The unit has a container (3) with a base made as pyramid-shaped cells, bio-filters (4) placed above the cells on horizontal shafts and semicylindrical baffles (6) placed under the latter, aerators (7), original water supply pipe, transverse chute (10) and water outlet pipe. The unit is provided with a primary settler and an aerobic stabiliser, an additional biofilter (19), placed beyond the container and made as hollow perforated shaft (18) situated on the liq. level, rims (20) covered by nets (21), and semicylindrical base (8) whose front edge is connected to the container base last cell wall, and the rear edge is connected to the transverse chute. The perforated hollow shaft is provided with a sliding coupling connected to the water outlet pipe.    The unit is also provided with a return chute which connects the transverse chute to the aerobic stabiliser and slopes towards the latter. A throttle slide is placed at the transverse chute outlet for silt mixt. flow rate regulation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For drainage water biochemical purificn. Conc. aq. wastes can be cleaned more thoroughly. Bul.29/7.8.91
Appts. comprises stirring blades mounted on a support shaft removably coupled with a drive shaft outside a fermenting tank which contain the stirring blades and screen plate horizontally disposed to form an air control below.    USE -   For treating wastes drained from homes.
Hazardous organic waste derived from food and/or agricultural industries is recycled by semistabilising-composting processes. At the outset the relative proportions of C, N and P in the waste materials and their utility for microbial culturing is established and a suitable mix is prepd. Note is taken simultaneously of what is the ratio of easily accessible organic carbon to that obtainable with difficulty and of extant moisture.    The mix is stacked, composted and aerated. When composting is concluded (one or several) species of worms are introduced. These and their progeny complete the process of composting. This renders wastes completely harmless by converting them to humus. On conclusion the worm-compost is extractable from the upper layers of the stack.
Gaseous impurities are removed from CH4 by contacting crude CH4 with Zr-V-Fe alloy which has been activated by heating at 300-950 deg.C and cooled to a temp. where impurities are absorbed but not significant amts. of CH4. The process may be conducted in a chamber.    If N2 is not one of the impurities to be removed then the alloy Zr2Fe can be used.    USE -   High purity CH4 has many industrial uses e.g. prodn. of thin films of artificial diamond. The method is esp. suited to the removal of H2O and O2 and also CO, CO2 and N2. CH4 is purified without using organic supports or plastic materials which may themselves contaminate the product. Hydride getter metal or alloys, which are expensive and prevent the absorption of some impurities, are also avoided. The process temp. is below that at which CH4 dissociates.
Conversion of methane into higher hydrocarbon prods. involves oxidative coupling of a gaseous mixt. of methane and O2 at temp. of at least 650 deg.C over a solid metal oxide catalyst (I). (I) is formed from Li2O, an alkaline earth metal oxide and a La oxide, with the Li content being less than 0.20 wt.% and atomic ratio of alkaline earth metal:lanthanide being 0.8:1 to 8:1.    Prepn. of (I) comprises prepn. of a mixt. (II) of Li, alkaline earth metal and La oxides contg. more than 1 wt.% Li and redn. of Li content in (II) to less than 0.20 wt.% by high temp. thermal treatment at least partly in an oxidising atmos.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst has long life and high selectivity with no loss of activity accompanying Li loss. High methane conversion rates are obtd.
In composting organic materials by agglomeration, the material to be composed comprises compost raw materials and compost.    Pref., the ratio of compost raw materials:compost is such that residue-free disposal is achieved. The compost produced is used more than once. Both compression and construction agglomeration processes are used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost recycle process gives complete disposal of organic material. Materials which can be composted include tree bark, sawdust, paper waste and slurry, cardboard, organic house waste, rubbish and sewage, garden waste, grass cuttings, leaves, reeds and reed straw, peat, straw, mushroom substrate, slaughterhouse waste, cat and dog excreta, and solid and liq. manure.
A fuel gas mixt. (I) comprises 22-32 mol.% acetylene, 1-4 mol.% of a 3C hydrocarbon (pref. propylene or propane), 10-20 mol.% ethane and 67-44 mol.% ethylene. (I) is stored in liq. state at temps. below -50 (pref. -60 to -80) at 2.5-7 (pref. 4-6) bar.    (I) pref. has the compsn.: 24-28 mol.% acetylene, 2-3 mol.% 3C hydrocarbons (pref. propylene or propane), 13-17 mol.% ethane and 61-52 mol.% ethylene.    ADVANTAGE -   (I) has a lower density than air and is safe under every operational situation
The simultaneous removal of Hg and moisture from a gas in a single desiccant bed involves: (a) forming a dessicant bed comprising a desiccant (I) and a substrate (II) impregnated with CuO, a porous substrate (III) impregnated with Cu(OH)2 and a substrate (IV) impregnated with CuS and (b) contacting the gas with the bed at temp. and pressure sufficient to remove Hg and moisture. Purificn. of natural gas is also claimed comprising (c) absorbing CO2 and H2S from the gas with an absorbent soln. (V), (d) washing the gas from (c) with water to remove (V) and (e) treating as before.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. useful for removing moisture, Hg, CO2 and H2S from natural gas in a treatment plant prior to liquefaction. Eliminates the need for a separate downstream bed for Hg removal and thus any inherent pressure loss. Can also be used for other gases e.g. H2 and ethylene
A sepn. process includes introducing a multi-component feed stream into a sepn. system with a lower distillation section and a freezing zone. Multi-component feed stream contains at least first component. Second component with relative volatility greater than first component and third component with relative volatility less than first component. Produced in lower distillation section is a liq. bottom prod. stream enriched in first component and a freezing zone vapour feed stream. Freezing zone vapour feed stream is introduced into freezing zone. Freezing zone vapour feed stream in freezing zone is contacted with freezing zone liq. feed stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method for sepg. methane as a liq. from a multi-component feed stream contg. a freezable component, such as carbon dioxide. Significant amts. of a freezable component can be tolerated in a distillation.
The soil conditioner is composed of fermented mixt. of solid and liquid wastes and calcium oxide to fix formic acid and lower fatty acid as calcium salts. Pref. fermented wastes are mixed with CaO at ratios of 100 : 5-25 pts.wt. to neutralise the acids in the mixt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Neutralised soil conditioner for better growth of plants.
The vitrification procedure and apparatus for waste products from household sources, hospitals or industry, including PCBs, consists of enclosing the waste in a container (10) which has melting point of Tc and is incinerated in a furnace (200) which is raised to a temperature Tf which is above Tc by a high-temperature jet generator (100, 110). The temperature of the jet is Tj, and it is directed at an angle D.    The container (10) is placed in the furnace (200) in line with the axis of the jet, and the difference in temperatures Tf-Tc is adjusted so that in the first stage of incineration the jet pierces the container and raises the waste material to a temperature of Td, with the different temperatures satisfying the relationship T is greater than Td is greater than Tf is greater than Tc.    In the second stage of incineration the container and waste are completely vitrified into vitreous magma at a temperature substantially the same as the mean temperature of the furnace Tf. The magma is then recovered from the furnace, and fumes resulting from the incineration are treated in a post-combustion unit (300).    ADVANTAGE -   Enables waste products to be converted into chemically and bacteriologically inert substances.
Composter is made from a tyre, the interior of the tyre providing room in which the composting can take place.    At least one opening is provided in the tyre for charing and discharging materials, the opening having a cover. At least one drainage hole is also provided in the form of a slit due to the resiliency of the tyre material. Sliding bars having channel configurations are fitted over rough cut edges of tyre and cover to eliminate the risk of injury from protruding pointed wires. An annular side cover plate covers each hole defined by portions of the annular tyre beads, the plate varying in thickness to cover surface iregularities.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The composter is used to compost food and yard organics to produce humus for enriching soils and is made from a scrap tyre or tyres, thus helping to dispose of scrap tyres. The composter may be provided with different degs. of sophistication, cost and performance.
A process for the prepn. of an improved Li-promoted MgO catalyst useful for oxidative coupling of methane to ethane and ethylene in the presence of free O2, comprising a). thoroughly mixing powdered magnesium and lithium acetates in an Li/Mg mole ratio of 0.01-1.0 with or without water, b). heating and stirring the mixt. to dryness at 80-300 deg.C, c). powdering and calcining the dried mixt. at 500-1000 deg.C in air, O2, CO2, inert gas or mixts. or under vacuum for 1-100 hours, d). making pellets, extrudates or granules of the required size of the catalyst.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is useful for prodn. of ethylene, ethane and higher hydrocarbons for mfr. of, e.g. petrochemicals, plastics, fibres, elastomers and plasticisers. The catalyst has high conversion activity (e.g. 40%), gives high selectivities (e.g. C2+ 74%) and is stable over long periods; its prodn. is also highly reproducibl
Selective redn. of NO in combustion effluent streams having temp. variations is effected by simultaneously contacting a 1st non-gaseous reducing agent and a 2nd reducing agent into a combustion effluent stream contg. NO and excess 02, at a pH where the temp. of the effluent stream is 704-1093 deg.C. The 1st reducing agent is a precursor of gaseous ammonia and is a salt of an inorganic acid. The 2nd reducing agent is gaseous and is oxidised on introduction to the effluent stream. The materials are added in amts. to non-catalytically and selectively reduce the NO content. A time delay of greater than 0.01s occurs between introduction and conversion of the 1st reducing agent to gaseous ammonia. A similar process occurs for effluent streams from the combustion of waste having significant and variable amts. of CO.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used for controlling NOx emission from stationary combustion systems such as power plant boilers, process furnaces and incinerators. The adverse effects of highly variable temp. and variable CO levels are reduced or eliminated in this process. Introducing a delay between initial mixing of the carrier gas with the flue gas and the actual contact of the ammonia with the flue gas significantly broadens the useful temp. range of the thermal DeNOx process
The catalyst consists of an aluminium-zirconium double oxide support loaded with the metal (oxide) of Gp.Ib, Va, VIa, VIIa, or VIII elements.    The support is pref. honeycomb shaped. The catalyst is coated on the base material selected from cordierite, mullite, or crystalline double oxide made from MgO, Al2O3, and TiO2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to combust H2, CO, or hydrocarbons esp. methane with a higher space velocity. The new catalyst provides a good heat resistance over 1000 deg. C. In an example XrO2-Al2O3 (50:50 by weight) support was prepd. from aluminium nitrate and zirconium nitrate. The was loaded with 0.5 wt.% Pd. A sample air contg. 2% CH4 was oxidised at 500 deg.C at 20,000 hr-1 space velocity; 100% CH4 were oxidised
The new oxidn. catalyst is a lanthanum-manganite perovskite type oxide having the compositional formula of La1-xAxMn1-aO3 (x=0-0.6. A=Ca, Sr or Ba; a50), which represents the atomic ratio of the constituent elements.    The new catalyst is coated on a heat resisting honeycomb support made of codierite, mullite, or a crystalline double oxide made from MgO, Al2O3, and TiO2. (claimed).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to combust H2, CO, or hydrocarbons esp. methane with a higher space velocity. Catalyst provide good heat resistance over 1000 deg.C.    In an example, La2O3, SrCO3, CaCO3 and Mn2O3 powders were mixed and calcined at 1350 deg.C to obtain La0.5Sr0.25Ca0.25Mn0.8O3 oxide. A sample gas contg. 1% methane in air was contacted with the catalyst at 1000 deg.C with 100,000 hr-1 space velocity. After 10 hrs., 100% methane were converted; after 100 hrs., still 90% were converted
The new oxidn. catalyst is a lanthanum-chromite perovskite type oxide having a La1-xAxCr1-a03 (x=0-0.6, A=Ca, Sr or Ba; a is greater than 0), which represents the atomic ratio of the constituent elements.    The new catalyst is pref. coated on a heat resistant honeycomb support made of cordierite, mullite, or a crystalline double oxide made from MgO, Al203, and TiO2. (claimed).    In an example, La2O3, SrCO3, CaCO3, and Cr2O3 powders were mixed and calcined at 1350 deg.C to obtain La3, 0.5Sr0.2525Ca0.25Cr0.8O3 oxide. A sample gas contg. 1% methane in air was contacted with the catalyst at 1000 deg.C with 100,000 hr-1 space velocity. After 10 hrs. 100% methane were converted; after 100hrs. Still 92% were converted.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to combust H2, CO, or hydrocarbons esp. methane with a higher space velocity. The new catalyst provides a good heat resistance over 1000 deg.C
NOVELTY - A purge gas supply pipe (27) is connected to a midway of a steam ejector (28) so that cathode gas exhausted out from a cathode (8) is supplied to the steam ejector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An electrolyte (4) is pinched between an anode (5) and a cathode (6) arranged inside a container stack (2). An anode gas (10) and a cathode gas (14) containing an oxidizing agent are supplied respectively to the anode (7) and the cathode (8) in the container.    USE -   In fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Performs purging of container with ejected cathode gas. Avoids usage of nitrogen as a purge gas. Reduces cost and power by using ejected cathode gas and by eliminating the need for nitrogen gas. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure indicates block diagram of a fuel battery. (2) Stack; (3) Container stack; (4) Electrolyte; (5,7) Anodes; (6,8) Cathodes; (10) Anode gas; (14) Cathode gas; (15) Exhausted cathode gas; (27) Purge gas supply pipe; (28) Steam ejector.
In a two-stage furnace in which solid wastes are burned a solids separator is located after the prim. section in which materials are pyrolysed or calcined. The solids so sepd. are then sorted to recover materials for possible re-use and the materials recovered but unwanted are then returned via one or more jet inlets to the second-stage furnace for melt-down or final combustion. The second-stage furnace is heated in part at least by hot gases produced by the primary furnace and the second-stage furnace incorporates a raised basin for the collection of molten materials.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process and assembly serves to destroy, recover and facilitate the safe disposal of waste materials as appropriate, and recover heat energy.
Prodn. of fertiliser from organic waste, e.g. farmyard manure, farmyard slurry or waste water contg. organic contaminants, is effected by: pretreating the fresh waste mechanically and/or chemically; measuring the NH4+, PO43- CO32- and K+ content; precipitating N and P components by adding stoichiometric amts. of chemical reactants; precipitating any urea together with the N, P and opt. K components; and sepg. the prod. into a liq. fraction and a fertiliser fraction.    More specifically, fresh manure is dewatered and the solids are composted. The liq. fraction is analysed for NH4+, PO43- CO32- and K+ and the pH is adjusted to 3.5 with H3PO4. The liq. is heated to 45 deg.C in a heat exchanger, adjusted to pH 8.2 by adding MgCO3 and MnCO3, cooled to 10-12 deg.C, and decanted. The ppte. is dried and mixed with the composted manure solids
Sepn of impurities from alcohol comprises countercurrently contacting the mixt. of fermentation or chemical synthesis prod. contg. water, ethanol, and impurities with the solvent of liquid phase propane, propylene, n-butane, or i-butane, or their mixt. in the extn. tower. The raffinate layer consisting of water, ethanol, and solvent essentially contg. no impurity is sepd. from the solvent layer contg. impurities; the solvent layer is introduced to the solvent recovery tower to separate the solvent from ethanol and impurities; the mixt. of ethanol and impurities is added by water to separeate the water layer comprising water and ethanol from the organic layer comprising impurities; the water layer is recycled to the top of the extraction tower.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to separate impurities from the reaction prod. mixt. of chemical synthesis alcohol or fermentation alcohol. The use of liq. propane improves the relative volatility to ethanol and allows a lower pressure of operation of extn. than in common distn.
In the high speed fermentative disposition machine, heaters are provided on a floor of disposition chamber including a fermentation chamber and a ripening/drying chamber, while a transferring screw is disposed on bottom of the chamber and a screw pressing hammer is provided through both chambers.    ADVANTAGE -   Without pollution, waste organic matters are reliably and rapidly disposed.
Compsn. comprises a mixt. of: (i) chlorodifluoromethane (R22) or pentafluoroethane (R125), pref. at 50-95 wt. %; (ii) pentafluoroethane (R125) or octafluoropropane (R218), pref. at 3-35 wt. %; and (iii) propylene (R1270) or a propylene-propane mixt. (R290), pref. at 2-20 wt. %, the proportions being such that the mixt. is non-flammable.    Appts. for and methods of vapour compression refrigeration in which the compsn. is used are also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. provides a refrigerant which avoids CC12F2 (R12) and CC1F2CF3 + CHC1F2 azeotrope (R502) which are implicated in causing environmental damage via breakdown of the ozone layer. The mixt. can be formulated to be non-flammable despite the presence of (iii)
Gp. VIII metal catalysts, e.g. contg. Ir or Pt, supported on a metal oxide also contain additional Al, Si or Zr ions which are added externally or derived from dissolution of the support during catalyst prepn.. Catalysts can be prepd. by impregnating a 40-80 mesh size support with soln. contg. precursors of the metal catalyst e.g. chloroiridic and/or chloroplatinic acid and a nitrate precursor for the additional Al, Si or Zr ions followed by calcining to obtain the supported catalyst prod..
Device comprises 4 types of oxide semiconductor gas detecting elements which can detect the presence of, at least one of CH4, H2, C3H8, CO and C2H5 having gas selectivity different from each other, and are formed on a ceramic base plate incorporating a heater, and a device to judge the output of the 4 types of gas detecting elements.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to detect reducing gases in the atmos.. With the semiconductor type gas detecting element, it is impossible to detect several gases using a single element, so several elements having high sensitivity against a specific gas are collected. The 4 types of oxide semiconductor gas detecting elements can be formed, for example, by the use of 4 different catalysts. By collecting the 4 types of gas detecting elements, 4 types of gases can be detected with high reliability.
Gas is treated by pouring into a body e.g. earth, fabric or fabric material. Gas is reacted with reaction gas(s) or aerosol. Aerosol is pressed and poured into the porous body.    Gas and the reaction gas or aerosol are pref. reacted in the poured body and may be poured into the poured body, at once or in order. Gas is carboxylic gas, NO2, CH4, CFCs, O3, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for treating exhaust gas from an industry or a thermoelectric power plant. Dead water property or strength of the porous body is improved. Gases e.g. CO2, NO2, CH3, CFCs, O3 etc can be confined in the earth
A soil fungus having an optimum activating temp. of 60-75 deg. C and a moisture content of 50% is added to the organic waste, which is ventilated, and stirred. The waste is fermented under heating condition. When the fermenting intermediate has a temp. of 80 deg. C, heating is discontinued. The intermediate is fermented until the moisture content has decreased to 40-50% and temp. has decreased. The intermediate is rapidly heated up to at least 80 deg. C to obtain an intermediate fermented and dried substance having a moisture content of up to 20%. The resulting intermediate fermented and dried substance is used as a moisture conditioner and is blended with the organic waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to treat meat refuse, fish bone parts, vegetable refuse, rice refuse, or kitchen refuse, in a reduced treating time. The intermediate fermented and dried substance using as a moisture conditioner allows recycling. The recycled substance contains the dormant spore fungus
Odourless propane-butane fractions for use in perfumery prodn are obtd. from natural gas streams fed to energy producing units, with a facility for deep refrigeration and wash-oil process and for atmospheric liq. gas storage. A fraction of a gas current with less than 30ppm sulphur content, in terms of hydrogen-sulphide, methyl and ethyl mercaptans is condensed and the prod. contg. more than 2-5 ppm mercaptons is isolated. Following cooling and sepn. of the condensed prod, this fraction is treated with wash-oil in a counter-current manner, further treated in a methane and ethane removing device, and the head prod. which contains more than 10ppm. sulphur is isolated. The remainder is subjected to desorption, followed by distn. into fractions of propane-butane, butane, and/or iso-octane. A resulting fraction which contains 1-2 ppm sulphur also contains free water, which is removed. Following this the fraction is passed through a hydrated alumina column with a dwell time of 5-10 mins at a temp of 0-10 degC. An odourless end prod is obtd.
Polymers comprises (a) styrene polymer, (b) 1-10 wt% w.r.t. (a) of a satd. 3-6C hydrocarbon as blowing agent and (c) opt. conventional assistants in effective amts. The benzene content is less than 1 ppm and the styrene content is less than 2000 ppm.    The expandable styrene polymer is prepd. e.g. by polymerisation of styrene, opt. together with other comonomer, in aq. suspension in the presence of 0.1-1 wt% of a styrene-soluble peroxy cpd. with a half life of 1 hour at 120-135 deg.C opt. in combination with a peroxy cpd. with a half life of 1 hour at 85-95 deg.C as catalyst. carrying out the polymerisation such that 30-90% of the styrene is polymerised in the temp. range 120-150 deg.C and the residual styrene content in the polymer is less than 0.2% and before, during or after the polymerisation adding the blowing agent and any other assistants.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Styrene polymers with a greatly reduced benzene content can be made using a benzoyl gp.-free peroxy cpd. with a half life of 1 hr. at 120-135 deg.C as polymerisation catalyst. The resulting styrene polymers have improved expandability and give expanded polystyrene foams with a very low benzene content and which are therefore suitable for use e.g. in medical applications and foodstuff packaging5
Polymers comprise (a) a styrene polymer with a viscosity number measured in toluene of 55-80 ml/g and a melt index MFI (190 deg. C 3.8 kp) of 7.5-30 g/10 min. (b) 1-10 wt. % w.r.t. (a) of a 3-6C hydrocarbon as blowing agent and opt. (c) known assistants in effective amts.    Pref. the styrene polymer contains 0.0025 to 0.05 mol. % polymerised residues of a monomer (I) with more than one polymerisable double bond. The polymers are pref. made by polymerising styrene and opt. further comonomers with a polymerisable double bond in aq. suspension in the presence of 0.01-1 wt. % of a regulator with a chain transfer constant K of between 0.1 and 50 and in the presence of 0.0025 to 0.05 mol. % of a monomer (I) as branching agent, and adding the blowing agent and opt. other assistants before, during or after the polymerisation
Prodn. is effected by culturing a thermophilic, CO-utilising, H2-producing, strictly anaerobic, lithotrophic microorganism in the presence of CO as energy soruce, opt. together with or followed by a culture of a methanogenic bacterium. The microorganism is cultured under anaerobic conditions at 70-95 deg.C and pH 5.5-7.5 in a mineral salt medium contg. yeast extract, peptone or other proteinaceous C sources.    Microorganisms and conditions are as described in DD 297449.    In an example, carboxydothermus hydrogenus Z-2901 (DSM 6008) was cultured as described in DD 297449. The reactor was charged with 1800 Nl of CO. Conversion of CO was complete after 14 hrs.. The prod. gas contained 57.4 vol.% H2 and 40.2 vol.% CO2
Removal is effected by contacting the gas with a culture of a thermophilic, CO-utilising, H2-producing, strictly anaerobic, lithotrophic microorganism, opt. together with or followed by a culture of a methanogenic bacterium. The microorganism is cultured under anaerobic conditions at 70-95 deg.C and pH 5.5-7.5 in a mineral salt medium contg. yeast extract, peptone or other proteinaceous C sources.    The CO-utilising microorganism is Carboxydothermus hydrogenus Z-2901 (DSM 6008). The methanogenic bacterium, if used, is Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (DSM 2133). The process is operated continuously or batchwise at a pressure of 0-10 MPa, opt. using immobilised microorganisms.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The treatment converts CO to H2 and/or CH4, thereby reducing the toxicity of the gas and facilitating underground storage
Body (1) has residues feed pipe (5), hopper (2) for free flowing solid filler, working unit made as two axial shafts (7) with pins (11) bearing peripheral blades (12), and rotary drive system for shafts (7) and screw (14). Long, polyhedral rods (21) of varying cross-section are fixed between adjacent pins (11) of mixer, and shafts have hinged-joints (8) on drive ends, and eccentric cams (19) at other ends. Rods (21) are positioned at increasing distances from shaft-axes between neighbouring rows; rod cross-sections decreases in each succeeding row away from shaft.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For processing effluent residues e.g. mfr. of compost mixts. from effluent and wood-processing wastes. Effectiveness and productivity are increased, and power consumption reduced. Bul.25/7.7.91.
The device comprises a reaction tank including a heat exchanger for circulating material, and a heatinf furnace including a heat exchanger. The upper ports of the heat exchangers are connected with each other through a material discharge/feed line having a flow regulation valve, and their lower ports are connected with each other through a material transfer line.    USE -   Stable decomposition temp. can be maintained. High quality fuel oil can be recovered.
Process comprises: (i) sepg. foreign material from lawn mowings and then chopping the grass, etc. into small pieces; (ii) preliminary fermentation in which a colony of activated spawn is obtd. by mixing spawn, water and nutritients in the grass, etc.; and (iii) main fermentation in which the pretreated grass is thrown in the main fermenter and the activated colony of spawn obtd. in the preliminary treatment is mixed in it to allow fermentation.    Device for pretreatment to perform process (i), preliminary fermenter to perform process (ii), and main fermenter to perform process (iii) are also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Spawn is activated and proliferated in the preliminary fermenter under stable conditions of heating, aeration, etc., reducing cost of spawn culture. Activation of spawn in the preliminary fermenter only requires routine manipulations, ensuring fast and stable prodn. of fermented compost
An organic material to be applied for prevention of root rot in plant is a soil conditioner to form root rot-preventive soil, a type of compost prepd. by mixing (i) froth emerging or excess sludge sedimenting during the process of waste water disposal in marine prod. processing with (ii) cereal bran, animal faeces and organic sludge to regulate the N/C ratio, and then fermenting and culturing the mixt. as a medium under aerobic atmosphere through the intermediation of aquatic microorganisms.    The material is applied by spraying on the surface of the soil or by exposing the root, spraying the material over it and then covering the soil. Amt. applied is 3-30 kg/tree.    USE -   Application of the material contributes to formation of root rot-preventive soil, controlling pathogenic germs and accelerating root-taking through formation of root rot-preventive soil and eventually preventing or controlling root rot without soil disinfection
Prepn. of fermented manure is carried out by compounding shochuu liquor lees and fowl faeces, as principal materials, at an equal ratio for standard or at a suitable ratio depending on the situation, then putting the mixt. in a fermenter and repeatedly sprinkling water in it and stirring so that the water content may be maintained within the range of 50-70% to allow heat-fermentation at 55-75 deg.C.    Also claimed are prevention of pollution with shochuu lees and fowl faeces by compounding them at a suitable ratio according to their amt. discharged, and allowing heat-fermentation using them to make manure or soil conditioner; and fermented manure and soil conditioner prepd. by the method.    ADVANTAGE -   Heat-fermentation of shochuu lees and fowl faeces quickens prepn. of compost or organic manure, enabling its mass prepn. in 1-1.5 months in contrast to conventional methods taking 6 months or over. In addn., a maintained high temp. of 70 deg.C for one month can effectively control insects and sterilise germs. Heat fermentation of shochuu lees and fowl faeces can solve the problem of pollution with them, recycling them as an organic manure
High-speed fermentation of organic material is carried out by putting animal faeces or mixt. of animal faeces with moisture regulator in a fermenter and fermentation, and fermenting faeces in pile to produce compost by setting the residence time for the mixt. in the fermenter to at least one-third the period of logarithmic growth of thermophilic microorganisms.    ADVANTAGE -   The high-speed fermentation treatment organic prod. stabilises the organic matters in the fermenter and makes the mixt. odourless. This permits decision of minimum treatment time in fermenting organic matters through combination of fermenter and pile, thereby enabling highly productive fermentation treatment. The high-speed fermentation treatment prevents generation of offensive odour as well as access of sanitary pest insects, e.g., flies
Prepn. of odorless compost made of livestock excreta, pref. fowl, swine or bovine excreta, or fish refuse is carried out by adding material contg. polyphenols, pref. tea.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Compost of livestock excreta is made odorless by addn. of phenol components contd. in a material, e.g., tea. Odorless compost thus prepd. has good fertilising effect as compared with ordinary compost.    In an example, dried fowl excreta (7kg) and green tea extn. residue (20kg, water content 70%) were mixed and piled up, and then occasionally turned. The temp. of the mixt. rose by 5-10 deg.C in week, and turned to aggregate of size of finger tip and turned black with the progress of fermentation. With the progress of blackening, odor characteristic of fowl extreta gradually disappeared, the entire mass of the mixt. turned black in 2 weeks with its odor confirmed completely lost
A mechanical and biological waste disintegration system has a liq./solids separator which receives waste from a disintegrator for water sepn. and which feeds the solid waste to a decomposition vessel for biological decomposition or dissolution, water being sepd. from the solid decomposed waste in the separator.    An organic domestic waste disposal system has a container contg. a stirrer which effects, pref. over the container height, a tumbling action about a central axis within a vessel pref. of circular cross-section. Waste is fed into the vessel from the side at a point below the surface of its comminuted waste contents in a liq.-free state. Comminuted wood is pref. also fed into the container to provide a substrate for the requisite bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is useful for disintegrating waste from kitchens, restaurants and the like, as well as waste from the foodstuff and animal feed industries. The system is extremely hygienic and efficient.
In appts. for obtaining microbiologically generated feed proteins from waste waters in which the nutrient concn. is so low that, to avoid flush out of the microorganisms, part of the withdrawn and concentrated biomass is continuously and rapidly returned to the microbiological process. The bioreactor and the flotation cell used for biomass concn. are in the form of a combined unit.    ADVANTAGE -   The appts. provides rapid biomass return to the microbiological process.
A waste treatment facility includes a pretreatment cell where the solid and liq. components of the waste are blended together and diluted with treated liquid effluent. The pretreated waste is delivered to an aerobic waste treatment cell. From the aerobic treatment cell, the sludge is delivered to a digester cell where anaerobic treatment is effected. The cells are interconnected by transfer devices. The facility includes a controller for controlling the operation of the system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The facility treats septage, holding tank waste and landfill leachate which cannot be accommodated by municipal waste treatment facilities. High BOD wastes can be processed for subsequent acceptance by a municipal waste facility.
Aerobic digestion of organic waste by adding fresh waste (opt. inoculated with a mixt. of bacteria and fungi) to the top of a digester and withdrawing biodegraded material from the bottom. The digester is supplied with O2-contg. gas, to which CO2 is added in an amt. depending on (a) the NH3 content of the off-gas or the NH3 content as measured by probes in the material undergoing degradation, and (b) the pH of the material undergoing degradation. Starting materials contg. little or no N are supplemented with organic and/or inorganic N cpds., or with waste material contg. such cpds., before and during addn. to the digester.    ADVANTAGE -   The process provides precise control of the degradation of N cpds., esp. giving prods. with a `forest soil' aroma, no NH3 aroma and an approximately neutral pH
(A) Microbiological decontamination of soil is carried out by excavating the soil into gas impermeable sacks, sealing the sacks gas-tightly, storing the sacks, mixing and loosening the sack contents by periodic rotation of the sacks to promote aerobic or anaerobic conversion and decomposition processes, and venting the sacks to remove gases resulting from the microbiological processes.    (B) Equipment for carrying out the process comprises gas impermeable sacks (1) which can be sealed gas-tightly and which have integral nozzles (3) with shut-off devices.    ADVANTAGE -   The process allows simple and rapid removal of the contaminated soil and non-polluting treatment of the soil.
Process is claimed for the controlled low-temp. degassing of pre-pulverised organic material (I), pref. used tyres, plastics, electronics scrap or its mixts., and also biomaterials, mainly for the prodn. and recovery of fuel and raw materials. The process is carried out in a single- or multi-stage ribbon reactor with separate stages one above the other which can be sepd. by airlocks, and fitted with one or more circuits to supply electrical energy for heating the whole screw with trough, or the screw ribbons and the trough cavities and/or the material to be dried and/or degassed, so as to produce different temp. conditions in the different screws, e.g. about 150 deg.C in stage 1, about 350 deg.C in stage 2 and about 700 deg.C in stage 3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process enables the recovery of high-grade fuel and raw materials from the above waste prods. (including sewage sludge, etc.). (0/0)
Longer service life of the catalyst in the unit forming the endothermic atmosphere, and increased excess air factor are carried out with a period given by a quoted formula. The unit includes a pulse generator, comparator and a pipe for pulsed feed of air fitted with a driven shutt-off valve, and with a set blocking the regulator of the endo-gas compsn. The input of the generator is fed by the gas analyser via the comparator while the output is connected to the drive of the shut-off valve and to the control input of the blocking unit.    The gas-air mixt. is fed to the retort (1) after it is heated to 100-1050 deg.C with the flow directed by the pipes (2,3) and (12). The air addition is steplessly adjusted by the valve (7) and by stepped shut-off valve (13). The air factor coefft. in the mixt. entering the retort is not greater than 0,25, 0.3 and 0.308 of methane, propane and butane respectively. Part of the endogas passes through the gas analyser (4), and the regulator (7) controls the valve (9) through the servo (8) using signals derived from the comparator (6) and from the gas analyser (4).    ADVANTAGE -   The data indicates an increment of unreacted methane in the endo-gas and thus the activity of the catalyst is maintained for longer. Bul.29/7.8.91
Recovery of chemical cpds. from post-consumer plastic items is pref. to energy recovery by incineration of items. Representative routes produce useful cpds. by chemical processing of polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) thermoset resins. Cpd. recovery and recycle comprises pyrolysis or destructive distn. PDCPD resin in pref. particle size can be vacuum distilled at 400 deg.C to give moderate yield of cyclopentadiene (CPD). CPD may be used to produce fresh moulding liquids for repolymerisation into new articles of PDCPD. Distn. of resin at up to and above 1000 deg.C produces decomposition prods. of CPD e.g. (m)ethane and in higher yield. Prods. can be recycled to refinery synthesis processes. If pyrolysis is in silica bed, inorganic residues of resin complex with bed and are easily disposed of. Recycling route for PDCPD is also via degradative metathesis. PDCPD or other polyolefin, of formula =M=M=M= is reacted with olefin R=R, R=M=R, R=M=M=R, etc. is CH2, CH3H2, etc., usign metathesis catalyst system. If olefin is ethylene, it can act as practical supercritical solvent. If large excess of olefin degradant is used, monomer(s) is produced in degradation. If less degradant is used, oligomers are produced. Monomers and oligomers can also be modified chemically to produce valuable monomer feeds for remoulding of new objects.
Compsn. comprises (A) dichlorofluoromethane, pref. 1-40 wt.% more pref. 14.5 wt.%; (B) chlorodifluoromethane, pref. 1-60 wt.%, more pref. 38.3 wt.%; (C) trifluoromethane, pref. 1-60 wt.%, more pref. 21.7 wt.%; (D) tetrafluoromethane, pref. 1-40 wt.%, more pref. 20.9 wt.%; and (E) methane, pref. 0.1-30 wt.%, more pref. 4.6 wt.%. In a refrigerator filled with several kinds of refrigerants having different b.pts. and having a refrigerant circuit where compressed refrigerants discharged from the compressor are condensed, condensed high boiling refrigerant(s) makes low boiling refrigerant(s) condense by its (their) evapn; these operations are repeated and the lowest b.pt. refrigerant is finally evaporated to attain refrigerant is new.    In another refrigerator consisting of the first closed refrigerant circuit (I) which refrigerates by condensing the compressed refrigerant discharged from the compressor then evaporating it in an evaporator and the second closed refrigerant circuit (II) where any mixt. of several kinds of refrigerants having different b.pts. is filled, compressed refrigerants discharged from the compressor are condensed, condensed high boiling refrigerant(s) makes low boiling refrigerant(s) condensed by its (their) evapn., these operations are repeated and the lowest b.pt. refrigerant is finally evaporated to attain refrigeration, a heat exchanger is composed between the high pressure refrigerant pipe of (II) from the compressor to the evaporator and the evaporator of (I). (I) is filled with one or any mixt. of two or more selected from chlorodifluoromethane, 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane, dichlorofluoromethane and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and (II) is filled with the claimed refrigerant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This refrigerant does not destroy ozone at the stratosphere and this refrigerator can stably achieve an ultra-low temp. of -130 deg.C by a mechanical refrigerator
NOVELTY - A single cell (1) and interconnector (2) forming a solid electrolyte layer and anode are laminated alternately on a single cell substrate (11), sequentially. An oxidizing gas is made to flow to the porous single cell substrate and fuel gas is made to flow to the anode side. The single cell consists of cobaltite or manganite group oxide.    USE -   For power supply.    ADVANTAGE -   Large volume valuation is reduced. Fuel battery having excellent reliability is offered with no damages. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the longitudinal view of solid electrolyte fuel battery. (1) Single cell; (2) Interconnector; (11) Single cell substrate.
In a composting device in which organic material is added at the top for rotting on a grid located above a storage space into which air enters and from an opening of which the compost is withdrawn, the novelty is that the grid has an open width of size such that the mature compost passes only by gravity and progressive rotting through the grid into the storage space.    Also claimed is a grid for use in an existing composting device, the grid being self-supporting and having grid bars which rest on cross-battens joined to feet.    ADVANTAGE -   The device allows easy mature compost removal, provide reliable air entry and requires no servicing of moving parts.
(A) In solid fuel prodn. from combustible waste by pyrolysing the sorted and ground waste and removing pollutants from the emitted hot gases prior to reuse in heating the pyrolysis reactor (10), the novelty is that solid fuel, which is free from the main pollutants initially present in the waste, is obtained by trapping the pollutants in a single specific zone of the plant using an absorbent which, when spent, is discharged separately from the purified solid fuel.    (B) Equipment for carrying out the process is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Most of the pollutants are removed from industrial and/or domestic waste by a dry process which is simple and energy efficient.
A compsn. comprises spores, sporocarphiae and/or mycelium of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF) and organic additives in the form of microbial, yeasty and/or chitinous material.    Also claimed is a process for preparing the compsn. by mixing a substrate comprising a mixt. of clayey soil and vermiculite in which plants infected with VAMF have been cultivated for at least 2 weeks, with microbial, yeasty and/or chitinous material.    The compsn. is free of plant roots esp. pathogenic fungi and bacteria and may also contain antagonistic fungi, bacteria and/or Actinomycetes suitable for controlling soil-borne pests and plant diseases. Antagonistic fungi are e.g. Metarrhizium anisoplae, Beauveria bassiana, Beauvaria brongniartii, Paeceliomyces lilacinus, Dactylella oviparasitica, Trichoderma viride, Tharzianum, T. Koningii, T. hamatum and Actinomycetes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For improving plant growth and plant health by including symbiotic and antagonistic microorganisms into one compsn. The compsn. is used in nearly all areas of agriculture and horticulture and esp. in wide area applications on soils exposed to erosion and revegetation of ski slopes, road embankments, refuse dumps and sand dunes in coastal areas. Chitin or micropolysaccharride additives are present at about 10% (w(w), but may be increased to 10.1 for wide area application. The compsn. is water-dispersible, and pref. sprayed on soil of the present or future location of a plant.    In an example, maize (Zea mays) and wild marigold (Tagetes patula) were grown in a mixt. of loamy sand and vermiculite (1:1) in the greenhouse (20 deg.C, 20,000 lux, 14 hours) with mycorrhiza inoculum granules added to the substrate in various amts. After 6 weeks the fresh wt. of inoculated and untreated plants were determined. Inoculated marigold plants showed a fresh wt. of 25-26 g compared with 21.3 g for the control, and maize gave results of 32.9-34.5 g compared with 28.12 g for the control
Liq. organic wastes are treated by (a) sepg. solids out from the liq.; (b) high rate anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, liq. effluent and excess anaerobic sludge; (c) anaerobic digestion of solids from (a) with the excess sludge from (b) in a continuously fed stirred tank type reactor; (d) sepg. the digested slurry from (i) into solid and liq. fractions and partially recycling the liq. to (b); (e) aerobically maturing the solid fraction from (d) and the non-recycled part of the liq. fraction; and (f) sepg. the liq. effluent from (b) and recycling the aq. part of the effluent.    Anaerobic digestion (b) is in a high rate upflow anaerobic sludge bed type digester, esp. oen equipped for recycling into contents. Step (b) is for 0.5-2.5 days. Steps (b) and (c) are performed with mesophile biomasses at 28-38 deg. C or with thermophile biomasses at 45-60 deg. C. The biomasses are gradually acclimated and suited to the specific operating conditions. Excess anaerobic sludge is transferred to (c) every 2-10 wks.    USE -   Biogas form (b) and biomass from (f), which is used as animal feedstock. Material obtd. from step (c) is used as fertiliser or soil conditioning purposes
The manure fermentation unit consists of a mixer with a drive mechanism, a heating agent transporter, and a cleaning system for the transporter. The heating agent transporter is in the form of a pipe (3) situated in the bottom of the tank (1). The mixer is in the form of a mesh partition (2) which is mounted on the transporter pipe by pivots and capable of a reciprocating motion.    The drive mechanism for the mixer comprises a reversible winch (8) which is connected to the mesh partition by a steel cable (9) which moves the partition to and fro along the pipe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture. More reliable operation is obtd. since the heating agent transporter pipe is prevented from becoming silted. Bul.22/15.6.91
Producing organic fertiliser comprises anaerobically fermenting part of organic wastes to produce a hydrocarbon fuel, and feeding the fuel to a drum drier to dry the remainder of the wastes, obtaining an organic fertiliser.    USE -   For organic wastes treating facilities.
Waste and garbage composting appts., comprises a collapsible container (10) having a sloping lid (23), and contg. an upright partition which divides the container into compartments and which has multiple perforations (18,18a). Specifically condensate collected on the lid (23) underside gravitates into a drain (20). Specifically the container is made from corrugated plastic board, and each compartment has its own lid (23).    USE -   Composting garbage to reduce vol. to enhance disposal.
In burning waste, kin partic. refuse that needs special attention, the waste (6) is fed into a rotary cylindrical furnace (1) in which it is burned, if necessary with supplementary firing, and slag (9) and flue gas (10) are formed. The flue gas is cleaned in a installation (23) and there is a gasification reactor (20) in which the slag, which still contains combustible residues, undergoes high-temp. gasification. The degassed slag is melted, and is released in a vitreous solid form. The reactor includes the burner (37) a coal-bed filter (44) and, between them, a slag bed. Several variants are claimed for the method and equipment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system can deal with highly toxic waste and with domestic refuse. The slag provided can be dumped without special protection, with no danger to the environment even if left for a long period.
Conversion of lower alkanes (I) to a higher mol. wt. hydrocarbon compsn. comprises contacting a feed contg. (I) with an oxidative coupling contact material compsn. (II) under oxidative coupling conditions and in the presence of O2.    (II) is free of catalytically effective reducible metal oxides and comprises a Fl-contg. cpd. of Sr, Ba, Sc, Y and/or La.    Pref. (II) is a fluoride of Sr or Ba and opt. contains Mg or Ca. (I) is 1-3C alkane pref. methane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for syngas prodn., partic. from methane, without formation of halogenated cpds. such as PCBs. Gives good selectivity to 2+C hydrocarbo
Synthesis of 2+C hydrocarbons by direct partial oxidn. of methane comprises contacting a mixt. of methane and O2 with a spinel oxide catalyst (I) under conversion conditions including temp. of 300-1200 deg.C and reactant partial pressure of 0.1-30 atm.. (I) includes or is combined with an alkali metal, (I) having the formula AB2O4, where A is Li, Mg, Na, Ca, V, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Cd or Sn; B is Na, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Rh, Ag or In; and A and B are different.    Pref. (I) is MgMn2O4 or CaMn2O4 modified with Li or Na. The mixt. of methane and O2 is provided by natural gas and air.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for syngas prodn. or in mfr. of chemicals or liq. fuels. Gives good selectivity to 2+C hydrocarbons, minimising over-oxidn. to CO and CO2
The apparatus comprises a vertically extending reaction chamber receiving the waste particles at the upper end. Char is discharaged at the lower end and a hot gas is received at the lower end which flows upward through the descending waste. A dual function cone suspended at the upper end of the chamber receives the waste particles around it and receives gases therein. The gases are funnelled to a combined inlet outlet which has an inlet portion receiving a propelling air stream. An intermediate section communicates with the top of the cone and an outlet discharges the air and gases from the cone.    ADVANTAGE -   A greater quantity of solids can be heated in a particular size of device per unit of time, thus the investment is considerably less. Small and thin pieces are individually heated when well spaced from each other and moving countercurrently in the hot gas stream.
Prepn. of hydrocarbons (I) having two or more C atoms comprises oxidative coupling of methane (II) over solid C (III) by using CO2 (IV) or steam (V) as oxidising agent.    Pref. (II) is fed to (III) with 0.1-5 (0.25-2) mol-fold (IV) and/or (V), reaction is carried out at 650-1,000 deg C (800-900 deg C) under 2.5-20 kg/sq. cm (5-15 kg/sq. cm). Coalchar, C black, active C, etc. having specific surface ara 500-4,000 m2/g is used as suitable catalyst, alkali(ne earth) metal(s) may be used as catalyst with (III).    ADVANTAGE -   (I) is prepd. from (II) without using rare earth metal catalyst. Loss of (II) in oxidative coupling reaction can be minimised by using (IV) or (V) as oxidising agent instead of oxygen. (0/0)
(JP4087158-A)   NOVELTY - A carbon monoxide transformer (4) makes the CO present in reform gas obtained by modifier (1), to react with pressurized water and subsequently with oxidizing gas passed through the transformer, to generate electric power. When the transformation poisoning is produced in transformer, the input to heater obtaining water vapor required for modifier, is performed in stepwise manner.    USE - For power generation using fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE - Since the reaction heat of CO transformer is removed using pressurized water, obtained by the steam separator itself compact generator with simple component is obtained. Enables rising catalyst inlet-port temperature depending on the degree of activity reduction, thereby facilitating supply reform gas with CO of fixed concentration to the fuel battery during long-term running.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The heater is arranged at the gas passage pipe extending from a steam separator (6) to the CO transformer (4), for obtaining water vapor required for the modifier.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the flow diagram showing the principal parts of electric power generator using fuel battery.    Modifier (1)    Transformer (4)    Steam separator (6)
Organic waste contg. fibre is poured with fermentation accelerator and fermented fungus into a fermenter and moisture content is constantly maintained by replenishing fresh water to the organic waste. Mixt. is heated to a fermentation moderate temp. while mixing and stirring; (b) Mixing, stirring, and heating are stopped and substance is protected against air, and is allowed to stand in the fermenter for a predetermined period to provide the fermented fungus with exponential growth; (c) The substance is then stirred at fermentation moderate temp. held while adjusting moisture using fresh water; (d) Substance is released from the fermenter for brewing farmyard manure to obtain a fermented and treated substance.    Treating system includes; (a) First transferring means to transfer the organic waste; (b) Fermentation treating unit comprising; (1) U-shaped cross-sectional fermentation treating tank. Paddle type stirring blade is mounted on a horizontal rotary shaft rotating along the bottom curved face of the tank. Drying chamber for storing CO2 generated in fermenting the organic waste is located above the tank; (2) Material inlet for feeding the organic waste transferred through the first transferring means in the tank; and (3) Material outlet is located at the lower area of the tank; (c) An aeration pipe means upwashing air is located at the lower area of the tank; and (d) A brewing farmyard manure treating tank stores the mixed treating substance released from the outlet.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fermentation treatment is organic waste contg. fibre, including trimmed turf, or fallen leaves and golf courses. Treating system continuously performs the fermentation treatment. No organic waste is pulverised therefore allowing efficient fermentation. Mixed treating substance is completely matured in the brewing farmyard manure tank in two months.
Prodn. comprises (a) mixing decanted sewage sludge (at least 22% solids) with 20-30% of a carbon source (esp. sawdust pellets), 0.4-0.8% of a carbohydrate source (esp. molasses) and 0.1-0.3% of a catalytic additive (esp. yeast), and stirring until the temp. reaches 20-30 deg. C.; (b) adding up to 200% domestic, industrial and/or agricultural waste, stirring until the temp. reaches 45-55 deg. C, and adjusting the moisture content to 60-70%; and (c) adding kerosine in an amt. of 2ml per kg of waste, adding 3.3% of a protein source (esp. `defatted cadaver soup') and 6.7% of a carbon source (esp. sawdust pellets), and agitating intermittently (10-20 min on, 20-30 min off) until the temp. reaches 68-80 deg. C.    ADVANTAGE -   Processing time is reduced, and the prod. does not require milling to produce small particles
Hg is removed from sewage sludge by (a) drying the sludge to less than 8% water content, and then (b) drying to below 2% water content with air at 130-170 deg.C.    Pref. (a) the water content is below 4% and (b) drying is with air at 155-165 deg.C, to below 1% water content. After passage through the sludge, the air is fed to an active C filter. At least before the 2nd phase, the sludge is treated with at least 10 g of coal or coal dust w.r.t. kg of dry matter in the sludge.    USE -   The treated sludge is used as a fuel for furnaces. A mixt. of the treated sludge with fossil fuel (esp. at least 10 wt.% of coal or coal dust communited to max. grain size 2 mm) is used in furnaces with a flame temp. of at least 1200 deg.C. The fuel mixt. is esp. used as main fuel for a rotating cement furnace. (6pp)
Liq. animal manure and condenser water are converted to a dry, sprinkable prod., by mixing 40-60 pts. of animal manure or condenser water, 20-30 pts. of uronic acid, 10-20 pts. of ground straw, 5 pts. of crushed rock and 15-25 pts. of gypsum, and heating the mixt. to 70-80 deg. C.    Pref. the straw is comminuted to particle size below 2 mm. The crushed rock is completely dry, silicate rock, rich in minerals, e.g. basalt or porphyry, pre-heated to at least 480 deg. C. The gypsum is plaster of Paris.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prod. is a high value biological fertiliser. Damage by excessive local appln. of liq. manure is avoided, odour is reduced, and the material is easily stored and transported. The fertiliser can be used in regions away from large-scale animal rearin
This is a method of condensing vapour from industrial process. By material exchange processes in a washing condenser where it is washed in counterflow with a fluid having a higher boiling points. the cold vapour is converted to the higher b.pt. vapour of the washing fluid. The cold vapour becomes liquified, and the vapour from the higher b.pt. fluid is liquefied in a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can be installed in the vapour outlet pipe from the condenser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the liquefaction of cold vapours such as ammonia, natural gas, and FCKW, and includes the cooling of pressing vessels in which the cold vapours are stored and transported, and also the evacuation of parts of the plant that contain these gases. The complications of earlier methods of condensing these vapours are avoided.
A process is claimed for the chromatographic determination of lower hydrocarbons and permanent gases (I), esp. 1-3C hydrocarbons using sepn. phases (II). (II) is a pref. on low-ash carbon-contg. microporous active carbon with pore radius = 6-25 A, relative micropore content = 70-80%, and BET surface = not below 1000 m2/g.    Quantitative sepn. of CO from air and of CO2 from 1-3C hydrocarbons is carried out at room temp., and the sepn. of 1-3C hydrocarbons from CO, CO2 and air is carried out over the range 20-200 deg.C at 20 deg.C/min., using thermal conductivity detectors for air, CO and CO2, and F.I. for the other cpds..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is useful esp. for the analysis of reaction prods. of carbo-chemical processes; (II) is a stationary phase with high selectivity and high sepn. efficiency, suitable for the analysis of mixts. of air, permanent gases and lower hydrocarbons
A cylindrical sewage composting container has a wedge shaped aerator lift arm which slides along the base pivoted about the central axis. The sewage is lifted by the wedge and air is pumped, from its vertical trailing face, beneath the sewage. A temp. of 150 deg.F is maintained and waste prod. gases are exhausted during the composting period.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   City sewage sludge and organic garbage are composted in the appts. to provide rich humus topsoil for city and private use. Sewage is at present mostly treated for purificn. of the liq. content and resultant solids are dumped or spread over land. With the new appts. a method is provided of composting solids into a non-odiferous, soil-like fertilising material.
Waste water, which is discharged from a dehumidifying tower where the waste gas from a sludge dryer is water-washed and dehumidified, is introduced into an anaerobic methane fermentation reactor. The methane gas produced in the reactor is then recovered.    Pref. in the fermentation reactor, bacteria fix themselves and form granular sludge and the waste water is passed through the reactor in an upflow direction.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to recover methane gas from the waste gas of a sludge dryer. The recovered methane gas is used as a heat source for the sludge dryer.    In an example, waste water contg. 5000 mg/litre BOD and 100 mg/litre SS was discharged from the dehumidifying tower at 600 m3/day. It was treated in a fermentation reactor and 2.32 Nm3/m3-waste water methane gas were recovered.
Prodn. involves (i) mixing a water content-regulating material, e.g. rice bran, etc. in fish waste to prepare a mixed material having a water content of 45-55%, and (ii) fermenting the mixed material using Lactobacillus and heating the air forced to circulate in the fermenter with heat of decomposition and formation generated by fermentation in the fermenter and with solar heat from outside the fermenter to adjust the temp. inside the fermenter to 60 deg.C and (iii) gradually evaporating water in the fermentation prod. with progress in fermentation to dry it.    ADVANTAGE -   The method utilises fermentation of offensive odour-generating substances with reduced operating costs and decomposes such substances. The fermentation produces no waste water, making the process pollution-free.
Method of treating sewage sludge soln. by mixing it with a coagulant to bind the mixt., pressing it to remove moisture, adding at least one waste prod. to the sludge soln., agitating the mixt. and extruding and shaping it to the required size.    The process may further comprise the step of heating and drying the extruded prod. and placing it in a microwave to radiate the extruded prod. The binder is pref. an acetic acid.    ADVANTAGE -   The invention provides a method of treating sewage sludge which avoids pollution to the atmosphere. The resultant prod. may be recycled for use as a fuel or for planks and rectangular panels suitable as biodegradable shuttering.
A process for the prodn. of silage is claimed comprising applying to a silage crop or ensiled matter, live silage fermenting bacteria and cinnamic acid or a cpd. derived from or related to cinnamic acid, and storing the treated crop under anaerobic conditions. The bacteria may be eg. Lactobacillus plantarum or Pediococcus pentosaceus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The combination of silage fermenting bacteria and cinnamic acid or deriv. or related cpd. produces a synergistic inhibition on yeast growth thereby reducing losses of dry matter.
Klebsiella oxytoca strain SAL-18A and mutants of microorganism are identified by accession number IVI-10113, the microorganism degrading haloaromatic cpds. in a solid medium.    USE -   Used in soil contg. halogenated chemical waste or for treating chemical process waste water or chemical waste landfill leachate. Uses mono- and di-chlorobenzoates as its sole source of carbon and energy in a solid medium and grows aerobically and anaerobically
In a process and appts. for composting organic substances in forced aeration containers at variable locations, the containers (1) are identical to land and sea freight containers, pref. equipped with compostable aeration tubes (3) and with mechanical loosening equipment.    ADVANTAGE -   Compostable material can be transported over long distances e.g. by road or sea without the danger of anaerobic rotting and unacceptable fume emission. Composting occurs during transport so that costly measures for ground sealing (when composting on land) are avoided.
Sensor comprises: insulating substrate (2) with a protruding portion (I); heater (not shown) arranged near the tip of (I); heater leads (9) extending over (I) and connected to terminals (8) located opposite (I); insulation (11) formed over the heater; a sensing element (3) located over the heater near the tip of (I); and second leads (6) connected to sensor extending over (I) to second terminals (7) located opposite (I). The sensor is pref. Sn oxide which may be doped with e.g. Pt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As e.g. a gas sensor for gases in air such as H2, CH4, etc. Integrated sensor is provided with heating and sensing elements on the same substrate.
A solid state radioluminescent compsn. or light source comprises: an optically clear polymer matrix (I) having a crystalline zeolite material (II); at least one tritium-contg. cpd. (III) and at least one luminophore (IV) are sorbed into the crystalline inter lattice spaces of (II).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The light production efficiency should be increased. The composite suspensions should minimise internal reflectance loss of emitted light among the zeolite crystals. Damage and yellowing of the optically clear matrix is minimised by eliminating the need for tritiated matrix external to the zeolite lattice. The optically clear systems using soluble radioluminescent dyes provide a high quantum yield of fluorescence, good matrix solubility, low volatility, large Stokes shift to minimise reabsorption effects and good radiation stability. (0/0)
The installation contains a multi-positional switch-over unit, a feed unit and a voltmeter connected through a switch to the supply. One group of outlets from the switch-over unit is connected to a timer which is connected to an indicator light. The other group of outlets is connected through a convection unit to the sensor being checked.    The outlets from the feed unit and a rotameter are connected to the inlets of the switch-over unit. In addition, the installation has actuating units for the timer and the gas supply, a switch and a unit for preliminary prepn. of the sensors. Each unit for monitoring the time of heating of the sensors contains an electronic time relay, a feed unit and an information unit. Quantitative checking and adjustment are achieved by reducing the production cycle by constant control of the preheating of the sensors without the need for manual operations.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mining and oil and gas extn. industries, and esp. in coal-mining industry. Labour productivity is doubled to 144 sensors per eight-hour shift. Bul.25/7.7.91
Catalysts consist of heat-resistant fibres loaded with platinum gp. metals.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalysts obtd. can be used to decompose methane gas produced by the redn. with hydrogen of carbon dioxide which is expired from people in closed spaces such as space stations, nuclear shelters, and submarines, adsorbed, concentrated and then desorbed. By using the catalysts obtd., the time to exchange catalysts can be extended twice as long and the decomposition rate of methane gas at 1000 deg.C can be increased by 15%, resulting in the redn. of the cost and size.    In an example, 10g of carbon fibre coated with 10 wt.% Pt was placed in the soaking section of a reaction tube with an inside dia. of 30mm and a length of 1m. The carbon fibre coated with Pt was heated to 1000 deg.C, and when the temp. became constant, methane gas was passed through the tube at a flow rate of 0.141 l/min. The pressure in the system was fixed at 0.5 kg/cm2G and when the reaction system was blocked, the flow of methane gas was stopped. The percentage of decomposed methane was calculated from the concns. of methane and hydrogen, which was found to be 50%.
The parent patent described a prod. for the chemico-biological treatment of animal excrements and comprising a mixt. of bacterial cultures, enzymes and living yeasts and a support such as a mixt. of NaCl, CaCO3 and colloidal SiO2. In this new patent the prod. is also used for treating household waste waters and the support is pref. mainly Na2SO4 instead of a mixt. of NaCl and CaCO3.    Pref. the enzymes comprise batinase, amylase and lipase. A pref. prod. comprises: 0.5-10 (wt.)% Bacillus subtilus; 0.5-10% amylase; 0.5-10% batinase, 0.05-5% lipase, 0.5-10% Baccharomyces calsbergensis strains, 62-97% Na2SO4 and 1-3% colloidal SiO2. The prod. may contain only 1 of the 3 above enzymes.
Monitoring appts. comprises a gas flow meter to measure the flow rate of a methane gas sepd. by a gas separator to separate it from a gas produced in a reactor contg. methane producing bacteria and waste water.    USE -   Used for treating waste waters.
In a prepn. of a new fuel the residue from the process of refining used paper pulp through disaggregation of used paper and after sorting of the pulp is dehydrated and dried to obtain used paper residue. The sludge after paper making from used paper is dehydrated, dried and carbonised to obtain carbonised sludge prod. Then 5-10 wt.% of the sludge prod. and 10-20 wt.% of a combustible oil are added to the used paper residue and granulated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Utilising the waste, the method provides an inexpensive fuel available for industrial and agricultural applications, reduces environmental pollution associated with the waste and allows a significant cost redn.    In an example, the fuel usually has a calorific value of 5000-6000 kcal/kg, comparable with that of coal. The residue is usually dehydrated to a water content of 60% and dried at 700 deg.C. The sludge is usually dehydrated to a water content of 65%, granulated to grain sizes of 2-3mm, dried at 700 deg.C and heat-treated at 1300 deg.C in a rotary kiln to carbonise. The fuel is finally pelletised to e.g. 5 x 10 x 5 mm pellets.
Composting comprises feeding the waste to a conveyor on the bottom of a dewatering tank allowing excess water to drain through holes of the conveyor to adjust the water content and throwing waste in to a fermenting tank.    USE -   Used for waste water treatment facilities.
Appts. is a vertical cylinder with a height three times the square root of the cross-sectional area. It is provided with a heater at the peripheral wall and a lifter to raise the contents along the wall.    USE -   Used for treatment of extremely polluted water e.g. domestic excrements.
Distn. column has a controlled freezing section and a lower distn. section sepd. by a bubble cap tray with base. Riser(s) is/are attached to the base portion and extend upwardly. A bubble cap covers the riser(s), forming vapour flow path(s) between the two above sections.    The flow path(s) extend upwardly through a riser and downwardly between the riser and covering cap, exciting the annulus near the upper surface of the tray base and into the controlled freezing section. A device, pref. weir, maintains a liq. on the tray base, pref. at ca 0.5 ft. (15.2 cm), (esp. 1 ft., 30.5 cm) to ca 10 ft. (3.05 m) (esp. 5 ft., 1.52 m).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For controlled sepn. of CO2 and other acid gases from methane, by thermodynamic sepn.- distillation of a feed stream mixt. contg. the gases in a single distillation column. Significantly reduces or eliminates need for an external energy source and associated heat transfer appts. Appts. enables formation of sufficiently deep heat reservoir on the tray to melt any solids, e.g., solid CO2, formed above and caught in the tray.
Bin (32), has an open bottom (34) and a removable top panel (2) of solar radiation transmissive materials, pref. transparent plastic material. The top panel (2)) is inclined at 5-45 deg. to the horizontal. Pref. the bin is in the form of a kit of panels securable together to form a bin of pyramid shape.    ADVANTAGE -   Solar heating accelerates rate of composting.
Digester for a fluid-contg. solid material has a number of spaced, parallel, vertically oriented panels (52) in a container (20). A pump (68) circulates fluid from an inlet (60) adjacent the surface at one end of the container (20) through a conduit (74 to 84) adjacent the bottom of the container to riser (86, 88) adjacent the other end of the containers. Nozzles (98) in the conduit eject fluid downwardly toward the container bottom to flow upwardly between panels (52) and over the walls of the container, with additional nozzles (90, 92) at the top of the risers to direct fluid back toward the pump inlet (60).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for anaerobically digesting animal manures and other organic materials. Circulation system eliminates the build-up of heavy phases in the digester bottom and light phases at the digester top, enabling operation with a min. of attention and without use of mechanical agitators which are subject to corrosion and breakage.
The filling power of a tobacco material (I) is increased as follows; (a) (I) is extd with a solvent, then sepd from at least a portion of the solvent; (b) the sepd (I) is contacted with a humectant (II), then an expansion agent (III); and (c) (III) is released from (I) under conditions sufficient to expand (I).    Step (a). Solvent is pref. a liq having aq character, when pref. at least 20% esp at least 30% partic at least 40% by wt of (I) is sepd as extract soluble in the solvent. Pref. after (a), extracted (I) has H2O content 15-50% by wt. of total (I) and H2O. Step (b) Prefd (III) include opt halogenated hydrocarbons (esp propane), or liq CO2 etc, Contact with (III) is pref. at above ca 4.5 kg/cm2 below the critical pressure (esp for propane). Step (c) Expansion is pref such that the extrd (I) shows a filling capacity above ca 900 ml esp above 1000 ml/2.3 psi/100 g of extrd (I) at 12 wt% H2O at 76 deg F.    ADVANTAGE -   The process is an efficient and effective method for providing tobacco filler materials having extremely low densities and extremely high filling capacities. The prods. are partic useful as smoking materials for the manufacture of cigarettes.
Liquid farm manure is prepd. for use as fertiliser more efficiently by adding a dispersion of sapropel, representing organic hydrophilic colloidal mud, to the manure in amounts of 0.1-2 wt.% and freezing the mixt. The frozen material is then fragmented by e.g. running a caterpillar tractor periodically over it. The mixt. is then thawed out and first fractions are collected for use as fertiliser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in agriculture. Increased efficiency of enrichment of the utilised waste is obtd. The method increases the amount of K, Ca and ammoniacal nitrogen in the fertiliser by 3.4-4.0, 2.4-3.1 and 1.8-2.4 times, respectively. Bul.24/30.6.91
Domestic solid waste is stored more efficiently by mixing with oil-contaminated material such as oil from spilates, as follows. The waste of vol.wt. 307-493 kg/cu.m contg. 203-342 g/kg of organic material is stirred vigorously with the waste contg. petroleum oil or products from spillates, spent lubricants, etc., in proportion 3-4.5:1, such that the final oil content does not exceed 5 wt.%. Domestic waste contains aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (Pseudomonas, etc.) Candida yeast and various fungi such as Aspergillus, Fusorium and penicillins, which decompose the oil.    ADVANTAGE -   Cheaper process involving simultaneous storage and utilisation of domestic and oil-contg. waste.    In an example, a sample of soil contaminated with 12 wt.% of diesel oil was mixed with domestic waste. After 6 and 14 months 69 and 93.9% of the oil resp. were decomposed. Bul.23/23.6.91
Reactor comprises a reducing catalyst (A) loaded on a conductive support (e.g. carbon), an oxidising photocatalyst (B) loaded on a semiconductor support (e.g., TiO2), and a reducing photocatalyst which is contacted with photocatalyst (B) through a water-repellent (e.g., PTFE). Photocatalyst (C) is suspended near the surface of an aq. soln. and is irradiated with visible light. CO2 gas is contacted with photocatalyst (C) and is photocatalytically reduced.    Pref. CO2 gas nozzles or tubes are placed in the reactor. Photocatalyst (C) is suspended by introducing CO2 gas into the reactor. Visible light is radiated onto photocatalyst (C) over the surface of the aq. soln. or from inside.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to reduce CO2 gas to MeOH, methane, or CO. The new reactor can be constructed in a multistage form, so that CO2 can be converted with higher efficiency. The new reactor has a simple structure and is less expensive.
Conversion of CH4 to a higher mol.wt. hydrocarbon is effected by contacting a feed stream comprising methane with an O2-source and a catalyst. The catalyst comprises (i) an oxide of boron; (ii) a tin component; (iii) one or more oxides of Zn, Ni, Co and Fe; and (iv) one or more Gp. IA or IIA metals.    It is produced by pptg. an admixt. of (ii) and (iii) in a basic soln., contacting the admixt. with a cpd. of B and drying the admixt. while it is being admixed. The conditions in the reaction zone are maintained at 0.5-200 atmos., 500-1500 deg.C and a methane flow rate of 50-10000 GHSV. A 2C-plus hydrocarbon stream is recovered from an effluent stream withdrawn from the reaction stream.    The O2 is supplied to the reaction zone at a mole ratio of O2 to methane = 0.04:1-1.2:1. The catalyst pref. comprises complex oxides of B, Sn, and Zn with the catalyst comprising a SnO2 phase and a greater amt. of a Zn2B6O13.3H2O phase than of a Zn2SnO4 phase. The mole ratios of B, Sn and Zn in the catalyst are within the ranges 0.1-7 B:0.1-5 Sn:1 Zn. The reaction may occur in a fixed bed, moving bed or fluidised bed reactor or other suitable arrangement. The catalyst may be supported on an inert carrier. The pressure used is pref. 1-30 atmos., the temp. is pref. greater than 700 deg.C, more pref. 725-1000 deg.C and the GHSV is pref. 500-6000, more pref. 1000-5000. The hydrocarbons recovered from the effluent are normally ethane and ethylene plus minor amts. (less than 2 mole %) of 3C hydrocarbons.    USE -   The process is used for upgrading methane into more valuable higher mol.wt. (mainly 2C) hydrocarbons.
Valuable prods. are recovered from scrap rubber tyres by shredding them and separately recovering rubber crumb particles smaller than 3/4 inch and metallic and non-rubbery shreds. The rubber crumb is charged into an inclined, heated, rotating tube maintained slightly above atmos. pressure so as to minimise air infiltration and having an entry end slightly higher than its exit end. In it, the crumb is rapidly heated to 800-1000 deg. F so that it decomposes into a gaseous product and solid residue. A portion of the gaseous product is condensed and a liquid condensate recovered.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process enables scrap tyres to be converted into carbon black and a heating oil having a heating value of 18,000 Btu per lb. simply and inexpensively.
Sulphate-reducing and methane-producing bacteria (I) and (II) are cultured in at least two reactors in series.    Process comprises; (i) adding to a first reactor a liq. substrate contg. dissolved sulphate; and enough dissolved electron donor(s) of mol. wt. greater than acetic acid for (I) to reduce some of the dissolved sulphate; (ii) ferementing under an aerobic conditions at pH 6-8 and 30-40 deg C with a mean residence time less than (I) need to oxidise acetic acid completely, (iii) reducing the concn. of sulphide generated; (iv) passing to the second reactor; (v) formenting at pH 6.8-7.4 and 20-65 deg C for long enough for (II) to use up all the acetic acid; (vi) removing methane from the second reactor and (vii) removing the liq. effluent from the second reactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Acid mine drainage can be treated to remove heavy metals, acidity and sulphate without added electron donor chemicals or energy.
Appts. comprises photoelectrodes, to which light collected by light collector is fed through optical fibre. Reactor appts. is used as light collector, and light is fed to anode of reactor appts.    USE -   Converting CO2 into methanol, methane or CO.
In prepn. which involves natural gas contg. methane to partial oxidn. by O2 or an O2-contg. gas at 600 to 1000 deg. C in the presence of metal oxide as catalyst, use is made of a metal oxide contg. two metals which carry alkali halide as the catalyst.    The metal includes one belonging to gp. IA and one belonging to gp. VA. Examples of metal oxide are PbTiO3, SrTiO3, NaNbO3, KNbO3, NaTaO3, etc..    ADVANTAGE -   By the present method, ethane and ethylene can be obtd. at high yield.
Photocatalyst comprises a catalyst in contact with a photocatalyst, either one of which is in contact with a water repellant substance. The catalyst consists of an electrically conductive support, pref. C, loaded with a catalytic component active to redn., pref. selected from the elements of gps. Ib, IIb, IVb, VIa and VIII. The photocatalyst consists of a semiconductor, pref. with an energy level negatively larger than the electric potential of the redn. of CO2 to CH4, loaded with a catalytic component active to oxidn., pref. selected from elements of gps. Ib, Va, VIa, VIIa and VIII. The water repellent substance pref. has a critical surface tension of up to 20 dyn.cm.    Also claimed is a reaction appts. in which the photocatalyst is suspended in an electrolytic soln. and CO2 is contacted with the photocatalyst which is irradiated with light. Further claimed is a COS recycling system which is equipped with the appts., a sunlight gathering appts. and an appts. to absorb or condense CO2 from flue gases or exhaust gases.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The photocatalysts obtd. can be used in the redn. of CO2 to methano, CH4 and CO for recycling. Using the photocatalysts obtd., the redn. of CO2 can be conducted efficiently and rapidly.
This is a method of drying natural gas and for reprocessing the aq. solvent used for this purpose. The natural gas is heated and brought into contact with the water solvent, which is reprocessed in a distillation arrangement. The water solvent is used as a heat carrier both for heating the gas and for the heat supply to the boiling-chamber of the distillation column. Variants claimed include the water solvent used for these two purposes being heated in the same boiling-chamber, and several further arrangements for the solvent and for the apparatus used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Drawbacks of earlier methods are overcome, in that this equipment is simpler, uses less energy, and is more environment-friendly
Making use of organic material by chopping and composting comprises conveying chopped compressed fresh organic waste through a duct provided with a heating jacket and heating relating to the nature of the material. Introducing further fresh material into the duct forces the preceding material into a heated fermenter in which it is mixed by an agitator and the evolved gases are removed, and the composted material is mixed with the incoming fresh material in order to provide bacterial seeding of the composting process.    The temp. during the mixing phase is 28-38 degrees C while in the heating phase it is 50-60 degrees C. The admixture of composted material to the fresh waste material carried out for a certain time period and is determined by the compsns. of the fresh and composted materials.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the conversion of organic waste, such as domestic or animal waste, the compost which can be used in horticulture etc. An effective, environment-friendly process converts the material to a compost which can be used in gardens etc
Isomerisation of a 4-10C paraffin involves contacting the paraffin with a catalyst compsn. comprising a dehydrogenation/hydrogenation metal and a zeolite with the following X-ray diffraction pattern: (Interplanar d-spacing; relative intensity, respectively) 12.36 +/- 0.4, M-VS, 11.03 +/- 0.2, M-S, 8.83 +/- 0.14, M-VS, 6.18 +/- 0.12, M-VS, 6.00 +/- 0.10, W-M, 4.06 +/- 0.07, W-S, 3.91 +/- 0.07, M-VS and 3.42 +/- 0.06, VS.    Process conditions are 200-315 deg.C, 450-3350 kPa and wt. hourly space velocity of 0.2-10 per hour. Contacting is pref. carried out in the presence of H2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process increases the octane of low octane naphthas contg. 6-10C n-paraffins and/or mono-Me branched paraffins. Yields are increased by minimising cracking of 5+C hydrocarbons. Process can be used to upgrade refinery streams rich in 4-6C n-paraffins
A novel activated catalyst for oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons comprises: (i) calcium-oxide and/or strontium oxide; ii) an oxide of Fe, Co, Ni; and iii) a small amt. of an alkali oxide. The catalyst is activated after formation by heating at 680-700 deg.C for 1-48 hrs. in an O2 atmos.. Pref. (iii) is Li2O, Na2O or K2O.    The atomic ratio range of alkaline earth/transition metal = 2:1-4:1 and of transition metal/alkali = 1:0.05-1:0.2. The molar ratios of CH4/O2/steam = 2:1:4-5:1:8. The catalyst is prepd. by mixing aq. solns. of salts of the 3 components with the same anions (pref. NO3 or CO3) and heating in air to dry, decompose and form the required oxides.    ADVANTAGE -   The process provides for oxidative coupling of CH4 with high selectivities for 2C and higher hydrocarbons with minimal COx formation. An easily prepd. catalyst is provided. The process employs steam and min. O2 and is thus well below the flammability limit.
Membrane having selective permeability comprises a layer of at least one fully dense dopable polymer, having an at least partially conjugated pi electron system, pref. polyaniline in an emeraldine oxidn. state. It also comprises at least one dopant in an effective amount to modify the permeability of the polymer, pref. selected from Bronsted acids, inorganic and organic ions, most pref. Lewis acids.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Selectivity of the membranes is modified in situ by doping, leading to larger sepn. factors than for non doped membranes and enabling the control of sepn. of components in a mixt.; the membranes are particularly useful for selective gas sepn., esp. mixts. contg. H3, H2, CH4, CO2, Ar, O2 and N2 (claimed). The membranes may also be used to separate ions in soln., e.g. in electrochemical cells. They may also be used in processing low and medium level nuclear waste and in food and waste water treatment by reverse osmosis.    In an example, membranes were formed from polyaniline hydrochloride in the emeraldine oxidn. state, obtd. by reacting aniline hydrochloride with an oxidant soln. of ammonium peroxydisulphate, at 0 deg.C. The membranes were doped with 4M halic acid solns. then undoped with 1M aq. soln. of ammonium hydroxide. Sepn. factors of the membranes as cast (AS) and after the doping/undoping treatments (D/U) were for H2/N2 206.7 (AC) and 7532.5 (D/U), for O2/N2 9.5 (AC) and 129.9 (D/U) and for CO2/CH418.1 (AC) and 335.9 (D/U)
Converting methane to higher hydrocarbons and water comprises contacting the methane and gaseous oxidant with SiO2 at 700-1200 deg.C in the presence of at least promoter selected from halogens and their cpds. The contacting occurs in the absence of alkali metals and their cpds. and of reducible metal oxides.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Improved process uses a solid catalyst, non-reducible under process conditions to give enhanced formation of unsaturated cpds. The use of non-acidic catalysts minimises coking and prod. decomposition. Used partic. for converting methane at petroleum wellheads into a more easily transportable prod.
Sepn. of extractable organic material (I) from its mixt. with solids and water comprises contacting the feed mixt. with solvent mixt. in an enclosed space. The solvent mixt. comprises (i) first organic solvent (II) that dissolves at least 10 pts. (I) per million pts. (II) at the temp. where at least 50 wt. % (II) boils at atmospheric pressure and (ii) second organic solvent (III) which is more volatile then (II) and dissolves 10 pts. (I) per million pts. (III) at the temp. where at least 50 wt. % (III) boils. (I) dissolves in the solvent mixt. and the obtd. solvent-extract mixt. is sepd. from the enclosed space to leave a treated prod.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Feed compsn. comprises solid hazardous or petroleum waste, refinery sludge or prodn. sludge. Process can also be used extract oil from seeds, corn etc. cleaning waste contaminated soil, cleaning filter beds, extracting bitumen from tar sands, etc. Process is efficient economical and reliable and renders wastes acceptable for disposal.
The fermenter-gas holder has a cylindrical reservoir (1), a circular container (5) with heat carrier, which is fitted on the reservoir outer side. The gas holder bell (3) is submerged in the heat carrier. The bell upper part is provided with a coaxial loading-unloading pipe (9) with mixing blades and blades turning mechanism. The fermentation process is intensified by improving the heat transfer between the heat carrier and the fermenting mass and creating immobilised surfaces in the fermenter since the mixing blades are provided with brushes (11) made of flexible heat conducting material, e.g. steel wire. The reservoir is provided with spiral ribs (2) connected to its inner surface and interacting with the brushes.    USE -   The fermenter-gas holder is used for organic waste treatment and can be employed in agriculture.
Dirty article is contacted with a non-halogenated organic solvent under conditions that result in cleaning of dirt from the article comprises using a hydrogenated or dehydrogenated analogue of a terpene as solvent. Also claimed is a solvent compsn. used in the process.    The solvent pref. comprises material selected from cymenes, methenes and methanes. After cleaning solvent contamination is pref. removed by contacting the cleaned article at an elevated temp. with an aq. medium and/or low boiling solvent evaporating the solvent contamination from the surface. The solvent contamination is pref. evaporated as an azeotrope with an aq. medium. The azeotrope includes also a low boiling aliphatic organic solvent selected from aliphatic amines, ketones, ethers and alcohols (esp. isopropanol, other propanols, and butanols). The non-halogenated solvent pref. includes upto 10%. Low boiling organic solvent selected from amines, ketones, ethers and alcohols. The non-halogenated solvent is immiscible with water. The azeotrope is condensed and the organic phase is separated and separated phase is recycled for subsequent cleaning. The azeotrope is evaporated in a vessel that contains the aqs. medium in its base and has a heater for heating the aq. medium and an outlet for evaporated azeotrope across the outlet on which the azeotrope is condensed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For cleaning printed circuit boards or other electronic components. The solvent has good solvency power and substantially no solvent residues are left on the articles and the operatives are not exposed to a flash hazard. The process is environmentally acceptable.
The treatment of liq. manure resulting from animal husbandry, esp. of pigs, cows and poultry comprises mixing the liquid manure with hemicelluloses and sugar -contg. calcium or magnesium lignosulphonates in a homogenising container. After homogenisation the mixt. is charged pref. in several doses to an organic and/or inorganic sorption material. Between the charging of each dose, the resulting mixt. is homogenised and aerated.    An artificial fertiliser contg. 10-50 pts. wt disintegrated waste phytomass, 30-60 pts wt.liquid manure which has been treated with 1-20 pts. wt. calcium or magnesium lignosulphonate which contains 1-10% hemicelluloses and sugar, 0.40 pts. wt. lime stone, 0-20 pts. wt. urea, 0-20 pts. wt. ammonium sulphate and 0-10 pts wt. waste phosphate is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGES -   The process can be used to make the artificial fertiliser described. The fertiliser has regulated nutrient desorption. Investment and operation costs are relatively low and environmental pollution is avoided. The fertiliser contains waste prods. which would otherwise be difficult to work up and has no harmful effect on the soil composition or on ground or surface water. The nutrients are successfuly released by the action of the plant systems and soil microorganisms and are thus not released into the environment
Anaerobic treatment of waste water contg. organic pollutants comprises (a) passing the water to bioreactor (1) where it is kept at pH 6-8; (b) removing liq. from the bioreactor and passed to clarifier (2); (c) recovering sludge from (2) and recycling at least part of it to (1), (d) eliminating excess sludge from (1); (e) discharging clarified liq. (pre-purified water) from (2),    Liq. in is adjusted to at least pH 9 by adding an alkali (e.g. Mg or K hydroxide). Treatment in (2) is carried out batchwise and the ratio amt. of liq. drawn from (1) to total liq. in (1) is 1:30-200.    The dwell time in (2) is 1.5-3.5 hr and the bicarbonate concn. in (1) is 35-60 deg. C. with a temp. difference of at least 15 deg. C between top and bottom. Contents of (1) are kept in the stationary with only natural circulation.    Prepurified water from (2) is stripped of NH3 with air or steam and the excess sludge from (1) is mechanically dewatered without incorporation of additives. Alternatively it is composted with an organic material such as chopped straw or sawdust.    In reactor (1) CH4 is generated from MeCOOH or HCO3 ion; CO2 is converted to HCO3 ion and the method can tolerate up to 10g/l sulphate without significant formation of H2S.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method requires only simple appts. without elaborate control systems, provides a good yield of high value biogas, and can process waste waters of diverse origins, compsns. and concns. without dilution. Excess sludge is useful as fertiliser with improving properties.
Two-phase system for delivering an aerosol from a pressurised container is characterised by a propellant reservoiring effect and comprises 75-98 wt.% of an aq. component (I) and 25-2 wt.% of a propellant component (II). (I) comprises a mixt. of a non-ionic surfactant, a 9-18C prim. alcohol, a cpd. which is a polyhydroxy alcohol and/or ester and an active ingredient, the balance being water. (II) comprises a 3-5C linear hydrocarbon. Pref. (I) comprises a mixt. of 0.25-6.5% of a fatty acid alkanolamide surfactant, 0.001-3.5% of a C11 prim. alcohol, 0.1-6% of glycerol and 0.01-20% of an organic active ingredient, the rest being water, and (II) comprises a mixt. of propane and butane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is effective in forming vesicles and dispensing the entire contents of the container whilst utilising a lower level of propellant and volatile organic cpd. (voc) than previously possible. It may be used to form delivery systems for polishes, air fresheners, insecticides, cleaning prods. and dermal treatments.
The cleaning and working space (5) is filled with metahne absorbing liquid (such as a mixture of pentane with fluoro-chloro-bromo-methane) and it is insulated from the atmosphere of the mine by a layer of liquid which is inert in relation to methane (such as water). As breaking of the coal takes place, desorption of the urethane from the methane-absorbing liquid is performed.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased safety of underground mining and ensured complete utilisation of energy resources. Bul.14/15.4.91
The unit consists of a container with one or more input apertures for organic waste, and has upper and lower chambers, sepd. from one another by an intermediary wall with apertures.    The lower chamber is filled with an insulating material in which it is suitable for worms to live. The upper chamber is for the decomposition of the organic waste. The insulating material and the organic waste at least partly interface at the intermediary wall, enabling the worms to move from the lower to the upper chamber through the wall holes. Air intake apertures are provided for both chambers, those for the upper chamber incorporating bio filters. Insulating material used in the lower chamber can comprise peat, bark, sawdust, or paper fibre, possibly in combination with hay, stray or dry leaves.    USE -   To decompose organic waste for composting purposes. (Provisional Basic previously advised in week 9205)
Prepn. of foaming particles (I) of a polyolefin resin comprises: impregnating (A) an easily volatile foaming agent, into (B) 100 wt.% of particles of a styrene-modified polyolefin resin, in the presence of (C) 0.01-0.5 pts. wt. of (C1) a fatty acid ester of glycerin, (C2) a fatty acid ester of sorbitane, or (C3) a fatty acid ester of penta-erythritol. Prior to impregnating (A), 0.1-4 wt.% of water based on (B) can be added into (B); or impregnating (A) is carried out in an aq. medium.    (A) Foaming agent is pref. propane, butane, trichloromonofluoromethane, etc.; of which amt. is pref. 6-15 pts. wt. based on 100 pts. wt. of (B). (B) Styrene-modified polyolefin resin is prepared by adding 30-300 pts. wt. of styrene-monomer into an aq. dispersion of 100 pts. wt. of polyolefin particles, pref. polyethylene or ethylene/vinyl-acetate copolymer contg. less than 10% of vinyl-acetate, and polymerising it.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Foaming particles of a styrene-modified polyolefin resin is controlled in number of pores per unit of area to not too many, can be produced, which can give a foamed mould having superior appearance, fusing property and mechanical strength.
The treatment comprises putting a fermenting tank below a cattle shed, allowing the droppings to drop into the tank and removing the extra water content and liq. produced from the fermented droppings in the tank, through a pipel    USE -   For stockbreeding facilities.
Decomposition of methane gas comprises thermally decomposing methane gas in the presence of a catalyst consisting of ruthenium on a support.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can be applied to the decomposition of methane gas produced by the redn. with hydrogen of carbon dioxide which is expired from people in closed spaces such as space stations, nuclear shelters, and submarines. Methane gas can be decomposed efficiently at lower temps. than by the conventional method, resulting in a redn. of cost and size.    In an example, in the soaking section of a reaction tube with an inside dia. of 30mm and a length of 1000 mm, 40 ml of a Ru catalyst prepared by loading alumia with a dia. of 3.2 mm and a length of 3 mm with 0.5% Ru was packed, with 50 ml each of silica wool being placed on its both sides. After purging the system with nitrogen gas, methane gas was sent at a rate of 0.141 l/min into the reaction tube which was preheated at 1000 deg. C. After passing methane gas through the tube for a given period, the percentage of decomposed methane was calculated from the concentrations of methane and hydrogen. It was found to be 42%.
Appts comprises a waste hopper with a feeder, an activated additive hopper with a feeder, a mixer of the waste and additive, a trap Fe separator, a sifter and mobile exhaust gas washing device.    USE -   Used as fuel, fertiliser and livestock feed.
Appts comprises waste hopper with feeder, activated additive hopper with feeder, mixer of waste and additive, trapped iron separator, sifter and exhaust gas washing device.    USE -   Used as fuel, fertiliser, and livestock feed.
Processing comprises adding water to the droppings and agitating, separating solid from liq. by filtration, using the liq. as culture medium and supplying to breeding tank, removing from the tank and to separating liquid from fungus, returning the liq. to the tank, mixing the fungus with starch or like and spraying the mixt. to form fertiliser.    ADVANTAGE -   Public nuisance by droppings can be avoided and fertiliser is obtd.
A disgester for animal waste consists of a fermentation bed of particulate inert material. The bed includes a min. thickness of 20-25 cm. in which aerobic fermentation occurs. An activating nutrient compsn. is distributed on the surface of the bed to promote the growth of microorganisms naturally present in the animal faeces.    In an embodiment, the fermentation bed replaces traditional litter. It is divided into two zones, the upper supporting aerobic fermentation, and the lower anaerobic fermentation. Sprays above the bed moisten the surface with the activating nutrient composition. The bed is pref. formed of lignocellulose, e.g. dry wood residues, comminuted straw, sawdust, wood shavings, residues of wheat and rice processing, ground trimmings, loppings, etc..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The digester may be used for the treatment of waste from the intensive breeding of sheep, cattle or poultry. It may be positioned directly beneath the standing area of the animals either as a substitute for the normal litter or under the cages of poultry. Alternatively, it may be in a structure separate from the animal housing. Bad odours are eliminated and daily cleaning out of litter can be obviated.
During the process comprising mechanical sepn. into solids and liqs. and clarification of the liq. in a flotation appts., components of the sepd. liq. are flocculated, pptd. and degassed by addn. of flocculants, precipitants and reactants, before the liq. enters the flotation appts.    ADVANTAGE -   Undissolved and dissolved components are sepd., irrespective of dia. and specific wt., and of the type and dry matter content of the liq. manure. Addn. of aids is reduced to a min., and use of ecologically acceptable additives means that the prods. can be used as liq. and solid fertilisers. The liq. fertiliser has little smell, penetrates the soil easily, emits no NH3, does not attack plants, can be used with a wide range of vegetation, gives uniform distribution of nutrients immediately available to the plants, can be applied easily in precise amt., and gives no problems with water contamination. The solid fertiliser is a transportable N fertiliser with slow release affect, is rich in nutrients and humic acids, improves the structure, esp. as a substitute for peat, has high hydrocarbon content and C/N ratio of about 30:1, and can be composted
After a cycle of elimination operations, a suspension of methane-oxidising bacteria is applied to the surface of the dome of caving, until the entire layer of collapsed rocks is completely moistened. The concn. of bacteria is determined by calculation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For degasification of dead ends of eliminated drifts in the coal mining industry. Improved effectiveness is obtd. Bul.20/30.5.91. @(4pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
The sensor for detecting gas utilising the change of the metal oxide semiconductor in resistance value, comprises (i) gas-detecting means made of the metal oxide semiconductor (ii) means for reading the change of the semiconductor in resistance value and (iii) means for changing the temp. of the semiconductor at a point of time when the change of the resistance value reaches 30-80% of the resistance value before the gas is detected.    Sn oxide is pref. used as the metal oxide semiconductor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Isobutane or CH4 e.g. can be discriminated from ethanol. @(3pp Dwg.No.3/3)@
Coolant comprises chloro and 1-chloro-1,1- difluoroethane and isobutane. Pref. compsn. comprises chloro difluoromethane, 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane and n-pentane. Isobutane or n-pentane content in the compsn. is 5-20 wt.% to 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane. Isobutane has -11.65 deg.C b.pt. and does not destroy ozone layer. Isobutane or n-pentanes combustible excessive content is explosive. Safe and -40 deg.C or less compsn. comprises 70 wt.% of chloro difluoromethane, 25 wt.% of 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane, and 5 wt.% of isobutane or n-pentane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Isobutane or n-pentane compatible with compressor oil smoothly circulates oil, protecting compressor from burning. Isobutane cools compressor and prevents oil sludge. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Pref. Cl free cooling medium is pentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and trifluoromethane. The compsn. pref. consists of chlorodifluoromethane and isobutane. Chlorodifluoromethane contains H in a molecule, and decomposes before it reaches upto the ozone layer. Isobutane content in the compsn. is 0.1-14 wt.%, pref. 10 wt.%. Isobutane has b.pt. of (-)11.65 deg.C and does not destroy the ozone layer. As isobutane is combustible, too much content makes danger of explosion. The combination of isobutane and pentafluoroethane or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane is useful for the freezer which requires (-)20-(-)40 deg.C of freezing temp.    Compsn. consists of chlorine free cooling medium and isobutane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Compsn. is used in freezer. It does not destroy the ozone layer. Isobutane compatible with the compressor oil gives smooth circulation to the oil, which protects the compressor from burning. Isobutane can cool the compressor and producing oil sludge is not seen. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/1
A non-flammable refrigerant compsn., comprises a mixt. in non-flammable proportions of pentafluoroethane (R125) with a hydrocarbon selected from propane, propylene, n-butane, isobutane and mixts. for use as a refrigerant medium in a refrigeration appts.    The compsns. contain 60-80 wt.% (pref. 65-75 wt.%) of R125 and the hydrocarbon is pref. n-butane, isobutane or propane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are useful in vapour-compression refrigeration appts. and have improved environmental acceptability, do not require modification of existing equipment, have good motor. cooling properties, are non-toxic and are readily available at an economic price. The compsns. have similar vol. displacements and refrigeration effects as R12 (CCl2F2). @(7pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
Prepn. and consolidating of organic residues to form an organic fuel e.g. in the form of pellets, comprises mixing refuse consisting of organic residues from domestic and industrial waste, wet coal sludge contg. flocculating agents from the flotation section of a coal processing plant, and quicklime (CaO), whereby heat of reaction is evolved from the conversion of CaO to Ca(OH)2 and chemical reaction between the Ca(OH)2 formed and the flocculating agent which causes consolidation of the mixt. for pelleting with a simultaneous bactericidal action.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process gives a consolidated fuel contg. organic waste material and which is environmentally benign when burned e.g. in fluidised bed hearths due to the presence of lime which binds SO2 produced by burning of the coal. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0
Formulation for activating a smoke detector by simulating the presence of combustion prods. when delivered in aerosol form comprises a propellant, and 1-10 wt.% of 1 or more alkyl phthalate esters contg. 7-9C chains. Pref., the formulation comprises a mixt. of propane and isobutane propellants and 2-5 wt.%, (pref. 2 wt.%), of the alkyl phthalate esters.    Also claimed are (I) an attachment for use with an aerosol dispenser for delivering a formulation adapted to emulate combustion prods. to an electronic smoke detector for verifying operation of the detector. (11) An attachment for use with an aerosol dispenser; (111) method for delivery of the formulation; and (IV) appts. for delivering an aerosol for operationally testing a smoke detector mounted on a high wall or ceiling.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For testing the response of an electronic smoke detector (claimed) esp. for reaching ceiling or wall mounted detectors, or in various crawl spaces and other hard to reach places. The delivery system makes for a cleaner, economical, and more effective test procedure. @(32pp)bu
Conversion comprises (a) contacting a mixt. comprising lower alkanes (I), hydrogen halide and an oxygen-contg. gas with a catalyst compsn. (A) comprising crystalline copper aluminium borate under conditions to form an intermediate prod. comprising halogenated alkanes (III) and (b) contacting (III) with a catalyst compsn. (B) comprising a pentasil mol. sieve material under conditions to form a prod. mixt. comprising higher mol. wt. hydrocarbons (II). Pref. catalyst (A) also comprises a promoting amt. of alkali metal e.g. Li or K. Methods of prepn. and X-ray diffraction pattern of pref. copper aluminium borate are given. Catalyst (B) comprises an aluminosilicate, e.g. zeolite ZSM-5, silicalite or a borosilicate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is pref. a 1-4C alkane, esp. methane and the hydrogen halide the chloride (esp.) or bromide. Prods. from methane are e.g. C3+ hydrocarbons, e.g. aromatics. Known conversion of (I) to (II) comprises 'halide-assisted' route. Present method uses selected catalysts. @(16pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Field-portable appts. and method for analytical supercritical fluid extn. of sorbent materials, such as fluid extn. of analytes of semivolatile and higher mol. wt materials from a solid sorbent matrix, the appts. comprising (a) supercritical fluid extn. solvent delivery means; (b) supercritical fluid extn. solvent cooling means prior to a reciprocating pump consisting of a copper block through which the supercritical fluid extn. solvent flows, attached to a first thermoelectric cooler assembly; (c) reciprocating high pressure liq. chromatography pump having a pumphead having pumphead cooling; (d) the pumphead cooler consists of a copper plate mounted on the pumphead, the upper plate attached to a second thermoelectric cooler assembly; (e) a heated extn. cell oven contg. coiled tubing and an extn. cell holding the solid sorbent matrix to which any analytes present are adsorbed, the supercritical fluid extn. solvent passing through the soiled tubing prior to its introduction into the extn. cell, the SFE solvent and the analytes combining in the extn. cell to form an extn. effluent; (f) a heated extn. effluent restriction tube; and (g) a collection flask assembly which sealingly receives the extn. effluent restriction tube for holding collection solvent, and the assembly having a collection solvent condenser to condense collection solvent vapours entrained by escaping SFE solvent, in which the SFE solvent is introduced to the extn. cell at supercritical conditions, and the resulting extraction effluent is expanded through a restriction orifice.    ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is specific for field applications where portability, extn. speed, ease of operation, minimal requirements for ancillary supplies, and samples analysis flexibility, such as ability to be analysed by a variety of analytical approaches, are more significant factors than in laboratory applications. @(17pp Dwg.No.0/7)
Compost prodn. comprises putting organic composting materials thoroughly kneaded into a container, adding Bacillus subtilis or propagation-promoting substance, allowing to stand and propagate Bacillus subtilis, to ferment and age composting materials in a short period of time, giving compost in granular or tabular form.    The container is constructed by forming a cubic or rectangular parallelopiped frame with steel materials; lining the frame with sheets or nets made of corrosion-resistant and air-permeable PP paper or aramid fibre using clamping members; and disposing an upwardly or crosswise opening lid at the front wall of the frame.    Pref., grooving boards formed by connecting the upper faces of a pair of parallel disposed boards with receiving sheath of claws of a fork lift are pressed against ageing compost in the container by using a fork lift to form grooves for permeating air, promoting uniform ageing of the compost.    ADVANTAGE -   A large amt. of composting materials can be completely aged in a short period of time without forcibly introducing air into the composting materials or agitating them. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/5)
Waste water which is produced by washing the membranes treating anaerobic fermentation liq. and contains oxidising chemical, is contacted with a reducing liq. which is obtd. by permeating the anaerobic fermentation liq. through membranes.    Pref. waste water had an oxidn.-redn. potential (ORP) of over +500 mV. The ORP was reduced to +100 to +250 mV by the action of the reducing liq. which was obtd. by permeating the anaerobic fermentation liq. and had an ORP of -250 to -450 mV.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to reduce oxidising power of the waste water produced by washing membranes used to treat anaerobic fermentation liq. A reducing liq. which is obtd. from the anaerobic fermentation liq. is used to reduce the waste water in place. of conventional Na bisulphite. Thus treated waste water causes no adverse effects on activated sludge or fish in water. @(3pp Dwg.No 0/1
Use and composting by complete aerobic decompsn. of industrial waste wood, unsuitable for other purposes, as wood shavings, wood fibre, etc., to improve soil. 60-62wt.% waste wood, 5-7wt.% activator, 10wt.% poultry-manure and straw, 3wt.% hydrate of lime and 20wt.% poultry manure of rendering consistency are layered on top of each other and a stack is formed while the C:N ratio of the constituents is kept constant. The stack is rotated in two stages. pH and moisture content of the mixt. is adjusted, the mixt. is covered and allowed to stand.    Due to chemical reactions occurring, the temp. reaches 60-65 deg.C. The mixt. is allowed to ferment for 4-5 weeks at this temp.. When the moisture content falls below 50% the mixt. is aerated and the moisture content is set to 55% by addn. of chlorine-free water. The lightened water content stack is covered and allowed to be composted at 40-45 deg.C for 8-10 weeks until all wood is completely broken down. @(1pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Organic material contg. domestic and/or food industry effluents are rendered harmless and converted into useful agricultural prods.. Following the lowering of the water content of the effluents, the sludge is deposited. A suitable bulked material is placed on the surface of the sludge. A soil enriching manure is obtd., when the deposit is ripened.    The essence of the process is that the deposit is covered by a waste lime sludge and once the deposit finished ripening the two layers are mixed, to be used as manure. @(-pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Combustion of hydrocarbons comprises (a) reacting the hydrocarbon with CO2 to produce carbon and a gas comprising CO, H2 and H2O; (b) sepg. the carbon; (c) burning the gas with O2 to produce CO2 and H2O; and (d) recycling the CO2 to step (a).    Step (a) is pref. effected at 500-800 (esp. 600-700) deg.C and 1-50 (esp. 10-40) bar.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. applicable to oil-or gas-fired power stations, but may also be applied to carbon black prodn. CO2 emissions are zero. Since pure O2 is used in step (c), NOx emissions are also zero. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Low temp. degassing process is used for disintegrated organic materials e.g. (preferably) used tyres, plastics, scrap electronic gear, or mixts. of the same, the main purpose being the recovery of raw materials. The process uses a hollow screw chamber divided into one or more stages arranged successively and sepd. individually; with one circulating system, for heating agent to provide separate temp. sectors for drying and degassing, and the degassed prod. is discharged from each stage separately; the plant used can have a single or double screw mounted in a jacketed body sealed at the top.    The temp. stage of up to 150 deg C is mainly for drying but also to split off water of hygroscopy. In the next stages the first removes complex liq. condensates. Both these stages produce useful material, of which liquids can be up to 90%. The condensate obtd. is mainly aliphatic hydrocarbons and olefins; used for recovering ethylene, propylene and styrene, etc..    ADVANTAGE -   Produces large vols. of clean degassed materials at temps. of 150-450 deg C. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0
Plant for decomposing materials comprises equipment to deposit material into a first pile, mobile equipment mounted on a rotating gantry for turning the loose material over into successive piles and equipment for extracting decomposed material for the final pile and conveying it away. The decompsn. bed is circular and located around a pillar on which the gantry rotates. A circumferential rail supports the remote gantry end.    Equipment for turning material over into the next pile moves towards the pillar as the bridge rotates thus following a spiral path. Material is initially supplied by a conveyor which feeds it through the pillar to a conveyor on the gantry. The conveyor takes the materail to the outer end of the gantry and produces an outer ring-shaped pile.    Material from the inner ring pile is delivered to a circular hopper at the pillar base by a scraper conveyor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plant deposits and removes decomposable material from a bed, reduces process and plant costs and occupies less area. @(7pp Dwg.No.1/40@
Waste prods. causing pollution of the air, water and environment are used profitably by drying the solid matter, mostly excrement, and using it as fuel in a boiler to raise steam for generating electricity, which is used to supply the light and power required in the abattoir. The water extracted can be used together with other water for land irrigation, and the excess, after natural filtration and evapn., drained into rivers without adverse effect on O2 levels.
Post combustion gases are treated by passage through a bed of fecal material which converts NOx to NO3. This raises the nitrate level of the fecal material to produce a fertilizer which is rich in nitrogen. The resulting gas is discharged and the fertilizer collected. The pref. fecal material is horse manure into which water is introduced to maintain a moisture content of 30% w/w.    The appts. consists of a number of modular container (11-15) that are transported to and from processing stations (16,17)be conveyor (18). Each container holds a filter media, esp. horse manure, which will convert NOx into useful nitrates. Processing station (16) includes a vertically movable cover (29). An inlet pipe (31) is attached to the cover which mates with the upper end of a standpipe (26) when the cover is lowered. The exhaust gas is introduced via the pipe (31) and delivered via the standpipe (26) to a plenum (24) and thence upwardly through a screen (23) and manure (27). Gas escaping from the upper surface of the manure in station (16) is delivered via a pipe (33) to the plenum chamber of station (17). Water is introduced to the containers at stations (16,17) via a water line (36). Gas discharged from the surface of manure at station (17) is delivered to a carbon filter (41) to remove volatile organic cpds.. An NOx sensor (42) monitors the gas in the discharge line to ensure it contains no more than an acceptable level of residual NOx emission. The gas passes from the carbon filter to a condenser (49) which removes any water of combustion.    USE -   The system is used to remove NO and NO2 from exhaust gases of internal combustion engines to minimize air pollution and smog formation. The system also produces a fertilizer rich in nitrogen.
A fermentation vessel comprises an elongate, horizontal tank of narrow vertical cross-section with spaced inlet and outlet. A vertical panel divides the tank between the inlet and outlet into two channels connected by gaps above and below the panel along its length. A gas inlet is located in the bottom of the tank.    In operation, gas influx causes fermentation medium to flow transversely around the panel and longitudinally through the tank. At least part of the effluent from the outlet is recycled back to the inlet.    USE -   The appts. permits the growth of microorganisms or other cells to digest the substrate medium in which the cells are suspended. It may be used in the treatment of effluents, e.g. human sewage.
Near-azeotropic compsns. comprise (i) 35-65% (pref. 55%) pentafluoroethane, HFC-125 (I); (ii) 30-60% (pref. 40%) 1,1,1-trifluoroethane, HFC-143a (II); (iii) 3-15% (pref. 5%) 1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane HFC-134 (III) or 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane HFC-134a (IV), 1-chloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane HFC-124a (V) 1-chloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane HFC-124 (VI), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3- heptafluoropropane HFC-227ea (VII), 1,1,1,2,2,3,3- heptafluoropropane HFC-227ca (VIII) or hexafluorocyclopropane FC-C216 (IX): and compsns. where (i), (ii) and/or (iii) are partly replaced with chlorodifluoromethane (X), fluoroethane, propane isobutane, dimethylether or propylene.    A process for producing refrigeration by evaporating a near-azeotropic compsn. in the vicinity of a body to be cooled is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. have vapour pressures equal to that of Refrigerants-802, are non-flammable and considered to be environmentally safe substitutes. The compsns. will not fractionate and minimises the problem of handling in system operations. The use of the compsns. have 10-15% decrease in energy efficiencies.
Process uses a catalyst, comprising a transition metal and a support of high surface area (consisting of a refractory metal oxide) which is exposed to a current of methane at about 100-300 deg.C with a contact time of at least 1 sec. and then a current of H2 at 100-300 deg.C and a contact time of at least 1 second.    ADVANTAGE -   Process involves a cyclic process avoids any thermodynamic and kinetic difficulties. It results in a conversion of methane without gaseous co-reactants with a max. selectivity.
The V-shaped reactor has two chambers (1,2) connected at the top by pipe (6) with valve (7) and at the bottom by pipe (4), in which is fitted a reversible worm screw, (5). The valve (7) which is kept closed by spring (8), has lever (9) connected to a float (12) by line (10) running over a pulley (11). The float (12) is suspended in vertical tube (13) connected with the chamber (2). The two reactors are provided with heating jackets (15) and heated by means of steam.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For cost-effective prodn. of methane gas from liq. animal manure with automatic removal of mmm methane.
Heat resistant cast steel includes C 0.3-0.6%, Si less than 3%, Mn less than 4%, P less than 0.03%, S less than 0.03%, Cr 30-40%, Ni 40-60%, N 0.08-0.25%, Al 0.02-0.60%, and at least one of (1) Nb 0.2-1.8%, W less than 6% and Mo less than 4% or (2) Ti 0.01-0.50% and/or Zr 0.01-0.50%.    USE -   For ethylene cracking tube having improved durability and stability in high temp. and high pressure operation.
Continuously biologically acting on a target chemical in an aq. stream comprises: 1) cultivating bacteria under non-growth-limiting conditions; 2) exposing the cultivated bacteria to mutation-producing, ultraviolet light; 3) exposing the mutated bacteria to the target chemical under growth limiting conditions.    Also claimed is a process comprising digesting sludge in a biological reactor and an apparatus for continuously biologically acting on a target chemical in an aq. stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for acting on halogenated organic cpds in an aq. stream such as an industrial waste stream. The continuous protese can be operated to optimise the various steps and permits injection of the bacteria even into streams from which they are flushed out at a higher rate than they can grow. Large number of mutants are produced and automatic screen enables best strain at lower volumetric requirement to be selected.
Boreholes (3) are sunk into the dump (1) for pipes (4) with gas-meters (6) at the outlets, and probes (6) are inserted for measuring physical parameters. Dump is seeded with suitable anaerobic bacteria, and the perimeter isolated from surrounding terrain by a trench with a bentonite-cement wall in which is embedded a screen. (9) of HDPE or other impervious material. Top of the dump is covered with HDPE sheet, which is welded around the edge ot the top of screen (9). Bio-gas emerging is led off for filtration, purificn. and suitable means of storage and consumption
The device has a number of composting chambers (1) arranged above a space (5) in which the composed material (35) is stored. The material in the composting chambers is ventilated, and the composted material falls at least partly under its own weight into the storage space below. The walls (7) between the chambers are shaped such that the chambers are narrower at the bottom than at the top. Air can pass through these walls into the composting material. The upper part of at least one of the composting chambers is subdivided by a partition (33). An emptying system is provided for removing the composted material from the storage space.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting waste organic material. Produces a loose rotted material which is suitable without further treatment for use in horticultural and agricultural applications. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/6)@
Prodn. of hydrates of CH4-rich gases (esp. natural gas) is effected by contacting bubbles of the gas with an ice crystal suspension in a pressure vessel, and withdrawing the resulting hydrate foam form the upper part of the vessel. The gas bubbles must all have approx. the same dia.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is useful for converting natural gas into easily storable hydrate form. The process gives high hydrate yields with low energy consumption. @(8pp Dwg.No.4/4)
Fuel cell system comprises: a CH4 prodn. gasifier; an internal reforming fuel cell (2) in which CH4 is converted to H2, for supply to an anode section (2a), an oxidant gas being supplied to a cathode section (2b); and means (8) for recycling a major portion of unspent H2 recovered from the H2-CO2 anode exhaust back to the CH4 gasifier.    The fuel cell pref. operates at 600 deg. C or above and is pref. a molten carbonate fuel cell.    Pref. the recovered and recycled H2 meets all the needs of the gasifier H2 requirements. The recycle system also includes a shift converter (7A) for converting CO in the exhaust to H2. The gasifier is also supplied with steam, pref. generated using heat from the fuel cell, esp. the cathode exhaust heat. The circuit also includes a burner for the remaining anode exhaust including CO2, and an O2 source, to generate an oxidant process gas for the cathode. The feedstock for the CH4 gasifier is coal.    ADVANTAGE -   The CH4 gasifier operating efficiency is improved leading to better overall efficiency.
Conversion of 1-3C alkanes to higher aliphatic hydrocarbons is effected by reaction with an 02-contg. gas in the presence of a catalyst at 600-1000 deg.C with an alkane 02 partial pressure ratio of 2-40:1.    The catalyst comprises an alkali metal component and an alkaline earth metal component dispersed in a support derived from an aq. suspension of an Al, Si, Ti, Zn, Zr, Cd or Sn cpd. The atomic ratio of alkali metal to alkaline earth metal is 0.5-2:1. The catalyst contains 1-30 wt.% of the support.    USES -   The process is esp. useful for converting CH4 to higher hydrocarbons (mainly C2H4 and C2H6).
Conversion of CH4 to higher hydrocarbons is effected by reaction with O2 in the presence of a catalyst of formula AuMOw((DOx)(EOy)a)z (I) (where A = alkali (ne earth) metal; M = V, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and/or Cu; D = Zr, Ti, Hf, Ce, Ph, 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, x and y = numbers satisfying the valencies of M, D and E respectively; z = 10-100).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is capable of producing liq. hydrocarbons, including mono- and polycyclic aromatics, from natural gas. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Appts.a comprises a light receiving element to generate refractive index signal corresp. to the alcohol content, based on a light passes through an optical-refractive index detector and light quantity signal generator coupled with the output of that element.    USE -   For car engines.
Agent comprises solid bacteria compsn. comprising bacteria formulation, blue dye, organic acid, Na2CO3, anhydrous Glauber's salt and locust bean gum, and solid chemical compsn. comprising glutaraldehyde, rice starch, perfume and locust bean gum. Each is prepd. by moulding at 30-35 deg.C. under a pressure of 30-800 Kg/cm2.    Pref. bacteria formulation has gp. belonging to genus Bacillus, genus Streptococcus, genus Enterobacter, genus Rhizopus and genus Aspergillus. The bacteria formulation is prepd. by increasing the bacteria gp. in aq. soln. contg. nutrients, e.g. glucose, NH4Cl, bran and bean curd lees, at 20-35 deg.C. for 24-50 hours and drying at low temp., and the formulation obtd. has water content of 6-8%.    ADVANTAGE -   Components in the agent can be preserved for a long time. The gel film formed by the locust bean gum gives the solid agent elasticity, and therefore does not break up when used. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0
Soil contg. 70% or more water is stirred inside reacting drum together with quicklime by reversible rotating blades, while air is fed through suction port of stirring section. Flow down rate of stirred soil is controlled by open-close means in hopper from lower portion of stirring section, and soil flowing down through lower side of hopper is restrained by open-close means in flow path into which spiral screw is closely fitted. Treated soil is carried onto concrete floor provided in longitudinal direction of drying site through said flow path. Concrete floor is warmed by feeding boiler to heating hose provided between concrete floor and above ground. Thickness of soil is made uniform by advancing and retracting special drying means in longitudinal direction of drying site so that drying is promoted through plane contact between CO2 in air and treated soil.    ADVANTAGE -   Commercial value of compost using decomposable waste such as cattle night soil can be increased. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/0
A microorganism belonging to the Methylosinus and having aliphatic chlorine cpd. decomposition capability is immobilised by agarose gel, carrageenan gel, and/or alginic acid gel. The immobilised microoganism is kept into contact with an aliphatic chlorine cpd. or its mixt..    Pref. the microorganism comprises, a trichloroethylene-decomposing methane utilising bacterium or Methylosinus trichosporium TSUKUBA. The immobilised microorganism is formed by immobilising the Methylosinus trichosporium TSUKUBA having methane-utilising characteristics and decompsoing trichloroethylene by agarose gel, carrageenan gel and/or calcium alginate gel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Decomposes volatile aliphatic chlorine cpd., including trichloroethylene contained in a drainage, exhaust gas discharged from a factory or soil. The method immobilises the microorganism without substantially decreasing the decomposition property of the aliphatic chlorine cpd. provided by Methylosinus trichosporium TSUKUBA. The use of the immobilised microorganism effeciently decomposes slowly decomposing contaminants. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/0
Soil comprises fermented prod. of a mixt. of powder of shell and organic slurry.    The organic slurry includes waste slurry from factory, etc. The particle size of the powder is 10-32 mesh size. The shell powder is used in an amt. of 5 to 25 pts. wt. relative to 100 pts. wt. of the organic slurry.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Powder of shell and organic slurry, which have been discarded, can effectively be utilised. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/0
Plant includes a low-temp. carbonisation arrangement (1), a combustion chamber (18) that emits flue gas, and a closed circuit for heating-gas (h) for the low-temp. carbonisation arrangement. The circuit runs through this carbonisation arrangement and through a heat exchanger (12). The heat exchanger (12) is at a position in the flue gas where the gas temp. has dropped to, or below, the slag solidifying point.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The waste concerned can be domestic and industrial refuse, or special refuse such as chemical residues, sewage sludge, or other waste. The plants' heat-exchanger surfaces are not subjected to the formation of slag (which can cause trouble in other designs). @(6pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Sulphite waste liquor is pre-treated, for prodn. of ethanol, by addn. of 20-25% of NH4OH to the liquor, cooled to 30-37 deg.C, immediately before fermentation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used in the sulphite cellulose industry, with microbiological utilisation of the liquor. The amt. _ of NH4OH needed for neutralisation is reduced, improving the economy of the process, and the pH level is maintained for a longer time. @(2pp Dwg.No.0/0
Catalyst comprises a compsn. of formula    PbZr(z)A(a)B(b)O(x)    A = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Ce, Sc, Y, Ti and/or Hf; B = Li, Na, K, Rb, and/or Cs; z = 1-100; a = 0-100; B = 0-100; x fulfils valence requirements; (a+b) = 0.1-100. The catalyst is substantially free of PbO and uncombined Pb. Pref. A = Mg, Ca and/or Ti; B = Li, Na and/or K; a = 0-3; b = 0.1-3; z = 1-15. The catalyst may be supported on a carrier. The catalyst is in general regarded as lead zirconate contg. a promoter metal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Methane may be converted to ethane and ethylene, and higher hydrocarbons (e.g. up to 5C) may be converted to liq. hydrocarbons. The catalyst provides high selectivity, conversion rate, productivity and catalyst life. Process takes place at 500-1500 deg. C. Volatalisation of Pb or PbO from the catalyst is negligible at up to 1550 deg. C. @(12pp Dwg.No.0/1)
Organic compost contains 45-92 wt.% water, 27-85 wt.% (w.r.t. dry compost) C, has pH 6.2-8.0 and has no lumps over 20 inches. 0.5-35 wt.% over 1.0 inches 0.5-35 wt.% 0.25-1.0 inches and at least 50 wt.% under 0.25 inches.    It is prepd. by (a) providing shredded refuse; (b) adding water to saturation; (c) mixing with earthworms materials at 20-2000 lbs castings and 1-100 lbs worms and/or eggs per ton satd. refuse; (d) keeping the water content at 80% or more for at least 30 days and (e) keeping at 0-54 deg.C and 45-92% water content for 4-8 months. The shredded refuse (i) has no lumps over 5.0 inches; (ii) is 5-96 wt.%, alpha-beta and/or gamma-cellulose; and (iii) has at least 20% of the cellulose with degree of polymerisation below 900.    USE -   Municipal garbage, esp. paper etc. is converted into high quality organic compost material.
A feedstock comprising one or more 1-3C alkane is converted to higher mol. wt. satd. and unsatd. hydrocarbons by contact with an oxygen-containing gas and a catalytic compsn. (I) at 600-1000 deg.C, partial pressure of alkane to oxygen in ratio 2:1 to 40:1; (I) comprises (a) a Group IA metal; (b) a Group IIA metal; atomic ratio (a):(b) is 0.5:1 to 2:1, and the combination is stable under the reaction conditions; (c) a third component, the precursor of which is a sol in which (a) and (b) are thoroughly dispersed; the sol comprises an aq. suspension of a metal selected from Al, Si, Ti, Zn, Zr, Cd and Sn; (c) is 1-30 wt.% of (I); and (d) a Group VIII metal and/or silver, present as oxide, in amt. effective to increase the catalytic activity of (I).    USE -   The feedstock is pref. methane or natural gas; methane is converted mainly to ethane and ethylene.
Membrane comprises a poly(cyanoaryl ether). (I) In the prepn. an aromatic diol is reacted with a dihalobenzonitrile or dinitrobenzonitrile in the presence of a base and a polar aprotic solvent.    (I) is of formula (-Ara-O-Ara1-O-Arb-O-Arb1-O-)n (I) where Ara and Arb are each arylene, eg., p-or m-phenylene, 2,2'- or 4,4'-biphenylene, -Ph-C(CH3)2-Ph- or -Ph-C(CF3)2-Ph- where Ph is p-phenylene, (II)-(IV) or 1,5-, 1,4- or 1,8- naphthylene or a divalent anthracene, phenanthrene or phenolphthalein group, and Ara1 and Arb1 are selected from m- or p-phenylene substd. by -CN-, -NO2, -SO2R or -COR where R is 1-10C alkyl or 6-18C aryl, 4-cyano-1,3-naphthylene, 2,6-pyridyl- or -Ph-Q-Ph- where Q is -SO2- or -CO-; at least one of Ara1 and Arb1 is cyano-substd., e.g, 2- or 4-cyano-1,3-phenylene.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Membranes can be cheaply mfd., are moisture resistant and have good gas sepn. properties, eg., N2/O2, H2/CO, H2/CH4 or CO2/CH4. Membranes can be used as sheets or hollow fibres. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Mobile waste container (1) has an enclosed container shape with at least one loading hatch (2) in the roof, the hatch being suspended from a framework (3) which pivots in hinged joints (4) on the container. A lifting device (6) combines a pivoting and actuating action with a drive crank (9) and connecting rod (8) to the frame (10). Near the closed position of the hatch, the lifting device has an inactive phase, in which the coupling (10) actuates a hatch locking mechanism through locking cams.    ADVANTAGE -   Simplified and rapid operation. @(8pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
A method for composting waste comprises microbially degrading rotting material in a container with aeration and, after the readily decomposable components have degraded, recycling the spent air through the rotting material.    Also claimed is an appts. for performing the method, comprising a closed or closable container which has an opt. air-pervious base and which is fitted with compressors for introducing air and re-circulating the spent air.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method produces dry, completely hygienic, i.e. biologically inactive, and storage-stable compost from household waste. The method is less time consuming and simpler than those of DE 243367, DE 3046646 and DE 3637393 in that it is completed within a few days and is carried out in a single container in which the waste does not require mixing during processing. Further, the method insures composting of material at the periphery of the mass and avoids the formation of unpleasant smells. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Appts. comprises electrolysis cell (13) with series-connected electrolysis chambers, each of which has two electrode plates (4) sepd. by a membrane device having a thin permeable asbestos sheet (11) between an iron mesh (53), facing the cathode, and a nickel mesh (9), facing the anode. The cathode and the iron mesh (53) are spaced apart and conductivity interconnected by a corrugated iron net (54). Anode and the nickel mesh (9) are spaced apart and conductivity interconnected by a corrugated nickel net (8), so iron and nickel meshes (53,9) form part of the cathode and anode respectively.    ADVANTAGE -   Spacing of the electrode plates can be reduced to 1-1.5 mm for lower cost and more efficient electrolysis for H2 prodn., maintaining easy mfr. of the appts..
In a process for oxidative coupling of methane, a prim. methane/oxygen stream is fed to a reaction zone and reacted at 600-1000 deg.C, pressure 101-800 kPa. The method is improved by introducing an auxiliary oxygen stream directly into the catalyst zone at one or more points, thereby to selectively increase yield of C2+ prods.    The auxiliary feed may be introduced into the middle of the catalyst bed and/or at the lower (i.e. downstream) end of the bed. Prim. feed may consist of methane/oxygen in ratio greater than 1; alternatively, a different oxidant may be used instead of oxygen, e.g. NO, N2O or air. Natural gas may be used instead of methane. A list of known catalysts for the oxidative coupling is given. @(12pp Dwg.No.0/1
Waste animal material is treated by introducing a layer of it into a vat with a quantity of fly larvae. At repeated intervals sufficient for the larvae to consume most of the edible matter, a fresh layer of the material is introduced into the vat. At other repeated intervals, less than or equal to the time taken for the larvae to mature, further larvae are added. When the vat is full and most of the edible matter has been consumed by the larvae, the remaining material is removed.    Vat pref. consists of a series of elongate vats temporarily partitioned to form individual vats of shorter length. Each vat consists of a channel with a horizontal floor and two opposed, sloping sidewalls. Pref. angle is 35 deg. to horizontal. Each sidewall has grooves which encourage the mature larvae to ascend the walls.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to treat waste animal material, e.g. animal carcasses and parts unfit for human consumption, to make a fertiliser and angling bait. The material is treated by larvae but without the resultant prodn. of large numbers of flies. @(24pp Dwg.No.3
A formulation for activating a smoke detector by simulating the presence of combustion prods. The compsn. is discharged in aerosol form, opt. from a hald=held dispenser with a finger operated spray nozzle and comprises: a) a propellant mixt. of propane and isobutane b) one or more linear alkyl phthalate esters selected from cpds. having 7-9C, 7C or 9C alkyl. The amt. of b) is 1-10wt.% (pref. 2-5wt.% and esp. 2wt.%).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The formulation is useful for operational testing of ionisation and photoelectric electronic smoke detectors commonly used in public buildings and private dwellings. The compsn. is non-toxic to users, is non-damaging to the planet's ozone layer, uses significantly smaller amts. of phthalate esters and leaves less residue than prior formulations. A short spray of the formulation, delivered from a conventional aerosol spray dispenser at a distance of up to five feed from a smoke alarm, is sufficient for effective testing. @(17pp Dwg.No.0/0
Non-desirable materials are treated in a bioconverter. The raw material is introduced into a prim. bioreactor which contains a microbial environment in a biomass. The bioconverter also includes a solid ecoreactor contg. microorganisms, animals and plants which capture solids from the prim. bioreactor. A georeactor prim. zone comprises a porous mixt. of inert material with a complex flora and fauna of living organisms. All the prim. zones are interconnected by circulating fluid. At least a portion of the biologically produced solids is collected as humus, while water is recovered from the solids ecoreactor.    The system consists of a meta system reactor (MSR) which functions as a waste water treatment plant. The influent passes through a preliminary screen where grit and other large particulates are removed and directly cycled to the solids ecoreactor. The liq. passes to the bioreactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system may be used to treat waste water, sludge, household garbage or hazardous and toxic wastes. The system combines many variable subenvironments which constantly change providing flexibility and diversity. @(18pp Dwg.No.0/10)
Methane contg. hydrogen sulphide is treated with oxygen in the ratio O2:H2S equal to 0.5:2.5, at partial pressure of methane of 750 torr under UV irradiation of wavelength 2000-2600 angstrom and power 4 x 10 power 19 quanta per sec.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is simpler than before (one stage only), requires no catalyst or sorbent, and it gives a degree of degradation of hydrogen sulphide of 85-92% at a rate of 10 power 14 cm3/sec. Bul.9/7.3.91 @(2pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
The hydraulic lock for the reactor of anaerobic fermentation unit for waste materials consists of two coaxial cylinders (1,2), located on inside of the other and offset lengthwise. In the gap between the two cylinders there are fixed separating plates (3), which have cutting edges pointing downwards, and inclined cleaning vanes (4) above them, connected by suspension elements to the bearing is a central support (5).    The positioning of the plates (3) perpendicular to the vanes (4) produces a horizontal component of the reactive force which causes the liq. fraction of the waste material to rotate in the bearing and force the mass of the waste material out of the gap between the two cylinders and through the inner cylinder. The horizontal arms (6) of the suspension elements, which are in the form of spiral vanes, force the liq. fraction towards the bearing to lubricated its components.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agricultureal engineering. Simpler operation is obtd. Bul.8/28.2.91 @(2pp Dwg.No.1/3)@
Silage compsn. comprises more than 50,000 units/kg (fresh wt. of fodder) of endoxylanase (I).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Silage compsns. supplemented by endo-xylanase (I) have a significantly increased amt. of H2O-soluble carbohydrates for use by lactic acid bacteria or as nutrients for animals ingesting the compsns.. In addn., the increased prodn. of lactic acid and HOAc lowers the silage pH, and hence preserves the material.
The process for composting and recycling urban residues for agricultural use, is carried out in 6 stages including reception, sepn., pulverising, classifying, centrifuging, accelerated bio-purificn. under aerobic conditions and separation according to size. The equipment allows continuous operation and composition of organic material takes place by distribution in a tank in which the aerobic chemical reaction is controlled by the temp., humidity and aeration to provide compost ready for use after 96 hours
The recovery of petroleum from an oil bearing formation during injection of a non-condensible gas is enhanced by at least periodically injecting a preformed foam into the formation. The foam comprises a mixt. of gas, water and a foam-forming amt. of alpha olefin sulphonate (AOS). AOS consists of a mixt. of hydroxysulphonates (A) and alkene-sulphonates (B). One or both of conditions (i) and (ii) apply. (i) (A) comprises 3-hydroxy sulphonates (A1) in amt. at least 20 wt.% of AOS; (ii) (A) comprises (A1) and 4-hydroxy sulphonates (A2), and ratio (A1):(A2) is at least 3, esp. 4-6.    Pref., AOS is 8-18C esp. 12-14C. Ratio (B):(A) is not more than 4. The gas is CO2, N2 or CH4. The water may be a brine. Liq. phase is not more than 40 vol.% of the foam, and AOS is 0.1-1 wt.% of the liq. phase not more than 5 wt.% additional surfactant may be present, e.g. amphoteric surfactant, AOS dimer and/or chelating agent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is of esp. use when using carbon dioxide for recovery of light oil from a sandstone reservoir. @(10pp Dwg.No.1/1)
Fixed, partly fixed, or freely movable contact media coated with coagulating and/or adhesive yeast fungi are contained in a treating vessel.    USE -   For treatment of highly polluted waste water by use of yeast fungi. @(9pp Dwg.No. 0/0)
Appts. comprises a temp. sensor to detect the fermentation temp. of a bed of organic materials in a fermenting tank, and control unit to control a ventilator attached to the tank accord. to the output of the sensor.    USE -   For making matured compost. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/9)
Appts. has a fermenting tank with air vent pipes in the upper space and in the lower space organic materials to be fermented the pipes are connected through other pipes.    USE -   For making matured composts. @(4pp Dwg.No.0/6)
(JP3272567-A)   NOVELTY - A heater (31) heats the storage battery (3) using heat of surplus air exhausted from fuel battery cell (2). A cross valve (25) switches supply path of surplus air to heater or to external side. The cross valve is operated such that the temperature of storage battery detected by sensor (32), is maintained at predetermined range.    USE - Hybrid fuel battery comprising combined storage battery and fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE - Prevents capacitive reduction of storage battery by maintaining appropriate internal temperature. Hence, durability is improved.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Fuel gas containing hydrogen and oxygen content air, is supplied to the cell. An air blower (22) guides atmospheric air to the cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a diagram of hybrid fuel battery.    Fuel battery cell (2)    Storage battery (3)    Air blower (22)    Cross valve (25)    Heater (31)    Sensor (32)
A method for treating cellulose-contg. sec. fibres is claimed.    The fibres have a content of (a) polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and/or polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF); and/or (b) sticky contaminants.    The fibres are contacted with propane under pressure and temp. conditions such that the propane is a supercritical or near supercritical fluid and the content of either or both (a) or (b) is reduced.    The content of the PCDD and/or PCDF of the fibres is reduced by at least 70% pref. by at least 90%. The pressure is above 30(42) atmos. and less than 300(40-200) atmos., the temp. is above 80(97) deg.C and less than 200(90-150) deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Efficient removal of (a) and (b), improves the quality of paper produced from the fibres and prevents web breaks and deposition of the sticky contaminants on the machine components. @(13pp Dwg.No.0/2)
Decomposer is composed of aerobically cultured microorganisms found in earthworms faeces. Microorganisms (e.g. mould and bacteria) are pref. cultured in an aq. dispersion of earthworm faeces to give about 50 million cells/cm3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Decomposer of agrochemicals is useful in playing grounds, for fields and golf courses preventing chemical injury.    In an example, soil sample contg. 52.2 ppm of simazine was treated with the compsn. Content of simazine declined to 49.5, 37.4 and 22.2 ppm respectively after 12, 35 and 60 days, respectively. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0
The process comprises adding a hydrocarbon gas or a gas contg. hydrocarbons together with ammonia to the exhaust gases to decompose the nitrogen oxide. The gas contg. hydrocarbons is pref. coke oven gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is one of so-called non-catalytic denitrification using ammonia. Generally, the non-catalytic denitrification requires a reaction temp. of 900 deg.C or above. With the new process, the decompsn. of nitrogen oxide takes place at a temp. of about 650 deg.C. The energy consumption for denitrification reaction can be reduced because the exhaust gases need not be heated . @(4pp Dwg.No.0/6
Leguminous bacteria is applied to symbiotic crop for inoculation. The segregated and propagated leguminous bacteria is supported on a porous carrier having extract pH of 5.0 - 9.0 and an average grain dia. of 0.001 - 0.8 cm. This leguminous bacteria-inoculating source. The source is uniformlym applied in the rhizosphore having a radius of 5 cm and a depth of 10 cm (3-15cm) with the seed of the symbiotic crop centre.    Pref the porous carrier comprises; a charcoal material, pearlite, vermiculite, or zeolite. The segregated and propagated leguminous bacteria comprises; soybean leguminous bacteria, azuki bean lleguminous bacteria, pea leguminous bacteria, haricot bean leguminous bacteria, lotus flower leguminous bacteria, or alfalfa leguminous bacteria. The source contains a trace of fertiliser and/or a leguminous bacteria nutrient source.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method ensures superior adhesion to the autochthonous leguminous bacteria. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/1
Compostable domestic waste and other waste is temporarily stored in a dustbin.    This is made from waste paper or similar material, being non-soluble in water and compostable. It is compressed and has a wall thickness such as to allow air exchange between the interior and exterior, while absorbing moisture without allowing its passage for a few days at least. It can form an insert for an external bin of metal or hard plastic, and can be for use once only.    ADVANTAGE -   Min. odour or need for cleaning. @(5pp Dwg.No.1/4)@
Appts. has a container with a digestor zone which is in communication with a clarifier zone. The size of the opening between the digestor and clarifier zones is variable. The clarifier zone includes a prim. and a sec. zone sepd. by a weir formation. A means is used to collect gas produced during the used treatment.    USE -   For anaerobic treatment of organic material. @(16pp)
The reactor comprises a methane tank (1) with a biogas tube, a gasholder (3), a heat exchanger (2), pumps (4,5), and valving. To increase efficiency, the exchanger consists of abutted checkered square sections, with manure input and output cones, and communicating channels having plugs in a specific layout.    Compressor (6), initial (7) and final (8) product tanks, and supports (9), facilitate utilisation of the ferment heat and of the biogas. The cold manure from tank (7) goes via a checkered arrangement of channels to a hot distribution cone. The biogas is pumped in counterflow by a compressor along the passive channels of part (2), with accompanying decrease in fuel consumption.    ADVANTAGE -   The design utilises the ferment heat more effectively. Bul.15/23.4.91 @(3pp Dwg.No. 1/3)@
The tank has a body (2) with bell (1) in its upper part provided with blades, mass supply and ready product outlet devices and a tap (10) for biological gas outlet. The fermenting process is intensified, the energy consumption is reduced and operation reliability is increased since the tank is provided with a vertical shaft (5) with a screw (7) and ratched clutch (11) interacting with the bell, and also crust mixer (13) connected to the shaft upper part. The bio-gas outlet tap is provided with a lever turning mechanism (9). The mixer shaft is provided with blades (12) in its lower part.    The bell due to the bio-gas pressure floats up and rises along the hydraulic lock (3). When the bell reaches the given upper position rod (8) turns lever (9) and tap (10) is opened allowing bio-gas exit. The gas pressure drops and the bell lowers. The screw (7) turns in the opposite direction and turns the ratchet clutch (11) which rotates shaft (5) and the shaft blades ensure mixing.    USE -   The tank is used for methane fermentation and can be used in animal husbandry for waste utilisation and decontamination. Bul.15/23.4.91 @(4pp Dwg.No.1/1)@
The floor supports a layer of growth material to be prepared, and contains passages for air from a ventilation conduit underneath. It contains rectangular transverse passages, enclosed between beams running in the lengthwise direction of the floor, and transverse ones between them. The top surfaces of the transverse beams are lower than those of the lengthwise ones.    ADVANTAGE -   The prepared compost etc. can be removed by pulling merely a signle net over it. @(9pp Dwg.No.4/4)
Appts. comprises chamber to store CO2 produced during mixing and fermenting of the organic waste with fermenting bacteria. The storage chamber communicates with a fermenting tank having stirring blades.    USE -   For treating animals droppings. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Device includes fermenting vessel having U-shaped section, paddle-type stirring vanes supported by horizontal rotary shaft in fermentation vessel so that vanes rotate along curved bottom of fermenting vessel, and fermenting and drying heater arranged around outer periphery of fermentation vessel.    ADVANTAGE -   Fermentation and drying can be effected for one batch. @(9pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
The organic waste-fermenting system includes fermenting vessels each having a U-shaped section, paddle-type stirring vanes in each fermenting vessel such that the vanes vertically rotate along the curved bottom of the fermenting vessel, and a fermenting and drying heat arranged around the outer periphery of each fermenting vessel. The fermenting vessels are provided with upper feed openings and a lower fermented prod. discharge opening. The fermenting vessels are laterally detachable, and guide rails are laid above the vessels in the direction of the arranged vessels. A pretreating unit, for crushing organic waste and downwardly discharging it, is movably fitted on the rails so that it may be stopped above the organic waste feed opening of each fermenting vessel.    ADVANTAGE -   Fermenting conditions can be easily set. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Organic waste e.g. dead chickens is coarsely cut into pieces that do not flow during fermentation. Cut pieces are charged into fermentation vessel together with water-content adjusting agent and fermenting germ, and mixt. is obtd. by heating to optimum fermenting temp. under stirring.    After stirring and heating are stopped, mixt. is left contacting carbon dioxide, thereby propagating germ. While optimum fermenting temp. is kept and mixt. is stirred, fermentation is effected. Fermented product is dried.    ADVANTAGE -   Fertiliser or feed with high nutritive value is obtd. in short time. @(8pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Rock wool is added to crude bean-curd refuse. The rock wool and the crude bean-curd refuse are mixed. A compost bacterium is added to the mixt. and putrefaction and ageing are applied to the mixt..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method treats the crude bean-curd refuse. The method forms a large amt. of the crude bean-curd refuse into a fully aged compost in a short time. The use of the crude bean curd and the rock wool supplies the compost having predetermined quality level. The resulting compost contains organic compsns. and inorganic compsns.. The result promotes the growth of plants c.f. conventional composts. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Apparatus includes sheet-shaped enclosure for enclosing mass of compost raw material, e.g. chaff, rice straws or grass, air feeder and air evacuator provided at lower and upper portions of enclosure respectively, and circulating device for circulating air in enclosure through air feeder and evacuator.    Auxiliary air feed pipe is erected on and communicated with air feeder. Auxiliary air evacuating pipe is downwardly projected from and communicated with air evacuator. Auxiliary air feed pipe and auxiliary air evacuating pipe are vertically overlapped.    ADVANTAGE -   Uniform production of compost is attained. @(6pp Dwg.No.0/6)
Long lasting odourless natural fertiliser contg. 0.001-0.5 wt.% of an antimicrobial or antiseptic cpd. prepd. of an inactivator to degrading or fermenting microorganisms of nitrogen contg. cpds.    Also claimed the long lasting odourless fertiliser added with a deodourant contg. 10-5000 wt. ppm of the inactivator.    Pref. antimicrobial and antiseptic cpds. (e.g. p-cumylphenol, p-nonylphenol, o-phenylphenol, benzalkonium chloride, acetic acid, itaconic acid, salicylic acid, p-hydroxybenzoinc acid, resorcinol and isopropyl alcohol) are added to the organic fertilisers at concns. of 0.001-0.5, pref. 0.005-0.1 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A controlled slow degradation of organic nitrogen rich fertiliser can be obtd. Slow degradation provides long lasting odourless fertiliser. @(10pp Dwg.No.0/0)@
Sewage sludge is converted to a substrate similar to humus by (a) addn. of organic additives to raise the organic dry matter (OTS) content and to act as inoculant, (b) addn. of synthetic flocculant, (c) mechanical dewatering to at least 20% (above 40%) dry matter content (TS) of which at least 50% is OTS, (d) batchwise aerobic microbial rotting for 5-8 days at 50-90 deg.C, a charge height of at least 2 m, pore vol. of 30-50%, and active, uniform aeration, when OTS is converted into CO2, water and substrate, and the TS content at the end of rotting is 60-65%, of which 1/3-1/4 is OTS, (e) and aerobic rotting for several weeks without active aeration at 10-90 deg.C by means of microbes and esp. moulds, to 80% TS, where the heat caused by the microbial activity is used to maintain the temp. level of the post-rotting.    Stage (a) usually takes place before stage (b), and stages (c), (d) and (e) take place in this order after stages (a) and (b). Heat forming in stage (d) is used to pre-heat the air blown in and/or to pre-heat the starting material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prod. can be used as fertiliser or be disposed of. The prod. resembles soil and is non-inflammable and can be used as fertiliser without later liquefaction, gas release or auto-ignition. It does not encourage excessive growth, esp. of the leafy parts of plants. Harmful substances, e.g. heavy metals, cannot be washed out of the material after disposal.
The current supply has a fuel cell stack (1), comprising a number of individual cells, each with a fuel electrode and an air electrode respectively supplied with a fuel gas and reaction air, via fuel gas channels and reaction air channels extending perpendicular to one another.    A pair of distributors (3A,3B;2A,2B) lie on the entry and exit side of the fuel gas feed and on the entry and exit side of the reaction air feed for the fuel cell stack (1), used to control the flow vol. dependant on the required load factor.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows load factor to be altered between 25 percent and 100 percent. @(13pp Dwg.No.2/11)@
Biological remediation process in which microorganisms degrade contaminating organic cpds. over an extended period is enhanced by adding a low level controlled release source of microorganism nutrients to supply a growth and activity promoting level of nutrients over the extended period.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process can be applied to water and soil environments, including soil in or removed from its natural environment, naturally occurring or artificially created bodies of water, ground water, municipal waste water or industrial effluent and soil slurried in water. (all claimed). It can be used e.g. in degradation of oil spills. Labour costs can be reduced and environmental damage caused by nutrient run offs can be avoided. @(32pp Dwg.No.0/6)
A method of forming a solid metal oxide crystal structure having a peroxide defect and doped with an alkali or alkaline earth metal by growing the doped metal oxide crystal comprises (a) thermal decomposition of a molten mixt. of the metal oxide (or a cpd. which can thermally decompose to form the oxide) and the metal salt, in an oxidising atmos.; (b) cooling the mixt.    The metal oxide has a cubic crystal structure, is an oxide of a rare earth metal which forms a cation of large ionic radius and is pref. samarium oxide. The alkali metal is Li, K, Na or Ca, and the crystal is grown in the presence of a basic or neutral support, comprising titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide and the hydrated forms of the cpds. or esp. magnesium oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The doped metal oxide prod. is useful as a catalyst for conversion of, e.g. methane to ethane and ethylene in a free radical process which can also be used for prodn. of propane, propylene, butane and butylene. The method does not suffer from the incomplete penetration of the oxide by the dopant as in prior methods, e.g. dry impregnation, and the resulting low activities.
Fluid sepn. membrane is capable of achieving enhanced permeability of the more permeable component of a fluid mixt. while retaining the high selectivity of sulphonated polysulphones. The semipermeable membrane consists of a sulphonated substd. polysulphone selected from (A) a sulphonated bisphenol polysulphone contg. the polymer repeat unit of formula (I) where Ar = aromatic radical selected from gp. of formula (i), (ii) or (ii) etc. where Ar = aromatic radical selected from X = H or a substit. gp. ortho to the sulphone gp. and at least one X per polymer repeat unit must be (i) an alkyl substit., (ii) an alkylthio or arylthio gp. (iv) a halogen or (v) a SiR1R2R3 gp. where R1,R2,R3 = alkyl or aryl, and (B) a sulphonated bisphenol polysulphone contg. the polymer repeat unit of formula (II) where Ar = a substd. radical selected from gp. of formula (iv) or (v) where R4 = H or a substit. gp. ortho to the ehter oxygen link and at least one R4 per polymer repeat unit must be as (i) or (iv) above, R5 = lower alkyl or halogenated lower alkyl gp, n = 0 or 1, and Sm = sulphonic acid or its salt with m = deg. of sulphonation of the polymer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membrane can be used to separate mixts. which are pref. gaseous and comprise air, or H2, O2, CO2, NH3, CH4 or H2S each in admixt. with at least one other gas. Liq. mixts. such as aq. salt solns., aq. dye solns., suspensions of oil in water, sugar solns. etc. can also be used. An unexpected and unpredictable improvement in the combination of gas sepn. and permeation values is achieved. In some cases (e.g. for H2 and He) permeation rates up to 10 times higher than those previously obtd. have been observed while existing high sepn. factors have been retaed. @(11pp Dwg.No.0/0
Clean, dust free, dry, urea treated fuel nuggets (I) are obtd. for burning in automated furnaces and woodburning stoves are adapted to burn pellitized fuels. The nuggets have heat content at least 8400 BTU/lb and emit lower amts. of formaldehyde than untreated nuggets; they are made from particle-board material (II) which contains urea-formaldehyde resin.    The process comprises (a) breaking and shaping (II) into smaller, generally spherical pieces; (b) sorting the pieces to choose nuggets of dia. suitable for burning; (c) treating the pieces with urea to reduce formaldehyde emissions; and (d) drying for time and temp. sufficient to reduce moisture content to that of (I).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Particle board, which consists of wood particles bound with a resin, is used in building and related industries. Waste material is obtd. and this requires disposal. Difficulty with disposal giving undesirable release of formaldehyde to the atmos. is limited.
Methane tank comprises a body (1), and two gas collectors (2) connected by a gas conduit with a valve (3). The latter . automatically connects the methane tank sections to the gas holder. The methane tank sections are separated by three lateral partitions (4-6) and one longitudinal partition (7). Pipelines (8,9) heating the treated mass are assembled in each of the sections. The valve includes a cover (15), gas conduits (16-18), and a slide valve (19) with the springs (20,21) and hinge plugs (22,23).    The organic matter is alternately transferred from the first section lower zone to the second section upper zone. The pressure is controlled automatically by the valve.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Methane tank is used for the fermentation of stock-rearing farm wastes. Organic mass fermentation and disinfection efficiency is increased. Bul.4/30.1.91 @(4pp Dwg.No. 1/6)@
The method of aerobic purificn. of effluents contg. anionic surfactants comprises passing effluents at 18-20 deg.C and aeration rate 25-40 cu.m of air per 1 cu.m of effluent, through the load of ropes of anion-exchange polycaproamide and/or polyvinyl alcohol fibre, contg. immobilised Pseudomonas bacteria in amt. 15-20 mg/l. The number of elemental fibres in rope is 12000-15000 and the density of ropes distribution in load is 6-10 kg/cu.m. Pseudomonas alcaligenes or Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain can be used.    Tests show that the proposed method increases degree of purificn. to give the final content of surfactant in purified effluent 3-10 mg/l (for the initial content 200 mg/l).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In purificn. of effluents from textile industry and surfactants prodn. plants, contg. alkyl sulphates and alkyl benzosulphonates. Increased degree of purificn. is achieved owing to increased bacterial concn. per unit of vol. of effluent. Bul.4/30.1.91
Flame resistant electric wire produced by (1) applying an insulation layer and an intermediate layer successively onto outside surface of an electric conductor, (2) winding a tape prepd. by applying flame resistant paint layer having a thickness of 1-200 microns and contg. 10-25 wt.% of aq. emulsion resin solid component, 30-50 wt.% of inorganic powder, 0.2-5 wt.% of red phosphorus, 1-10 wt.% of phosphoric acid ester, and 0.2-5 wt.% of inorganic fibre, around the electric conductor, and then (3) applying a flame resistant coating layer contg. 100 pts. wt. of polyolefin, 50-250 wt. parts of metal hydroxide and no halogen thereon.    The emulsion resin in the flame resistant paint is e.g. polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer, vinyl acetate-vinyl propionate copolymer, or vinyl acetate-acrylate copolymer etc. The inorganic powder is e.g. Ca carbonate, Al oxide, Mg silicate, silica, Zn borate or clay.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electric wire shows good flame resistant property, mechanical property, and formability, and generates no toxic halogen gas while burning. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Flame resistant electric wire produced by (1) applying an insulation layer and an intermediate layer successively onto outside surface of an electric conductor, (2) winding a tape prepd. by applying flame resistant paint layer having a thickness of 1-200 microns and contg. 10-25 wt.% of aq. emulsion resin solid component, 30-50 wt.% of inorganic powder, 0.2-5 wt.% of red phosphorus, 1-10 wt.% of phosphoric acid ester, and 0.2-5 wt.% of inorganic fibre, around the electric conductor, and then (3) applying a flame resistant coating layer contg. 100 pts. wt. of polyolefin, 50-250 wt. parts of metal hydroxide and no halogen thereon.    The emulsion resin in the flame resistant paint is e.g. polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer, vinyl acetate-vinyl propionate copolymer, or vinyl acetate-acrylate copolymer etc. The inorganic powder is e.g. Ca carbonate, Al oxide, Mg silicate, silica, Zn borate or clay.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electric wire shows good flame resistant property, mechanical property, and formability, and generates no toxic halogen gas while burning. @(5pp Dwg.No.0/0)
In the methane gas sepn appts. accompanied with a condensor to liquefy sepd methane gas, a gas/liq separator is disposed at an outlet port of liquefied gas of the condensor, while a gas circulating system is provided to introduce the sepd gas into the source natural gas feeding system.    ADVANTAGE -   Much increased yield rate is obtd. @(7pp Dwg.No.0/2)
A method for the treatment of animal dejections comprises admixing the dejections with an inert material in particle form and spraying the mixt. with an activating nutrient compsn. capable of promoting or enhancing the growth of the microorganisms naturally present in the dejections. Fermentation is carried out with heat development in the mixt. until the substances composing the ordures and the urines are decomposed to simpler prods.    Also claimed is an activating nutrient compsn. suitable for use in the method.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is esp. useful for treating swine breedings. The fermentation bed, both during and at the end of a dejection treatment cycle shows essentially dry surface and can be readily admixed with further dejections to repeat a new depuration cycle and after several cycles (lasting even uo to 1 year) the surface layer can be removed and used as manure etc. @(10pp Dwg.No.8/3)
In composting rubbish, esp. household rubbish, contg. organic material, the rubbish is first composted and then compressed.    Pref. composting is in clamps or in closed containers with addn. of air, and is stopped by drying when the more easily decomposable biological components have been broken down. After composting and before compressing, valuable matekrals, e.g. glass, metals, noble metals, synthetics and paper are sorted out, and organic matter may be sepd. Compression is into balls. The bodies into which the composted rubbish has been compressed can be piled up and/or of entry of air, pref. lateral entry.    ADVANTAGE -   The compressed rubbish takes up less space in deposits and costs less to transport to the deposit or to the combustion plant. Compression removes moisture and makes the material lighter. @(3pp Dwg.No.0/0)