The mounting device secures a storage battery (10) to a base. The device comprises a footing (20-28) to be rigidly fixed to the base (B) and being loose from the battery.    Locking elements (16-19) of the device are pivotally mounted on the storage battery.    The storage battery is detachably fastened with the aid of the locking elements to the footing through the action rapid locking elements.    The locking elements are pivotally mounted on a cover (12) of the storage battery from the footing when the locking elements are turned to the open-position_ In addition, shields (17) are provided in the locking element to protect the storage battery terminals (13) when the locking elements are turned to locking positions.    ADVANTAGE -   Mounting battery simplified and battery mfr. improved.    (First major country equivalent to FI8801755)
An electronic circuit monitors the vehicle battery voltage and disconnects selected non essential loads, if the battery capacity falls below a value critical for engine restarting. A resistor divider network with voltage comparators operates relays to disconnect these loads, which will only be reconnected when the battery capacity is restored to normal.    A security system, e.g. a combination lock operated by a data entry key pad is also incorporated, which also disconnects power to ignition and starting circuits, to prevent unauthorised starting of the vehicle. On legal re-entry to the vehicle, access to a security enclosure allows reconnection of these essential circuits only. The battery will have retained sufficient capacity to restart the vehicle, by operation of the load shedding devices earlier.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents excess discharge of batteries on modern vehicles with large auxiliary loads. Ensures adequate capacity remains for engine starting, and provides additional security against theft.
The secondary battery (10) is e.g. a lead acid type. Hydrostatic pump elements (30,36) comprise a partition (24,26) bridging the side walls of the container (16). Motion of the carrying vehicle induces waves in the electrolyte (14), which overflows into non linear openings (28,34) and hence down the vertical passages (30,36).    The electrolyte is free to circulate between the plates (12) without disturbing any sediment trapped between the supports (44). Over a period of time, and subject to the type and use of the vehicle, the battery electrolyte is redistributed, thus preventing stratification, improving heat transfer and maintaining uniform electrolyte density.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Also for fork lift truck, vehicle self induced circulation of battery electrolyte by vehicle motion. Improves battery charge energy and prolongs battery life.
Manufactured articles comprise microfibrils of bacterial cellulose (I) prepd. as follows: (a) a cellulose-producing microorganism (II) capable of reversing its direction during cellulose synth. is cultured in a nutrient medium (comprising an agent (III) which interfered with crystn. but not polymerization) in an enclosed plastic container; (b) produced (I) is withdrawn from the culture; and (c) (I) is formed into the title article.    Prefd. (II) include Rhizobium, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas, or Alcaligenes, pref. Acetobacter spp, esp. Acetobacter xylinum (partic. ATCC 53582). Prefd. (III) are glycerol, polyethylene glycol, or esp. carboxymethylcellulose. Opt. polyacrylonitrile is further grafted onto the cellulose. Prefd. articles may be formed into a sheet (esp. paper), or a film of thickness less than 0.1 micron (when an inorganic material may be vapour deposited on it, or epitaxially grown on it), and may also comprise magnetic or electrical materials, or thermosetting resins. The prepd. article may be formed into a cloth shape or foodstuff, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The practical, versatile method affords an improved microbial cellulose which is more dense and stronger than conventional celluloses. In addn., the produced microfibrils have a remarkably high length : dia ratio. The prods. are useful as substrates for flexible Tl superconductors, edible casings, and readily texturized, strong, permeable wall coverings, etc. as well as a very wide range of industrial and chemical uses, fuel cell, optical fibres. Prods. made from the microbial cellulose are less expensive and superior in props. to those made from microcrystalline cellulose.
Water-soluble, electrically conductive polymers comprise monomer repeat units of a thiophene or pyrrole molecule substd., in the beta-position of the ring, by an alkyl gp. and having a surfactant gp. at the end of the alkyl chain. The repeat units are of formula (I). The monomer-to-monomer bonds are between the C atoms adjacent to X. X = NH or S; m = 1-20; Y = sulphonate, sulphate or carboxylate; and A = H, Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs. Polymers contg. 8 or more C alkyl gps. show liq. crystalline properties and result in high electrical anisotropy. Negative ions from a supporting electrolyte which may be used in the electrochemical synthesis of the polymers may be incorporated and serve as a dopant to increase the conductivity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The polymers are self-doping but addn. of dopant increases the magnitude of conductivity. The mfg. process does not require organic solvents and is environmentally less hazardous. Uses are e.g. organic conductors and semiconductors, information storage systems, temp. sensors, gas detectors, fuel cell applications and opt. electromagnetic interference shielding.
Fuel cell includes a wick (26) at the bottom of the cathode chamber for removal of static water prod. The wick contacts an exhaust manifold (20) contg. a conduit structure (22,24) which is permeable to liq. but impermeable to gas at gas pressure below the bubble pressure (P) of the conduit, where P = 2X (surface tension/pore radius), where the pore radius relates to the pore size of the conduit structure.    The conduit structure is pref. circular in cross-section and fabricated from sintered glass or a valve metal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. used with H2/O2 fuel cells. Wick operates to remove water in any position or orientation, and in presence or absence of gravity.
G14
The apparatus has a conductive bus-bar strip on to which is secured and electrically connected the cathode of a rectifier. The strip is connected to one contact terminal of a heavy duty solenoid relay switch. The switch is normally open and has contacts which are of sufficient capacity to carry the starter motor current. The switch is also connected to the positive terminal of a secondary rechargeable motor vehicle battery. The other contact terminal of the relay is connected to the anode of the rectifier.    A manually operable momentary switch/spring biased to be normally off or open) energises the relay coil, closing the relay switch contacts to shunt the rectifier, connecting the two batteries in parallel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use when battery is flat or discharged. Quick and easy installation. Push button within reach of driver.
A two part battery connector comprises a lower part which is firmly connected and anchored to the positive terminal of a battery and is made of a material which is harder than the battery terminal, and an upper part which acts as an adapter to fit onto the lower part. The upper part also incorporates an electrical lead to supply an external circuit. A locking connection between the two part, enables connection of the electricity supply using a special key. The electrical cable to the upper part is preferably integrated with the upper part of the connector and enclosed in an armoured casing to prevents tapping of power from the battery.    USE -   For use in motor vehicle industry.
An elastic plastic material separator for starter batteries, which is 0.15-0.35 mm thick and which has integral ribs, includes numerous ribs on the side facing the positive electrode, which are higher than the separator thickness, and smaller ribs facing the negative electrode. The ribs are displaced, so that ribs facing the positive electrode are arranged between ribs on the opposite side. The ribs on the two sides are pref. equally spaced form one another.    ADVANTAGE -   The seperator is simple to produce and has a long operational life.
The process involves contacting the natural gas with liq. ammonia and treating the obtd. gas mixt. with an aq. soln. of sodium sulphate of concn. 470-515 g/l at 30-40 deg. C. Subsequently, the obtd. soln. of ammonium sulphate is cooled to 15 deg. C and crystals of sodium bicarbonate are sepd. Gas purificn. is around 100%. The sodium bicarbonate crystals obtd. in this process can be used as a commercial prod. Moreover, the process is more economic than the previously used method since liq. ammonia is used instead of 2-5% aq. ammonia solns., and therefore the costs for pumping liq.    ammonia (14 times less volume than aq. ammonia) are lower.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Removal of acidic components, esp. CO2, from natural gas in the gas prodn., petroleum and chemical industries.    The economic efficiency of the process is improved since energy costs are reduced. Bul.27/23.7.89
Mfg. fuel from ligno-cellulose material comprises (a) reacting the ligno-cellulose material with sulphur dioxide and water under heat and pressure by introducing steam; (b) mixing the reacted material with an alkaline soln. to dissolve the reacted lignin; (c) washing the material to remove the dissolved lignin from the rest of the mixt; in which (d) the rest of the mixt. is cracked in a reaction zone with the aid of a heated catalyst; and (e) sepg. the cracking prods.    A molecular sieve is used as the catalyst. 5-10 wt.% of the cracked prod., i.e. tar fraction sepd. in a sepn. column, is recycled to the cracking reaction chamber. The sepn. is carried out by feeding the chemical prod. output into a sepn. column. The catalyst is a zeolite and the temp. in the reaction zone is 250-600 deg.C.    ADVANTAGE -   The process can be carried out for increased energy saving by sepg. the lignin and cellulose materials for processing, and then recombining them at least before cracking with the catalyst. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Biological waste is treated in multiples stages. Biological solids are distributed in suitable amounts during start up of a first and a second reactor. Relatively high strength waste is introduced into the first reactor in which microorganisms are in a net phase to produce an excess of biological solids and an effluent of reduced strength. The effluent is passed to a second reactor. In the second reactor, the biological solids exist in a negative growth phase.    The flow of waste through the reactors is subsequently reversed by terminating waste introduction into the first reactor and initiating its introduction into the second reactor to cause microorganisms to enter a positive growth phase in the second reactor and a negative growth phase in the first reactor. The bilogical reaction remains the same in both stages in either direction of flow.    ADVANTAGE -   The process provides a mich greater substrate removal efficiency than is possible in a single unit, and a much lower net prodn. of sludge which must be removed for disposal.
Trap waste is processed using an appts. which includes a cooker, separator, digester and a condenser. The cooker holds the raw waste at an elevated temp. to render it separable into solid and liq. fractions. It includes a inlet, a liq. outlet and a gas outlet for released gases. The liquified waste is fed to the separator where solids are removed. The remaining liqs. are delivered to the digester for bacterial breakdown. Gases from the cooker and digester are fed to the condenser where they form a condensate which is discharged.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is esp. for treatment of waste collected in a restaurant sink trap. This typically contains 40-60% of mixed organic and inorganic solids, with fats, oils, grease, surfactants and water. Landfill vol. of waste from the trap is reduced to 40-50% of its value if the treatment system is not used. Additionally, the system is relatively inexpensive to operate and is non-polluting. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Fish wastes are digested by (i) preparing a culture of anaerobic microorganisms (I); (ii) feeding it into a digestion tank; (iii) grinding the fish wastes into small pieces and adding water to a 25% solids suspension and (iv) feeding the suspension gradually into the tank, mixing to prevent build-up of a crust, and withdrawing to maintain a steady level.    (I) are obtd. from anaerobically digested cattle or other animals' manure, sewage, sludge or mud from the bottom of a pond, by feeding a gradually increasing amt. of organic cpds. to the material.    The inflow into the tank in (iv) increases to a steady rate. The tank is free of air and at 15.5-55 deg.C. The inflow steady rate is one that would give 95% digestion of fish connective tissue in the time that would fill the tank from empty to the steady level.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process economically disperses of fish waste in a relatively odour-free manner. The fertiliser formed contains protein, trace elements and micronutrients. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Prepn. appts. for waste material contg. paper and plastic, specifically by pulping in moisture and steam, comprises a reversibly rotatable pressure cylinder (10) which is inclined from inlet (32) to outlet-end (62), and contg. radial agitator paddles (70) preceeding helical vanes (80). Specifically cylinder (10) inclination is variable but normally is 4 deg. to horizontal, and pressure of 20-60 PSIA is generated by injection of steam at 227-300 deg.F. Pref. the waste is processed at 55-60% moisture content.    USE -   Sepn. of paper and plastic from municipal waste for both to be recycled. @(18pp Dwg.No.0/1)
The vehicle mounted system has an inclined rotary kiln, with a burner at its discharge end. A hopper is located at the inlet end for loading soil to advance through the kiln and be heated by the burner. The exhaust stream passes through a baghouse for the removal of fines and then through a catalytic incinerator to burn any remaining constituents. The tempm of the exhaust is monitored at inlet and discharge of the incinerator and the hydrocarbon constituents regulated by the admission of air or recirculation into the kiln.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For removing the lighter fractions of volatile hazardous organic contaminants in the soil at relatively low temp. below the vaporisation point of hgiher boiling organic contaminants to enable efficient recovery and destruction without environmental pollution.
Bacteria belonging to genus Pseudomonas and capable of decomposing trihalomethanes are incubated in medium contg. trihalomethanes.    Other nutrients for the bacteria are KH2PO4, Na2HPO4, NH4Cl CaCl2 or FeSO4. The bacteria are incubated pref. at about 30 deg C and pH of about 8. As pH of the medium is reduced with the formation of inorganic acid by the decompsn. of trihalomethanes, NaOH, Na2CO3 or NH3 is added at proper time intervals to adjust pH. During the incubation, aeration and stirring must be carried out. The bacteria incubated in liq. medium contg. at least one trihalimethane or in meat juice or the bacteria fixing support or the incubating soln. are added to the soln. contg. trihalomethanes. At the time when or before sepn. of the bacteria from the incubating soln., the bacteria can be fixed by using agar or polyacrylamine. Active substances extracted from the soln. obtd. by ultrasonic treatment, washing or freeze-melting of the bacteria can be used to decompose trihalomethanes.    ADVANTAGE -   Trihalomethanes, e.g. trichloroethylene, trichloro-ethane, chloroform and tetrachloroethylene, are effectively decomposed in a short time and the treating device is simplified and made compact. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The waste material, pref. graded to remove particle below 15mm and above 150mm in size, and possibly contg. sewage sludge and vegetable matter, is placed in rectangular containers which are stacked in a composting chamber. Tubular supports for the containers are provided and are used to convey air from an air supply source to the interiors of the lower parts of the containers. A vent pipe is provided on either side of each container near its upper edge, and the containers are fitted with covers in which devices for moistening their contents are provided.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the treatment of household and similar refuse by grading and composting, possibly with the addn. of sewage sludge, so as to facilitate disposal or further use. The proposed method improves the effectiveness of the system and renders it more transportable. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Catalytic prodn of 2C2-hydrocarbons from methane and/or methane contg hydrocarbon mixts at 800-1200 K, partial pressure methane; 02 of 1:20 and pressure greater than 0.1 MPa is claimed, in which methane and methane-contg mixts are converted on a catalyst system comprising alkali-Mn-Cu cpds, which are opt applied on supports.    Catalyst pref comprises a molar ratio of alkali/Mn + Cu (Me/Mn+Cu) of 1:10 and Mn/Cu of 0.05:20. Pref support material is alpha.Al203, Si02, Mg0, Ti02, SiC and ceramic masses. Catalyst is calcined at 500-1200 deg C in an inert gas or air stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Oxidative dimerisation of methane is achieved using rel simple reaction conditions. The catalyst system is of high activity, resulting in a high selectivity for the formation of ethene. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Catalyst useful for oxidative dimerisation of methane and methane-contg gas mixts comprises alkali-Mn-Cu-Cpds, opt in the presence of an inert carrier and is produced by mixing, dry rubbing, precipitating or soaking the carrier and then calcining.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst has a high catalytic activity and selectivity for the formation of C2-hydrocarbons, as well as a high stability. Dimerisation can be carried out at the lowest possible reaction temp to give high yields of C2-hydrocarbons. Catalyst pref contains alkali/Mn-Cu in molar ratio of 1:10 and Mn:Cu of 0.05:20. The catalyst components are pref applied to the inert materials, esp alpha-Al203, Si02, Mg0, Mg0-Si02, Ti02, SiC, and ceramic masses. The catalyst mixt is pref obtd by mixing alkali-0H and/or NaC03 soln with Mn-Cu salt soln and drying at 80-120 deg C and then at 200-500 deg C for 1-2 hrs. The mixt obtd is Mn-Cu-0H, which pptes at pH 7-8.5, is removed from the pptn prod, dried and thermally decomposed at 200-500 deg C. The catalyst slugs are pref calcined in an inert gas or air stream at 500-1200 deg C over a period of 2-20 hrs. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)
A catalyst suitable for the prodn of C2-hydrocarbons from methane or methane-contg gas mixts with 02 is claimed, in which the catalyst comprises alkali (Me)-Mn-Cu-cpds in mole ratio Me/Mn:Cu of 0.05-20, opt applied on an inert carrier.    Catalyst pref comprises a Na-Mn-Cu cpd with molar ratio Na/Mn:Cu of 0.25-9. The inert carrier material pref comprises alpha-Al203, Si02, Mg0, Mg0-Si02, Ti02, or SiC.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst has a high catalytic activity and selectivity for the formation of C2-hydrocarbons, as well as a high stability. High yields of C2-hydrocarbons are achieved at the lowest possible reaction temps. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Wastes, bilogical sludges or metal oxide concentrates contg. halogenated hydrocarbons are treated at a high temp. and the gases fromed are cooled to minimise the amount of polyhalogenated environmentally harmful cpds. emitted. The materials to be treated are first heated or burnt in O2-contg. gas to decompose the halogenated hydrocarbons. They are then cooled at 300 deg.C or more per second from 400 deg.C to below 250 deg.C which prevents the halogenated hydrocarbons being reformed.    Pref. the gases are cooled in a circulating fluidised bed reactor using a large amt. of particles for cooling the gases fast and then recycling particles sepd. from the cooled gas. The particles are cooled before they are sepd. from the gas or after sepn. Combusting is at 830-1000 deg.C or over 1000 deg.C, esp. on a grate. Gas cooling to over 400 deg.C is in a waste heat boiler. An S-absorbing material recovers S cpds. in the,form or a second, fluidised bed reactor. The flue gases are cooled at over 1000 deg.C sec.    USE -   Process prevents emulsion of suspensions such as coplanar PCB, polychlorinated dioxins and polychlorinated furans. @(19pp Dwg.No.1/12)@
Two-stage methane fermentation comprises a prim. stage fermentation in a tank having capacity to hold the raw liq. for 2-3 days for high temp. fermentation and 4-6 days for medium temp. fermentation, and a device for sepg. anaerobic sludge and floating aerobic sludge, and for returning sepd. aerobic and anaerobic sludge. Sepd. clean liq. and biogas discharged from the prim. stage fermentation tank are mixed and introduced to the bottom portion of a second tank for forming upward flow of anaerobic sludge bed to perform sec. fermentation. The second tank has a deep flat base.    ADVANTAGE -   Generation of bad smell can be avoided, and content of methane gas is increased to 65-70%. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Incubation of aerobic bacteria used for purificn. of water in a water tank for raising salt water fish comprises: feeding activated sludge contg. sewage and blast furnace slag in an aeration tank having an oxidn.-redn. potential (ORP) controlling device and a pH controlling device, feeding fresh water artificial sewage contg. ammonia cpds. and organic substances decomposed by activated sludge aerating air using ORP of the aeration tank as an index, gradually replacing the fresh water artificial sewage with sea water when over 80% of ammonia cpds. are oxidised to nitrate cpds., and using it for the purificn. of water in the water tank for saltwater fish when finally 90% of ammonia cpds. are oxidised to nitrate cpds. in the artificial sewage 100% replaced with sea water.    ADVANTAGE -   As soon as the incubated bacteria are added in the water tank for raising saltwater fish, pollutants in the waste water are oxidised and nitrate cpds. are reduced. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Methane fermentation system of cellulose substrate comprises a liquefying tank, where support fixing anaerobic bacteria gps. having high power for decomposing cellulose to form CH4 are fed, and a gasification tank, where the soln. from the liquefying tank and support fixing anaerobic bateria gps. having high power for decomposing C2H5COOH at low temp. to form CH4 are fed. The cellulose substrate is fed to the liquefying tank.    ADVANTAGE -   The cellulose substrate, which is difficult to subject to methane fermentation, is decomposed at low temp. at increased rate. As the concn. of bacteria gps. in the supports is increased, methane fermentation is carried out at low temp. in high efficiency. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/3)
The soil amendment agent comprising reaction prods. of liq.-solid septic waste matter and CaO contains (A) stable and effective calcium phosphate as the main part of total phosphate and (B) organic matter dispersed of calcium phosphate, fatty acid calcium salt and calcium as decomposition prods. of hardly decomposing organic phosphate, phospholipid, glyceride and lignin, with the redn. up to 3% of water soluble phosphate.    Calcium phosphate is pref. formed from phosphoric acid in the septic waste matter and organic phosphoric acid. Water soluble phosphoric acid in the septic waste matter can be stabilised as calcium phosphate by 97%.    ADVANTAGE -   The agent can be produced in a less time than compost. The generation of harmful insects and microorganisms in the agent is inhibited by higher pH of this agent. The agent has complex structure of organic matter and inorganic matter, which can activate the soil and can retain water in the soil. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Prodn. of organic fermented manure comprises (1) the first fermentation step of piling the manure starting material, contg. organisms as main component, for 5-15 days after adjusting its water content to 15-40% and (2) the second fermentation step of piling the fermented product obtd. in (1) for 5-15 days after mixing with 5-50% of chemical fertiliser and 1-20% of activated charcoal.    Starting organisms are rape cake, rice bran, fish protein, etc., opt. with 1-5% of zeolite, etc. Chemical fertiliser added in the second fermentation step is ammonium sulphate, superphosphate of lime, potassium sulphate or their mixt.    Phosphate fertiliser (e.g., bone. dust) is opt. added with chemical fertiliser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Organic fermented manure with low water content can be produced in a short period by this method. Organic fermented manure produced by this method has an advantage of producing no ammonia nor O2 gas, long-lasting effectiveness and inhibiting plant blights in the soil. @(5pp Dwg.No 0/0)
Organic waste is turned into compost on a rectangular rotting area in which two bridge structures can traverse across the entire field from end to end. A pick-up bucket wheel can transfer the material in stripes from one end to a cross belt, to one longitudinal belt and to a spreader on a second cross belt. A hopper at the start of the longitudinal belt receives the fresh incoming organic waste.    ADVANTAGE -   Permits deposition and re-arrangement to any desired height of layer. @(13pp Dwg.No.1/9)@
Hydroxy mixed ethers of formula R1O-(CH2CH2O)x-CH2-CH(OH)R2 (I) are used to remove water from finely divided solids contg. water. R1 = 1-10C alkyl; R2 = 8-20C alkyl; x = 1-20.    Pref. R1 = 1-4C alkyl; R2 = 12-16C alkyl; x = 2-15. The amt. of (I) used is 0.5-10 kg (3-8 kg)/cubic m of fine solid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solid is coal or coke (claimed), ores or other ore-mining material, and sewage sludges. Water is removed more rapidly, to a lower residual water content, without foaming. @(5pp Dwg.No 0/0)
An organic compost is prepd. from shredded refuse which has a particle size less than 5.0 inches. The refuse consists of 5-96% w/w cellulosic material including alpha-, beta- and gamma-cellulose with at least 20% being wood cellulose with a degree of polymerisation less than 900.    Water is added to the shredded material to saturate it before being contacted with a mixt. of earthworm castings and either earthworm eggs or earthworms per se. This forms a compostable mass of material contg. 20-2,000 lbs castings and 1-100 lbs of earthworms or their eggs, for each ton of mass. For at least the first thirty days of composting, the water content is maintained at at least 80% by the addn. of water. The mass is held at 0 to 54 deg.C and the water content at 45-92% w/w for 4 to 8 months.    USE -   The resulting compost has a water content of 45-92% w/w, a carbon content of 27-85% w/w (by wt. dry compost), an organic/ inorganic ratio of 0.33-1.5, a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 5-20, a pH of 6.2-8, and a particle size distribution such that no particles are bigger than 2.0 inches, 0.5-35% are greater than 1 inch, 0.5-35% are 0.25-1 inch, and at least 50% are smaller than 0.25 inch (claimed).
A thermo-cyclic process having an exothermic portion and an endothermic portion is improved by conducting the process in thermal exchange relation with a sufficient amt. of a transition thermal adsorption/release material (TARM) to operate the process substantially isothermally at about the transition temp. of the TARM, utilizing the latent heat of the transition during the endothermic and exothermic portions of the process. The transition is e.g. a phase change, e.g. solid/liquid, liquid/gas or solid/gas, or a dehydration/hydration.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Reducing or eliminating temp. change increases the capacity of the process, which in general utilizes a bed of chemicals or adsorbent, or a liquid absorbent. Applications include pressure swing methods for (a) storage and release of gases, e.g. storage of methane or natural gas on activated carbon on a vehicle for use as fuel and (b) removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas with activated carbon at ca. 100 deg.F. Chemical processes include (c) cyclic oxidation/reduction of a metal oxide, e.g. Mn or Ba oxide at 1400-1500 deg.F, to produce oxygen from air and (d) an intermittent flame-on/flame-off process, e.g. combustion of natural gas with low NOx emission. Liquid absorbent processes include (e) removal of acid gases, e.g. CO2, H2S and COS from refinery or fuel gases with selected solvents, carbonate systems and amine systems (monoethanolamine, diglycol amine or triethanolamine). @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The appts. includes a feed hopper with inclined reciprocating plates lying along the bottom of the feed hopper preventing the feed from jamming. It utilises a domed catalytic oxidn. chamber where the feed stock is partially oxidised at an elevated temp.    ADVANTAGE -   The feed is prevented from jamming even when moist or irregularly or non-uniformly shaped. The high temperature gases produced can be utilised as the thermal energy source for a conventional water tube boiler. @(18pp Dwg.No.0/5)
Improvement in a system for processing soil consisting of solid material and vaporisable substances to separate the solids from the vaporisable substances comprises (a) classifying the soil consisting of solid material and vaporisable substances into solids free of vaporisable substances and a mixt, of fine residue material and vaporisable substances; (b) subjecting the vaporisable substances and fine residue material to a combustion step to utilise the vaporisable substances as a fuel to partly support the combustion an and combustion and continuing the combustion in the presence of heated ambient air to fuse the residue material from the combustion into a stabilised pellet from; and (c) utilising some heat from the combustion to promote initial vaporisation of the vaporisable substances in step (a).    ADVANTAGE -   The improved system very simply and inexpensively separates out and cleans solids, such as rock and like, and passes the contaminating material very quickly through a relatively high temp combustion phase to sanitise, ddeodorise and convert the residue from the combustion phase into an ash substance that can be acceptable in landfill disposal operations.@(5pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Use of NaCl-La/Al2O3 catalyst contg. 17-20 wt.% La and 10-13 wt.% Na as catalyst in the high temp. oxidative conversion of methane, increases the efficiency of the process. The conversion is carried out at 750-760 deg., with the methane:air ratio of 1:2.5-3.0.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased selectivity and yield of 2C hydrocarbons. Bul.5/7.2.90 @(2pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
The unit comprises a cylindrical drum, which is rotating with a sprocket connected to a driver, an injection pipe for injecting heat, and a ventilation pipe which is connected to a ventilation fan for discharging heat. Screw blades are formed in the cylindrical drum and are opposite to each other. Fixed screws are fixed at a centre shaft and are opposite the screw blades, so that the raw materials of compost are mixed and pulverised during rotation of the cylindrical drum
Method comprises storing bacteria under drying condition in the presence of cystein and admit.    The bacteria includes Methanobacterium formicicum, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, Methanococcus voltae, Methanococcus vannieli, Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Methanosarcina barkeri, Methanospirillum hungatei, etc. The bacteria is dispersed in dispersion medium contg. cystein and admit. The dispersion solvent includes water, physiological saline, phosphate buffer solution, etc. Cystein is used in 0.1-10 g/liter of the dispersion, admit is used in 10 to 100 g/liter of the dispersion. The ratio of cystein/admit is 0.1-100 to 10-100. The dispersion is dried or freeze-dreid in container.    ADVANTAGE -   The bacteria can be stored for a long period of time under stable conditions.
Pipe for ethylene-cracking ovens with good coking resistance has a finely granulated layer contg. 15-30 wt.% Cr and 15-50 wt.% Ni and having a grain size of austenite crystals of at least No.7 down to a depth from the surface of at least 30 microns.    A steel pipe with above compsn. is cold-worked with a 20% or higher working deg. or down to a depth of at least 50 microns and then heated to 1100 deg.C or higher in an atmos. contg. up to 5 vol.% oxygen and at least 20 vol.% nitrogen.    The steel opt. contains 0.5-3.0 wt.% Mo, 0.5-4.0 wt.% W (0.5-3.0) wt.% for Mo + W/2, if used together), 0,05-0.30 wt.% C, 5 wt.% or less Si, 10 wt.% or less Mn, 0.01-2.0 wt.% Ti, 0.01-2.0 wt.% Al, 0.001-0.03 wt.% B, and/or 0.005-0.3 wt.% Zr. Cr imparts sufficient strength and heat resistance. Ni retains the austenite phase stably according to the Cr content.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method improves the coking resistance without significantly changing the chemcial compsn. of the steel or sacrificing any basic property or cost. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/1)
NOVELTY - NoAbstract.
An anode strip is prepd. from powered and/or granulated coal waste and the cathode is made from an iron plate. The slushis thickened by electrolysis at 120 mA direct current for 150 hrs. The anode can be used for further electrolysis. The cathode, comprising approx. 60-80 mg Cr/kg, can be burned. Application - mixed with manure and used as a fertiliser. @()
Raw domestic waste is sepd. into three sieve sizes 0-15mm, 15-150mm and greater than 150mm. The material of size 0-15mm is then either disposed of in a land-fill tip, or stacked in layers and composted and later used as ground cover. The material of size 15-150mm is composted in the customary manner wtih separately collected sewage or clarified sludge. The material of size greater than 150mm is transferred to a raw material sorting or incineration plant. The finished compost is sieved and the material retained by the sieve is also transferred to a raw-material sorting process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This invention is used for improving the treatment and disposal of domestic waste and similar materials. The disposal or use of the material is made easier by a process of segregation and composting or conditioning with clarified sewage sludge. No size redn. of the material is required, and the resulting land-fill or tip material is completely inert and does not rot or emit gases.
Residues from processing of cattle or pig manure are eliminated by mixing the residues with lignite dust and/or coal dust, to render the material inert and reduce NOX due to the NH3 content, with prodn. of a non-polluting coal prod. At the same time, components binding SO2, HCl and HF may be added, e.g. lime (CaO, Ca(OH)2, CaCO3) or waste lime from sugar beet prodn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prod. is used as fuel in heating and power stations. Addn. of the residue to the dust renders it inert and reduces the risk of explosion. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Organic material from gardens or household waste is fed into a base to be chopped and mixed by a pair of bladed rotors before dropping into a sump (24). The finely chopped material is raised by a conveyor worm (26) to the head of an upright insulated housing while being aerated viae a coaxial tube. The air is pref. heated to promote rotting of the material. From the housing head the chopped material falls back into the base sump to be recycled until the rotting process is complete or has reached a stage permitting discharge from a rear outlet (22) for the final compost forming stages. While fresh air is rising in the coaxial tube, waste air is descending in the same tube and transfers heat to the raising air, supply and discharge of material are automatically controlled by temp. reached.    ADVANTAGE -   Waste can be treated at location of its availability on compact upright structure readily transformable.
Mobile appts. for treating ground stored, collected waste material comprises a frame with a conveyor (14) having teeth for shredding and mixing the material and a clamp for removably attaching a loader bucket (12) along one side of the conveyor (14). The clamp can be an arm carrying spaced stabiliser plates and hydraulically operated clamp plates have hardened grippers which can releasably hold the loader bucket (12).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Windrow turner for waste having composted. The machine is low in cost and easy to maintain and can be quickly and easily attached to a tractor. The machine can have attachments for cutting and sepg. plastic bags of leaves, grasses or other wastes. @(24pp Dwg.No.3/7)@
A method for producing an org. fertilizer comprises: (a) mixing agricultural by-products i.e. leaves, rice straw with mould or yeast to form org, piles; (b) driving an air pipe into the piles and blowing in air, and fermenting at 30-40 deg.C for 2-3 days; (c) injecting high temp. bacteria i.e. bacillus subtilis, blowing in air and water, and fermenting at 60-75 deg. C with maintaining 60-70% of water content for 2-3 days; and (d9 injecting actinomycetes, blowing air, and fermenting at 30-35 deg. C for 3-7 days
Detecting gas comprises burning undesired gas on the surface of a metal oxide semiconductor, after the surface area of the semiconductor is treated to have a low conductivity, and detecting the change of the conductivity in the interior region of the semiconductor.    USE -   For detecting methane and isobutane. (J56177758-A) @(5pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Recovering alkane, e.g. isobutane and propane, is carried out by making a reaction gas obtd. by vapour phase catalytic oxidn. of a raw material contg. the alkane contact with organic solvent counter-currently in the presence or absence of ammonia to separate the alkane by absorption.    ADVANTAGE -   (1) The process can recover unreacted isobutane or propane from a vapour phase catalytic reaction gas without danger of explosion even in high oxygen concn.. (2) The process can recover alkane very economically even at low one-pass conversion of alkane as around 10%. (3) Cheap air can be used as oxidising agent for isobutane and propane. @(6op Dwg.No.0/0)
A soil improver or fertiliser is made by mixing spent beer residues with phenols and/or phenolic organic substances or organic substances contg. phenols, and inorganic buffers, and converting biologically.    The phenol-contg. organic substance is shredded bark, esp. pine bark, or coffee grounds, of the mesocarp later of the coffee berry, or comminuted, esp. crushed corn cobs. The inorganic buffer is pref. a mixt. of silicate and carbonate stone flours. The mixt. pref. contains 70 pts. vol. of fresh spent beer residues, 29 pts. vol. of phenol-contg. organic substances, and 0.6 pts. vol. of inorganic buffer, and is converted biologically with microorganisms humic acid. Conversion is esp. in 2 stages, with decomposition of the organic substances with thermophilic fungi in the 1st stage, and ripening and formation of humus by Streptomyces in the 2nd stage.    ADVANTAGE -   Spent beer residues are utilised. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A pyrolysis process for degassing organic substances, eg household or industrial waste, includes using a pyrolysis chamber. The material to be treated is comprested and fed into the chamber, and is then fed through the chamber.    The heat is added by friction with the chamber wells. The pyrolysis products formed are removed at increased pressure. Pyrolysis pref. takes place at between 250 and 500 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The hyrolysis process for organic waste is simple and efficient, and the vapour, gases etc formed, are all utilised.
A compsn. for use as silaging aid in acidification of green fodder and for prevention of aerobic breakdown in ensilate contains alkali(ne earth) formate, opt. a carrier and/or auxiliary, and bacteria producing lactic acid.    Pref. the bacterium is Lactobacillus plantarum, esp. L. plantarum DSM 3676 and/or DSM 3677, partic. a mixt. of 10-90% of DSM 3676 and 90-10% of DSM 3677. The formate is Ca formate. The freeze-dried bacteria are mixed with the formate, with the bacteria and/or the formate opt. having a protective casing, and are opt. mixed with a carrier and/or auxiliary. The compsn. is added to the silage to give 10 power3 - 10 power8 (10 power4 -10 power7) microorganisms/g of dry matter, and 0.01-1 (0.05-0.4) wt.%, calc. as Ca formate, w.r.t. dry matter.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use of the compsn. as silage aid in acidifying green fodder and preventing aerobic breakdown is claimed. Rapid prodn. of lactic acid in the silage hinders the development of bacterial (Clostridia) forming butyric acid in the silage. Development of yeasts which assimilate lactact is retarded, but growth of lactic acid bacteria under anaerobic conditions is not. Active substances are not broken down or inactivated. The compsn. is cheap and is physiologically acceptable in fodder.
A novel catalyst has the formula (I)    AuMOw((DOx)(EOy)a)z    In (I): A= alkali(ne earth) metal; M = V, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and/or Cu; D = Zr, Ti, Hf, Ce, Th, Pr, Nb, Ta, W and/or Re; E = Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Yb, Sm, Gd, Nd, Sc, V, Bi, Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and/or Lu; a = 0-0.2; u = 0-1; w = no. of O atoms required to fulfill the valency requirement of A and M. x = no. of O atoms required to fulfill the valency requirements of D; y = no. of O atoms to fulfill the valency requirements of E; and z = 10-100.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) are used for the combustion of organic materials (fuels, org. waste etc.) and the autothermal pyrolytic conversion of methane and/or natural gas to higher order hydrocarbons. In autothermal pyrolysis, the heat released upon complete combustion of a portion of the methane (and all the oxygen) in the feed mixt. can be mroe efficiently used to bring about the pyrolysis of the remaining methane than in conventional pyrolysis, through suitable reactor design. Comparable yields of aromatic prods. can be obtd. with less consumption of methane and aromatic prods. are pref. over acetylene. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/7)
The vertical walls of the compost container are made of thick plates of insulating material e.g. extruded styrene cellular plastic. The removable front wall has a rail along and covering one of its two vertical end surfaces. It also covers a first edge part on the exterior of the wall nearest the end surface, and a second edge part nearest the end surface on the interior of the wall. It has a thickness corresp. to that of the adjoining side wall.    The rail forms a flange directed at right-angles to the inside of the removable front wall at a distance from the wall end surface, and which corresponds to the wall thickness. On the other vertical end surface of the removable wall a vertical adjoining edge surface on the contrainer side wall has a corresp. rail. Lock components are provided which comprise U-profiles bent at 90 deg.C with an inner flanges on the two rails have been made ro locate against adjoining walls.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To enable domestic waste to be composted, using a container which is easy to erect, converting matter placed inside it to compost in a relatively short time, and which is hygienic and easy to empty.
Prepn. of hydrous compost uses saccharified residue which is by-produced in saccharification of hydrous substance.    The hydrous substance includes wood, pulp, straw, rice bran, soybean stalk, etc.. The substance is hydrolysed with acid, alkali and/or enzyme to change the cellulose and hemi-cellulose to monosaccharide, where residual material is by-produced. Thus produced residue is subjected to conventional fermentation to give hydrous compost. The residue is pref. mixed with excretion of water, slurry, kitchen wasted, chemical fertilizer, water, ash, etc.. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In fermentation treatment of wasted slurry comprising subjecting wasted slurry obtained upon activated slurry treatment of excretion to drying to give dehydrated cake, introducing the cake into biological fermentation tank to cause fermentation, compost which is already fermented to give fertilizer is taken out, a part of the compost is mixed with the above said cake in an amt. of at least 5 times as much, and the resulting mixt is introduced into the biological fermentation tank.    USE -   Biological fermentation of the dehydrated cake is accelerated, so that the fermentation is completed in only one day. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Organic sludge is dehydrated by filter press type electroendosmosris dehydrator to form cake, seed compost is inoculated to the cake, and aerobic condition for fermentation is kept by ventilation.    ADVANTAGE -   Compost can be formed in a short time. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Isomerisation of hydrocarbons is effected at elevated temp. and pressure in the presence of H2 and a catalyst comprising zeolite beta (I) and a hydrogenating-dehydrogenating metal or cpd. (II), where (I) has been treated with a soln. having a pH of at least 9 and the catalyst has been calcined.    Pref. (I) is treated with a NaOH or NH4OH soln. having a pH of at least 11. (II) is Pt or Pd, present in an amt. of 0.01-5 wt.%. The catalyst is calcined at 450-650 deg.C..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. useful for isomerising 4-10C paraffins. Alkali treatment of (I) increases the activity of the catalysts, which have higher activity than conventional mordenite-based catalysts. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Claimed is a pressure swing adsorption process for recovering two gas prod. at high recovery and purity from a feed stream contg. both gases. The first gas (A) contains less strongly adsorbed components and the second gas (B) contains more strongly adsorbed components. (a) The gas stream is fed at elevated pressure to parallel adsorptive beds contg. materials selective for the more strongly adsorbed component (B). Component (A) is collected at the downstream end. (b) The gas feed is stopped before (A) reaches the downstream end. The bed is depressurised to ambient press., and (c) purged with low press. (A) to remove (B) from the system. (d) The bed is evacuated at sub-ambient pressure to recovery (B). (e) The system is repressurised with (B), and introduction of the feed gas resumed. Steps (a) to (e) are repeated as a continuous process. The effluent from steps (b) and (c) is recycled to the feed gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process recovers both components of the feed stream, the less strongly adsorbed component (A) at the elevated adsorption press., and the more strongly adsorbed component (B) at ambient pressure. @(19pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The fuel cell, which operates at a high temp., contains several converter-cells (5), based on ZrO2 as a solid electrolyte, arranged in a stack. Each cell is in contact on one side with the oxygen-source gas and on the other side with the gaseous fuel. For each stock of cells, a gas-jet pump (7) is provided to transport the oxygen-source gas. A central gas-jet pump (8) is provided to pump the fuel-gas and mix it with exhaust fuel-gas from the cells contg. unreacted fuel-gas and the reaction prod. through the central distribution pipe (9). Endothermal reactions take place in the central pipe and the coaxially arranged reaction region (10), through which the fuel-gas travels to the converter cells, which contains a catalyst to accelerate the reactions.    Four stocks of cells are pref. arranged inside a thermally insulated container (1). Also claimed is the arrangement in which one set of supply (17) and removal (18) pipes is provided for each pair of stacks of converter cells (6) which is fitted at a right angle to the level of the electrolyte plates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuelcell arrangement provides a high conversion efficiency of 90% of the fuel and an energy efficiency of 52%. The cell is able to use a variety of gaseous fuels by using a solid oxygen-ion conducting medium. It provides a large capacity by the use of stacks of converter cells. @(9pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Appts. for high-temp. electrolytic decompsn. of cpds. contg. H isotopes comprises: a solid electrolyte (10) capable of transporting O, H, Na or Li ions under dc.; an O2-pervious anode (11) on one surface; an H ion-conducting cathode (12) on the other surface; and a dc. source. The solid electrolyte is pref. provided in the form of a tube.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In decompsn. of e.g. D2O for use in low-temp. energy-liberating fusion processes. Use of a solid electrolyte allows higher process temps. to be used and reduces the amt. of precious metal needed for electrodes. @(30pp Dwg.No.1/7)@
A process for the non-catalytic hydrogenation of an organic cpd. contg. at least one reducible functional gp. selected from C=C, C-OH, C-O-C or a strained cyclic structure, comprises reacting the organic cpd., a hydride complex and a strong acid in a liq. phase.    Processes for the hydrogenation of an aromatic ketone and for the rapid hydrogenation of a substd. alkene to an alkane are specifically claimed.    The organic cpd. is an alkene, tert.-alcohol, sec.-benzyl alcohol or a cpd. contg. a strained cyclic gp. The substd. alkene is a tetra-substd. tri-substd. or disubstd. alkene.    The hydride complex is a transition metal-hydridocarbonyl, hydridocyclopentadienyl or hydridocarbonylcyclopentadienyl, or an organosilane, and is pref. HMo(CO)3Cp, HW(CO)3Cp, HMn(CO)5, HFe(CO)2Cp, HMn(PF3)5, HRe(CO)5, HCo(CO)4, HCo(PF3)4 or HS:Et3. The transition metal is Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Fe or Co. The acid has pKa less than 1 and is trifluoromethanesulphonic acid, fluorosulphonic acid, toluenesulphonic acid, a tetrafluoroboric acid ether complex, a hexafluorophosphonic acid-ether complex or H2SO4. The liq. phase is provided by a solvent, opt. CH2Cl2, toluene, mesitylene, xylene or benzene.    USE -   Process enables hydrogenation of a variety of organic cpds. at low temp. and pressure and with high prod. yields. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The catalyst is prepd. by simultaneous co-pptn. of nickel, zirconium and aluminium nitrates in the presence of calcium aluminate, by action of Na2CO3. Nitrates are taken in amts. ensuring the ratio (wt.%, calculated per oxides) nickel oxide 25-45, calcium oxide 2-5, zirconium dioxide 3.5-47.0 and balance Al2O3.    Calcium aluminate is used in dispersed form, with particle size below 40-50 microns. The ppte. is sepd., dried, calcined, formed and fired at 850-950 deg. C for 10 hrs.    Tests show that the produced catalyst has increased activity within range 260-760 deg. C (390 deg. C, compared to 200 deg. C for the known catalyst) owing to its improved thermal stability (800 deg.C).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In prodn. of methane and in purificn. of gases from carbon oxides. Increased activity of catalyst owing to its improved thermal stability. Bul.13/7.4.90 @(4pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
CO gas sensor device comprises a pair of electrodes formed on both sides of a solid-electrolyte plate inserted in and fixed to a ceramic tube, to form 2 rooms: one charged with a granular catalyst to oxidise a combustible gas contg. CO.    Used for detecting propane gases. (J59109856-A) @(3pp Dwg.No.0/4)
In a methane fermentation tank with a septd. anaerobic acid fermentation tank, the respective tanks are filled with microbes on a non-wooven cloth with a larger specific gravity than 1.0 and a circulation means of organic effluent is provided for rising-up flow respectively.    USE -   For energy recovery together with effective BOD reduction without aeration power. @(9pp Dwg.No. 0/5)
A mixt. of material and heat beam-producing medium are supplied to a distn. furnace, and after distn. of the material, the medium is sepd.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic waste can be regenerated at low cost. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Shaped particles (I) of use as catalyst or catalyst precursor comprise (a) calcium aluminate cement, and (b) at least one oxide of nickel and/or cobalt, 10-70 wt.% or (I) expressed as NiO or CoO; Particles (I) have porosity 25-50%; at least 30% of the pore volume is in pores of 15-35 nm, and less than 40% in pores of dia. greater than 35 nm.    A peferred method comprises precipitating a Co or Ni cpd., e.g. by adding an alkali metal carbonate to an aq. solution of the nitrate, washing the ppte., opt., mixing with a finely divided diluent material, e.g. magnesia or clay, drying, and calcining at 400-550 deg.C. The oxide material formed is mixed with the cement, opt. with a processing agent, e.g. a little water, a stearate or graphite, and formed into pellets. The cement may comprise calcium mono-aluminate, tricalcium aluminate, pentacalcium aluminate, tricalcium penta-aluminate or dodecacalcium hepta-aluminate. The presence of iron oxide in the cement can in some application be tolerated, or can even by beneficial. A method of pelleting to obtain the required porosity comprises use of a pellet mill of the type used for pelleting animal feedstuffs, wherein the mixture is extruded and extrudate cut with a doctor knife to required length. The pellets are then hardened by contact with steam.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is used (i) as a fixed bed catalyst for decomposition of an oxidising agent in a fluid medium, e.g. an aq. medium of pH above 8. The oxidising agent may be hypochlorite ions in an effluent prior to discharge of the latter into river, lake or estury; and (ii) to reduction to a hydrogenation catalyst, of use for hydrogenation of carbon oxides to methane, and hydrogenation of armoatics, e.g. benzene to cyclohexane. The active material in (I) is readily accessible, and the cement can stand highly alkaline conditions.
A hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst comprises a sintered combination of metal oxides contg. (a) an oxide of a Gp.(VIII) metal, (b) an oxide of a Gp. (IIB) metal, (c) an oxide of a Gp. (IA) metal, (d) an oxide of a lanthanide metal and opt. (e) an oxide of a Gp. (VIIB) or Gp. (IVB) metal. The sintered combination comprises a series of a Gp.(VIII) metal, Gp. (IIB) metal and opt. a Gp.(VIIB) or Gp. (IVB) metal, spinels of the alkali metal oxide dispersed in a lanthanide metal oxide matrix. Also claimed is a hydrocarbon synthesis process comprising contacting a feed stream contg. H2 and CO over the catalyst, at 200-350 deg.C and 0.1-5 MPa, at a space velocity of 10-10000 v/v/hr., and recovering a prod. hydrocarbon contg. ethylene and ethane (mol. ratio ethylene:ethane greater than 1).    ADVANTAGE -   Increased activity of a low mol. wt. producing catalyst combined with a high olefin product state, under standard conditions.
Organic fertiliser or livestock feed, and clean water are obtd. from organic waste e.g. sludge form sewage treatment plant. After sepn. of the waste into a liquid portion and a solid portion, heat drying is applied to the solid portion only and the liquid portion is purified.    ADVANTAGE -   Processing time, power requirements and fuel consumption are reduced, environmental pollution is avoided and a useful final prod. is obtd. @(12pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
A process and appts. arrangement are claimed for producing alcohol from cellulose-contg. waste such as domestic waste. The waste material is disintegrated and freed from impurities such as metal, glass or stones, the cellulose and other polysaccharides thus obtd. then being hydrolysed to produce simpler sugars which are fermented with the alcohol formed being distilled off.    The claimed arrangement comprises a disintegrator (1), a device (2) for removing metals etc., a hydrolyser (9) for breaking the prod. down into sugars, a fermenter (11) and a distn. plant (13). Pref. also present are: a refiner (5) for fine dispersal after purificn.; a sieve or other separator downstream of refiner (5); separator(s) (12) for sepg. solid material after hydrolyser (9) and/or after fermenter (11); and a briquet press (14) for material sepd. from sieve (7) and/or separator(s) (12).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The alcohol thus generated from domestic waste contains in addn. to EtOH, a small amt. of water, plus MeOH, higher alcohols and esters. When dried it can be used as motor fuel. The wash residue sepd. at (12) can be compressed (14) to briquettes useful as fuel. At least part of the distn. residues can be recycled to fermenter (11). @(11pp Dwg.No.2/2)
Silanated metal-pillared interlayered clay (I) is novel. It is the reaction prod. of a metal-pillared interlayered clay (II) and a silanating agent (III). Pref. (II) is obtd. by reacting a smectite type clay, e.g. montmorillonite or hectorite, with a polymeric cationic hydroxymetal complex, as described e.g. in US 4,176,090 and 4,216,188. The metal is Al, Zr, Ti, Cr, Ni, or Fe, esp Al. Pillars are 4-20, (6-12), Angstroms in length. (III) is a silicon/organic cpd. contg. methyl and chlorine gps. e.g. dimethyldichlorosilane, the hydrolysed prod. of (2-trichlorosilyethyl) pyridine, methyltrichloro or trimethylchlorosilane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) has decreased surface area, pore vol. and cyclohexane adsorption compared with (II). It has novel catalytic properties and esp. used for conversion of oxygenated cpds. e.g. dimethyl ether, formed as intermediates in the syn gas process, to form hydrocarbon streams rich in 3-4C's. Catalysis of isomerisation of 3,3-dimethyl-1-butene to 2.3-dimethyl-1-butene is also exemplified. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A process for sepg. fluids by contacting a mixt. of at least two fluids with a membrane which is in the form of a film of up to 1,000 microns thickness or a hollow fibre. The membrane comprises a polyaromatic polymer (I) contg. aromatic repeat units of which at least 5 mole% are substd. by moieties having ethylenically unsatd. carbon bonds through which the polymer is crosslinked. The membrane is sufficiently durable to perform in processes selected from natural gas purificn. hydrogen recoveries, syngas processes, sepn. of CO2 or H2S from hyrocarbons, and enrichment of O2 and N2 from air streams.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sepn. process is pref. for gaseous fluids esp. natural gas. The membranes have improved durability c.f. similar non-crosslinked polymers and retain very high fluid permeability. They are partic. suitable where resistance to organic solvents or vapours is required, or where high operating temps. are used, or where plasticising gases e.g. CO2 are used. @(18pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The foam (I), contg. catalysts, cell stabilisers, and/or flame retardants, has pores free from halogenated hydrocarbons but contg. minor amts. of blowing agent (II) consisting of at least 3-6C alkane with b.pt. at normal pressure (-)10 - (+)70 deg. C.    Pref. prepn. of (I) using (II), wherein (1) (II), in conventional amt., is finely distributed either (i) in mixt. of alcohol and isocyanate starting components in conventional ratio for (I), and other finely divided additives such as flame retardants, catalysts, and pore stabilisers, or (ii) in alcohol component, with mixing in of additives, then conventional amt. of isocyanate component for forming (I) is incorporated, finely divided, (2) components are polymerised to form (I) under conventional conditions, partic. of temp.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Conventional uses, (I) are free from ozone layer-damaging halogen-contg. blowing agents, and have low density, low thermal conductivity, and good resistance to burning. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A drying system for organic material, e.g. pig manure, consists of a chamber (1), e.g. in a tunnel shape - large enough to take a small vehicle, with a base (2, 3) of fibrous cement, and a translucent top (4) e.g. of twin-wall polycarbonate, with its edges sitting in sloping gutters for the removal of condensation. The top of the tunnel is equipped with airtight hatches (7) which can be opened to permit gas to escape and air to flow in. During operation heat is generated inside the chamber by the natural action of sunlight on the translucent top of the tunnel, driving moisture out of the manure which is then drained off as it condenses, leaving dry manure with no odour.    ADVANTAGE -   Design simplicity and reduced energy consumption. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
The alcohol content and for calorific value are obtd by a simplified and precise method using electrical measurements carried out in a cell, with calculation of the results by appropriate circuits.    In a pref method, the dielectric index or temp capacitance are measured and the alcohol content and/or calorific value calculated using both value
A liq-membrane process for sepg. a gaseous stream (I) into a permeate stream (II) of gases having predominantly lower equilbrium K values, and a stream of gases (III) having predominantly higher equilbrium K values, by (a) flowing (I) into contact wtih a supported liq.-membrane which has an upstream side in contact wtih (I), and an opposite downstream side, (b) drawing of (III) i.e. gases which failed to permeate through the membrane, from the upstream side, and (c) drawing off permeate stream (II) from the downstream side of the membrane. (I) and the membrane are maintained at a pressure and temp. near the dew point of (I) in the two phase liq/gas region of the phase envelope, so that condensate from (I) will supply liq. for the liq. membrane.    USE -   The method is of esp. for sepg. hydrocarbons, e.g. a natural gas feedstream, methane and some ethane form stream (III) and higher hydrocarbons stream (II). Other sepns. mentioned are: ethylene from ethane, butane from isobutane, ammonia from other gases e.g. N2 or H2, methane from H2 sepn. of halogen gases.
Appts. comprises drying chamber with organic waste feed inlet, stirrer and far infrared heater and into which hot air is to be introduced, and fermenting chamber which has a stirrer, far infrared heater and fermented material discharge outlet and which promotes fermentation of dried material from the drying chamber with bacteria.    ADVANTAGE -   A large amt. of organic waste can be reclaimed as compost, fertiliser or feed using a compact appts. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Humus is made by rotting organic refuse in a cylindrical shaft built from superimposed annular sections to a height dependent on the amt. of available material and with a gripping cover. Under the stack is a base portion contg. two side-by-side cavities open at the front and each receiving a sliding drawer.    Transverse to the drawers and inserted in a cavity in the side wall is a heating element to maintain adequate rotting temp. Suspended above the drawer cavities is a trough-like container, sepd. from the combined drawer cavity by a slidable plate with apertures big enough for upward migration of earth-worms, of which a starting colony is provided in the drawers.    The plate also assists in aerating the refuse and for discharge of foul liq. Main structural elements are pref. made of foamed plastic, insulating against excessive heat/cold and protecting the worms.    ADVANTAGE -   Humus is rapidly prepared in amt. corresp. to refuse availability. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/13)
Traffic noise e.g. from motor ways is confined by walls made of cellular concrete rings with embedded polystyrene lumps through which willow twigs are pushed as a greenery cover. The inside of the stacks of rings is filled with waste e.g. effluent sludge, refuse compost, sawdust, shredded plastic and plastic foam, fly ash, bark, leaves, slag etc. The water seepage is collected in a pit and recirculated to the top by a pump. Alternate rings have a protruding top edge so that plants and greenery can be planted to adorn the bare sides.    ADVANTAGE -   Overcomes the noise nuisance and makes good use of waste prods. @(17pp Dwg.No.0/22)
A plant to produce compost on a large scale from organic waste includes machinery to transfer the waste from an old, e.g., 3m high tabular dump in rows, after a certain ripeness and shrinkage has been achieved, through a water spray to a new dump. A bucket wheel picks up layers of material and an inclined conveyor transfers it to a horizontal belt weigher which controls the water spray nozzle. The reversible belt conveyor can also be displaced longitudinally. The bucket wheel is adjustable by power cylinders. The main girder can traverse along the alley between the old and the new stacks and at right angles to it. A microprocessor controls the entire plant and calculates the expected shrinkage of the rotting material.    ADVANTAGE -   This permits the re-laying to the old height of e.g., 3m in spite of a 50% shrinkage in a fully automatic operation. @(29pp Dwg.No.0/9)
Oil absorbing and retaining packages are for preventing contamination of domestic drainage systems by oily or fatty wastes. They include a biodegradable oil absorbing and retaining material.    Pref. the packages are in a container of suitable shape for storage in a refrigerator. The material is packed into a netting bag before being put into the container. The material is a continuous vegetable fibre which has been treated with a silicate and then plasticised. It retains the oil or fat by capillary action, absorption and adsorption. Disposal of oily or fatty waste by using the prods. is new.
(JP2227962-A)   NOVELTY - Reformed gas obtained by steam reforming of a hydrocarbon material, e.g. naphtha, by a modifier is supplied to an anode pole through a carbon trap filled with metal wool, and an oxidizing gas is supplied to the cathode pole for electric power generation.    USE - Fuel cell battery to generate electricity.    ADVANTAGE - Clogging of gaseous diffusion property of the anode pole or piping is prevented with carbon included in the reformed gas and minimizes time dependent degradation of properties enabling better implementation of maintenance management.
Waste water is treated with the specific yeast of Kluyveromyces which are heat resistant and flocculating.    The yeast of 10 power 6 to 10 power 7/ml were injected. The waste water is treated at 38-45 deg.C. Opt. phosphorus or nitrogen sources like urea can be added as nutrition for the yeast. A flocculant like ferric chloride, polyaluminium chloride, or acrylamide is added to form larger flocks after the pH of the waste water is adjusted at pH=6.5-7.0. About 55-65% COD and BOF and 40-65% TOC can be removed. In an example, a waste water contg. lactose, glucose, sorbitol and glycerol was disposed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Highly nutritious waste water can be disposed at a high temp. of 40 deg.C on an industrial scale.
Preparation of 2C or more hydrocarbon (I) comprises oxidative coupling reaction of methane-contg. gas (II) with oxygen-contg. gas (III) at 500-1500 deg.C over catalyst composed of (a) high purity and ultra fine simple crystal of magnesium oxide, (b) alkali metal oxide(s) and (c) tri-valent metal oxide(s) or tetra-valent metal oxide(s) being capable of forming complex oxide(s) having sodium chloride-like lattice structure with (a) and (b).    Catalyst is packed into reactor to prepare fixed catalyst bed, the catalyst bed is heated at 500-1500 deg.C (pref. 650-850 deg.C). (II) and (III) are fed to the reactor continuously, reaction is carried out under ordinary pressure-20kg/sq.cm, pref. up to 5kg/sq.cm. Reactants may be diluted with inert gas (e.g. helium, nitrogen, argon, etc.).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) esp. ethylene and ethane, is prepd. from (II) in higher yield and selectivity. Ethylene is useful as raw material of various chemicals. @(7pp DWg.No.0/0)
Organic waste material is treated by (i) subjecting it to direct chemical redn. by reaction with a reducing agent at 600 deg.C or more within an 02-free isolated first zone; (ii) transferring reduced gaseous components to a cooling zone within the first zone; (iii) introducing an aq. component into the cooling zone, cooling and condensing a first portion of the gaseous components; (iv) collecting the resultant aq. liq. in a collection zone and (v) recycling some of the aq. liq. to (iii).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process is suitable for waste materials which opt. contain polyhalogenated waste, e.g. PCBs. By-prods. are less toxic than those from incineration. @(21pp Dwg.No.2,3/10)@
Method and appts. for reducing the discharge of harmful matter, and in particular for preventing the discharge, from a combustion installation, of flue dusts (FS) emitting heavy metal.    The combustion chamber (1) concerned is fed with material (G, FG) to be burned, in particular "special" waste contg. silicates, and slag (S) and flue gas (R) are given out. In addn. to the material to be burned, at least one binder matrix, such as silicates (SST, FLS) and/or boron cpds., is fed in. Variants claimed include silicate dust and powder-form boron cpds. being blown in, and other substances being blown in or otherwise fed in.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The safe removal of flue dusts contg. heavy metals has up to now been difficult and expensive. The proposed system minimises the discharge of harmful substances, and in particular the emission of such dusts, including those from the burning of "special" refuse. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/1)
From an upper initial supply conveyor (0), material to be composted falls into the first of a jet of superimposed transport floors (1-4). Each floor is offset from the floor below. On each floor vibratory intermittent motion to boards composing the floor gradually moves material along the floor to fall off the floor-end onto the floor below. The floor at each level urges arriving material in reverse direction to that in the preceding level. From the final level composted material falls to a discharge conveyor (5). Each floor may be formed of separate parallel and individually moved plants, and material may remain at each level for e.g. a week. The assembly is pref. in a housing, with O2/air applied at each level, and an outlet for waste gases.    ADVANTAGE -   Largely automatic refuse treatment needs min. manual operation, and enclosure of relatively simple machine reduces small emi from rotting refuse.
Waste material, e.g., garden refuse, is converted to compost while descending an inclined trough (1), held at an angle by journals (12) engaging upright supports (11). Progress down the trough is slowed to the required degree by providing a series of transverse barriers (e.g. 8), which may be arcuate strips. Below each barrier is a row of holes (9) admitting air to aerate the rotting material. The assembly is generally frusto-conical, widening towards the support floor. A cover (2) for the assembly has an openable door (7) for extracting finally completed compost.    ADVANTAGE -   All composting stages are achieved in a single enclosed structure. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/5)
Soil substitutes are produced by intimately mixing shredded tree bark with quarry stone and silicon sand-particles and composting the mixt.    Pref. water is added to the mixt. to bring the water content to 40-60 wt.%. The mixt. contains 50-75 wvol.% shredded bark, 10-40% stone particles and 5-25% sand particles. Up to 15 vol.% lignite is added. The quarry stone particles range from 9.50 - 6.70 mm. The coarse and finer particles are each at 10-15 vol.%. Coarse sand (75 microns-1.18mm) and fine sand (2.36-300 microns) are at 5-10 and 10-15 vol.% . Composting is by laying out the mixt. in windows and aerating by mechanically turning the material at 42-60 deg.C. The soil substitutes, esp. passing a 15mm sieve, are new.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process produces soil substitute in large amts. pref. e.g. for landscaping. This prevents environmental problems due to large scale harvesting of naturally occurring top soil. @(16pp DWg.No.0/0)
The process for producing organic fertilizer from manure comprises 4 steps. The appts. for removing foreign materials such as stones, glasses and plastic from manure comprises a manure tank having capacity for one month use, a pouring tank, a compression tank, a magnetic conveyor belt, an incinerator, a duct collector and an underground tank. The mixing appts. is made up of a corrosion-tank, an inhaler, a mixer, a subsidiary material's tank, a crusher, a chemical tank, and a conveyor belt. A fermentation and test appts. is composed of a methane gas tank, a fermentation tank a test tank and a working tank
Process comprises sepg. the wastes in a magnetic field of 20-40kA/m, and stirring the wastes in a biological and heat treating drum rotated at max. and min. speeds alternately.    USE -   For garbage treating facilities. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Reaction of methane comprises conducting oxidative coupling and steam reforming of methane in the same reaction appts.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Heat formed in exothermic oxidative coupling to produce useful hydrocarbons of 2C or more e.g. ethylene and ethane can be effectively utilized to endothermic steam reforming (reaction formula (1)) which requires heat supply. CH4 + H2O gives. CO + 3H2 (1) Furthermore, CO2 formed as by-prod. in oxidative coupling can be converted to useful CO by the reaction with H2 above formed according to the following equation (2). CO2 + H2. CO + H2O (2) This serves not only to suppress carbon source loss but also to bring CO/H2 molar ratio of formed mixed gas in reaction (1), 1/3, near to 1/2 suitable as that of raw materials for methanol or mixed alcohols, of which reaction for prodn. is formulated as follows. CO + 2H2 CH3OH mCO + 2mH2 CmH2m+ CmH2m + 1OH + (m-1)H2O Present method is suitably carried out in a reactor of double tube type and each reaction is performed separately in different region. In an example Aq. soln. of Li chloride was mixed with prescribed amt. of manganese oxide powder, evaporated to dryness, dried at 120 deg.C, and baked for 3 hrs. at 700 deg.C in air to prepare catalyst contg. 20 molar % of Li chloride. The catalyst (1g) was packed into inside of quartz glass double reactor and, in outside, steam-reforming use catalyst G-56H1 (prod.- of Gardler Co.; 1g) was packed. Mixed gas of CH4, O2, and He diluent (CH4-partial pressure: 0.05 atm., O2-partial pressure: 0.025 atm., total pressure: 1 atm.) was then supplied to inside of the reactor at 750 deg.C in a rate of 100Nml/min. To outside of the reactor, mixed gas of methane and steam (CH4-partial pressure: 0.1 atm., steam partial pressure: 0.6 atm., total pressure: 1 atm.) was supplied to react at a rate of 100 Nml/min. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Waste treatment process subjects the decomposable fraction of solid waste to anaerobic bacterial digestion to produce a fluid fraction. The fluid waste material is subjected to a separate anaerobic bacterial digestion to produce a fluid fraction contg. active anaerobic bacteria and a methane rich gas fraction. Part of the fluid fraction from the fluid digestion stage is fed to the input of the solid digestion stage. Part of the environmentally more acceptable solids fraction is recovered.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Two stage method of treating fluid and solid wastes. Environmentally more acceptable solids are recovered. @(23pp DWg.No.0/3)
An aromatic polyimide double layered hollow filamentary membrane (I) comprises: (A) a hollow filamentary microporous inner layer comprising an aromatic imide polymer (II) and having a filamentary hollow formed along its longitudinal axis; and (B) a tubular filamentary asymmetric outer layer comprising a second aromatice imide polymer (III) and having (a) a tubular filamentary micro-porous intermediate layer covering and united to the outer surface of (A); and (b) a thin dense outside surface layer covering and united with (a).    Prodn. of (I) comprises: 1(1) feeding a first spinning dope soln. of (II) in concn. 5-35 wt.% in organic solvent to an inner annular extruding opening of a hollow filament-spinning nozzle; (2) feeding a second spinning dope soln. of (III) in a concn. 1-25 wt.% in an organic solvent to an outer annular extruding opening formed around and concentrically with the inner annular extruding opening; (3) concurrently extruding the dope solns. through the inner and outer filamentary streams of the first and second spinning dope solns. to allow the first and second hollow filamentary streams to be concentrically united into a double layered hollow filamentary stream; and (4) contacting the double layered hollow filamentary stream with a coagulating liq. to solidify the double layered stream and to form an aromatic polyimide double layered hollow filamentary membrane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A gas seg. membrane is formed having high pressure resistance and a satisfactory gas permeability. The membranes also exhibit heat and chemical resistance. @(21pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Wet sewage sludge is made suitable for burning after the initial drying achieved by indirect heat exchange with condensible steam from the steam/water circulation system of a fossil-fuel firer power station. Vapours emitted from the drying sludge are fed into a boiler furnace to reduce NOX content in the furnace fumes.    Dusty fumes produced when the sludge is being burned are mixed with the boiler furnace fumes for joint dust extn. As an alternative, the sludge is burned at temps. above the ash fusion point, or the ash is fused by heat from the power station boiler fumes, possibly with fusion taking place by stages. Dried sludge may form auxiliary fuel for coal employed in the boiler plant.    ADVANTAGE -   Necessary sludge drying heat is simply and economically provided. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
A rigid container receiving at relatively low pressure biogas from a fermenting source is divided by a fixed interval partition into two equal halves. In each half is a flexible gas tight container.    A set of intermittently actuated control valves ensures that one flexible container is filled to rated pressure by the slowly arriving gas and then discharged via a conduit to an associated gas burner. While this burner is being supplied, the second flexible container is being slowly filled from the fermenter, ready for the next cycle.    USE -   For any industrial process with slowly evolved biogas, and can be employed in converting existing plant to continuous prodn.. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Waste material is treated with anaerobic cultures for conversion of grease to a biomass which is treated with suitable aerobic cultures for conversion of the remaining organic contaminants to a biomass. The biomass is separated from the treated waste material and the remaining liquor selectively discharged.    Anaerobic treatment is carried out in a first tank provided with a mixing device and the aerobic treatment in a tank provided with aeration apparatus. The waste material in the first tank is modified to a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and in the second tank is modified to a pH of 7 to 7.5.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the treatment of waste material containing greases and other organic contaminants such as intercepted grease waste trap material. Provides a reliable and efficient waste treatment which obviates the foul odours produced by prior treatment processes. @(17pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Process to remove dissolved and undissolved substances from a liq. uses pulses of high intensity electrical energy. These are discharged at frequent intervals into the liq. by electrodes fitted to a shock-withstanding chamber. The liq. is passed continuously through this chamber, and the process can be augmented by adding agents such as flocking materials, neutralising chemicals or precipitants before the electrical treatment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process has many applications, e.g. destruction of toxic wastes, treatment of sewage, recovery of chemical cpds., and metals from industrial waste, water purificn., catalysis, and processing of hydrocarbons. It is more practical and efficient than prior high energy electrical discharge processes because of attention given to electrode and switching arrangements, the incorporation of components to reduce shock wave effects, and ease of maintenance. @(21pp Dwg.No.1/11)@
Proposed drilling soln. contains (in wt.%): active sludge 5-15, insoluble residue formed during ammophos dissolution in the prepn. of culturing media for microorganisms (I), contg. 3-30 wt.% phosphates, calculated w.r.t. P2O5 1.0-2.0, NaOH 0.5-3.0 and balance water.    (I) is a waste from the prodn. of fodder protein. It contains (in wt.%): P2O5 1-5, Fe 0.5-0.8, Al 0.04-0.10, N 0.5-1.0 and balance water. The soln. is prepd. by mixing all components.    Tests show that the produced drilling soln. has density 1055-1060 g/cc, relative viscosity 5.5-9.5 rel. units, static shearing strength 3-13 Pa in 1 min., 7-26 Pa after 10 min., filtration factor 5.0-0.9 cc and inhibiting capability 93.4-95%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As drilling soln. of increased inhibiting capability. Bul.9/7.3.90 @(5pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
A particle for adsorbing bacteria used in a fluid bed type biological reaction appts. suitable for aeration treatment comprises synthetic resin and inorganic material as principal components, and has specific gravity of 1.0-1.02, outer dia. of 2.0-20mm, a ratio of particle length to outer dia. of 0.3-3.0 and at least one penetrating hole with an inner dia. of over 1mm.    Pref. the synthetic resin used is a thermoplastic resin, e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene, and the inorganic material is talc, CaCO3 or BaCO3. The particle obtd. by adding the inorganic material to the synthetic resin in an amt. of 10-50wt.% has excellent affinity to water and has strong bacteria adsorption. By using the particle in a foamed form the affinity to water and the adsorbing power are improved.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for treatment of waste water or in fermentation. By using the particles, a compact and energy saving reactor can be used. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/4)
Contact member for waste disposal is made of synthetic resin body with waving bends of vertically formed peaks and troughs with flanges, having joints, at top and bottom thereof, and many openings at front face of body and further flexible hinges at bends.    USE -   For compact contacting member on transferring, while bulky on using in water. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/9)
A method (I) for liquefying off-gas and gasifying liq. oxygen comprises: (A) generating off-gas by wet oxidation reaction; (B) flowing the off-gas into a heat exchanger; (C) flowing the liq. oxygen into the heat exchanger such that off-gas and liq. oxygen are in heat transfer; (D) allowing a sufficient quantity of heat to flow from the off-gas to the liq. oxygen such that the off-gas is liquefied to form liq. prod. and so that the liq. oxygen is converted to gaseous oxygen; (E) flowing the liq. prod. out of the heat exchanger; (F) flowing the gaseous oxygen out of the heat exchanger; and (G) using the gaseous oxygen as an oxidant in the wet oxidn. reaction. An appts. (II) which produces and liquefies gases is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) and (II) permit the liquefying of wet oxidn. off-gases whilst simultaneously gasifying liq. oxygen for injection into the wet oxidn. reaction mixt. Partic. useful is the removal of odorous substances e.g. short chain hydrocarbon gases, from an off-gas such as CO2 which can then be liquefied economically.
Characterisation of secondary pore system in zeolites esp. zeolite adsorbents and catalysts (I) comprises measuring the mean square of the shift (r2(t)) of sorbed probe molecules (II) as a function of time by the NMR field gradient impulse technique, and using the deviations from a linear relationship between these two parameters as a means of characterising the pore system.    (II) are proton-contg. gases or liqs. with small mols; the parameter k=d.1n(r2(t))/d1nt is used a measure of the deviation from linearity; samples are pretreated by coking with hydrocarbons, pref. n-paraffins, at 400-600 deg.C, pref. by passing a stream of hydrogen satd. with n-hexane (at 10-20 pref. 16 deg.C) for 12 hrs. over 0.5 g (I) in a solid bed reactor at 450-550 (pref. 500) deg.C, at a flow rate of 2 1 gas/g (I)/hr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Knowledge of the sec. pore structure of (I) is important for the above applications. The invention provides a very reliable, rapid and low-cost process for characterising this pore structure and determining the dynamic properties of (I). @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In novel (alk)acrylamide-contg. polymeric microparticles, the polymer (I) is substd. with at least 1 mole% of tert. aminomethyl gps. to crosslink the polymer at ambient temp. Ave. particle size is 200-4000 Angstrom. A microemulsion is claimed comprising at least 10 wt.% (I).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) are useful as flocculants in the dewatering of biologically treated suspensions, e.g. sewage and industrial sludges, the drainage of cellulosic suspension in paper prodn. and in the settlement of inorg. suspensions e.g. refinery waste or food waste. (I) give good performance relative to Mannich acrylamide polymers of the prior art and can be conveniently prepd. at high solids content while maintaining a very low bulk viscosity, the problem of crosslinking being eliminated.
Styrene polymer foam is produced by extruding and foaming a mixt. of a styrene polymer with ethyl chloride, propane and a halogenated ethane (I) as blowing agents. The styrene polymer is polystyrene impact polystyrene or a copolymer of styrene with methyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, maleic anhydride or acrylic acid. (I) is CF3CH2F, CClF2CF3 or CClF2CH3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for heat insulation. The blowing agent can replace chlorofluorocarbons currently used and has reduced ozone reactivity potential. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A modular system for composting organic waste uses a number of modular containers for holding predetermined amounts of the organic waste. Each container includes an air inlet an exhaust, a temperature probe and a fan for circulating air from the exhaust of a first modular container to the air inlet of a second modular container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Modular system for composting organic waste materials the system accelerates the composting by circulating air through the organic waste. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Solid, liq. and gaseous refuse materials are treated by injecting the gas, which includes smoke, into a conduit carrying a generally liq. waste material, including raw sewage, to form a first mixt. This is poured into a treatment mill to which the solid refuse material, including cellulose, is also added to form a second mixt. In the treatment mill, the second mixt. is aerobically digested for a time sufficient to yield a pumpable slurry which is subsequently processed to separate the solids from the aq. soln.    USE -   The system is used to treat various refuse/waste materials, esp. smoke, solid garbage from domestic, industrial and commercial sources, and aqueous sewage yielding a solid which can be further processed to produce a fertiliser, and a liquid which can be used for irrigation and/or cooling. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/2)
A mixt. of (A) a ligno-cellulose material, and (B) a solvent including phenol-cpd., or aliphatic or alicyclic polyatomic alcohol, is treated by radiation of micro-wave, to give a soln. of the ligno-cellulose-material.    Pref. the (A) ligno-cellulose material: pref. used-paper, wood-powder, wood-fibre, wood-chips, waste of cutting wood-plate, straw or rice-husks. The phenol-cpds. in the (B): pref. phenol, o-, m- or p-cresol etc. The polyatomic alcohol in the (B): pref. ethylene-glycol, propylene-glycol, etc..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Soln. of ligno-cellulose-material; which is waste materials in pulp-, wood- or agricultural- industries; used for various resin-materials, raw-materials of liq.-fuel, or components-sepg., can be produced at low temp. and pressure. Mixt. is easily raised in temp. to make it soluble for short periods e.g. several hr. or several 10 min.. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Catalyst used for electrolytic redn. comprises the first catalyst metals selected from Pt, Pd, Ir, Rh, Fe, Ni or Co and the second catalkyst metals selected from Pb, Cu, Zn or Cd. The method of producing reducing cpds. is also claimed, in which a cathode coated with the catalyst is placed in a cathode compartment and an anode is put in an anode compartment; reducing cpds. are formed on the cathode by electrolytic reduction.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to convert a cpd. into its reducing form, e.g. CO2, CO, carboxylic acid or aldehyde into methane, formic acid, or methanol. Hydrogen gas evolution (side reaction) can be suppressed.    In an example, a platinum-black coated Pt electrode was put in a H2SO4 soln. contg. 10-3 mol/litre Cu ions; Cu atoms were coated on the electrode by electrolysis; parts of the Cu atoms were removed by keeping the electrode at a given potential. CO2 was reduced with the electrode at -1.0 volt (vs RHE) in a soln. dissolving 0.5 mol/litre KHCO3; CH4 and HCOO- were selectively formed. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Harvested papilionaceous plants are chopped and silaged with 20-40% pref. 25-30% addn. of crushed corn-corn cobs (CCM) and/or fermented maize and/or corn ear grit (LKS) and/or corn-silage.    Pref. corn silage or corn stored under moist conditions is added to lucerne in such proportions, that the dry solids content of the mixt. should exceed 26% solids. Conversely, corn ear grit is added to lucerne in a quantity to ensure at least 28%, but pref. 30%, dry solids in the mix
An accelerated composting system for industrial or agricultural waste materials consists of treating the material (10) with an air flow which is modified in accordance with a subsequent parameter e.g. the temp. of the air leaving the material (10).    The heap of composting material can be protected at the sides for up to half its height, and the air circulation is pref. carried out by suction applied to the base of the heap in a continuous manner, while the fermentation process can be started off by feeding heated air into the material. The material to be treated can be placed in a reactor (16) or a series of reactors which correspond to the different stages of the composting process.    ADVANTAGE -   Faster completion of composting is obtd. @(29pp Dwg.No.1/7)@
A bin for compostable organic waste is made of sheet metal or plastic material, with a hinged cover and two wheels. The two side walls perpendicular to the swivelling axis of the cover are fitted with adequate air passages.    ADVANTAGE -   This provides ample air access to prevent evil smell. The air flow across the material carries away much of the moisture.    The bin has two parallel side walls a front and a rear wall. The cover swivels around the horizontal axis. Sheets in the side wall cut-outs have many honey-comb openings. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/4)
Organic waste is converted to humus by shredding, adding water and pressing the mixture to dry mouldings. The latter are wetted and buried in the soil with earthworms or their spawn.    The dry spheres (3) have been produced by pressing shredded decomposable organic waste with water. They are buried in ploughed grooves (7) and the voids between them act as breeding spaces for earthworms. Tests have shown that the species TENNESSEE WIGGLER is best for this purpose.    ADVANTAGE -   This is a much faster method than piling the waste in dumps. @(5pp Dwg.No.11/11)@
Prodn. of organic fertilisers contg. 60-70% organic matter, 3-4% organic N and 2-3% P is effected by (a) sepg. natural or anaerobically fermented farmyard slurry into a solid phase and a liq. phase; (b) opt. concentrating the liq. phase to 30-50% solids by vacuum evapn.; and (c) drying and granulating the liq. phase in a fluidised-bed granulator to produce sanitised granules with a particle size of 2-8mm.    Methane produced by fermenting the slurry is used to provide heat for the granulator. Dust sepd. from the granulator off-gas is recycled as seed material. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Aerobic batch composting process for biological treatment of sewage sludge or similar waste material is under controlled temp. conditions. Process comprises subjecting a batch of the sludge in intimate admixture with a batch of recycled composting bulking agent to aeration in a closed environmentally controlled reactor, using an air recirculation system supplying a recycling flow of air to the reactor for dispersal of waste heat generated by the composting sludge. The bulking agent is previously composted sludge. The admixture has sufficient porosity and aggregate structure for aeration dispersed of the excess waste heat. The aeration controls the temp. to below 60 deg.C and keeps the vertical temp. gradients to 45-60 deg.C after peak composting activity is reached. A dry prod. of 25-50 wt.% moisture content is obtd. which is biologically stable enough not to self-heat or produce significant odours. It has an earthy smell and an acceptably low level of pathogens.    ADVANTAGE -   Process save money both on the bulking agent and the cost of separating it. The prod. is like humus or peat. @(29pp Dwg.No.0/1)
New azeotropic compsn. comprises one of 84.6-88.2 wt.% CHClFCF3and 11.8-15.4 wt.% n-C4H10; 68.5-76.5 wt.% CHClFCF3 and 23.5-31.5 wt.% isoC4H10; 74.6-83.2 wt.% CClF2CH3 and 16.8-25.4 wt.% n-C4H10; and 58.6-62.4 wt.% CClF2CH3 and 37.6-41.4 wt.% iso-C4H10.    A process for prepn. of aerosol formulations is also claimed wherein the active ingredients are combined in an aerosol container with the new azeotropic compsn. which functions as a propellant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New zeotrope compsns. are used as aerosol propellants, where they have a less damaging effect on the ozone layer than fully halogenated CFC propellants, and as from blowing agents for polymer foams.
The data reduction apparatus is used in a system where speech signals, e.g. between telephones, are digitised in a circuit and later reconverted. Successive blocks of digitised data, e.g. 16m seconds thereof, are compared with each other in the frequency domain in a comparator. The conversion is effected in a circuit block. If one block is similar to its predecessor within pre-set limits, that block is not sent to the output, and instead a control signal is passed to the communication link to instruct a store to repeat the previous block at the other end of the communication link.    Thus only critical data blocks are transmitted and the data rate is reduced.    USE -   E.g. for communicating with aircraft. @(15pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Composite membrane comprises (A) pore-free polymer coating layer (B) as support, porous Al foil.    (A) is of silicone, partic. polydimethylsiloxane, polyamide, or polyether. (A) is produced by spraying, casting, or roller-coating soln. of polymer of suitable concn. and evapn. of the solvent Pores of (B) are hydrophilised to inhibit ingress of hydrophobic polymer soln. into pore structure during coating. (B) is microfiltration membrane with pore dia. 0.1-10 micrometers. (B) is ultrafiltration membrane with pore dia. 1-100 nm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. pervaporative sepn. of liq. mixts., partic. EtOH/water mixts., prepn. of N2- and O2-enriched air by gas sepn., sepn. of CO2/CH4 gas mixts., sepn. of organic solvent and hydrocarbon vapours from air (all claimed). Al has better heat and organic solvent resistance than polymer supports, so is less prone to suffer drop in vol. flow or loss of sepn. properties. @(5pp DWg.No.0/0)
NOVELTY - Process for automatic control of biotechnical conversion by (partially) continuous culture of natural or genetically manipulated cells on all utilisable C- and energy-sources uses a 'knowledge-based' on-line control system, i.e. one based on artificial intelligence elements. System is constructed from real-time and dialogue/advice module, which work in parallel, each with a specific input spectrum, and consists of 3 knowledge bases (i.e. relatively independent components). Basis I provides communication and receives and characterises all process parameters and the actual process condition, while basis II contains the rules and information for recognising disturbances in the process (and their local origins). Basis III serves to determine the optimum control vector by use of algorithmic software, recognises changes in process conditions and reacts flexibly to these so as to reestablish the optimum state. Alternatively, in the case of process with cyclically-controlled parameters, it detects the optimum period duration.    USE - USE/ADVANTAGE Used for automatic control of processes such as biomass or other product prodn.; waste treatment and energy prodn., using pure or mixed cultures. It improves material and energy efficiency, stability and/or productivity, reduces perturbations in the process and reduces the expense involved in process control. The process can be modified by an external operation at any time and any non-regulatable disturbances (e.g. a faulty monitoring device) can be identified quickly.
A conditioned adsorbent is prepd. from carbonaceous dust obtd. in the gasification of lignite low temp. coke by the Winkler process, by granulating the dry Winkler dust, at a layer temp. of 320-375 deg.K, in a fluidising granulation, with an aq. suspension contg. a swellable, homogeneous clay with main components kaolinite, illite and quartz, in ratio by wt. of dust:clay of 3-6, 0.5-6% of carboxymethylcellulose and 0.05-0.15%, w.r.t. the Winkler dust, of ehtoxylated nonylphenol or alkane sulphonate, followed by activation for 4-6 h in a stream of inert gas at 970-1170 deg.K.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The adsorbent is used mainly for cleaning industrial and municipal waste water. The adsorption capacity of Winkler dust is utilised. The adsorbent can replace expensive active C. After use, the Winkler dust can be desorbed and regenerated or burned. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
New Fe phosphate catalysts with an Fe:P molar ratio of 0.1-2:1 are prepd. by (a) forming an aq. slurry of Fe(NO3)3 or ferric: ammonium nitrate and H3PO4 or an alkali metal phosphate; (b) stirring the slurry and opt. adding a support; (c) drying the slurry in air; and (d) calcining the prod. in an O2-contg. atmos. at 725 deg.C or more.    Pref. the catalysts contain ferric pyrophosphate. The Fe:P molar ratio is 0.1-1:1, esp. 0.6-0.67:1. The support (if used) is Al2O3, TiO2, Al2O3-TiO2 or esp. SiO2. Supported catalysts contain 1-90 (esp. 4-10) wt.% of catalytically active material.    USE -   The catalysts are useful for oxidative conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons, esp. ethane or ethylene. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Ethanol is produced from biomass contg. organic acid by mixing it with water to form a biomass slurry, hydrolysing in a fuel fired hydrolyser using the organic acid as the hydrolysis catalyst, sepg. the slurry into liq. and solids, using the flue gas from the hydrolysis to dry the solids and processing the liq. to produce ethanol.    Part of the effluent from the hydrolysis is fermented to generate CO2 and at least part of the CO2 is used as carbonic acid as a supplemental catalyst. The biomass is citrus residue. The hydrolyser raises the temp. of the slurry to 300-400 deg. in 2-5 mins., esp. at a pressure that prevents vaporisation (67-415 psia). Effluent from the hydrolysis is distilled to form ethyl alcohol vapour which is then vacuum distilled in a tower to produce anhydrous ethyl alcohol.    USE -   The biomass used is fruit waste, wood or agricultural waste. The ethanol produced is cheap and can be added to petrol as an octane booster. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/1)
The methanometer has a sensor, lower and upper threshold elements, a memory unit, a signalling unit, coincidence systems and a pulse formed. The instrumentation is built so that allowance is made for sudden, short-period high methanem levels of less than 2%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For continuous monitoring of seams liable to gas outburst. Increased accuracy is obtd. Bul.46/15.12.89 @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Ammonia recovered from a coke oven is reacted with CO2 in the presence of a catalyst to convert it into N2 CH4, and water.    Specifically the catalysts contg. at least one metal or its cpd. of Cu, Cr, Fe and Pt family elements and rare earth elements, including Cu, Ag, Au, Cr, Mo, W, Ni, Co, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, La, Y, Se, Nd, Sm, Dy, and their metal oxides, carbides, nitrides, sulphides, chlorides, nitrates, sulphates, carbonates, and acetates. The catalyst is pref. used in supported form. The supports include alumina, silica gel, silica alumina, titania, and magnesia. The recovered ammonia is 10-25% ammonia, 2-10 % CO2 and 60-90 % water vapour. The mixing mol ratio of ammonia to CO2 is 1-5, esp. 2-4.    USE ADVANTAGE -   Ammonia is made safe efficiently at 500 deg.C, while yielding useful CH4 from CO2. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Toxic organic waste is treated by (i) introducing a combustible stream of the waste with water or steam into a combustion chamber kept at 2500-3500 deg.F with sufficient oxygen to (a) autogenously maintain the temp. and (b) completely convert the waste into a reducing gas stream of CO, H2 and CH4; (ii) contacting this stream with incandescent solid C at 2500-3500 deg.F; (iii) cooling; and (iv) recovering a product gas of H2 free from organic halides.    Pref. the solid C is coke. The waste stream is hospital waste or sewage sludge, mixed with combustible organic liq. to form a pumpable slurry. The effluent gases are scrubbed with water to remove CO2, HCl, H2S and other acid gases, but esp. first subjected to a water gas shift reaction at 800-1000 deg.F. The product gas stream is washed with liq. N2 to remove CO, CH4 and other gases apart from N2 and H2 and the gases removed are recycled with the toxic organic waste feed stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process non-catalytically destroys and detoxifies sewage sludge, hospital wastes, halogenated hydrocarbons and/or organaophosphates. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Environmentally harmful substances in manure are converted to harmless substances in livestock-rearing units by covering the floor with a mixt. of sawdust and bacteria, whereby aeration of the mixt. is promoted by the movement of the animals.    The sawdust may be replaced by peat or another suitable absorbent material. The mixt. may also contain materials for increasing the contact area, e.g. expanded polymer granules, and/or nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria in the form of root nodules.    USE -   Used for the detoxification of manure. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Peanutshells are crushed by rollers to make powder and added with approx. 1% of starch and pressed by the hot perss at 105 deg.C and applied on a thin pine wood plate and fabricated to box or container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for making boxes, containers and as a fuel. The sheet consists of strong fibre twined and has more elasticity than wooden plate, and can hold nails well. It has good gas permeability and absorbs humidity and so is good for containing foods. Raw material is inexpensive and prods. can be made at low cost. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
Bean-curd refuse is dried completely to make powder and added with glue and chemicals and mixed and kneaded to make a paste. The refuse paste is heated to 105 deg.C compress to make synthetic sheet similar to a wooden sheet which is applied to a thin pine tree plate, e.g. 0.2-0.3 mm thick to finish.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for making boxes, containers, etc. and can be used as fuel. The synthetic plate has similar characteristics to a wooden sheet and can be made with low cost and simple facility. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
A non-flammable refrigerant compsn. comprising chlorodifluoromethane and a hydrocarbon is claimed. The latter is propane (in non-azeotropic amts.), propylene, n-butane and/or isobutane.    Pref. refrigerant compsns. comprise chlorodifluoromethane and (a) propane, in sub-azeotropic amts. to avoid flammability; or (b) 20-40 vol. % propylene, n-butane or isobutane; or 14-22 vol. % n-butane, or 25-30 vol. % isobutane. All CCl2F2 refrigerant in the refrigeration apparatus is replaced with one of the above compsns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The refrigerants may directly replace existing refrigerants without the need to substantially modify existing equipment. Compsns. (c) or (d) above replaces R12 (CCl2F2). Compsn. (a) replaces R22 (CHClF2) and R5O2 (an azeotrope of R22 and R115 (CClF2CF3). Refrigerants 12 and R115 are inert enough to reach the stratosphere where they produce Cl2 which catalyses the breakdown of the ozone layer. Refrigerant 22 is more acceptable (it is broken down at lower levels in the atmosphere) but has a higher index of compression than refrigerant 12. Compsns. (a)-(d) constituents are readily available at reasonable cost, and avoids the inflammability of hydrocarbons used alone. The index of compression is lower than that of R22 alone, thus producing lower compressor discharge temps. - this minimises breakdown of refrigerant and of lubricant, and is safer in a domestic environment. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A gastight liq. manure processing system in large-scale animal husbandry for conversion to biogas is coupled to a hot water heating system to form a compact plant by circulating the hot liq. manure through a heat exchanger. Biogas burners provide the heat and are joined to the biogas collecting space.    The liq. manure utilisation section (1) is coupled to the hot water heating system (2) with its heat exchanger (3). The manure circuit (4) has an inlet (5), an outlet (6) and a pump (7) for the manure. The biogas produced and stored in the gas space (8) is fed to the burners (9) in the fire boxes (10). The waste gas tubes (11) pass through the liq. manure. External gas (12) can also be utilised, if necessary.    ADVANTAGES -   This converts liq. manure to an easily disposed prod. and utilises the gas produced with a good energetic efficiency. It is suitable for adding to existing plant. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Proposed method involves addn. of aq. soln. of Cu salt to analysed sample, in amt. 1.8-22 g/l Cu, then passing the sample into electrical arc discharge chamber filled with helium and provided with Mo electrodes, pyrolysis of sample using arc discharge (3A, 5 sec.), and then passing pyrolysis prods. in a stream of helium to a chromatographic column provided with flame-ionisation detector, to measure the amt. of generated CH4. The temp. of chromatographic column is 130 deg. C. The content of organic C in analysed sample is found from a calibration graph.    Tests show that the proposed method increases the sensitivity of analysis to 1x10 power -5 g/l of organic C in sample, which is 10 times higher than the amt. detectable by the known method.    USE -   In determn. of organic C content in aq. solns. Bul.41/7.11.89 @(2pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
Proposed method comprises mixing powdered ammonium polyphosphate with epoxy-bisphenol A resin, organic solvent and hardener, followed by filtration and drying. To reduce the size of microcapsules, increase the degree of capsulation, fire resistance and improve physico-mechanical properties of films, acetone and hexane, (at ratio 1:2-3) is used as organic filler and, additionally, dibutyl phthalate is added to the mixt., in amt. 30-34 wt.% per wt. of epoxy-bisphenol A resin. The mixt. is heated to 50 deg. C, held for 6 hrs., cooled and filtered. The sepd. microcapsules are dried at 40 deg. C. The degree of capsulation is calculated from the expression S=(Do-D1)/Do, where Do is the optical density of uncapsulated ammonium polyphosphate and D1 is the optical density of capsulated ammonium polyphosphate.    Tests show that proposed method reduces capsules size to 80 microns, increases degree of capsulation to 0.98, thus ensuring the content of ammonium polyphosphate up to 98%), elongation strength to 5.15 MPa and relative elongation to 245%, compared to 190 microns, 0.62, 3.93 MPa and 156%, respectively, for the known method.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Obtd. microcapsulated ammonium polyphosphate can be used to reduce flammability of polymeric materials, esp. polyvinyl acetate films. Reduced size of microcapsules, increased degree of encapsulation, fire resistance and improved physico-mechanical properties. Bul.41/7.11.89 @(3pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
To ferment solution prepd. by diluting the residue left after making tofu with water, (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.6H2O and minerals are added to the solution.    The minerals preferably used are Cr, Fe, Mn, Mg and Cu. They are added in such amounts that the concentration on the minerals is 10-20 mg/l. (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.6H2O is added in an amount of 2-3% to organic substances in the residue.    ADVANTAGE -   As the bacteria in the solution actively decompose organic substances anaerobically and increase, a large quantity of gas is constantly generated from the residue without lowering the pH. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/4)
A process for recovering the sweet principles, diterpene glycosides from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana comprises drying the leaves in vacuo at 50deg.C macerating the dried leaves of Stevia r. to a fine powder, contacting the powdered leaf material with a moderately polar solvent selected from a cycloaliphatic ether which contains at least two oxygen atoms in the ring and a satd. aliphatic ether to remove the diterpene glycosides together with non-polymeric impurities at room temp. filtering removing the moderately polar solvent at 40-50deg.C in vacuo, to afford prod. and subjecting prod. A with a selective organic solvent selected from a halohydrocarbon or an aliphatic ester at room temp. to remove the non-polymeric impurities, filtering to afford the desired mixt. of diterpene glyco glycosides known as prod. B
Selective gas detecting appts., and method of determining a concn. and type or average type of hydrocarbon gas in a gas sample, the method comprises (a) passing infrared radiation through the gas sample; (b) detecting infrared radiation passed through the gas sample; (c) producing in a first signal channel a first measurement signal indicative of a first wavelength absorbed by the gas sample and corresponding to a first total concn. of hydrocarbons in the gas sample; (d) producing in a second signal channel a second measurement signal indicative of a second wavelength absorbed by the gas sample and corresponding to a second total concn. of hydrocarbons in the gas sample; (e) obtaining a ratio fo the first and second measurement signals to produce a ratio signal indicative of the type of average type of hydrocarbon gas; and (f) applying the second measurement signal and the ratio signal to first and second analog meters to provide and indication fo the concn. and type of average type of hydrocarbon gas, respectively, in the gas sample.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved natural gas detector which can distinguish among different types of hydrocarbons, providing information on the amount and type of combustible gases in the environment, the detector having simplicity, greater response time and lower cost than knw known discriminating natural gas detectors. @(44pp Dwg.No 3/7)@
An aerosol propellant (I) is claimed, consisting of 2-hydro-heptafluoroproane (II) or a mixt. thereof with propane and/or n-butane and/or iso-butane and/or dimethyl ether (DME) and/or 1,1-difluoroethane (F152a), liquefied under pressure ("liq. gas"). A pressurised gas pack contg. (II) or the above mixts. is claimed, and partic. an aerosol pressure pack contg. a propellant (I) and a fill prod. (III), which can form one or two liq. phases; the propellant is (II) or the above mixts.    (III) Pref. contains water as liq. component and forms a second liq. phase; propellant is a mixt. as above, with about the same density as (III); (I) is a mixt. of liq. (II) and propane/n-butane (wt. ratio 15:85) in the wt. ratio (65:35) - (85:15), pref. (70:30)-(80:20).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The use of (I) as an aerosol propellant is claimed, and also the use of pressure-liquefied (II) for blowing dust away. Applications are in aerosol packs contg. various prods. and for removing dust from camera lenses, etc. Propellant mixts. contg. (II) are non-flammable and non-toxic, and do not damage the ozone layer. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Biogas is formed by acetogenic and methanogenic bacteria acting anaerobically on liq. or partly solid organic waste material conveyed inside an air-sealed horizontal drum. To prevent excessive initial prodn. of acid, taking pH to below 6.5, the process is started by a mixt. with four parts of anaerobically rotted compost and one part of organic waste, the compost takes up surplus acid.    After methane evolution has started, the rotted compost fraction is gradually reduced, and the organic waste increased until finally reaching 100%. Subsequently only the fresh organic waste need be delivered to the drum, e.g. in the form of household refus refuse, manure or sewage sludge. Organic waste increase may be divided into stages, occupying a total of at least two days, equal to the first stage direction.    ADVANTAGE -   Avoids need for expensive and environmentally undesirable chemical treatment to prevent excessive initial acidification. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Effective composting of stacks (2) of rotting vegetation or other waste on a support area (1), from which air may be delivered is aided by periodically turning over and re-locating the stacks, whose shape is pref. trapezoidal. An inclined conveyor (3) of bowl or scraper type removes material upwards from one end face of the stack at the end of the upward run, the material is tipped on to a horizontal conveyor (7) from whose end the material is finally dropped to start a fresh stack. Both conveyors are carried by a support movable by wheels (10) along a horizontal rail (5) or bridge by drive motors or a cable system. When excessive drying has occurred, material in course of transfer may be turned over by a rotary mixer while damping spray is delivered.. A number of transfer units may operate in parallel over extensive support areas.    ADVANTAGE -   Relatively simple transfer system ensures intensive use of available composting area. @(42pp Dwg.No 1/10)@
Scrubber to clean gas contg. contaminants uses a particulate scrubbing medium which is in a vertical columnar arrangement. This medium moves under gravity, with fresh material being added to the column top as spent material is withdrawn from its base. Contaminated gas is fed into a lower region of the medium and is cleaned by countercurrent flow through the descending material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Scrubber can be used to clean gas produced by the gasification of a biomass e.g. agricultural waste, sawdust sewage sludge, rubber or garbage. The purified gas is used for heating, combustion and industrial processes. The scrubbing action can be obtd. using char produced by the gasification process. (23pp Dwg.No.0/13)
The electric hotplate is described has a laminated structure in which the heating element comprises strips of positive temp. coefft. of resistance material R on an insulating substrate. The strips are connected in a series parallel arrangement between conductors A,X,Y,Z and B. The interconnecting conductors X,Y and Z are of a material with a negative temp. coefficient of resistivity.    Strips are screen printed or the ceramic be insulative covering of a metal plate from a viscous ink of powdered nickel or cobalt plus glass.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents overheating if a utensil contacts only part of the hotplate. @(10pp Dwg.No.1,2/4)@
A process for the biomethanisation of brewery wastes and residues uses two main stages. A hydrolysis stage is performed in a multistage cascade tank with DOWN/UP flow, a separation of the solid and liquid phases, and a solid phase recycling. The methanogenesis stage is also performed in a multistage cascade tank with DOWN/UP flow, UP flow with packing, and a hydrolysis gas injection in fine bubbles.    ADVANTAGE -   The biogas production represents a gain in energy of the new process which permits even extremely laden wastes to be treated economically. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/2)
The sludge which is to be dried moves through a closed building in contraflow to a stream of hot air. The building is laterally symmetrical and has a foundation contg. walls which support vertical members, and form a number of sludge basins. A door for access by a mechanical loader is provided at one end and the building is divided into a drying room and a machine room. The walls and roof are covered with a metal cladding and the entire building is divided by a horizontal partition into an upper and a lower part. The machine room contains an air heater which draws in air and heats it to 400-600 deg.C, and a fan which delivers the hot air into a duct running along the centre of the building above the horizontal partition, from where it passes down a set of vertical pipes which open just above the floor of the sludge basins. The hot air rising from the basins passes through sludge vessels in the upper part of the building.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The energy consumed in the drying process is greatly reduced in comparison with existing designs and the construction and operating costs of the installation are low. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Inside an extensive plate on which stacks of organic refuse for composting may be mechanically deposited and removed, is a conduit system for applying or removing the stack air supply, depending on weather conditions. Conduit branches leading into the stacks are in pairs. These pairs are joined together by U-shaped coupling pipe whose ends fit into to branches and whose surface is covered by air-transit holes. The branches are opened pref. automatically, when the U-pipes are inserted before the plate is loaded with refuse and then closed before plate clearance, when composting is completed.    Unwanted discharge of waste into the conduit system is prevented by circular plate valves rotated perpendicularly to the branch centre line. Power-storing mechanism, e.g. a weight or spring, accumulates power during valve opening, and closes the valve during the following closure operation.    ADVANTAGE -   Effective air supply maintains aerobic composting conditions and any material entering conduit system is readily flushed out. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/5)
Water activated bionic infrared source includes biomass (3) with dessicated micro-organisms and a dehydrated culture medium for them in a waterproof container (1) and means for releasing water into the container (1) to activate the contents. The container can be plastic or treated paper. The biomass can be dry vegetable matter, grass cuttings, hay, leaves, wood shavings, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Decogs, markers or targets. Provides an extremely cheap, readily activable, diffuse infrared source with indefinite storage life and relatively long service life. @(3pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Methane is produced by (a) forming aluminium carbide by reducing aluminium hydroxide with excess carbon derived from coal, at a temp. of at least 1250 deg.C. by a method including the steps (i) mixing powdered coal and aluminium hydroxide; (ii) preheating the mixt. in a fluidized bed in a reducing atmosphere; (iii) passing the preheated mixt. downwards through a flame, whereby the mixt. is heated to a maximum temp. sufficient to cause melting of aluminium hydroxide, with soln. of at least part of the coal therein while still in a reducing atmosphere; and (iv) collecting the melt in a pool in which reaction to form aluminium carbide is substantially completed; (b) quenching the aluminium carbide together with impurities therein; (c) hydrolysing in presence of an acid catalyst, to form aluminium hydroxide and a gas consisting essentially of methane; and (d) returning aluminium hydroxide to step (a) for re-use.    ADVANTAGE -   It is known to obtain hydrocarbons, including methane, by hydrolysis of mixed metal carbides, but use of aluminium carbide by itself has not in the prior art been considered desirable. Present process produces hydrocarbon gas of enhanced energy value compared with the prior art, and can be used with sulphur-contg. coal without the necessity of scrubbing the hydrocarbon gas (methane) produced. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/2)
New photodissociation catalyst for water is a cpd. of formula Mm(An-1BnO3n+1) (II) (II) with a layer structure consisting of layered anionic atomic groups of formula (An-1BnO3n+1)-u (I) (I) and cations M comprised of one or more than one of H, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and the 3B Group elements which are intercalated between the layers of anionic atomic groups. where A = one or more than one of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, rare earth metals and transition metals, B = one or more than one of Ti, Nb and Ta, n = an integer between 1 and 7, u = the valence of the atomic group. where m = 1 or 2, u = the valence of M multiplied by m.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst obtd. can be used in producing H from water by photodissociation. Active catalysts can be produced at low costs without loading components such as Pt and RuO2.
Methane of greater than 99.9 vol. % purity pref. as a byproduct of industrial prodn. of argon is prepd. in two stages. During the first stage, a methane contg. liquified mixt. is placed in a jacketed container, the daily evaporation rate of which is set to 2-18% of its volume. Concurrently the pressure of jacket space is changed from 0.1-100 Pa working pressure to 5-2000 Pa 30-70% container content is evaporated in this manner. During the second stage the remainder is passed in gaseous state through a zeolite 5A filled adsorber at 2-15 bars pressure and 130-373 deg.K temp. On completion jacket pressure is returned to working pressureadsorbent is replicated and process is repeated.
Liq. manure, e.g. from an intensive pig-rearing establishment, as a preliminary stage in the formation of bio-gas, is fed to an aeration reactor for pre-acidification and the recovery of waste heat. This stage provides deliberate alternation between aerobic and anaerobic conditions achieved by rotation or non-rotation of the reactor, and harmful H2S is discharged.    A separator provides organic fertiliser for farm use, while the liq. component, now acidified to max extent, passes into the bio-gas generator (S), pref. a solid bed reactor with immobilised micro-organisms. Part of the sepd. solids are retained to inoculate the acidification reactor.    USE -   For maximising output of bio-gas by selective correlation of stages. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
In prodn. of biogas as required from organically loaded substrates, by known processes, excess substrate is stored temporarily, discontinuously or batchwise, under natural conditions for up to 12 months.    With storage for more than 3 months, the max. temp. of the stored substrate is held at below 15 deg.C for concn. of steam-volatile fatty acids not above 10 g/l, and at below 18 deg.C for concns. above 10 g/l. Spontaneous methanogenesis is retarded or prevented by aeration or addn. of fresh substrate, until the concn. of steam-volatile fatty acids is 10-20 g/l.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process can be used with biogas plant in agriculture, industry or the municipal field. The difficulties of continuous biogas prodn. and variable, discontinuous use, are avoided. The substrate is stored, with little or no loss, at the biogas prodn. plant. During storage, polymeric cpds. are broken down by acid-forming microorganisms, and difficultly digested components are degraded. The steam-volatile fatty acids produced, in concn. of 10 g/l to above 20 g/l, retard or prevent spontaneous CH4 formation (claimed). Concn. of organic matter in the stored medium by sedimentation of solid/liq. sepn. increases the preservation and reduces the storage space needed. The energy requirement of the process is less. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Filter comprises inner and middle perforated tubes (40, 46), laterally divided (50), and an imperforate outer tube (48). The inner tube has first and second inlets (22, 24) at opposite ends and the outer tube has an outlet (32). Filtration media is provided in the middle tube and can be a gravel, e.g., of desert origin. The dividers can be of resilient material, e.g., neoprene rubber. The filter can be used in aquaculture with a prefilter and aeration device.    ADVANTAGE -   Bacterial filter for efficient aerobic bacterial consumption of toxic nitrogenous waste with reduced need for cleaning.
Circular fermenting appts. comprises a fermenting tank having a cylindrical side wall and moving flame, both ends of which are hung on an annular rail formed along the side wall of the tank.    USE -   For making organic fertilisers. _ @(7pp Dwg.No.0/4)
Prodn. of compost characterises inoculating fungus and/or its culture medium having a phenol oxidase activity into the manuring step of producing compost by combining woody materials with other materials such as dung or cattle or sludge, piling and maturing the mixt.    Fungus having a phenol oxidase activity is at least one of moulds producing humic substances and lignin degradation fungi. Woody materials are e.g., rice straw, wheat straw, rice hulls, timber chips, bark, etc. The moulds producing humic substances are e.g., Aspergillus sydowi IFO 32196, Stachybotrys chrtarum IFO 7222, Epicoccum nigrum E. purpurascens IFO 7808. Lignin degradation fungi are e.g. Coriolus versicolor IFO 30340, Phanerochaete chrysogenum ACTT 34541, Stereum frustulosum IFO 4932., etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This method is useful for producing high quality compost with base-substituting capacity by using woody materials. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Volatile liq. phase tracer is mixed with fluid in an underground pipe (3) and a gas permeable tube (12) is buried in the back fill material (4) above the pipe with access (14) provided, at least, at one end of the tube so that, should a leak develop in the pipe, the volatile liq. tracer produces a gas phase detectable component which is detectable at the access point (14).    Tracer can pref. be halogenated methanes such as chlorobromodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, trifluoroiodomethane, trifluorobromomethane, dibromodifluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane or tetrafluoromethane; halogenated ethanes, such as dichlorotetrafluoroethane, hexafluoroethane, dichlorodifluoroethane, dibromotetrafluoroethane, or tetrachlorodifluoroethane; sulphurhexafluoride, perfluorodecalin, and perfluoro 1,3 dimethylcyclohexane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For detecting leaks from underground fluid transfer pipes, e.g. in gasoline, natural gas, butane, propane or synthetic gas lines. System has high sensitivity to low level leaks and can be installed in new or existing pipelines.
Improved method of destructively distilling comminuted organic waste materials and reducing them to useful char prods, which may include a considerable proportion of synthetic plastics material by (a) continuously feeding a stream of the comminuted waste material into one end of a continuous mixer having an axially extending elongate barrel, housing axially extending, co-rotating mixer shafts; (b) contacting the material with material advancing elements on the shafts to advance the material fed into one end of the mixer continuously through a first mixer region; (c) progressively compressing the material in the absence of air in a downstream compressing region by passing it through material conveying and compressing elements on the shafts which leave a relatively reduced volume of space in the barrel for the material to the extent of forming a mass of moving material filling the barrel and functioning as a vapour block, while working the material against itself to create heat in the material which maintains the temp of the material adiabatically at volatile releasing and material carbonising temps, without applying any material external heat to the mixer for transfer to the moving material; (d) venting volatiles from the downstream region; and (e) discharging the carbonised prod from the downstream region.    ADVANTAGE -   The method converts organic waste materials to useful materials in which the materials and heat energy salvaged can, in considerable part, pay for the costs of disposal, without creating pollution and landfill problems. @(18pp Dwg.No.0/11)
The filler for heavy oil is prepd. by (i) adding organophilic surfactant 0.2 wt.% to cellulose obtd. from inoculation of excrement with hay bacillus in a fermentation tank and (ii) pulverizing. The complex filler is mixed with heavy oil in 1:1 ratio
Excrement of animal is aerobically fermented, and then the resultant is mixed with aerobic microorganism and supplied with oxygen with agitation for a long period of time.    The microorganism includes those belonging to the genus Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Streptomyces, Aspergillus, Actinomycetes, Pseudomonas, Brevibacterium, etc. The aerobic fermentation is conducted e.g. by agitation so that water content is adjusted to 60% or lower, than ageing up to water content of 30% or lower.    ADVANTAGE -   Activity of growth of microorganisms in soil can be accelerated. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Greenery rubbish and biowaste is converted into compost by cleaning and crushing the biological waste and storing it separately in a line of stockpiles. The waste air from a new stockpile of one line is passed to the older stockpile of another line. Greenery waste is precrushed to 10-20 mm by the unit (7) and shredded by a disintegrator (10). Biomass is separated from foreign matter in the separator drum (20). Non-compostable parts are pressed to bales by the unit (15).    ADVANTAGE -   These separate treatment lines for biological waste and for other rubbish produce improved results; means for reducing the smell nuisance are applied to biological but not greenery waste.
A process for microbiological decontamination of soil comprises (1) digging out and dressing the contaminated soil by mixing it with waste concrete or building debris previously comminuted to a particle size of not greater than 10 mm, pref. not greater than 6 mm, (2) spreading the dressed soil onto a prepared substrate to form a layered regeneration stack and (3) supplying the stack with oxygen during the microbiological regeneration.    The concrete or building waste used to dress the soil may also be contaminated. The mixing ratio soil:concrete and/or building waste is pref. 1:9 to 9:1 by vol., esp. 1:1 to 3:1 by vol. The soil stacks may be supplied with microorganisms during the degradation of the harmful substances, esp. where the microorganisms have been adapted to the contaminating substances. The stacks are esp. percolated during the microbiological treatment with water which pref. contains microorganisms and/or nutrients for the microorganisms. The stack is pref. aerated during the treatment process, esp. where the stack is aerated both passively using drainage pipes and actively using a compressor and aeration tubes. The substrate on which the stack is formed is pref. lined with a sealing layer and the stack is equipped with draining and the water collected is led to a clarifier. Ground air may be drawn off during the microbiological treatment. Substances which cannot or can only with difficulty be degraded microbiologically may in addition be extracted from the stack during the microbiological treatment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process allows short-time treatment of fine grain soils with low air- and water permeability, soils with a very inhomogeneous distribution or soils with a very high concn. of harmful substances. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
A composting appts. is used for the accelerated aerobic decomposition of organic matter. It consists of a chamber having an inlet and an outlet with a ram movable to push organic matter deposited in the chamber through the inlet towards the outlet. When the ram is acting on the organic matter, a surge of pressurized air is delivered to the vessel, its intensity being sufficient to cause movement of the matter through the chamber with less force from the ram. Thus less compaction of the organic matter occurs.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is used to compost organic waste such as sludge from a waste water treatment facility, or garbage. The operating costs and energy consumption of the appts. are less than with known caposting appts. A larger composting vessel may be used without increasing the degree of compaction. @(28pp Dwg.No.0/4)
A container for disposal of waste has separable upper and lower portions defining an enclosure with said lower portion having a number of water permeable passages and the upper portion having a solar collector for heating the enclosure.    The passages are defined by circumferentially spaced holes and are elongate or are made up of a wire mesh portion.    USE -   For disposing of biodegradable waste. @(20pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Stable iodometric indicating compsn. comprises (by wt.) 6-9 pts. of an aq. starch-iodide reagent (I) incorporated within 1-4 pts. of hydrocarbon fluid (II). The compsn. is enclosed within a valved test device capable of discharging it to a test sample, which is coloured in proportion to the Cl2-content. Prefd. (I) comprise (by wt.) 1-8% iodide salt (KI), 1-3% starch (esp. soluble, and of iodometric grade), and 89-97% H2O. Prefd. (II) are n- or esp. iso-butane at above atmos. pressure, and in sufficient concn. to stabilise (I). Pref. sample H2O is treated with the compsn. in wt. ratio ca 30:1, to colour H2O pink with 6.4 ppm Cl2, and dark blue with 2 ppm Cl2.    ADVANTAGE -   Compsn. is stable safe and inexpensive and forms part of a sensitive, interent shielded iodometric device for measuring Cl2 in disinfectant waters, etc. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The generator comprises reactors (1) and a heater (3). To reduce capital and energy expenditure, part (3) has an outlet channel (4) and a closed chamber (2), with controlled outlet (5) for the spent heat carrier, and a pipe (4) connecting the chamber to the hot gas outlet system.    Preferably, the chamber is at least partly embedded and has supports (7) along the heat carrier trajectory. The spent hot gases heat up the biomass. Part (5) maintains the required fermentation temperature. This gives combined utilisation of the exit heat and the organic material, with increase in the anaerobic fermentation productivity.    ADVANTAGE -   The simplified design utilises the exit heat. Bul.37/7.10.89 @(2pp Dwg.No. 1/1)@
The artificial manure is produced from residual cellulose of mushroom culture by adding the following to the smashed residue under an adjusted water content of 60-70%: (1) microorganisms that decompose cellulose and (2) organic alkali to mitigate the acidity of the components of sawdust.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The manure is prepd., in a short period of time, from used sawdust of mushroom culture, which is mainly composed of strongly acid cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, etc. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Moist organic waste material is subjected to aerobic fermentation conditions at a temperature in the range 70 to 85 deg. C until it is substantially free of pathogenic microorganisms.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the production of feed material for livestock or poultry. Fermentation apparatus can be built in a size to suit throughput, disposes of local waste products which could cause environmental nuisance, and the process is economical in energy requirements to produce a clean safe feedstock. @(37pp Dwg.No.6/6)@
In the processing of organic waste waters as substrate for fermentation processes, by anaerobic treatment and mechanical sepn., an acid reactor, a settling tank and a membrane filtration are combined. A 1st waste water stream is purified by membrane filteration, and an acid reactor is charged with the retentate obtd., together with a 2nd waste water stream rich in solids, and is acidified by addn. of microorganisms; solids are sepd. by sedimentation, and the liq. phase enriched in fatty acids is mixed with the 1st waste water stream before the membrane filter appts.. The retentate from the membrane filtration is decomposed anaerobically by recycling into the acid reactor. Two completely different waste water (slurries) can be treated in an internal circulation, to obtain C or N supplements for a fermentation process. Anaerobic acid-formers, pref. a mixed Clostridium culture, are used for prodn. of acid from organic contents of waste waters.    ADVANTAGE -   Unconventional substrates, e.g. cheap industrial and agricultural waste waters, can be used to recover bio-substances by fermentation, e.g. fodder proteins from liq. manure, or recovery of CH4 by means of immobilised microorganisms. Utilisable fatty acids are obtd..
Biodegradable organic material suspended or dissolved in an aq. medium is treated to produce methane gas. The method comprises (a) flowing the material under pressure downwards through a hydrolytic-redox immobilised microbe first bioreactor in which a first reaction prod. is formed and gaseous CO2 is evolved; (b) passing the first reaction prod. from the lower portion of the first bioreactor through an anaerobic immobilised microbe second bioreactor to make methane gas; (c) removing CO2 from the top of the first bioreactor and delivering it to the second; and (d) collecting the methane from the second bioreactor. The first bioreactor contains a porous support immobilised high biomass. The CO2 produced is detrimental, but iit is utilised in the second bioreactor. The gases in (a) rise in the eractor.    USE -   Process is used for organic waste disposal and pollution control.
In the distn. plus membrane processing of gas streams, a process for sepg. CO2 from hydrocarbons contg. a large percentage of CO2 comprises (a) sepg. ethane and higher mol. wt. hydrocarbons from a feed gas stream consisting of CO2, methane, ethane, and higher mol. wt. hydrocarbons to produce a prim. process stream essentially contg. CO2 and methane; (b) sepg. a portion of the CO2 from the methane in the prim. process stream to produce a CO2-rich stream and a sec. process stream having a reduced concn. of CO2 relative to that in the prim. process stream; and (c) passing the sec. process stream to a membrane sepn. unit to separate CO2 from methane and to produce a CO2 permeate stream and a methane-rich residual stream. The process is esp. applicable to gas streams contg. a large percentage of carbon dioxide, and is particularly useful when the CO2 concn. is large, such as 80-90 mole.%, as is found in gas streams produced in a CO2 flood project for enhanced oil recovery.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The economics of recovering a CO2 stream, which is suitable for reinjection into an oil reservoir, is improved. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
The appts. for measuring non-methane hydrocarbons in gases contains flame-ionisation detectors (1,2), regeneratable adsorbers (3,4), heaters (5,6), valves (7,8), pneumo-resistances (9-11), electrometric amplifiers (14), microprocessor (15), recorder (16) and fan (17). It also has fourth pneumo-resistance (12) and a T-piece (13).    The air being analysed passes through the valves, in turn, to one of the adsorbers where all the hydrocarbons except methane are adsorbed. The sample flows via the T-piece to the first flame-ionisation detector which converts the methane concn. to an electric signal for the microprocessor and recorder. In the first half-cycle one part of the flow is discharged into atmosphere. The methane-contg. part passes to the second adsorber via the fourth pneumo-resistance. The sample from the T-piece passes only to the first detector. The overall hydrocarbon concn. is measured by the second detector.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In gas analysis for measuring the non-methane hydrocarbon concn. of atmospheric air. The air of prodn. premises and other media. Accuracy and reliability are increased. Power consumption is reduced. Bul.36/30.9.89 @(3pp Dwg.No. 1/1)@
Manure is processed by recirculation of the thin fraction so as to wash the fresh manure into a collector tank. The thick fraction of the manure is separated in the latter. The pH value of the thin fraction is reduced, and water is extracted from it by evaporation. The amount extracted can be at least 15% of the water content, preferably 50%.    ADVANTAGE -   Converts part of the ammonia content into useful fertiliser, and reduces handling costs. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Method comprises providing a hydrogen occlusion alloy of which bonded atomic ratio of hydrogen to metal (H/M) is defined unequivocally by the H2 pressure in the tank and the temp. of the alloy; measuring the H2 pressure in the tank and the alloy temp.; and calculating the residual H2 amt. from equation of formula@    VH2 = C.W.(H/M) (I) @    VH2 = residual H2 amt. (m3); W = weight of alloy (kg); C = a constant based on alloy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method enables accurate and simple determination of VH2 in the tank by only two pieces of information. @(4pp Dwg.No.2/22)@
The composting method for natural organic vegetable waste comprises seeding the mass of vegetable matter with bacteria to start it decomposing, placing the material inside a tunnel in the form of an elongated heap, where it is left to decompose in the presence of light and air, followed by drying and grinding.    During the decomposition phase air is blown into the middle of the heap, and once this phase is completed, but before the drying phase, the material is allowed to mature and is re-seeded with bacteria. The decomposition phase is divided into three sections with temperatures at 50 deg C; 50-75; and 75-40 deg C respectively, and during both the decomposition and maturation phases cellulolytic bacteria are employed.    ADVANTAGE -   More complete breakdown of composted material and controlled bacterial population. @(13pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Hospital waste is transferred from a hopper to a chopper and then passes a pressure-resistant inlet into a first feed worm section thermally jacketed and subjected to pressurised steam at about 140deg.C. After an intermediate sealed transfer point, the treated waste enters a similar second worm section, maintained at controlled level of sub-atmos. pressure to extract liq. and vapour to be filtered before discharge. The second section may also be UV heated. Temp. and pressure sensors with flow meters and controllers, are at key locations, esp. in the first feed worm section.    ADVANTAGE -   Even problem bacilli are inactivated. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Sepn. is in a cell with at least one bipolar membrane (20) having cation plus anion layers (22 and 24) and positioned between anion membranes (30 and 32). Bipolar membrane anion layer (22) and first anion membrane (30) define a feed compartment (F); a prod. compartment (P) is defined by corresp. cation layer: (22) and second anion membrane (32). DC potential is applied across the cell via anode (26) and cathode (28). Aq. feed (34) contg. acid and salt is passed to the feed compartment (F). Aq. prod. stream e.g. contg. acid and soluble salts is fed to corresp. prod. compartment (P). H+ ions form at the bipolar membrane cation layer (22) in prod. compartment (P) and feed anions An- transfer across anion membranes (30,32) into the prod. compartment (P) to form acid prod. (36) for removal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Acid/salt mixts. for sepn. are e.g. HCl/NaCl, HAc/NaOAc, HCl/NH4CL, Na2SO4/H2SO4, HF/HNO3/Ni(NO3)2 etc..Pluralities of alternate bipolar and anion membranes are useable. Aq. feeds for treatment are e.g. uranium extraction, stainless steel pickle liquor or battery acid reclamation wastes etc., spent Al anodising bath liq.. @(37pp Dwg.No.2/10)@
Recovering liq. hydrocarbons from a molecular sieve sorbent bed in a hydrocarbon treating system, partic. useful in recovering "sponge" or "sponged" propane that has been retained by a bed of zeolitic molecular sieves in a treatment system designed to remove sulphur compounds, e.g. carbonyl sulphide, from liq. propane, comprises (a) stopping the flow of sour liq. hydrocarbon to a bed of molecular sieves in a hydrocarbon sorption plant; (b) draining liq. hydrocarbon from the bed of molecular sieves; (c) purging the bed with a heated gaseous hydrocarbon until substantial amts. of sponged hydrocarbon has been removed from the bed; (d) regenerating the purged bed by contact with a gaseous hydrocarbon heated to a temp. sufficient to volatilise and desorb sulphur species from the molecular sieves; and (e) cooling the regenerated bed.    ADVANTAGE -   A method has now been discovered that will reduce the loss of sponged hydrocarbon which is exacerbated when the sulphur content in the hydrocarbon feed stream is high and/or when the specification on treated prod. is stringent, thereby enhancing the economics of the treatment process. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/6)
Recovering liq. hydrocarbons from a molecular sieve sorbent bed in a hydrocarbon treating system, which is partic. useful in recovering "sponge" or "sponged" propane a retained by a bed of zeolitic molecular sieves in a treatment system designed to remove sulphur compounds, e.g., carbonyl sulphide, from liq. propane, in which a molecular sieve regenerating process comprises (a) stopping the flow of sour liq. hydrocarbon to a bed of molecular sieves in a hydrocarbon sorption plant; (b) draining liq. hydrocarbon from the bed of molecular sieves; (c) purging the bed with a heated gaseous hydrocarbon until substantial amounts of sponged hydrocarbon has been removed fromm the bed; (d) regenerating the purged bed by contact with a gaseous hydrocarbon heated to a temp. sufficient to volatilise and desorb sulphur species from the molecular sieves; and (e) cooling the regenerated bed. Zeolite mentioned.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces the loss of sponged hydrocarbon which is exacerbated when the sulphur content in the hydrocarbon feed stream is high and/or when the specification on treated prod. is stringent, thereby enhancing the economics of the treatment process. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/6)
Generating inflamable gas by burning of waste in a furnace to which gas contg. oxygen is supplied for specified time comprises detecting difference between amt. of supplied gas and amt. required for burning by temp. detector in furnace and is used to control amt. of supplied gas.    ADVANTAGE -   Inflamable gas can be obtd. efficiently and reaction to form inflamable gas can be stabilised. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/6)
Culture soil is obtd. by mixing soil, 10 to 20 wt.% of organic excretion and 2 to 3 wt.% of inorganic substance with one another and causing fermentation with the use of yeast or fungi.    The inorganic substance is pref. ferrous sulphate, manganese sulphate, cobalt chloride, copper sulphate, chromium chloride, etc. The inorganic substance is used in 1/10 to 1/100 of the organic excretion. The yeast or fungi is pref. Aspergillus oryzae, IFO 30101, Aspergillus sojae IFO 4241, Rhizopus javanicus IFO 5422, Saccharomyces cerevisiae IFO 0306, Bacillus subtilis IFO 3007, etc. The fermentation is conducted at first at 30 deg.C for 8 to 10 hrs., and then at 40 deg.C for 6 to 8 hrs.    USE -   For cultivation of tea and related plants. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Carbonate contg or carbonate free farmhouse esp poultry manure is prepd from 2 pts of basic peat 1 pt max of normally liq poultry manure. The latter is removed from poultry batteries by continuous or batch wise gravitationally propelled washings. Such a mix is homogenised once, with a considerable loss of water and is fermented. Once ripened manure mixt is returned to the mixer for a second treatment with liquid manure. This material is either ripened again, or in common with mixer capacity surplusses or with liq manure collected in winter months, is stored in peat holding conpartments.    Stored manure may subsequently be mixed, comminuted and stocked or opt remixed in the mixer and fermented prior to milling and packaging. Additives regulate respective pH depending whether weak acidity or alkalinity is reqd namely water : 7.6 or 7.0 and KCl: 7.3 or 6.5. The prod contains pref 60% solids and has a bulk density of 0.850-0.900 kgs/1000 l
The method, which is applicable to all crops, including those from greenhouses, consists of inoculating the material with an initiator made by incubating one volume with 3 volumes of fertile soil with high biological capacity and with moisture content of two-thirds of the capacity. Composting is carried out under strictly controlled aerobic conditions, resulting in degradation of the organic materials, and avoiding phytotoxicity generated by addn. of fresh organic matter to the soil. Suitable amounts (5g. per 1000 kg.) of Mo and Co micronutrients are added with the water used to moisten the mass, which strengthen the activity of nitrogen fixers and phosphorus mobilisers. @(Dwg.No.0/0)
Gas sepn. membranes combining high selectivity (S) and high permeation rate values (P) for O2/N2, CO2/CH4 and He/CH4 sepns. comprise a thin layer of a (co)polyester derived essentially from reaction of aromatic dicarboxylic acid(s) (I) or their derivs. and a 4,4'-(1H-alkylidene) bis(2,3,6-trialkylphenol) of formula (II); R = 1-3C alkyl; R' = 1-4C alkyl. Pref. R, R' = CH3.    (I) is selected from isophthalic acid (IPA), terephthalic acid (TPA), 4-bromoisophthalic acid (BIPA), and 2-bromoterephthalic acid (BTPA), or their acid chlorides, used either individually, or as mixts. of IPA with TPA or with BIPA and/or BTPA; TPA with BIPA and/or BTPA; and BIPA with BTPA. Esp. pref. is the polyester from BIPA and 4,4'-(1H-ethylidene) bis(2,3,6-trimethylphenol) (IIa).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membranes may be composite, asymmetric, homogeneous or isotropic and may be constructed in any of the conventional forms, e.g. tube, sheet, etc. They are partic. efficient at sepg. O2 from N2 (S above 6 and P at least 1.7 Barrers), and provide good sepn. of CO2 from CH4. Casting as membranes is facilitated by their being soluble in less polar solvents.
Gas sepn. membranes combining high selectivity (S) and high permeation rate values (P) for O2/N2 and CO2/CH4 sepns. comprise a thin layer of a (co)polyester derived essentially from reaction of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid component (A) and a diol component (B). (B) comprises more than 50 mole.% of a tetrabromobisphenol of formula (I); R' = C(CF3)2 or divalent cyclododecyl, and X = Br. (A) comprises (i) isophthalic acid (IPA) and/or 4-bromoisophthalic acid (BIPA), with (ii) terephthalic acid (TPA) and/or 2-bromoterephthalic acid (BTPA); or the corresp. dihalides. Proportions (mole.%) of (i):(ii) are (a) at least 80:20, or (b) 30:70 or less. The balance of (B), if any, pref. consists of cpds. of formula (I) where X = CH3 or Cl.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membranes may be composite, asymmetric, homogeneous or isotropic and may be constructed in any of the conventional forms e.g. sheet or tube, etc. They are partic. efficient at sepg. O2 from N2 (S = 5.6-7.2, and P = 4.7-11.8 Barrers at ambient temp.), and CO2 from CH4 (S at least 30; P at least 15).
For restoration to usable condition, soil contaminated, esp. by hydrocarbons, is stacked on a base plate with cavities for drainage and ventilation and suppled with colonies of bacteria for breaking down contaminants. Optimum conditions of temp. and humidity are controlled via the base plate. The entire stack may be sprinkled from above, with further moisture and additives in liq. or gaseous form applied at the base.    When both short- and long-chained hydrocarbons or their breakdown prods. are present, laboratory-modified types of bacteria may be applied in subsequent stages.    ADVANTAGE -   Total treatment time is considerably reduced. @(4pp Dwg.No 1/1)@
In operating a power plant, esp. with coal, the coal is ground before combustion and freed from harmful substances and contaminants, and the CO2 formed on combustion of the coal, and the waste heat of the flue gas, are used to raise the heating value of the treated coal.    The coal is freed from heavy metals and S by means of microorganisms and from NOx cpds. by liquefaction, mixed with a biomass to raise the heating value and finally burned and the CO2 and heat of the flue gas are used to obtain the biomass. The coal is freed from heavy metals by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and from S by T. thiooxidans and/or Sulpholobus acidocalarius.    ADVANTAGE -   Substances polluting the environment are not formed. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
The process consists of 5 phases carried out on 3 ground levels, including (a) discharging the garbage from collecting vehicles into a mill hopper on the top level, provided with a mechanical feeder which supplies feeder belts on the middle level by gravity, where operators separate inorganic materials. The remaining organic material falls into fragmentation equipment on the lower level, from which it is carried into a courtyard and deposited in heaps, where it ferments for 6 days. It is then sieved and is ready for sale
Proposed method comprises oxidising dehydro-dimerisation of methane, conducted at 730-780 deg. C, using HCl as promoting agent, on a catalyst contg. 15-17 wt.% MnO (calculated per Mn) and 10-20 wt.% NaOH (calculated per Na), on boron nitride support (up to 100%). The volumetric rate is 9.42 l/h., contact time is 0.5s, and the ratio of CH4 to O2 is 2:1. The catalyst is used in the form of particles of particle size 2-4mm. The amt. of HCl in CH4/O2 mixt. is 3 vol.%.    Tests show that the proposed method gives methane conversion to 2C fraction 44.3-55.5%, selectivity per ethane-ethylene fraction 60.2-73.4%, the yield of ethane-ethylene fraction 30.5-36.7%, and concn. of 2C fraction 10.03-12.13 vol.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In petrochemical industry, as a method of high temp. oxidising conversion of metthane to ethane-ethylene fraction. Increased yield of 2C fraction is obtd. Bul.40/30.10.89 @(6pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
Improved accuracy of determining the methane con. in concentration is altered. At the same time, the effect of dust content changes as well as: the fluctuation in the humidity, pressure and temp. are compensated by heating the element to 580 deg. C with a stabilised electric current. The intensity of teh optical radiation is recorded in the 3.19-3.59 microns band using two sections of the element, one being isolated from the shaft atmosphere.    The stabilised current is fed through the open and the isolated parts of the heating element to record the intensity of the i.r. radiation from the open part of the element where the methane is oxidised. The intensity of the radiation from the covered part is recorded in the same wavelength zone to derive the ratio of the two intensities, the current of the stabilised source (5) controlled by the switch (4). When the open part (1) is heated it ensures the thermo catalytic combustion of the methane, and this raises the temp. of the open part (2).    ADVANTAGE -   The unit accelerates the anaylsis and enhances its accuracy by the elimination of disturbing effects of changes in humidity, pressure and atmosphere temp. Bul.39/23.10.89
Gas concentrator comprises first and second module. First module is divided into prim. and sec. space by selectively permeating membrane. Second module is divided into prim. and sec. space by second selectively permeating membrane. Gas is fed from first prim. space of first module to that of second module.    Means is provided for reducing pressure in sec. spaces in first and second modules. Permeating speed of second selectively permeating membrane is smaller than that of first selectively permeating membrane. Value of permeating speed of non-permeable gas/that of permeable gas in second selectively permeating membrane is greater that in first selectively permeating membrane.    ADVANTAGE -   Sec. spaces in first and second modules can be evacuated by single means. @(10pp Dwg.NO.0/7)
The biomass from which gas is produced is held in an inner drain within a horizontal cylindrical casing with outer plastic walls and intermediate foam insulation. The biomass is advanced in the inner drum by a feed-worm with used material extracted via a discharge tube at the far end of the casing, whose rear end holds the feed-worm drive motor and a submerged heater for producing process heat. This heat is transmitted to the inner drum by liq. largely surrounding the drum. Produced gas collects in a storage chamber below the outer cover, and connected by a three-way valve providing access to an outlet connector. The bio-mass entry chamber connected by a pipe to the inner drum, holds a cutting and stirring tool.    USE -   Esp. as portable unit for medium to small scale use, e.g. farm houses, holiday places. @(14pp Dwg.No.0/10)
Large rubbish skip with a front wall, (10) a rear wall (11), a bottom (17) and a hinged cover is made entirely of plastic material which is stable in presence of aggressive liqs. An inserted intermediate bottom (16) with perforations (22) and supporting struts (23,25) has two central hollow supports (31), also with perforations (36), and stainless fixing screws (34); this bottom is made of the same plastic material. A flushing hole (37) permits stones etc. to be flushed out from the space below the intermediate bottom.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Protects all fixtures from attack by aggressive media and facilitates an automatic flushing by cleaning appts. For organic waste to be recycled.
Process for treating biomasses e.g., clarifier sludges obtd. from the biological purificn. of effluent water, liq. manure, and other microbiological and post-cultured biomasses, in which the biomass, opt. after a pretreatment, is subjected to a temp.-press. hydrolysis in the liq. phase at 150-300 deg. C, (180-300 deg. C), in a single-or multistage hydrolysis system, opt. using inorganic catalysts e.g., cpds. of Ca, Na or K, to give residual solid- and liq-phases enriched in useful organic monomeric materials.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process allows various types of biomass material to be treated, often without energy-intensive pretreatments e.g., drying since the treatment can be carried out economically at solids contents of 60-80 g/l. The starting material contains components e.g., proteins, lipids, polynucleotides, and polysaccharides which are converted during the hydrolysis at 180-250 deg. C into a fraction contg. a large amt. of amino acids with fatty-acids, alcohols and amines, alkanes, alkenes, monosugars and aromatic cpds. At higher temps. deamination and decarboxylation of the aminoacids occurs with the formation of fatty-acids, alcohols and amines. Heavy metals which have accumulated in the crude biomass are converted during the process into water soluble cpds. which dissolve in the hydrolysate. The residual insol. material is used e.g., as a fertiliser or soil improver.
Process for drying clarifier sludge for subsequent processing and/or for use as e.g. fuel, in which the dry solids content is increased by mechanical dewatering with addn. of a dewatering aid which is exclusively or partially a valuable substance in the sense that it provides useful final prod.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The use of active materials as dewatering assistants, such as materials with a high fatty acid content and/or highly calorific materials, gives dewatered prods. which are useful e.g. for conversion by indirect heating to give an oil-like prod. and a coke-like residue, or prods. which can be used directly as fuels.
Simultaneous processing of mechanically pre-dewatered clarifier sludge with a solids content of 15-30%, esp. 20-25% and dry biomass waste such as waste paper and straw with max. moisture content of 20%, comprises (a) coarsely comminuting the waste paper, straw, etc., (b) opt. removing ferrous material with a magnetic separator, (c) intensively mixing the dewatered clarifier sludge with the comminuted biomass material, (d) pressing the mixt. through a perforated die plate and (e) drying the resulting sausage-like pellets.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is carried out using easily available equipment, simplifies the removal of water from the clarifier sludge, and gives a prod. which can be used directly as a fuel. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Waste gas opt contg sulphur oxides is contacted in an oxidising atmos below 500 deg C in the presence of a Pt gp metal (I) supported on Si02, Zr02, Ti02, zeolite and/or alpha Al203. (I) is eg Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, 0s and/or Ir. Total wt of metal in the supported catalyst is pref 0.005-2 wt%. Waste gases generally contain sufficient 02 to provide the oxidising atmos. Support material may be applied to a ceramic or metallic monolith eg an alloy or stainless steel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Gas treated is eg from engines burning fossil fuels and contains C0 plus C2H6, C3H8 etc. Conversions obtd are above 90% for C0 and above 50% for hydrocarbons. Catalysts have good activity, durability, long life and are resistant to any sulphur oxides in the waste gas. @(18pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Air feed is preheated by downward passage through an inner concentric tube. Heat is supplied eg by elements on the external surface of a corresp outer tube. Heated air then passes upwardly through a catalyst bed contg platinised heat conductive pellets plus metal turnings housed in the space between the tubes. Purified air is removed at the tube top. Pref catalyst beds contain platinised Al203 pellets plus stainless steel turnings in a vol ratio of 1:1. Bed temp is eg 300-350 deg C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Hydrocarbons removed are partic, CH4, C2H6 or C2H4. Treated air is esp used in horticulture eg for storage. Use of turnings in catalyst bed leads to structural rigidity, uniform heating thereof and reduced heating energy consumption. Process operates at lower temps and higher flow rates than prior art. Purified air is also useable in plant metabolism studies where C2H4 free atmos is needed. @(19pp Dwg.No.0/3)@
A water- or alcohol-soluble polyamide is coated on a fine porous membrane to form a thin film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The composite sepn. membrane has good chemical resistance, thermal resistance and high sepn. efficiency. The mfg. method is easy. useful to the sepn. of H2, dehumidification of natural gas and dehydration of water soluble organic cpds..    In an example 1 pts.wt. of a polyamide copolymer and 1 pts.wt. of urea resin are dissolved in 100 pts.wt. of water. Then a hollow yarn porous membrane is immersed in the dilute soln. of polyamide copolymer for 1 min., dried and thermally treated at 100 deg.C for 30 mins.. The sepn. ratio for H2/N2 is 117 and that for water/acetone is 102. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/0)
An agitator mixer (1) for biogas systems is characterised by a cylindrical tank (2) covered by a gas-tight conical hood (10) and containing at least one mixing device (3) comprising a sheet metal scroll (4) spirally attached to a rotating shaft (5). The tank (2) is loaded with shredded or triturated material through air-tight doors (13) in the hood, and spend material is discharged through air-tight doors (14, 15) in the tank side of base.    The waste feedstock may be organic or other and should have coarse inert material at least partially removed before loading. It may be laoded at intervals of various duration, taking into account the fact that each charge requires at least one week to ferment completely.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This is claimed as a device readily assembled from common elements/materials, which can reduce the volume of urban waste while providing a source of energy. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/1)
The system comprises a cooling fluid (isobutane) being passed around in heat exchange with a potassium hydroxide treater (KOH). The cooling fluid is passed around both the KOH bed treater and through standpipes in the KOH breaker to maximise heat transfer. The passing of cooling fluid in heat exchange with the KOH breaker is controlled to maintain desired operating pressures and maximise heat transfer. Bypassing is also provided if a temp. runaway begins to occur even with the cooling provided by heat exchange.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides an improved method and appts. for preventing temp. runaways in a KOH treater to substantially minimise the occasions on which bypassing of feed around the treater is required. @(10pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Improved continuous batch appts. for the thermal conversion of organic matter into gaseous and vapour forms which may be further treated to yield hydrocarbon liqs. exhibiting various b.pts. in which (a) organic material is conveyed through a heated bath of suitable liq., the selected compsn. of which presents a temp. of over 650 deg.F, lead being the pref. material for the tank liq.; (b) a conveyor arrangement is used which not only permits control of the dwell time of the waste material within the tank contg. the heated liq. but also ensures that the waste material remains fully submerged during the prim. phase of its travel through the tank; (c) the conveyor system including a horizontal, supporting conveyor run suitably cooperating with several separate, individual waste-contg. baskets or devices with appropriate means such that the waste containers are captively retained at a fixed level during its passage through the majority of the tank.    ADVANTAGE -   Environmental controls and objections to using landfills for disposing of waste such as used tyres, makes the development of alternative means of disposal very pressing, so that those having a high degree of efficiency, both as to speed of processing and to the value of the collected hydrocarbons is a great improvement. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/3)
Feed mixts.e contg. first (I) and second (II) components where (I) has a higher heat of adsorption than (II) are contacted with chabazite (III). Si to Al ratio in (III) is 2.1-2.8:1 and 65% at least of its exchangeable ion capacity is in Li form. (III) selectively adsorbs (I) from the mixt. (III) can be obtd. as an extrudate by treating Al2O3 bound zeolite Y extrudate (Si to Al ratio of 1.2:1) with enough SiO2 sol to form a mixt. with Si to Al ratio of 1.9-2.5:1 then heating in the presence of KOH and treating with 1M LiCl to effection exchange.    USE -   /ADVANTGE - Feed mixt. is esp. air and N2 is adsorbed by (III) to produce an O2 conc. stream. N2 can also be adsorbed from mixts. also contg. Ar, H2, He, Kr, Ne and or Xe (III) can be in O2 pressure swing or vacuum swing adsorption processes CH4 can be adsorbed from CH4/H2 mixts. by (III). Increased productivity is shown by (III). @(7pp dwg.No.0/0)
A mixt. of cattle excretia and coarse organic materials, saw dust, wood chips, bark or straw is composted by kneading the mixt., after adding 3-35wt.% NO3, to separate and decompose lignin and cellulose in the mixt. by converting them to nitro cpds. or oxidising them.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To compost a mixt. of cattle excretia and coarse organic materials in a short time. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/4)
Contaminated soil, sludge and demolition rubbish is decontaminated in two enclosed silos in which they are brought into contact with suitable microorganisms. The biomass with the grown microorganisms is distributed through nozzles and the contents are circulated by a central tube with a screw conveyor. Air or oxygen is also introduced.    ADVANTAGE -   This speeds up the conventional open-air decontamination and prevents the environmental pollution caused by the latter. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Biomass from a silo or in pellet form is treated to form biogas and fertiliser. Biogas, possibly mixed with mains natural gas, is burned to produce thermal energy and/or electrical power. The electricitys, possibly combined with mains electricty, electrolyses water into H2 and O2. The two prod. gases may power a fuel cell, or the O2 may be utilised in a biological sewage purifier. H2 may be stored, e.g. by a Ti-Fe hydride body and used to fuel a H2 motor, e.g. for a vehicle.    ADVANTAGE -   Waste material is utilised in environmentally friendly fashion, with min. contamination of ground waters.
Proposed method comprises de-ethanisation of starting material by fractional distn., with sepn. of ethane-contg. fraction from the de-ethanised residue. The latter is subjected to depropanisation in the first propane column, with collection of the first propane fraction from the top of the column, and depropanised residue from the bottom, and the side fraction, collected above feeding point, is passed to the second propane column. Vat residue from the second propane column is recycled to the first propane column and introduced below the point of introduction of the main feed.    The installation comprises de-ethanising column (2), first propane column (5) and second propane column (9). Vat residue from column (9) is fed into column (5), and acts as circulating reflux.    Tests show that proposed method reduces power consumption by 18%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This method separates a mixt. of light satd. hydrocarbons obtd. during fractionating stabilisation of gasoline, in oil processing and petrochemical industry. Reduced power consumption is ensured. Bul.31/23.8.89
The electric analogue signal from methane concn. sensor (1) passes to correcting unit (2), which differentiates and sums the signal in a determined proportion with the obtained derivative. The corrected analogue signal passes to analogue summator (5) through polarity inverter (4) and also through inertial element (3), with an adjustable time-lag. The summed signal passes to amplifier (7), forming a control signal for inertial element (3).    When the signal from sensor (1) is constant or changing slowly, the signal from summator (5) is outside the zone of sensitivity of amplifier (7), set by a reference voltage. In a dynamic mode, the signal from unit (2) increases faster than that from element (3) and the voltage to amplifier (7) exceeds its zone of non-sensittivity. Summator (5) then forms a signal with a level necessary to maintain the control action.    USE -   Formation of commands for disconnection of electricity during methane level in mines exceeding set limits. Bul.30/15.8.89
New steam sterilisation of raw materials to be fermented comprises glowing materials into porous tube of 0.5-5 mm dia, and steam is fed from outside of tube. Tube is pref corrosion-resistant cylinder of 1-3 mm dia. Pref raw material fermented is 30-35 wt% water-diluted molasses.    In an example, raw material is fed at rate of 0.8 m3/hr, while steam was supplied at difference press of 0.5-1.0 kg/cm2/G kg/cm2.G and 120 deg C for 48 hr. After 10 times operation (480 hr), no scale was observed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method allows prolonged continuous operation without sludge adhesion of, eg waste molasses or contamination by various bacteria from sludge. With only low-press steam (eg 2.5-4 kg/cm2.G) required, operation causes reduced noise and vibration. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/1)
A methane fermentation tank composed of four or more egg formed tanks of a multi-face cube is used for less heat insulation due to less contact area with the ambient air and an earthquake proof structure and also is installed without prestressed concrete.    USE -   For a fermentation tank with better agitation effect due to no dead space and with less heat emission and better heat insulation. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/7)
High organic content hazardous industrial wastes and fermentation residues are rendered harmless and can be made use of by mixing them with other waste prods., suitable nutrients and a cellulose decomposing starter culture. This mixt. is converted in stages by consecutive aerobic and anaerobic fermentation processes and with added calcium, iron and copper salts, to an efficient water and ion absorbing compsn. and to bio ga
Waste material mass treatment in a reactor comprises, gas distribution members, heating members, waste materal mixing members, a feed member and a discharge opening, such that the decomposition of waste material mass is intensified by heating the mass by means of heating members connected to the gas distribution members. Also claimed is that in the heating of the mass the gas present in the gas distribution members is heated by conducting gas from gas distribution members onto the surface of the heating members and gas present in gas distribution members is gas recirculated from reactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Treating waste, partic. organic waste wherein the waste material vol. is essentially reduced and mass is rendered in pumpable form. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/3)
A discharge implement for containers (3), specially those in which organic waste is kept to rot into compost, and which have a hinged end trap door (4), is an attachment (1) to which a separate spreader (2) with breaker rollers (7) for the rotted material is fitted. This can be emptied eg for final rotting, by dipping on a dump. This attachment can be mounted on a heavy truck (17) or on a crane for a separate container.    ADVANTAGE -   This saves having to fit a spreader to every container and is a reliable way of breaking up all lumps. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/5)@
Solute is transferred from a liq. feed soln. (108) to a liq. extractant (110), one of which is miscible while the other is immiscible in water and which are immiscible when in contact one with the other, by contacting a first side of an asymmetrically-wettable porous membrane (104) with the water miscible one of the feed or extractant, and the second side with the water immiscible, other, one of the feed or extractant. The first side of the membrane is hydrophilic and the second side hydrophobic and the feed solution and extractant come into liq./liq. interfacial contact through the pores of the membrane with the interface between the feed and extractant being immobilised at the membrane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In withdrawing fermentation prod. from an aq. fermentation broth, phenol from waste water, aromatics from petroleum distillates, or copper from a dil. aq. soln. Maintenance of the interface of the feed and extractant at the porous membrane allows a high throughput since a dispersion of one liq. in the other does not have to be formed, and eliminates problems of seepage and dispersion of one material in the other. @(15pp Dwg.No.0/5)
An electrolysis cell for the redn. of CO2 having an anode; a cathode comprising a prim. CO2 reducing cathode contg. a catalytic material having a hydrogen over voltage greater than Pt and a sec. CO2 reducing cathode having a hydrogen over voltage greater than Pt; and a solid polymer electrolyte.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The presence of the sec. cathode suppresses the formation of hydrogen gas and thus increases the amt. of hydrogen ions available for reaction with CO2, giving increased conversion efficiency of CO2 to organic cpds. such as formic acid, formaldehyde, methanol and methane.
A method comprises (i) mixing fuel materials (95-98%) (obtd. by mixing chaff, straw, crops stem, saw dust, wood pieces, tree leaves, grass leaves, waste fabric and waste paper, crushing, compressively drawing and cutting), alkali material (3-15%) (i.e. KOH, NaOH, Ca(OH)2) and water plants (2-5%), (ii) heat-extruding the mixt. into a moulded fuel, and (iii) coating fat-oil fat-oil (10-20%) (obtd. from adding alkali (3-10%) to vegetable/animal/mineral fat-oil, and mixing at 1000-2000 rpm and 20-100 deg.C for 1030 min.) onto fuel surface or part of cut-fac
Domestic and garden refuse is composted after filling as layers into one of two or more open-topped metal, wood, or plastic containers, of area comparable with a garden bed. On nearing the container top, a charge is covered by harness layer about 5-8 cm deep, which after watering is sown with seasonal plants which collectively occupy the bed-sized area, and draw nutrient from the not-yet fully composted material layers. After this planting, filling proceeds for the next container. The new plants may be covered by transparent material, replacing an earlier opaque cover. Containers may have base sieve surfaces preventing access of pests.    ADVANTAGE -   Rotting compost becomes useful earlier, and transfer of part-rolled material to separate stack is avoided. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1)@
A method for converting organic acids or alcohols to H2 and CO2 under anaerobic conditions in an aq. medium is claimed comprising (a) adding to the medium photosynthetic bacteria and (b) exposing the bacteria to radiant energy for a time sufficient to cause the bacteria to convert the acids or alcohols to H2 and CO2.    The aq. medium may also contain water-soluble organic matter, fermentative bacteria and methanogenic bacteria. The photosynthetic bacteria are pref. selected from the Rhodospirillales order of phototrophic bacteria.    Also claimed is a method for anaerobic digestion of organic matter in an aq. medium comprising fermentative bacteria and methanogenic bacteria, the improvement comprising adding to the medium photosynthetic bacteria and exposing the bacteria to radiant energy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The addn. of photosynthetic bacteria followed by exposure to radiant energy speeds the conversion of organic acid and alcohol to H2 and CO2 which can then be rapidly converted to methane by methanogenic bacteria.
In a new liquefaction of cellulose biomass, thee biomass is decomposed thermally in a pressure container in the presence of an organic solvent at a temp. and a pressure higher than the critical temp. and pressure of the solvent. The thermal decompsn. is pref. conducted in the presence of a carbonaceous substance.    The biomass is pref. pulp, cotton, linter, jute, used paper, bagasse, wood or straw. The solvent is pref. one or more of aliphatic ketones and aliphatic alcohols.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is simple: the heating with the solvent easily attains a hgih pressure and, at the same time, decomposes the biomass. The cellulose ingredients in the biomass is liquefied thoroughly without generating CO2. Simple cooling of the reactor depresses the pressure to ordinary pressure. The decomposed prod., dissolved in the solvent, is directly available after removing the insolubles, such as carbonaceous matter and lignin. The liq. obtd. is soluble in toluene and xylene and has a calorific value of 6-9 kcal/g.
The device comprises a transfer mechanism, a hot air drying mechanism including a direct heat chamber and an indirect heat chamber, a cleaning and cooling mechanism connected with the direct heat chamber, a mechanism to heat gas after cleaning and cooling to be supplied to the indirect heat chamber, a hot gas/fresh air heat exchanger to supply fresh air to the direct heat chamber, blower mechanisms, and a control circuit.    USE -   Smoke and smell can be eliminated from exhaust gas under automatic operation. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/3)
The cast steel has a compsn. comprising (by wt.) 0.06-0.20% C, 0.01-0.10% N, 0.4-2.0% Si, 0.3-1.0% Mn, 0.04% or less P, 0.04% or less S, 15-22% Cr, 0.01-2.0% Nb, 0.01-0.10% Ti, 0.2-1.0% Mo, 0.01-1.0% NI, and one or more of Y and CE (total amt. 0.01-1.0%) and one or more of Zr and Hf (total amt. 0.01-1.0%), 0.001-0.01% B, 0.1-5.0% Al, 0.1-5.0% Cu, Fe and impurities. After casting, the heat treatment is disposed within a critical temp. compass of the two phase mixed up point.    ADVANTAGE -   The heat resisting cast steel has good castability and work ability and has good resistance to oxidn. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The olive waste is fed into a hopper where it is mixed with a binder to produce a pasty prod. of suitable density. This is passed through metering equipment into mould cavities where it is pressed by rams activated by hydraulic pressure. The compacted material,in block or granule form is tipped onto a conveyor belt and passed to the collector and/or packaging installation.    The blocks obtained are of substantial density, and burn slowly with high calorific valve and little residue
A waste immobilisation process involves producing a mixt. contg. at least flyash and/or flue gas cleaning residues and/ or heavy metal hydroxide sludge, mixing for 5-15 min.s in an intensive mixer, adding cement and mixing for a further 20-105 mins. in the intensive mixer, only as much water as is required for binding the mixt. being provided. The mixt. heats by the heat of reaction and the mechanical action and initially forms a plastic mass which transforms, during mixing, into a solid transportable granulate from which the heavy metal arenot leachable by acidic aq. solns.    ADVANTAGE -   Immobilisation is completed in a short time (max.2hrs) The process is a quasi-dry process which avoids problems caused by diffusion of water-soluble components through the mixt.
Metal oxide semiconductor gas sensor comprises a heating element (1) formed as a coil coated with a porous insulating layer; a conductive sensing element (10) in the coil along it axis; and a porous metal oxide semiconductor material (30) encapsulating the heating and sensing elements, the material contacting the heating element wires through their porous insulating layer.    Pref. the heating coils are tightly formed and the insulating layers on the coils contact each other. The porous metal oxide semiconductor material is WO3, NiO, SnO, Fe2O3, MoO3 or a mixt. of these, pref. WO3. The heating element is Al2O3-coated Pt-Ir wire. The sensing element is also insulated, pref. with porous Al2O3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In sensing O2 in exhaust gases, and also H2S, CO, CH4 etc. in mines and other locations. Sensor is low power consuming and has good portability; it also exhibits a linear reponse over a wide concn. range. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Adsorptive process for producing two gas streams from a gas comprises (a) introducing a feed gas stream at elevated pressure into one of several parallel adsorptive beds filled with an adsorbent selective for the more strongly adsorbed component on the adsorbent and allow the less strongly adsorbed component to pass through the for recovery as the first gas prod. at high recovery and high purity; (b) the introduction of the feed gas stream into the bed before the more strongly adsorbed component breaks through the downstream end of the bed and depressurising the bed to about ambient pressure to remove less strongly adsorbed component from the bed and recycling the resulting depressurisation effluent to the feed gas stream; (c) passing a low pressure purge gas stream of more strongly adsorbed component through the bed to remove any residual less strongly adsorbed component from the and recycling the resulting effluent from the purged bed to the feed gas stream; (d) evacuating the bed to a subambient pressure to recover more strongly adsorbed component as the second gas product at high recovery and high purity; and (e) repressurising the bed with less strongly adsorbed component to about the pressure of the feed gas stream, in which the steps (a) through (e) are performed on the several beds to result in a continuous process.    ADVANTAGE -   The process results in the recovery of two gas prods. at high purity and high recovery from a mixt. of gases, the less strongly adsorbed gas species is produced at the elevated adsorption pressure, whilst the more strongly adsorbed gas component is produced at ambient pressure conditions. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/1)
The fermentation vessel, preferably circular, is covered by an externally suspended canopy, and a gas-tight seal is provided between this canopy and the upper edges of the vessel walls. The canopy is supported by vertical ropes hanging from a horizontal rope strung between two masts, and the perimeter of the canopy is immersed in a water seal contained in a groove in the top of the vessel walls, the liquid head in the seal being greater than the pressure of the gas in the vessel itself. The horizontal suspension rope is carried on pulleys on masts on either side of the vessel, one end of the rope being attached to a counterweight and the other to a manual or motorised winch.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This invention is intended for recovering gas from animal excreta, and is particularly suitable for installation on farms. Variable volume of the vessel and control of the gas pressure are provided by a device wich is uncomplicated and cheap to construct. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Conversion of a methane feedstock into a prod. comprising C2+ hydrocarbons including ethylene is effected at 400-800 deg.C, 1-1000kPa and GHSV 100-6000 hr-1 using a catalyst comprising (1) layered metal chalogenide having adjacent layers sepd. by chalogenide pillars; and also (2) alkali metal(s). The layered chalogenide is pref. a titanate or silicate and the pillars are pref. of a Gp.Ib, IIb, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, IVB, VA, VB, VIB, VIIB or VIII oxide, esp. a polymeric oxide or silica.    ADVANTAGE -   Catalysts are heat stable and out perform prior-art Li- or Rb- (titanate or manganate) catalysts in methane conversion by selective oxidative coupling. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Proposed method comprises blowing the spent mercaptide soln. with vapours of absolute heterogeneous azeotrope of lower monobasic aliphatic alcohol and water or with the mixt. of low boiling mercaptans iso-3C and higher.    The process causing desorption of mercaptans from the soln. is conducted at 100-125 deg. C and at 0.1-0.2 MPa and wt. ratio of gas and mercaptide soln. as 1:(2-20). Obtd. mixt. of mercaptans and gases used for blowing is subjected to condensn. and then to fractionating distn., with sepn. of prods. removal of water and recirculation of vat residue to the desorption stage.    When the heterogeneous azeotrope of alcohol and water is used, methyl mercaptan and the mixt. of 2C and 2C+ mercaptans is sepd. during fractionation, while in the case of using low b.pt. natural mercaptans as desorption agents the sepd. prods. are methyl mercaptan and ethylmercaptan. The degree of regeneration is 99.9%.    The equipment comprises heater (2), regeneration column (4), with its top part fed with water (6) and bottom part with alcohol (7), air cooler (13) and water cooler (14) and separator (5). Fractionating distn. is conducted in column (20) and additional fractionating column (24).    Regenerated soln. from the bottom of fractionating column is collected through line (9) and passed to storage vessel (through heat exchanger (2)), to be used in the process of purificn. of propane-butane fraction from mercaptans.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Regeneration of spent alkali soln. used in process of purificn. of liquefied 3-4C gaseous hydrocarbons from mercaptans. Increased degree of regeneration is achieved. Bul.29/7.8.89
Mixed horticultural medium consisting predominantly of natural zeolite particles contg. nitrification bacteria, nitrogen-contg. fertiliser and if necessary phosphate-contg. fertiliser, and in which the ammonium-N content = 0.02-0.2 g/100 g, the nitrate-N content = 0.005-0.5 g/100 g, the pH (H2O) = 6.0-7.5, the electrical conductivity is less than 2.0 mS/cm and the cation exchange capacity is greater than 50 meq/100 g.    Pref. medium comprises natural zeolite particles, farmyard manure or stable manure and/or water purification sludge as source of nitrification bacteria, pH conditioning agents, N-contg. fertilisers and if necessary phosphate contg. fertilisers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The medium improves the fertiliser retention capacity of soil and provided a rich nitrogen source gives a high percentage germination and good root development and growth of seedlings and plants. @(17pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Decompsn. of aliphatic chlorine cpd. using microorganism comprises contacting aliphatic chlorine cpd. or matter contg. it with Methylosinus trichosporium TSUKUBA, which is an aliphatic chlorine cpd. and decomposable microorganism belonging to Methylosinus.    Methylosinus trichosporium TSUKUBA is a methane-utilising bacterium, growing only on methane or methanol as carbon source and decomposing trichloroethylene or its relative cpd., e.g. cis-1,2-dichloroethylene.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Volatile aliphatic chlorine cpds. such as trichloroethylene contained in drainage exhausted from factory, exhaust gas or soil, is decomposed efficiently. 10 ppm trichloroethylene is reduced by half in 10 days. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Prodn. of microbial antagonists contg. fermentative mixts. is carried out by mixing (1) organic substances of animal-plant origins, (2) organic mud, (3) zeolite, molasses, wheat bran, and/or rice bran, (4) cellulose-decomposing bacteria, (5) mould fungi, (6) nitrifying bacteria, (7) sulphur bacteria, (8) leguminous bacteria, (9) root nodule bacteria, (10) actinomycetes (ray fungi), (11) yeast, and (12) Pseudomonas bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful against agricultural and microbial diseases caused by Basidiomycetes, Rhizoctonia and Helminthosprorium bacteria. Pollution is caused since all the ingredients involved are natural, many of which are waste material. When applied at least 100 g/m2 to laws, the antagonistic agents can prevent fairy rings caused by Basidiomycetes species, and brown patches, spring dead spot, etc. Caused by Rhizoctonia species. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Methane decomposing device comprises vessel, resistor heat generator interposed between electrodes, and temp.-maintaining material covering entire vessel. Vessel has electrodes, at opposite ends, which possess methane gas inlet and hydrogen gas outlet, respectively.    ADVANTAGE -   Methane-decomposing device can be made compact. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/1)
A coagulating agent (A), has as its main constit. cultured bacteria, Alkaligenes, or its processed material. (A) contains inorganic salts or not less than one natural coagulating agent for suspended solids including the cultured bacteria or its processed material. The Alkaligene is pref. Alkaligenes latus (B-16) (FERM BP-15). A method of coagulating or decolouring is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for mfg. coagulating agents from cultured bacteria or their processed material and for the coagulation. Useful for treatment of industrial and domestic waste water or for the recovery of valuable materials from soln. The agents are able to coagulate inorganic or organic suspensions, or oil emulsions efficiently and are harmless. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The prod. comprises (%w/w): 10-50 inflated perlite, 1-25 oil shale or alginite grist, 20-70 peat, 2-60 lime sludge from brewery waste, 1-10 lucern grist and 0.1-1 grist
Lysine fermentation effluent (CMS) contains 1% N, 0.2% P2O5, 1% k2O active cpds. For its complete economical sense it is partly mixed into fodder and partly added to liq. fertiliser.When CMS is added to form liq. fertiliser it replaces water completely or in part.    By addn. of CMS savings are made in the quantities of suspending agents and of the carriers of agriculturally useful nitrogen phosphorus and potassium active matter. Similarly, the nutritional value of sugarbeet fodder cakes is enhanced by CMS attached to them in a form palatable to animal
A probe and sampling system for an organic material fermentation unit, e.g. for producing methane from the decomposition of domestic waste, consists of an outer sleeve in two sections (3, 4), separated by a valve (5), one section designed to be fixed to a coupling (6) on the wall of the fermentation unit (2), and equipped with a dynamic seal (7), while the other has a centering element (9) for the probe (1), allowing it to take a sample from the interior of the unit.    The introduction and removal of the probe can be effected by means of a recirculating ball mechanism on the outer portion of the sleeve, which can also incorporate washing and drain systems to keep the sampling system free of fermenting material.    ADVANTAGE -   System allows easier deep sampling of fermenting waste. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/4)
Prodn. of dried yeast is effected by culturing a yeast in a carbohydrate-contg. soln. contg. added nutrient salts and adjusted to pH 4.0-4.8, while controlling the dissolved O2 concn. at 0.4-0.7 mgfl, corresp. to a residual carbohydrate concn. of 2-4 g/l, to induce the yeast to grow in a mycelium-like manner. The yeast is then filtered and dried.    ADVANTAGE -   The mycelium-like growth of the yeast facilitates filtration and gives a filter cake that requires less energy consumption in drying. Sterile fermentation conditions are not necessary. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In the mfr. of compost from a wooden source e.g. saw dust, bark, wood chips, straw, etc., the wooden source is subjected to a prim. fermentation process where a nitrogen source or other nutrients are regulated as required in addn. to water content regulation by adding lignin-decomposing bacteria at 20 - 35 deg.C for 3 - 20 days, and then to a sec. fermentation process for usual composting treatment by adding wastes of livestock, sewage sludge, etc.. The lignin-decomposing bacteria typically include Coriolus versicolor IFO 30340, Porodisculus pendulus IFO 4967, etc..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   High-quality compost of higher base displacement capacity and good fertilising power may be obtd. from wood chips, saw dust, etc.. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Heavy metal and the other dirty materials are removed from the aq. soln. by the adsorption with a single cell green weed. The green weed is bred in the aq. soln. which contains K2HPO4, KH2PO4, NH4Cl, MgSO4.7H2O, CaCl2.2H2O, C10H16N208, ZnSO4. 7H20, H3BO3, MnCl2.4H2O, FeSO4.7H2O, CoCl2.6H20, CuSO4.5H2= and (NH4)6(Mo7)0.24-4H20, at 20-30 deg.C under light above 2000 lux, by permeating above 11/air /min culture. The green weed is exchanged with the fresh one after a certain interval in order to purify the waste water contg. high concentration dirty material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The removing efficiency is high, while the cost is low.    In an exmaple, 5x10 power6 cells/ml of clamidomonase are bred at 27 deg.C under 3500 lux of light by l air/min/l culture. Then CuSO4 soln. contg. 100M of CuSO4 is treated with it. The concentration of CuSO4 is reduced to half during 2 hrs. experiment. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
The pH of a waste water is preliminary controlled by adding alkali. It is then mixed with returned acid or methane fermentation water. Further the pH of the mixt. is controlled.    Pref. amt. of alkali added is controlled so as to maintain the pH of the waste water within 6.8-7.5. Most of the alkali (e.g., NaOH or Na2CO3) added to the waste water, e.g., 50-70 %, are added immediately after it is discharged from factories. Acid or methane fermentation water is returned in an amt. of 0.5-20 times (by wt.) of the waste water to be treated while remaining alkali is added to it so as to control the pH finely.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for anaerobic treatment of waste water contg. organic matter. The amtl. of expensive alkali can be reduced, e.g. by over 30 %. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/6)
Diffusion method is for the recovery of lighter constituents in a gaseous mixture contg. mostly heavier hydrocarbons (and low in light components). Process is mainly used for recovery of H2 in residual gas from catalytic crackers using fluidised beds. The process involves initial purificn. by adsorption, to eliminate contaminants such as H2O, HCl and NH3, particle condensation is then effected and the gaseous effluent from this step is sepd. by a diffusion unit.    ADVANTAGE -   Obviates inherent problems when using gaseous diffusion techniques, by eliminated LPG (C3 to C6 hydrocarbons) by purification and condensation before diffusion.
This is an amended version of an earlier (main) patent application (P 3817437.5-24) for a method of utilising waste material contg. hydrocarbons, in partic. material contg. plastics. The method included the waste material, together with additional material for binding acidic harmful substances, undergoing pyrolysis. This additional material was automatically dosed as indicated by the pH-value of a sample of the precipitated low-B.PT. pyrolysis oil in a mixt. with water contg. a solvent such as acetone. In this amended version, the sample of pyrolysis oil is, instead, mixed with water only, and from this mixt. the water (contg. transferred ions) is sepd. and its pH-value measured.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method proposed in the earlier patent is simplified, in particular in respect of the pH-value measurement, without impairing the measurement accuracy. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/2)
This is a method of obtg. energy from the degassing of refuse. The refuse is fractionated into degasifiable and non-degasifiable parts, and the degasifiable parts are transferred to a fermenter, where they are degasses. The parts sent to the fermenter are sprinkled in one or more closed tanks under anaerobic, mesophilic or thermophilic conditions. Methane obtd. in the fermenter is treated and the degassed parts of the refuse are dewatered and dried. Heat for these processes is obtd. from a refuse-burning installation. Variants claimed include only a proportion of the degasifiable parts of the refuse going to the fermenter, with the remainder going direct to the refuse-burning installation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The industrial countries have hitherto made little use of the possibility of obtg. methane from refuse and so reducing the amt. of organic refuse to be disposed of. The proposed method enables methane to be obtd. from household refuse, and includes degassing part of the refuse in a fermentation stage and thus reducing the amt. of refuse to be burned. Other advantages include improved utilisation of the heat energy contained in the refuse.
The plant comprises an underground chamber for receipt of material for decompsn., and in a layer with considerable vertical thickness. Equipment is provided for feeding water to the material so that it can move downwards through the layer, and absorb the methane gas and to separate the gas from the water. A pump is available to move the water to the sepn. equipment.    The chamber has its lower part below ground water level, and incorporates a well in the form of a vertical shaft, which above a lower water-permeable part has an upper impermeable part which is central to the material for decompsn. The permeable part of the well is covered by a filter layer. Any ground water entering the chamber passes through the material into the wall, thus giving rise to a redn. in ground water around the chamber.    USE -   To extract methane gas, using water, from rotting solid material.
Prepn. of 2C hydrocarbon(s) (I) comprises oxidative coupling of methane (II) over lead oxide-magnesium oxide catalyst by using a specified appts..    In the appts. a porous cylinder 1 is set in a quartz pipe 2, and 1 and 2 are heated to 600-900deg.C(pref. 700-800deg.C). The outside of 1 is coated with magnesium nitrate soln. and 1 is roasted to form magnesium oxide film on surface. Then, the outside surface of 1 is coated with 20% lead nitrile soln., and is roasted to form lead oxide-magnesium oxide catalyst film on the surface. (II) and oxygen are sepd. by a porous wall-lead oxide-magnesium oxide catalyst film oxygen is transportd to the outside of 1, and (II) is oxidised on the catalyst film. Molar ratio of (II)/oxygen is 100/1-1/2. Conversion of (II) is 0.02-0.2% and selectivity coefft. of (I) is 100%.    ADVANTAGE -   (I) is prepd. from (II) with high selectivity. Air is used as oxidising agent instead of high purity oxygen. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Prodn. of compost is effected by absorbing sewage solids, water and an N source in a structural cellulosic material (I) to give a mixt. with a C:N ratio of 30-40:1, a pH above 7.5 and a moisture conteht of 70-80%; compressing the mixt; aerobically composting the mixt. at 70 deg.C or more for at least 3 days; and continuing the composting until the C:N ratio is less than 20:1.    USE -   The compost is suitable for agricultural use, e.g. for converting subsoil into topsoil or as a peat substitute. @(21pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Refuse deposits are solidified and formation of gases in the deposits are reduced by injecting a thin gruel obtd. by mixing A) water and liquifying agents and/or sealing agents known from the concrete industry and B) a blend of the dry residues of spray absorption plants contg. unreacted Ca(OH)2 and/or CaCO3, CaSO4, CaSO3 and opt. CaCl2 and flue ash, 0-30 wt% fillers, e.g. clay, finely divided ash and Ca(OH)2 into the deposits.    ADVANTAGE -   Solidification is rapid, so that the deposits can bear loads or can even support buildings. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Prodn. of mouldings with a consolidated edge zone and cellular core (integral foam) involves reacting (a) organic and/or modified organic polyisocyanates with (b) high mol. cpd(s), having at least 2 reactive H atoms and opt. (c) low mol. chain extenders and/or crosslinkers in the presence of (d) blowing agent, (e) catalysts and opt. (f) additives. The novelty is that the blowing agent (d) consists of low boiling 4-8C (cyclo)aliphatic alkane(s).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The moulding is elastomeric. The process is claimed for producing soft, flexible shoe soles with a total density of 0.4-1.0 g/cc by the one-shot process using high pressure technology (RIM) in a closed mould. The fluorochlorohydrocarbons normally used as blowing agents are (partly) replaced by other, environmentally friendly blowing agents. The process is also useful for making microcellular elastomer mouldings esp. for use in the car industry (e.g. for bumper covers, protective strips and body components such as gutters, mudguards, spoilers and wheel arch extensions), technical housings and drive rolls. The integral foams are useful e.g. as arm rests, head restraints, safety covers in car passenger compartments, motor cycle and bicycle saddles and coverings. @(12pp Dwg.No.0/0)
A stack of tipped refuse, esp. of long-standing, or of industrially contaminated ground is covered by plastic sheeting (15), pref. with similar sheeting under the stack. Below the upper sheeting, or possibly passing through it, is a network of feed-pipes (10,11) connected to external sources supplying nozzles with water charged with chemicals, acids, bacteria and other materials promoting bacterial breakdown of the waste material. Liq. passing through the waste is collected by the lower sheeting (1) and from the lowest point (4) discharged for treatment, while evolved gases are collected from upper outlets (7).    ADVANTAGE -   Tips are converted to environmentally harmless condition within reasonable period. @(3pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Rotting appts. for organic esp. plant waste prods. comprises a sack-like flexible rotting container made of gas and liq. permeable material pref. textile, plastic or elastic, holed or net containers in which material is placed and the container placed in a rotting silo.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for rotting pref. organic waste prods. and permits effective rotting of large amts. of material in the areas of agriculture industry and in the community. @(-pp)
Method of continuously carbonising a mixt. of primarily organic waste material which consists of shredded paper, garbage, wood, and minor proportion of synthetic plastic of 4-8 wt.% of mixt. and reducing mixt. to a useful combustible char product comprises continuously feeding a stream of the shredded waste material with a substantial organic, and some moisture content, into one end of a twin screw mixer with an axially extending, elongate barrel, with a barrel chamber of uniform size figure-eight cross section from one to the other and housing a pair of co-rotating axially extending shafts.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method of destructively distilling comminuted mixts. of primarily organic waste materials. Materials and heat energy salvaged can pay for the majority of disposal costs, without creating pollution and landfill problems. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/11)
Nail drying mousse prod. is prepd. as follows: (a) the dispensing compartment of an aerosol container is filled with a compsn. comprising (by wt.) 50-80% H2O, 20-40% of a 1-7C alcohol (I), and 0.1-4% of Quaternium-26 (II); (b) the compartment is pressurised with a gaseous hydrocarbon propellant (III); and (c) the compsn. is dispensed to provide the mousse prod.    (I) is pref. EtOH, i-PrOH, mono- or dipropylene glycol, butylene glycol, or hexylene glycol. Prefd. (III) are i-butane (used at 2-15% by wt. of compsn.) or propane (used at 0.2-3%). Prefd. mousse compsns. also comprise 0.1-2% of Polyquaternium-4 as conditioning agent, and 0.1-2% of one or more additives from panthenol, vit. E acetate, soluble collagen, lecithin, and hydrolysed mucopolysaccharides.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The dispensed mousse prod. shortens the drying time of wet nail enamel, and also provides a conditioning effect for nails and cuticles. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Solid material (I) contaminated with organic hazardous waste (II) is decontaminated by (a) contacting (I) with an aq. ammonia solution (III) for sufficient time to transfer at least part of (II) to (III); and (b) separating (III) containing (II) from the solid material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For decontaminating soil, e.g. from the vicinity of toxic waste dumps; other solids include concrete (ground before treatment), wood, iron and steel prods. aluminium materials, asphalt, textile and flooring materials. A wide variety of contaminants mentioned include polynuclear or mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalate esters, polychlorinated biphenyls, halogenated ethers and hydrocarbons, and petroleum products, e.g. oil, grease or fuels. A large volume of solid may be treated cheaply, to yield a small volume of waste residue. @(11pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
A methane fermentation reactor includes carriers, on which methanothrix generating methane from acetic acid is fixed, in the reactor body.    USE -   Used for an efficient conversion of organic acid to methane. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Gas is drawn from wells, with the temp. of the gas from each well being measured. The temp. is used as a measure of the amt. of gas which may be drawn from a well without there being an adverse effect on the process of gas prodn. in the well. A temp. meter is placed in the flow of gas from each well and is typically read once a week, or may be passed by cable or other means to a central point for continuous monitoring. The gas temp. may be used to manually or automatically control the flow of gas. An alarm can be arranged to be activated on the occurrence of an increased temp. indicating the need to reduce the gas flow.    The method typically uses cement ring wells, horizontal tube conduits and gas collecting domes, a control chamber to control the gas flow, a gas furnace, a gas fan and a microprocessor for overall control.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides control over gas quality and prevents aerobic decomposition. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
Appts. for composting toilet and foodstuff waste, is usable with a toilet and comprises a rotary receptacle compartmented by upright walls, and having a filter floor over a liq. sump a central outlet of which is encompassed by an upstanding wall. An air riser pipe leads humid air from the sump to the top of compost in the receptacle, the air flow pref. being past top guide and bottom guide.    ADVANTAGE -   The compost is kept moist by the humid air flow. @(14pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Ferment fertilisers comprise fermented mixts. of aquatic organism materials contg. at least the internal organs of cuttle-fish and plant materials. The ferment fertilisers may opt. cont-ain polymeric cellulose-type plant fibres. The fertilisers claimed may be mfrd. into devices for potting plants to grow. The fermentation is carried out by the actions of Saccharomyces, Torula, Aspergillus, and Penicillium species, which are added in 0.05-02. wt. part to 100 wt. parts of mixts. of aquatic materials (e.g. cuttlefish, fish, shells, crustaceans) and plant materials (e.g. rice bran, maize, defatted soybean, wheat bran). The polymeric highly water-absorbing agents are chosen from bridged polyacrylates (I), starch/(I), polyvinylal-cohols/(I), bridged polyvinylalcohols, and fiber hydrolysates, which are added in 0.1-1% wt. part. The ratios of ferment fertilisers to the fibers in the devices used as packing materials for plant cultures are 10-20 wt. parts to 100 wt. parts.    ADVANTAGES -   The fertilisers have excellent fertilising effects due to the self-growth of yeast fungi and the resulting formation of proteins and vitamins in high concns. as well as the activation for soil bacteria. The involvement of the polymeric highly water-absorbing agents can cause effective retentivity for water and cationic fertiliser component and deodorant properties. Also, the cellulose fibers included can produce biodecompn. properties and air and water permeabilities and therefore the transfer of plants is not needed due to these merits. Furthermore, the fibered polymeric water absorbents can give workability for making paper-like shapes as pots to the ferment fertilisers.
Treatment process of a high concn. organic waste liq. from beer prodn. process utilising methane fermentation process, where yeast fermentation liq. or heat-treated liq. of beans or grains (at least 0.07 kgTS per BOD 1 kg) is added to the waste liq. as a nutritious source, to raise the propagation activity of methane bacteria. A porous ceramic support (where bacteria is adhered) is used and the methane fermentation is carried out by keeping the ratio of apparent surface area of the support to the effective liq. volumn of the equipment at 20 m2/m3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Conc. organic waste liq. from beer prodn. is treated at a high load condition of more than 8 kg/m3 day, and by keeping the BOD removal ratio of more than 80%. The cooked beans liq. used here are waste from miso prodn. process, i.e. available at a very low price, the running cost is low. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/4)
New catlayst compsns. comprise a combination of (a) an organics oxidn. catalyst using Fe (III)/Fe (II) as the reversible redox couple; (b) an Fe (II) oxidn. catalyst using Cu(II)/Cu(I), and (c) a homogeneous cocatalyst.    Cocatalyst (c) is a complex of Pt (IV), Ru (III), Rh (III), Ni (II), Co (II), Pd (II) or V (V) ions. The combined catalyst is in soln form. Iron oxidn. catalyst (b) is in the presence of Cl or hydronium ions. Combinations of the compsns. and organic waste material are new. Organic waste is gasified by (i) combining with the catalyst compsn., (ii) conducting an oxidn. of the waste and O2 in the soln. and (iii) maintaining an O2 or air flow through the soln. The waste and catalyst are admixed in a reaction tank. The mixt. is esp. circulated through a column for oxidn. by O2 and recirculated back to the tank. The O2 in the column is an O2-contg. gas, liq. or solid. The oxidn. is at 0-500 deg. C. Ultrasonic energy is used to increase the reaction rate. The reaction rate is increased by more than the sum of the increases by the individual catalyst. O2-contg. gas, liq. or solid is dispersed in the reaction tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalysts are for the gasification of organic waste material. they minimise the amount of waste material which must be dumped or other wise disposed of, and render viruses, bacteria, fungi, spores, etc. non-viable within 1 min. The high rate is energy saving.
Catalyst (I) comprises mineral fibres (II) e.g. of amosite or crocidolite, contg. above 10% Fe. (I) can further contain a metal, its salt or oxide etc. Fe originally present in (II) may be partially removed by acid leaching. Oxidn. state of Fe in (II) may be increased by calcirung in air e.g. at 400-500 deg.C. Fe may be introduced into (II) by impregnation via pptn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) Can be used to mfr. hydrocarbons by conversion of synthesis gas contg. H2 plus CO or to obtain NH3 from H2/N2 gas mixts. (Claimed). (I) can be used in fixed, fluiised or stir tank reactors and can be mixed with a carrier.    In an example, 1g crocidolite was calcined at 500 deg.C for 1 day in air. A catalyst contg. the crocidolite plus 5 wt.%K promoter was used to reat gas mixts. contg. H2 plus CO in a 2:1 vol. ratio at up to 350 deg.C, 5 bar pressure, 288 hr (-1) GHSV for 5 days. CO conversion was 70.8%. Hydrocarbon selectivity was 23.6 mass % CH4, 7% C3H8 etc. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In reducing the N0x content in flue gas from a range of coking ovens heated with burner and/or mixed gas, with combustion and withdrawal areas of the heating walls, a thermal N0x redn is initiated in the withdrawal areas by addn to the flue gas of a carbonaceous gas, esp a gas contg CH4, eg burner gas or natural gas, as reducing agent.    Post-combustion may follow the thermal redn. The thermal N0x redn and/or post-combustion is initiated by introduction of the hydrocarbon gas and/or post-combustion air into the area of the upper reversing positions or the upper horizontal channels, or into the heating flues and/or regions of the regenerators. Introduction may be through horizontal feed pipes in the area of the lid of the oven, and through vertical channels into the withdrawal area, or may be to the foot of the heating flue through channels parallel to the usual channels for introduction of burner gas. At most 10% (0.2-5%) of the amt of heat of the normal heating gas is fed by the hydrocarbon gas introduced for thermal N0x redn and/or post-combustion. The gas needed for thermal N0x redn may be fed through the channels used for feeding burner gas while these are not charged with burner gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The N0x content of the waste gas is reduced during the operation of the coking ovens, and addn of NH3 gas is avoided. Only little alteration to the plant is needed. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
This is a biogas plant with a flexible bell fitted into the container so that it is suspended centrally and the bell edge is attached by a pressure connection. Variants claimed include the bell having at least one dome with an immersion cap, the dome wall having inlet and outlet pipes through it, and an automatic device for switching off if there is a lack of gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement eliminates the drawbacks of flexible bells in other biogas plants, such as difficulties with the lower edge and its sealing and with renewing the bell. @(4pp Dwg.No. 0/2)
New process for the prodn. of an Erwinia 1,4-beta-glucanse (EC 3.2.1.21), a strain of the bacterium Erwinia corotovora is cultivated on a suitable medium until an enzyme capable of cleaving the beta-glycoside bonds of cellulose has been produced.    Pref. the fermentation is pref. continued for 13-18 hrs. In a pref. procedure, 80% of the enzyme-contg. culture fluid is harvested after 15 hrs. and replaced by fresh medium, then the prodecure is repeated every 8-10 hrs. The medium pref. consists of cereal slops (a byproduct of the ethanol prodn. industry) supplemented with molasses, soya grist and smaller amounts of pectin and mineral salts (the addition of molasses and pectin leads to increased beta-glucanase prodn.). From the beginning of the logarithmic growth phase, the concn. of dissolved O is pref. kept at below 50%.    USE -   Endo-1,4-beta-glucanase can be used alone or in combination with pectinase for the enzymatic hydrolysis of plant biomass prior to fermentation of the lower-molecular components, e.g. for the digestion of cereal waste products in the industrial prodn. of ethanol or for the pre-digestion of green fodder in order to optimise lactic fermentation in silage prodn.
Synthetic chicken litter uses foamed polymer pieces provided with a polymeric coating which is bonded to the foam, will not separate upon impact when dropped from several feet nor by being walked on, pecked or scratched by the chickens, is impervious to air and water, chemically non-reactive to chickenm droppings and which does not retain the droppings. The foamed polymer can be polyethylene and the coating can be a base coat of methylmethacrylate copolymer, solvents and filler material and a top coat of thermoplastic rubber, solvents and filler materials.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For rearing broiler chickens. Provides reduces incidence of carcass defects and provides poultry waste that is not contaminated by undesirable materials. Provides simpler manufacturing procedures and simplified cleaning of the cages. No need to provide the floor with the usual support frame for allowing excretia to pass through.
A fertiliser mixt. is composed of (1) a natural or synthetic aluminosilicate contg. 0.1-10% active carbon without sulphate cpd., or 0.1% or less active carbon and 5% or less sulphate cpd., (2) a soil conditioner composed of aluminosilicate contg. natural or synthetic mineral, or soil, and (3) an organicm sludge at ratios of 2.5:25-10:7. Aluminosilicates obtd. in petroleum refinery procedures, mineral or soil composed of Kanto loam or porous mineral, and addn. of nutritional materials for plant growth are also claimed.    Natural or synthetic aluminosilicate e.g. clay, wasted catalysts of petroleum oil refinery industry, zeolite and soil for horticulture can be used. Sulphate cpd., e.g. aluminium sulphate, alkali metal sulphates, and sulphonates are used. Sludges can be obtd. from human waste treatment plants. These (1), (2) and (3) are mixed at ratios of 2.5:25-10:7.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New use of wastes with less malodour.
Prodn. of compost comprises pre-fermentation of a mixt. of wax coated plant raw materials and organic waste at less than 70 deg C in a rotary heating appts., followed by addn. of cellulose and plant wax degrading microorganism.    Prepn. involves cut wax coated plant raw materials, e.g. wastes of rice, wheat, barley and bamboo mixed with organic wastes, e.g. cattle faeces and kitchen wastes in a rotary heating appts. at a water content of 35-45% and heated to 50-70 deg C to make the wax microorganisms, e.g. Pseudomonas, Trichoderma and Streptomyces sp. for fertilisation were added for the sec. fermentation. The compsn. of compost can be controlled by the amt. of organic wastes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New use of wax coated plant raw materials for compost, which is usually difficult to prepare because of hard stems coated with a waxy substance.
Prodn. of compost comprises pre-fermentation of a mixt. of cut lawn grasses and organic waste at less than 70 deg C in a rotary heating appts., followed by an addn. of cellulose and plant wax degrading microorganism.    Cut lawn grasses are mixed with organic wastes, e.g. cattle faeces and kitchen waste in a rotary heating appts. at a water content of 35-45% and heated to about 50-70 deg C to make the wax on the lawn grasses easily degradable. Then commercial microorganisms, e.g. Pseudomonas and Trichoderma sp. for fertilisation were added for the sec. fermentation. The compsn. of compost can be controlled by the amt. of organic wastes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New use of cut lawn grasses for compost, which has previously been difficult to prepare because of hard stems coated with a waxy substance.
A polygonal open container, esp. for compost, is formed by interlinking flat horizontal plank elements, fundamentally of the same shape but differing dimensionally. Each plank element near its ends has two slots extending inwards from the plank edges and forming housings for similarly slotted planks from the next stack forming an adjacent wall element. The curved or prismatic sides of a connecting web integral with the plank body are sepd. from the main body and from an outer hooking web by connector web sections extending the full height of the connecting web but of lesser thickness than that web.    ADVANTAGE -   The plank elements may be injection mouldings or pressings formed of concrete, wood, or recycled used plastic, and are therefore cheap.
Method for processing pig excrement to produce valuable materials comprises inoculating a biomass, derived from a mixt. of the manure and a carbonaceous material (A), with a mixt. of Serratia and Kilebsiella bacteria, then fermenting. Also new is an appts. for this process.    Pref., the two bacterial strains are used in equal amts. and the biomass used is made by treating a suspension of the excrement with a natural flocculant and (A), which is esp. straw-based, opt. used together with sawdust.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The products are useful in agriculture, esp. as a fertiliser for arid soils or for regenerating exhausted soils. This method converts the manure rapidly (10-15 days) to a nutrient-rich, non-leachable product which is free of odour and pathogens.
Prodn. of a new organic-inorganic fertiliser comprising first compressing (or otherwise shaping) a mixt. of (1) stabilised compost in which those components which are easily biodegraded have been decomposed aerobically; (2) inorganic additives and (3) biologically-chemically degradable, organic crosslinking agent (I). The product is then heated and cooled.    More specifically the mixt. is formed into pellets (spheres, cylinders or strands) of dimension 2-5 mm and (I) is the polybutadiene-based polymer 'Terravest' (RTM).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This process allows a high proportion of organic material to be incorporated, reducing the amt. of inorganic pelleting aid (e.g. clay) needed. The pellets are spreadable and storage stable, without disintegration caused by absorption of moisture, and also act as a soil stabiliser. (I) decomposes immediately in contact with the soil, and by appropriate selection of components, controlled nutrient release over an entire growth period can be achieved.
Cryogenic technique, and appts., for sepg. and recovering C2+ hydrocarbons from a feed gas of methane, ethene and ethane, opt. including hydrogen and minor amts. of C3+ components, in which cold pressurised gaseous streams are sepd. in several rectification chilling zones, pref. dephlegmators. Each dephlegmator is operationally connected to accumulate condensed C2 rich liq. in a lower drum by gravity flow from upper heat exchanger. The method comprises (a) introducing dry feed gas into a primary dephlegmation zone having several serially sequentially colder dephlegmators for sepg. the feed into methane-rich stream recoverd at low temp. and at least one condensate stream rich in C2+ components and contg. minor amts. of methane; (b) passing the condensate stream to serially connected methaniser fractionators, in which moderately low temp. recovers a major amt. of methane in first demethaniser overhead and to recover to liq. C2+ liq. demethaniser bottoms free of methane; and (c) sepg. part of first demethaniser overhead vapour in an ultra-low temp. final demethaniser fractionator to recover ethene-rich C2 liq. and a final demethaniser ultra-low temp. overhead vapour, by which energy requirements for refrigeration used in sepg. the C2+ hydrocarbons from methane and lighter components are low.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved cold fractionation system for sepg. light gases at low temp. which is energy efficient and saves capital investment in cryogenic equipment.
The minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) of a displacing fluid (I) utilized in the recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids from a reservoir is modified by a method comprising (a) determining the existing MMP of (I) and hydrocarbonaceous fluid (II) in the reservoir; (b) determing the extent to which it is desired to modify the MMP; (C) adding alchol (III) to (I) in amt. sufficient to modify the MMP to the desired extent; (III) is from the family methanol to octanol.    ADVANTAGE -   By modifying the MMP, oil recovery from the formation may be enhanced.
Prodn. of an organic fertiliser comprises fermentation of an organic material with an adhesive substance-producing microorganism at a water content of 25-60 wt.%.    In the prepn., microorganisms which can produce an adhesive substance, e.g. Leuconostoc mesenteroides IAM 1151 and Bacillus natto IAM 1168 are added to the fermentation procedure at a concn. of 0.01 pts. or more, pref. 0.1 pts. or more together with a suitable medium, e.g. saw dust and leaf mould. The fermentation medium pref. may be prepd. by mixing rice bran, bean cakes, fish meal, humic acid and/or pulp waste. Other additives, e.g. active carbon, clay, CaO, natural or synthetic zeolite, bentonite, cellulose powder, diatomaceous earth and sawdust may be added at rates of 0.1% or more, pref. 2% or more.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic fertiliser has no bad odour on applicn. Bad odours of the fertiliser may be prevented for a long period of time during applicn. and the fertiliser may be moulded with addn. of an adhesive.
The safety device comprises a filter mechanism for removing inclusions in methane gas generated in the methane fermenting tank. A water sealing mechanism restorer at least one of fermenting tank or gas holder to normal pressure range when the pressure is abnormally high or low. An overflow mechanism drains condensed water in methane gas, and another mechanism prevents back fire. Methane gas generated by fermenting waste water having a high content of organic materials or excess activated sludge is fed to boiler by the safety device. The methane gas may be fed to a boiler after storage in a gas holder.    ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is compact.
Catalyst precursor prepn. comprises (i) intimately mixing a Feitknecht cpd. (I) with a non-calcined alumina silicate clay material (II) and at the same time and/or subsequently, but prior to calcination, with at least one stabilising additive (III) for reducing Si-species loss comprising an alkaline earth and/or rare earth metal cpd., and opt. an alkali metal cpd.; and (ii) calcining the resultant mixt. to produce a calcined reaction prod. forming the catalyst precursor.    Also claimed is a catalyst made from the precursor, and a passivated catalyst made by passivating the catalyst in dil. O2 or a mild oxidising atmos. e.g. a CO2-contg. gas or a mixt. of O2 and N2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For steam reforming liq. or gaseous hydrocarbons to produce a methane-contg. gas, for de-enrichment of natural gas to increase the methane content, and for gasifying methanol and/or ethanol to produce a methane-contg. gas, comprising passing the relevant gas over the catalyst with steam. The catalysts are strengthened c.f. Feitknecht cpds. alone and the tendency for steam-volatile Si species loss by leaching is reduced.
Steam reforming catalyst (I) for hydrocarbons comprises at least one of Ni oxide or Co oxide or Pt group metal (II) on Al2O3 (III) and metal oxide, MeO (IV) supported carrier (V). Mol. ratio of MeO: Al2O3 is 3-35: 100. Me is at least one of Ca, Ba and Sr.    Pref. Ni/Co oxide (V) ratio is 3-50: 100 pts.wt. (II): (V) is 0.03-3: 100 pts.wt. (III) and (IV) are in the form of complexed oxides MeO.6Al2O3. (V) contains a forming additive, most pref. calcium alumina cement (VI) at 10-40 wt.%. of essential components of (V). (I) is formed by mixing (III) and/or Al2O3.nH2O with (IV) and (VI), calcining the mixt. and impregnating with Ni oxide/Co oxide/(II) and calcining again.    ADVANTAGE -   (I) exhibits high activity, superior mechanical strength, good heat resistance, high chemical stability, remarkable thermal shock resistance, high specific surface ear at high temperature and does not form Ni or Co aluminate.
An amorphous modified poly (2,6-dimethyl-p-oxyphenylene) (poly-DMOP) has a Tg of 180-220 deg.C. 10-60% (ave.) of the macromolecules comprise units (Ia) or (Ib). Prepn. of the modified poly-DMOP is claimed.    Also claimed is a method of prepg. a flat membrane for gas sepn. by dissolving the above material in an organic solvent, spreading the solvent over a support, evaporating the solvent, and recovering the homogenous 1-120 micron thick membrane. In particular, a flat asymmetric membrane is prepd. by dissolving in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent (II) and bringing the formed film into contact with a coagulant bath contg. water to cause phase inversion and obtain a membrane comprising a macroporous support with a 0.1-10 micron thick active layer (skin).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membranes give high permeability in gas sepn. processes eg. gases contg. CH4, CO2, N2, O2, H2 and H2S, while maintaining the inherent selectivity of polyphenylene oxides.
A liq. manure stirring appts. having an electric immersion motor and a housing (10) in which a motor shaft is located connected to and providing the drive for a coaxially conically extending screw-stirrer (14), further comprising a bell-shaped section (12) detachably connected to the front of housing (10), into which the stirrer (14) extends. Bell-shaped section (12) is provided with an air inlet opening to connect to an air supply base, whilst section (12) has a forwardly extending conically reducing casing part (16). A pipe section ner dia. of which being equal to the outer dia. of stirrer (14) less the required air gap width (44) essential for rotation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. can be used for stirring liq. manure. The suction capacity esp. at greater depth as well as the displacement capacity are increased, whilst avoiding any blockage in the air supply system.
In a method for the biodegradation, in a bioreactor, of an oxalate soln., which has been removed from a Bayer processing system for producing aluminium oxides, the oxalate soln. is first treated to adjust the pH and lower the sodium concn. so as to be compatible with the microorganisms in the bioreactor, before being added whereupon it is metabolised and a portion of the prepn. is discharged from the bioreactor. Pref. the oxoalate soln. is removed continuously from the system, and after treatment in the bioreactor is continuously discharged and biomass filtered off, at least part of the filtrate being recycled to the bioreactor.    These are pref. selected from rhizosphere soil surrounding plants which produce oxalates, pref. Dieffenbachia picta, Jatropha podagrica, Monstera spp., Philodendron spp., or Rheum rhaponticaum; esp. Dieffenbachia picta or Rheum rhapanticum. Esp. the microorganisms are Pseudomonas or Pseudomonas like.    ADVANTAGE -   Oxalates are removed from the Bayer processing system by conversion into a biomass and filtering, avoiding the problem of oxalate disposal when the oxalate is sepd. by conventional means.
A method for measuring viability of Methanogens comprises (a) a first treatment which comprises conducting a first extn. by mixing an addn. soln. with a first Methanogens-contg. sample to extract from the Methanogens a particular fluorescent substance (I) inherent to and contained in the Methanogens thereby obtaining an extracted liquid, (b) a first sepn. of qpplying a solid-liquid sepg. procedure for removing solid particles of greater than a predetd. particle size contg. Methanogens from the extd. liquid thereby obtaining an extd. and sepd. liquid contg. (I). (c) a first measurement of irradiating an excitation light in a particular wavelength region to the extd. and sepd. liquid thereby measuring fluorescence intensity in a second particular wavelength region radiated from the extd. and sepd. liquid, thereby obtaining a first measured value (d) a second treatment comprising a second sepn. of applying the solid-liquid sepg. of applying the solid-liquid sepg. procedure to a second fraction of the Methanogen-contg. sample, thereby obtaining a solid-liquid sepd. liquid, (e) a second extn. of mixing the addn. soln. to the solid-liquid sepd. liquid, thereby producing a sepd. and extd. liquid, (f) measuring fluorescence intensity in a second particular wavelength region radiated from the sepd. and extd. liquid thereby obtaining a second measured value and (g) performing a predefd. data processing based on the first and second measured values thereby obtaining a calculated value for the viability of Methanogens.    The addn. soln. may be an organic solvent, e.g. 2-propanol, acetone, EtOH or MeOH. It may be mixed with an alkaline liquid, e.g. naOH soln.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Using the method, the cell counts and/or the methane producing activity of Methanogens can be measured.
A system comprises digestion modules each with a waste inlet and a gas discharge port, and an agitator stirring the waste in response to module rotation. The temp. of modules can be held within a set range, and a gas collector is connected to each module.    Each module is pref. of flexible material and the agitator has radial paddles. The modules may be rotated by rolling down an inclined floor under gravity with restraint to control rotation, or may float in a pond with a mechanical system for rotating each module. The system is partic. for prodn. of methane, carbon dioxide and fertiliser by anaerobic digestion.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used e.g., for treatment of manures, refuse, distillery and vegetable by-prods., etc., is efficient and provides usable prods.
Carbon dioxide is reduced in an electrolytic cell to methane and ethylene at high current density and high Faradaic efficiency. The method comprises (a) electrodepositing copper from an electrolyte comprising an aq. inorganic salt solution containing copper ions and in which carbon dioxide is soluble; the cathode has a highly polished surface, and the copper is deposited thereon in situ. in uniform granular form; (b) passing carbon dioxide through the electrolyte to contact the cathode surface; (c) reducing at least part of the carbon dioxide to methane and ethylene; and (d) removing gaseous products form the electrolyte.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher efficiencies/ current desnties are obtained than with prior methods using an aq. electrolyte. Faradaic efficiency of 98% for methane + ethylene has been obtained at current density 8.3 mA/cm2.
A mixt. consisting of 20 to 80 wt.% of crystalline propylene resin having a melt index of below 10, pref below 5 (measured at 230 deg.C) and 80 to 20 wt.% of styrene/ethylene butylene/styrene block copolymer having melt index of below 10. Pref. below 5 (measured at 230 deg.C is melt extruded in the presence of volatile organic foaming agent. For improved heat resistance, vinyl trialkoxysilane is graft bonded to at least one of the crystalline propylene resin and styrene/ethylene-butylene/styrene block copolymer. The crystalline propylene resin includes isotactic polypropylene, propylene/ethylene block copolymer consisting mainly of propylene, etc. The volatile organic foaming agent includes propane, methyl chloride, trichloro-monofluoromethane, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   Crystalline propylene resin-contg. foam having excellent heat resistance, uniformly minute cell structure and a high expansion ratio is produced at a low cost under stabilised condition.
In starting up an appts. for continuous prodn. of biogas from organic waste, present as a liq. or slurry, passing through a horizontal drum in absence of air, and rotting anaerobically under the action of a mixt. of bacteria of fermentative, acetogenic and methanogenic strains, (a) in a 1st stage, a mixt. of about 4 pts. of aerobically rotted compost and 1 pt. of organic waste is fed to the appts., free from microorganisms, where the compost prevents the active pH from dropping below 6.5 by temporary absorption of acids produced at first in excess, (b) after inception of CH4 prodn. in a 2nd stage, the proportion of the compost in the mixt. is gradually reduced and the proportion of organic waste is corresp. gradually raised to 100%, and (c) only then is a mixt. of any type of organic waste added.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Start-up is economical and environment-friendly, without use of strong chemicals. The organic waste may be household rubbish, or waste from the food industry, esp. paper, vegetable and slaughterhouse waste, beet slice waste, or grape waste.
Domestic refuse is turned into compost by drying in a vacuum vessel. This is preceded by biological digestion by microorganisms, provided with air by a blower.    The organic refuse is crushed, homogenised and stored in a rotting silo (1) which is covered by the Patent No. 3637393. A blower (10) supplies the air through piping (2) and the perforated plate (31); it is extd. by a blower (18), a cooling trap (13), biofilter (14) and sterilising stage (19). For the vacuum drying stage, the valves (33,34) are shut and the valve (32) is opened. The valve (35) is turned to lead to the heat exchanger (11) and a blower (12).    ADVANTAGE -   This produces a stabilised compost which can be stored for long periods.
A process is claimed for the prodn. of foam sheets (I) with high compressive strength and a cross-sectional area of at least 50 cm2, by extrusion of a mixt. of styrene polymer (II), 7-16wt.% blowing agent (III) and, opt., conventional additives, in which (III) is a mixt. contg. (a) 20-90wt.% 3-5C satd. hydrocarbon(s), (b) 10-60wt.% ethyl chloride and/or CO2 and (c) 0-30wt.% dichlorodifluoromethane and/or 1,1-difluoro-1-chloroethane (IV).    ADVANTAGE -   The process uses non-toxic blowing agents (with less ozone layer-damaging CCl2F2) and gives closed-cell PS foam sheet with low water absorption, in addn. to the above properties.    In an example, 100 pts. wt. polystyrene with MFI 4.5, 1.5 pts. wt. hexabromocyclododecane fire retardant and 1 pt. wt. talcum were fed into an extruder, with simultaneous addn. of 14wt.% of a mixt. of 30wt.% n-pentane, 10wt.% CO2, 50wt.% EtCl and 10wt.% (IV), and after 15 mins. the gel mixt. was extruded at 105 deg.C. The foam obtd. had thermal conductivity (lambda), 0.0360 W/m.K; density, 36 g/l, cell size, 0.32mm; closed cells, 97%; water absorption, 0.038 vol.%; compressive strength, 0.30 N/mm2; dimensional stability (DIN 53431), +3.9% (length), +3.2% (breadth), +3.0% (thickness).
Empty fruit shells and other palm-oil waste e.g. fibre, pips etc. is gasified or burnt in a fluidised-bed reactor for energy-recovery, typically to supply or increase the output of steam boilders, stoves etc.    This can be used in steam turbines generating electricity. Alternatively, gas produced can be burnt in a gas turbine.    ADVANTAGE -   Max. economy in operation.
Material is composted by compression within an inclined vessel. The feed is delivered at the top end of the vessel and advanced towards the lower discharge end by a ram which reciprocates within the vessel. The ram has a short stroke and the material is advanced by multiple strokes.    Pref air is admitted to the vessel through vents in its side walls. Pref the vents are formed by a transverse bores which can be cleaned as needed. the vents are formed by the stepped bottom wall of the vessel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Organic material is placed in the vessel and becomes composed. Pref the angle of inclination of the vessel is adjustable to achieve the correct amt of compaction.
Hydrocarbon bearing feed gas contg. methane and lighter components C2 (ethylene and ethane) and heavier hydrocarbon components is sepd. into two fractions. The first fraction contains predominantly methane and lighter components and the second fraction contains the recovered desirable C2 and heavier components.    ADVANTAGE -   Redn. of pressures in the first cold separator reduces capital and operating costs. Achieves a given ethane/ethylene recovery requiring relatively lower inlet gas pressure and refrigeration compression horsepower. The processes are less susceptible to carbon dioxide freezing.
Compost released from animal growings or the like is fermented at pH 9 - 12 under an aerobic condition and the prod. is utilised for a floor material of animal houses, or ingredient of animal feed.    USE -   An economical application of compost prods. Allergic danger of growth of animals can be prevented.
Method for using energy-contg. material eg domestic refuse. The material is allothermically, without an oxygen or air supply, low-temp. carbonised, a combustible gas is produced, and a carbonisation residue is left. This residue is allothermically gasified, without oxygen or air and pref. with a supply of stem, and a combustible gas is generated as end prod. Claims include appts. for the method, and the use of a fluidised-bed gasifier for generating the end prod. which pref. drives a gas turbine.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Most of the energy in the burned material is available as a crude gas. This can be cleaned and burned with only a small amt. of nitric oxides in the flue gas, and can be used for communal-heating, domestic or industrial purposes. A useful combustible gas is produced in considerable amts. The comparatively little gasification residue can be fed into a small high-temp. furnace.
A mass exchange during the treatment of liquid manure in large-scale animal husbandry is based on three chambers for phase-shifted oxidation stages.    ADVANTAGE -   This creates a compact system which takes up only one twentieth part of the area of a conventional microbiological system. The capital investment is only one tenth.
A process for prodn. of fuel from solid urban refuse (R.F. or Refuse Derived Fuel) comprises composting the organic fraction of the refuse with an accelerated forced-draught system, and mixing the composted organic fraction with dry, mature compost.    The refuse may be refined, pref. where refining is carried out prior to composting. Inert material in the refuse may be separated before or after composting the organic fraction. In the former case, the composted material is mixed with the separated light fraction having a high calorific value after the composting process. If desired the R.F. prod. may be formed into briquettes or pellets.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use of an accelerated forced draught system for the composting stabilises the organic material and eliminates its unpleasant smell; the material is pasteurised by self-prodn. of heat during the air stream induced fermentation; and the prod. exhibits an increase in calorific value due to drying caused by the forced draught.
A manure is prepd by fermenting a blend comprising an extrn residue of herbs and a mineral substance.    Herbs include licorice, safflower, sophora flower, ginseng. Mineral substances may be metals of alkali metals (Na, K), alkaline earth metals (Mg, Ca), transition metals (titanium, Zr, vanadium, Cr, Mo. Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), zinc metals (N, Cd) and earth metals (Al, Ga) as well as sulphides, oxides hydroxides or salts or boron, silicon or phosphorus. Herbs are extracted with an organic solvent of methanol, ethanol, ether or acetone, and the residue is blended with the mineral substance. The mineral substance is employed in the form of an aqueous soln, and the amt of the mineral substance soln is 20-100 litres to 1000 kg of herb extrn residue. The mineral substance soln and the herb extrn residue are blended with stirring for 5-90 days for fermentation. The thus fermented blend is then further stirred and aged for 5-30 days to finally obtain the manure of the invention.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fermentation of the blend proceeds smoothly. The manure formed contains not only nutrient sources but also plant growth accelerator, disease-resisting component and antifungal component.
Compost is produced from beer cake composed of malt waste and/or hop waste. Prodn. is by aerobic degradation in the presence of fermentation stimulant and water.    The water content of beer cake is adjusted to about 55-65 wt.% by drying or addn. of other materials, e.g. bark, saw dust, wheat bran and dried cattle or chicken faeces. The processed cake is fermented in the presence of commercial stimulant for about one month to give the desired compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New use of beer cake for compost. The compost can be produced in about one month, while the conventional procedure for the prodn. of compost requires more than three months.
A stack of compost suitable as fertiliser or as base material for growing plants is formed from specific types of bio-mass arranged in fixed order. A lowest layer is of wood reduced to saw-dust particle size, and is surmounted in order by layers of greenery (leaves, etc.), of surface-wetted straw, of manure (pref. from cattle) and a final layer of the wooden material. The layers have pref. percentage and absolute thickness values. The fine material forming the base and top layers, and derived from various plant stalks if not from wood, and extended down the sides of a sloping stack, ensures that evolved gases and vapours stay within the stack.    ADVANTAGE -   Bio-mass is more effectively converted than if mixed at random.
Compost is removed from the end of an elongated pile by the action of horizontal cutter and chopper blades affixed to a flexible belt circulating round vertical axes and of similar height to the pile. Laterally of the belt is an inclined conveyor with transverse feed bars and pivotable about a joint to deposit removed compost to start a fresh pile. Drive mechanisms for cutter belt and conveyor belt may operate from a single power source or from separate hydraul1c motors. The unit is mounted on wheels or runners.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced tendency to clog.
This is a method of obtaining pure methane from natural gas by the sepn. of the higher and the lower boiling point components in sepn. columns. The higher b.pt. C(2+) components are sepd. in a first column. In another column, the lower b.pt. components are sepd. from the methane-contg. top prod. obtd. from the first column.    The liq. natural gas is compressed to the working pressure of the first column, and is partly evapd. in an indirect heat-exchange before undergoing sepn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A previous method of producing methane is economically unsuitable for small quantities (below about 500 Nm3/hr.), as the pre-cleaning is then too expensive. The proposed method is economical for producing the smaller amts.; it requires no pre-cleaning (e.g., for removing N2 and CO2).
Composting of organic material such as household refuse consists of placing the material in a closed container in which the more easily broken down components are biologically converted by aeration after which the composting is stopped by drying. The wt., or the rate of change of change of wt., of the material is continuously or repeatedly measured and the composting is stopped when a predetermined wt. is reached, or when the rate of change of the wt. has passed through its max. value and has fallen to ten percent of this max. value.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The use of wt. or rate of change of wt. as a measure to determine when the break down of the more easily converted material has been completed is a considerable improvement over the existing practice of judging the timign of this condition visually or by experience. The appts. proposed is a simple one and allows the process to be easily controlled.
Increased output of methane from watery coal is ensured by maintaining optimum pressure on the coal seam by providing an enhanced zone of gas pressure at the well face. The hydraulic break is followed by redrilling of the well below the bottom of the seam to a depth where the pressure of the seam water is equal to the pressure of hydraulic break. The gas column is then lowered into the well to a depth where the pressure of the seam water exceeds the hydrostatic pressure but is below the pressure of the hydraulic break. The face of the well is then fed with air to form a gas zone up to the roof of the coal seam.    ADVANTAGE -   The maintenance of optimum pressure in the watery coal seam increases the output of the methane. Bul.19/23.5.89
The generator (1) has three fermentation chambers (3,5,6) in series. The chamber (3) has lower collecting (8) and upper dosing (9) cells connected by overflow (10) and air lifts (11).    The cell (9) has at the bottom the transfer pipe (15) with check valve (16). The pipe's (15) outlet (17) is below liq. level in the chamber (5). The latter has overflow channel (18) with inlet opening (19) at the bottom. The channel's (18) outlet (20) with valve (21) is located in upper portion of the chamber (6) which is connected with the chamber (5) by a valve the partition (24). The chamber (6) has a heat recuperator (26) connected to pump (13). Edge (27) of the overflow (10) is located above upper level of the overflow channel (18).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The generator is used to process liq. animal manure and conc. liq. waste from meat processing works. The process is faster and 1.5-1.7 times more efficient than conventional one by utilising waste heat and CO2 gas to saturate feed.
Recycling of waste H2SO4 is effected by (a) contacting the unneutralised H2SO4 with sulphate-reducing microorganisms under strict anaerobic conditions to reduce the H2SO4 to sulphide; (b) removing toxic sulphide from the culture medium by addn. of metal salts; and (c) converting the ppted. metal sulphide to re-usable raw materials by exclusively chemical/physical methods.    ADVANTAGE -   The process gives sulphate conversion rates that are at least twice those achieved by prior art biological processes (c.f. DE3422959,EP241999, etc.).
Substrate is anaerobically fermented by passing it downwards through an anaerobic medium in a reactor, collecting liq. from the base of the reactor, contacting at least a fraction of the liq. with inert gas to eliminate fermentation gas dissolved to form a buffered acid soln. and returning the liq. to the reactor to reduce the amt. of alkali required. The fermentation gas is pref. carbon dioxide. The substrate pref. contains terephthalic-, p-toluic-, isophthalic- or orthophthalic-acid, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, or hydroxymethylbenzoic acid. The inert gas is pref. methane.    USE -   For purifying sewage.
Chelated ions are prod. from Mn (II), Fe (III), Fe (II), Cu (II), Zn, Ca or Mg by contacting with a heptonate chelating agent contg. 10-14 wt.% fructose; mixing; and making the pH alkaline.    The metal cpd. used is Fe(NO3)3, Fe2(SO4)3 or FeCl3 and mixing is by adding it slowly to the chelating agent under high shear to pH at least 12. The cpd. is mixed with half the chelating agent before adding the caustic soln. contg. the other half. Zn ion is reacted with NH3 before the mixing. Mn heptonate is initially formed at pH6. Cu heptonate is formed by dissolving Cu CO3 in aq. ammonia to form a turbid intermediate before mixing, then adding heptonate till the turbidity disappears. Mg CO3 is used to give a final Mg content of 4% and pH below 10. The chelating agent is prepd. using up to 0.35% ammonia, then lowering pH to below 7 before oxidising with H2O2. The prod. is dried to give a friable water-soluble solid. The chelating agent is made by the Kiliani-Fisher reaction.    USE -   As cement additives, textile finish additives, bottle washing cpds. and, for Fe, as agricultural or animal feed micronutrients, as bacterial micronutrients in waste treatment plants with metal deficiencies and a S and Se scavengers in industrial waste streams.
Silicate catalyst contg. iron is obtd. from a mixt. of aerosil and sodium silicate soln. contg. 120-140 g/l SiO2 and having solid:liq. ratio 1:3.5, which is granulated, dried and treated with 2N hydrochloric acid contg. sulphates of aluminium and trivalent iron in amts. of 20.8-41.8 and 12.5-25.0 g/l. respectively to give a solid:liq. ratio of 1:3. After 24-48 hr., the mixt. is crystallised and the solid washed, dried and calcined.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is simpler than before since there is no need for addn. of a binder to the zeolite before use. The zeolite crystals produced are almost entirely of the pentasil type, resulting in high activity, as shown by a 39% conversion of n-butane. The catalyst is used in the petrochemical industry. Bul. 31/23.8.89
Sewage sludge is processed by drying, gasification and combustion, being gasified with a dry material content of approximately 70%. The gas produced is burnt in a furnace used in a prodn. process, and in which a processing temp. of at least 100 deg.C is maintained. It can be used in a lime-kiln, and the dry material can consist of dried sludge, which is mixed with the undried sludge.    ADVANTAGE -   Makes economic use of sludge without environmental pollution.
Cryogenic sepn. of CO2 and other acid gases from methane using cryogenic distillation in combination with a controlled freezing zone, in which a freezing zone liq. feed stream is introduced to allow the formation of CO2 solids and simultaneous contact of vapour, liqs. and solids in the controlled freezing zone resulting in sepn. by distn. includes (a) sub-cooling the freezing zone liq. feed stream, so that it remains close to, but not quite at, CO2 solidi cation conditions in the feed stream prior to its entering the controlled freezing zone.    Pref., step (a) is accomplished by mixing the freezing zone liq. feed stream with portions of the overhead liq. prod.; or by indirect heat transfer. Pref. the method also includes (b) condensing at least a portion of the methane-enriched vapour stream formed in the freezing zone, forming at least one freezing zone liq. feed stream with at least a portion of the condensed methane-enriched vapour stream, and recovering at least a portion of the remainder of the methane-enriched vapour stream as a methane-enriched prod. stream.    ADVANTAGE -   The process allows the elimination of solvents and additives, corresponding reduction in the number of pieces of equipment needed and the complexity of their operation, with the production of a high pressure liquid carbon dioxide stream.
Organic refuse, esp. of domestic origin to be micro-biologically broken down in forming compost, is divided into at least two charges of 40-400 cu.m occupying separate containers, into which the raw material is fed from an upper conveyor belt. The container modules are assembled side by side and/or superimposed.    Air is injected in sequence from below into each of the containers, via their perforated floors. When breakdown is completed, the charge in a container is pushed through the floor, using reciprocating scrapers on to a travelling conveyor belt tipping the final compost on to a heap. The emptied container is then filled with a fresh charge of material for the process to continue.    ADVANTAGE -   Though all-over output is large, each individual charge is treated in desirably stable conditions.
Catalyst (I) for the methanisation of CO or CO2 is obtd. by co-pptn. of Ni, Cr and Al cpds. with soda soln. and then treating the pptd. suspension by washing, drying and tabletting; the novelty is that HCl and, if necessary, soda soln. is added to the suspension after the pptn. but before the post-treatment processes, so that the suspension has pH 6.8-7.5.    Pref. amt. of HCl (in mols.) is 1/200-1/20, esp. 1/40-1/25, of the amt. of Na ions added as soda; pptn. suspension is produced from pseudoboehmite, Cr nitrate, Ni nitrate and soda and mol. ratio Na ions:nitrate ions in the suspension is (1.0-1.3):1, esp. (1.1-1.2):1; compsn. of suspension is such that the resulting (I) contains 40-65% Ni, 10-40% Cr oxide and 3-35% Al oxide (w.r.t. total wt. of these components).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as a catalyst for the low-temp. conversion of CO and/or CO2 to methane. The process enables the economical and reproducible prodn. of a highly-active methanisation catalyst.
A titanium-contg. methanisation catalyst (I) is produced by addn. of a soln. of a Ti halide complex (II) and, opt. soda soln. to a stirred suspension of a freshly-pptd. mixt. of oxide-hydroxides and basic carbonates of Ni, Cr and Al (III), so that the pH of the suspension is in the range 6.8-7.5, and then working up by known methods.    Pref. pptn. is carried out with a suspension of pseudoboehmite (IV) and solns. of Cr nitrate, Ni nitrate and soda, with mol. ratio Na+/NO3- = (1-1.3):1, pref. (1.1-1.2):1; amts. of components are such that (I) contains 40-65% Ni, 10-40 Cr oxide, 3-35% Al oxide and 0.5-10% Ti oxide (w.r.t. total wt. of these components), the soda soln. and (II) are added at widely-separated points in the reactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as a catalyst for the low-temp. conversion of CO and/or CO2 to methane. The process enables the prodn. of a catalyst with improved activity w.r.t. prior-art catalysts, and low alkali-sensitivity.
Solid waste material is transferred from the bunker (1) by a conveyor (3) through a magnetic separator (4) into the crusher (7).    Simultaneously the sewage sludge from the bunker (8) and waste wood material from the bunker (9) are fed into the mixer (10) in required proportions.    Then all the components are charged into the bio-drum (13).    After formation of compost it is screened (14) and passed through two separators (15,16) to remove polythene and glass.    The compost is then ground and stored in order to mature. To secure the max. activity of microorganisms the material charged into the biodrum (13) should have moisture content of 40 to 50%.    If moisture content of the municipal waste is above 60% and of the sludge above 70%, the latter is dried before mixing in the drying drum (12) to reduce the content to 40-70%.    The waste wood material/sawdust, shavings, chips etc.) has moisture content of 10 to 20% and is added to the sludge in the amount to produce a mixture with 40-50% moisture content.    The general duration of the process is reduced by 1-3 months in comparison with that of conventional process.    ADVANTAGE -   The mfg. method is simpler and faster also the compost has higher content of organic material.    (3pp Bul.18/15.5.89 (3pp Dwg.No.1/1)
The installation includes a collector (1) of manure,r its transfer pump (2), heat exchanger (3) with mixing device (4), first stage fermentation chamber (5) with mechanical stirrer (6), sepg. press (7) of fibrous material, second stage fermentation chamber (8), biogas holding tanks (9).    The chamber (8) has methane forming bacteria holding device (10) and hot gas delivery pipe (11).    The installation has also a compressor (12), biogas heating coil (13), fermented manure collector (14), water heater (15), pumps (16) and valves (17).    The exchangers (3) and chambers (8,9) have heating jackets connected to hot water-supply.    The holding device (10) consists of vertical rods with nylon brushes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The simple plant is used to produce biogas from industrial, municipal waste but mainly from manure more efficiently and at low power consumption.
A controller of the methane mfg. appts. to produce methane by anaerobically treating organic waste water comprises a data memoriser to detect time series data of signals contg. signals relating to liq. flowing into the appts. and liq. flowing out of the mfg. appts.; an analyser to extract characteristics of processes from mutual relations obtd. by eliminating time elements from calculated two step time-differential values of memorised signals; a knowledge base deciding cause and effect relations of characteristics of mutual relations of signals and operation management of the mfg. appts.; and a reasoning part to decide to manage operation of the appts. based on the analytical results and knowledge base.    USE -   To automatically manage operation to the methane mfg. appts.
Anaerobic bacteria gps. with high activity for decomposing cellulose are selectively increased by culturing anaerobic bacteria gps. in a medium prepd. by adding cellulose and vitamins to aq. soln. of organism constituting substances and removing dissolved O2 from the soln.    ADVANTAGE -   By using the anaerobic bacteria gps. obtd. in large amts. by the method as seed bacteria in a methane fermenting process of a medium contg. cellulose. The time required for increasing bacteria in the process is shortened and the efficiency of fermentation is improved.    Typically, sludge gathered from the bottom of a lake in a cold district was put in the medium and the medium was stirred intermittently while keeping the temp. at 15-25 deg C. The medium was exchanged when the amt. of gases generated was reduced. By repeating this procedure, anaerobic bacteria gps. with high activity for decomposing cellulose were selected. When organic medium contg. cellulose (filter powder) was methane-fermented with the bacteria gps. obtd., 0.1 1 of gas was generated per day and per litre of tank.
A gas sensor for sensing methane includes (i) two electrodes (2,3); and (ii) an organic polymer (4) doped to be sensitive to methane in contact with them. The electrodes are pref. supported by a substrate (1). Prepn. of the sensor is claimed.    Pref. the organic polymer is pref. polypyrrole, polythiophene or polyfuran doped with chloride, bromide or tetrafluoroborate ions. Pref. the polymer is formed electrochemically from an electrolyte soln. contg. a precursor for the polymer and ions for doping. Pref. the soln. contains KCl,LiBF4 or Nap-methyl sulphonate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sensor may be operated at room temp. thus eliminating explosion risk and the need for large power supplies. Response to methane is instantaneous and reversal is rapid.
An animal tray has a box with a base, double vertical side walls spaced from one another by several cm, and litter filling it. The litter is pref. in a plastic bag with a tear-proof coating of e.g. thick Al paper on one face and ends which can be fitted into the spacers between the walls. The tray pref. has a cover for the spaces between the walls which leaves a central opening giving access to litter in the tray.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For cat litter. The litter can be changed rapidly and hygienically.
Agricultural liquid manure is treated oxidatively with air contg. nitrogen oxides in amts. of 0.1-5 vol.% NOx.    Pref. the treated effluents are deodorised and rid from their components of pharmaceutical origin. Flocculating salts are added during or immediately after the oxidation treatment. The thus treated effluents flocculate easily, thus allowing the efficient and rapid separation of solids from the clear liquid, the latter being impoverished in nitrogen and soluble phosphate. The clear liquid can be inoculated with ferments chosen to accelerate aerobic decomposition of residual organic materials. The appts. used for the process use as oxidation activator nitrogen oxides produced by catalytic oxidation of ammonia and diluted in a sufficient amt. of air.    USE -   Treatment of liquid effluents from animal raising.
In a procedure for fermenting manure into compost an oxygen containing gas and a gaseous and/or vaporous phase originating from the manure is passed through the manure and is also subject to cooling outside of the manure to produce an ammonia containing aq phase and a residual gas phase.    ' Typically a chamber contains manure resting on a grate. A fan circulates gas-vopour up through the chamber and back to the chamber bottom via pipes and reservoir; additional air enters the loop at inlet and some gas is purged from the top of the chamber. At the top of the chamber a cooling appts. condenses out the aq. phase which is collected in troughs and discharged to the reservoir. Liq. in the reservoir is heated to 60 deg.C to release gaseous ammonia for return to the chamber. Liq. from the reservoir is circulated to a system for washing the purged gas. The manure may be at 48 deg.C the inlet air 44 deg.C and the outlet vapour cooled from 48 to 42 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Producure and appts. for producing compost by fermentation of manure eliminates need for cooling air to keep the manure within temp. limits and so reduces volume of ammonia released into the atmos.
A composting drum which can rotate forwards and backwards, for domestic and garden rubbish, with a perforated shell has at the charging end an appts. to reduce the material to small particles and at the discharge end a bunker for finished compost. A reversible longitudinal belt conveyor charges any material dropping from the drum to the bunker or to an elevator for distribution over the drum. It can also feed another disintegrator. The novelty is that the drum has at least one trapdoor.    ADVANTAGE -   This results in a uniform distribution of coarse and fine material. The drum design is simple and easy to operate.
Organic wastes are thermally utilised by A) intensively decomposing the waste and opt. drying it in hot air, B) smouldering it at low temp. with incomplete gasification, C) comminuting it and opt. separating out inert materials and D) blowing it into a fuse chamber burner together with an almost stoichiometric supply of air. Smouldering is pref. carried out at 250-400 deg.C and water and heavy oil is separated by cooling in a condenser heat exchanger.    ADVANTAGE -   Waste is utilised while keeping smoke down as previously, but a glassy slag is obtd. as combustion product.
The litter material is of shredded waste-paper formed into granules, with a bonding agent. The latter is of one or more plastics and/or natural products, e.g. PVC, PVP, cornflour or gum arabic. It can also contain an odour-absorbent and/or a dung-degrading enzyme released by the moisture.    ADVANTAGE -   Low cost, and easy incineration or composting.
Municipal waste (comprising C, N and P; ratio C:N = less than 5:1) is continuously treated as follows: (a) the waste is adjusted to 30-50 deg.C/pH 6.5-8; (b) a sugar-contg. C source (I) is added to keep C:N ratio = 5-10:1, while the N:P ratio is kept at 3-8:1, and (c) the waste is fermented with an anaerobic microorganism under anaerobic conditions with a residence time up to 72 hr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Anaerobic, continuous process efficiently and rapidly treats municipal waste to give a stabilised, low solids sludge and a clean effluent suitable for discharge to the environment. Also anaerobic digester used may be transported from site to site, and used on a relatively small scale.
New absorbent compsns. comprise (a) a cellulosic component, (b) 2-25 wt.% (w.r.t. total) binder and (c) a nitrogenous cpd. absorber. At least 50% of (a) is cereal grain hulls, peanut hulls, soybean, rapeseed, sunflower and/or cottonseed hulls and the balance of (a) is plant pulp. Binder (b) is a carbohydrate and/or protein. Absorber (c) is polymerised cyclodextrin, cyclodextrin deriv. or a polyacrylate with a matrix similar to cyclodextrin.    Absorber (c) is at up to 2 wt.%, esp. is polymerised cyclodextrin at 1% contg. 0.01 wt.% fragrance. It is polyglycerol acrylate or polypropyl acrylate, esp. contg. a volatile aromatic fragrance. The cereal grain hull is oat, rice, wheat, rye or corn hulls. The plant pulp is beet, tomato, apple, grape or citrus pulp. The binder is plant derived flour or starch, esp. derived from oats, corn, rice, rye or wheat, esp. wheat flour. The cellulosic component is solely oat hulls. The wt. ratio hulls:pulp is 1-5:1. The binder is 15-20 wt.% of the compsn. Animal litter or oleophobic absorbents comprise the compsn. Animal litter comprises expanded pellets of the compsn.    USE -   Compsns. absorb aq. systems, inc. urine, giving improved animal or pet litters, or oleophilic systems, inc. petroleum or vegetable oils from garage floors and food plants. Used compsns., being biodegradable are used as fertilisers, garden mulches or potting composts.
Fresh manure is stored in covered dumps and periodically stirred to reduce its moisture content to 50-60%. After 60-70 days the manure is charged into the bunker (2), into which a mineral fertiliser can be dosed. The material is loaded into the worm screw mixer and extruded through perforated plate (5) with 3.5-4.0 mm dia. holes at 0.6-0.9 Kg/sq.cm. pressure. The formed cylindrical extrusions are cut by a blade (6) into 3-5 mm granules. The latter are coated by powder in the receiver (7). Granulating manure with 25-30% moisture content produces weak granules and with 70% moisture the granules are fluid. Extruding at pressure above 0.9 kg/sq.cm. uses excess of energy while extruding below 0.6 Kg/sq.cm. produces weak granules. Coating granules, having temp. of 80-90 deg. C and 30-40% moisture content, by vegetable powders of 0.01-0.005 mm, reduces the content by 10% with formation of hydrophobic jackets. Optimum storage interval for fresh manure is two months during which part of moisture evaporates and is absorbed by growth.    ADVANTAGE -   The manure is processed at low power consumption and at ambient temp. preserving its physical, chemical and biological properties. Bul.28/30.7.89
Conversion of farmyard slurry with a high water content to a soil-like prod with a solids content of 45-60 wt% is effected by transferring the slurry to a mixer, intensively mixing it with Ca0 for a short time, transferring the flowable mixt to a basin, storing it for 4-10 days to form a solid mass, transferring the mass to a storage chamber, and storing it for 4-7 weeks with periodic turning.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process converts an undesirable waste material into a useful fertiliser which is suitable for bulk transport and is practically odourless.
Copolymer is prepd. by extruding a foaming compsn. comprising (A) 100 wt.pts. methacrylamide copolymer comprising 5-60 mol.% methacrylamide, 39-94 mol.% styrene and 0.1-20 mol.% (meth)acrylic acid and (B) a 2-30 wt.pts. foaming agent.    The copolymer is prepd. by suspension emulsion, soln. or bulk copolymerising the monomers opt. in the presence of a polymerisation initiator (e.g. a peroxide such as benzoyl peroxide or di-t-butyl peroxide, an azo cpd. such as 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile or 1,1'-azobis(1-cyclohexane carbonitrile) or a persulphate such as K2SO5 or (NH4)2SO5) and opt. in the presence of a 0.05-3 PHR lubricant (e.g. behenic or stearic acid, liq. paraffin or Ca stearate). The lubricant may be blended into the copolymer. The foaming agent is e.g., NH4HCO3, Na phosphate, NaHCO3, diazoaminobenzene, dinitrosopentamethylene tetramine, oxybisbenzene sulphonyl hydrazide, toluene sulphonyl hydrazide or a volatile foaming agent (e.g. propane, butane, dichlorodifluoromethane, methyl chloride). The copolymer resin has pref. a heat distortion temp. of 93-150 deg.C and a specific viscosity of 0.1-0.5 as measured for its 0.3% soln. in DMF at 30 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The extrudate has high printability without degrading its head resistance. It is used as food containers for high frequency oven or as structural materials for buildings.
In deodorising gases by passing through packing layer contg. adhered microbe which can decompose the odorous material, improvement is that water, contg. ferrous ion is sprayed on the packing layer to supply moisture to the packing layer and to fix H2S gas and NH3 gas in the packing layer in a short time.    The packing material is e.g. wood coal, coke, active carbon, zeolite, soil, compost sludge, pref. wood coal. The water, to be sprayed, is e.g. 120-360 1/day per 1 m3 packing material. The ferrous ion is supplied from e.g. FeCl2, FeSO4.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is useful for removing e.g. H2S, NH3 effectively.
Feed gas is deodorised by passing it through first physio-chemically deodorising filler layer and then through second biologically deodorising filler layer. Acidic offensive odour component is removed from first filler layer with neutralising water to keep pH value and salt concn. of wash water for second filler layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Even great amt. of offensive odour component can be treated by compact size of deodoriser.
Offensive odour components are physicochemically removed from feed gas using first and second filler layers, and a third filler layer. Basic offensive odour component is removed from second filler layer with acidic wash water generated in third filler layer through neutralisation. Acidic offensive odour component is removed from first filler layer through neutralisation with neutralising water which is supplied to keep pH value and salt concn. of wash water constant and to be used for washing filler layer in third filler layer.    ADVANTAGE -   A large amt. of feed water can be biologically treated in a compact deodoriser.
Gas biological deodoriser comprises deodorising tank provided with wash water tank at lower portion and feed gas intake opening and treated gas discharge opening at upper portion, and deodorising mechanism. Deodorising mechanism comprises rotary discs having opposite side walls made of porous material and filled with carrier, and rotatably fitted around rotary shaft at specific interval such that part of carrier layers filled may be positioned between feed gas inlet opening and treated gas discharge opening.    ADVANTAGE -   Entire deodoriser can be made compact.
Deodoriser comprises a deep deodorising tank placed underground and made of a double pipe comprising a bottom-opened inner pipe and bottom-closed outer pipe, and an intermediate tank communicating with the outer pipe at the upper portion outside the inner cylinder. An activated sludge-contg. feed water supply opening and waste water supply opening are located in the intermediate tank. A power source circulates feed water as descending and ascending streams in the inner and outer pipes. An opening is located in the inner pipe for feeding raw gas into it. A discharge opening in the intermediate tank discharges deodorised gas from it.    ADVANTAGE -   Structure of deodoriser is simple, and the installation space is small.
Deodorising column has filling layer units divided and inserted into the middle of the column from lateral direction detachably. The column has water spray appts. at upper part of its chamber. Treating gas is introduced from the bottom of the chamber and is passed through the filling layers units and exhausted from top of the chamber. In each unit, microorganism according to kind of gas is cultivated in advance.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is applied for deodorising bad small in gas by biological method. Cultivation period of micro-organism is shortened in starting up the appts.
A single-plate ELISA method with competitive inhibition for use in determining antisporozoite antibodies of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) in a human blood sample and in the vector mosquito is claimed characterised by (a) introducing into each well of a microtitre plate the synthetic antigen (NANP)20 diluted in a buffered saline soln. and maintaining the plate in a humid chamber at ambient temp. (20-25 deg.C) to adsorb the antigen onto the plate, (b) washing the plate with buffered saline soln. to remove the excess synthetic antigen, (c) activating the plate with a mixt. formed from the buffered saline soln., a protein and a non-ionic detergent at 20-37 deg.C for at least 30 mins., (d) adding 4 aliquots of one and the same sample diluted in the activation mixt. (of step (c)) to 4 consecutive wells of the activated plate, into 2 of which, namely the inhibition wells, there being introduced either before or simultaneously with the diluted sample the synthetic peptide (NANP)20 in a wt. ratio of at least 20:1 with respect to the adsorbed synthetic antigen and maintaining the plate at a temp. of 20-37 deg.C for 30-60 mins., (e) repeatedly washing the plate with the activation mixt. (step (c)), (f) adding to all the wells on antibody/anti-human-immunoglobulia/enzyme conjugate diluted in the buffermixt. (step (c)) and maintaining the plate at ambient temp. for 30-60 mins., (g) repeatedly washing the plate with the buffer mixt. and then with the buffered saline soln. alone, (h) adding to all the plate wells a colourless substrate specific for the enzyme of the conjugate and maintaining- the plate at ambient temp. for 10 mins-1 hr. and (i) determining the absorbance for each sample by spectrophotometry.    ADVANTAGE -   Using the method, a specific background problems are reduced even in the case of totally haemolysed whole blood samples and the positive or negative result of the sample can be seen after just a few mins. of the final enzymatic reaction.
Waste and biofilter mass are fed, via a feed point, either into biofilter or composter-unit depending on the positioning of a drop hatch in a common intermediate wall. Mixing in the biofilter unit and the composter is carried out by a common mixer appts. Pref. further drop hatches can be provided in the intermediate wall, which can be perforated to allow redn. in size or elimination of the blower unit circulating gas from the composter to the biofilter.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Composting waste material. Provides a simple combined economic structure in which the residence time in the biofilter unit ensures that the material discharged to the composter serves as a composting microbe inoculant to intensify the composting process, gases from the compost process are cleaned and deodorised in the biofilter unit, and it is not necessary to separately purchase pure mass or peat for the unit feed.
(A) In a new process for the prodn. of an inoculum for an activator suitable for the degradation of organic materials. (a) 17-15 wt. parts green plant material, 17-15 wt. parts grape residues, 18-22 wt. parts chopped reed, 22-18 wt. parts straw-grass mixture, 15 wt. parts decomposed reed sludge, 3-5 wt. parts ammonium nitrate and 6-10 wt. parts poultry manure are mixed and the mixture is stacked in a heap, and (b) the heap is adjusted to a moisture content of 70-80 wt.% with chlorine-free water, covered with foil and let stand 22-25 days, being ready for use when the temperature of the heap falls below 55 deg.C. (C) Also claimed are new procedures for composting and disposal of organic wastes and slurries from the preserves and food industries, and for disposing of oil-contg. organic substances, waste waters and oily emulsions.    USE -   For composting and disposal of organic wastes and slurries from the preserves and food industries, (a) a layer of peat powder is spread out on a watertight substrate, 65-70 wt.% of a mixture of plant waste, 3-4 wt.% hydrated lime, 20-25 wt.% waste from the preserves industry and 5-10 wt.% activator are stacked on this in the form of a heap, and the mixture is adjusted to a moisture content of 60-65 wt.% with chlorine-free water and to pH 7-8 by means of further hydrated lime, then let stand until the heap has reached a temperature of 65-70 deg. C, (b) when the heap is turned when its temperature has fallen to ca 50 deg. C, and (c) the mixture is held at ca 50 deg. C and at a moisture content of 50-55 wt.% (chlorin-free water) for 14-18 days under aerobic conditions and is then composted 4- 5 weeks at 40-45 deg.C.
An improvement is made to a process for sepn. of a feed gas (I) in a membrane system into a more permeable component and a less permeable component, when (I) contains contaminants comprising heavier, e.g. active carbon, zeolite or alumina, hydrocarbons (more than C5) and lighter hydrocarbons (C5 or less). (a) contacting (I) with a bed of adsorbent material which selectively adsorbs the heavy hydrocarbons; and (b) passing the treated gas mixt. contg. the light hydrocarbqns to the membrane system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Heavier hydrocarbons are found to cause degradation of the permeability of the sepn. membrane, while the lighter hydrocarbons do not cause such degradation. Selective removal of the heavier hydrocarbons only from the feed before contact with the membrane prevents degradation and permits optimizing the membrane system. Processes mentioned are sepn. of air into nitrogen and oxygen-enriched air, purificn. of hydrogen from offgas contg. methane and ethane, recovery of hydrogen from ammonia purge gas, and carbon dixoide/methane sepn.
Plant has fractions-separator, liquid fraction reservoir (7) with conical bottom (9) and inner screens (3), mixer, loader (12) with distribution cone, screw (11), and hydraulic trap, plus pipes to take away biogas. Fractions-separator is cylindrical shell with loading chute, unloading hole, and mixing blades (6); reservoir is truncated cone inside cylindrical hopper with lid, inter wall space becoming container for fermented solids with air-bubblers. Threads on screw are in opposite directions.    Raw material is fed to fractions separator with mixing vanes and grinder. Liquid fraction contg. solid particles pass through conical distributor,r from where screws feed it to reservoir for anaerobic fermentation. Biogas formed is piped away. Solid dewatered fraction is transferred to container where residues are fermented. Bubbler admits compressed air; heat generated is used elsewhere in the system for the liquid fraction. When fermentation is done, solids are discharged. Both processes are done in parallel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In treatment of effluent residues (e.g. from vegetable and animal origins) to give biogas and high-quality organic fertilizers on small farms, etc. Economics and
Compsn. based on butane gas contains (A) one or more perfumes of limonene, lemon oil based on limonene, orange oil, lime oil, bergamot oil, and other synthetic and natural essential oils, and methyl isobutyleate, ethyl n-butylate, ethyl caprylate, ethyl propionate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl-2-methylbutylate, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl isovalerate, n-butyl isovalerate, ethyl acetoacetate, cis-3-hexenyl isovalerate, linalyl acetate, citroneryl acetate, geranyl acetate, cinnamyl acetate, benzyl acetate, citral and carvone, and (B) at least one solvent of isoparaffin hydrocarbon oils and diethyl phthalate. The blend ratio is pref. 0.1-10 wt.% of the perfuming ingredients and solvents.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The gas is uniform and stable, causing no turbidity or deposition. The ingredients dissolved do not impair combustibility until complete consumption of the gas. It perfumes well just before ignition.
Liq measure from a large farming unit is collected and acidified, pref by HCl to a pH value of 2-3, before transfer to a hydrolyser where temp is raised close to bpt. The hydrolysed manure is then transferred to storage via a heat exchanger, with the abstracted heat used simultaneously to warm fresh acidified manure for pumping into an intermediate store. Foam produced during initial acidifying is broken down by a stirrer. The final hydrolysed prod has pH about 5, is odour-free, chemically stable and germ-free.    ADVANTAGE -   Hydrolysis converts macro-molecules to more basic prods readily absorbed by plants, esp when brought by line to pH about 7 before scattering on fields.
A cell-free prepn. and process for the microbial solubilization of coal into solubilized coal products is new. More specifically, bacterial solubilization of coal into solubilized coal products and a cell-free bacterial byproduct useful for solubilizing coal are claimed.
Hydrogen sulphide is removed from natural gas by oxidn. to sulphur over a catalyst of titanium dioxide in the anatase form, at a gas feed rate of 5000-125,000/hr. and temp. of 230-290 deg. for 5 hr. Typical feed gas contains H2S, O, N and hydrocarbons in the ratio 2.25:3.4:18.0:50.1, being a concn. of H2S of about 3%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method has a high degree of selectivity for sulphur formn. of 98-100%, and a high conversion to sulphur of 98-100%, compared to previous values of 90-94 and 70-90 respectively using a bauxite catalyst. The conditions used result in elimination of sulphur dioxide byproduct in the cleaned gas.    Bul. 16/30.4.89
In prepn. of methane-contg. gas, in which alcohol and steam are allowed to react, to separate the carbon dioxide in the reaction prod. gas, The original liq. alcohol is used as the absorbing liq. in the process of sepg. carbon dioxide. The liq. which has absorbed the carbon dioxide in the prod. gas and part of hydrocarbon is pressure-reduced before feeding to the CO2-diffusing tower; and the sepd. CO2 gas and hydrocarbon, together with the reaction prod. gas, are introduced into the tower. The tower pref. employs air or an inert gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method enables carbon dioxide in the prod. gas to be removed efficiently with only small thermal (or cooling) load. It eliminates the need of absorbing liq. The absorbing liq., or the alcohol, is low corrosive and undergoes no deterioration or coagulation. It reduces the loss of hydrocarbon. The use of air or an inert gas redureduces the energy consumption.
The manures, which permit correction of soil pH, retain moisture better and longer and fertilise the soil organically, are made by absorption of organic residues in semi-liquid state on previously dried and milled clays.
In recovering CH4 from gas mixts. contg. CH4, lower boiling hydrocarbons, and opt. components lighter boiling than CH4, by partial condensation and low-temp. rectification, the partially condensed hydrocarbon gas mixt. is expanded in a sepn. column, liquefied lower boiling hydrocarbons are withdrawn from the sump, and gaseous CH4 prod. is withdrawn from the head. The cold needed at the head for CH4 recovery is obtd. by indirect heat-exchange with chill-conducting expanded CH4 prod.    Expansion of the CH4 prod. is carried out efficiently, opt. as drive for the compression of the sump prod. from the sepn. column.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Pure CH4 is used as fuel in engines driving pipeline compressors. Only 1 sepn. column is used. The 2+C sump prod. under low pressure can be re-compressed, to form a feed, e.g. into a pipeline.
Prepn. for oxidative conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons wherein a mixt. of methane and gaseous oxidant is contacted at reaction conditions with a solid oxidative contact agent which is free of reducible metal oxide, characterised by carrying out contact in the presence of a chalcogen promoter.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process is used to convert methane to higher mol. wt. hydrocarbons which are readily condensible, to be conveniently transported in liq. form from sources of gaseous methane found in remote areas of the world. The practice offers process improvements in the prodn. of higher hydrocarbons over extended reaction times.
Cryogenic rectification process for sepag. nitrogen and CH4 comprises (a) sepag. a feed consisting of methane and nitrogen into a N-enriched vapour portion and a CH4-enriched liq. portion; (b) condensing the nitrogen-enriched vapour portion and introducing resulting condensed nitrogen-enriched vapour into a main column operating within the range of 15 - 200 psia; (c) subcooling the methane-enriched liq. portion and dividing it into first and second parts; (d) introducing the first into the main column; (e) at least partially vaporising the second by indirect heat exchange with the subcooling methan-enriched liq. portion; (f) introducing the at least partially nitrogen-enriched vapourised second part into the main column; (g) sepag. the condensed vapour portion, subcooled first part, and at least partially vapourised second part by cryogenic rectification within the main column into nitrogen-richer vapour and methane-richer liq.; and (h) removing nitrogen-richer vapour and methane-richer liq. from the main column.    ADVANTAGE -   The process can effectively and efficiently separate nitrogen and methane by cryogenic rectification without need for an upstream stripping column or a heat pump loop to transfer refrigeration, thus resulting in lower capital costs and operating costs.
Process, and apparatus, for generating steam from wet fuel using the heat energy of the flue gas generated by combusting the dried fuel in a furnace comprises (a) evaporating water from the wet fuel by bringing it into direct contact with superheated steam, producing saturated steam and dried fuel; (b) superheating at least a portion of the saturated steam by bringing the steam into direct contact with a hot thermal carrier, producing a cooled thermal carrier; (c) heating the cooled thermal carrier by contact with the flue gases produced by combusting the dried fuel; and (d) using the heated thermal carrier as the heating medium for the steam in step (b).    ADVANTAGE -   The steam which is produced during the process is derived from the wet fuel.
Method of separating primary and secondary gaseous products from a gaseous mixture uses at least four interconnected adsorption columns. These are operated in a timed sequence, and contain an adsorbent which retains the secondary product. The operational steps comprises feeding a column with compressed gaseous mixture, removal of unadsorbed primary product and, after adjustment of inter-column pressure, recharging it to feed pressure with primary gaseous product from another column.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used to purify possible fuel sources such as landfill gas, biogas and synthesis gas by removal of carbon dioxide. Its operations require less energy hitherto, because the essure equalisation steps purge a column after its adsorption cycle without requiring the use of pumping equipment.
Gas absorbing alloy comprises, by wt., 10-54% V, 0.5-20% Fe, 0.5-6% Ni, (but up to 55% in total V, Fe and Ni), and balance substantially Zr.    USE -   The alloy shows non-volatility and high activity, and is used as a H2 gas occluding material or O2, N2, CO, CO2 or CH4 gas absorbing material.
Gas absorbing alloy comprises, by wt., 10-55% V, 0.5-15 % Fe, 0.5-10% Cu (but up to 60% in total V, Fe and Cu), and the balance Zr.    USE -   The alloy shows non-volatility and high activity, and is used as a H2 gas occluding material or O2, N2, CO, CO2 or CH4 gas absorbing material.
In a process for increasing the CH4 yield in the fermentation of municipal and/or industrial organic waste, where the process is in at least 2 separate stages, the first being an acidification stage and the second being the CH4 formation stage, both stages are carried out as mixed fermentation, with a CH4 fermentation already in the acidification stage, and an acid fermentation esp. an acetic acid fermentation, in the CH4 fermentation stage.    ADVANTAGE -   The concn. of H2S in the prod. gas is so low that desulphiding of the gas is not necessary, and corrosion in later use, e.g. in internal combustion engines, is avoided, The loading on the plant can be raised from the usual 3-5kg of organic dry matter/cubic m/day to 10 kg, with at the same time an increase in the gas yield from 200 l/kg of organic dry matter to 500 l.
A high temp. fuel cell reforming catalyst comprises a Pt gp. metal and/or a noble metal, on a support. In use, the catalyst reforms fuel contg. hydrocarbons.    The metal is Rh, Ru (pref.), Pt or Au, and the support is a rare earth oxide, ZrO2, CeO2 or MgO. The catalyst may comprise Ni and a Pt gp., and/or noble metal. A fuel contg. a hydrocarbon is reformed within a high temp. fuel cell by contacting a gas stream contg. the fuel with the catalyst. A high temp. fuel cell comprising the reforming catalyst is claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst has better corrosion resistance and resistance to deactivation of the electrolyte of a high temp. fuel cell.
In the removal of N2 from natural gas (I), which also contains CH4 and opt. components boiling at higher and/or lower temps. by partial condensation at elevated pressure and then rectification, the partly condensed and liquefied (I) is passed to a rectification column operating under elevated pressure, from which a N2-rich fraction is discharged at the top and a N2-free hydrocarbon prod. from the sump.    Before entering the rectification column, the partly condensed (I) is sepd. into a liquid fraction of high boiling components and a gaseous fraction, consisting mainly of CH4 and N2, and only the latter is passed to the rectification column, pref. in the middle to upper pt. of the column. The liq. fraction discharged from the lower pt. of the column is partly vapourised and returned to the column below the discharge point.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) contg. under 30% N2 can be purified very efficiently, whilst the hydrocarbon prod. is discharged at a. pressure near the crude gas pressure.
A process for isomerising 4C normal hydrocarbons (A) in the presence of 5C and 6C normal hydrocarbons (B) comprises: (i) charging a 4-6C hydrocarbon feed stream contg. at least 10 mol% (A) and 25 mol% (B) to a reaction zone, (ii) adding hydrogen to the feed steam at a ratio of less than 0.5, (iii) contacting the stream from (ii) in the reaction zone with a catalyst consisting of alumina, 0.01-0.25 wt.% platinum and 2-10 wt.% of a chloride component at 200-225 deg.C, 7-70 bars pressure and space velocity 0.1-10. (iv) maintaining a chloride concn. in the reaction zone of 30-300 ppm, and (v) recovering an effluent stream having a 4C isoparaffin/4C hydrocarbon ratio of at least 20%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This process converts butane to isobutane in the presence of 5-6C hydrocarbons giving high yields without significant cracking and light ends prodn.
Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean formation by injecting into the formation through an injection well under non-steam flood conditions (A) a first fluid consisting of (i) a drive fluid consisting of a gas or gas/aq. fluid mixt., or (ii) a miscible fluid to move the hydrocarbon from injection to a producing well; and (B) a mobility control fluid comprising a surfactant/water mixt.; the surfactant consists of a mixt. of at least one alkylated diphenyl sulphonate (I) and at least one alpha-olefin sulphonate (II). (A) and (B) are injected simultaneously or sequentially.    ADVANTAGE -   The mixt. of (I) and (II) gives improved mobility control, i.e. improved sweep efficiency and/or injection profile. Solubility of (II) is improved, esp. in conc. brines and very hard water; tendency of (II) to absorb to rocks and clays is reduced. The mixt. is stable at up to 120 deg.C.
In a methane fermentation method by membrane sepn. and retention, sludge including methane bacteria is fed into a methane fermentation tank and circulated into the tank through a membrane separator. In the both flow-in and cut side of the separator, valves are installed respectively so as to close during a halt of the pump.    USE -   For energy conservation in the operation of a membrane separator.
The multilayer high speed fermentation appts. comprises a cylindrical fermentation tank with fermentation chambers vertically arranged, a tube for blowing air to supply air to each chamber, and ploughs with an arm fixed to a shaft installed at the centre of the cylindrical fermentation tank to stir raw material and supply air from the tube for blowing air to each chamber.    USE -   To rapidly ferment organic wastes to produce compost.
A catalyst contg. lanthanide metal and an alkaline earth, as carbonates and/or oxycarbonates, is prepd. by (a) contacting an aq. phase contg. cations of a lanthanide of atomic number 57 or 59 - 71, and cations of an alkaline earth, with a source of carbonate ions and opt. of hydroxide ions, to form a co-ppte. of carbonates and/or hydroxycarbonates contg. at least 5 wt.% of carbonate, and to bring the pH to above 8, (b) sepg. the co-ppte., and (c) washing, drying in air, and calcining at 400-1000 deg. C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used in oxidative conversion of CH4 to higher hydrocarbons, esp. 2+C. The catalyst has high activity and selectivity.
Heavy material is separated from a mixture with organic material by adding the mixture to a vessel containing a liquid of density between those of the two materials, selected from trichloroethane and optionally stabilised perchloroethylene. An installation for carrying out the process is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting sewage, water purification sludge, or agricultural slurry. The material can be composted continuously, and a high proportion of heavy matter is removed.
Pyrolysis process (A) for plastics, special waste contg. organic materials, old tyres, spent oils and chlorofluorocarbons in modified sand cokes, involves pyrolysation in a fine particle heat carrier at approx. 400-700 deg.C in a vertical reactor. A two-stage facility is also described in which the first stage is heated at 400-500 deg.C and the second stage at 600-800 deg.C.    ADVANTAGE -   (A) is safer in operation than previous methods and gives off less volatile gases. (A) also has a high throughput and rapid heat-up resulting in complete pyrolysis for each temp. range of operation.
Prepn. of a high heating value fuel comprises (a) blending a high heating value waste material (A) with a cellulosic material (B), (b) mixing with the prod. an organic reagent (C) contg. 4 - 15 wt.% of triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, or glycerin propylene glycol, (c) introducing a pozzolanic agent (D) to the mixt. to control the rate of solidification. (d) moulding the mixt. into a form suitable for handling.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process converts hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams into solid fule prods. which can be used in commercially operating kilns.
Prodn. of manure comprises: (1) fermentation step, where organic substances with water content of at least 70 wt.% are mixed with porous Ca silicate hydrated with void vol. of at least 50% and granular dia. of at least 3 mm to give organic mixt. with water content of 50-75 wt.%, followed by fermentation; and (2) filtration step, where fermented mixt. is filtered and sepd. to organic manure having low content of porous Ca silicate hydrate and residual porous Ca silicate hydrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The high quality organic manure is produced from organic substances with high water-content (e.g. sewage, industrial waste water, sludge) in short period. Total N and total C content is 3.6% and 25.9% in the manure produced by this method as opposed to 1.2% and 9.2% when mixing Ca silciate hydrate with granular dia. of less than 1 mm.
Carbonisation comprises compulsory exhausting gas into a carbonisation room after passing through apertures of the materials, and indirectly heating and recirculating the gas into carbonisation room to carbonisating tree and plant materials.    Apparatus comprises carbonisation room, a heat exchanger, a combustion room, a fan, a water vapour generator and connecting pipes and valves. Tree and plant materials are carbonised by the steps of (a) drying, (b) carbonisation, (c) pre-refining, (d) refining, (e) the first cooling, (f) the second cooling and (g) spontaneous drying. By controlling the temp. of the circulating air, steps (a) and (b) are proceeded. When the temp. of exhausted gas is raised to 300 deg.C, step (c) is begun. Step (d) treatment is varied with the difference of charcoals (white and black charcoals). When the temp. at T2 is raised to a certain temp. (e.g. 700-800 deg.C), step (e) is begun by decreasing the temp. with water vapour generation. When the temp. reaches 150 deg.C, the gas is cooled with air (step f).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By indirectly heating the air flow which is circulating carbonisation room, tree and plant materials can efficiently be heated and carbonised. Gas temp. in the carbonisation room can easily be controlled, and highly carbonised product can be obtd. in a short time.
Membrane comprises polyimide having repeat units of formula (I): In (I) X is S or SO2; R is divalent organic gp. or organosiloxane. The polyimide (I) is obtd. by reacting diamine with exo-type acid dianhydride of formula (II) in a polar solvent: where X is S or SO2. The diamine includes aromatic, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and organosiloxane diamine.    ADVANTAGE -   Used for e.g. O-enriching of air, N-enriching of air, concn. of helium in natural gas, recovery of H from ammonia plant or hydrogenating desulphurisation plant, regulation of CO/H2 mol. ratio for synthetic gas, CO2-sepn. from natural gas, methane recovery from biogas. The membrane has a high performance in heat resistance, gas permeability as well as processability of the membrane.
The membranes, for use in sepn. of gases, esp. sepn. of hydrogen from gas streams, have a sepn. layer composed of a mixt. of polymethyl methacrylate or co-polymer and at least one cellulosic deriv.
Low-temp. carbonisation method for producing charcoal in a shaft reactor through which hot scavenging gas is passed. Wood is put into the top of the reactor and the charcoal is extracted from the bottom. From the top of the reactor the flue gas is fed directly into a combustion chamber. In one section of this, the flue gas is burned with air at an under-stoichiometric to stoichiometric ratio at 800-1250 deg.C In a second section of the combustion chamber is air fed in to give an above-stoichiometic ratio and the flue gas is completely burned. The several variants claimed include water-spray cooling of the combustion gas from the first section of the combustion chamber.    ADVANTAGE -   Method is economical and environment-friendly.
In the treatment of sewage sludge, (a) the sludge is dried to the max. attainable amt. of dry matter, followed by fractionated pyrolysis, with (b) low-temp. conversion under anaerobic conditions at 250-350 deg.C to separate the organic C as an oil, and (c) burning of the residue in pure O2 at at least 1250 deg.C and (d) the residual inorganic components are used in finely divided state as substitute for a hydraulic binder esp. cement.    Pref. sludge is dried to at least 85% dry matter. Conversion step (b) is pref. at 300 deg.C. Burning (c) is pref. at 1450 deg.C.    ADVANTAGE -   Because of the high energy content of the sewage slurry, the process is almost independent of external energy. The problem of the disposal of sewage sludge is solved by recycling, and pollution of the environment is avoided. The oil can be used as fuel, and the reaction gas, mainly CO2, can be recycled to maintain the anaerobic conditions. Only small amts. of CO2 and nitrous gases are formed in the high-temp. sintering, and heavy metals remain as oxides in the final residue.
Method and appts. system, for obtg. energy from vegetable raw materials by pyrolysis and/or burning. The vegetable materials are preserved in a silo and their juices are pressed to reduce the moisture. The fluid produced during pressing is processed to make fermentation ethanol, which can be used as a propellant or fuel. Variants claimed include the use of various types of vegetable matter and their treatment, appts. arrangement for the method, and the inclusion of steam and gas-turbine and electric generator in the system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method which is environment-friendly provides optimum use of the energy potential in the vegetable raw materials, and takes into account, better than has done before, the various seasonal conditions for obtg. and using them. Calculations have shown that about 5000 hectares of land is needed to provide energy to run a 20-MW power station supplying electricity and heat for about 40,000 people.
A shaped article is made by (a) fermenting a paper slurry from paper mfr., contg. cellulose fibres, (b) opt. addn. of additives and auxiliaries, and (c) shaping the mixt. to a shaped article.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The shaped article may be a growing medium or a protection for plants, e.g. a plate 4-25 cm thick, a container or a block (in which case composted waste, e.g. household waste, is added), opt. with depressions for the reception of plants and/or seeds, or a building material (opt. contg. further additives and auxiliaries). In agriculture, forestry, horticulture and culture of ornamental plants, the articles may serve as source of fertiliser, as soil improver, as culture substrate, as container and/or against weeds. Growth promoters, biocides, soil improvers and fillers may be incorporated (claimed).    As a building material, the density is 200-1000 kg/cubic m, and the amt. of additive (fireproofing agent, fungicide, dye, water-repellent, binder, resin, bonding retarder or accelerator, blowing agent, fibres, porous particles, and inorganic powders is often less than 10 vols. %. The building material may be flat, bent or corrugated and is 5-25 mm thick. A heat insulating material contains 30-50 vols.% of expanded perlite or vermiculite, a ceiling material contains 15-30% of SiO2, and a wall covering contains 20-60% of gypsum powder, giving a density of 400-1000 kg/cubic m.    A useless waste material can be utilised, and the compsn. of the material can be adapted to the use, e.g. to the type of plant, the climate and the season. Plants can be planted in the ground without removal from the container, which forms a food additive for the plant. The containers can replace the throw-away pots of synthetic material.
The prepn. of a sprayable solid from liquid manure from pigs, with solids content up to 6% obtd. using a brush sieve worm comprises (a) intermediate storage of the sepd. solid after the first draining, to solids content 13-17% with a dwell time of 1-8 hrs; and (b) subjecting the solid to a further draining, on a storage surface to give sprayability with solids content up to 20%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This mechanical work up of liquid manure from pigs is economical and technically simple, requiring little energy or labour. The sepn. of the solids reduces sedimentation in containers and thus reduces the risk of blockage in pipes when the liquid manure is transported. The sepd. solid can be used in plant prodn. as an organic fertiliser in combination with organic additives such as straw. The use of the brush sieve worm improves the working conditions of the shaft in that the system is closed and reduces the space necessary and the energy demand for heating and lighting.