to metal oxides, and processing a metal oxide photocatalyst sol-gel precursor in the presence of the nanotubes, wherein a nanoscale metal oxide photocatalyst layer becomes covalently or ionically bound to the nanotubes.

Abstract: A system for neutralizing contaminants, such as pathogens, toxins, and biological organisms on or within an object, which may be housed in a container, such as an envelope, by focusing a plurality of energies or fields including electromagnetic, electrostatic, magnetic, or acoustic on the object in an amount effective to neutralize such contaminants without substantially deleteriously affecting the object or its contents is provided. A pressurizable chamber has means for focusing the energies or fields on the object, in a continuous fashion, and to concentrate the controlled energies at the object and its contents. A pressurization and evacuating system for expelling air and entrained contaminants from the object allowing a sensor to detect and classify contaminants within the chamber.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating liquids flowing in a thin film around a source of wave energy to directly exposes the liquid to the wave energy, preferably generated in whole or part by an electrical arc between carbon electrodes. In addition to the wave energy generated by the electrical arc, energy generated by cavitation of the flowing liquid may be used in treating the liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the conversion of a gas or gas mixture and, in particular, a fluorinated gaseous effluent. According to the invention, at least one bond between two atoms of at least one molecule of the gas or gas mixture is broken under the influence of an electric and/or magnetic field to which the gas or gas mixture is subjected. The gas or gas mixture stream is injected through the electric and/or magnetic field in a non-rectilinear manner in order to increase the distance travelled by the gas molecules through the field and, in this way, increase the effectiveness of the conversion of the gas or gas mixture molecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus useful for the separation of hazardous and non-hazardous organic and inorganic constituents from various matrices. A method of separating such constituents is also provided.

Abstract: A system and apparatus is provided for the decontamination of river bottoms. The system makes use of a barge, which is passed over the soil that needs to be decontaminated. The barge carries a high intensity laser, such as a 2,000 kW excimer YAG laser. The output of the laser is directed into a plurality of fiber optic cables. These fiber optic cables extend from the laser all the way down to the bottom of the river. The fiber optic cables direct the high intensity laser beams at the bottom of the river. The laser light reacts with the PCBs in the soil and breaks down and dissociates the chemicals into harmless by-products. Additionally, UV light emitters can also be attached to the fiber optic cables, near the river bottom, to assist in the PCB decontamination process.

Abstract: There is provided a method of treating a substance to be degraded comprising the steps of: degrading the substance to produce a degraded product; contacting the product obtained in the degrading step with a liquid; and entrapping a component of the product not trapped by the liquid in a medium by contacting the component with the medium. Also, the apparatus for conducting the method is provided.

Abstract: Supported photooxidation catalysts containing a metal oxide or metal ion as catalyst which is fixed to the support by means of carboxylate moieties are an alternative to existing such catalysts, particularly if low cost supports such as organic polymers, particularly polyethylene, are used. The supported photocatalysts can be used in mineralisation of organic pollutants in both liquids and gases and show reduced leaching of the catalyst and good resistance towards reactive oxygen species generated during the degradation process.