Appts. comprises a net partition stretched in a bottom area of a tank, rotary cutting blades disposed above the net partition in the tank and blower disposed below the net partition in the tank having an organic material inlet.    USE -   For treating organic waste, esp. garbage.
The oil mill residues are mixed with an organic substrate (cellulose paste) or mineral substrate (sepiolite or vermiculite). with opt. addn. of N, P, K ingredients to increase its fertilising value, milled and fermented in heaps with control of the temp. inside the heap. Use is made of residual prods. of little value which present problems of disposal.
Manufacturing a fuel prod. comprises drying a drained sludge which prior to the drying is mixed with an inflammable material to a composite prod., which is dried to a desired dry matter content by heating. The process is improved by triturating the inflammable material before it is mixed with the sludge. Then, the composite prod. is crumbled and is introduced into the drying plant in the immediate vicinity of its heating means and the composite prod. is conveyed mechanically and pneumatically through the drying plant, and the dried composite prod. is finally formed as a fuel prod..    Pref., the drained sludge is mixed with an inflammable material which has a lower water content than the sludge. The dried composite prod. is ground and pelletised. The sludge and the inflammable material are mixed in vol. ratio between sludge and material from approx. 1:6 to approx. 1:2 and pref. in a vol. ratio of approx. 1:4. The drying is effected at a temp. up to approx. 500-1100 deg.C. The composite prod. is dried to a water content of approx. 4-12% pref. approx. 7.5%. Pref., the material is chosen among biological materials such as waste wood in the form of sawdust or wood chips, triturated recycled paper, cut straw, cleaning of grain, peat mulch and similar materials.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides an alternative removal of sludge by making the drained sludge into a fuel prod. by making it possible to dry drained sludge in traditional drying plants for mfg. a prod. that may be burned in existing, greater heating plants.
To avoid development of odour in drying metabolic waste, esp. stable manure and sewage sludge, the waste is mixed with an additive which binds the odour, comprising soft lignite activated by very fine comminution and/or KCl.    Activated soft lignite is used in amt. of 0.1-0.4 pts. w.r.t. dried waste, and may be combined with less than stoichiometric amts. of H2SO4, or H2SO3, opt. as waste water contg. H2SO4 or H2S03. The amt. of KCl is 0.1-0.25 pts. wt. w.r.t. dry waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The odourless prod. is obtd. in conventional driers, and special treatment of the vapours is avoided.    In an example, 0.5 pts. wt. of sewage sludge with 60% moisture content was mixed with 9.2 pts. of lignite activated by wet-grinding and 0.08 pts. of waste water contg. 1% of H2S04, followed by addn. of 0.22 pts. of dry wood chippings. The prod. was a damp, crumbly, free-flowing, completely odourless prod. which could be dried by heating to less than 10% moisture content, without development of odour
Methane analyser has controlled dilution of the sample gas prior to submission to the H2 flame ionisation detector (FID). The analyser includes a cutter chamber for preparing a sample gas prior to submission to a hydrogen FID, and comprises (a) a source of dilution gas connected to the hydrogen FID; and (b) means for directing a portion of the dilution gas to the cutter for mixing with the sample gas.    Step (b) pref. includes a flow controller system. The sample gas is supplied to the cutter by a supply line having a pressure regulator and a bypass line. A fuel gas supply is also connected to the hydrogen FID and means for directing a portion of the fuel gas to the cutter, as well as a flow controller for regulating the fuel gas supply to the cutter.    ADVANTAGE -   Since a part of the operating air supplied to the FID is also supplied to the FID as air used for diluting the raw sample gas, the analyser construction is not complicated and is inexpensive.
Treatment of lignocellulosic materials is effected by (a) subjecting the particulate material to acid hydrolysis in an aq. medium to convert hemicellulose to monosaccharides, giving a slurry of cellulose and lignin solids in an aq. monosaccharide soln.; and (b) subjecting the solids to mechanical action to reduce them to finely divided form.    Pref. the process is carried out by (1) hydrolysing hemicellulose with HNO3; (2) mechanically disintegrating the solids in the resulting slurry; (3) sepg. the aq. phase from the solids; and (4) hydrolysing cellulose in the solids with HNO3 under more severe conditions than in step (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The treatment may form part of a process in which waste materials e.g. sawdust, bark, straw or bagasse are converted to sugars by 2-stage hydrolysis. The sugars are fermented to produce ethanol; and residues are anaerobically digested to produce methane. Mechanical disintegration of the solids facilitates subsequent hydrolysis of cellulose and is easier to perform than mechanical disintegration of the starting material
Contaminants are removed from soil and groundwater present as an aquifer, with a vadose soil zone existing down to the upper boundary of the aquifer.    Well nests are established, each comprising injection wells extending to a depth below the aquifer, and one or more extn. wells terminating above the aquifer. O2-contg. gas is injected into the injection wells and the O2-contg. gas microorganisms in the vadose zone are continuously stimulated to increase the rate of biodegradation.    A vacuum is applied to the extn. wells at a negative flow volumetrically greater than the positive flow of gas introduced into the injection wells. An effluent is extracted contg. volatile contaminants and biodegradable byproducts of both volatile and non-volatile contaminants of the groundwater aquifer and soil.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system provides in situ remediation of organic prods., e.g. hydrocarbons, and inorganic prods., e.g. metals, from subsurface soil and groundwater. The contamination may result from leakage from underground storage tanks.
Unit contains the power supply source (1), stabiliser (2), power supply monitor (3), voltage test unit (4), AND-gate (5), power supply source selector switch (6), monitored actuator (7), output parameter test unit (8), light indicator unit (9), alarm unit (10), relay unit (11), and a generator for accurate concentrations of methane (12). Information is displayed on LED panel. Clock pulse generator (15) produces a series of rectangular pulses of 1 Hz frequency which passes to counter (16) which converts the pulses to four-bit binary code.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For mining and petrochemical industries. The unit has wide functional possibilities achieved by the use of power supply voltage test unit and accurate methane concn. values generator. Bul.25/7.7.92
The organic acid measurement comprises (a) providing an analyte in an ultrafilter in the methane fermenter: (b) acidifying the sample passed through filtration film in the ultrafilter; (c) supplying nitrogen gas-, and carbon dioxide-free air to the sample; (d) vaporising dissolved carbonic acid and hydrogen sulphide in the sample; (e) adding barium chloride or calcium chloride to the sample to remove the residual dissolved carbonic acid; (f) applying neutralisation titration, using an alkaline soln.; (g) calculating the total amt. of the organic acid in the sample from the amt. (a) of the alkaline soln. required for the neutrailisation titration, using formula (I).    Total organic acid (CH3COOHmg/rho) = aF x (1000/analyte mrho X 6.01 (I).    F = Factor of alkaline soln.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method minimises errors in measured value caused by dissolved carbonic acid in the sample. pH correction in titration is precisely done. This enhances matching to the result measured by ion chromatograph tenchique, existing analysing method.
Appts. comprises a horizontal rotary tank coupled with a drive unit. Caps are fixed to both ends of the tank, and fixed blades hang down in the tank.    USE -   For treating waste.
Appts. comprises a tank to house the wastes and stirrer disposed in the tank in which, at least, a pair of screw conveyers having different starts are disposed. The stirrer has stirring blades mounted on a horizontal rotary shaft.    USE -   For treating waste.
In this method of desulphurising biogas that contains H2S, the H2S is converted to SO2 by selective catalytic oxidn. and the SO2 in the gas is then washed out in a soda lye wash.    Variants are claimed for the oxidation to be done in a reactor in which the biogas is heated, and for a reactor suitable for this purpose.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The usual methods of desulphurising biogas involve considerable ecological problems, whereas the simple method here offered, in which the H2S is completely removed from the gas, is compatible with ecological requirementsb
The chlorinated biphenyls are burnt in steam boilers or furnaces fired by fuels of high calorific value, addition being commenced when the temp. exceeds 1000 deg.C. The gas from the smoke box is passed through successive furnaces until it contains no trace of organic combustion prods. (dioxins, etc.), when it is passed through heated caustic soda soln. to absorb chlorinated gases and vapours.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sodium salts produced are bio-degradable or suitable for industrial use. Use of suitably-equipped conventional boilers or furnaces eliminates toxic hazards in transport and disposal. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9318 based on complete specification)
A gas detector converts increases in concns. of reducing gases (as H2, CH4, H2S, CO, etc.), in intensifying electric signals. The prepn. of this sensor is simple and results obtd. are reproducible.
The starter is prepared by adding (a) chitin or chitosan and (b) plant fibre in (c) the cultured product of the lactic acid bacteria showing resistance to chitin or chitosan. Pref. lactic acid bacterium is from L. casei, L. plantarum, L. brevis, S. faecalis, Leuc. mesenteroides or P. cerevisiae.    The process comprises (a) adding the porous lactic acid starter to silage material so that lactic acid bacterial count is 10 power 3 - 10 power 7 CFU/g and(b) practicing lactic acid fermentation under anaerobic conditions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The multiplication of the microbes originated from soil can be suppressed through the antibiotic or germicidal activity of chitin or chitosan. As the result lactic acid bacteria can be grown rapidly and the infection can be further suppressed by the growth of lactic acid bacteria. Thus the quality and yield of silage can be improved. The growth of aerobic spore-forming bacteria of Bacillus and anaerboic spore-forming bacterial of Clostridium are suppressed. The lactic acid bacteria are buried in porous body and the growing circumstance of lactic acid can be improved. Bean curd refuse can be used as plant fibre as it serves as the nutritive source for lactic acid bacteria and the nutritive value of the silage is improved.
The soiled ground material is mixed with organic residue from (an)aerobic composting at 10-40%, using the coarse grain fraction from a sieve action.    The sieved material structure is pref. set by grinding etc. before mixing with the soiled material. For the biodegrading of the hazardous matter, tensides are pref. added. The decontamination may be effected in earth clamps or pref. bioreactors. The sieved and the contaminated materials are mixed in a single-stage by alternately piling sieved and contaminated materials. With a bioreactor, it is charged with alternating loads of sieved material and conventional matter. In an earth clamp, the microorganisms have an oxygen supply through suction ventilation over the clamp surface through the soil and, in a bioreactor, through a perforated plate which draws air through the soil.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The technique is used for ground or masses soiled by aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic and halogenated hydrocarbons and cyanides etc. The operation is rapid and uses few materials, to give earth and sand, etc. which may support a natural populationr
Compost appts. comprises base member, rotatably supporting a drum. Drum has side surface and end surfaces (14) and has opening through which waste may be transferred, vent, and indentations over the surface providing hand-holds for manually rotating the drum. Base is made of plastic.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows compost 'juice' to draw from drum. Provides effective mixing and aeration of organic waste and is simple.
The supply of a first gas is monitored using a sensor. A vol. of the gas is collected and diluted with a second gas to which the sensor is insensitive to give a predetermined vol.. The sensor is exposed to the diluted mixt. to provide a signal indicative of the concn. of the first gas.    Appts. includes a valve (8) selectively operable either to direct gas from fermenting mass in vial (2) to a manometer (14) or from the manometer to a chamber (18). Optical sensors (28,30) are located adjacent arm (12) of the manometer to sense the occurrence of fluid at a high and a low level. Output signals from the sensors are fed to a control unit (34). When the level is sensed by upper sensor (28), a solenoid (32) is activated to operate the valve (8) to direct the gas to the manometer. When the level has fallen to the level of sensor (30), the solenoid operates valve (8) to connect both the gas supply (4) and the manometer line (16) to the interior of chamber (18).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. for measuring the vol. of methane produced by the anaerobic degradation of waste materials, e.g. at landfill sites or sewage plants. Due to the gas dilution, a sensor which is only effective with relatively low gas concns., can be used to monitor a supply of relatively conc. gas.    y
Sewage sludge (I) is disposed of as follows (all by wt): (a) an aq. (I) slurry of solids content not more than 3% is concn. to a cake of solids content 20-40%; (b) the cake is preheated (indirect head exchange and shearing) to 130-210 deg.F./atmos. pressure for 2-10 mins. and acidified to pH 1-5; (c) the cake (15-40% solids) is heated for 5-45 min. in the absence of air at 213-375 deg.F./pressure above H2O vapour pressure at that temp. in a hydrothermal treating zone (Z1); (d) the aq. pumpable slurry is heated (indirect heat exchange) in an autoclave (Z2) in the absence of air for 30-60 minn. at 400-450 deg.F./pressure above vapour pressure of H2O at that temp.; (e) the slurry is neutralised to pH 6.5-7.5; (f) the solids content is increased to 40-58%; and (g) the pumpable slurry is burned in a partial oxidn., gasifier, furnace, boiler or incinerator to afford a hot raw effluent gas stream.    ADVANTAGE -   The process safely disposes of noxious sewage sludge without contaminating the environment. In addn., synthetic gas, reducing gas or fuel gas may be produced. The process affords a pumpable, dewatered sludge of increased solids content, decreased viscosity and reduced pathogen content. The sludge prod. may be used as land-fill, be land applied, or (with a supplementary fuel) be burned in a partial oxidn. gasifier, boiler or incinerator, when a greater amt. of the sludge may be burned while requiring less energy per unit mass of sludge processed.
The unit comprises a chamber (1) and an aerator (5). The chamber is fed stepwise and one of its walls (2) contains holes (3), while mobile system (e.g. tractor (5) moving vertically) has a hose to a compressed air source (7) with a manifold (8) and sets of perforated pipes (9) whose pointed ends extend through the holes into the chamber.    The U-shaped cross-section chamber has removable end walls. Rails (11) are fitted to the bottom of its sides.    The pipes (9) suspended from the tractor spings loosen the fermenting material which also undergoes aeration by oxygen from the air. Once fermentation is concluded and the fertiliser is prepd. over 6-8 days, the chamber moves to the next zone of the consolidated manure mixed with straw and nitrogen-containing additives, for the next fermentation cycle.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture. The productivity of the unit and the quality of the final prod. are increased. Bul.24/30.6.92
The waste water soln. comprises an organic cpd. and an inorganic cpd., and the inorganic salts of 30 g/waste soln. 11 or more, having bromide ion of 1 g/11 or more. The waste soln. is treated by (A) and (B), in order. (A) The waste soln. is wet-oxidised at 100-370 deg. C under pressure, keeping the waste soln. under liq phase, by supplying gas, contg. O2, necessary to decompose the ammonia. The organic cpd., and the inorganic cpd. in the waste soln. are in presence of the catalyst carrier contg. at least one of Fe, Co, Mn, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Cu, Au, and their water insol salts. (B)The waste soln., treated by the process (A) and controlled in the inorganic salts of 30 g/l or more, is biologically-oxidised by the bacteria phase contg. the ocean bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides the purifying means without pollution to the air and water and with low cost.
New cleaning method uses a solvent based on a fermented liq. of a high molecular cpd. polysaccharide(s).    Pref. the sovlent is typically prepd. by activating and heat-treating xanthan gum by a batch system and fermenting the hydrocarbon with a microorganism(s). The solvent is reusable by filtrating fats and oils and/or resins after use. The solvent obtd. from xanthan gum has detergency comparable with or higher than trichlene.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Without toxic chlorine type solvents, such as trichlene, the method removes fats and oils, fatty acids and resins safely, allowing simplification of cleaning equipment. The solvent is safe for a wide variety of materials.
The working fluids includes, at least, 3 types of freon, that is, 60-5 wt.% of pentafluoroethane, 10 or less wt.% of propane, and 10-35 wt.% of chlorotetrafluoroethane.    The working fluid having less effect on the stratospheric ozone layer than R22. Since non-combustible pentafluoroethane is selected as the freon having little ozone destruction and non-combustible chlorotetrafluoroethane is selected as the freon having reduced ozone destruction, the combustibility of the propane selected as the freon having little ozone destruction power can be reduced. Also, the working fluid has a vapour pressure almost equal to that of R22 at the working temperatures of units, it can be used in current units as the substitution for R22. Pref., the working fluid includes 65-85 wt.% of pentafluoroethane, 6 or less wt.% of propane, and 15-30 wt.% of chloroetrafluoroethane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in heat pumps such as air conditioner, refrigerator, etc.
The working fluid includes at least 3 types of freon, i.e. 5-50 wt.% of trifluoromethane, 10 or less wt.% propane, and 45-95 wt.% of tetrafluoroethane.    The working fluid has less effects on the stratospheric ozone layer than R22. Since non-combustible trifluoromethane is selected as the freon having little ozone destruction, the combustibility of propane can be reduced. Also, since this working fluid has a vapour pressure almost equal to that of R22 at the working temperatures of units, it can be used in current units as the substitution for R22. The coefft. of performance higher than that of R22 can be expected. Pref., the working fluid includes 10 to 40 wt.% of trifluoromethane, 6 or less wt.% of propane, and 55 to 90 wt.% of tetrafluoroethane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in heat pumps such as air conditioner, refrigerator, etc
The working fluid includes, at least, 3 types of freon, i.e. 10-55 wt.% trifluoromethane, 10 or less wt.% propane, and 40-90 wt.% chlorotetrafluoroethane.    The working fluid has less effects on the stratospheric ozone layer than R22 (a type of freon in wide use as working fluid for heat pumps). Since non-combustible trifluoromethane is selected as freon having little ozone destruction power (ODP) and, as the freon having very small ODP, noncombustible chlorotetrafluoroethane is selected, combustibility of propane selected from freon as having little ODP can be reduced. Also, the working fluid has a vapour pressure almost equal to that of R22 at the working temperatures of units, it can be used in current units as the substitution for R22. Pref., the working fluid includes 15 to 45 wt.% of trifluoromethane, 6 or less wt.% of propane, and 50 to 85 wt.% of chlorotetrafluoroethane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in heat pumps such as air conditioner, refrigerator, etc
Fermentation control comprises controlling the temp. of a heated air to be fed to a fermenting tank so that the temp. in a fermenting bed of the tank is within specified temp. range.    USE -   For making composts.
Industrial or semi-industrial organic residues, of animal or vegetable origin, e.g. grape or olive residues, bagasse, etc. by the metabolism and excretion of Lombricus worms, pref. lombricus rubellus. The process is carried out under controlled conditions of oxygenation temp. pH, humidity, thermal insulation etc. with the residues, worms and excrement stratified so that the worm layers can be subsequently separated and recycled. The process produces organic compost for soil regeneration, organo-minerals, prods. for animal or human food, pharmaceutical prods. etc
Improvement of the preformance of a refrigerant is effected by the addn. of an additive gas which is inert w.r.t. the refrigerant and which does not condense under the condensing conditions of the refrigerant, in a sufficient amt. to reduce the power required to perform the compression step. A refrigerant comprising a condensable gas and an additive gas which does not condense under the conditions in which the refrigerant condenses is new.    ADVANTAGE -   The process increases the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle and reduces the power required to compress the refrigerant and cause its condensation.
Refuse is transformed into humus by (i) mixing refuse and sewage sludge and (ii) aerating to cause biological decompsn. of the organic constituents of the mixt.. Humus made by the process and disposed of it as a method of refuse disposal are new.    The mixed refuse and sewage is pref. formed into separate mounds on a selected treatment area and periodically worked to aerate each mound. The working is esp. by turning over the mounds with a conventional earth working machine, or, on a level treatment area, by passing the mound through mobile treatment appts. which further mixes and filters the mixt..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process treats domestic, agricultural or industrial waste. It is more rapid and less odorous than dumping and cheaper and less of a health risk than incineration. Pollution is avoided and plant nutrients are not lost or destroyed.
Organic material is fermented in a rotating, multi-compartment digester drum. Air and water are concurrently injected using an air conduit within which resides a two-ended first water conduit. These are concentrically aligned with the rotational axis of the drum. The water piping system has a second conduit section one part of which is fixed to one end of the first water conduit, the other end secured to an external surface of the drum for rotation with it. The other end of the first water conduit is connected to a stationary water supply line through a rotating joint. The air conduit has one end fixed to the rotating drum for rotation with it. It is connected at its opposite end to a stationary air supply through a rotating joint.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. makes organic fertiliser from organic waste. Moisture and oxygen content of the composting mass is accurately controlled.
Organic debris composter, is top-loaded and has a breaker and mixer across a perforated container which is rotatable upon a support frame, specifically about a horizontal axis. The container has a sidewall unloading opening, and a bottom rot-proof drainage base. Pref. the breaker and mixer has radial projections, and there is a weatherproof lid.    USE -   Yard and household debris composter.
The plant includes a methane tank (1) with gas outlet pipe (2), vertical delivery (10), removal (18) pipes, fresh (3) and fermented (4) manure holders, a heat exchanger (9), delivery (5) and circulating (6) pumps. The delivery pipe (10) is connected to the tank (1) by pipes (11) and the removal pipe (18) by pipes (19) located at angle to the pipes (11) . The pipes (10,18) have drain lines (13,25) at the top and thermocouples (23) located on levels of the connecting pipes (11,19).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use in agriculture. The plant is more productive and offers intensified short fermentation. Bul.23/23.6.92
The effluent (purine) is passed through a filter to separate the solid matter, which is sent for use as manure, from the liq. After adding a reagent, the liq. is neutralised to cover the water. The appts. involves a pump, filter, reaction container, second pump, final tank with stirrer and electro-valve outlet
Disposal of obsolete plant seed treated with seed protectant coatings contg. captan, alone or in combination with other fungicidally or insecticidally active cpds., comprising subjection of the seed to compostation, is new.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is ecologically sound, requires only low cost of initial investment, is economical, and safe. It is superior to present methods including rinsing (hazards in rinsate), green manuring (dependent on adequate rainfall) or incineration (high capital cost). The compost produced is a valuable fertiliser beneficial to soil structure, and useful in horticulture, agriculture or in landscaping. The process is of partic. value in the disposal of treated seed corn, which can reach about 10% of its initial volume, but is applicable to any seed, provided that it is free from any elements allowing compost quality negatively. It should pref. also be free of noxious weed seeds.
The material to be decomposed in a container, for composting, uses a pressure difference and pref. an underpressure to move the material (2) through the container (1).    Air is pref. recirculated through the material (2) for its movement, taken from the ambient environment and pref. cleaned before return to the environment. The composted material (2) is removed from the container (1) by a pressure difference, pref. an underpressure. The material (2) is loosened by an overpressure (10,9). The material is ground (11) to reduce it as it leaves the container (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is used for processing domestic waste and similar rubbish, to convert it into compost. The operation gives a simple method to advance the material through the container.
Thermal recycling of waste material (I) by a combination of known processes such as pyrolysis, comminution, sizing, degasification and gas purificn., comprises pyrolysing (I) in the absence of air at up to 800 deg.C in a carbonisation process to produce a gaseous hydrocarbon-contg. pyrolysis crude gas and a solid pyrolysis residue. The crude gas is removed at temperatures higher than the condensn. temp. of the gaseous hydrocarbons. The solid residue is sepd. by comminuting and sizing to produce coke like enriched fines and an organic contaminant free coarse material consisting of metallic components. The crude gas, fines, and additional liq. fuel are fed into a degasification reactor and auto-thermally reacted with a free-oxygen contg. degasification agent to form a CO- and H2-contg. gas and a mineral residue. The ratio of free oxygen to carbon in the gas, fines and fuel is controlled so that the temp. in the reactor is above the melting temp. of the mineral residue and a liquid slag is produced. This slag is cooled, granulated in contact with water and removed from the reactor. The CO- and H2-contg. gas is cooled and liberated from sulphur cpds., halogenated hydrocarbons and aerosols. The coarse prod. is recycled in a specific process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to recycle waste such as household waste, plastic-contg. industrial waste, dye residue, used tyres, shredder-lightweight waste from motor car recycling or oil-contaminated waste without extensive pretreatment.
A compost bin consists of a container with opaque walls and a closed lower end. Spaced above the lower wall is a perforated inner base defining a lower sump region and an upper compost-forming region. A tap drains liq. from the sump. A removable, opaque lid closes the upper end of the container.    The compost bin (1) has a perforated inner base (2) positioned about 20 cms. above the bottom wall. A tap (4) drains liq. from the sump (3). The lid (5) excludes vermin and undesirable insects from the compost. Pref., the lid has small ventilation holes (6) opt. backed with fine gauze. In operation organic material is periodically added to the bin which is primed with worms, esp. Eisenia foetida or Eisenia andrei. These concentrate in the top layer of the organic material and convert it to compost. Released water drains to the sump and is removed through the tap.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bin is used to convert organic material, esp. domestic refuse, e.g., vegetable matter or paper, into a compost used for growing plants and a drained liq. which can be used as a liq. fertiliser.
Methane is converted to higher mol. wt. hydrocarbons (I) in absence of a catalyst by (i) mixing (a) methane, (b) an alkylated hydrocarbon serving as free radical initiator, and (c) O2, with max. concn. of (b) and (c) being each 2% w.r.t. (a); (ii) heating the mixt. to a temp., e.g. at lest 775 deg.C, sufficient to cause prodn. of free radicals and subsequent prodn. of (I); and (iii) sepg. and collecting (I).    (b) is pref. 4,4-dimethyl pentene-1, 2,2,3,3-tetramethyl butane (II), 2,4,4-trimethyl pentane (octane) or a mixt. of methylated alkanes; it is generally ca 1% of the reaction mixt.    Temp. is pref. 800-900 deg.C, pressure 20 atmos. or less, residence time 10-1,000 sec. Presence of 2-4C hydrocarbons commonly found in natural gas enhances methane conversion, and presence of less than 1% hydrogen sulphide does not reduce conversion when O2 is slightly higher than 1%
Flue gases contg. sulphur and nitrogen oxides (SOx and NOx) are passed over a lanthanide sulphate or oxysulphate catalyst (I) with surface active sites to promote (NOx dissociation and entrap O2 released by this dissociation. (I) is also contacted with reducing gas (II) to reduce O2 entrapped and allow (I) to continue to promote NOx dissociation.    Flue gases are then passed over a solid soln. comprising a solent of a first lanthanide oxide (III) which crystallises in the fluorite habic and a solute of a second lanthanide moxide (IV) which reacts with SOx to form a lanthanide oxysulphur cpd. (V). The cpd. (V) is then removed and heated for dissociation into the oxide (IV). Further claimed is a process where a flue gas contg. NOx and small amts. of SOx is passed over (I) and contacted with gas (II). (IV) can be replaced by an alkaline earth metal oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Flue gas is from combustion of C or hydrocarbon fluels opt. contg. S. Removal of SOx and NOx is optimised.
The process involves multistage cooling and condensation in coolers (2,3,4,5) and heat exchangers (6,6') using propylene and ethylene cold and recycled streams cold, subsequent separation of the formed condensate and gas in separators (7-11), rectification of the condensate which flows from the separators to the demethaniser (12), single-stage condensation of the gases leaving the top of the demethaniser, separation of the liq. and gaseous phase in the fractionating column (13) and returning the liq. phase to the demethaniser as a reflux and using the gaseous phase (methane-hydrogen fraction) as working gas in the turbo-expansion machine (16) for its cooling and in the compressor (19).    The gas phase is initially heated by heat exchange with the recycled streams. The turbo-expansion machine is used simultaneously as the compressor drive and the electric power generator, supplying the compressed and used gases to the fuel circuit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the prodn. of lower olefins for pyro-gas demethanisation. Power consumption and ethylene loss are reduced. Bul.22/15.6.92
Aeromonas caviae SK VKPM B-4709 strain is used as a destructor of caprolactam and non-ionogenic surfactants. The strain is obtd. by repeated passivation in liquid salt medium with gradually increasing concns. of caprolactam.    Tests show that use of the proposed strain increased the efficiency of removal of up to 10000 mg/l of caprolactam and of 300 mg/l of surfactants from 85 and 0% to 99-100 and 100% respectively.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In microbilogy and cleaning of aq. waste from synthetic fibres prodn. Simultaneous destruction of caprolactam and non-ionogenis surfactants. Bul.22/15.6.92
A suspension of amino acids, vitamins and microelements from lysine fermentation reacts at 30-45 deg.C with 0.5-10.0% hexa-methyl-tetra-amine or hexamethylene tetra-amine formaldehdye oligomer resulting in a product, which is then mixed with std. N or P comprising fertiliser, dried and mixed with 20-40% perlite or silicate carrier and which can be applied to the soil or to plants. The product can be blended with ammoniumm nitrate and/or ammonium sulphate and/or carbamide and/or mono-ammonium phosphate and/or carbamdie phosphate. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9316 based on complete specification)
To remove troublesome material from compost and/or raw compost materials, the unwanted matter (2) is removed by an airstream.    Pref. the compost or raw compost material is carried by a conveyor (16). The airstream is controlled, in a recirculation, with a separator (8) to detach the matter (2) from the airstream. The air is clean (12) before release into the atmosphere.    The airstream is generated by an underpressure supply (8,13), and a pref. flexible hose (7) with its end (3) positioned over the unwanted matter (2) as it travels on the conveyor (16). The end (3) of the flexible hose (7) is positioned laterally or longitudinally. The airstream passes through a separator (8) to remove the collected matter (2) and an air cleaner (12).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method is used for the sepn. of unwanted matter such as plastics particles, glass or textiles from bio-waste, sludge, domestic waste etc., for compositing. The action gives an effective sepn. of the matter, without endangering operatives.
(BR9103905-A)      The inoculant, for application to leguminous seeds before planting, is made by centrifuging a biomass of rhizobium spp. bacteria, re-suspensing in a cryoprotector soln. rich in sugar and protein, and lyophilising. The prod. contg. 1.5 x 10 (11) power viable cells per g. is mixed with a carrier rich in polysaccharides, composed of saccharose, sodium lauryl sulphate, kaolin and carboxylmethyl cellulose. When mixed with water, the inoculant mixt. forms a gel which adheres to the seeds and can be applied directly in the seed box without causing wear of the planting machine. Storage life of up to 25 months at ambient temp. is at least 3 times that of inoculants based on peat as carrier. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9316 based on complete specification
A catalyst (A) for the conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons comprises: (a) a support material which is Si, Zr and/or Mg oxides, (b) a Mn catalytic agent supported on (a) and (c) an alkali metal promoter impregnated into (A) where the surface atomic ratio of (c):(b) is at least 5.    (B) Prepn. of (A)involves forming a mixt. of Mn aq. soln. and an oxidative agentaq. soln. in an inorganic oxide suppport material, obtaining appte. of Mn oxide on the support material, drying the ppte., impregnating the ppte. with (c) and drying the calcining the obtd. catalyst.    Pref., the Mn oxide ppte. is obtd. by varying a pH value of the mixt. between acidic and basic values. The aq. Mn soln. is aq. soln. of MnCl3. The oxidative agent is alkali metal chlorate, hypochlorite, thiosulphate and/or bromate, pref. K chlorate. (c) is an alkali metal halide, pref. NaCl. process further comprises calcining the dried ppte. of (b) prior to impregnation, pref. at 900-1200 but partic. 1000 deg. C. (c) is pref. Si oxide. The impregnated solid is calcined at 300-1000 pref. 600-800 deg. C or at 100-140 deg. C. (a) is calcined prior to its mixt. with the solns. of (b) and (c).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst provides stable and enhanced methane conversion levels over extended reaction times for conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbo
Sewage is treated using three types of biomass by (i) biologically removing phosphate and, simultaneously, reducing the chemical and biological oxygen demand in a highly loaded activated sludge system; (ii) nitrifying by conversion of NH3; and (iii) denitrifying using a C source. The order of (i) and (iii) is exchangeable.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Sewage, including municipal sewage, diluted manure and wastewater from sugar beet processing, is treated in small bioreactors, providing a compact treatment installation. High hydraulic loadings are enabled, permitting short retention times. Extensive removal of P and N are enabled.
(A) In biological conversion (composting) of organic matter into biomass by treatment in a closed environment by fine shredding and mixing. (a) treatment is carried out in at least two separate closed chambers; (b) the organic matter is treated to an intermediately converted stage in the first chamber; (c) part of the intermediately converted material is transferred from the first to the second chamber for final composting; and (d) fresh organic matter is treated in the first chamber in the presence of the rest of the intermediately converted material.    (B) Appts. for carrying out the process is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic waste can be converted into useful biomass by a short quasi-continuous treatment at the location at which the waste occurs
(A) In biological conversion (composting) of organic matter into biomass by treatment in a closed environment by fine shredding and mixing, the novelty is that (a) treatment is carried out in at least two separate closed chambers; (b) the organic matter is treated to an intermediate conversion stage in the first chamber; (c) part of the intermediately converted material is transferred to the second chamber for completion of composting; and (d) fresh organic matter is treated in the first chamber in the presence of the remainder of the intermediately converted material.    (B) Appts. for carrying out the process is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic waste can be converted into useful biomass by a short quasi-continuous treatment at the location at which the waste occurs
The assembly to reduce biological waste matter into a compost has storage and working surfaces contained within the operating range of a crane.    The storage and working surfaces can be covered wholly or partially. The roof, on supports pref, has a crane assembly with a gripper to deposit the material on a belt and for sorted material to drop into a shredder. The material can also be deposited directly into the shredder. The crane and its gripper can deposit the coarse material into compost bunkers where it is piled and heated, so that water and seeds and germs are destroyed. After a dwell time fo 2-4 weeks, the biological waste is transferrred to a further bunker and ventilated, from the lower bunker to an upper bunker. The storage positions are then reversed after a dwell time, and then transferred to a further bunker as compost. The compost is transferred by the crane to the shredder, to be reduced to a fine consistency, to be loaded by the crane and gripper into delivery vehicles.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is esp. for biological, vegetable and even bone waste from parks, green spaces, sport grounds, gardens etc., which can also contain used paper and carboard or even waste cotton and wool prods.. Large vols. of waste can be reduced to compost on a small surface area, with min. use of machinery and labour, using a crane which covers the working area.
A vertical landfill cell is in the form of a vertical excavation 2-50 feet across and having a depth of 8-195 feet. It is pref. lined with an impervious sleeve and is filled with compacted solids waste. A perforated sleeve is inserted into the waste to allow the collection of escaping gas.    The hole is lined with an inert, impervious sleeve (11) made of concrete, steel, plastics or ceramic. An initial layer of compacted soil (14) is placed in the bottom, this being covered with a layer of compacted solid waste (16). This is again covered with further layer (18) of compacted soil, and a further layer of waste. When the cell is full, a central hole (20), 16-30 inch in diameter, is bored and a perforated sleeve (22), e.g. of PVC, is inserted. This forms a hollow central core in which is placed a 6 inch perforated extraction pipe (24), also of PVC, and an optional 2 inch perforated injection pipe (26). Pref. the sleeve (22) is filled with porous material, e.g. pea gravel. The top of the hole is then filled by compacted soil plug (36) to bring it up to ground level (8).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process harnesses methane prodn. and eliminates it as a pollutant. It further reduces the amt. of waste to be stored.
Rotatable mulch bin comprises two similar buckets (1,2) connectable mouth-to-mouth by flanges (4) which also mount a pivot rod (13) for supporting the bin rotatably on a frame (12). The base of at least one of the buckets (1,2) has an openable closure (7,9), and pref. the buckets are plastic and made in the same mould, and are nestable when sepd.    ADVANTAGE -   Compact storage for transport.
Toxic waste materials contaminated with organic substances and including indigenous microorganisms are contacted with protein nutrients in water. The mixt. is air entrained during a mixing step to form a bioactive structure. This is exposed to cure in air until the toxic waste mateirals are remediated to a predetermined innocuous level.    Pref. waste material is crushed, ground or shredded. Protein nutrients pref. comprise hydrolysed protein, esp. from powdered milk, slaughterhouse byprods. brewery residues etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can treat soils which have become toxic thorugh contact with contaiminants such as PCBs, oils, creosotes, and other organic or petroleum based prods. The term soil may include gravel, sand, slit or clay. The treatment can all occur at the pollution site using commercially available equipment. The protein nutrients and surfactants used, and their respective concns. are all determined for a specific site for optimum treatment
The mass is screened to separate large pieces and inorganic material. The sub-screen material is passed through heat exchangers and the hot product is sent to a centrifuge, where it is further heated with high pressure steam from a boiler. The solid phase from the centrifuge is stockpiled for biothermal aerobic treatment, whilst the liquid phase is cooled and passed to a thickener. The residue from the thickener is pumped to a methane tank, whilst the liquid phase is pumped to a pond for reuse on the land. The thickner residue is dewatered on a press filter, the liquid being returned to the initial heat exchangers. Process steam is produced by a boiler fired with bio-gas.    The capital and operating costs are greatly reduced, since only one sixth of the initial material has to be subjected to biological treatment after the complete sterilization of the initial material. The process also incorporates a high degree of heat recovery.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For farmyard manure treatment. Reduced energy and capital costs. Bul. 20/30.5.92.
Solid domestic sewage wastes contg. 60-66% moisture are passed in portions to a rotating biothermal drum composter of size 60 m x 4 m. Every 2-3 hrs. composting is stopped for 0.5-1 hr. for sepn. of the excess moisture, the first stoppage being immediatedly after addn. of the second portion of waste. The removal of moisture creates optimum conditions for growth of microorganisms effecting decontamination. The speed of rotation is 1.49 rpm during loading and 0.3 rpm during composting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting solid domestic waste in rotary drums. The method is more effective than before, reducing moisture by 10-14% more than the previous method, and giving a commercial product. Bul.4/30.1.92
Prepn. of oligomer(s) (I) comprises contacting alcohol(s) (II) with nickel-contg. hectolite-like catalyst (III) with Ni/Si ratio of 0.05-2.0, Li/Si 0.01-0.3.    (III) is prepd. by hydrothermic reaction of sources of silicon, nickel, lithium, sodium, fluorine and opt. magnesium in an autoclave.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as fuel for automobiles. A mixt. of propylene and acetone is obtd. by contacting 2-propanol with hectolite not contg. nickel at 250 deg.C but conversion of 2-propanol is only 8.1%. By using present catalyst, (I) is obtd. in higher yield than known processes. (III) does not contain sulphur and nitrogen, (I) does not contain substance causing air pollution.    In an example, (III), (Ni/Si 0.35, Li/Si 0.09, 0.15g) was packed into reactor to prepare catalyst bed, the catalyst bed was heated at 350 deg.C. Propanol was fed to the catalyst bed with helium gas, a compsn. composed of 2-propanol 7.7%, acetone 31.3%, hexadiene 24.8% methylpentanone 21.5% methylpentene 11.5%, propylene trimer 3.2% was obtd. Conversion of propanol was 92.3%, selectively coefft. of (I) was 66.1
Appts. comprises a dewatering unit to separate water from crushed garbage, fermenting unit to ferment the dewatered garbage and separator to remove dust and water from air exhausted from the fermenting unit.    USE -   For making compost.
Appts. comprises a conveyor to carry the wastes upwards at a fixed rate from a wastes feed hopper and conveyor support unit to support the conveyor and adjust the tilt angle of the conveyor.    USE -   For making compost.
Waste water from the processing of photosensitive materials is biologically oxidised with organism contg. marine organism. The waste water is processed with ozone and UV rays. Pref. Fe ion in the waste water is removed by raising its pH higher than 5. After processing waste water is biologically oxidised.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for processing waste water from the processing of photosensitive materials. Method can treat the waste water contg. both organic decomposable materials and organic non-indecomposable materials such as EDTA and chelate agents.    In an example, waste water (1): 1 vol. of waste water from colour developing process was mixed with 1 vol. of waste water from black and white developing process. Waste water (2): 1 vol. of waste water from colour fixing process was mixed with 1 mol. of waste water from black and white fixing process. Waste water (3): 1 vol. of (1) was mixed 1 vol. of (2). Organic membrane peeled off from filtering bed of marine fish tank was incubated and a sludge was obtd. contg. (Al caligenes). Waste water (3) (COD=45000 ppm) was added with the sluge (MLSS=4000 ppm), dipotassium hydrogenphosphate, calcium ion, and magnesium ion then was processed for 2 days and filtered. Filtrate was irradiated with UV rays and at the same time aerated with air contg. ozone, then processed waste waster water mixed with coagulating agent and filtered.
Prepn. uses matured compost as a carrier, partic. contg. 400mg or less of assimilable phosphate in 100g of the carrier and/or having a water content of 50% or less.    VA mycorrhiza (e.g. Gigaspora margarita, Acaulospora laevis, Entrophospora infrequens, Sclerocystis dussi, Scutellospora gregaria and Glomus moseae) are mixed with matured compost contg. partic. 400mg, pref. 300mg or less, of assimilable phosphate in 100g of compost at ratios of 10-1,000,000 spores/100g of compost and adjusted to give a water content of 50% or less, pref. 10-40%. The resultant compost maintains the activity of VA mycorrhiza for 6-24 months at 50, pref. 35 deg.C or less, at water content of 50-10, pref. 35-15%, in a sealed container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The activity of VA mycorrhiza can be maintained for a long period of time and the resultant fertiliser prepn. can be used for agriculture, horticulture, landscape architecture and civil engineering.    In an example, conventional materials of compost were mixed and fermented for three years to give matured compost. The compost was pasteurised at 120 deg.C for 5 mins. at a water content of 28%. Spores of Gigaspora margarita or Scutellospora gregaria were inoculated and the compost was kept at 4 deg.C for 4 days, pasteurised at 250 deg.C and made water content of 28%. The resultant mixt. was kept at 22 deg.C for six months. The germination rate of Gigaspora margarita or Scutellospora gregaria was 48% and 33%, respectively
Conversion of liq. animal excreta into organic manure is effected by mixing with an absorbent followed by aerobic fermentation. The liq. excreta is mixed with peat, straw, sawdust or woodchips and introduced to a mixing vessel with a bacterial culture. The biomass produced is moved slowly along a horizontal fermentation slope and is fermented aerobically under controlled conditions of temp. humidity and aeration. The whole days prodn. from an intensive breeding station can be treated in this manner. The final prod. is partic. suitable for mushroom compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Removal and conversion of liq. excreta from intensive breeding station. Eliminates environmental contamination and disposal problems. Commercially viable using agricutlural byproducts as absorbent to produce value added end prod. and is easily automated.
Treatment of waste water contg. aq. or water-contg. solns., dispersions or emulsions of compostable waste materials is effected by: (a) passing the waste water over the surface of a solid material in the open while injecting a countercurrent air stream, thereby increasing the viscosity of the waste water to the limit of flowability; (b) applying the viscous waste water onto an absorbant compostable substrate; and (c) composting the substrate and waste material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be applied to waste waters contg. slowly degradable materials not readily handled by conventional biological treatment plants, e.g. disinfectants (e.g. quat. ammonium salts), phenol derivs., dyestuffs, tanning agents, and residues from the mfr. of cosmetics, building materials, etc
A pure interleukin-1 inhibitor (IL-1i) capable of inhibiting Il-1 induced thymocyte proliferation has the following N-terminal amino acid sequence: (X) P S G R X S S X X Q A F R I W D V N Q where (X) is R or P.    Also new are: (1) prodn. of IL-1i by culturing monocytes in a medium on an IgG coated surface, and isolating IL-1i from the medium; (2) prepn. of IL-1i by: (a) fractionating source of impure IL-1i by anion exchange chromatography and collecting IL-1i-contg. fractions, (b) subjecting these fractions to gel filtration chromatography and collecting fractions contg. IL-1i, and (c) collecting these fractions to reverse phase chromatography and collecting the fractions contg. IL-1i; (3) prepn. of IL-1i by contacting a source of impure IL-1i with an antibody specific for it, and sepg. IL-1i from the antibody; (4) isolated DNA sequence encoding IL-1i; (5) a DNA vector comprising this DNA; (6) a transformed host cell comprising this vector; (7) an antibody which binds to IL-1i; and (8) an immunoaffinity adsorbent comprising the antibody of (7) attached to an insol. support.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   IL-1i is useful as an immunosuppressive agent. When applied locally it can be used to prevent tissue destruction in an inflamed joint and other inflammation sites. This protective effect may be improved if IL-1i is given with collagenase inhibitors.
The waste from various raw materials in alcohol prodn., e.g. sugar cane, potatoes, etc. is treated by storing under air-tight conditions with occasional removal of excess carbon dioxide formed until a stable pH value of 3.5-4.0 is achieved. The product can be mixed with compost to improve soil condition or added to animal feeds to give a more appetising mixture and preveil diarrhoeia. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9314 based on complete specification).
Appts. comprises a wall with apertures for air flow and with free ends which can be coupled together to form an enclosure to receive the material and after composting can be released to make the pile accessible. The wall is pref. formed wholly or partly of mesh sheet.    The coupling may consist of two parts which are not permanently attached to the wall ends and comprise an elongate flat strip from which tabs extend perpendicularly to pass through the walls, and a rod which can be inserted through holes in the tabs. A liner may be inserted into the enclosure to lie against the wall and may be apertured. The liner may be a sleeve or an open-top bag, e.g. of plastic film.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows material to be collected easily and retained by a wall which is easy to erect and compact to store, eliminating the need to use a drum or bin.
Low solids water-contg. oily sludge is aerobically treated. The process comprises combining it with a biologically inert non-pliable bulking agent (I); passing O2-contg. gas through the mixt., to separate and remove excess water forming a high solids content mixt. (II); aerobically reacting (II) with an aerobic biomass to form treated sludge (III) and an active biomass-coated bulking agent (IV); sepg. (III) and (IV); and recovering (III).    Pref. (I) has at least 25 vol.percent of component less dense than water (IV) is less dense than water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process is less hazardous than land farming and more efficient than composting for oily wastes from oil refineries or mfg. indus
Appts. comprises means for: (a) sepg. the waste into solids and liquids; (b) adding sludge to the solids to form a first mixt; (c) compacting the first mixt; (d) mixing further sludge with the compacted mixt. to form a further mixt; (e) composting the further mixt; (f) screening the liq. sepd. from the waste to remove fine solids, and; (g) adding the fine solids to the first mixt. before compacting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Mixts. of biological waste and sludge are composted. Biological waste and sludge may be dewatered and composted into fertiliser. Waste water may be converted into usable water or drinking water. Municipal and industrial sewage may be treated. Waste from slaughter houses, hospitals and agricultural installations are treated. The appts. may be connected to sewers or be separate and may be fixed or mobile. Composting is simplified, and only aerobic bacteria are used. Compaction is increased.
An elastomer compsn. membrane consisting of a porous support and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, silicone rubber) selective top layer, are made by applying to the porous support a selective PDMS top layer consisting of two coating layers of which only the second (last to be applied) layer contains a filler.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The presence of the filler in the outermost layer of the top coating overcomes possible adhesion of the top layer to the underside of the support when the material is rolled up, which leads to the formation of pinholes in the membrane when the material is unrolled again.    The pinholes, which are found in some prior art membranes of this type, reduced the sepn. selectivity of the membrane, esp. the CO2/CH4 selectivity. The present prods. are thus useful as pinhole-free support membranes for plasma membrane e.g. for use in gas sep
In the acid washing of activated C, the rate of mass transfer and reaction is increased by ultrasonic vibration.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The activated C has been used to remove pesticides from potable water. The treatment removes salts causing problems during regeneration of the C, and improves removal of gases, e.g. CO2 and H2S, formed during the acid wash. Acid washing takes about 4 hr., as compared with 12 hr. without use of ultrasonics
Polluted water is supplied (2) to the top of a filter bed (10), contg. at least one layer (16) of porous particulate material in which plants (18) are growing, the filtered water being removed via outlets (30) adjacent the bottom of the filter bed. The flow of water in the filter bed is controlled so that the bed is alternately flooded and emptied.    Pref. system includes a level sensing device which operates a pump or syphon when the bed is flooded to initiate emptying of the bed. Two or more beds can be operated so as to allow one bed to be emptied whilst others are flooded. The plants are the common reed, Phragmites communis.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in removal of suspended and dissolved pollutants from water. Alternately flooding and emptying allows vertical flow through the bed, which is better for carrying oxygen down into the bed, even with large variations in flow rate with full use of the whole area of the bed.
Organic material is composted in an alternating series of aerating and fractionating steps. The material is first aerated and then sepd. into a first coarse fraction and a second less coarse fraction. The two fractions are then separately reaerated. The aerated less coarse material is sepd. into a third fraction of fine material and a fourth fraction of the finest material. The fine material is again aerated and the finest material discharged as compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process composts organic waste with few contaminants, e.g. vegetable, fruit and garden waste. The composting takes place without odour or other environmental problems.
A closed plant for the composting of solid waste and sewage sludge includes a heat-conductive, moisture-impervious hood which is positioned over a compost pile during active composting. Outside air is directed over the exterior of the hood in heat exchange relationship with heated, moisture laden air emanating from the compost pile which impinges on the undersurface of the hood. A gutter collects condensate resulting from cooling of the impinging air. A duct directs the heated outside air into the plant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plant produces organic fertiliser from organic waste, e.g. municipal solid waste and sewage sludge. By recovering the exhaust air produced during fermentation, the efficiency of the system is increased, pathogen kill is enhanced and odour control is improved.
Compost starter material having a nitrogen rich component is placed on a sloping drainage floor of a crib enclosure (10) followed by alternating layer of animal carcasses and a compost medium comprising sawdust and animal waste, until the crib is full. The contents of the crib are exposed to solar heat and direct light from the solar glazing panels (28) while air is introduced via mesh sides (22) and furrows created by the insertion and extraction of an aerating tool (42) with the contents of the crib being continuously mixed by extracting a portion of the contents through a door (30) at the bottom of the crib and returned to the top of the crib.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the disposal of animal carcasses, particularly chicken carcasses. Provides rapid disposal of animal carcasses to produce valuable compost in a manner which destroys dangerous pathogens and in which the material being treated is not exposed to raids by dogs or vermin.
Denitrification of nitrate-contg. waste water from home or commercial sources by subjecting the wastewater to primary settling, aeration and secondary settling underground; (a) then introducing the wastewater into an underground denitrification chamber and (b) periodically introducing tablets comprising compressed denitrifying bacteria and a nutrient source of carbon into the underground denitrification chamber.    The source of carbon is pref. a nutrient material comprising 5-10 wt. % disodium phosphate, 2-5 wt. % monosodium phosphate, 2-5 wt. % ammonium phosphate and 80-90 wt. % milk or milk by-prods.    USE -   Using the method, the ground temp. provides the necessary activation temp. for denitrifying bacteria to convert nitrates in wastewater to nitrogen.
The process involves hydrolysis of active sludge suspension at 150-180 deg.C, in the presence of sulphuric acid of concn. at least 0.4%, for 2 hrs. Starting sludge suspension is collected after sec. settlers of water purificn. system and has content of dry substances 1.5 wt.%. Produced hydrolysed active sludge is added to hydrolysates of vegetable material in amt. 10 vol.% and acts as flocculant of ligno-humic substances.    Hydrolysed active sludge is added to hydrolysate of vegetable material, diluted at 88-90 deg.C with bio-oxidising liquor to content of dry substances 1.8%, in amt. 10 vol.% per total vol. of mixt. The obtd. mixt. is neutralised with 25% ammonia soln. to pH 4.1-4.2, at 75-80 deg.C, aerated at 45-50 deg.C for 30 min., mixed, poured into thermostats, left to stand at 40 deg.C for 60 min. and then clarified liq. is sepd. from ppte.    Tests show that produced flocculant contains biopolymeric substances promoting coagulation and pptn. of above substances and provides better results than flocculant obtd. using the known method, e.g. the amt. of non-pptd. ligno-humic substances in hydrolysate of vegetable material treated with proposed flocculant is 2.8%, compared to 6.7% when the known flocculant is used. The yield of fodder yeast obtd. from culture medium with addn. of 10 vol.% of proposed flocculant is increased by 1.2-11.1%. Nutritional value of clarified neutralisate is also improved owing to presence of bio-stimulants of microbial growth in hydrolysed active sludge.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prodn. of flocculants for vegetable hydrolysates from spent active sludge suspensions. Flocculant is obtd. using simple technology and has high efficiency. Bul.18/15.5.9
The method comprises anaerobic fermentation of organic waste, with mixing. Mixing is conducted using a recirculating stream of fermenting mixt. subjected to action of stationary magnetic field, up to pH of stream 8.3-9.4, at rate of stream w.r.t. magnetic field source 1-2 m/s and magnetic induction level 25-50 mT.    Tests show that use of the proposed method in mesophilic fermentation regime (at 37 deg. C) increases the yield of gas by 41% compared to control test and, when the method is used in thermophilic regime (55 deg. C), the yield of gas is increased by 4.35%. Compared to the known method, with no magnetic activation of recirculating stream, the yield of biogas is increased by 1.5 times and power consumption reduced by 40%, owing to conducting the process in mesophilic regime, i.e. elimination of heating operations.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture, as a method of conversion of e.g. animal waste to organic fertiliser and biogas. The method intensifies the process, increased yield of biogas and reduces power consumption. Bul. 18/15.59
The bottom, side walls and lid are formed by a body of heat-insulating material, partic. expanded cellularly structured plastic material, with an inner lining of corrosion-resistant plate. At the bottom element edges, which limit the box sides, are U-shaped profile elements which enclose the lower edge parts of and support the side walls.    The side wall adjacent vertical end edges overlap one another and at the top the side walls are held together by a framework of U-profile rails turned up and down. Air-permeable holes are made through the bottom element at least at its edges adjacent to the U-profile elements. The profile elements form U-profile grooves and are bent in one piece with a plate forming the underside of the bottom element.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A warm compost box which in its construction is simple, stable, well insulated against weather and mechanical effect, and can be rapidly and simply installed.
Appts. comprises a reactor vessel having a heater to heat the plastic material in the vessel. Graphite fluoride cover layers are formed on those surface areas of the vessel and heater which are in contact with the cracked material.    USE -   Used for heating plastic waste
The container to mix animal manure, and give a controlled dosage discharge, has two flexible conveyors (23), running generally parallel to each other round at least two guide wheels (26), with the mixers (24) between them as part of a continuous conveyor. At least one guide wheel (26) is powered, and each is on its own shaft, located and driven outside the mixing zone.    The guide wheels (26) for the flexible conveyors (23) are powered by a common shaft (33). The upper level (25) of each conveyor (23) extends between two guide wheels (26), while the remaining sections of the conveyors are held by rigid guides (27) to pass along the base and an outlet opening (30) with a path section (29) over the opening (30) formed by the side walls (3,4).    ADVANTAGE -   The guide wheels are fully supported where the contents of the mixing chamber cannot stick to the guide wheel mountings
Gas generating material (I) consists of a liquefied gas mixt. of short-chain hydrocarbon(s) (II) and N20. (II) is C3H8, n-C4H10 and/or i-C4H10. The (II)/N20 wt. ratio is 70-97.5 wt. % w.r.t. the mixt. pref. the stoichiometric ratio for complete combustion of (II). With C4H10, the wt. ratio to N20 is 5:95. (I) may also contain an inert gas, pref. with low intrinsic pressure, pref. CO2 and/or Xe esp. in amts. of 10-80 wt. % w.r.t. (II)+N20.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful in airbags for protecting passengers in vehicles. It does not form slag and dust, avoiding the need for filters, and is stored under low pressure. Its thermal stability satisfies all requirements for use in cars and it explodes in contact with a hot wire only at wire temps. above 500 deg.C. The reaction prods. are CO2, H20 and N2.    In an example, 2.5g mixt. of 90 wt. % N20 and 10 wt. % C4H10 were condensed in cartridge. This mixt. exploded when ignited e.g. with a hot wire. The high explosion temp. caused a large increase in vol. making the gas suitable e.g. for filling an air bag
A working fluid based on at least three kinds of hydrocarbons is claimed, comprising (i) 5-55 wt.% trifluoromethane or 55-85 wt.% pentafluoroethane, each having a b.pt. of -40 deg.C or less at atm. pressure; (ii) 0.1-10 wt.% propane; and (iii) 15-95 wt.% tetrafluoroethane or 10-90 wt.% chlorotetrafluoroethane, each having a b.pt. of -30 - -10 deg.C at atmos. pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention provides a working fluid having a low ozone depletion potential which has applications in the heat-pumps of air conditioners, refrigerators and the like. The novel working fluid has a similar vapour pressure to chlorodifluoromethane, a widely used working fluid, and is a suitable substitute for it.
A composting system of the kind in which compost for curing is stored in channels of U-shaped cross-section having an open upper face, is provided with a heat insulating cover overlying and closing the open face. The cover is movable, in advance of means which moves along the channel and periodically turns the compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Organic fertiliser is made from organic waste, including municipal solid waste and sewage. Pathogen destruction and odour control are improved. Temp. regulation and operating efficiency are enhanced.
A nonlinear shaped fluid sepn. module with boreside or shellside feed comprises a bundle of hollow fibre membranes, the 1st end of which is embedded in, communicating through and/or open on the opposite face of a 1st tubesheet of thermoset/thermoplastic polymeric material and the 2nd end of which is sealed, embedded in the 1st tubesheet or embedded in a 2nd tubesheet, with the bundle protected from mechanical damage. An opt. tubesheet and bundle casing encloses the bundle and is opt. attached to the 1st tubesheet and the opt. 2nd tubesheet.    A feed inlet is adapted for the introduction of a feed mixt. of fluids to be sepd. into the membrane bores with a sealed feed inlet region adjacent to opposite face of 1st tubesheet forming a cavity. There is opt. a non-permeate outlet for removing fluids which do not permeate through membranes with an opt. non-permeate outlet region adjacent the opposite face of the opt. 2nd tubesheet forming a cavity. Fluids which permeate the membranes are removed via an exit opt. located near to 1st tubesheet to obtain countercurrent flow of permeate. There are opt. connections between 1st tubesheet and casing and between opt. 2nd tubesheet and casing to control movement of inlet feed and non-permeate. The 1st and 2nd tubesheets are capped and sealed to form the feed inlet region and non-permeate outlet region respectively.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Has improved permeate flow characteristics and space/vol. requirements. Module is coiled, curved or bent to reduce space requirements without reducing fluid sepn. efficiency. Used for sepn. of gases.
Method for capturing a volatile gas passes it into a zone of variable pressure and temperature. The zone contains polar liquid solvent which exhibits a negative deviation from Raoult's law with respect to the gas. Pressure of the zone is increased and temperature is decreased, thereby causing the gas to dissolve in the solvent. After isolating the zone from the gas source, dissolved gas is released from solution by heating and depressurising the zone, and is captured by discharge from the zone.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is applied when reclaiming refrigerants, and could be used when preparing natural gas for transportation. It allows refrigerants to be withdrawn from refrigeration equipment more quickly than hitherto, thereby reducing power and labour costs. The method would allow equipment needed to transport natural gas to be lighter and less expensive than that presently used.
Waste disposal method for use at a landfill site. An impermeable base is provided and a number of waste-containing cells are constructed upon it with common berms or banks between adjacent waste containing cells. Further berms are constructed over the cells disposed on the impermeable base to create, cell by cell further waste contg. units. Fluid withdrawal means are provided at a minimum of two levels in each waste containing cell. The cells are filled with waste and an impermeable cover is provided for each waste-containing cell. Impermeable side coverings are provided for the waste containing cells in a cell by cell manner.    ADVANTAGE -   The waste is maintained in a dry state during construction of the system and indefinitely thereafter. No leachates are generated and only small amounts of gas are created. Also without biodegradation, differential landfill settling is minimal. The system is easily monitored on a cell by cell basis and when the landfill reaches a considerable height it can be used as a hillside. It is suitable for many types of solid wastes and it can be used to generate valuable methane gas if required.
The oxidative conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons involves contacting a feed contg. a mixt. of methane and O2 with a reducible metal oxide at reactive conditions. The reducible metal oxide is maintained in a high oxidn. state in the process by periodically discontinuing methane feed while maintaining mol. O2 feed and contacting the reducible metal oxide with the mol. O2 in the absence of methane at conditions effective to oxidise the metal oxide.    The temp. of the reducible metal oxide is pref. maintained at 900 deg.C. or lower during oxidn. in the absence of methane. Steam is pref. added to the feed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The reducible metal oxide is maintained in a more active state during the conversion. Used for conversion of natural gas to a more readily transportable material.
The unit has an air tank (1) with heater (2) and aerator (3), and methane tank (4), connected to each other by circulation pipelines, and medium recirculation chamber (20). The output is increased since the recirculation chamber is made as a cyclone used for medium degassing, and is fitted on the circulation pipeline between the air tank and the methane tank. The methane tank is formed by a cylindrical vertical body (5) and trapezium cross-section chamber (6). The trapezium large base is directed to the body wall. The chamber is connected to the body cavity by openings situated in the latter walls for gas and liq. medium passage.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for animal farm waste decomposition to produce biological gas and fertiliser. The yield is increased. Bul.18/15.5.92
The gas sensor comprises an insulating substrate, a pair of electrodes (3,4) formed opposedly on the insulating substrate, a gas sensitive film (5) made of a metal oxide semiconductor formed across the pair of electrodes, and a catalytic layer (6) formed to coat the gas sensitive film. The catalytic layer is made of alumina support, on which copper, tungsten, nickel and phosphorus or their oxide is supported.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sensitivity of the sensor to ethanol, propane and carbon monoxide etc. is good and the change of the gas sensitivity during long term use or under high humidity conditions can be controlled, and time-wise stability is good.
Treating wastewater in pulp bleaching utilises a lignin-decomposing microorganism (1) cultured in a medium contg. the wastewater and/or a lignin-related substance and/or a product of treatment of the microorganism (1) to decompose and remove coloured components, and/or chlorinated phenols and/or other waste components contained in the wastewater, which are difficult to decompose.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows treatment, difficult on an industrial scale, to be achieved efficiently in a short time. Useful for preventing environmental pollution.    In an example, a pulp bleaching wastewater (E1 wastewater) was prepd. by chlorinating red-pine nonbleached craft pulp, treating it to alkali abstraction and adjusting the pH to be 4.5 using Cl2. NK-1148 was cultured in a cultured ground (250 ml) containing glucose (3%), malt extract (1 %), peptone (1 %) and yeast extract (0.4 %) for 2 days. Then to the ground was added the above water (50 ml), which was cultured for 1 day. The microorganism collected from the above culture was inoculated into the wastewater (E1) (250 ml), which was left for 1-10 days. After only one day of treatment, the wastewater exhibited a discolouration of 95 %.
A method for converting polymeric scrap to an oil feedstock is claimed, comprising: (a) charging a polymeric waste into a reaction vessel; (b) contacting the polymeric waste in the reaction vessel with a gas atm. selected from hydrogen and mixts. of hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide; and (c) heating the reaction mixt. to 350-450 deg.C for sufficient time to convert the plastic scrap to liq. hydrocarbon materials having a b.pt. below 1000 deg.F.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Polymeric materials account for 7 wt. % and up to 20 vol. % of municipal solid waste in the US. Plastics recycling is increasing but this requires plastic type segregation. This method provides a process for converting mixed polymeric waste to a high quality synthetic crude oil which can be sepd. by fractionation into gasoline, diesel fuel and gas oils suitable as a feedstock to a catalytic cracker
Continuous biodegradation of biochemically oxidisable material comprising a solids-contg. mixt. of easy and difficult-to-degrade waste fluids in a waste water stream from a metal-working plant, comprises (a) providing a pretreatment zone for the waste water, (b) removing finely divided solids injurious to membranes, from the skimmed waste water to provide a solids-depleted waste-water feed, (c) feeding this waste water feed at an constant rate of flow to a bio-reaction zone, (d) aerating the material in the presence of live microorganisms capable of degrading the materials, (e) flowing suspension through membranous filtration zone at a velocity and pressure sufficient to maintain a predetermined membrane flux in the filtration zone, (f) sepg. permeate from a concentrate contg. the solids, (g) flowing the concentric from the membranous filtration zone into the bio-reaction zone as a concentric recycle, (h) removing an effluent of acceptable quality, (i) flowing excess permeate over that removed as effluent, back to the bio-reaction zone, and (j) periodically removing a minor proportion by vol. of the concentrate recycle to modulate the solids content in the bio-reaction zone.    USE -   For treating mixts. of natural hydrocarbons and synthetic metal-working fluids, fats, oils and greases and synthetic organic and organometallic cpds. in waste water
Installation comprises (a) a min. of one basin shielded from the environment to hold the soil and having separate means for the supply and drainage of both water and air and means for adding microorganisms, (b) a min. of one bioreactor connected to the liquid drain, (c) a min. of one membrane filter unit to form a circuit with the bioreactor and connected to the liquid supply by a filtrate conduit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The installation is intended to improve on known installations for decontaminating soil in which microorganisms are used to break down contaminants which are leached out by percolating water. This is then sepd. off and the soil is ready for re-use. The invention allows the removal or breaking down of the contaminants to get under way more rapidly and liquid and air are reused or after treated so that discharge into the environment is possible.
Organic waste is composted in a two-stage humification process by means of starter-cultures. The waste frequently contains domestic sewage sludge and bodying agent as peat or a cellulosic agricultural waste prod. as comminuted straw or farmyard manure. For aerobic fermentation a starter culture of Trichoderma Harzianum, Sporotrichum Termophile, Hupsicola Grisa Var. Thermioea, Streptomyces Thermophilus, Chaetomium Cellulyticum aerobic thermophylic gps., is prepd. on a nutrient, followed by fermentation. Fermentation brew is applied to a solid support and the starter culture is mixed with the materials to be composted at 18-25% solids content. Following this, the overall mixt. is stacked and exposed twice to air. During the anaerobic stage, facultatively chosen aerobic and anaerobic micro-organisms are employed; namely: Bacillus macerans, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus sp., Saccharomonospora viridis and streptomyces sp. for prepn. of the starter culture. This is mixed with the material to be composted and allowed to stand for approximately 30 days covered. Nutrient for prepn. of starter cultures contains a neutral mixt. of (grape)-mark and fen-plot. Pref. microbes are grown in a submerged pure culture, fermented, and then applied to a solid substrate. Starter cultures are homogenised prior to use.
Pigment for sensing gas leakage comprises particles coated with (hydr)oxide or hydrated oxide of a Pt Gp. metal, pref. Pd.. Particles are pref. inorganic, esp. 0.01-0.5 micron size Tio particles.    Particles are pref. further coated with (hydro)oxide or hydrated oxide of Al, Ai, Ti Zn, Zr, Sn, Sb and/or Ce.    Loading of the Pt Gp metal cpd. on the particles is pref. 0.5-10 wt.% where the cpd. is calculated as oxide.    Pigment is obtd. by: slurrying the inorganic particles in a soln. of salt(s) of the metal(s); adding acid or alkali to adjust the pH to 3-11 to deposit a metal cpd. on the particles; sepg. the coated particles; and heating at 250-600 deg. C..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By applying to sites as a point to detect leakage of combustible gases such as H2, CO, CH4, C2H2 etc.. Very slight leakages from the site can be detected on a continuous basis
Low-emission waste-free treatment of agricultural by-prods. by using known arrangements for solids sepn. for filtration and for reverse osmosis. After normal sepn. of solids, the thin liq. manure is subjected to partial enzymatic-microbiological prepn. to increase and accelerate the biogas prodn. in an "activator" contg. acid- and growth-material produced in UF (ultra filtration) impulse reactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An ecologically, ecnomically and technologically effective method is offered for the continuous treatment of agricultural by-prods. such as liquid manure from cattle, pigs, and poultry, with prodn. of biogas, compost and other bio-manures together with complete recycling of the water which is fit for drinking by animals or for re-use in the treatment.
Decomposition of minerals, with integrated disposal of organic waste, involves (1) very fine comminution of a mineral mixt. contg. an insol. K mineral, (2) pre-communition of organic waste (3), uniform mixing of the organic waste and the micronised mineral mixt. and (4) fermentation of the mixt.    Mineral mixt. pref. contains (1) an insol. K mineral or a silicate mixt. contg. K (b) CaSO4, (c) bentonite/montmorillonite, (d) an insol phosphate, and (e) a mixt. of trace elements, in ratio of 1-10; 1-10:1-10; 10:0-01.1 (1:1:1:1:0.1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Waste material of varying types is rapidly converted to a soil-improving humus. Prodn. of excess CO2 is avoided. Mineral components of the humus remain in the soil and are not washed out by rain or irrigation. Aminoacid N is provided in metabolisable form for plants, and emission of NH3 is reduced. Mineral content of animal food raised, leading to good quality meat for human nutrition.
Method comprises contacting a feed compsn. comprising at least one lower alkane material with an oxidative coupling contact material comprising an intimately mixed, mixed oxide of: (a) at least one cationic species of a naturally occurring Gp. IIIB element; (b) at least one cationic species of a Gp. IIA metal selected from Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba; and (c) at least one additional metal cationic species selected from Zr and Hf; with the contacting being at oxidative coupling reaction conditons and in the presence of oxygen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention provides improved contact material compsns. and improved oxidative processes using such compsns. in the conversion of hydrocarbons, partic. methane, to higher molecular wt. hydrocarbons. The novel contact material is able to maintain needed or desired physical and/or chemical characteristics for extended periods of time in us
Compost tumbler has a rectangular bin mounted for rotation about a horizontal hollow axle. Rotation is effected by a battery-driven motor, mounted on the tumbler support frame, and a pulley and belt arrangement. The battery is charged by a solar panel, and a timer is fitted to control motor activation. Water is fed into the bin via apertures in its axle.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The tumbler produces valuable compost from biodegradable matter such as grass clippings, leaves and manure. It produces an acceptably uniform prod. in a relatively short time, operates with little personal attention, and derives its motive power from solar energy.
In the prepn., brown algae are solubilised by adding an alkali or a chelating agent, adjusting the pH if necessary and drying the prod.. In another new method, after pH adjustment, the prod. is formed into a sheet and dried. Pref. one or a mixt. of vitamins, minerals and various extracts is added to the solubilised prod.. The addn. of the ingredient(s) is pref. done after drying.    USE -   The sludge has high storage stability and is readily used by adding water. It is useful for bathing and beauty applications.
The appts. comprises a hot air passage disposed at the lower side of the bottom of a tank, which houses the organic wastes, a heater disposed in an upper space of the tank, and a blower to suck hot air in the hot air passage and blow it into the tank.    USE -   For treating garbage.
Mixt. comprises 25-65 by wt.% of 1.1.1 trifluoroethane, 1-70% perfluoropropane, and 5-34% of propane having low b.pts.    Mixt. contg. 35-59 by wt. of 1.1.1 trifluoroethane, 10-53% of perfluoro-propane, and 12-31% of propane are pref., in particular, 48% of 1.1.1 trifluoroethane, 30% perfluoropropane and 22% of propane, which gives an azeotropic mixt. of b.pt. -54.7 deg.C at 1.013 bar.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Azeotropic mixts. may be made for use as refrigerants, as polymer foaming agents, and as aerosol propellants. The compsns. have improved environmental properti
Mixing triturator comprises (a) bin with cavity wall, through which heating fluid is passed, mounted on ground base; (b) two pairs of horizontal motorised scrolls, one above the other, to circulate the bin contents forward along the lower pair and rearward along the upper; (c) vertical scroll in the centre at the front end to move the contents upwards; (d) upper opening for loading waste; (e) bottom hatch for discharging processed waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is intended for the trituration and mixing of agricultural and industrial waste, e.g., prunings, cardboard, slaughterhouse and oenological waste into compost usable as organic fertiliser. Current commercially available machines do not have satisfactory characteristics but the present invention allows high quality compost as the final prod.
Compost is mfd. from domestic and/or garden waste with a bell-shaped container (1), with an opening (8) at the top, closable by a flap (11) and with apertures (10, 14) in the wall sor aeration. Projecting webs (15a, 16b, 15c) on the inside, running from top to bottom, define internal channels (16a, 16b, 16c) which communicate with the wall apertures in the lower part of the container.    ADVANTAGE -   Good aeration and insulation of the contents.
Volatile halogenated contaminants (I) in a fluid steam are biodegraded as follows: (a) a methanotropic biomass (II) is maintained in a sealed environment in a rotating biological contactor (Z1); (b)CH4 and O2 are introduced into Z1; (c) a fluid stream contg. (I) is introduced into Z1; (d); (I) are biodegraded; (e) the amt. of CH4 consumed in the reaction is measured; and (f) the flow of CH4 and O2 into Z1 is controlled (based on CH4 consumption) to slow the reaction rate of (II) and to maintain the CH4 concn. at the desired level.    Step (a). Pref. (I) are tri- and dichloroethylene, trans or cis-CHC1=CHC1, CH2Cl2, MeCCl3, CHCl3, ethylene dibromide, 1,1-vinylidene chloride, and vinyl chloride, initially present at pref. 10-10,000 ppb. Step (b). The pressure in Z1 is pref. maintained at a constant level, with pref. introdn. of N2. In Z1, CH4 and O2 concns. are pref. kept at 0-20% and 5-15% respectively (O2 concn. pref. kept constant). In the reaction CO2 is one of the reaction prods., and this is pref. kept at 2-7% v/v (by removal as appropriate).    ADVANTAGE -   Control of the growth of the methanotropic bacteria and CH4 concns. in the reactor significantly enhance the degradation of a range of halogenated contaminants in H2O and gases esp. in ground waters. The process is effective at a very wide range of (I) concns. e.g. from 10,000 to 10 ppb.
Waste materials (I) (wastewater treatment plant sludge, animal excrement, or process wastes) are sterilised, beneficiated and dried as follows: (a) (I) is settled and/or dewatered to a sludge cake contg. 4-60% by wt. dry solids and 40-96% H2O; (b) the cake is blended and reacted with alkaline earth metal oxides (II) (or mixts.), and CO2 in a container (Z1) so that the exothermic reaction between the constituents and intermediate reaction prods. (III) is retarded; (c) blended materials are overflowed to a reaction container (Z2) at atmos. pressure in the presence of O2 to effect an exothermic reaction between the H2O, (II), CO2 and (III) which initiates after up to 20 min. pref. 5-20 min; (d) the temp. in Z2 is allowed to rise rapidly to over 100 deg. C up to 117 deg.C, exceeding the bpt. of entrained liquids; (e) the H2O-content is allowed to reduce by evapn. to 50-10% or less; (f) the constituents are percolated to allow H2O vapour to escape from every reacted particle as the temp. reaches the bpt. of the liq., so that sterilisation is effected; and (g) the prod. is discharged.    ADVANTAGE -   The method using a delayed exothermic reaction produces sterile, safe prods. of uniform dryness, which may be packed and shipped long distances (e.g. to third world countries) without degradation for use as soil conditioners and fertiliser supplements to arid or non-productive land.
The garbage is treated at high temp. and high pressure in the presence of an aq. medium and opt. an alkaline substance to liquefy into an oil material. Pref. the liquefied prod. contg. the oil material is treated by a sepg. means based on the difference in densities to separate the oil material.    Alkaline substances include NaOh, KOH, Na and K carbonates and hydrogen carbonates, Na and K formate, CaO, Ca(OH)2 and Mg(OH)2. The treatment is usually done at 20-220 atm and 200-400 deg. C, pref. 40-170 atm and 250-350, for 5-180 min. Though water vapour from the aq. medium usually builds up a high pressure, nitrogen, carbon and/or argon gas may be used to pressurise. The reaction prod. readily separates into the oil and water phases simply by standing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method converts garbage into a liq. fuel of a calorific value of about 8500 kcal/kg, with an yield, based on the amt. of organic matter, as high ad 30%. The oil material is easily recovered owing to the good phase sepn. from the aq. medium.
Dry distn. is claimed, opt. at 1-6 kg/cm2, of dried pulp, pulp sludge or waste of Japanese distilled spirit, opt. dried up to 10-20% water content, for the prodn. of an activator. Also claimed is addn. of the carbonated activator to excretia of animals for the prodn. of fertiliser and to culture medium of mushroom.    Pulp, pulp sludge and/or waste of Japanese distilled spirit are dried up to 10-20% water content with hot air stream through a punched metal plate. The dried prod. is dry distilled to give the activator. The activator may be added to excreta of domestic animals (e.g. cattle, horses, pigs and fowls) for the prodn. of fertiliser, or to culture medium of mushroom.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An effective prodn. of the activator, fertiliser and culture medium of mushroom.    In an example, raw materials were dried with hot air at 16 m3/mm to 10-20% water content and carbonated
Deodorating gel beads contain microorganisms; and are obtd. by dropping a compsn. comprising microorganism ingredients, nutrients and sodium alginate into a soln. of calcium chloride.    The microoganism includes Bacillus, Streptococcus, Enterobacter, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, etc. The nutrient includes glucose and other sugars, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulphate, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Bad smell can be removed, and as the microoganism slowly grows over a long period of time, the deodorising activity is maintained.
In the field of composting, producing the material oneself is the only guarantee that the humus obtd. is free from toxic substances. All vents in the compost container are covered by filters. Pref. (a) the base of the container can be perforated by hand; a perforated pipe can be used. (b) a modified kitchen bucket can be useful. (c) The residual heat of a kitchen hot plate can be utilised to dry kitchen waste.    ADVANTAGE -   Composting accelerators can be used. Containers can be covered with polystyrene foam. Efficient aeration is important e.g. with wet and slimy domestic waste.
To convert animal manure and household sewage into fertiliser compost, without residue and esp. without residual water, all the process stages from mixing with an organic filter and fermentation agent (such as corn straw) to the removal of the dry matter, are effected in a fermentation and drying tower, with an enclosed filtrate container and solar heat collector.    Pref. the base of the fermentation and drying tower is covered with unchopped straw on pallets which are open at the top and permeable to air and liquid at the sides and base surfaces, inserted by a tractor with a front loader or pallet handling. Fresh or stored manure is fed continuously or at intervals to the centre of the pallet, from above, by a pressure feed. The straw retains coarse particles, and the liquid passing through is additionally filtered to pass into a filtrate container. When the fluid in the container exceeds a min. level, it is pumped continuously to a spray at the centre of the tower at its upper end. Part of the descending spray mist is caught by an upper air stream from water evaporation where, at the tower roof, droplets are separated and retained. The concentrated but liquid manure maintains the moisture level at the pallet for compost rotting at temps. which are not too high to release ammonia. An air channel at one side of the tower base feeds oxygen for the aerobic fermentation of the compost and the spray mist, to give a thermodynamic air operation, which can have fan assistance in the air channel of the solar collector.    ADVANTAGE -   The method gives an effective disposal and conversion of manure waste and sewage in a low cost operation without smell or other emissions.
Manure slurry agitator comprises a floor-anchored submerged electric motor, an agitator rotor coupled to the motor shaft, and a rotor shroud. Novelty is that the anchor frame (28, 30) possesses two wall-supported vertical rails (30), between which is arranged the rotor shroud (36), whereby the plane of the front faces of the rails is perpendicular to the rotor shaft (24). At some distance below the upper ends of both wall support rails (30) is pivotedly connected, about a horizontal axis (A2), a stirrup frame (40), which at least possesses a stop member (44) limiting the upwards swing by its bearing on the wall support rail (30) in the lifting position. The rear half ot he stirrup frame (40) is provided with suspending means (48) for a lifting device e.g. a chain. The suspending means (48) is in the lifting position of the frame (40), at least approx. vertically above the centre of gravity (M) of the agitator assembly (10), inclusive of its anchor frame (28, 30). The length of the stirrup frame (40) is dimensioned so that it extends behind the submersible motor (22) and smoothly engages the rear wall (14) of the sump or channel (20), so as to bear against the wall support rails (30) on the front wall (18) which has a floor region opening (32) in which is arranged the agitation rotor (26).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Submersible slurry agitator which can be installed, without permanent wall fixings, in a sump to allow easy removal/reinstallation for maintenance.
Addn. of tributyl phosphate (I) to diethylene glycol (II) is used as an absorbent in purification and drying of natural gas. The mixt. contains (in wt.%): (I) 3-50 and (II) 50-97.    Use of (I) instead of the known octanol which has a strong smell, improves the conditions. The cpd. also boils at 289 deg.C while octanol boils at 191.1 deg.C, thus reducing its losses by evaporation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To prepare natural gas for transport. As an absorbent for drying and removal of heavy hydrocarbons from natural gas. Reduced loss of absorbent carried away as vapour with the gas, the mixt. is odourless. Bul.15/23.4.9
While fermentable material and fertiliser etc. are stirred by a stirrer, air is fed between grains of fermentable material to grow aerobic microoganisms. Heat is generated by the microorganisms, and the fertiliser, etc. is uniformly dispersed in the mixt.    ADVANTAGE -   Fermentable material and fertiliser, etc. may be mechanically stirred inside a ferementing vessel
Compost-producing device includes vessel having feed opening on one side end, prod. chamber connected to side of vessel remote from feed opening, stirring pawl for intermittently stirring over entire vessel, heaped layer formed in vessel, ventilation pipe for adjusting aerobic fermenting conditions, and return vessel having extracting opening connected to vessel near prod. chamber. The given amt. of end part of heaped layer is returned to return opening opened on one side of vessel near feed opening while remainder is sent to product chamber.    ADVANTAGE -   Uniform prod. can be obtd.
Liq. animal manure matter is converted to a fertiliser which is solid, where the plants can take in N readily, by the addn. of CO2 and plaster to the free and/or undissolved NH3 in the fluid material, with CO2 taken pref. from the animal shed exhaust air. The fluid matter is treated generaly in a stripping process by the introduction of O2, pref. air and esp. animal shed exhaust air, to remove the odorous matter and residual NH3 together with the methane from the shed exhaust air and other volatile matter. On leaving the appts., it is burned off in a thermal-catalyst action or assisted by a fuel gas.    Pref., in a simplified process, the plaster is omitted, and the liq. material is handled only in a stripping operation. The plaster is added as a sludge with a solid content of 5-25%, pref. precipitated plaster from exhaust gas desulphuring systems. The plaster sludge is fed in at the suction connection for the eccentric screw pump (1). In a simple operation, for the liq. manure, only plaster and animal shed exhaust air are used according to the bonding reaction of NH3.    ADVANTAGE -   Gives a combined process to dispose of liq. manure matter, on site.
Prodn. is of humus from waste without the emission of ammonia. Waste comes from animals or communal clarified sludge, and is composted with straw and sawdust, in pits or silos.    Process comprises (a) mixing 2-5 wt.% chopped straw and sufficient sawdust to absorb all the liq., and forming an under layer of 20-30 cm in the first pit, adding a covering layer of 20-40 cm sawdust and composting for 4-6 months; (b) in a second pit using the same amt. of waste with 2-3 wt.% chopped straw and 1/5 of the amt. of sawdust as in the first pit, and adding humus from (a) to bind the liq., then mixing all together, and continuing as in (a); (c) in a third pit, mixing the waste with chopped straw and in (b), and humus from (b) to bind liq., and continuing as in (a); etc..    USE -   As fertilisers, soil improver, filters humus or storable fuel
Mfr. of fuel from cellulosic material in wate prods. comprises: sepn. of cellulosic material from waste prods.; hydrolysis of the material using a catalyst to form a sugar soln.; continuous sepn. of the sugar soln. from the catalyst; and continuous fermentation of the sugar soln. to convert it into alcohol fuel by distn. using a continuous fermentation/distn. process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cellulose from municipal waste, agricultural and wood wastes can be converted into fuels and chemicals such as furfural by the superior and less costly method. The process is environmentally benign and obviates toxic air emissions or effluent discharges. The process is self suffieint in steam and electricity if adapted. The cost of EtOH produced is below that of gasoline through improved reactor mixing and design, reducing burnt or caramelised sugars and reducing converted cellulose. The process is continuous and elliminates the costly and time consuming "batch" method normally used for acid hydrolysis and fermentation. The by prods. also comprise CO2, CH3COH and cattle feed.
The matter is aq. suspension or soln. is alternately and cyclically digested in mesophilic and thermophilic stages.    In the mesophilic stage the matter and any thermophilic organisms present are at least partly digested.    In the thermophilic stage the organic matter and mesophilic organisms are at least partly digested.    The cyclic treatment is continued until the organic material is converted into gaseous prods..    The appts. comprises first-stage tank(s) and the outlet is connected to the inlet of second-stage tank. The outlet of the second-stage tank(s) is connected to the inlet of the first-stage tank(s).    Each tank has a material recycler from its outlet to its inlet and an independent temp. controller.    Pref. appts. comprises a reaction tank and tanks for separate maintenance of mesophilic and thermophilic organisms.    The appts. has organisms deliverer to the reaction tank and temp. alternator in the reaction tank from one pref. for growth of mesophilic organisms and inactiviation of thermophilic organisms to a temp. pref. for growth of thermophilic organisms and inactivation of mesophilic organisms.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prod. of organic sludge is avoided, leaving only mineral residues. Recovery of chemical energy as heat is obtd.
System comprises; a module contg. cells and two lines for gaseous reactants which form a liq. prod. in the cells, and a line carrying coolant liq. which is derived from the liq. prod.; an indirect heat exchanger for the coolant liq. line; and first and scond liq.-gas separators connected to first and second liq. reservoirs. The first reservoir is connected to the liq. coolant line and each reservoir is connected to a respective reactant gas supply; each liq.-gas separator is connected a respective reactant gas line. Flow regulators are provided for each supply between the reservoir and the gas line.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In managing the cooling cycle and the fuel/oxidant gas flows in a fuel cell, esp. in a confined environment such as a submarine or aircraft. System is simple and self-adjusting; fuel and O2 supplies are conserved, all prods. are maintained within the closed system and a prefd. operation allows external humidification without contamination of fuel or O2.
This methane tank has a stirring unit comprising a vertical shaft (2) with blades (5) and connected to it there are horizontal shafts (3) which support trough-like blades (the latter comprise stirring units (4)). The organic matter is loaded to a level at two thirds the submerged height of the blades of unit (4). Biogas evolving from the fermenting organic matter rising enters the hollow trough-like blades of the stirring unit (4). The biogas forces organic matter from the blades and due to its lifting force they rotate on shafts (3). Rotating the radial walls of the trough-like blades take up like paddles organic matter and repelled from it the stirring units turn around vertical axis (2). During rotation of the vertical shaft, blades (5) on the lower part of shaft (2) also rotate thus stirring is achieved without an external drive.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   May be used during the anaerobic fermentation of organic waste esp. manure from livestock farms. To reduce the stirring process energy requirement for the methane tank. Bul. 14/15.4.92
This plant has a compositing unit comprising trough-like channels with perforated walls arranged on the hermetically sealed vessel, and there is a drier (15) with cyclone (13) communicating with the internal spaces of the trough-like channels.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   May be used on livestock and poultry agricultural complexes for the purifin. of effluent. Increases the yield of methane and ensures solid phase fermentation of the compost and thermophilic fermentation of the effluent. Bul.14/15.4.92
The process comprises adsorption of moisture on carbonaceous sorbents. To increase efficiency, the adsorption is preceded by raising the gas temp. according to delta T = (0.25B-10)/D, where B is the gas initial relative humidity and D is the prod. volume as a proportion of the initial gas volume.    In an example, methane conversion gas (CO2 12.5, Ar 0.6, N2 20.8, CO 3.0, CH4 0.34 and H2 62.8%) at 1200 cw.m/h and with 1025 kg of sorbent, gives an output of 754 cw.m/h. At deltaT = 24 deg.C, B = 100 and D = 0.63%, the sorbent capacity is not impaired.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased the sorbent capacity so obtd. Preferably, the gas temp. is raised deltaT after reduction of the gas temp. by deltaT and separation of the condensate. Bul 14/15.4.9
Foul-smelling air is available in a channel, from which it is sucked or pressed to one or more processing units from which the air after cleaning can be released into the atmosphere. The air temp. and humidity are maintained at predetermined values, and it is sucked or pressed through an absorbent comprising e.g. peat or other vegetable matter, the absorbent resting on a gas-permeable grid or is placed at a distance from the bottom.    The equipment used comprises a drive unit capable of sucking and possibly pressing polluted air through the absorbent maintained in at least two closed/storage vessesl coupled to the drive unit, with the absorbent bed being maintained on grids at a distance from the bottom of the vessel. The vessel dimensions are such that they can be easily transported.    Controlling components in the drive unit maintain a temp. in the range 23 - 29 deg.C., and a relative humidity of at least 85% RH. One suction fan is used which provides an air movement through the absorbent which at the most is 300 sq.m./m3/hr. The vessels have a width not exceeding 240 cm and a height not exceeding 125 cm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to rid air coming from a decomposition process of organic material of its foul-smelling content. (Reissue of the entry advised n week 9306 based on complete specification).
The assembly to treat a fluid passing through, which is sensitive to a magnetic field, has a magnet assembly (1) and a fluid system (6) with a relative movement between them. The direction of the polarity (5) of the magnet assembly is across the relative movement. The relative movement along the field lines and the movement of the fluid system (6) are at an angle which differs from 90 deg.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is used for the treatment of organic and biological fluids such as for plant growth, water treatment, manure treatment, and for the treatment of foods, juices and drinks including wine. The orientation of the relative movement improves the action of the magnetic field.
Prodn. of fuel oil and gas by cracking waste rubber is effected by mixing 40 parts waste rubber with 2-6 parts catalyst; softening the rubber by gently heating to 230 deg.C; stirring the mixt. at 280 deg.C for 1 hr.; increasing the pressure to 2 kg/cm2; and collecting volatile prods.    The catalyst comprises CaO, Ni, XT-10 and traces of Nb and Ti, where XT-10 comprises one or more substances referred to as polomite, garbbro, microcline, Muscovite, tourmaline, talc, graphite-silkymicaschist, syenite, lenslimestone, saccharoidal-limestone, magnetite, shihui, shihuishi and citu.    Pref. the catalyst comprises 15-25 (esp. 20) wt.% CaO, 40-60 (esp. 50) wt.% Ni, 20-40 (esp. 30) wt.% XT-10, and traces of Nb and Ti. The total reaction time is 2 hr. The collected prods. are filtered, condensed and fractionated into light oil, heavy oil and gas fractions.    ADVANTAGE -   The process employs shorter reaction times and has lower capital costs than known processeom
Improved thermal storage system comprises a clathrate formation chamber, containing a clathrate forming cooling medium of a mixt. of a guest molecule (I) water and a help gas (II). Thermal energy storage and transfer process is also claimed comprising producing a clathrate slurry from a cooling medium comprising (I), (II), water and a help gas and then circulating through a heat exchanger.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Thermal energy storage systems are used in peaking generators to utilise off-peak night time electricity to freeze the cooling medium and then cool the surrounding area by melting the media during the day. In the invention the system efficiency is increased and the HCFC's used are environmentally more acceptable
A method of mixing compost comprises; (a) providing a composter consisting of stackable sub-units each assembled from four interlocking double walled plastic panels. The sub-units have top edge protrusions and bottom edge recesses so that any number of sub-units can be stacked together or readily restacked in any order; (b) assembling the sub-units to form a first stack; (c) placing biodegradable matter into the stack; (d) allowing the matter to begin decomposing; (e) disassembling the first stack and reversing the order of the sub-units into a second stack while simultaneously transferring the compost from each sub-unit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting domestic biodegradable waste such as food or garden matter. Many composters are not designed to allow efficient mixing or to allow sufficient aeration or insulation.
The reactor comprises a horizontal cylindrical vessel with an axial motor driven shaft to which are fixed perpendicularly mixer rods. The mixing rods or members may be stick-resistant or coated with low friction polymer and they may be disposed in declared positions and configurations.    ADVANTAGE -   The reactor is an improvement on prior art in providing an efficient and simple fermentation reactor which allows anaerobic fermention of high solids waste such as Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) at concentrations in the reactor from 10-100%. The incorporated mixer provides uniform distribution of substrates, microorganisms and enzyme
The unit has a reactor (1), loading, unloading and gas outlet pipes. The output is increased, since the unit is provided with bio-mass volume divider (2) situated in the reactor central part, a recuperator (4) for manure fermenting and ageing devices (12,13) placed between the reactor and the divider walls, and provided with coaxial loading pipes connected to the recuperator. The divider is made as a double walled pipe and can be provided with tangential connection pipes situated at different heights in the lower part. The upper part of the divider is made as a segement. The ageing devices are made as right angled prisms with segement base. The recuperator is provided with spherical lid and bottom.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for bio-gas production by organic matter micro-biological fermentation. The output is increased when producing methane gas and the unit operation reliability is ensured. May be used in agriculture, and for effluent cleaning. Bul.13/7.4.92
Appts. comprises a dump yard for storing rubbish, tank for storing excrement, tank for storing methane gas, crushing and mixing device for rubbish or excrement, incinerating and drying device for burning the material from the mixer, soot catching device for purifying the material from the burner repeatedly, water tank for precipitating the material from the purifier and purifying it.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Appts. completely purifies wastes e.g. rubbish, excrement, industrial wate water, dust-contg. gas and simultaneously stores methane gas generated from the purifying process, to re-use the waste as energy source or produce powder fertiliser from the gas
Carrier is prepd. by keeping linear material slender drain on the surface at a fixed pitch, and moulding it spirally.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for decomposition appts. for treating waste water and waste gas with microbe. Stable operation may be effected. Homogenisation for liq. diffusion is effected so that dismutation of the reaction prod. can be prevented.    In an example, on the surface of SUS 304 stainless wire (d. 1 mm), slender drain (width 20 microns, depth 100 microns) was formed at 25 pitch interval per 1 mm, spirally. Then, the linear material was moulded spirally (dia. 10 mm) at 5 pitch interval per 10 mm, then cut at 20 cm length, and the 2000 linear material was filled in a bioreactor (200 mm dia. x 300 mm)
Alkaline slag is neutralised by mixing it with alkali-resistant microbes, and/or culture material from them.    USE -   Used for neutralising alkaline slag economically without using artificial neutralisers, and generating no environmental contamination, and other chemical hazards.
Gas stream conversion treats gas contg. water vapour and over 10 wt.% organic S cpds., the converted gas comprising primarily H2S and CH4. H2 is added to the first gas stream before flow past a H2 desulphurisation catalyst, specifically comprising NiMO and CoMo.    Pref. the converted gas is passed into contact with a catalyst contg. oxides of Co and MO.    USE -   Treating off gases from kraft of sulphite digester, or from black liquor evaporator, or treating mixt. of those off gases.
Process for removing and recovering a condensable vapour from a gas stream comprises: (a) at least one hollow fibre membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; (b) contacting the feed side of the membrane with the gas stream contg. the vapour where the permeate side is in contact with a cool extn. fluid and the total pressure on the permeate side is less than that on the feed side. The vapour is entrained in the extn. fluid.    The feed gas and extn. fluid flow in opposite directions and the temp. difference between them is at least 1 deg.C. The pressure difference between the feed side and the permeate side is 0.001-1 atm. The vapour is removed from the extn. fluid at a rate equal to the rate at which the gas is entrained in the fluid and then the fluid is recycled back to the permeate side.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process provides an improved method simply and efficiently without the use of compress
Carbon-contg. materials are processed using a bacterial mixt. contg. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Pseudomonas denitrificans and Pseudomonas 'longe' sp.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is useful in agriculture, energy prodn. and industry e.g. to produce fertilisers, protein for animal feeding, solid or liq. fuels, filters and absorbents, lubricants and fats, also for purificn. and disposal of industrial and agricultural waste. Compared with known methods, process time is reduced 10 fold, sterile conditions are not required nor are any other reagents. The bacterial mixt. retains its activity after freezing, is effective at acidic, weakly acidic or weakly basic pH and at 20-35 deg.C, is auxotrophic, resistant to antibiotics and ecologically safe, induces no tumour reactions and is inexpensive to prepare
A biologically inert prod. is made from animal and poultry manure. Manure with a moisture content of 5-60% is held for a first period in a sealed enclosure to produce partially cured and densified manure. The enclosure has a gas outlet for effluent gases which are collected. The gases are heated to 46-210 deg.C and then passed through a bed of the partially cured and densified manure for a second period. This suspends the growth of harmful pathogens and produces a cured prod..    Independently claimed is a method for absorbing effluent gases using a porous layer of aggregate on an impermeable barrier with a layer of biomass over the aggregate layer. A grid of perforated tubes are embedded in the aggregate layer. A porous lining physically separates the two layers. Plants are grown in the biomass and supplied with moisture. The effluent gases are passed through the grid for absorption by the biomass.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prod. may be used as a fertiliser or feedstock. The prod. is completely sterilised and is made in a relatively cheap manner. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9249 based on complete specification).
Lignocellulosic materials (I) are converted into sugars (II) by (a) (I) is mixed with H2SO4 in a vessel so that the mixt. has (I) solids content 2-10 wt.%, and H2SO4 concn. at least 30 wt.%; (b) the hydrolysis is effected at less than 100 deg.C until the conversion of (I) into (II) is complete; and (c) the H2SO4 and (II) are sepd..    In step (a), (I)/H2SO4 mixt. has (I) solids content pref. less than 5 wt.% and H2SO4 concn. at least 50 wt.% esp. at least 70 wt.%. (I) may be unhydrolysed, and is pref. reduced to mesh size less than ca 30. In step (c), sepn. pref. includes filtering H2SO4 and (II) from the reaction prod..    ADVANTAGE -   The simplified, single step process eliminates high acid concn. gradients and high reaction temps. and times. The process is suitable for the hydrolysis of a range of lignocellulosic materials including agricultural prods. and by-prods., forest prods. and wastes, and municipal solid wastes.
Appts. comprises an air feeder to feed air to a mixt. contained in a fermenting tank. The air feeder is composed of air flow pipes having many holes at their side walls and the pipes are vertical.    USE -   For making compost, from organic sludges.
Methane fermenting appts. comprises a methane fermenting tank partitioned into sections and liq. flow pipe extending from an upper part of a rear section to a lower part of a front section
To purify soil or subterranean water contaminated with an organic Cl-contg. cpd., steps comprising pumping up the subterranean water, dissolving air into it, filtering it, dissolving mixed gas of CH4 and air into it and returning it to the soil, are repeated.    ADVANTAGE -   The organic Cl-contg. cpd., e.g., trichloroethylene, in soil or subterranean water are biologically decomposed.    In an example, contaminated subterranean pumped water was introduced in air dissolving tank through a pipe. Air was blown into the water using a compressor and the water was fed to a filtering device through a pipe, where Fe and Mn were removed. The treated water was then fed to a mixed gas dissolving tank through a pipe where air and CH4 were dissolved into the water by a compressor. The treated water was returned to the soil through a pipe where a mixt. of bacteria gps. mainly comprising methane bacteria were increased by CH4 and O2 in the treated water and trichloroethylene was decomposed to harmless substances
Waste water contg. organic chlorine cpd. is permeated through filler bed and treated with methane-air mixt. gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Trichloroethylene in waste water is decomposed efficiently by this method.    In an example, 1m3/day of source water is treated using anthracite as filler and 0.1 Nl/min. of air/methane, Trichloroethylene content is reduced from 500 g/l to 50 g/l
Microorganism is enveloped by polymer, e.g., polyethylene glycol acrylate, dimethacrylate or polyacrylamide bridged by N,N'-dihydroxy ethylene bis acrylamide or diallyl ditartaric diamide. Waste water is contacted with the microorganism enveloped with polymer and used pellet is dissolved by oxidising agent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Waste water or sludge is treated compactly and at low cost by this method.    In an example, 18% polyethylene glycol diacrylate, 1% diallyl tartaric diamide, 2% activated sludge, 0.5% N,N'-tetramethyl ethylene diamine and 0.25% K persulphate are mixed, reacted, moulded and used as waste water treatment for 6 hrs. It shows 86% BOD removing ratio. The used pellet is dissolved by HIylam
Solid organic waste is aerobically fermented at high temp., using high temp. bacteria. Organic waste is then further fermented at medium temp. by using medium temp. bacteria.    ADVANTAGE -   Solid organic waste can be converted to good quality compost serving well as organic fertilizer by decomposing both easily and slowly decomposable components in waste without generation of offensive odour
Collapsible portable, container having an open end, a vent and an upper portion with a number of openings connected to a variable high-rate air intake, is packed with vegetative organic material having a moisture content. The open end is closed so the container is moisture retentive. The container is aerated continuously through the openings at a rate of 200 to 1500 cu ft per min, and moisture is percolated through the organic material.    The container is pref. a flexible moisture impermeable bag which is packed with vegetative waste such that heat is retained but air and water can pass through. Air is fed at pressure of 0.5 to 1.5 ins water at 600 cu.ft/min into the container by pipes provided with perforations in the container interior.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Decomposition of large quantities of vegetative organic waste, e.g. from municipalities. Provides efficient decomposition of large quantities of waste using light-weight, portable, inexpensive, apparatus. The method is odour free, does not require chemical or bacterial inocculant or external heat source, and does not require dry filler material, such as sewage sludge, to obtain suitable moisture levels
A mixt. of air, CH4 and nitrogen oxides is passed through beds of ZnO-Cr2O3 and Al-Pd catalysts and Al2O layer. CH4 is oxidised on the first catalytic bed contg. ZnO and CrO2O3 in the ratio of 2.0-2.3. Nitrogen oxide is reduced on the second catalytic bed and Al2O3 removes combustible impurites and remaining nitrogen oxides. Ratio of vols. of the catalytic beds is (0.5-2.0):1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the chemical and metallurgical industries to remove nitrogen oxides from waste gases by reduction with combustible gases in the presence of catalyst of prolonged activity. Bul.12/30.3.92
Sludge obtd. in pressure flotation and having concn. 8.5 g/l solids is treated with a gaseous flotation agent comprising a mixt. of methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide in the ratio (50-75):(10-20):(10-15):(5-15)% respectively, under pressure of 0.5 MPa in a layer of packing consisting of particles of elipsoid shape with an axis ratio of 1:(2-5) and porosity of 0.7-0.9, of hydrophobic fluoroplast or wood impregnated with liq. paraffin. The suspension is aged and sepd. at atmos. pressure to give condensed biomass and sludge liquor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In concentration of aq. waste deposits, esp. active sludge. The solid phase has concn. 30.8 g/l and the sludge liquor has a biomass content of only 0.2 g/l, thus reducing losses of biomass in the clarified liquor by a factor of 20-26. Bul.11/23.3.9
The method comprises gasifying heavy oil residues at 450-500 deg.C and pressure of 45-55 atmos. in the presence of catalyst in form of intermetallide hydrides ZrNi or ZrCo. Heavy oil residues can be oil pitch, resins, atmos. distn. residue and vacuum distn. residue. The choice of catalyst is made on basis of high amt. of activated hydrogen in crystalline grid of intermetallide hydrides, ensuring, within the process temp. limit, conversion of wide range of hydrocarbons (from paraffins to condensed aromatic hydrocarbons) to methane. High hydrogenising activity of catalyst allows conducting the process in relatively mild temp. and pressure conditions (450-500 deg.C and 45-55 atmos., against 500 deg.C and 200 atmos. in the known method).    Tests show that the proposed method has selectivity per methane 100% and yields prod. contg. 80-90% methane and 10-20% of solid residue, compared to 15-25% selectivity, 65-75% liq. fractions, 15-20% of methane-contg. gas and 10-15% solid residues, respectively, for the known method.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In oil processing and petrochemical industries, in the prodn. of gaseous fuel by hydro-gasifying of heavy oil residues. The method has increased selectivity. Bul.3/23.1.92
An organic fertiliser using fructose residue is prepared by (A) mixing 40-60 wt.% fructose residue contg. 0.5-20 wt.% diatomaceous earth, prescribed amt. of corn sulphonate liquid and 20-60 wt.% animal dung and (B) fermenting the mixture. The fructose residue, which is produced as a by-product from extractive filtration of fructose on diatomaceous earth, contains 6.72% nitrogen, 2.10% phosphoric acid, 0.47% potassium, 0.22% calcium, 0.94% magnesium, 15.527 ppm iron, 43.1 ppm manganese and 0.54 ppm sodium. Diatomaceous earth, as a filtering aid, contains alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, magnesia etc., emitting far-infra-red radiation at high temp. which serves plant growth.
NOVELTY - Multistage fermentation involves (1) fermentation of organic raw materials added with carbohydrates and other required materials with mould and cellulolytic fungi at 60 deg.C or lower to give a water content of about 40%, (2) fermentation to degrade the prod. of (1) added with humus in the presence of one or more of Bacillus natto, Bacillus subtilis and Streptomyces spp. and one or more yeast, lactic acid and photosynthetic bacteria at a water content of about 40% and at 50 deg.C or lower, and (3) fermentation at pH 5-6 followed by aeration to adjust the water content.    USE - For preparation of a fertilizer (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - Completed fermentation prevents the growth of fungi and malodours.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Also claimed is a fertiliser prepared by adding humus and a fertiliser to the fermented product    Preferably the oil meal is mixed with necessary carbohydrates and other sources (e.g. fish meal, bone meal, rice bran and plant ashes) for fertiliser and fermented for 14 days with mould and cellulolytic fungi at 60 deg.C or lower, to give a water content of 40%. The product is added with humus and fermentation carried out in the presence of one or more of Bacillus natto, Bacillus subtilis and Streptomyces spp. to degrade proteins, and one or more yeast, lactic acid and photosynthetic bacterial to form nutrients for plants, at a water content of about 40% and at 50 deg.C or lower for about 20 days. Third fermentation is performed to complete the degradation of nutrients at pH 5-6 and prevent the release of ammoniacal nitrogen. The total process requires about 60 days.
The material is prepd. by mixing peat moss with dung, fish refuse and/or rapeseed oil cake, and pref. fermenting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The peat moss acidity neutralises alkaline substances in the dung, etc., e.g., ammonia, amines, etc., and thereby deodorises it. With its high hygroscopicity, peat moss serves to regulate the amt. of water when fermenting these materials.    In an example, in making a manure of fowl excreta compounded with peat moss, the physical properties of commerically available peat moss were checked: water content 59.0%, maximum water content 139.4%; pH when pet moss (50g) was immersed in water (700g); 3.7; amt. of ammonia detected 2 hours after mixing at a water content of 60%: 0 (not detected)
To anaerobically methane ferment sludge or organic aq. soln. digested gas is generated from a digesting tank, the gas is sepd. by using a gas sepg. polymer membrane to circulating gas contg. CO2 as the main component and discharging gas contg. CH4 as the main component, and the circulating gas is blown in the soln. in the digesting tank such that CO2 concn. in the digested gas in the space of the digested tank is 50-60 wt. %.    To keep CO2 concn. in the digested gas in the range of 50-60 wt. % pressure difference between the circulating gas side and the discharging gas side of the membrane is adjusted, or means for feeding CO2 to the circulating gas is installed and the pressure difference and amt. of CO2 fed are controlled.    ADVANTAGE -   Yield of CH4 generated in the digesting tank is increased and CH4 gas suitably used as fuel is effectively obtd.
In a plant and process for microbial degreasing of surfaces, an existing degreasing bath (1) with an overflow weir is flange coupled to a tank (2) which has a conical bottom region and which contains a mechanical separator (4) for microorganisms, the output of the separator being returned to the degreasing bath.    The tank (2) is pref. also provided with a membrane aerator or similar aerator (5) to provide circulation and mixing. The separator pref. consists of one or more porous filter elements (4) for quantitative retention of microorganisms and permeating exo-enzymes or bio-surfactants (low mol. wt. molecules). The tank is pref. fed with hydrocarbon decomposing microorganisms and nutrient soln. The degreasing bath (1) is pref. dosed with conventional builders, surfactacts or corrosion inhibitors.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plant and process are useful for removing oil, grease and other organic contaminants from metals, circuit boards, plastics and ceramics, e.g. prior to coating or other surface treatment. Degreasing and waste water treatment are combined, so that pollution control measures can be reduced, and chemical consumption is reduc
The natural degradation of biological and other cellulose contg. waste, comprises (a) collecting biological and other cellulose-contg. waste at the site where it is produced in a container made of fibrous cellulose contg. recycled prods.; (b) transporting the waste in the container to a rotting place, at a time interval that ensures that the waste is not yet decomposed; and (c) coarsely communicating the container and its contents at the rotting place and converting it microbially into humus in the presence of moisture and oxygen.    The container itself is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process and container can be used communally for the natural removal of biological and cellulose contg. waste from apartment blocks, large kitchens etc. The process reduces the energy required to decompose cellulose contg. and fibrous waste material (from which the container is made) and biological and cellulose contg. waste and uses a simultaneous, natural decomposition processes.
Disposal comprises heat treating the wood in absence of air, and converting to prod. free from toxic materials, esp. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.    Pref. heat treatment is carried out for 12-20 hrs. at 400-700 (pref. 450-600) deg. C and under pressure at normal pressure or at super pressure. Heat transfer occurs with flushing gas at 500-600 deg. C.. In heat treatment, volatile cpds. with boiling pt. above 30 deg. C are condensed and processed in the normal way. The solid prod. obtd. is activated.    USE -   The prod. can be used as active charcoal and as combustion material
The burner comprises a mixer tube, gas connections near its base, a nozzle insert and an ignition device.    The burner outlet (2) is flush with the nozzle insert (3) and forms, together with a cover tube (7), an annular space (8) used as a pilot flame nozzle and which has a base (12) sealed to the mixer tube (1); the cover tube (7) extends beyond burner outlet (2) to enclose a flame guide space (9) contg. the ignition device (4); and the mixer tube (1) has flow channels (6) connecting with the pilot flame nozzle (8).    The open cross-section of the flow channels (6) is pref. 0.8-1.5 times the open cross-section of the nozzles of the nozzle insert (3), the cross-sectional area of the pilot flame nozzle (8) is pref. 7-9 times the open cross-section of the flow channels (6), and the area of the mixer tube (1) is pref. 4-6 times the open area of the nozzle insert nozzles. The length of the flame guide space (9) is pref. 2-3 times the mixer tube dia..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. useful for safety and emergency flare stacks of bio gas generating plants and for stacks used to burn clarification and waste decomposition gases. It continuously produces an ignitable gas-air mixt. and a stable flame.
The burn off comprises (a) mixing a small stream of the gas, at a flow velocity above the flame speed, with a reaction-equiv. amt. of combustion air at the same pressure to produce an ignitable mixt.; (b) producing, from part of this gas mixt., an annular gas stream of flow velocity slightly above the flame speed and burning the stream as a pilot flame of predetermined length; (c) producing, from the other part of the gas mixt., a compact gas stream of higher velocity than the annular stream, feeding this stream centrally into the annular pilot flame and burning the stream as a flame extending beyond the pilot flame: and (d) using the obtd. ignition flame for continuous ignition of the main gas stream at the top of a flame stack.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The ignition flame reliably ignites and completes combustion of stack gases without an external gas supply.
Method comprises: (a) providing a contaminated mass of particulate solids on an impervious surface in fluid communication with an impervious recovery reservoir, the impervious surface having an air supply and/or air suction means acting on it to provide suitable and continuous oxygenation of the mass and/or to remove undesirable vapour emissions from the mass; (b) periodically irrigating the mass by applying, on its surface, a culture medium comprising at least one bacterial strain and its co-substrates, The bacterial strain having the ability to degrade the organic contaminants, the medium being drained through the mass and the washings being recovered in the reservoir to be reused to irrigate the mass; and (c) the mass is periodically mixed, the temp. and moisture level are controlled, the biological activity of the biological strain is monitored and the activity maintained at levels suitable for the biological strain to degrade the contaminants in the mass.    Also claimed is an apparatus used for the biodegradation of contaminants in the mass of particulate solids.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the degradation of organic contaminants in soils. The contaminants are broken down to harmless substances whereas conventional techniques only temporarily displace the problem or transfer the contaminants to another medium. There is no need to remove the wastes off-site and the process does not itself create environmental problems. The process is less expensive than incineration or land fill methods. The process is also useful for degrading and disposing of oily wastes from marine spill shore line clean ups. Disposal costs are 4-8 times less than transportation and disposal at landfill sites. The mass may be contaminated with hydrocarbons or PCBs.
Domestic composting appts. comprises two interconnectable compost enclosure units (17), each having a subsoil basket (19) underneath its insulated sidewalls (28, 30), and each with an air inlet and an air exhaust (50). Each unit has a hinged radiation-transmissive lid, pref. inclined. Pref. the air exhaust duct (50) contains a filter and a deodoriser, and is connected to a wind driven exhaust fan.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Kitchen waste and garden waste are composted separately.
New catalysts contain Pt, Ga and a borosilicate molecular sieve (I). The catyalysts contain 0.01-5 (esp. 0.05-1) wt. % Pt and 0.1-8 (esp. 0.5-5) wt. % Ga. (I), e.g. AMS-IB, is dispersed in a porous refractory inorganic oxide matrix, esp. SiO2, SiO2-Al2O3 or Al2O3, to form a mixt. contg. 30-80 wt. % (I).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalysts give high aromatics yields (e.g. 41.6% selectivity at 8.2% propane conversion) without the need for a Re component (c.f. US4766265).
The machine is located on 100 x 100 m base. It has a chicken droppings bunker (2), workscrews (3), batching hopper (4), droppings conveyor (5), saw dust scrapping conveyor (6), saw dust bunker (7), unloading conveyor (8) of fertiliser and components aerator-mixer (1).    Chicken droppings are transferred from the bunker (2) by worm-screw conveyors (3) into the batcher (4) and from the latter into the mixer (1). Saw dust is conveyed from the bunker (7) into the mixer (1) where it is mixed with the droppings and simultaneously oxidised. The homogenous mixt. is unloaded from the mixer (1) by a conveyor (8). The droppings are mixed with the dust in the proportion of 3:1 - 1:2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   When used as mixer of moist organic waste and materials it ensures effective oxidation of components during mixing. Bul.11/23.3.92
Ethane (I) and ethylene (II) are prepd. by partial oxidn. of methane (III) or natural gas contg. (III) with O2 or gas contg. O2 at 600-1000 deg.C in the presence of a catalyst consisting of alkali metal, IIa metal and Va metal.    The mol. ratio of (III) to O2 is 1-100, pref. 2-30. Gp. IIa metal (e.g., Mg, Ca) is added at an atomic ratio of 0.3-5.0 to alkali metal. Gp. Va metal (e.g. Nb, Ta, V) is added at an atomic ratio of 0.05-2.0 to alkali metal and at an atomic ratio of less than 2.0 to gp. IIa metal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (III) is a main component of natural gas and is abundant. By this method, hydrocarbons (e.g. (I) or (II)) of more than 2C are obtd. in high selectivity yield and in high conversion yield due to high ability of catalyst.    In an example, a mixed gas of (III) and O2 (90:10) was flown into a reactor where a catalyst (Na/Mg/0.3Ta) was stuffed at 750 deg.C and atmospheric pressure in a ratio of 100 ml/min. and reacted. Hydrocarbons of more than 2C were given in 70.9% selectivity yie
Biologically fixing catalyst includes hanging bar horizontally arranged in upper portion of bioreactor vessel e.g. aerating vessel, series of vertical strings hung from hanging bar at given space, and series of lateral strings connected to vertical strings in net-like shape.    ADVANTAGE -   Contacting efficiency between oxygen and sludge material can be increased.
Appts. for sepg. gases comprises a counter-current flow column (C1), where downwardly flowing solvent absorbs part of an upwardly flowing gas mixt., the solvent then flowing through an expansion valve (V1) to the top of a desorption column (D1), whose upper part comprises a heat exchanger (Z1) and whose lower part comprises a boiler. The heat separates the absorbed gas from the solvent, which is pumped from the bottom of the column and through heat exchanger (Z1) to heat the incoming solvent, then returned to column (C1) through a second heat exchanger (E2) which cools it further. The solvent gas mixt. from column (C1) may pass through a gas-liq. separator, from which gas is recycled to the main gas inlet of column (C1). Two desorption columns may act in series to recover two separate gas fractions from the solvent. Solvent used include diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and diethanolamine.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Separating water, acid gases (CO2, H2S) or heavy fractions (propane, n-butane, paraffinic, olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons) from natural or refinery gas. Overall power requirement is reduced, compared with prior appts. wherein the first heat exchangers is separate from the boiler.
Low temp. sepn. process comprises (a) cooling the gas stream to effect partial condensation; (b) phase sepg. the partially condensed gas stream into its vapour and liq. components in a phase separator; (c) rectifying the vapour component from (b) by low temp. dephlegmation to produce a light gas stream and a heavy liq. stream; (d) stripping the liq. component from (b) and the heavy liq. stream from (c) in a stripping column contg. a reboiler wherein the bottom stream from the stripping column is the heavy hydrocarbon prod.; and (e) providing the predominant amount of the refrigeration for the process from a single loop vapour recompression refrigerator employing a mixed refrigerant. The efficiency of the sepn. process is increased by (f) passing the liq. component from (b) and the heavy liq. stream from (c) directly to the stripping column of (d); (g) operating the column at below ambient temp.; (h) passing the overhead vapour from the column directly to the phase separator of (b) to be rectified with the vapour component of (b); and (i) using the mixed refrigerant as a heating medium for the reboiler of the stripping column in order to prpvide at least a portion of the heat duty for the reboiler.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process for the recovery of 2C or higher hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon contg. stream using the sequential steps of cooling, phase sepg., rectifying and stripping wherein the refrigeration is derived predominantly from a single loop vapour recompression refrigerator employing a mixed refrigerant. Gas stream is processed at a lower pressure resulting in lower energy of sepn. and appts. is cheaper with single compressor
Hydrogenation of CO2 with a substance (I) contg. H atoms is carried out by exposing a mixt. of CO2 and (I) to a static electric discharge in a reaction zone.    (I) is H2 gas or water vapour. The reaction zone contains a catalyst (II), on which the reactants activated by the static electric discharge and/or catalytic substances react. For the synthesis of CH4 or MeOH, (II) consists of Cu (pref. obtd. by reducing Cu oxide), opt. in conjunction with Zn, Al, Mn, Co, Cr, Ag, Mg, Mo, Ni and/or V. (II) may be supported pref. on the dielectric (1) and/or the first electrode or on another support.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is for the synthesis of CH4 or MeOH. It can be carried out economically at low temps. and low pressures, using e.g. H2 produced by nuclear energy or renewable energy sources or water, which is converted to H2 in the discharge.
Biological treatment of O2-contg. waste gases contaminated with biodegradable cpds. is effected by contacting the gas with an aq. suspension of microorganisms.    The contact time between the gas and suspension is 0.5-10 sec. The suspension (circulated between the contact vessel and a dwell tank) is recontacted with the gas after a dwell time of 10-30 min. A 5-50% portion of the total biosuspension hold-up is (continuously) replaced by a biosuspension contg. active microorganisms from the biological stage of waste-water treatment plant.    The gas is pref. contacted with the suspension in one or more perforated-plate columns. The gas: liq. vol. ratio is 1:0.005-0.015. The gas contains less than 50 ppm contaminants. The biosuspension replacement rate is pref. less than 10%.    USE -   For deodorising waste air contg. organic S cpds. or for removing methyl methacrylate and/or butyl acrylate from waste air
A process for the isomerisation of a straight chain paraffin having 4-24 C atoms per mol, comprising contacting the paraffin with a solid superacid catalyst with reactant and/or prod. in a supercritical or near critical state.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Novel process for the isomerisation of paraffins using superacid catalysts. The life of the superacid catalyst is greatly extended, compared to the life obtd. under conventional conditions, when the isomerisation is carried out under supercritical or near critical condition
Gaseous medium, having a major component air, is passed through a gas pervious filter (10) formed of a loose coarse structure supporting carrier material and composted organic material (24) contg. viable microorganisms to remove odiferous components from the gaseous medium.    Carrier material can be cellulosic material such as straw, leaves, twigs, unravelled peat, cut wood bark, or wood shaving, and may be mixed with inorganic material such as gravel, sand, grit, boiler clinker or cinder, expanded mica, pumice or soil together with granular or powdered calcitic rock or calcium carbonate. The composed organic material is matured compost, including digested and dried activated sludge. The filter material can be supplemented or inocculated with microorganisms selected for their odour trapping properties, can contain nutritive supplements for the microorganisms, and have its moisture content maintained constant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In removing odiferous components from, e.g., vent gases or waste vapours prior to release to the atmosphere. Filter is self sustaining requiring no replenishment of chemicals or use of large quantities of water such as is required in prior used adsorption, scrubbing or chemical processes.
Upgrading lower olefins to increase gasoline yield and ease of liquified petroleum gas recovery comprises: (a) sepg. a 2-4C cracked olefinic gas into a prim. overhead stream contg. 2C hydrocarbons having at least 10% ethane and a sec. stream mostly contg. 3-4C olefinic hydrocarbons, (b) adding the prim. stream to a prim. fluidised reaction zone contg. solid crystalline zeolite catalyst particles in a reactor bed operating under high severity conditions, (c) adding the sec. stream to a sec. fluidised bed reaction zone contg. solid crystalline zeolite catalyst particles operating under turbulent regime low severity conditions, (d) withdrawing part of the partially deactivated catalyst from the prim. zone and adding them to the sec. zone, contacting the 3-4C olefinic hydrocarbons with the partially deactivated particles, (e) withdrawing an amt. of deactivated catalyst particles from sec. zone and adding them to a catalyst regeneration zone where they are oxidatively regenerated, (f) withdrawing the reactivated particles from the regeneration zone and adding at least part to the prim. zone.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Continuous multistage conversion process for prodn. of e.g. gasoline, distillate in high yields with relatively simple recovery
Prodn. of proteinaceous animal feed and biohumus from pig manure is effected by culturing housefly (Musca domestica) larvae on the manure, blowing the culture with air at 30-70 deg.C at a flow rate of 0.5-2 m/sec., and sepg. the larvae by illuminating the culture at 300-1600 lux while spreading it in a thin layer in at least two stages, the layer thickness in each stage being 20-30% less than in the previous stage.    Pref. after blowing with air, the top 40-50% of the culture is removed as biohumus. The starting manure is mixed with 1.25-12.5wt.% malted grain.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The larvae, produced in a yield of 80-141 kg/tonne manure, constitute valuable high-protein animal feed source. The biohumus, produced in yield of 350-450 kg/tonne, may be used in agriculture.
Protecting (un)galvanised metal against corrosion comprises plasma pretreatment of the metal with a gas comprising H2 and/or Ar, plasma deposition of a thin polymeric film and cathodic electrodeposition of an organic primer coating. Plasma deposition involves polymerisation of an organic cpd. as a film using DC power in a vacuum chamber enclosing a cathode and an anode, the metal forming the cathode.    Pref. the anode is magnetically enhanced the metal is non-galvanised steel e.g. cold rolled or bare steel. The pretreatment uses DC or AC and the metal is anode or cathode. Hydrogen is used as a carrier gas for the organic cpd. which may be methylsilane, trimethylsilane, dimethylsilane, tetramethylsilane, methane or mixts. thereof. The primer is epoxy-amine or epoxy-polyester melamine. A monocoat, basecoat or basecoat and clearcoat finish may be applied over the primer. The gas used in the pretreatment may further contain He, Ne or Te but pref. contains 20-80 mole % H2 and 80-20 mole % Ar. More than one treatment may be given.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Corrosion protection of various forms of steel, Al, Cu and brass used for preassembled autobodies, autobody parts, rolls, coils, sheets,
Mixing and ventilation of the waste materials are assisted by rotation of the composting container which is tightly sealed, preventing any anaerobic condition occurring in any part of it.    The intermediate wall initially divides the container into a small space which produces a high temp. and thereby a rapid process, the volume being regulated by moving the wall. Immediately in front of the wall near to one of the gables of the container is a space for filling commencement. From this space the material is mixed with ready-made compost to promote the decomposition process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An insulated rotatable container for composting at high temp. domestic and garden organic waste matter. (To be reissued in later week based on complete specification)
Fermenting vessel is adapted to be manually rotated to stir microorganism and organic waste in fermenting vessel and to decompose organic waste by fermentation. Fermenting vessel has substantially spherical outer shape, and ratios among vertical, lateral and height dimensions of outer shape of fermenting vessel are set at 1:1:1.    ADVANTAGE -   Fermenting vessel has sufficient vol.
A new bacterium Methanothrix concilii that can utilise acetic acid at below 15 deg.C is new. The max. acetic acid utilisation rate is 50 ml/g min., Michaelis-Menten constant (km) is below 0.7 mM, it can proliferate below 15 deg. C, and it is deposited as FERM P-11824.    In an example, digested sludge (250 ml) was mixed with sepg. medium DSM334 (250 ml). The mixt. was cultured anaerobically at 37 deg. C. At l week intervals, cultured soln. (250 ml) was sampled, and culture was continued. The enrichment culture was continued for 3 months. In final 2 cultures, Vancomycin was added at 0.1 mg/ml. From the cultured soln., cultured soln. was sampled, and strain dilution culture was proceeded. To purified bacterium, acetic acid consuming rate and temp. dependence were evaluated, and compsn. of lipid was analysed. Immuno-cross check, assay for DNA GC content, and DNA-DNA hybridisation were carried out.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bacterium is a methane bacteria that has high acetic acid utilising power and low acetic acid affinity. Methane fermentation can proceed and proliferate even at low temp. I tcan be used for treatment of waste water by methane fermentation.
A substrate for use as a soil improvement agent, culture substrate or soil for flowers, which has been obtd. by composting substances of high nutrient content, contains Miscanthus. The amt. of Miscanthus is pref. above 10%. The Miscanthus can be mixed with the original starting material or added to the substrate. Purified and/or thermally treated Miscanthus is used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Miscanthus (china grass) is a durable plant which retains its structure improving qualities to the end of composting. It also has low nutrient content and lignin content and thus acts solely as a structure improver and rots only after the rotting of the original substance (e.g. organic/domestic refuse) is complete. The addn. of Miscanthus reduces the nutrient content to the desired extent.
Pit latrine houses an overflow receptacle which receives and holds flush water and solids while at least partial anaerobic liquefaction of the solids occurs.    Specifically the receptacle is between a toilet pan and a soak pit, and has the shape of an inverted cone and is below a delivery funnel of the toilet pan.    ADVANTAGE -   No digester tank needing emptying. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9229 based on complete specification)
The optimal working rotation rates and temps. for grinding and compositing, and for the growth of more active thermophilic microorganisms are determined. The drum is then loaded and unloaded while rotating at max. rate, and the direction of rotation is reversed once or several times, at the max. rate, so as to ensure better grinding and more uniform distribution of the microorganisms throughout the bulk.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Household waste is processed continuously in large size biodrums more efficiently. Increased efficiency of the process.    In an example, typical max. and min. rotation rates were 1.49 and 0.13 rpm., the latter used for the composting stage; the temp. at which thermophilic bacteria start to multiply was 50 deg.C. Bul.9/7.3.92
Prodn. of wood fertiliser/manure comprises (i) impregnating a piece of wood in the shape of a stick, e.g., columnar, cylindrical, polypyramidal at one end, conical, wedge-shaped, etc., with a liq. mixt. contg. nutrients required for the growth of microorganisms and also contg. microorganisms, e.g., Bacillus, Clostridium, Saccharomyces, etc., that facilitate the decomposition of wood through fermentation, putrefaction or deterioration, and thereby allowing fermentation, putrefaction or deterioration of the piece of wood, and then (ii) drying, and then (iii) impregnating with a liq. mixt. of nitrogen, phosphorus, K, inorganic or/and organic nutrients or others, and then (iv) drying the treated piece of wood.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The new method permits prodn. of wood fertiliser/manure suitable to garden trees, potted plants, roadside trees, etc. The new method permits mass and low-cost prodn. of easy-to-transport and easy-to-store wood fertiliser/manure that is easily decomposed in the soil thanks to the action of wood-decomposing microorganisms.
Device comprises a compact tank having an air feed device consisting of air feed pipe with many ejection holes at the bottom. An air suction device consisting of an air suction pipe with suction holes at upper part of the tank. An air circulation device (fan with a timer) is provided at outside of the tank to circulate the air through the feed and suction-pipe. A sheet is arranged at the uppermost part of the compost including suction pipe to prevent dispersion of heat due to fermentation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prevents energy loss for feeding air and can make compost fast. No mixing operation is required.
Device comprises a plastic long pot as an inner container and a plastic bucket as an outer container. Typically the inner container fits the outer container, and function and structure efficiently mixes each soln. of the inner and outer containers. The inner container has a mesh bottom and has hollow drain on the side edge of the bottom.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Re-utilisation of garbage for liq. fertiliser.    In an example, the device has plastic long pot as an inner container with a plastic bucket as an outer container. Plastic long pot No. 12 (No.1= 3.03 cm) is applicable for 45 l plastic bucket. The inner container is set in the outer container. The inner container or the inner and outer containers are put in a polyethylene bag. The bag is closed up. The Effective Microrganisms (EM) mixt. soln. diluted 50 times is poured into the inner container and the outer container. The EM soln. of the inner container is transferred to the outer container through the mesh bottom and the drain until the liquid levels of both containers are even. The garbage put in the inner container is fermented and decomposed by the EM fungi to form soluble material and is dissolved in the EM aq. soln. The material dissolved in the EM aq. soln. is spread from the inner container to the outer container. The liquid fertiliser is separated and matured.
Appts. includes organic waste raw material feeder at rotary drum type dry distillation furnace, incinerating furnace adjacent raw material feeder adapted for heating wall of dry distillation furnace from outer surface, main recovering unit adjacent, and covering outer surface of, incinerating furnace and recovering dry distillation gas and carbide produced inside dry distillation furnace, as well as heating accelerator mixed into raw material; and residue-recovering unit at outlet end of dry distillation furnace to recover dry distillation residue.    Main recovering unit includes rotary screen constituting part of wall of dry distillation furnace and separating tower covering outer face of rotary screen to separate carbide and heating accelerator from dry distillation gas. Gas path extends outwardly from upper end of separating tower, and discharge end of gas path has condenser for separating gas from liquid after dry distillation gas is condensed. Screen continues to lower end of separating tower, and separates heating accelerator from carbide. Return unit returns sepd. heating accelerator to raw material feeder. Heating accelerator is made of solid granules having hardness greater than that of raw material.    ADVANTAGE -   Heat transfer from wall of dry distillation furnace to raw material can be effectively performed through heating accelerator as heat medium.
Methane or natural gas contg. methane is partial oxidised with O2 or an O2-contg. gas at 600 to 1000 deg.C in the presence of a catalyst consisting of a combination of an alkali metal, a Gp IIIa and GpVa metal.    Pref. Group IIIa metal is Sc, Y or Ln, Ce, Sm, etc.. Group Va metal is V, Nb, or Ta. The amt. of Gp IIIa metal is 0.3 to 10 atomic ratio relative to the alkali metal, and that of Gp Va metal is 0.05 to 2.0 atomic ratio relative to the alkali metal, and the amt. of Gp Va metal is not exceeding 2.0 atomic ratio relative to Gp IIIa metal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the oxidative coupling reaction of methane, conversion of methane and selective coefficients of ethane and ethylene can be increased and the life of catalyst can be prolonged
Prodn. is of a liq. hydrocarbon mixt. and methane from gaseous hydrocarbon excepting membrane and contg. C oxides by allowing the reaction to proceed at 200-700 deg.C using a catalyst. Process comprises using a complex catalyst which converts gaseous hydrocarbon into an aromatic hydrocarbon and a catalyst which reduces C oxides to thereby convert the gaseous hydrocarbon into the liq. hydrocarbon mixt. contg. aromatic hydrocarbon and, simultaneously, reduces the CO to methane or a mixt. of methane and CO.    Catalyst for converting the gaseous hydrocarbon into aromatic hydrocarbon, Pentasil type zeolite or its modified form with H ion, alkaline earth metal or Ga is used. Catalyst for reducing C oxides, is made of one or two species of Ru, Ni, Co, and Mo or a metal oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process is simplified and the prodn. yield of aromatic hydrocarbon is increased, being of a high industrial value.
A round or cornered composting unit made of a recycleable plastic, includes a lease plate, a mantle which narrows upwards, and a cover plate, The mantle consists of segments placed on top of each other. The segments are pref. used as plant pots.    ADVANTAGE -   The unit is simple to transport and the compost can be utilised in the same container.
Azeotropic or azeotrope-like compsns. (I) consist of varying amts. of pentafluoro-ethane (II) and propane (III) or isobutane (IV). Specifically claimed are the following: a) contg. 65-99 wt.% (II) and 1-35 wt.% (III) and which boils at 25 deg.C at 226 psia; b) contg. 79.4 wt.% (II) and 20.5 wt.% (III) and which boils at (-14) deg.C at 75.6 psia; c) contg. 90-99 wt.% (II) and 1-10 wt.% (IV) and which boils at 25 deg.C at 195 psia; d) 98.3 wt.% (II) and 1.7 wt.% (IV) and which boils at 11.2 deg.C at 135.9 psia; e) contg. effective amts. of (II) and (III) or (IV) such that its dew point temp. differs from its bubble point temp. by 1 deg.C or less; and f) contg. effective amounts of (II) and (III) or (IV) such that its vapour pressure differs by 10% or less from the vapour pressure when 50 wt.% of the compsn. is removed.    Also claimed are processes for (i) producing refrigeration by condensing and evaporating (I); (ii) producing heat by condensing and evaporating (I); (iii) preparing a polymer foam using (I) as a blowing agent; and (iv) preparing an aerosol formulation by combining (I) with the active aerosol ingredients.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) are environmentally safe substitutes for halogenated chloro-fluoro-carbons. They do not deplete ozone
Material is opt. heated by microwave energy to control the working temp. of the bed to optimise the rate of decomposition of the bed. Pref. air is fed to the bed at a rate controlled by a measurement of CO2 produced in the bed. The bed is in a container which is lined with a corrosion resistant material e.g. plastics, rubber or other material with dielectric properties so as not to be heated by the microwaves. The container (1) is in a housing e.g. of metal, which prevents the spread of microwaves outside the container. The microwaves are produced by a generator and conveyed to the housing by waveguide. The microwave generator is controlled by a thermostat, having a dead space to reduce the duty cycle of the generator, to maintain a temp. of 40-60 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Avoids skin or crust which would slow down the decomposition
Metals-contg. biological mass is treated by (a) subjecting the mass in a fluid state contg. solid and aq. phases to combined thermal and chemical treatment; (b) sepg. and recovering the solid and aq. phases; (c) purifying the aq. phase by heat treating with Ca(OH)2, CaO and/or Na2S to make metals in the aq. phase insol. and to remove NH3; (d) absorbing the NH3 in an aq. soln.; and (e) mixing the soln. formed with the solid phase from (b).    Chemical treatment in (a) is by acidification and chlorinating oxidn. or persulphuric acid oxidn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solid obtd. is neutralised, N-enriched and can be used as an agricultural fertiliser or soil conditioner. Process is less expensive than dumping or destruction by heat.
The equipment for the automatic process involves a rotating drum, heat recovery from waste water (via smelt heat storage - Glauber salt NaSO4 x 10 H2O or similar salt and heat exchange with air from ouput air heat pump direct evaporator), storage of air warmth (from air solar panel at lower temps. with diffuse solar radiation) in salt cassettes of Glauber salt for discharge to output air heat pump direct evaporator, placing of output air channels between two salt cassettes (for solar panel air, etc.) for energy recovery from output air via the heat pump evaporator, and a tank for urine deposit and denitrification.    The composting of biological waste involves oxygenation in and around the rotating drum, mixt. of material contg. carbon and nitrogen in the drum, fine breakdown of waste matter in a mill or screw, effective ventilation with output air, even with a low humidity content, use of a tube fan which sucks air downwards through the composting bed, and a drainage system which removes water from and awy from the drum.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To compost and recycle household waste, garden refuse, faeces and urine for use in land fertilisation. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9245 based on complete specification)
The precomposting chamber consists of a tunnel which is sepd. from the other chamber by a wall which has holes, permitting worms to move from the second to the first chamber. The organic waste is inserted in the one end of the tunnel and removed from the other end in the form of pre-compost for placing in the second chamber. For its movement through the tunnel the waste is placed in one or more containers.    Devices are incorporated for heating ventilation air passing to the first chamber and which are located in connection with the material to be finally composted, emitting heat into the second chamber.    The first chamber is provided with an insulation against the ground, and the containers used in the tunnel have perforted bases which are in connection with an underlying bed, e.g. contg. humus-rich earth, which can be placed directly on the ground or on the insulation. This enables worms to pass between the second chamber and the containers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to compost organic waste by micro-organisms and with the aid of worms in a two-stage process. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9247 based on complete specification)
A soil improving agent is prep. by (a) mixing 94-97 wt.% organic waste matter with 2-5 wt.% sawdust, 0.2-0.5 wt.% lime milk and 0.2-0.5 wt.% wood ashes, and adjusting pH to 6.5-7.5; (b) inoculating the obtd.mixt. with soil microorganism; and (c) fermenting it to obtain the final product. The obtd. soil improving agent is useful for fertiliser.    The soil microorganism is Alcaligenes, Cellulosemonas, Bacillusm, Aerobacteria, Flavobacteria, Pseudomonas, Pullularia, Azotobacter, Nocardia, Chromatium, Rhizobium, Actiunomyces, Mycorrhiza, Fungi, etc
In the fermentative hydrolysis of organic waste with microorganisms, the waste is fermented aerobically with aerobic microorganisms, with addn. of a gas contg. O2, pref. air or pure O2. After the breakdown of (part) of the easily degradable components of the waste, the feed of O2-contg. gas is stopped, and the waste is fermented anaerobically with anaerobic microorganisms, with the exclusion of O2.    Pref. an anaerobic fermentation may preceed the aerobic fermentation. The stages may be repeated. A liq. flushing medium may be fed during the aerobic fermentation, and and O2-free liq., pref. water, during the anaerobic fermentation. Metabolites forming in the aerobic fermentation are removed at the start of the anaerobic fermentation by a liq. flushing medium, pref. water. A further aerobic fermentation is carried out after the anaerobic fermentation, pref. after removal of the anaerobic microorganisms with a liq. flushing medium, pref. water.
Garbage (36) is collected in a basin (2) which is sealed to prevent moisture from penetrating into the underlying ground, and is covered with a roof (38) which keeps precipitation from entering the garbage. Liq. collected in the basin is recirculated to and distributed over the top of the heap of garbage, and gases accumulating at the top of the heap are collected and supplied to outlets located at the bottom of the heap so as to filter upward through garbage.    Pref. gas collected is fed to one way flow outlets in the base of the heap each with its own independently controlled pressurisation system. A tower is provided in the centre of the basin with perforated walls to collect liquid which is recirculated to spray heads at the top of the heap via a pump positioned in the tower, and conduits positioned in a lightweight vertical extendable extension. The basin floor may be of a shredded clay covered with an impermeable sheet with the roof sheet and basin sheet secured by weights including drainage pipes which remove pptn. collected on the roof sheet. Heating pipes conduct hot water through the heap.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the treatment of household garbage containing only very limited quantities of poisonous chemicals or toxic material, particularly garbage, sepd. from non-degradable materials, and shredded. Allows garbage to decompose without the possibility of liquids entering and contaminating the ground water in the area. The gases collected from the dump can be utilised effeciently while reducing their "greenhouse" effect.
Small amt. of highly viscous substrate in a fermentation tank is mixed with a large amt. of air so that a foam contg. air bubbles is formed. The foam is distributed and mixed into the substrate in a mixing zone close to the bottom of the tank so that very small air bubbles are formed.    Foam, is pref. formed by introduction of air via tube (1) into the gap between relatively rotating discs (3,4) provided with radial ribs on their facing surfaces with substrate entering the gaps between the ribs via apertures (6,7) in the discs and the foam being distributed into the substrate by mounting the discs near the bottom of the fermentation tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the fermentation of highly viscous material such as manure obtd. from holding animals. Two-stage process produces bubbles of air of very small size, which rise very slowly through the substrate providing a high degree, e.g. 20 percent or more, of utilisation of the oxygen in the air, giving efficient fermentation and reducing ammonia prodn.
Catalysts for prodn. of ethane and ethylene by partial oxidn. of methane with O2 at elevated temp. comprise: (A) CaO promoted with 2.5-40 mole-% Na pyrophosphate (I); or (B) Gd2O3 promoted with 10-70 mole-% of (I).    Also claimed is a process comprising heating a (I)/CaO or (I)/Gd2O3 catalyst to 700-900 deg.C and contacting it with a gas stream contg. CH4 and O2 in a CH4:O2 ratio of 1.1-5.1:1 to give an ethane and ethylene yield of 12-19%.    Pref. the process is operated at 800-850 deg.C with a CH4:O2 ratio of 2:1, using a catalyst of type (A) contg. 10-20 mole-% (I) or a catalyst of type (B) contg. 50 mole-% (I).    ADVANTAGE -   The catalysts have better activity stability than conventional Li/Mg catalysts
Aq. aerosol hair spray comprising: less than 80 wt. % volatile organic cpds. (VOC); 0.005-0.5 wt. % of a volatile silicone selected from cyclomethicone and dimethicone copolyol; 40-70 wt. % alcohol; 15-40 wt. % water; 5-60 wt. % of a propellant selected from n-butane, isobutene, propane, dimethyl ether, difluoroethane, chlorodifluoroethane, chloridifluoro-methane and mixts. of these; 1.0-10 wt. % of a water-soluble resin selected from vinyl acetate/crotonic acid/vinyl neodecanoate copolymer. Octyl acrylamide.acrylate/butyl amino ethyl methacrylate copolymer, vinyl acetate/crotonic acid, polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP), PVP vinyl acetate copolymer, PVP acrylates copolymer and mixts. of these; 0.001-1.0 wt. % surfactants; and 0.05-3.0 wt. % neutraliser/plasticiser.    ADVANTAGE -   The invention provides aesthetically pleasing commercial hairspray prods. which are low in VOC and thus mute environmetnally acceptabl
Treatment of exhaust gases from engines fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG), where the engine is operated under slightly rich conditions, is effected by contacting the exhaust gas with a catalyst comprising 0.2-30wt.% Pd and 0.5-20wt.% La2O3 on gamma-alumina at 400-750 deg.C with a GHSV of 2000-100,000.    Pref. the catalyst has a Pt crystallite size of 5-1000 Angstroms. The particle size of the Al2O3 in the catalyst is less than 200 Angstroms.    ADVANTAGE -   The treatment gives more than 90% conversion of NOx, CO and CH4. The catalysts have lower light-off temps. than prior art Pd/Al2O3 and Pd/Rh catalysts, and can be used for at least 100 hrs. at temps. up to 750 deg.C without the CH4 conversion decreasing by more than 3%
The process involves periodic waste loading into rotating biodrum, composting and ready product unloading. The drum during loading and unloading has a min. rotation velocity and during composting it has the max. rotation velocity. The drum max. rotation velocity is maintained until the newly supplied waste temp. reaches optimum value to development of mesophilic microorganisms, and the drum rotation velocity is then reduced to the min. After the waste temp. reaches the max. temp. for live activity of the mesophilic microorganisms the drum rotation is increased to the max. and then again reduced to min. when the waste optimum temp. for development of thermophilic microorganisms is reached.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For solid domestic refuse treatment. Process efficiency is increased. Bul.9/7.3.92
The device contains cylindrical reservoir (1), cylindrical jacket (2), end walls (3) and (4), inside spiral pipe (5) of rectangular or circular cross-section, plate (6) with openings (7), material (8) of porous structure fixed to plate (6) or pipe (5), inlet (9) for organic mass, outlet (10) for gas, and outlet (11) for processed mass. Plate (6) is welded to pipe (5).    Pipe joints (9-11) are connected in recirculation system contg. pipes (12-15), compressor (16), and valve (17). Methane-forming bacteria are in the reactor volume as well as on the surface of porous material. The release of biogas is intensified due to the mixing of biomass by gas flow; the intensity of mixing due to biogas recirculation is regulated by the valve.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In processing and utilisation of organic material and methane prodn.; device can be used as energy provision source in small buildings; increased reliability, power, and effectiveness of device. Bul.8/29.2.92
Above the bottom of the vessel is arranged a piston-type part of a frame which can move in and out of the vessel, its outward movement causing composted earth to fall downwards on to the vessel bottom, and then with the frame being pushed inwards, the soil is pushed out of the vessel. A gap in the frame is in connection with a ventilation space ventilation holes and ventilation channels for the passage of ventilation air to the compost. The ventilation holes are arranged in the side inner casing, and made on the underside of form-pressed folds in the side inner casing. An insulation is provided inside the side outer casing, and at least one of the ventilation channels is located between the cover and the insulation.    ADVANTAGE -   For composting by a heat process of food waste, using a vessel in which the decomposed waste can be pushed out through an opening in the vessel bottom without the need to open the vessel cover and scrape away the already-composted material from the walls
Air is made to move in an air gap external to and surrounding the composting hearth between the composting material and the different parts of the hearth for regulating the composting process. This entails for dry composting an initial considerable heat development and a stronger air exchange, whilst for wet and cold compost there is a hindering effect on the air exchange, which can then be activated by input of heat. For dry and warm compost, water vapour is introduced by the incoming air passing over a water surface located at the bottom connected to the compost air intake. After the air has been moistened, it is fed into a gap formed between the composting hearth and the collection container insulated outer casing, and in through holes or slots in the wall or walls directly encompassing the composting hearth, whereby the composting hearth water content increases and the heat development reduces, and vice versa.    ADVANTAGE -   For composting biologically degradable material, partic. plant and vegetable material.
For using up organic waste matter, the material is firstly mixed and then chopped. The chopped material is then compressed prior to the application of heat to dry it. Prior to being compressed, the material is washed and pre-heated. For the compressing process a centrifugal compression unit is employed. After drying, the waste material is finely ground. A part of the dried, compressed waste material is fed back and mixed with the chopped material awaiting drying. The compression stage is applied until the moisture content of the chopped material is reduced by approximately 20 %. The drying stage is carried at a temp. and for a duration adequate to sterilise the material. Specific additives are added to the organic waste prior to the compression stage, and contain approximately 28 wt.% egg white.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the prepn. of usable compost from organic waste
Organic waste is placed into biologically decomposable plastic bag, and then bag is fed into fermenting vessel provided on crushing-stirring machine. Plastic bag is crushed by operating stirring machine to stir organic waste. Plastic bag and organic waste are thus fermented.    ADVANTAGE -   Offensive odour or stain is not scattered around fermenting vessel.
A wood waste having antiseptic, and anti-insect properties is obtd. by treating with compsn. contg. an antiseptic, anti-insect cpd. is crushed into chips. The chips are immersed into a heated acid soln., whereby the antiseptic, anti-insect cpd. is extracted and sepd.    The chips are placed in a container having an acid material resistance, and are sequentially immersed in tanks contg. a heated acidic soln.(pref. 1/20-2 N hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid). The chips are passed through a screw-feeder while a heated acidic soln. is supplied form one end of the feeder in opposition to the stream of the chips and is flown-over from the other end.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Nearly all of the cpd., e.g., Cu, Cr and As cpds. contained in the waste can be extracted. The method is a closed system without problems on environmental contamination. The treated wood waste can be used as a fuel. The appts. used is simple.
The biomass converter comprises a kiln mounted on skids or wheels. The kiln pref. has a large door for initial filling, a smaller access hatch for adding material once combustion is underway, and a hatch near a sump in the base for removal of charcoal. A valve controls the flow of combustion air through the kiln. The converted in operation is moved to the plant material source and loaded without interrupting the combustion process within the kiln.    The mobile biomass converter comprises a cylindrical kiln of two metal layers separated by a layer of insulation. The open end of the vesssel is sealed by a hinged steel door and locked by an array of clamps. A small access hatch in the upper part of the door enables fuel and biomass to be charged to the kiln when the large door is closed. The temperature of the kiln is monitored by thermometers projecting into the kiln interior.    ADVANTAGE -   Highly efficient method and means for mfg. charcoal minimises transportation and handling costs.
To prepare compost from domestic rubbish and/or waste from food mfg./distribution/prepn., or from horticulture, the material is broken down biologically by microorganisms together with compost worms in at least one rotating drum.    The rotating drum is divided into sections along its length, sepd. by perforated dividers. The base of the rotating drum has at least one opening and door flap for loading and emptying, and at least one stretch woven ventilation opening. A mechanism to break down the material and a feed funnel are at the loading opening.    The media to break down the material into compost is coccons of compost worms, a bedding material and dried microorganisms together with a packaging. The microorganisms are prepd. in layers, according to their nature, in pills with an onion skin structure. The bedding material is at least partially of shredded paper, peat, gravel, vermiculite or foam.    ADVANTAGE -   The compost can be prepd. on site, using biodegradable material, without any intermediate storage or dwell time and without additives.
In an industrial and/or domestic waste treatment process involving drying, thermolysis and dechlorination of other thermolysed solids by washing, thermolysis is effected by direct contact of the waste with hot gas having a low oxygen content pref. of less than 10 (esp. less than 4) vol.%.    In an installation comprising a thermolysis unit fed (partly) with thermolysis waste gas or its combustion waste gas, a hot combustion gas generator and a solid thermolysis prod. collecting and washing unit: (i) the thermolysis unit has a waste inlet and a hot thermolysis gas inlet and outlet; and (ii) the hot gas and the waste are in direct contact within the thermolysis unit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For waste thermolysis to produce an easily reusable clean coke. Compared with indirect heating processes, the process is simpler, has reduced sealing problems, has lower energy consumption, can use a smaller thermolysis unit and gives increased yield of usable coke.
In the aerobic oxygen stage, the organic material is finely distributed and ventilated with a dry stuff content exceeding 20%. The easily decomposable part and a part of the organic material which is hard to convert is converted to easily decomposable fat and amino acids and sugar, whist sulphur is converted to various sulphides and sulphates.    When a slurry is made out of the material with continued ventilation, the aerobic decomposition proceeds to form various organic acids. The partially hydrolysed organic material from the oxygen stage is further hydrolysed in the subsequent anaerobic methane stage. In this stage the organic material, for a large part reduced to organic acids, is broken down into mainly methane and carbon dioxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A two-stage, aerobic and anaerobic, process for fermenting organic material.
Compost container has two waste receiving compartments sepd. by an apertured wall which permits earthworms to migrate from composted material in one compartment into fresh waste material placed in the other compartment, the container being such as to allow the composed waste in one compartment to be removed without disturbing waste material in the other compartment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the composting of garden or kitchen waste. Earth worms instinctively migrate from fully composted material into fresh material allowing the single composting container to be continuously used in an efficient way without having to labroiously transfer the earthworms to the fresh water.
Prepn. is by partially oxidising CH4 or opt. natural gas contg. CH4 with O2 or gas contg. O2 in the presence of catalytic system consisting of alkali metal and gp. Va metal at temp. of 600-1000 deg. C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process increases the selectivity of C2 cpd. in oxidn. coupling reaction of CH4 and also increases the conversion rate of CH4.    In an example, Na2CO3 and Y2O5 (atomic ratio of V/Na is 0.3) were placed in an alumina vessel and mixed with water. The mixt. was dried at 100 deg. C and sintered at 900 deg. C to give the catalyst. Ig of the catalyst prepd. was filled in a reaction tube. Gas mixt. (CH4:O2 = 90:10) was made to flow into the tube at the rate of 100ml/min under atmospheric pressure at 750 deg. C, or 800 deg. C to carry out the react
Medium for culturing microbe consists of vegetable protein (0.4 - 0.6 wt.%) animal protein (0.2 - 0.4 wt.%) and carbohydrate (0.6 - 1 wt.%) to heat sterilised water (100 pts. wt.), where cellulose (0.2 - 0.5 wt.%) may be added in the medium; and (2) liq. state decomposite of organic putrefaction is prepd. comprising; to medium 0.1 wt.% of cultured soln. of Bacillus subtilis is added and compulsorily fermented at 38 - 45 deg.C for 72 hours - 120 hours under aeration, and matured at 10-28 deg.C for over 120 hours, and opt. the obtd. liq. state decomposite (10 - 20 wt.%) is added to porous rock powder (100 pts. wt.), and mixed to impregnate the decomposite.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By using the medium, culturing state of B. subtilis can be kept well. These liq. and powder state decomposites are easy for handling.
The system comprises a raw waste crusher connected to a composting unit buried in the ground. A separator separates the crushed wastes into liq. and solids to be accumulated in the composting unit.    USE -   Used for food shops and restaurants.
Substrate is supplied to the fermenter holding methane bacteria. Hydrogen is prepd. by adding the methyl reductase inhibitor to methane bacteria.    As the inhibitor 2-bromoethane sulphonic acid, 2-chloro-ethane sulphonic acid, 2-mercaptopropionic acid, chloroform, etc. can be used and among them 2-bromoethane sulphonic acid can be used due to its strong inhibiting activity. By using proper amt. of inhibitor, methane and hydrogen can be formed simultaneously. A conventional anaerobic digestion tank system can be used as it is. For example, methane bacterium Methanosarcinasp can be used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By adding the inhibitor, methane bacteria form hydrogen and carbon dioxide instead of methane. Thus hydrogen can be prepared enzymically under moderate conditions cheaply and waste water contg. organic wastes, carbon dioxide in the combustion gas, etc. can be used as substrate.
Using fast pyrolysis in a carrier gas to convert a plastic waste feed stream having a mixed polymeric compsn. comprises (a) selecting a first temp. programme range to cause pyrolysis of the given polymer and its high value monomeric constituent prior to a temp. range that causes pyrolysis of other plastic components; (b) selecting a catalyst and a support and treating the feedstream with this catalyst to affect acid or base catalysed reaction pathways to maximise yield or enhance sepn. of the high value monomeric constituent or high value prod. prior to pyrolysis of other plastic components therein; (d) sepg. the high value monomer constituent or derived high value prod.; (e) selecting a second higher temp. programme range to cause pyrolysis to a different high value monomeric constituent of the plastic waste and differentially heating the feed stream at this higher temp. programme range to cause pyrolysis of the plastic into different high value monomeric constituent or derived prod.; and (f) sepg. the different high value monomeric constituent or derived high value prod..    ADVANTAGE -   This pyrolysis of a complex waste stream of plastics, such as scrap plastics or mixed plastic waste from plants in which plastics are converted into consumer prods., converts the stream into useful high value monomers or other chemicals, by identifying catalyst and temp. conditions that permit decomposition of a given polymer in the presence of others, without decomposition of the other polymers, in order to make it easier to purify the monomer from the easier to decompose plastic. This minimises disposal requirements for nonbiodegradable materials and conserves non-renewable resources
Gas tap-switches (3,5,7) are set in their first position and the revolution speed switch of the motor of pump (21) is set at maximum value. Air from the layer close to the soil is passed continually through the pneumo-channel, i.e. in parallel through all sections (9) of vessels (8,16), while filters (4,6) remove moisture and any heavy hydrocarbons. Light flows from sources (12,17) pass through vessels (8,16) to photodetectors (13,18), forming maximum signals during absence of methane.    During presence of methane, gas passes through sampling device (1) and sections (9) with minimum openings and the samples are converted into columns of optimum length. The intensity of light in vessel (8) is reduced by asborption in the methane, while the intensity is unchanged in vessel (16). Indicator (15) activates an audible device when an assigned level is exceeded. During high speed analysis, the concentrations of marsh gases are measured.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Determn. of methane flows from the ground. Determn. of leakage point of methane. Bul.7/23.2.92    .D
The sensor comprises an insulating base plate, a pair of electrodes formed on the base plate, a gas sensitive film of a metal oxide semiconductor formed over the electrodes and a catalyst layer formed to cover the gas sensitive film. The catalyst consists of copper, tungsten and phosphorus or their oxides supported on alumina carrier.    The gas-sensitive film consists of e.g. tin oxide, zinc oxide or indium oxide. The catalyst layer consists of porous layer of catalyst particles supported over alumina particles. The mixing ratio of Cu, W and P is e.g. 0.1-10.0 pts. wt., 0.1-20.0 pts. wt. and 0.01-10.0 pts. wt. respectively. The ratio of W/Cu is practically 0.1-10. The addn. of P is effective for raising the stability of the characteristics of the sensor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The gas sensor has esp. high sensitivity to CO, and exhibits little deterioration with time even in highly humid atmos. and high reliability for long period. It has high stability to CO, ethanol or propane gas with the passage of time.
A nickel/alumina catalyst(C) is prepared by hardening a compsn. of (A) and (B) in a condition of hardening calcium-aluminate cement by hydration, and moulding it; (A) is a solid product prepared by mixing and reacting (A1) an alkali soln. contg. suspended fine alumina hydrate (A11) and/or gamma-alumina (A12) and (A2)an aq. soln. of nickel nitrate; (B) is calcium-aluminate cement.    Amt. of (A11) and/or (A12) is pref. 30-70 wt.% based on (C); (A1)alkali soln. is e.g. alkali carbonate, bicarbonate, etc. It is treated for 3-6 hr to form a suspension. Particle dia. of (A11) and/or (A12) is pref. less than 50 micron; average 10-30 micron. (A) solid product is prepared by washing ppte. of (A11) and/or (A12) and (A2), drying and calcining at 300-800 deg.C. (B) is a commercial prepn. of which amt. is pref. 5-10 wt.% based on (C).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used for producing e.g. town gas, from methanol transformed from LPG to give easy handling, in a high yield of methane, it has good heat resistance, and can maintain its catalytic activity and mechanical strength for a long period of use.
The membrane is obtd. from a copolymer composed of 10 mol.% - 95 mol.% (trimethylsilyl)methylmethacrylate (TMSMMA) and 90 mol.% - 5 mol.% vinyl acetate (VAc).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Suitable for separating N2 and O2 from air or for sepg. CH4 from CO2. Excellent selective permeability of gas. Also, it is easy to make membrane.    In an example, polymer was produced from monomer TMSMMA/VAc = 30/70. A membrane was mfd. with 79.2% yield. The membrane oxygen permeability (PO2) was 3.7 x 10power(-10) cm3 (STP)cm/cm2.sec.cmHg, and permeability ratio of oxygen and nitrogen (PO2/PN2) was 5.
An agitation mechanism to drive blades is disposed in a tank for organic waste. Hot air passages are disposed at a lower part of the tank, while a heater is disposed at an upper part of the tank.    USE -   Organic waste such as garbage can be heated effectively.
The appts. comprises a bacteria increasing bed comprising a material with a large surface formed in a water circulating path, to which aerobic bacteria capable of decomposing organic substances are planted.    Pref, the material with a large surface comprises at least one of silica gel, active carbon, alumina, polyether porous substance, polyester porous substance, synthetic resin and a hollow mould, etc. The aerobic bacteria used belongs to genus Bacillus, Alcaligenus, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Nocardid, Corynebacterium of Escherichia. The bacteria increasing bed can have a filter comprising a porous and/or fibrous substance with average pore size of under 3mm and a thickness of over 1mm. The water circulating path comprises a pump and a pipe and can further have a water temperature controller and a part for increasing dissolved O2 concn. in water.    ADVANTAGE -   Sewage from a bath tank and waste water from a washing tank of an automatic developing machine of photographic films are continuously and effectively purifi
The plant to convert waste into a compost has a number of troughs in a hall which are open at the top and at least at the rear, sepd. by dividing walls. At least one trolley to mix and feed the waste material delivers it to the leading end of the trough, moving in a zone between the leading end wall of the hall across the troughs and vertically over the leading section of a trough. A transfer trolley moves in a zone between the trailing end of the troughs and the rear end wall of the hall, across the troughs. It has a holder for mixing and delivery trolley and a mechanism to hold the prepared compost and deliver it downwards.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly is for the conversion of vegetable matter into compost, including domestic waste. The use of trolleys with dual functions reduces the space needed, cutting the length of the leading end of the compost field from 20 m to about 4 m, and the trailing end from 6 m to about 3.5 m
In an industrial and/or domestic waste treatment process involving a waste drying stage followed by a thermolysis stage, the solids and gases from thermolysis are recovered and/or treated, the drying gases are treated and recycled and the waste is not contacted by combustion gases during thermolysis. The process includes a dechlorination stage involving washing the solids from thermolysis, followed by a first solids and liq. sepn. stage.    An installation for carrying out the process includes. (i) a washer for recovering and washing solids from the thermolysis appts; (ii) a thermolysis appts. which has two different chambers sepg. the heating gases from the waste and which is fed with part of the effluent from the thermolysis operation; and (iii) at least one first separator located downstream of the washer for sepg. solids, to be recovered in a storage device, and purified wash liq., to be re-injected into the washer feed circuit.    ADVANTAGE -   The process can treat heterogenous waste contg. high level sof e.g. heavy metals, chlorine, fluorine, sulphur, etc. without release of noxious pollutants, recovers the energy content of the waste in the form of a coke fuel, optimises the pollutant capture potential of basic materials contained in the waste and emits pollutant-free waste gas and low chlorine content waste water.
Sepn. is effected by a pressure swing adsorption process using a Ca7 zeolite with an SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of 2-100 and a Ca content of at least 20 equiv.% based on total alkali(ne earth) metal ion content.    The process comprises (a) passing the feed through the adsorption zone and recovering an adsorption effluent enriched with CH4; (b) reducing the pressure and recovering a desorption effluent comprising C2H6 and CH4; and (c) repressurising the adsorption zone to the adsorption pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. useful for purifying natural gas contg. 75-95 mole% CH4, 0.5-10 mole% C2H6, 0.1-10 mole% CO2 and 0.1-5 mole% C3+ hydrocarbons. Ca7 zeolites are almost as effective as ZnX zeolites, e.g. giving 57-63% recovering of CH4 contg. 300 ppm C2H6.
Before contacting filter medium is rotated, seed sludge is fed into aerating vessel, and raw water having a predetermined low load is fed to tame sludge. Then, raw water having high load to be treated in prim. operation is fed to tame sludge, while contacting filter medium is not rotated. Contacting filter medium is rotated, raw water having high load is fed to tame sludge while rotating filter medium. Finally, after it is confirmed that treating action has occurred operation is shifted to primary operation.
System comprises a central solid-liq. separator connected to garbage treating units in houses, and fermenting tank connected to a solids outlet of the solid-liq. separator, thereby making compost.    USE -   For wastes treating facilities.
Compsn. is composed of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane, and contains at least one selected from hydrocarbons, ethers and halohydrocarbons as well as 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane (R227c). The hydrocarbons are e.g. LPG such as liquefied propane or butane, while the ethers are e.g. dimethyl ether, diethyl ether and 2-5C ethers. The halohydrocarbons are e.g. trichloromonofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane etc. R227c, the hydrocarbons, ethers and halohydrocarbons are formulated in a ratio of 50-90 wt.%, 0-50 wt.%, 0-50 wt.% and 0-50 wt.%.    The propellant compsns. not contg. chlorofluorocarbons which cause adverse effects on the environment, and developed as a substitute for the chlorofluorocarbons, show a minimised effect on the environment. Due to their lack of flammability they can be used in the prodn. of aerosol prods. comprising skin drugs, antiperspirants, deodorants etc. along with alcoholic solvent, inorganic powder, anticorrosives, etc., without any hazard of fire and any adverse effect on the ozone layer
Appts. comprises an air circulating line to suck warm air from a gas collector attached to an upper part of fermentation tank to an air distributor attached to a lower part of the fermentation tank.    USE -   For treating organic waste
Chamber is sepd. into multichamber and fermentation chambers are used for charging and fermentation chambers respectively.    USE -   Avoids charging amt. loss.
(JP4329261-A)      NOVELTY - A layer containing a binder and a hydrogen absorbing alloy is formed on the surface of a plate to obtain a cathode (2). An anode (1) consists of metallic oxide such as nickel hydroxide. The hydrogen absorbing alloy layer formed on the cathode is linear in shape.    USE -   Nickel hydrogen alkaline battery structure.    ADVANTAGE -   Since resistance between collector and hydrogen-absorbing alloy is reduced, electron collection property of cathode is reduced. Improves discharge characteristics of nickel hydrogen alkaline battery.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the sectional view of nickel hydrogen alkaline battery. (1) Anode; (2) Cathode.
A hollow fibre of amorphous hydroxyethylated poly(2,6-dimethyl -p-oxyphenylene) (PPO-OH), has a glass transition temp. (Tg) 180 - 200 deg.C, and contains in its macromolecule units (a)-(d) randomly distributed, (x = 30 - 40, y = 10 - 20, z = 30 - 60, w = 0 -10/100 units). The fibre further consists of a thin, dense layer on a macroporous backing, having o.d. 450 - 550 micron, i.d. 250 - 400 micron.    Prepn. of the fibre comprises (a) preparing a PPO-OH in 1-formyl- piperidine soln. (''viscose''), (b) extruding the viscose through a spinnerette with an annular cross-section, with a bore internal to the annular slit, (c) feeding water to the spinnerette central bore to cause partial coagulation, forming a hollow fibre precursor, externally to a coagulation bath, (d) feeding the precursor to an aq. bath to complete coagulation, operating in the (substantially) absence of stretch to form a hollow PPO-OH fibre, and (e) stretching the coagulated fibre in the coagulation bath or a further aq. bath, recovering a stretched PPO-OH fibre.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fibre has good rheological characteristics, is (essentially) free from structural defects and highly pervious and selective in sepg. gases such as CH4, CO2, N2, O2, H2 and H2S. Thus, arranged as suitable modules, the fibre is useful in gas mixt. sepn..    .D
A machine to aerate compost in large heaps in the open air or in a shed comprises a gantry or bridge crane with its beam transversely across the heaps and movable along them. A turning mechanism includes a high-speed rotary drum carrying hammers or knives, movable parallel to the beam and with its horizontal axis parallel to heap length.    Pref. a thrust drum is located in front of and above the rotary drum and the vertical position of the latter can be adjusted. The rotary drum pref. has a working position and an inactive, optionally retracted, position, and there is a system for moistening the compost. The machine can move from heap and pref. has an automatic parking system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful in composting large amts. of urban waste, provides more thorough aeration and allows composting to proceed more rapidly
Sepn. of gases (I) with a b.pt. of -80 to +50 deg.C from a gas mixt. comprising (I), hydrocarbons (II) with a b.pt. of -170 to -80 deg.C and one or more gases (III) with a b.pt. below -170 deg.C is effected by contacting the gas mixt. with an adsorbent which adsorbs (I) but does not adsorb (II) and (III), and then desorbing (I).    USE -   For sepg. MeCl from waste gases also contg. CH4, C2H4 and N2. It could also be used to separate C3+ hydrocarbons, other halogenated hydrocarbons or organic N, O or S cpds. from gases contg. O2, N2, Ar, H2 and/or CO and C1-2 hydrocar
In processing of waste material, before anaerobic fermentation of biogenic-organic components of the waste, esp. bio-waste, wet waste, residual waste and industrial waste, (a) in a pretreatment stage, an easily dewaterable suspension of the biogenic-organic material (I) is prepd. by mechanical processing with selective hydrolysis and disintegration of (I), controlling the effect of the mechanical flow force so that the non-biogenic organic material (II) is not subjected to comminution forces before sepn. at the end of the pretreatment, so that (II) is sepd., and (b) the suspension is converted to biogas and a compost-like residue in an anaerobic fermentation.    ADVANTAGE -   Sepn. of the dissolved organic cpds. and organic fibrous material from the material which cannot be utilised biotechnically is efficient. (II) is not damaged or comminuted mechanically, facilitating its sepn., and can easily be recycled and deposited. Abrasion by fine particles e.g. of glass is reduced. Heavy metals are not carried on into the compost-like residue. The process saves energy