Process for making an electrode-ion exchange membrane assembly having enhanced performance efficiency upon utilisation in a proton exchange electrochemical cell comprises: (a) exposing to water the ion exchange membrane in the proton form; (b) placing the membrane between an electrode structure to form an electrode-ion exchange membrane assembly; (c) heating the electrode-ion exchange membrane assembly, while hermetically sealed, at a temp. above the glass transition temp. of the polymer forming the ion exchange membrane to bond the electrode structure to the ion exchange membrane; and (d) exposing the assembly to water to obtain a water uptake of 60-300 wt. % of the membrane.    Also claimed is a proton exchange electrochemical all comprising an electrode-ion exchange membrane assembly made by the above method.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Ion exchange membranes are used in the solid polymer electrolyte cells, fuel cells and water electrolysis cells. Higher water of hydration and thus lower ionic substance is obtd. compared to the prior art. Electrochemical cells can be operated at high cell efficiency at a given current.
Cartridge comprises a helical member inserted in a tube with a bottom cover fixed to one end of the helical member. The catalyst is compactly charged in the tube, and the bottom cover has many holes.    USE -   Used for charging catalysts in heat transfer pipes of reformers.
Appts. comprises a 1st CO modifier to react CO in a reformed gas with water vapour to provide a CO gas, an intermediate cooler to cool this gas, and a 2nd CO modifier to react the CO in the gas with water vapour.    USE -   Used for fuel cell generators.
The mounting (1) has a housing (2) containing one or more batteries attached to one of the tubes or struts of the bicycle or moped frame via a clamp (3) having a clamp element (5) cooperating with a seat (4) for the tube or strut provided by the housing. The clamp element is fully removable to allow the clamp to be fitted and cooperates with two retaining rings (12) at each side of the seating.    Pref. the relative position of the clamp element and the seating is adjustable at right angles to the seating surface to vary the width of the opening defined between them and match the dia. of the tube or strut.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple attachment of battery to bicycle or moped frame while allowing almost optional attachment point and applicable to wide range of dia. of strut or tube.
The laminated fluid flow field assembly comprises the separator layer formed of electrically conductive, fluid impermeable sheet material, and having two oppositely facing major surfaces, and the stencil layer formed of electrically conductive sheet material, and having two oppositely facing major surfaces.    The stencil layer has a fluid inlet formed in it and has at least one opening formed in it extending between the major surfaces, the at least one opening in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. The separator layer and stencil layer are consolidated along one of their respective major surfaces, such that the separator layer and stencil layer cooperate to form at least one open-faced channel for conducting pressurised fluid introduced at the fluid inlet.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced weight and volume. Simpler to mfr.
The formation method comprises the steps of: mixing graphite powder, reinforcing fibres, cellulosic fibres, and thermosetting resin with a liquid to form a slurry. The slurry is formed into a planar sheet and removing the liquid from the planar sheet. The planar sheet is cut into main sheets having two opposing edges and a edge strips.    The main sheets and the edge strips and laid up so that the edge strips are located along the perimeter of the main sheets adjacent to the opposing edges. the lay-up is laminated, carbonised, and graphitised to form the laminated electrolyte reservoir plate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cell. Enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity after graphitisation.
(JP2766434-B2)      The apparatus receives the exhaust gas generated from the electrolyte of a fuel battery. A first heat exchanger (21) radiates the temperature of the high temperature region to an area where, the received exhaust gas containing phosphoric acid solution, is guided through an exhaust gas supply line along with generated steam. The phosphoric acid contained in the exhaust gas is precipitated by the radiated temperature. A second heat exchanger (23) is provided below the first heat exchanger, which condenses the generated steam and cools the exhaust gas which is devoid of phosphoric acid and supplied from the first heat exchanger side. A pallet (22) is provided for collecting and reclaiming the phosphoric acid precipitate placed between the two heat exchangers. A condensed water collecting tank (26) is provided below the second heat exchanger, for reclaiming the condensed water of the generated steam. The above said units are formed integrally. A series of heat exchanger tubes (27) are provided in the heat exchangers, for circulating cooling water from the second heat exchanger side to the first heat exchanger side. The heat retained in the exhaust gas is reclaimed in the form of warm water by circulation of the cooling water.    ADVANTAGE -   Attains miniaturization. Removes phosphoric acid included in exhaust gas, efficiently. Enables reliable waste heat recovery, condensed water collection of exhaust gas.
A frame for an electrode plate comprises one or more structural members (19b) and web material (19c) providing additional surface area. The web is thinner than the members, is pref. formed by flashing the members during moulding, and has perforations (19d) to improve keying of active material (19a).    The plate is pref. conditioned before spraying active material onto it from both sides with compressed air or rolling the material onto both sides. The active material pref. includes polymer fibres and is applied in a number of coats. The mould is pref. such that the vertical runners become the vertical current-carrying bars for the frame to make efficient use of the lead in the large channels needed in vertical pouring.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used e.g, or automobile batteries. Allows more material to be applied and strongly keyed to a plate, to increase battery efficiency. Thinner grids can be used. The plates can be made in an automated process at lower cost.
The flameless combustion of C to produce electric power is carried out by dissolving the C in molten metal which acts as an anode to produce C-ions and electrons, the electrons being conducted to react with O2 at a cathode to produce O-ions, the C-ions are diffused through an electrolyte to the cathode where they react with the O-ions to produce COx.    ADVANTAGE -   Power is derived from a C fuel in a totally clean, efficient process.
Method comprises moving the catalyst at the downstream side in the main body of desulphuriser to the upstream side, and charging new catalyst only to the downstream side in the main body.    USE -   For power generators using fuel cells.
The fuel is obtd. by reforming an aq. city gas into H2, and supplying the obtd. hydrogen into a fuel cell plant. Reforming of the city gas is effected by sepg. hydrocarbon series gas from other gas in the city gas, subjecting hydrocarbon series gas to a reforming, and then mixing the reformed gas and the other gas to obtain a gas mixt. which is supplied to the fuel cell plant.    The reforming is e.g. effected by contacting the city gas with water at 800 deg.C in the presence of Ni catalyst to obtain H2 and CO2 by decomposition of water and hydrocarbon such as methane. The sepn. of the hydrocarbon gas can be carried out by polyimide or cellulose gas selective absorption film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prodn. of fuel cell can be carried out effectively by a small size reformer at reduced cost.
A vehicle storage battery protection system senses a drop in battery voltage to a level at which the battery still retains sufficient power to start the vehicle. If the sensed voltage remains at or below this level for a time greater than the time normally required to start the vehicle, the battery is disconnected from the load and a hysteresis signal is provided to prevent a reconnection as the battery voltage begins to rise after the load has been disconnected.    The load is automatically reconnected to the battery upon operation of the ignition switch to restart the vehicle. A reset circuit provides a small test voltage to the disconnected load, and senses a voltage drop caused by operation of the ignition switch to start the vehicle. This sensed voltage drop is detected and causes a main switch to reconnect the battery to the loads.
A process for producing a compsn. useful in absorbing H2 comprises oxidising the surface of hydride particles, mixing the particles with particles of kieselguhr and ballast metal, and compressing and calcining the mixt. so that the ballast metal binds the other particles into a porous, H-absorbing compact. Also claimed is a process as above in which the hydride is subjected to repeated H2 absorption/desorption cycles until it disintegrates into particles before oxidn. and mixing.    Pref., the hydride is LaNi5-xAlx, where x=0.1-1, the ballast metal is Al, Cu, or Ni, calcining is in an inert atmos., and the compsn. contains at least 10 vol.% kieselguhr and 50 vol.% ballast metal. Volatiles are removed between compressing and calcining steps and hydride particles are less than 100 microns in size.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For hydrogen storage and pumping, heat pumps, batteries and fuel cells, and H isotope sepn. The compact is dimensionally stable over many absorption/desorption cycles, has good porosity, and absorbs large amts. of H reversibly.
Process comprises (a) providing a solid polymer anion conducting material electrolyte including first and second opposed surfaces; (b) providing a cathode on the first surface of the electrolyte; (c) providing an anode on the second surface of the electrolyte; (d) connecting a direct current source between the cathode and the anode; (e) flowing unprocessed ambient air through the electrolyte; (f) producing medical grade output oxygen at the anode by electrolytic action of hydroxyl ions passing through the electrolyte; and (g) bypassing a portion of the air flow around the rim of the solid polymer electrolyte for diluting the output oxygen to a level therapeutically equiv. to 100% pure oxygen.    The process operates at a temp. of 2- 100 deg. C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Sepg. oxygen from air to medically enrich the air. The process electrolytically concentrates oxygen at or near ambient temps. and pressure, eliminating need to replenish the electrolyte, at relatively low cost.
A connector unit is used in combination with a portion of a first conductor and a segment of a second conductor. The conductors terminate in first and second connectors that are electrically connectable to a first and a second terminal of a solenoid.    The connector unit comprises an L-shaped housing defined by a main body and an extension arm extending from the main body, the main body and the extension arm at least partially retaining the portion and segment, for retaining a predetermined displacement and orientation between the portion and the segment and between the first and second connectors. Simultaneous connection of the first and the second connector to the first terminal and the second terminal is achieved due to the predetermined displacement and orientation whenever the first connector is applied to the first terminal.    USE -   Connector for retaining the position and orientation of the power conductors between the solenoid and battery of a motor vehicle.
Reactor includes 1st vessel with catalyst layer, and 2nd vessel where cooling medium having pressure higher than that of reactive gas and adapted to cool catalyst layer is flown. 2nd Vessel is constituted by small dia. cooling pipes bent at 180 deg. in 1st vessel.    ADVANTAGE -   Thickness of 2nd vessel can be reduced.
Appts. comprises a reforming reaction part to reform a gas passed through a desulphurising reaction part to remove S contents from a raw material gas, and CO reaction part to oxidise CO contained in the gas.    USE -   Used for fuel cell systems.
The battery terminal has a terminal main body including a pair of tightening plates, each having a through-hole formed on it, connected with an open free end of the electrode engaging portion into which the battery post is inserted. An electric wire connecting portion is connected with the electrode engaging portion. A rotatable nut is interposed between the tightening plates in such a manner that a supporting shaft projecting from each of opposed sides of the rotatable nut is rotatably inserted through each of the opposed through-holes formed on the tightening plates.    A tightening tool, has a pair of mutually converging surfaces which are brought into contact with respective outer surfaces of each of the tightening plates and a bolt-installing through-hole, formed on an upper surface, through which a bolt is tightened into the rotatable nut.    USE -   E.g. for car battery.
The circuit breaker has two electrically conductive pistons (25,31), respectively slidable in two axially aligned passages (23,63) in a body part. The body part has a chamber (13) composed of an outer endless portion (15) communicating with a central inner portion (17). The pistons are biassed under adjustable pre-loaded spring biasses towards respective stop-limited positions at which the piston crown surfaces, (29,75) each of which has a concavity (27,73) are spaced apart by an amount less than the diameter of an electrically conductive ball (35) releasably located in the concavities.    When the ball is subjected to a force in excess of a certain value, the ball rides up the walls of the concavities displacing the pistons against their spring pre-loads, to be ejected into the outer endless portion (15), so as to beak the circuit between the pistons. The pistons are then driven back to their spaced stop-limited positions, which prevents the ball returning to the inner chamber portion.    USE -   For isolating battery of vehicle in event of vehicle stopping abruptly.
A reformer unit (13) is incorporated for heating and decomposition of a raw material, which is composed of a liq. fuel and water as main constituents, whereby combustion gas is used for prodn. of hydrogen gas. A fuel cell (12) continuously supplies a specific load with electrical energy and comprises an electrolytic layer (12a), a fuel electrode (12b) arranged along a main surface of the electrolytic layer, and an oxygen electrode (12c) arranged along the other main surface of the electrolytic layer.    The fuel electrode receives the hydrogen gas produced in the reformer unit and the oxygen electrode receives oxygen so that electrical energy is produced. Sec. cells are provided for supply to the load of a requisite amt. of electrical energy at least during the starting time, until the prodn. of electrical energy in the fuel cell commences or to the time at which the extent of the load changes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cell replacing battery for driving electric vehicle.
Beta Al2O3 (I) is obtd. by (i) providing a compsn. comprising a microcrystalline boehmite gel, oxide as oxide precursors of Na, K, Li, Mg or Ca plus submicron seed particles of alpha or beta Al2O3 in an amt. of at least 0.1 wt % of the final solids content of (I) (ii) shaping then (iii) drying and firing at 1200 - 1500 deg.C to convert the body to its beta Al2O3 form. Seed particles are present in the gel amts. equiv. to at least 10 power 6 in (i) in particles per cc of finished body.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) have utility as solid electrolyte conductors of small ions useful as electrodes in fuel cells for electrical power generation e.g. sodium sulphur cells. (I) have superior strength and density plus low porosity.
Fuel cell assembly comprises a first cell formed of: porous conductive flexible anode; electrolyte member; and a porous, conductive flexible cathode; and a second cell formed of: porous conductive flexible anode spaced from the anode of the first cell; flexible electrolyte member; and an air-permeable conductive flexible cathode. A conductive bridge extends between one end of the first cell anode and the opposite end of the second cell cathode.    H2 fuel cell includes layered electrodes and a restraining means to displace transverse swelling of the electrolyte member. Fuel cell includes an in-situ polymeric sealant between electrode(s) and electrolyte member with occlusion of voids to provide good electrolytic contact. H2 fuel cell has a shaped layered structure which includes a mouth for admitting H2 to a closed chamber, and a base member closing the mouth and carrying an H2 supply and electrical connections.    ADVANTAGE -   Wet-membrane room-temp (H2) fuel cells are provided having wide adaptability where problems of swelling, leakage, gas supply etc. are solved using simple low cost, lightweight designs.
Fuel cell comprising anode, H2 gas supply, O2-pervious cathode and an ion exchange membrane electrolyte also includes a water-pervious, conductive, graphitic, O2-distribution member positioned adjacent the cathode to supply it with O2 and remove water from it. The member is formed of hydrophilic-treated graphite and has good mechanical strength and conductivity. Methods for forming the member comprise chemically surface-treating the graphite to be hydrophilic, mechanically strong and conductive.    ADVANTAGE -   Water is absorbed into the hydrophilic member leaving the air channels unobstructed for O2 distribution to the cathode.
The system comprises a pair of fuel cell stacks (1,2) which receive hydrogen from a pressurised hydrogen gas storage tank (4) and air from a pressure pump or centrifugal compressor (7). The output pressurised air from the compressor is optionally enriched with additional pure oxygen, received from a storage tank (9) for peak power prodn. by the fuel cell.    The by-product water, from the air side of the fuel cell is carried by the excess air from the stacks, through an initial filter separator (69) to a cooling water reservoir (11) where the water is collected with the air being released. Part of this water can be used for cooling and humidifying the fuel cells through a separate water line (77).    ADVANTAGE -   Provides enhanced peak power with minimised high pressure gas storage requirement.
The vehicle electrical system has a device for connection between the two like poles of the battery. The device comprises a normally open switch R1 connecting the AUX and CRA batteries. A sensor for the state of charge of the AUX battery opens the switch R1 to prevent overcharging and to present separate outputs for cranking and auxiliary functions. The sensor closes R1 when the AUX battery state of charge is reduced.    The AUX battery is allowed to discharge preferentially while still preserving the CRA battery state of charge sufficiently to start the vehicle.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved safety.
Fuel cell comprises : anode; H2 supply; O2-pervious cathode; ion exchange membrane electrolyte; and a water-pervious, conductive, graphitic O2-distribution member adjacent the cathode. The member supplies O2 to, and removes water from, the cathode and is formed of graphite material which has been chemically treated to make it hydrophilic, mechanically strong and conductive.    In an alternative claim the member has grooves and ridges on its cathode engaging face, product water being transported away through the ridges.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. in (remote) commercial and military power generation applications. Problem of water accumulation in the cathode gas supply channels is avoided.
Mg(OH)2 ppte. from the depleted Mg anodes of a fuel cell (or H2 gas generator) is renewed by: drying; washing; slurrying; reacting with HCl to form an MgCl2 brine; filtering; drying; melting; electrolysing to yield high purity Mg; and converting to cell anodes for re-use.    Pref. the Cl2 obtd. in the electrolysis is reacted with H2 for re-use as aq. HCl.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   With fuel cells used for powering vehicles. The H2 prod. may be used directly for propulsion; or may be used to fuel a Sterling engine; or may be burned and vented. Clean, non-polluting power source is provided having a high degree of recycle; solar energy is pref. used as a heat and power source in the renewal process. (claimed).
The catalyst contains 10-30 wt.% NiO as the main component of catalytic activity and 1-20 wt.% BaO, ZrO2 or Fe2O3 as the assistant component. The catalyst carrier is Al2O3 or ZrO2 contg. 10-30 wt.% La2O3.    Hydrogen is treated by steam reforming in the presence of this catalyst under the following condition. The gas is supplied as hydrocarbon LHSV is 0.4-6 h-1, water or steam, water to carbon mole ratio is 2-5, hydrogen contg. gas, hydrogen to carbon mole ratio is 0-0.02. The reaction temp. is 450-900 deg.C and the reaction pressure is under 10 kg/cm2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method is useful for hydrogen prodn. of general industrial use and for a fuel cell. Carbon is not pptd. in the catalyst bed when middle light oil is used as the raw material and it is reacted under low s/c condition. The method can be operated stably for long time without blockade of passage.
Catalyst with a thickness of 0.015-3.5 mm. is obtd. by forming, on all or part of a metal or ceramic base surface with a thickness of 0.01-3 mm., a layer contg. as catalytically active component(s), substance(s) selected from Ni, Ru, Rh, Pt, Pd and their oxides.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst for steam reforming can be used in a fuel cell which uses hydrocarbons or alcohols as a fuel. When this catalyst is used, the reformer can be made smaller than the conventional ones.    In an example, a piece of austenitic stainless steel foil with dimensions of 40 mm. x 40 mm. x 0.1 mm. whose surface was treated so that alumina could be formed easily on it was immersed in an aluminium hydroxide sol and baked at 600 deg.C for 2 minutes. Immersing and baking processes were repeated until the thickness reached 0.5 mm. The metal foil was sintered at 1000 deg.C for 30 minutes, immersed in a potassium nitrate aq. soln. and then in a nickel nitrate aq. soln. and sintered at 900 deg.C for 2 hrs. The obtd. catalyst which had a thickness of 0.65 mm. had alumina on the surface which was loaded with 5% K2O and 15% NiO.
The fuel cell system comprises a number of cells, each in the form of a plate having sides with intracellular passages formed in them. Intercellular passages are also formed between a pair of cells disposed adjacent each other in the direction of stacking. The cell system further comprises two sets of partition members, the first set are in the form of an elongate bar having opposite end faces the second set having end faces which correspond to each of the cells in thickness.    One cell (c) is placed on the pair of first partition members. The second partition members are placed between the cell and columns so that the end faces of the second partition members are in tight contact with the contact surfaces of the columns. A further pair of first partition members are stacked on the cell and second partition members. This construction is repeated to form a cell assembly.    ADVANTAGE -   Absorbs dimensioned errors in components used in stacking cells. Simplifies sealing structures used in connecting gas passage defining members.
A compsn. comprising a soln. of a carboxylic fluorinated polymer having equiv. wt. above 900 and contg. tetrafluoroethylene units dissolved in a solvent selected from perfluorinated cycloalkanes, perfluorinated aromatic cpds. and perfluorotrialkylamines; the solvent having a critical temp. above 150 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solns. are useful for making polymer films and ion exchange membranes, partic. for use in chloroalkali cells or fuel cells, and to determine molecular wt. distributions of the polymer to better control plant mfr. The solvents readily dissolved the polymers more completely and at lower temps. than prior art solvents, 1-5 wt.% solns. being obtainable. Solns. are obtainable at about 150 deg.C at autogenous pressure and some are stable at room temp. The solvents are non-toxic, non-flammable, inert, relatively inexpensive and easy to handle.
The plant incorporates hydrogen-oxygen electrochemical generator (1), reactors with solid reagents (16) and water batching pumps (6) acting as gaseous reagents sources, and gaseous inert admixtures accumulators (11) in a contour of each working gas. The accumulators and the batching pumps are connected by manifolds (12,13) to the environment. The outlets of the manifolds are situated below their connection points    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As autonomous underwater power plants on the basis of a hydrogen-oxygen electrochemical generator. Better exploitation conditions, increased efficiency. Bul.43-44/30.11.93
The generator uses a fuel cells gp. (4) and a transistor (13) as a unit controlling blow-down valves. The emitter-base junction of the transistor is connected in non-conducting direction parallel to the fuel cells gp., and the collector is connected to one of the blow-down valve winding leads. The quantity of the fuel cells in the last by the oxygen travel gp. is determined by a given formula.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In electrical engineering. Increased reliability and better specific electrical characteristics. Bul.41-42/15.11.93
During submerging of the power plant, pressure drop regulators (2,4) increase the absolute pressure of the reagents at an inlet into fuel cells (10) according to variation of depth, also the pressure of hydrogen inside a housing (5) also increases. The pressure drop on the electrodes is maintained as 30kPa using a differential valve (24). During lifting of the power plant an excess of the hydrogen from the pipe (11) is discharged via the non-return valve (23) into a gas cavity (6) of the housing (5), and then via the valve (9) into the water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In chemical current sources using hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells. Improved specific characteristics and reliability of operation. Bul.43-44/30.11.93
Reactor comprises a 1st catalyst layer by which fuel gas is reacted at 300-400 deg.C to form CO and H2 gas and a 2nd catalyst layer by which the CO and H2 gas are reacted at 200-300 deg.C to form CO2 and H2 gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel gas cracking reaction is used to convert fuel gas like MeOH, EtOH, methane or ethane into H2 contg. gas, and for fuel cells. Reactor size can be reduced by half as of conventional reactors.    In an example, fuel gas(1) of MeOH heated at 350 deg.C was applied to a reactor(2); gas(1) was reacted with the 1st Zn-Cr catalyst layer(3); the gas temp. was lowered to 250 deg.C at the outlet of catalyst layer(3); the gas was introduced into the 2nd Cu-Zn catalyst layer(4) to which steam(5) preheated at 250 deg.C was supplied.
(JP6020715-A)   NOVELTY - A closed type lead storage battery is manufactured by injecting surplus dilute sulfuric acid sol (9) between a battery jar (1) and electrode group (5). The battery jar has decreased electrolyte liquid, leading to insufficient electrolyte condition. After filling the sol containing sodium silicate or silica powder, sulfuric acid is absorbed by the electrode group. The sulfuric acid sol is non-fluidized.    USE - Motor vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The amount of electrolyte is secured. The concentration difference of the upper and lower sides, produced by the battery-jar formation, is alleviated by filling sol with high sulfuric acid concentration in the battery. With surface tension, stratification produced during charging and discharging is prevented and the quality of the product is improved.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The battery is assembled by the electrode group containing separator. The electrode group absorbs sol with 30-60 g/l silica powder concentration.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the sectional drawing of the closed type lead storage battery.    Battery jar (1)    Electrode group (5)    Dilute sulfuric acid sol (9)
(JP6020708-A)   NOVELTY - A fuel cell (1) is between separators (3) comprising a hot gas supply slot (4) and an oxidizing agent supply slot (5) on opposing sides, respectively and through holes (10) on its upper surface for cooling. The cool air is supplied to the holes by free convection or by forced air cooling using a fan, based on the amount of heat released by the fuel cell.    USE - As fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Since through holes are provided on the separators for supplying cool air by either free convection or forced air cooling, the cell is effectively cooled without being contacted.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows an explanatory view of the above fuel cell. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    fuel cell (1)    separators (3)    hot gas supply slot (4)    oxidizing agent for supply slot (5)    through holes (10)
NOVELTY - Battery has a positive electrode (4) for charging, non-aqueous electrolyte containing alkali metal ion and a negative electrode (2). Negative electrode has carbon powder processed to a particle size of 1-300 microns in the shape of a metal ball filled inside a metal foam not alloyed with an alkali metal. Mesocarbon microbead having a particle size of 1-100 microns is removed from the carbon powder.    USE -   For portable electronic device and electric vehicle.    ADVANTAGE -   Utilizes carbon cathode having long charging and discharging cycle life. Improves packing property of carbon powder inside metal foam and enables easy manufacture of high density carbon cathode. Enables formation of metal foam from low conductive metal alloy such as stainless steel.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows sectional view of the battery. (2) Negative electrode; (4) Positive electrode.
Module for an ion conducting device has solid state electrolyte elements (12) disposed in a generally circular array between end plates, e.g. (24B). Both plates have a central aperture (26), together with further apertures (28), each of which is associated with an element (12). Central space (14) communicates with passageways directed outwards through spacing members forming part of each element, and apertures (28) communicate with longitudinal passageways in the spacers. Seals (30)(32) are positioned between adjacent elements, which are also sealed to the end plates. The elements are connected together electrically, using either a series or a parallel arrangement.    Pref., each element (12) is a polymeric electrolyte membrane, an immobilised liquid membrane, or a molten electrolyte membrane, and four or six elements are arranged at regular intervals around end plate apertures (26). When used as a fuel cell, air is passed through space (14) via these apertures, and fuel gas is passed through apertures (28). When forming a stacked assembly, all apertures in adjacent end plates are aligned. For fuel cell use, the tiers are connected electrically in series or parallel. Elements (12) can also be of oxides of metals such as zirconium, cerium, hafnium, thorium and bismuth. Monolithic plates with surface gas flow grooves can also be used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Modules can be assembled to form a fuel cell. They can also operate as steam electrolysers or oxygen concentrators. The electrolyte elements are of relatively inexpensive materials, and flow characteristics of the module provide better performance and reliability than prior devices. The module is of compact size.
A lead-acid battery has a housing (1) containing several cells (2) and a closing cover (3) formed by an upper (22) and lower (21) lid separated by an intervening clearance to provide a hollow space (8) coincident with each cell (2) for the accommodation/separation of electrolyte when tilt occurs.    The lower lid (21) has an aperture (5) for each cell (2) extending into a tube (6) for electrolyte fill/observation, concentric with a removable plug (16) in the upper lid (22). The upper lid (22) is moulded with a threaded tube (10) for the plug (16) and the tube (10) terminates in a sealing lip (13) broken by radial gaps (14).    The gaps (14) ensure a cell(2)-to-space(8) degassing path but limit egress of the electrolyte when the accumulator is fitted.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Permits tilting of accumulator during installation in motor vehicle by robot system with minimal penetration of electrolyte to exterior.
A lead acid accumulator has a housing (1) accommodating the six individual cells (2) and a closing cover (3) formed by an upper (3") and lower (3') lid separated by an intervening space in which, coincident with each cell compartment (2), a chamber (4) having the labyrinth baffles (13,13',13") controls the flow of acidic electrolyte (18) in several positions of accumulator orientation.    Screwed filter/inspection plugs (6) are provided in the cover (3) for each cell (2) and an escape path for hydrogen containing emissions extends from the plugs (6) via the apertures (12) in the ring baffle (11) and labyrinth (13,13',13") to two explosion protection degassing vents (14).    Electrolyte leakage via the vents (14) during abnormal orientation is thereby restricted over long periods.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides protection against spillage for up to 20 hours when accumulator is standing on any of normally vertical sides and 1 hour in tilted condition. Is particularly effective for automobile assembly using robots.
The moistening method is applied for the combustion gas air, for preventing drying out or dilution of the electrolyte during operation of the fuel cell. Exhaust gas from the fuel cell, obtained on the cathode side, is at least partially recirculated to the cathode.    Pref. a recirculating line (34) is coupled to the exhaust gas line (28) on the cathode side, with a setting element (30) within the recirculating line controlling the recirculated quantity of the exhaust gases in proportion to the power output of the fuel cell. The recirculating line is pref. coupled via a gas compressor (36) to the air delivery line (26) on the cathode side of the fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents incorrect functioning of fuel cell to ensure economical use.
The electrical connector of the type used to connect with the post (13) of a large electrical battery, has a 'U'-shaped clamp (3) that is secured by tightening a nut (5) on a threaded stud (4). The threaded stud is integral with the crimped connection to a main cable (8).    The connection has a pair of formed projections (14) that are squeezed around the exposed wires of the cable. A washer (12) is located between the two parts of the terminal clamp.    ADVANTAGE -   Simplified connection. Greater flexibility on insertion.
The alternating current dynamo comprises fitting portions of the opening of the tubular cover and the brush holder having axially abutting portions through which the brush holder is pressed against and fixed to the rear bracket by virtue of a pressing force produced when the fan guide integral with the tubular cover is fixed to the rear bracket. A seal is provided between the tubular cover and the rear bracket, and is pressed against and fixed to the rear bracket by virtue of the pressing force produced when the fan guide integral with the tubular cover is fixed to the rear bracket.    A labyrinth seal structure comprising a projection and a recess positioned adjacent to each other is formed between the end flange of the slip ring assembly and the end of the tubular cover facing the cooling fan. A side of the brush holder facing the cooling fan and a side of the fan guide facing the cooling fan are arranged to be flush with each other so that the side of the fan guide facing the cooling fan is exposed to a space including the cooling fan.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces influence of vibration on brush during operation, thereby preventing brush from wobbling, cracking or causing other damages, and makes brush sufficiently exposed to cooling air during operation, thereby preventing the brush temperature from rising excessively.
Fuel reformer which reforms a crude fuel into a fuel gas with a low concn. of carbon monoxide with enriched hydrogen, sends the reformed gas to a fuel cell, and is equipped with a desulphuriser, a reformer, and a carbon monoxide transformer, each of which is equipped with a reaction tube with a packed catalyst layer. The fuel reformer is provided with a means to level the passing time of the reaction gas by correcting the passing time distribution of the gas through the catalyst layer in the reaction tube according to the cross-sectional shape of the catalyst layer along the centre line.    Pref. the cross-sectional shape of the catalyst layer in the means to level the passing time is such that the periphery of the catalyst layer is supported by the inner wall of a cylindrical reaction tube and that the downstream part of the catalyst layer is held by a porous partition wall which projects in a projectile shape.    ADVANTAGE -   Since the contacting time of the reaction gas with the catalyst is levelled, the conversion rate of reaction gas can be improved.
The vent cap for storage batteries has an electrolyte drain and baffle design adapted for maximising return to the battery of any liq. which may enter the vent from vibration, tilting, overheating, overcharge and the like. The vent barrel(s) include a step to assist in closure of the fill openings, and baffles within the vent prevent accumulation of electrolyte within the cap. The arrangement of the entrance to the gas escape passage (leading through an explosion device such as a disc of microporous polymer) is located on the centre lines of the barrel and at the highest possible location within the vent.    Pref., the vent cap is of the ganged variety, i.e. useful for simultaneously capping three or more fill openings of the battery.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Lead-acid batteries. Minimises the intrusion of electrolyte into the attenuation material.
The storage battery comprises the electrodes (1) and frames made from electro-insulating material. The electrodes (1) are bipolar and made from foil plates positioned along the battery by longitudinal layers, and separated by insulation frames positioned one next to the other in the direction normal referring to the width of frame, having windows (4) and cross-pieces (5) forming hermetically sealed partitions between battery elements which have through channels filled with insulation mass (9).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In electrical starting system for internal combustion engines. Increased specific power and reliability of pulse-action of battery. Bul.37-38/15.10.93
Ammonia sepg. system includes (a) fuel passage partitioned and formed by two positive and negative gas diffusion electrodes in a fuel cell container; (b) an electrolytic chamber and (c) an oxidant passage.    Ammonia water is filled in the electrolytic chamber. An ammonia-mixed gas obtd. in an ammonia synthesising unit is introduced into the fuel passage. Air is introduced into the oxidant passage. Ammonium carbonate is added to the electrolyte.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in obtaining energy used in chemical plants. The system separates ammonia from the ammonia-mixed gas without cooling or heating. The use of the fuel cell reaction provides electrical or heat energy and provides good efficiency and has no exhaust gas.
System includes (a) an ammonia synthesising unit for heating and pressurising a raw material gas comprising N2 and H2 and for synthesising ammonia on a synthesising catalyst; (b) an ammonia separator for sepg. ammonia from the ammonia-mixed gas obtd. from the ammonia synthesis unit; (c) fuel cells for generating power from H2 and air not sepd. in the ammonia separator. The power obtd. from the fuel cells is used for heating and pressurisation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method synthesises ammonia from energy obtd. from the raw material gas. The result synthesises ammonia at a place having difficulty in storing ammonia. The use of fuel cell reaction provides good efficiency and has no exhaust gas.
The method involves producing a hollow preform plate-like support body (25), using an air pole material. A solid electrolyte layer (21) is formed on one side surface of the support body. An electrode formed of material different from the air pole material, is formed on the solid electrolyte layer. An interconnector layer is formed on the surface of the unit electricity generation cell (20), over which the solid electrolyte layer is not formed. A mixture of substances for extrusion moulding, with mutually different physical property, is used for simultaneous multilayer extrusion moulding of the thin plate part of the support body with solid electrolyte layer and the other part. After extrusion moulding process, the preform support body is sintered to form the required support body.    ADVANTAGE -   Improves capacity of battery. Improves durability of support body. Offers identical porosity for hollow planar support body.
The access cover (11) is made of plastics and has fixing elements at either side for securing it in place, the fixing elements on one side being released to allow the cover to pivot into a given position.    The cover has an angled edge (16) between a main surface (111), inclined at a small angle to the horizontal, and a second surface (112) at a greater angle to the horizontal, incorporating a pair of parallel film hinges (18,19) with the hinge axes lying in the plane of the second surface. Pref. one hinge (18) lies adjacent the angled edge, the other lying adjacent the opposite end of the second surface.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides tolerance compensation and aesthetic appearance when cover is closed.
Hydrogen is produced in an enclosed environment by (a) reforming a hydrocarbon fuel (I) by a process including heating (I) and any needed water, to produce a gaseous product (II) including hydrogen; (b) separating most of the hydrogen from (II); (c) combusting the remainder of (II) to remove residual hydrogen therefrom; (d) removing carbon dioxide from the products of combustion (III) and (e) either (i) discharging the remainder of (III) from the enclosed environment, or (ii) recycling the reaminder of (III) to be combusted and used for heating the fuel in step (a) the hydrogen may be fed to a fuel cell (10), adapted to generate power for the submarine vessel.    USE -   Used to generate electricity to power an electric motor of a submarine (claimed).
The battery positive plates, as well as the negative plates, are each connected to a strap which extends to the side wall of the case. Each strap is connected to the respective side terminal through and elongated, conductor bar, pref. formed of a lead alloy. The conductor bar has a first or inner end which projects inwardly through an opening in the side wall of the case and is welded to the strap, while the outer, or second end of the bar, is laterally offset from the first end and is provided with an outwardly facing recess which receives a metal threaded nut. A clamping ring of the battery cable is connected to the conductor bar by a bolt which is threaded within the nut.    The nut is relatively shallow in depth and if the original bolt is lost or misplaced there isa tendency for the user to substitute a replacement bolt of greater length. When the replacement bolt is threaded into the nut and turned down with substantial torque, the longer bolt may deform the end of the malleable lead conductor bar, forming an inner protrusion which, in turn, will bend the outer or second end of the bar outwardly. However, even if the second end of the conductor bar is deformed by excessive torque being applied to the bolt, the connection between the inner end of the conductor bar to the strap will not be effected, so that the electrical connection to the plates will be retained.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents damage even upon incorrect assembly at vehicle battery terminals.
The battery module has a casing which is provided with an air inlet opening on the front and an air outlet on the rear. Internal partitions divide the chamber into separate modules for the insertion of individual battery cells. The outer casing and battery module spacers have multiple vertical holes and the partition walls have cell supporting ridges to create a space between each cell. This arrangement ensures that the temperature controlled air flows through the vertical holes in both the casing and the partition walls.    ADVANTAGE -   Improves battery efficiency by removal of excess heat.
Material gas is reformed by using a fluidised bed reformer and supplied to a fuel cell for generation and exhaust gas from the fuel cell is supplied to the fluidised bed reformer. The system comprises a pressure rise blower in an exhaust gas passage from the fuel cell to the reformer.    ADVANTAGE -   Fuel gas pressure and the head of the blower is reduced and the required power of the system is reduced.
An apparatus for cylindrical construction contains an inner core formed by the series connected pile (1) of high temperature fuel cells (10) surrounded by the thermal insulators (2) comprising concentric layers (21, 22) of insulating material enclosed by an outer metal envelope (20).    An annular combustion space (15), bounded by an axial tube (25) and the pile (1) periphery, is supplied with air (50) by radial ducts (36) in the insulation (22).    A complete air (50) circuit extends from the inlet (30) via the spaces (31 to 35) surrounding the outer insulator (21) through the ducts (36) to the combustion space (15), fuel (40) enters at the inlet (11) and burnt products (60) are exhausted at the outlet (13) directed by the baffle-plug (23).    ADVANTAGE -   Eliminates need for separate waste heat recovery unit by preheating incoming air in internal air circuit. Makes optimum use of thermal insulation to minimise energy losses and temp. gradients are smaller.
A lithium oxide-contg. nickel oxide cathode is produced by sintering Ni-particles to give a sintered body and oxidising the nickel to nickel oxide. The novelty is that a sintered body is formed, which is composed of Ni-particles connected to each other having at least one metal on its surface more basic than nickel and which forms a sparingly sol. oxide or lithium metallate in the electrolyte.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For fuel cells having a lithium carbonate-contg. melt as electrolyte. The cathode has good conductivity and longer service life than lithium oxide-doped nickel oxide cathodes.
The method involves using an air temperature sensor to measure the ambient air temperature which is taken to be the temperature of the components prior to the start of heating. A clock to maintains controller local time. A switch applies electrical power from a current source to a number of vehicles with engine component heaters. A processor enables the user to enter vehicle use time and heater parameters for each vehicle and enables entry of local current time. The measured air temperature is stored and monitored through time in order to estimate the future ambient temperature at the vehicle time of use for each vehicle.    In accordance with stored program instructions of the microprocessor, the heating status and the application of power to the component heaters in each vehicle is controlled. The switching of the vehicle selector is controlled to apply or terminate electrical current to engine component heaters of each vehicle.    ADVANTAGE -   Eliminates need for closed loop temp control or regulating system which requires that temp sensors be mounted on or in components being heated.
Material comprises by wt., 0.1% or less C, 17-23% Cr, 10-29% Ni, 0.1-0.4% Nb, 0.05-0.3% of Ti and/or Zr, 0.02-0.05% N, 0.003-0.01% B, and Fe with impurities.    The material pref. also comprises, in addn. to above, 5% or less Cu. The ratio of components 0.6(Ni+Cu)/Cr is 0.55 or lower.    Impurities Mn, P, and S are pref. contained as little as possible. A pref. steel contains (by wt.), 0.09% C, 0.81% Si, 0.84% Mn, 22.0% Cr, 18.0% Ni, 5.0% Cu, 0.25% Nb, 0.10% each of Zr and Ti, 0.006% B, 0.02% N, and Fe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For sheets to be incorporated in a reformer, for producing H2 to supply to the fuel cell. Partic., used as sheets in on-site reformers used at 950 deg.C or lower.
Fuel dispersion chambers are joined in the fuel chamber through a fuel dispersion plate having dispersion holes. A differential manometer for finding the pressure difference between pressure P1 at inlet of burning chamber and pressure P2 at inlet of the fuel dispersion chamber is arranged at the air supply line connected to inlet side of the burning chamber and at the fuel supply line connected to the fuel dispersing chamber. A branch flow line is arranged for pre-mixing the air to the fuel from the air supply line to the fuel supply line. A valve and blower are arranged at the branch flow line. When P2 is lower than P1, the valve is opened on a signal from the manometer, and the blower is operated so as to raise P2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plate reformer is used for mfg. generation gas from fuel. Counterflow of the air or the fuel to the dispersion chamber at inlet of the burning chamber is prevented.
A hydrogen/halogen electrolytic cell acts as an electric load levelling and load shifting system by storing off peak electricity by electrolysis of conc. hydrohalic acid to form H2, halogen and dil. hydrohalic acid and provides peak electricity by recombining H2 and halogen to form hydrohalic acid for subsequent cycles.    Also claimed is the prodn. of hydrogen halide and O2 by photochemically and thermally reacting H2O and halogen gas and sepg. O2 and halide (I) formed. A method of electrolyte reformation is further claimed where (I) is H2O solvated to form hydrohalic acid.    Also claimed is a photolysis method where a transition metal halide complex is photo excited in soln. in presence of a hydrohalic acid to form molecular halogen. Further claimed is MeOH prodn. where CO2 contg. effluent (II) is contacted with a basic metal oxide bed to convert the bed to the corresp. metal carbonate then decomposing to release CO2 for reaction with H2 in presence of a metal oxide catalyst to form MeOH prod.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (II) may be from municipal waste combustion thus leading to abatement of greenhouse effect. MeOH prod. is usable as fuel. Contaminated H2O feed stream may be used in electrolyte reformation process.
Cover (1) comprises moulded plastic support (2) having at least top and side walls (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting and attachment means (46) for attaching a plastic envelope (30) enclosing heat insulation to a portion of at least one wall.    The support is pref. configured to receive a wet cell, lead/acid battery, esp. a car battery. It is injection moulded from heat-resistant rigid plastic and has a top wall and four side walls and a rectangular cross-section. The plastic is pref. polyolefin, nylon, acrylate, polyamide, polyester, ABS, polycarbonate, phenolic, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, or polyacrylonitrile. The plastic envelope for the insulation is pref. of the same plastic. The insulation is pref. 1/8-1 inch thick and is plastic, ceramic, glass, mineral, cellulose, or asbestos in particulate, most esp. fibrous, form.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used partic. for a car battery to provide protection from the hostile environment of an engine compartment, esp. in smaller modern cars where room is at a premium and air-intake grills are small or non-existent. The cover is designed to occupy the minimum amt. of space and to enable heat insulation to be strategically located only where necessary, i.e., between the battery and a source of heat.
Variable pressure passive regenerative fuel cell system comprises (a) a fuel cell including a wicked anode for receiving hydrogen gas and a cathode for receiving oxygen gas; (b) an electrolyser for electrolysing water to produce pure hydrogen and pure oxygen; (c) means to store the hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolyser; (d) a main water storage tank communicating wtih the fuel cell and the electrolyser; (e) a secondary water storage tank communicating with the main water storage tank and the fuel cell; (f) means communicating with the main water storage tank and the secondary water storage tank for supplying water to an anode cavity of the anode of the fuel cell; (g) means for supplying water to the electrolyser for producing hydrogen and oxygen; (h) means for supplying hydrogen gas and water tank and secondary water tank.    Also claimed is a method for controlling process water used in a variable pressure passive regenerative fuel cell system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   System for converting chemical energy into electric energy by providing a variable pressure passive regenerative fuel cell system designed to operate under variable pressure conditions, as opposed to constant pressure, such fuel cells being free of complex operational components.
Prod. comprises a tubular sintered zirconia prod. having an outer dia. of 10-20mm, inner dia. of 9-15mm and porosity of 10-50x10power(-4) cm/cm2. sec.cmH2O; The prod. may be made from a zirconia powder of sub-micron size.
The method comprises by-passing part of combustion gas from a reformer, which consists of a combustion chamber to burn anode exhaust gas passing through a fuel cell and a reforming chamber to reform fuel gas with combustion gas given from the combustion chamber, so as to join with cathode gas when the load of the fuel cell drops.    ADVANTAGE -   As by-passed combustion gas is joined together with cathode gas, the supply of carbon dioxide required for the fuel cell to the cathode gas is not decreased.
(JP5325993-A)   NOVELTY - The low voltage side cellular splitting object of one cell layer and high voltage side cellular splitting object of other cell layer, are connected serially through a current carrying element.    USE - For fuel cell applications.
(JP5325953-A)   NOVELTY - The object has a porous carbon compact with bulk density of 1.0 g/cc, for supporting hydrogen occlusion alloy which is a negative electrode active material. The porosity of the compact is measured to be 35% or more using mercury pressure process.    USE - Negative electrode object of nickel hydride battery used as electric power unit for portable equipment and electric vehicles, and as battery for power storage.    ADVANTAGE - Provides highly efficient battery with high weight energy density, since the porous carbon compact has specified porosity and bulk density.
Appts. comprises reforming cell units (7) made of a gas sepn. plate (6) having concaves on a surface and contg. a methanol reforming cell (comprising methanol reforming catalyst) in the concave. The methanol reforming cell is contacted with raw material gas comprising methanol and water or steam, and heating cell units (4) in which a heating cell (1) having an oxidising catalyst is interposed with gas sepn. plates (2,3), one having a fuel gas use channel and the other having an oxidising gas use channel. The lamination is so carried out that one or more reforming cell units is/are interposed between two heating cell units. A raw material gas is supplied through an inlet hole (11) and reformed by steam reformation reaction, then released through an outlet hole (12). A fuel gas and an oxidising gas are supplied to the heating cell unit (4) through a fuel gas supplying hole (15) and an oxidising gas supplying hole (13). The heat is generated by oxidn. of the fuel gas, and is used to heat the reformation cell units (7).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A light, compact and safe layer-built methanol reforming appts. is provided.
A battery terminal connector capable of reliably maintaining an electrical cable or harness in electrical contact with a battery, has an economical two-piece construction with individual members formed by separate stamping operations. The two-piece construction permits one member to be sized and structured to securely clamp the battery terminal post while the second member is sized and structured to securely crimp the electrical cable or cables.    The battery terminal connector (12) includes two circumferential bands (16a,16b) each of which circumscribes and clamps the battery terminal post. The circumferential bands form a circumferential slot between them which slightly extrudes the battery terminal post to increase the retention capability of the battery terminal connector. The bands are joined to flanges (18a,18b) defining a slot (30) of width controlled by a shoulder (28). Additional flanges (22a,22b) or (24a,24b) receive one end (38) of a crimping terminal (14). The latter is attached to the connector (12), and the connector clamped to the battery terminal post, by a fastener and nut (40). The terminal post (12,14) are stamped from brass and tin-plated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Connection of wire harness or electrical cable to automotive or marine battery. Low-cost battery terminal connector formed by stamping operation.
An electrochemical cell, for prodn. of partially-conducting metal oxide, comprises a 1st electrode made up of the metal whose oxide is to be produced.    The partially-conducting metal oxide pref. comprises magnetite and the 1st electrode comprises Fe. The electrolyte comprisesw water made conductive by adding a slat not itself involved in electrolysis, pre. an alkaline metal salt. The other electrode is formed from a material such that, in use, hydrogen is evolved during electrolysis, pref. formed from an inert metal such as Pt or Pd, or ausentic steel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used esp. for prodn. of magnetite. The cell can be used to provide waste radioactive material in a form, which is relativley convenient for handling and for long-term storage purposes. Deposition of non-soluble prod. during electrolysis does not increase resistance to the passage of current until electrolysis stops, since the oxide formed is itself a partial conductor. The cell is connected to a solar DC power supply including a chopper circuit with a high rise time and a freq. of 50-2000Hz.
Two leads (3a, 3b) are connected to the positive pole and the other to the negative pole of a DC source. A switch (7) is provided supplying the probe (18) with current of differing polarity or with no current.    A protective switch (11) prevents cable burn out with short circuit. The two leads (3a, 3b) at their ends remote from the test unit are provided respectively with terminal tongs (4a, 4b).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Test passage of current and polarity. Test unit can additionally carry out functionability and voltage drop testing. No problem occurs with closing of current circuit.
The safety disconnection device comprises a number of mechanical contact breakers (7) allowing the series circuit provided by the individual battery cells (20 to be interrupted at a number of points in the case of an accident.    The contact breakers may be released upon detection of an abnormal retardation, e.g. via a central release device (8) and are contained in a common housing in the same layout as the battery cells. The release device may be attached to a release cable (10), passed around the outside of the battery housing.    USE -   For preventing fire risk due to battery short-circuits in case of vehicle accident.
A bottom supported gas fired reformer arrangement, comprises (a) a bottom support for the reformer, (b) a shell bottom plate, (c) a cylindrical shell housing, (d) a shell head (b, c and d being connected to form an impervious shell), (e) a gas firing means forming combustion prods. supported from the impervious shell and firing into an upper end portion of the impervious shell, (f) a number of bayonet type reactors, each with a central tube for the downflow of reformer gas and an outer casing forming an annulus for the upflow of reformer gas, the reactors annularly arranged within the impervious shell, (g) a reformer gas outlet header located within the shell below and passing beneath all reactors, (h) an outlet tube extension of each of the central tubes directly connected to the outlet header as a support member for the reactors, and the impervious shell providing a lower combustion gas outlet plenum internal of the impervious shell and beneath the reactors, (i) at least three outlet header support members supporting the outlet header and passing directly downwardly to the shell bottom plate, and secured to the bottom plate, and (j) at least one outlet header support member comprising a reformer gas outlet line carrying reformer gas from the outlet header.    USE -   Bottom support for high temp. gas reformers.
System, which allows prodn. of hydrogen and generation of energy powered by hydrogen in alternate cycles by using the same solid electrolyte, comprises steam energy created during generation and stored in a regenerator and thermal energy stored so as to be used in producing hydrogen.    ADVANTAGE -   Total energy efficiency is improved in a reversible process.
Battery comprises a casing holding positive and negative plates and electrical terminals; and optional battery fluid, and has a heat shield disposed over it such as to be fixed tight there to.    Pref. the heat shield is of polypropylene; as is the casing.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved vehicle battery where robotic handling is possible.
The connector consists of the eye connector (1) composed of two half-shells (6,7) adapted to be elastically deformed for tightly surrounding the terminal under the effect of the locking key which is articulated on the eye connector. The two half-shells are elastically deformable in a radial direction and each has a tapered piece (8) on their exterior. The half-shells are made rigid by a rib (17).    The locking key includes a body and a movable tongue. The key is articulated on the eye connector about an axis that is aligned with a through-hole in the body (5), and held in place by a bolt.    ADVANTAGE -   Enables rapid connection and disconnection of connector on corresp. battery terminal.
(JP5315005-A)   NOVELTY - The fuel cell (4) has heater boards (3, 5) that are provided on its upper and lower portions and are fixed by bolt (9) and nut (9'). A support (12) extending from both the sides of the heater boards in horizontal direction, is latched with the inner face of a stack container (1) using a support (13).    USE - Fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Since the support is latched with the inner face of the stack container, the horizontal movement and shifting of the cell is prevented, using simple structure.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional side view of a fuel cell.    Stack container (1)    Heater boards (3, 5)    Cell (4)    Bolt (9)    Nut (9')    Supports (12, 13)
System comprises the oxygen rich combustion furnace to burn fossil fuel in gas mixt. of CO2 and O2. CO2 conversion equipment to convert CO2 into CO through contacting CO2 with reducing agent, and the fuel cell.    Reducing agent packed layer of the CO2 conversion equipment is pref. mounted at the place where exhaust heat of the combustion furnace can be used. Reducing agent pref. comprises coke, coal, graphite, etc. esp. contg. C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Combined system of the oxygen rich combustion furnace, CO2 conversion equipment, and the fuel cell is used for conversion of high concn. CO2 exhaust gas into CO for reuse as fuel. Converting efficiency of CO2 is improved.    In an example, CO2 gas at approx. 800 deg.C recovered at the exit (5) of the furnace (1) was introduced to the conversion equipment (2). C packed layer (7) were mounted in the conversion equipment (2) and high temp. CO2 was reduced to CO. CO was used for fuel or chemical material.
The battery terminal comprises a main body including an annular electrode engaging portion for inserting the battery post. First and second tightening plates are continuous with an open end of the electrode engaging portion. An electric wire connecting portion is continuous with of the tightening plates or the circular portion of the electrode engaging portion.    A lever holding portion is continuous with first tightening plate, a lever is pivotal and has a cam shaped bearing portion on the lever holding portion. The bearing portion of the lever has two sides, with one side pressing the second tightening plate towards the first due to the lever's pivotal motion, thus closing the free end of the electrode engaging portion against the battery post.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides one piece compact battery terminal of simple construction comprising a small number of parts which can be easily fixed to the battery post.
The reforming method involves feeding the raw material gas to a main reformer (1) to reform the gas to fuel gas (FG). Feeding the fuel gas to the fuel electrode (3) of the fuel cell (I). Introducing to a second reformer (5) non-reformed raw material gas contained in the gas discharged from the fuel electrode.    Reforming the gas with hydrogen produced by a reaction at the fuel electrode and a sensible heat of the gas discharged from the electrode, thereby reducing the amount of non-reformed raw material gas. The raw material gas is a hydrocarbon such as methane.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces amount of non-reformed raw material gas in system and improves reforming conversion ratio of system as a whole.
Organic waste (3) is composted in moist aerated linear reactors (2) in which the compost is placed in layers and is continuously turned over. In order to compensate for the shrinkage of the composting material during the composting process, additional layers of material are added during or after the turning process to restore the depth of the material in the reactor to its initial level.    Also claimed is a turning mechanism (1) for carrying out this procedure, consisting of a vertically arranged full-width conveyor with an endless scraping and conveying belt whose upper section conveys the compost backwards and deposits it behind the conveyor. The innovation is that the motion of the belt (1) is reversible and the conveyor is open at both ends.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In composting organic waste. The reduction in compost volume during rotting is evenly distributed throughout the reactor, and full use of the reactor volume is ensured.
Selective catalytic redn. of NOx from a gas stream is effected by the process of: (i) flowing methane over a catalyst comprising a Zn cation-impregnated zeolite in a flow reactor, and (ii) introducing the gas stream so that NOx and methane react over the catalyst to reduce the NOx.     Also claimed are: (a) a selective catalytic redn. appts. for NO as required by the above process, and (b) an appts. as described in (a), for the redn. of NOxin a gas stream.     The zeolite is also impregnated with copper cations. The gas stream is introduced at a space velocity of 22,000 hr-1.    ADVANTAGE -   The selective catalytic redn. process enables methane to be used in place of ammonia to avoid the toxic and corrosive effects of the latter.
A gas generator for producing industrial gas mixts. includes an air membrane module, a source of hydrocarbon fuel mixing means and a gas generator means. The air membrane module produces a variable mixt. of N2 and O2 gases from air as an output stream. This is mixed with fuel from the hydrocarbon source in the mixing means and the two are reacted there in the presence of heat to produce the industrial gas mixt..    Also claimed is a gas generator comprising an air separator, an endothermic gas generator and a microprocessor control means. Also claimed is a process for generating an industrial prod. using a conventional air separator membrane and a conventional endothermic gas generator.    USE -   The industrial gases are used in heat treating processes such as annealing, carburising, clean hardening etc. in heat driven processes such as sintering, brazing, purging, blanketing etc.    ADVANTAGE -   An exothermic generator is not required. The generator can operate at high and low CO:CO2 ratios. Nitrogen from the atmos. can be used. The generator reacts free oxygen before it reaches the furnace. Capital costs are reduced.
Organic, N-contg. fertiliser is obtd. more efficiently as follows: peat is mixed with farm bird droppings in the ratio 1.5-2:1, and the mixt. dried to 15-25% moisture content with heating at the rate of 0.7-10 /min. Subsequent compacting under the pressure of 2-200 kg/cm2yields the product. No preliminary ripening of the mixt. is needed.    USE -   The fertiliser is used in agriculture.    ADVANTAGE -   The process is more efficient, with yield of commercial 0.5-10 mm fraction increased to 95-98%.
This methane generator protein treater, has, communicating with the raw material supply pipe (2) methane gas chamber (12), and, to the inside of a conical flexible perforated partition (1), radial flexible perforated partitions (13), connected with upper and lower discs (8,9) resp, which can move from the vertical. Methane gas chamber (12) is a cylindrical housing comprising a row of compartments divided by perforated partitions (14) into blowing (15) and reaction chambers (16) with displaced in the latter immobilisation heads in the form of flexible threads (17). There are pockets (18) with pipe connections (19) and reaction chambers (16) communicate with each other by overflow tubes (20&gt;    USE -   To process protein in methane gas generating plants used in the conversion of prods. from the living activities of animals and birds with the generation of biogas and may be used in cleaning constructions in agriculture.    ADVANTAGE -   Increases productivity.
Recovering coal bed occluded methane, and underground holding treatment of carbon dioxide, comprises boring CO2 injection hole from the surface, and injecting liq. or gaseous CO2, or liq. (e.g. CO2 dissolved or mixed water, alkanolamine, aq. soln. of K2CO3, methanol, polyethylene glycol) or gas (concn. more 60 wt.%) contg. CO2 to purge and recovering occluded CH4. A part of or all CO2 is held in the coal bed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Plentiful CH4 occluded in a coal bed can be recovered by high efficiency more than 70% and CO2 can be held underground.    In an example, 2.62 kg bituminous coal of apparent density of 1.31 was charged in 5 l vessel in voids of 60 vol.%, at 60 deg.C. 90 Nl CH4 was charged and kept for 4 hr., and 56.5 Nl CH4 was discharged to pressure of 0.5 MPa. 90 Nl CO2 was charged and kept for 16 hr, and 77.9 Nl CO2 was discharge. 74.5% of CH4 occluded in the coal was recovered.
In biological deodorisation, malodorous component is contacted with a circulating liq. through the bed packed with microorganism-adhering filler. The method is involves lowering pH of the circulating liq. to 3 or below with sulphuric acid formed by biologically oxidising hydrogen sulphide, a component of malodours.    ADVANTAGE -   The method allows removal of microorganism deposited on the biological bed for deodorisation, so an increase of pressure less in the packed bed by the growth of biological mass can be prevented.
A waste shredder has one or more delivery points for the waste, mobile parking knives and one or more counter-blades fixed to the device for cooperating with the paring knives during shredding, the novelty being that the paring knives (22,23) are located on one or more reciprocating knife holders (12), beyond which the paring knives project.    USE -   For shredding waste wood, plastics, mineral materials, durable fibres and other materials, esp. in craft and small-scale operations for shredding waste wood to be burnt.    ADVANTAGE -   The shredder has low purchase cost, low electrical connection rating and low noise emission and allows optimal shredding of the waste.
A gas filter matrix (24) has at least one barrier (40) extending across the direction of flow of the gas, which permits free passage of the gas while impeding the migration of fine solid particles of filter material therethrough. Also claimed is a method of packing a filter contg. particulate material by including a barrier material across the direction of gas flow. Also claimed is a gas-filter comprising a gas-tight chamber holding such a filter matrix.    USE -   Migration of particulate components of a gas-filter is impeded.    ADVANTAGE -   Odours are removed from gases with optimum efficiency and minimal resistance to gas flow.
Process to recover methane from a coalbed formation comprising injecting an aq. acid soln. into the formation, where the soln. contains an effective amt. of an organic amphoteric tertiary ammonium surfactant contg.: (a) a hydrophile including 1 - 3 tertiary ammonium gps. (where the N of each gp is bonded to at least one C, to C4 unsatd. carboxylic acid gp).; and (b) a hydrophobe comprising an hydrocarbon p. (benzyl or C4 - C8 alkyl gp. bonded directly to the N of a tertiary ammonium gp. of the hydrophile; or a C5 - C 19 imidazoline-bonded to the hydrophile). This process is also claimed for the treatment of subterranean coal formations contg. methane where the injection liq. contains 0.1 - 2.0 wt. % of a surfactant comprising an amphoteric ammonium cpd. of formula (a) or (b) (see below). Also claimed is a process for treating subterranean coalbed formations contg. methane comprising injection of an acid soln. of pH 3 or less, contg. a surfactant including a hydrophone and a hydrophile connected (as defined above).    USE -   For improved methane recovery from (subterranean) coalbed formations.    ADVANTAGE -   Use of an amphoteric surfactant (with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic components) alters the wettability of the coal surface (to a neutral or slightly oil wet state from strongly oil wet) and therefore improves permeability of the coal to water and/or methane.
Method of using an appts. for the accelerated bioremediation of treated contaminated material (I) treated with chemical and/or biological amendments (II) for facilitating accelerated bioremediation comprises generating a (I) entraining air stream at a predetermined velocity for entraining (I) and microenfractionating (I). The method is defined by a 6 step process (also claimed). Step (6) pref. comprises (embodiment also claimed): acceleratedly bioremediating (I), at least about 70% of total hydrocarbon material in (I) being remediated within 120 days of treating (I) with (II), and the vol. of (I) being thus treated being at least about 1500 cubic yards per day per micro-enfractionating appts. Also claimed are a method for removing metal from metal-contaminated soil and a combined method of microenfractionation of contaminated material and fixation of metals.    USE -   The method is esp. useful for bioremediation of soil and water pollutants. Sites which may be treated include surface soils, water in treatment lagoons or evaporation areas, and ground water contaminated with leachate from the above sources. (III) are almost all associated with wood treatment facilities.    ADVANTAGE -   (II) are organic in nature and are nutritionally balanced to provide all of the nutrients required to efficiently biodegrade whatever the material contaminant is present.
H2 stream contg. (a) more easily removable impurities such as CO and/or CO2 and (b) N2 and/or CH4 as more difficult to remove impurities is first contacted at 5-50C with bed(s) of particulate Ni and/or Ni cpds. with at least 1 wt.% of the Ni present in reduced form to remove the impurities in (a), then contacted with a bed(s) of non-evaporable getter material at a higher temp. to remove impurities in (b).    Appts. for the purificn. is further claimed.    USE -   Used to obtain H2 streams contg. below 20 ppb CH4 for use in the semiconductor industry.    ADVANTAGE -   No new CH4 forms during purificn.. Prior art diffusion of stream through Pd or its alloys is avoided. Process is free from high pressure drops and is long term.
H2 stream contg. (a) more easily removable impurities such as CO and/or CO2 and (b) N2 and/or CH4 as more difficult to remove impurities is first contacted at 5-50C with bed(s) of particulate Ni and/or Ni cpds. with at least 1 wt.% of the Ni present in reduced (elemental) form to remove the impurities in (a), then contacted with bed(s) of non-evaporable getter at a higher temp. to remove impurities in (b).    Appts. for the purificn. comprising purificn. chambers contg. the Ni and/or Ni cpds. and the getter is also claimed.    USE -   Used to obtain H2 streams contg. below 20 ppb CH4 for use in the semiconductor industry.    ADVANTAGE -   No new CH4 forms during purificn.. Prior art diffusion of stream through Pd or its alloys is avoided. Process is free from high pressure drops and is long term.
An injection treatment apparatus for remediating contaminated material at a contaminated site uses a powered trenching tool for comminuting contaminated material and a means for injecting remediation fluid into the contaminated material in dose proximity to the trenching tool. A suitable system for conveying and delivering the remediating fluid to the injection means is provided.    USE -   For the remediation of contaminated soil or sludge.    ADVANTAGE -   A mobile, cost effective soil remediation system which may be used for treating soil in situ in a rapid, continuous process.
A method for remediating material contg. organic contaminants comprises intimately mixing the material with an actively-growing fungal biomass generating free-radicals.    USE -   The method is useful for remediation of contaminated solid material such as soil, sludge, spent biomass etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The non-specificity made of attack of the biomass, which does not occur in true enzyme systems, provides a wide application. A large number of radicals are presented to the material to be contaminated. The established mycelium is able to withstand effects of lethal contaminants normally thought too high for biological processing can be degraded. A range of aromatic cpds. can be degraded including polyaromatic hydrocarbons of a range of mol. wt. normally considered as recall citrant.
Removal of a metal having an insol. phosphate (the ''target metal'') from an aq. soln. comprises (a) immobilising in a bioreactor, a phosphatase-producing microorganism which has been cultivated using a growth medium contg. an assimilable organic source of phosphorus; (b) contacting the microorganism with an element, other than the target metal, having an insol. phosphate (the ''priming element'') so as to deposit the phosphate of the priming element on cell surfaces of the microorganism; and (c) passing the aq. soln. contg. the target metal to be removed through the bioreactor to ppte. the target metal out of the soln.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can be used for water purificn., recovery of metals from water, accumulation of heavy metals from water and cleaning-up of chelated metal wastes. The method can be used for the removal of metals such as uranium, neptunium, americium, cadmium, lead, copper, nickel, zinc, manganese, cobalt, lanthanum, yttrium, europium or silver (claimed). The priming element phosphate facilitates deposition of the target metal phosphate to provide efficient metal removal.
Device for producing oxygen and methane comprises (a) a methanation reactor for reacting carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce methane and water; (b) a reforming reactor, communicating with the methanation reactor, contg. a reforming catalyst for reforming water and methane producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the reforming reactor operating at 593 - 1200 C; (c) sepg. methane and water in a separator connected to the methanation reactor; and (d) an electrolyser connected to the separator in which the water is electrolysed by hydrogen and oxygen.    Also claimed is a system for producing oxygen and methane.    USE -   Automated prodn. of oxygen and methane from carbon dioxide and hydrogen.    ADVANTAGE -   The continuous and efficient process does not require expendables, nor rely upon a carbon formation reactor to vary the oxygen to methane ratio.
This refrigerant, which is used in low temp. compressive regenerative refrigerators operating in a throttled cycle, contains (vol.%) methane 40-60, propane 10-20, a fluorinated/chlorinated deriv. of methane in the form of khladon-13 10-20 and isobutane the remainder.    USE -   Is used in low temp. compression regenerative refrigerators.    ADVANTAGE -   The thermodynamic efficiency of regenerative refrigerators operating in a throttled cycle over the 120-150F. range, is improved. The suitability and environmental safety to the said refrigerant are increased.
Oil obtd. by mixing extract of vegetables, e.g. wood, bamboo, grasses, seaweeds, etc. and optional metal with unpurified oil, e.g. crude oil, waste oil, etc or purified oil, e.g. fuel, lubricating oil, etc. is new. Alternatively, the vegetables are in the form of fine powder or liquefied prod. The optional metal is e.g. single metal, complex, composite and compound of Fe, Ni, Co, Si, Al, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The process purify toxic material surely with a small equipment by mixing optional vegetables with optional metal and can destroy black smoke or malodour by complete combustion. It can give improved efficiency of combustion in using alcohol fuel.
Fertiliser is produced by adding a metal phthalocyanine type cpd. pref. in an early stage of the prodn.. A mixt. of 50-80 wt.% organic substance contg. at least 20 wt.% arabinoxylan and 50-20 wt.% of at least 1 adsorbing mineral (and C) materials, is used as a raw material for fermentation. A metal phthalocyanine type cpd. is added and primary fermentation is carried out in the presence of at least one bacteria selected from Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus oryzae, and Aspergillus sojae. Then secondary fermentation is carried out in the presence of at least 1 bacteria selected from those belonging to genus Streptomyces, Pseudomonas and Bacillus.    The addition of the metal phthalocyanine type cpd. may be effected before prim. fermentation, between prim. and sec. fermentation or before sec. fermentation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic fertiliser has high germ eliminating activity and allows good growth of plants. It is partic. useful for grass (lawn), and increases the resistance of the lawn to Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium vanterpooli, Pythium graminicola, Phizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia homoeocarpa etc..
Prodn. of organic fertilisers by primary aerobic fermentation of organic raw materials with thermophilic bacteria, partic. at 50-70 deg.C by adjustment of air supply, and secondary fermentation at ordinary temp..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Control of fermentation procedure in 2 steps to give fertiliser in a short period of time with reduced cost.    In an example, 60 kg of activated sludge obtd. from waste water of a food industry mainly composed of vegetable waste was mixed with sawdust to adjust water content of 60%. The mixt. was fermented at 45-68 deg.C with aeration at 9.7 L/min. for 8 days and then under aeration of 0-5 L/min. for 26 days.
Prodn. comprises using sludge of civil engineering works by firing, and firing block is made up of coefft. of water-absorption : 25-60% coefft. of water permeability : 10 power -4 - 10 power -1 (cm/s).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for water quality-clarification with micro-organism, and can be effective utilisation of sludge from civil engineering works.
The removal of polycyclic aromatic cpds. (I) from contaminated particulate material is effected by contacting the material with an aq. methylpurine soln. and biodegrading (I) with microorganisms present in the material and/or with added microorganisms.    USE -   Used to decontaminate soil, sediments, sewage sludge, filter dust, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   Methylpurines increase the rate and extent of biodegradation of (I).
The appts. for biological cleaning of contaminated air, using a microbial process to convert and degrade organic matter, has a carrier material such as compost with mineral additives for the colonisation of microorganisms and bacteria for the filter. It is laid as a layer in a cylindrical and horizontal drum so that, as the drum rotates, gravity causes it to remain homogenised. The contaminated air to be cleaned, together with fresh or process water, is fed in axially to maintain the moisture level, to move radially outwards through the surrounding loose bed. The contaminated air passes through the loose bed to emerge through the perforated drum mantle. The water is evenly distributed through the bed, by the drum rotation, to maintain its moisture.    ADVANTAGE -   The consistent bed, kept homogenised by the drum rotation, gives an even contaminated air flow through, with a controlled bed moisture content.
(Addn. to DE4244784) Process for purifying materials contaminated with harmful substances, by contacting the material with expanded clay and/or expanded shale having a content of immobilised microorganisms.    USE -   Esp. for treating contaminated soils, sand, gravel, sludges, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The expanded clay or shale substrate forms a useful substrate for fixing the necessary microorganisms, esp. bacteria, to decompose the harmful substances. The treatment agent can easily be worked into the soil with conventional equipment and the expanded clay or shale themselves provide permanent aeration and moisture supply to give optimum conditions for the bacterial activity. The treatment agents are stable to rotating and erosion and operate without the addn. of compost or other solid organic additives, so that sand and gravel can be biologically decontaminated and subsequently used as additives in the concrete industry.
A fuel element for cooking comprises a container with an open top and a hole in the bottom, the base around the hole supporting an annulus of fuel. The container is pref. cylindrical and of metal, and may be a scrap canister, e.g. a paint or food can. The fuel is pref. particulate waste vegetable matter, partic. sawdust, peanut husks, bagasse or wood shavings. The container can pref. be placed on a lower chamber with a damper and a top opening aligned with the hole, and a grid and further structure may be placed over the container.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides an inexpensive but efficient heat source.
Black liquor derived from cellulose pulp production is treated by: (a) heating the liquor at a temp. and for a time sufficient to drive off sulphur containing organic compound gases; (b) stripping remaining sulphur from the liquor, using hot gases passed from the flue (116) of a recovery boiler (110) through a direct contact evaporator (118); (c) increasing the solids content of the liquor by feeding it to the direct contact evaporator, and; (d) feeding the increased solids content liquor (127) to the recovery boiler (110) for combustion.    USE -   Solids content of black liquor from paper pulping processes is increased and sulphur content is reduced in cascade evaporators before use as fuel.    ADVANTAGE -   Solids content is increased up to 80%. The black liquor need not be oxidized, eliminating loss of heating value. Sulphur compounds reaching the evaporator are minimized. Removed sulphur can be recycled in the pulp plant.
An organic fertiliser is produced from llama pellets by restricting the diet of llamas' diet to alfalfa hay with a grain supplement and collecting the pellets after leaving them to lie for at least 24 hours to solidify. The pellets are dried by placing them 2-4 inches deep on a screen-bottomed horizontal ventilated tray and periodically turning them. The dried pellets are ground to a particulate mass. Pref. the pellets are ground using a commercial grade coffee grinder. Loose dust from the grinder may be vacuumed off, sepd. out and recombined for regrinding. Also claimed is a structure in which trays of collected pellets are stored for drying.    USE -   The method is useful for the prodn. of organic fertiliser from llama pellets.    ADVANTAGE -   Fertiliser has pleasant alfalfa odour, high concn. of P and K and 2 - 3% N concn..
Kitchen refuse is crushed, put into hot water at 40-50 deg. C, added with decompsn. enzyme e.g, cellulase, amylase and pectinase to decompose fibre, oil and protein, and stirred to form hydrolysed liq.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Kitchen refuse is decomposed efficiently and simply by this method.
The system comprises (a) a garbage grinder (b) a thermocontroller; (c) a conveyor; (d) a fermentation tank (e) a temp. sensor that detects the temp. of ground garbage in the conveyor; and (f) a temp. sensor that detects the temp. in the fermentation tank. The thermocontroller works to equalise the temp. in (c) to that of (d). The system also comprises (g) a flow rate controller in (c) which responds to the temp. in (d), (g) regulates the flow rate of ground garbage in response to the deviation between the detected temp. in (d) and the prefixed temp.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for treating ground garbage with biological reaction. The method can hold the temp. of the fermentation tank at a suitable temp. for biological reaction by controlling the temp. of the ground garbage to be same as that of fermentation tank so that garbage can be treated with high efficiency.
(JP6267580-A)   NOVELTY - Ejector (4) supplies carbon monoxide mixed fuel which is made to react with water vapor in a carbon monoxide conversion device (3). The generated hydrogen and carbon dioxide are supplied to fuel electrode of a fuel battery (1). A boiler (8) combusts the surplus fuel with air from air blower (7).    USE - For cogeneration application.    ADVANTAGE - Economical and compact, as modifier is eliminated and comprises only carbon monoxide conversion device. Thermal efficiency and electricity generation efficiency are increased, as heat of unreacted hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon is recovered as steam and utilized effectively.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the components of fuel cell power generating device. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Fuel battery (1)    Carbon monoxide conversion device (3)    Ejector (4)    Air blower (7)    Boiler (8)
A composting shed is subdivided by horizontal and/or vertical swivellable or movable wall elements into zones (1-11), the intensive composting zones (2-4) being sepd. by the wall elements from the post-composting zones (5-11) and the input zone (1) such that pressure aeration occurs in the zones (2-4) and suction aeration occurs in the zones (65-11).    ADVANTAGE -   The design allows aerobic composting even of large amounts of material in a closed composting shed.
Waste disposal process involves grinding and then baling (5) the waste (1) so it has high resistance to pressure. The bales (3) are then aerobically fermented in a closed building (7) to dehydrate until microbiological activity ceases. The bales are then placed in a dumping site. Also claimed is the closed building for use in the process as above. The building includes a biofilter (9) and air passages (11) in its floor.    USE -   Waste disposal process partic. for municipal solid waste.    ADVANTAGE -   Redn. of vol. of waste and vermin and pests and elimination of wind borne waste at dumping site. Improved collection of biogas from dumping site.
A compost tumbler comprises a cylindrical bin (16) with a door and pegs (28) at one end for rotating the bin about a horizontal axis. A trolley (14) has wheels (64) to rollably support the bin in tumbling mode and to engage the ground for transporting the bin. The bin pref. has a door (22) in the curved surface for entry of material and an end door (30) for removal of compost. The pegs are pref. arranged so that the user's foot can be applied to rotate the bin. The trolley pref. has rails pivotally connected between two frames each with wheels so that the frame can be moved between wide rolling and narrow transporting positions.    ADVANTAGE -   Is easy to rotate when loaded and easy to transport.
Recycling of solid waste into recoverable resources is by (a) sepg. into non-compostable (I), recyclable (II) and compostable (III) items, including sending any large wood items to a chipper and mixing the chips formed into (III); (b) sepg. and removing the recoverable cardboard and paper items; (c) blending non-recoverable cardboard and paper items with (III); (d) grinding (III) into fine particles of compostable material; (e) putting the particles into transport containers and sending them to a compost pad such that water or residue will run off into a holding pond with a protective covering to prevent seepage or leakage into the earth or water supply; (f) dumping the particles onto the compost pad in windrows; (g) mixing with bacteria chemicals or other organic matter to initiate composting; (h) curing the decayed compost material by (i) pumping water onto the windrows; (ii) manipulating and blending the windrows until consistent in texture; (iii) subjecting samples to a carbon nitrogen test; (iv) adding additional chemicals if needed; (v) checking and recording the temp.; and (vi) checking, recording and opt. adjusting the moisture; (i) when C:N ratio, temp., moisture and chemical or bacterial content are satisfactory, manipulating the blend again and allowing it to cure; (j) sifting and grading; (k) recycling coarse material unsuited for use as compost to (f); and (l) weighing, bagging and sealing the compost.    USE -   Waste which would otherwise be landfill is converted to compost or fertiliser, baled paper and cardboard, containerised recyclable plastic, glass, Al and ferrous metals, and fluff and fuel.
A method for separating a component from a mixt. comprises (a) bringing the mixt. into contact with the first side of a selectively permeable membrane which comprises a layer of at least one fully dense dopable polymer having an average pore size distribution of less than 20 in diameter and a density as formed of at least 90% of theoretical density, the layer being a network of interconnected porosity; and (b) recovering a prod. enriched in the component at a second, opposite side of the membrane.    USE -   The method is used for the separation of components of gaseous mixt., and the separation of ions in aq. solns. Partic. the method is used for O2 separation from air to medical applications and enrichment of combustion processes; N2 is used to protect perishables and air-sensitive materials; for removal of CO2 and H2S from natural gas to reduce pollution, the CO2 may be further used for tertiary oil recovery; methane recovered from landfills and mines can provide useful fuel; and exhaust gases from internal combustion engines could be separated and recycled.    ADVANTAGE -   The membrane increases the separation factors, and the method provides efficient and rapid separation.
The process comprises fermenting a vegetable fibre of Gramineae in an aq. soln. contg. ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, a soluble phosphoric acid and a soluble K salt.    Fermentation is effected at 10-30 deg.C within a pH of 7.0-9.0 for 120-240 days. Vegetable fibre is pref. rice straw. Pref. concn. of the medium for fermentation is 0.01-0.5%. The aq. medium comprises 1.0% ammonia nitrogen, 5.5% nitrate nitrogen, 6.0% soluble phosphoric acid and 19% soluble potassium salt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The polysaccharide is useful in treatment of hepatitis B, herpes or leukaemia due to viruses. It has an immunological activity of producing antibody against such viruses. Also, it can be used as food additive, feedstuff or fertiliser.
Process comprises hydrogenation of CO2 gas in the presence of a homogenous system liq. phase reaction catalyst which consists of ruthenium carbonyl complex and iodine cpd. to yield methanol, methane and CO.    Iodine cpd. is e.g., iodine, alkali metal iodide, alkaline earth metal iodide or transition metal iodide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Methanol, methane and CO are prepd. from CO2 gas discharged from thermal power plants and cement plants in great quantity. Since the present catalyst is soluble in a solvent, it is able to be used to liq. phase reaction in which temp. control is easy. By changing reaction condition, the main product can be selected.    In an example, Ru3(CO)12 (0.2 mmol) a solvent (20 ml) and iodine cpd. (10 mmol) were charged in an autoclave and a mixt. gas of CO2/H2 (1:3) was fed at room temp. under 80 atmos and then reaction was carried out at 200, 240, 260 deg.C. The solvent is N-methylpyrrolidone, N-ethylpyrrolidone or 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone. The iodine cpd. is I, KI, NaI, LiI or ZnI2. The ratio of I/Ru was 17. Depending on the temp. and the kind of iodine cpd., the amt. of methanol, methane and CO are controlled.
Appts. comprises refuse grinder, mixer to ground refuse from the grinder with separately supplied dry compost, a means of granulating the refuse/compost mixt. from the mixing means to obtain particles, a means of covering the particles from the granulating means with separately supplied dry compost, a means of supplying the dry compost to the mixing means and the covering means, a tank structure in which the particles covered with the dry compost from the covering means is received and refuse is fermented and is made into dry compost, and a means of storing the dry compost from the tank structure.    ADVANTAGE -   Energy can be saved and refuse can be made into dry compost at a high speed.
Anaerobic microorganisms are added as seed bacteria to an open type pre-reactor (1), where they are preliminarily granulated in an acidic state by floating many floatable elements (6) on the surface of soln stored in the pre-reactor (1), and then granulated anaerobic microorganism are granulated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket type reactor.    USE -   For shortening time required for granulating anaerobic microorganisms.
Garbage is fluidised by stirring at ordinary temp., which is primarily fermented by blowing air heated to constant temp. of 35-50 deg. C under stirring. Fermented material is secondarily fermented by blowing air heated to constant temp. of 50-70 deg. C under stirring. Treated material is left at ordinary temp.    ADVANTAGE -   Treated material can be used as useful compost.
A new paraffin isomerisation catalyst contains as an essential ingredient a specific solid acid consisting of acidic salt of heteropolyacid.    Isomerisation of paraffin in the presence of the new catalyst is also claimed.    Pref. the heteropolyacid has the compositional formula of H(80-m-12n) (Xm+Yn+12O40)-(80-m-12n), where X = hetero atom, Y = polyatom, m = valency of X, and n = valency of Y, esp., X = P or Si and Y = W or Mo.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for paraffin isomerisation including gasoline prodn. from C5 or C6 distillates or isobutane prodn. from butane. The new catalyst has a higher activity and selectivity.
Desulfovibrio genus strain RS-1 having sulphate reducing power, power for endosynthesis of magnetic microparticles comprising magnetite and magnetic reactivity.    Magnetite magnetic microparticles are prepd. by culturing. Desulfovibrio genus bacteria having sulphate reducing power, power for endosynthesis of magnetic microparticles comprising magnetite and magnetic reactivity in the presence of sulphate ion and separating out magnetite microparticles from grown bacteria body.    USE -   Desulfovibrio genus strain RS-1 (FERM P-13283) has sulphate-reducing power and is useful in processing life waste water or sewage by means of active sludge, and is useful for synthesis of uniform form and size of magnetite magnetic microparticles. Magnetite magnetic microparticles are expected to be useful as carrier for physiologically active substance fixing.
In the gasification of fine solids by the unidirectional flow method using gas channels which lead into the hot bed and which cannot be filled with bulk material and ash, the novelty is that the gas channels are located in the side walls of the gasifier. Also claimed is a gasifier for carrying out the process, in which the gas channels pass downwardly pref. in a spiral manner.    USE -   For gasification of industrial and agricultural organic waste to produce a pyrolysis gas which can be converted into mechanical energy in i.c. engines e.g. for current generation.    ADVANTAGE -    The process ensures decomposition of all carbonisation products into easily combustible CO, CO2 and H2.
A refrigeration agent mixt. comprising 35-99.5 wt.% dimethylether (I), 65-0.5 wt.% butane (II) and 0-12.5 % propane (III).    USE -   As refrigerating agent in compression type refrigeration units with vapourisation temps. of 0 to -40C in the cooling circuit.    ADVANTAGE -   The agents contain no toxic or environmentally harmful components which could contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer or promotion of the greenhouse effect. The compsns. give higher refrigeration capacity values than any of the individual components alone.
A protective coating compsn. (I) for motor-vehicle underbodies and gravel guards is claimed. It is characterised in that it comprises, in wt.% of the wt. of the compsn., 20-40% of PVC resin (PVC/PVA), 1-3% of a hot-swelling agent comprising an acrylonitrile/acrylic ester/olefin copolymer encapsulating an appropriate amt. of a 4-6C alkane.    Also claimed is a protective coating compsn. (II) comprising 20-40 wt.% PVC (PVA) resin, 30-50 wt.% plasticiser, 0.5-1.5 wt.% adhesion promoter, 20-30% natural coated fillers, 1-3% additives and pigments, 1-3% swelling agent, 0.2-1.2% phenolic resin and 1-3 wt.% solvents.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A compsn. for protecting underbodies of motor vehicles and gravel guards against bruising, abrasive and/or corrosive action of external agents is provided. The wt. of the protective coating is reduced without redn. in the protective efficiency. The coating also provides improved soundproofing.
A detector for an IR analyser has a front cell (54) receiving IR radiation and a rear cell (56) receiving IR radiation from the front cell. A gas flow sensor (46) communicates with both cells and an auxiliary chamber (64) is in fluid communication with the front cell. The optical path of the front cell is pref. shorter than that of the rear cell and an IR radiation baffle is located between the front cell and auxiliary chamber, which has a vol. to approx. balance the signals from the two cells. The cells pref. hold Xe mixed with a sensitising gas having a similar IR absorption spectrum to that of a gas being analysed.    USE -   E.g. for detection of CO, CO2, water vapour, SO2 or CH4 in vehicle or smoke stack emissions.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides enhanced sensitivity.
A method and apparatus for continuously processing and reclaiming waste materials includes provision of a number of adjacent cells, each with an impermeable liner. An impermeable domed structure is erected over each cell. Waste material and cover soil is added to each cell in the ratio 1:5 to 10:1. Each cell is covered with an impermeable cover after which the impermeable domed structure is moved to another cell. The decomposition of the waste is controlled and monitored in the cells and after a period of time the material in the cells is recovered and recycled. Each cell is then used for further waste disposal.    USE -   For the reclamation of waste material and garbage.    ADVANTAGE -   The method and apparatus of the invention allows reuse of the components on site. The amount of potentially hazardous leachates is limited and used to enhance decomposition of the waste material. After decomposition, the resultant material is removed and recycled and the cell is available for reuse.
Organic matter is gasified at least 600 deg.C Solid carbonaceous material is not produced from the organic matter and tar gas is produced without producing liq. tarry material in the presence of steam and O2 to produce gas contg. H2 and CO with high concn. Gaseous unreacted matter and tar gas from the first stage gasification is gasified at a temp. higher than the 1st stage gasification process.    Solid carbonaceous material passed from the stage gasification to second stage gasification process is disturbed by narrowing the passage between the two stages. A filter is set between the 1st stage gasification process and 2nd stage gasification process to disturb passage of solid carbonaceous material. The temp. of the passage from the 1st stage gasification process to the 2nd stage gasification process is kept at least more than the temp. of the 1st stage gasification process to prevent deposition of tar in the passage.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic matter is gasified completely and may be used for synthesis of methane, etc.
A sepg. membrane made of polyisoimide, which has a repetition unit as shown in formula (1), in which (R) is a residual gp. of tetracarboxylic acid and (R') is a residual gp. of diamine.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for producing new sepg. membrane from polyisoimide. Conventional membranes made of polyisoimide such as (PCT-9,001,522) have high solvent solubility and excellent mechanical strength, but their selective permeabilities have been low. This method is able to produce polyisoimide sepg. membranes with high thermal resistance solvent solubility and selective permeability for liq. or gas mixts..
Use of rice where a base material of white rice bran, or rice flakes is treated by a yeast to form cyclodextrin, glucose for material of fermentation, and protein-rich rice powder, is new.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   White rice bran and rice flakes can be reused for prepn. of cyclodextrin with side-products of protein-rich rice powder and glucose.    In an example, white rice bran (100g) is mixed with CaCl2 (10mM) and water (1 l), stirred at 100 deg.C for 15-30 mins. to form gel starch, and reacted at 50 deg.C for 24 hrs. with /CGTase T-42 (5 THU per 1g of starch) to form a suspension mixt.. The mixt. was centrifuged at 8,000 /min. for 15 mins. to obtain solid component (10g) surfactant. The solid component was dried to form rice powder (5g) contg. 40.4% of protein. The surfactant was reacted with glucoamylase (124 U/g) (80mg) at 50 deg.C or lower for 30 mins. to 1 hr.. Obtd. reactant was filtered by activated charcoal, and condensed to form a condensate. The condensate was cooled at 4 deg.C to give crystal of beta-cyclodextrin (14g). Cyclohexane was added to the residual soln. and kept at 4 deg.C or lower for 1 hr., and centrifuged for 15 mins. to obtain alpha-cyclodextrin (13g). The centrifuged surfactant is pure glucose-contg. soln., which is filtered and dried to obtain glucose crystalline powder (50-60g).
(JP6251778-A)   NOVELTY - The laminated cell has a fuel supplier (36) which supplies fuel to an anode pole (33) through fuel route (35), and an oxidizing agent supplier (38) which supplies agent to cathode pole (34) through agent path (37). The interval of path (41) of cooling water supplier (38) arranged orthogonal to the path (37), is changed towards a downstream region from the upper region of the path (37).    USE - Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - By changing the interval of the cooling-water flow path towards downstream region from upper region of oxidizing agent flow path, battery cooling capacity is made small towards downstream region and oxidizing agent temperature rises gradually, thus gaseous-diffusion elimination is carried out easily, liquefaction and dropletizing on cathode pole decrease and also gas occlusion is prevented.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows an explanatory drawing of the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell.    anode pole (33)    cathode pole (34)    fuel route (35)    fuel supplier (36)    oxidizing agent flowpath (37)    oxidizing agent supplier (38)    cool water supplier (40)    cool water flowpath (41)
The control of the fermentation of bio waste, which has been chopped and preheated and passed to a fermenter, comprises; adding methane bacteria and fermented waste from the outlet fresh waste in an anaerobic fermenter; monitoring, during mixing with a screw mixer, at a number of points along the conveyor path through the fermenter, at least in relation to its pH value and the dry content, for adjustment. The passage speed is set according to the measured amount of material introduced and through the feedback of generally fermented waste.    USE -   The system is for the degrading of bio waste material.    ADVANTAGE -   The fermenter has a continuous and trouble-free control, to give a continuous operation.
First section A non-flammable refrigerant compsn. for use in a refrigerant apparatus comprises the three following components: (i) a refrigerant selected from chlorodifluoromethane (R22) and peutafluoroethane (R125); (ii) a refrigerant selected from (R125) and octafluoropropane (R218); and (iii) propane (I). Also claimed are: (i) a vapour compression refrigeration apparatus employing the above refrigerant medium; and (ii) a method of performing vapour compression refrigeration.    ADVANTAGE -   This three-component refrigerant mixt. has improved environmental acceptability.
To convert bio waste into reusable material, especially vegetable waste matter in communal waste collection, it is initially ground and then mixed with a biological carrier material. The water content of the mixt. is reduced to 8-10 % and the mixt. is further ground. The dried and ground material is finally separated into usable and unusable fractions by a metal separator, wind sifter and a drum sieve.    ADVANTAGE -   The waste conversion costs are reduced, and the waste is restructured into a usable material which can be offered for sale on a cost effective basis.
Decontamination of soil and building rubble loaded with heavy metals and hydrocarbons involves (a) irreversible chemical adsorptive immobilisation of heavy metals, followed by    (b) microbiological breakdown of hydrocarbons to volatile end-prods.    ADVANTAGE -   The prods. can safely be used as fillers in recycling surface material, in underground building and in restitution of industrial land. The adsorbent is cheap, and the process can be used on- or off-site.
The appts. to grind, sort and mash bio waste has a sorting unit (7) at the upper section of the interior of the container (2) which divides it from the lower section (3). The upper section (2) has a feed (4) for the waste and a water feed (5) for the cutter/stirrer (6) assembly. The material is removed (8) to an ejector (10). The lower section (3) has take-off (12) for solids and an outlet (13) for the mashed waste.    USE -   The appts. is for processing bio waste separated from communal rubbish.    ADVANTAGE -   The operation gives a continuous process with simultaneous mashing of the waste and removal of unwanted matter from the bio degradable material.
Prepn. of Li diarylphosphide cpds. of formula Li+ P- (R1 R2 ) comprises contacting a triarylphosphine of formula R3 P(R1 R2 ) with Li and a prim. or sec. amine in the presence of an inert organic solvent, (in which R1 = alkyl-substd. aryl; R2 and R3each = phenyl or alkyl-substd. aryl).    USE -   Useful in prepn. of catalyst ligand systems e.g. for hydroformylation, oligomerisation or hydrogenation of olefins.    ADVANTAGE -   Li diarylphosphide cpds. can be obtd. with improved yield and/or purity.
Remobilisation of a coprecipitated metal from an Fe oxide/metal coprecipitate is effected by contacting the coprecipitate with a biologically pure culture of Clostridium sp. ATCC 53464 in a nutrient medium so that the metal is solubilised or incorporated into the bacterial biomass.    Also claimed is a process for removing metal ions from an aq. liq. comprising: (a) concentrating the metal ions by treating the liq. with excess coprecipitating agent, namely magnetic, haematite, limonite, goethite or ferrite at 0-110 deg.C and pH 7.5-14; (b) removing the coprecipitate from the liq.; (c) contacting the coprecipitate with an ATCC 53464 culture in a nutrient medium under anaerobic conditions at 15-37 deg.C and pH 4-8 for 1 sec. to 48 hrs.; and (d) removing the solubilised metal ions from the medium.    USE -   The process may be used to remove toxic metals, esp. As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, U, Pu, Zn, Au, Ag, Pt, or Pd from waste water streams, esp. mining effluents, fossil and nuclear fuel cycle wastes, geothermal wastes and electroplating and metal-finishing wastes.
Propane/butane mixt. (with high-butane content) is withdrawn in vapour phase from underground reservoir at reduced temp./pressure, and in liquid phase which is evaporated in underground flow-through gasifier (5) with natural heat-supply. To obtain heat-energy economy, evapn. is done to max. intermediate degree of dryness of vapour/liquid mixt. of propane/butane, as determined by formula, in terms of absolute pressure in gasifier, achieved minimally to guarantee stable working of gasification equipment and low-pressure regulator, 10 -5Pa.; original molar-content of butane in mixt. coming from reservoir; max. intermediate temp. of vapour/liquid mixt. at exit from gasifier, = natural temp. of surrounding ground (in deg. C); and empirical coeffts. for butane and propane.    USE -   In gas-supply e.g. evapn. of liquefied hydrocarbon gas (such as propane/-butane mixt. (with high-butane content) in flow-through gasifiers, to agricultural and domestic-communal customers.    ADVANTAGE -   In addn. to heat-economy, liquid-phase is partially evapd. in underground gasifiers using natural heat.
The biologically degradable material is collected up into small containers where the coarse material is sifted away and subjected to a continuous stirring. Heat and air are fed into the process to maintain a started degradable process in force at approximately 25 deg.C. A rough adjustment of the carbon-nitrogen ratio occurs through the feed of straw with the simultaneous elimination of smell from the process in a condensate pptn. device.    The material is delivered from the small containers after an approximate 10% biological decomposition of the material and collected in a mobile processing device where an anaerobic decomposition process. Hot air is fed to the material and held at approximately 30 deg.C until the material is subjected to a further approximate 5% biological degradation during continuous stirring. An adjustment of the carbon-nitrogen ratio occurs with simultaneously stirring. An adjustment of the carbon-nitrogen ratio occurs.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To process biologically degradable material. Enables methane gas to be recovered.
Starch paste soln. is prepd. as follows: mixed slurry of corn starch powder and underground starch (A) powder is modified by enzymatic or thermochemical modification into modified paste, and the starch paste soln. is adjusted to a pH above 5.    Pref. (A) is a processed starch, esp. acetylated starch, and the mixed slurry is adjusted to pH 5-8, followed by modification into paste.    (S) is e.g. tapioca, potato or sweet potato starch. The corn starch and (A) are used in a blend ratio of 1:9 or 9:1, pref. 2:8 to 8:2. The enzymatic modification is done by adding an oxidising agent to the slurry and heating it at above 100 deg. C.    ADVANTAGE -   The starch paste soln. has ageing resistance and high stability with time and is useful as size press soln. and coating soln. for coated paper.
Animal wastes are treated by fermentation, by adding acetaldehyde treated urea, dried blood and superphosphate, opt. with cellulose degrading bacteria, partic. Myrethecium sp..    Animal wastes including faeces, urine, bedding, bark and sawdust, urea treated with acetaldehyde, dried blood and superphosphate are fermented by the addn. of cellulose degrading bacteria, partic. Myrethecium sp. SF-M-001 (FERM P-13387).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Sufficient humification of animal wastes.
Method comprises (1) culturing bacteria using methanol as carbon source, and (2) culturing and activating them using methane gas.    Also claimed is a method also comprising (1) immobilising the bacteria and (2) contacting immobilised bacteria with a mixt. of methane and oxygen for activation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bacteria produce methane monooxygenase (MMO), and decompose organic chlorine cpds. e.g. reduce trichloroethylene at 10ppm to half in 10 days. It is useful to remove toxic organic chlorine cpds. contained in waste water and gas, and the ground and ground water near factories. The bacteria may be efficiently produced at lower cost (1/6) than a conventional method which uses explosive and dangerous methane gas adone and requires an expensive large fermenter.    Concentration: Pref methanol concn. for (1) is maintained at upto 3000mg/l. Predf. methane concn. for (2) is maintained at 20-50%.    In an example Pre-culture of methylosinus trichloroporium TSUKUBA (50ml) was cultured in a medium (1.51) contg. methanol (1000mg/l) at 30 deg. at pH6.5 at an air flow of 40ml/min. with stirring at 600rpm for 150 hrs. In 50 and 100hrs. methanol was added to adjust the concn. to 1000mg/l. In 150 hrs. the concn. of bacteria reached to 2500 mg/l, and the bacteria was measured for the ability to decompose trichloroethylene, but K1 primary reaction constant) was 0. The bacteria was cultured at a flow of mixt. gas of methane/air (methane concn. 20v/v%) at a flow rate of 50ml/min. In 70hrs. the concn. of bacteria reached 4000mg/l, and K1 was found to be 31/g.hr, showing a high ability to decompose trichloroethylene.
Culture method to decompose organic chlorine cpds. comprises culturing bacteria utilising methane in a culture soln. contg. copper in a concentration of 0.18 micro mol/l or less.    The concentration of copper is pref. 0.024-0.18 micro l/l. By lowering the concentration of copper, more of the soluble MMO can be produced, which shows higher substrate specificity than membrane fraction MMO.    The bacteria belonging to Methylosinus genus, Methylocystis genus and Methylobactor genus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bacteria produce methane monoxygenase (MMO), and show an excellent ability to decompose organic chlorine cpds., e.g., they can reduce trichloroethylene at 10 ppm to half in 10 days. Therefore, it is useful to remove toxic organic chlorine cpds. contained in waste water and gas, and ground and ground water near factories, and advantageous over the conventional methods such as air diffusion and absorption with activated carbon which inevitably leave harmful waste. By this method, the ability of the bacteria can be improved and stabilised so that organic chlorine cpds. may be decomposed in a common equipment.
Bacillus natto is propagated on residues generated in food processing, a residual agricultural prod., or leftover rice. The resulting prod. is used as food, feed, or fertiliser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Decay due to miscellaneous germs is replaced by fermentation by the Bacillus natto. The result reduces time for residue treatment and bad smell. Drying treatment increases storage and transportation, eliminating energy for waste or burning for the residues.
A dynamic air sparging soil remediation system drills, mixes and agitates soil at a contaminated site, injects compressed air into the agitated soil, and has a shroud for collecting released contaminant vapour and passing it through a HEPA carbon filter. Pref. a self-propelled crane supports the drilling and agitating units, which include a kelly bar driven drill, and the filter system and an air compressor are mounted in place of a conventional counterweight. The filter can pref. handle up to 2000 cubic ft/min and the filtered air is recirculated into the site. H2O2 soln. steam, ambient air, a chemical oxidant or microorganisms may be injected into the soil.    ADVANTAGE -   Can be used to treat most contaminated sites, is highly effective and has enhanced safety.
In the extn. and removal of rubbish dumps contg. domestic or industrial waste, portions of the removal material are heated in a multistage heating action at different temps. for the unsorted matter together with seepage water. The final heating stage has a temp. of more than 1000C. for matter conversion, together with a synthesis gas, with material sepn. if required.    USE -   The technique is esp. for rubbish dumps which have been in place for a number of years without control contg. domestic and industrial waste.    ADVANTAGE -   The method gives a complete clearance of the rubbish and its conversion to a material which can be used for recultivation.
Pulpwood or pulp retaining at least 60 wt.% of lignin is treated with an inoculum of one or more fungi from the group consisting of Schizophyllum commune, Trichaptum biforme and Phanerochaete gigantea. Environmental conditions effective for promoting fungal growth are maintained.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to reduce the pitch content of pulps and pulpwoods used in papermaking. The improved field of useful white rot fungi have good colour effects and are more flexible in respect of growth and temp. operating ranges.
A composter (300) with a body for containing material to be converted to humus has a base (303 which promotes air flow through itself and the body, and a lid (302), the lid and base promoting aerobic decomposition.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Humus is produced from household wastes. Composting is efficient. Construction and installation are simple, enabling distribution in knocked down form to householders by Local Authorities. Operation and access are easy. The lid is kept closed against high winds and vermin.
Purificn. of propylene oxide prepd. by reaction of an organic hydroperoxide with propylene and contg. less than 0.05 wt. ppm. poly(propylene oxide) having a mol.wt. of at least 50,000, with contaminating amts. of methyl formate, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde and 4-7C hydrocarbons, comprises: (a) contacting a liq. mixt. of polypropylene oxide and impurities with solid activated carbon absorbent; and (b) sepg. propylene oxide contg. a reduced impurity content.    ADVANTAGE -   Purificn. can be greatly simplified and the formation of additional impurities, e.g. high-boiling ether is minimised by avoiding extractive distn. purificn.
The proposed process includes thermal treatment of used catalyst in the medium of gaseous redn. agent at temp. 400-650C..    USE -   In physico-chemical processes for the regeneration of vanadium contg. catalysts.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced residue content of sulphur and simultaneously reduced porous structure transformation.
A mixed coolant comprising butane, freon and silicone of same or higher quantity than that of a freon medium used in housing equipment is added to the freon medium. The result increases the wt. of the freon.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is applied to the freon-housing equipment for preventing environmental pollution due to freon. The method readily and rapidly changes the coolant inviting ozone environmental pollution into heavy coolant. This eliminates substances depleting the ozone layer. Pref. freon mixed with the butane comprises: R-22, R-14 CF4, R-23CH F3, C2H4F2 (part of R-500 component).
Soil activator is prepd. by aerobic fermentation of mature terrestrial and marine vegetable resources by use of vegetable complex enzyme and contains living microbes.    Bran, oil cake, fossil sea-shell and vegetable complex enzyme are added to crushed mature terrestrial vegetable resources rich in vegetable fibre such as rice hull, sawdust and waste wood chip and water content of the mixt. is adjusted to 30 to 70% with water or 0.01 to 0.5, pref. 0.05 to 0.1% water soln. of dilute organic acid. The mixt. is subjected to aerobic fermentation at below 70 deg.C. for more than four days to produce a fermentation prod. (A). The mature terrestrial vegetable resources, bran, shell, fossil sea-shell, oil cake and vegetable complex enzyme are added to (A) and the mixt. is fermented aerobically to produce fermentation prod (B).    Marine vegetable resources such as dried and crushed seaweed and residue of extn. of seaweed, earth yeast and enzyme-treated sawdust or crushed wood chip are added to (B) and the mixt. is fermented aerobically to produce fermentation prod. (C). Vegetable complex enzyme and water are added to (C) and it is extracted at room temp. for 1 to 4 days and is filtered. Water soln. of raw sugar or soybean soup is added to the filtrate and the mixt. is fermented for more than 14 days under weak agitation and ample supply of air to produce liq. fermentation prod. (D).    ADVANTAGE -   The soil activator promotes growth of agricultural produce.
Garbage (A) charged through an inlet port (24) is crushed with a crusher (3), and crushed garbage is introduced into a disposal chamber (4). Disposal medium is mixed into the crushed garbage with a mixer bar (14), and the mixed garbage is decomposed with bacteria.    ADVANTAGE -   Reliable garbage disposal with bacteria is effected.
Garbage-treating device includes means for crushing garbage fed through garbage feed opening, treating vessel connected to crushing means and adapted to mix crushed garbage with treating medium by stirrer and decompose garbage by activity of microorganism in treating medium. The treating vessel has water supplied to the middle part.    ADVANTAGE -   Garbage can be stably decomposed.
A disposal site of garbage has, on its bottom, a drain system that introduces leachate of garbage to waste water treating facilities and a water tight sheet. Garbage is deposited on the site and covered with a cap sheet i.e., fabric, nonwoven fabric, or net united with a photo-decomposable polymer sheet, which makes pptn. to permeate homogeneously into the garbage. Sedimentation of garbage and covering with the cap sheet are repeated many times. Fabric, nonwoven fabric, or net is made of at least one of artificial polymer, natural polymer, inorganic materials, and metals.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for disposing garbage. This method can level the permeation of pptn. into garbage and prevent the generation of smell in the early stage of disposal, and level the discharge of inorganic or organic substances into leachate.
A metal absorbent obtd. from the alga Chattonella antiqua, is new.    Also claimed is the preparation of a metal adsorbent, which comprises cultivating Chattonella antiqua to a high concentration in a medium containing inorganic nutrient salts, separating the alga from the culture solution, and extracting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Since the adsorbent obtained has a high ability to adsorb heavy metals, it can be used to remove harmful metals and recover useful heavy metals from mining and industrial waste water. It can be produced from the alga Chattonella antiqua, which is a kind of red tide plankton.    In an example, an inorganic nutrient salt medium was prepared by adding 21 mg of sodium sulphate, 13 mg of sodium dihydrogenphosphate, and 1 mg of iron to 1 l of seawater. Seawater containing Chattonella antiqua was added to the medium at 24 deg.C and Chattonella antiqua was exposed to 15000 lux light for 6 days under ventilation and stirring to be cultivated. The Chattonella antiqua was separated with a centrifugal separator, extracted with a mixture of chloroform and methanol in an equal volume and then with boiling distilled water, and freeze-dried to obtain a metal adsorbent.
New microorganisms belong to the genus Bacillus, producing proteases and specifically decomposing soybean meal, pref. Bacillus circulans HA12 (FERM P-13428) or Bacillus stearothermophilus HA19 (FERM P-13429).    Also new is a soybean meal-derived organic fertiliser made from soybean meal as starting material by decomposing it, pref. using microorganisms, pref. the above-mentioned bacilli, to decompose soybean meal into smaller mol.-wt. molecules.    ADVANTAGE -   The new soybean meal-derived fertiliser made through Bacillus-aided decomposition is safe, inexpensive, and as effective as the conventional cpd. fertilisers.    In an example, peptone (1 g), yeast extract (0.5 g), NaCl (0.5g), agar (2 g) and distilled water (100 ml) were put together in a 300-ml Erlenmeyer flask. This mixt. was autoclave-sterilised, and then dispensed in an autoclave-sterilised plate to prepare an LB-plus-agar plate medium. Soil-derived microorganisms found positive by screening test were inoculated on this medium and were cultured for 12 hours in an incubator maintained at a temp. below 30C, at 37.5, 50, 70, 75 and 80C, respectively. Strains producing halos in which proteases were being produced decomposing casein were judged as positive. Twenty positive strains growing in the soybean meal medium were obtd. (HA1-20). These strains include HA12 that grows at 50C or under and HA19 that grows at 50-75C.
A near-azeotropic compsn. comprises (a) 38-53 wt.% 'R22' (RTM: chlorodifluoromethane); (b) 34-56 wt.% 'R124' (RTM: 1-chloro-1,2,2,2- tetrafluoroethane) and/or 'R124a' (RTM: 1-chloro-1,1,2,2- tetrafluoroethane); and (c) 2-13.5 wt.% 'R600' (RTM: n-butane) and/or 'R600a' (RTM: isobutane).    USE -   The compsn. is used in refrigerating circuits working according to Rankine cycle partic. in motor vehicles provided with air conditioning (claimed).    ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is interchangeable with 'R12' (RTM: dichlorodifluoromethane) without the need of replacing the lubricating oil; the compsn. is not flammable, and does not give rise to flammable liqs. or vapours owing to unavoidable losses from the circuits; the compsn. has an Ozone Depleting Potentiality (ODP) lower than 0.03; and the compsn. is of lower cost than prior art substitutes for 'R12'.
A container comprising a metered dose valve and microparticles of a drug for topical treatment of skin disorders is new. Also claimed is a method for delivering a preset dose of drug comprising: (i) preparing the microparticles; (ii) packaging the microparticles in a container; (iii) sealing the container with a metered dose valve; and (iv) adding propellant to the container.    USE -   The container, with propellant and lubricant, is used to deliver the drug as a spray directly on to the disorder, which includes wounds and surgical incisions, skin cancers, dermatitis, rashes, allergic reactions, and acne. A wide range of drugs, including steroids, antibiotics, proteins, esp. growth factors, e.g. keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), implicated in healing and tissue repair an be delivered. For use, these are admin. as a compsn. with excipients. Either instant or sustained release formulations can be delivered.    ADVANTAGE -   The method provides localised application at the desired site. Unlike topical application, the skin is not touched in application as with ointments, creams, or gels, which may cause irritation at the site and increase the risk of infection.
In a new procedure for compositing organic waste comprises: (a) chopped and mixed waste in a reaction vessel is agitated from time to time and is moistened from below by a mixture of air and water vapour for a period of twenty hours. (b) the supply of air and water vapour is controlled so that the temperature of the material during the reaction period is limited to 70 C and no water vapour is visible on the surface of the material.    Also claimed is a device for carrying out this procedure, consisting of a reaction vessel (1) containing an agitator system (2) and at least partly enclosed by a housing (3), and a steam producing system which is connected to the vessel by a duct (8) containing perforations (6). The section of the reaction vessel enclosed by the housing contains perforations (4).    USE -   The method is used for composting not only soft materials such as leaves, fruit and vegetable waste, but also hard materials such as old wood, bones, leather etc.    ADVANTAGE -   Compost, which can be used in agriculture or gardening, is produced from a wide range of organic waste materials in a short time.
In an enzyme granulate, suitable for incorporation in washing or cleaning compsns., contg. enzyme, (in)organic carrier and a granulation aid contg. carboxymethylcellulose, the granulation aid is a system of alkali CMC with deg. of substitution of 0.5-1 and polyethylene glycol and/or alk(en)yl-polyethoxylate, with at least 0.5 wt.%, w.r.t. final granulate, of polyethylene glycol with mol.wt. below 1000 and/or alk(en)yl-polyethoxylate with at least 20 ethylene oxide (EO), if more than 2 wt.% of alkali CMC is present.    USE -   Use of the enzyme granulate in prepn. of solid, esp. particulate, washing or cleaning compsns. is claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The disintegration rate of the granulate is high (100% of the enzyme activity is released within 3 mins. in water at 25C), and sufficient enzyme is present in the liquor in the initial stage of machine washing to remove enzymatically removable soil. Fermentation brews of low concn. can be used. The enzyme and the granulate are stable on storage, esp. at above room temp. and at high air moisture, and loss of enzyme activity is reduced.
A process for composting thermoplastic material includes: (a) providing thermoplastic material including: (i) a thermoplastic polymer; and (ii) an effective composting amt of a polymeric composting promoting agent comprising a metal complexing agent and/or a metal complex, which converts in the presence of an oxidising metal comprising Cu, Fe, Mn or Co to an active oxidant; (b) contacting the thermoplastic material with a medium contg oxidising metal, comprising garden waste, food waste, paper, wood chips, sewage sludge and/or mixed solid organic waste, lime, manure and liq media solns of oxidising metals, to cause the oxidising metal to convert the polymeric composting converting agent to the active oxidant in an amt sufficient to cause the active oxidant to degrade thermally the thermoplastic polymer to a low mol wt material having enhanced biodegradability under composting conditions; and (c) concomitantly subjecting the thermoplastic material to composting conditions to biodegrade (partially) the low mol wt material.    USE -   The process biodegrades items such as agricultural films, liners for disposable napkins and sanitary towels, rubbish bags, packaging films, plastic clips and containers and other items intended for indoor use or limited outdoor use. Plastics in sewage sludge etc can also be treated. The final prod may be used as fertiliser for field and golf courses, cover for landfill and as an additive for fertiliser.    ADVANTAGE -   Composting is offered as an alternative to dumping in a landfill site. The additive used is neither a photoactivator nor a pro-oxidant and it does not degrade the polymer used to make the film prematurely, allowing it to retain its full strength in sunlight.
The process for recovering the organic component from the wasted waters in the artificial fibres industry provides the treating of the solution resulting from the dialysis installation by a solution containing 60 ... 80% alcohol and 20 ... 30% acetic acid, the pH of the resulting solution being in the range from 4 to 6, and the precipitated residue being sluiced with an alcoholic solution of 60 ... 70 % alcohol at a ratio of 50 :1 than the precipitate mass, for 5 ... 6 times, the sluiced residue being then treated with a sulphuric acid solution, in order to result a final concentration of the acid in the range from 60 to 75%, at 20 ... 30 deg C, for 1 ... 4h, at a ratio of 1 ...3/l between liquid and solid, the resulting solution being then diluted by water to a ratio liquid/residue of 10 ... 60/l and boiling for 1 ... 5h, thus resulting an acid solution of monosaccharide, that can be processed, in the usual ways, to ferment to yeasts.
Refrigerant compsns. contg. hexafluoropropane and butane, cyclopropane, isobutane, propane or dimethyl ether are claimed..    Also claimed are mixts. forming azeotropic and azeotrope-like compsns. and compsns. having a vapour pressure higher than both the components.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are useful for heating and cooling (claimed); as cleaning agents, expansion agents, power cycle working fluids, gaseous dielectrics and fire extinguishing agents, polymerisation media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents and displacement drying agents; and as replacement for e.g. CFC-12 and HCFC-22. Partic. examples of use include cleaning electronic circuit boards, placing a thin film of lubricant onto metal parts, displacement of water from jewellery or metal parts, as resist developers in circuit mfg. and as strippers for photoresists. The compsns. are azeotropic or azeotrope-like and have zero ozone depletion potential.
Manure is processed by collecting it and sepg. it into at least one solid and at least one liq. fraction and making both fractions suitable for use as a fertiliser or nutrient.    Also claimed is a device for performing the method as above and having in series a manure collector (1), a separator (2) for producing the fractions and fractions processors.    Pref., the fractions are sepd. using at least one centrifuge. The liq. fraction (L) is bacteriologically cleaned (5) to produce water (7) and a residue (R). The solid fraction (S) is composted.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method and device for processing manure, partic manure from intensive cattle farming. On-site processing eliminates transporting of manure for processing or spreading.
At least one component is separated from a mixture by use of a sorbent (I) comprising a film of interconnected zeolite crystals bonded to the surface of a substrate (II). (I) Is formed by contacting (II) with a reaction mixture (III) capable of forming the zeolite film under crystallisation conditions. (III) Comprises (molar ratios): H2O/YO2 at least 25 when YO2/X2O3 is greater than 400; H2O/YO2 is at least 35 when YO2/X2O3 is 150-400; and H2O/YO2 is at least 45 when YO2/X2O3 is less than 150. Y is a tetravalent element and X is a tervalent element.    USE -   (I) has affinity for hydrocarbons. It may be used to remove atmospheric pollutants from industrial exhaust gases, including gases from incinerators, turbines, HNO3 plants, coal fired and fossil fueled power plants and internal combustion engines. A particular application is removal of unburned hydrocarbons, e.g. 3-6C paraffins and olefins, and aromatics, from cold engine flue gas. Hydrocarbon may be adsorbed from a mixture comprising water and hydrocarbons or alcohol(s) and hydrocarbons; a hydrocarbon may be selectively adsorbed from a mixture of hydrocarbons.
A process for separating at least one gas component from a mixt. comprises contacting with a composite membrane at a pressure sufficient to permeate the desired component(s). The membrane comprises a porous substrate coated with a modified poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) polymer comprising a PPO precursor of number average mol. wt. (Mn) above 25,000 and contg. at least 10% of backbone units of formula (I) where R1, R2 = H, SO3H, SO3M, sulphonyl SO2R3, sulphonamide, SO2N(R3), carbonyl COR3 or amide COHNR3, provided that at least one is not H; R3 = 1-4C aliphatic; and M = an alkali, alkaline earth or transition metal, NH4+ or an organic base. Also claimed are (1) a separation process as above including a prepn. process for the membrane; (2) the above composite membrane; (3) a membrane prepd. using the sulphonation process in (1) above; (4) a process for making composite membranes comprising at least one separation layer of the above polymer on a porous substrate; (5) process (4) incorporating the further purification process given for membrane (3); (6) PPO polymer produced by the method included in the membrane prepn. (3); and (7) a process for preparing a membrane forming material capable of forming a fluid sepn. membrane comprising the membrane prepn. process used in (1).    USE -   The membranes may be used to separate, e.g. hydrogen from hydrogen-contg. gases, O2/N2 and CO2/CH4 separations, and separations of helium from helium-contg. gases.    ADVANTAGE -   The membranes have desirably consistent permeability, selectivity, strength and film-forming characteristics suitable for commercial separations.
The mfg. device for compost comprises a fermenter to ferment organic waste and compost it, a curing tank, a deodorisation unit to suck the generated gases from the fermenter and the curing tank to deodorise them, and a fan. The gas concn. at the discharge port of the deodorisation unit is detected and when the gas concn. exceeds a specified value, the activated coal in the deodorisation unit is taken out and fed into the fermenter so as to mix with the organic waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to mfr. compost from organic waste such as wet refuse from kitchen, leaves and trees from road side trees, etc.. With this device, cut trees obtd. which have been burnt, are made to comparatively small chip size, and form charcoal. Charcoal can be used as the activated coal. Further more the activated coal which has been used can be fed into the fermenter for use as compost material. In addition, the replacement of activated coal is judged by detecting gas concn. in exhaust, so no malodours are leaked outside. Also, it avoids discarding activated coal which is still useful.
The measurement of the activity of sulphur-oxidising bacteria comprises mixing a sample soln. of microorganisms with an aq. soln. of reducing sulphur cpd(s)., stirring and injecting at the same time alkali agent(s) of an amt. corresponding to the redn. of the pH of the mixed soln. and calculating the rate of formation of sulphuric acid from the amt. of the alkali agent consumed after a specified time.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Measurement of the activity of the bacteria is simple, and allows an understanding of the variation of the quality and quantity of incoming water and the behaviour of the system of microorganisms to toxic contaminants and is thus useful for operation and management of waste water treatment plants using the microorganisms.
Cleaning contaminated soil comprises scattering Methylosinus microorganism(s) able to decompose aliphatic chlorine cpds. and a readily oxygen-generating substance(s). Pref., microorganism is a methane-utilising bacterium(ia).    Microorganism is pref. Methyosinul tricospolium TSUKUBA, Bi-ko Ken, Donation No. 10004. Oxygen-generating substance is pref. a peroxide(s).    ADVANTAGE -   Method is simple and cleans effectively soil contaminated by organic chlorine cpds. In an example, the method achieved a decompsn. rate of the trichloroethylene contaminant of 80% three days after scattering.    In an example, Gram negative Methylosinus bacterium utilises methane, has no flagella or motility and grows in methane and methanol but does not grow in ethane, propane, n-butane, dimethyl ether, methylamine, ethanol or nutrient broth. It has 64.5 mol% (G+C) DNA, 96.5% of C18:1 major fatty acids a hydroxy fatty acid type of 2-oH and a quinone type of Q8. Bacterium can decompose trichloromethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane and chloroform. It decomposes e.g. 10 ppm trichloroethylene by a half in 10 days. Oxygen-generating substance is pref. hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide and/or magnesium peroxide.    A culture liq. of the bacterium and hydrogen peroxide were scattered on soil contaminated by 0.1 ppm trichloroethylene to final levels of 10power6 cells/g soil and 10 ppm, respectively. Method achieved decompsn. rates 40% after 1 day, 65% after 2 days and 80% after 3 days.
Device comprises a gas sensor for detecting a gaseous body generated during the anaerobic treatment in an anaerobic treatment tank and an information processor for determining the reaction state in the anaerobic treatment tank according to outputs from gas sensors.    The gas sensor is composed of a methane sensor such as a tin dioxide semiconductor gas sensor for detecting methane and a carbon dioxide sensor for measuring carbon dioxide by using infrared rays. The tin dioxide semiconductor gas sensor is sensitive against carbon monoxide and ethanol; however, the principal components of gas generated by the anaerobic treatment are methane and carbon dioxide. The gas sensor can be placed in an anaerobic treatment tank or in a piping. The ratio of generated carbon dioxide is getting higher as the load increases. The ratio of generated methane and carbon dioxide are more than 70-55% and less than 30-45% respectively when the load to an anaerobic bacteria is adequate. When the ratio of methane comes to less than 60-50%, that is the ratio of carbon dioxide is more than 40-50%, the highly concentrated volatile fatty acid in the disposed waste water is detected and it is decided that the bad treatment state exists. An information processor decides the reaction state in the anaerobic treatment tank by using mutual relation between the generating ratio of methane and carbon dioxide and the reacting state of the anaerobic bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Overloading of the device is avoided by controlling the dumping of garbage according to the treatment state and deterioration of the disposed waste water is prevented by decomposing garbage completely.
Method for analysing a continuously flowing gas stream using gas emission spectroscopy to detect at least one gas or vapour impurity in the gas stream at low concn. levels, comprises (a) directing a sample of the gas stream through an electric discharge source, (b) applying an alternating source of power across the electric discharge source at a preselected excitation frequency with the alternating power source having a peak voltage sufficient to sustain an electric discharge and to generate a wide radiation spectrum of emissive radiation from the gas stream, (c) filtering the radiation spectrum to form an optical signal having a narrow radiation emission bandwidth corresponding to the stronger emission wavelength(s) of a preselected impurity gas or vapour to be analysed, (d) converting the optical signal into an electrical signal, (e) selectively amplifying the electrical signal within a narrow frequency range centered at twice the excitation frequency, and (f) analysing the se lectively amplified electrical signal to determine the concn. level of the impurity gas or vapour under analysis, in which (g) the electric discharge source is a silent electric discharge tube.    Also claimed is a gas emission spectrometer for such analysis.    USE -   Gas emission spectrometer for analysing low concns. with high accuracy.    ADVANTAGE -   The method of analysis uses emissive radiation filtered to form a narrow bandwidth optical signal converted and amplified within a narrow range at twice the excitation frequency, increases the sensitivity of detection of any gaseous impurity in the gas sample by an order of magnitude.
Sepn. of a mixt. of a conductive phase (II) dispersed as particles (e.g. droplets) in a continuous phase (I), in which the two phases have different densities, is carried out by (a) feeding the mixt. into an annular zone (5) delimited by two cylinders, the mixt. being introduced towards the periphery of one of the cylinders to impart rotational motion within the annular zone; (b) applying a potential difference between the cylinders (1,3) to create a radial electric field in the annular zone (5) to promote dispersed phase (II) coalescence and phase sepn.; and (c) recovering the (partially) sepd. phases in a reception and decantation zone. Also claimed is an appts. for carrying out the above process.    USE -   Sepn. of a mixt. such as crude oil contg. a dispersed aq. phase, esp. desalination of crude oil involving addn. of water with low salt content (claimed).    ADVANTAGE -   Sepn. is enhanced by combining the effects of an electric field and centrifugal forces, using electrodes of simple shape.
Removal of lumen filler and/or unwanted processing auxiliaries from hollow fibres or hollow fibre membranes is effected by extracting the fibre or membrane with a supercritical gas (I). Also claimed are hollow fibres or membranes from which lumen filler has been removed by the above process, where the residual content of isopropyl myristate (IPM) is below 500 ppm, esp. below 300 ppm.    (I) is CO2, H2O, N2, NH2, N2O, N2O2, MeOH, CHF3, n-butane, propane, ethylene and/or toluene. (I) is opt. mixed with a liq. or solvent, esp. MeOH or H2O. The fibre/membrane (esp. a hollow fibre bundle) is contacted with (I) for 1-600 (pref. 20-240) min., pref. using CO2 at at least 73 (esp. at least 100) bar and at least 31 (esp. at least 40) deg.C. The sepd. lumen filler and/or additive may be recovered and re-used.    USE -   The process is useful for removing lumen filler or stabiliser (pref. IPM) and other auxiliaries (e.g. thickeners or precipitants) from hollow fibres or fibre membranes for industrial or medicinal use (e.g. in haemodialysis, haemofiltration, sterile filtration or plasmapheresis).    ADVANTAGE -   (I) have a good cleaning effect, with no problems of environmental pollution or inflammability. They can be used with a wide range of fibre/membrane materials, e.g. cellulose, regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyolefin, polysulphone, polyacrylonitrile or polyamide. Necessary additives (e.g. glycerol pore stabiliser; or PVP or PEG hydrophobising agent) are not removed.
To recover a conc. protein extract from manure, a rapid growth yeast is added with a high carbon content, a high oxygen content together with nitrogen, hydrogen and other dosed trace elements according to the manure analysis.    The yeast is freed from manure solids by centrifuge action. The manure is heated to about 37C with a slight overpressure to form a protein assimilate which is recirculated with acceleration stages and dwell intervals, and the remaining liq. is drawn off.    Also claimed is an assembly with at least two vessels (1,2) interlinked by channels (3,4) between their interiors at the top of one and the bottom of the other. The vessels (1,2) have a pressure build-up and release system (5,6), and closable outlets (7,8) for liq.. They are fitted with dosed feeds (9,10) for the additives.    USE -   The system is for the biological treatment of manure for cleaning, and recovery of useful matter.    ADVANTAGE -   The action recovers a conc. protein extract from manure freed of solids.
An assembly to process refuse incorporates a loading unit (1), a gas removal passage (2) and a high temperature reactor (3). The assembly has outlets for molten material (SCH) and synthesised gas (SY). The synthesised gas passes to an outlet (3a) through a pipe (4). The novelty is that the gas cleaning unit incorporates a dust removal unit, and that an inlet (7,8) delivers a separation agent (A) which processes sticky dust in the dust removal unit.    USE -   The assembly processes municipal refuse.    ADVANTAGE -   Sticky dust particles can be removed from the synthesised gases without loss of efficiency to the entire plant.
To compost waste materials, heated air is introduced into a composting container has the novel feature that the air is preheated using combustion exhaust gas, and esp. exhaust gas from a domestic heating system, or that the exhaust gas is introduced directly into the composting container.    Also claimed is an appts. for carrying out this procedure, with a container (11) and an air preheater. A pipe connection (3,8,10) is provided to the exhaust duct of a heating system (1).    A further claim covers the composting container itself.    Fresh air maybe mixed with the exhaust gas before it enters the composting container. Before the air comes into contact with the composting material, it passes through a heat retention material (14) in or upstream of the composting container. The air may also be moistened, using water preheated by the exhaust gas or extracted from the exhaust gas itself.    USE -   Used esp. in the composting of domestic refuse.    ADVANTAGE -   The procedure is independent of the availability of solar radiation.
Biodegradable and nontoxic substrate bioavailability enhancing agent (A) for increasing the speed and efficiency of microbial bioremediation of hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenols and other oils and fats is new. The compsn. is an aq. mixt. contg. (by wt.) 0.2-10% emulsifier (esp. ethoxylated nonylphenol (I)); 0.21-9% surfactant (esp. linear Na alkylarylsulphonate (II)); 0.05-3% sequestrant (esp. EDTA); 0.8-3.5% pH control agent (esp. Na silicate); 0.17-8% emulsifying solvent (esp. dipropylene glycol methyl ether (III)) and 10-70% biocatalyst (esp. atomically-stable, nonoxidising oxygen catalyst in a water base).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (A) is used to clean oil-contaminated (sub)surfaces. (A) rapidly converts oil contaminants to microscopic, colloidally suspended particles so improves microbial digestion because of the increased available surface area. Also it activates microbes (at L) or indigenous); serves as nutrient carrier and stimulates microbial reproduction. The most effective pollutant degrading organisms are those that replicate most quickly and they convert pollutants to CO2 and water without formation of toxic intermediates. (A) is not harmful to indigenous microbes and can be handled safely.
New DNA constructs (A) contain a sequence (I) encoding a Pyrococcus alpha-amylase (II), or its active and/or immunologically cross-reactive variants. (I) (1) comprises at least one of 5 partial sequences (117-3036p) reproduced in the specification or analogues able to hybridise with probes (P) derived from them, (2) corresponds to a genomic Pyrococcus sequence located within 5 kb of a sequence hybridising with P, or (3) is a 1380 bp sequence (reproduced) or analogues able to hybridise with probes (Pt) derived from it.    Also new are (1) DNA constructs (Ia) encoding related amylolytic enzyme, (2) vectors contg. the new constructs, (3) host cells contg. the new constructs or vectors, (4) (II) having a 435 amino acid sequence (reproduced), its variants or enzymes with at least 70% homology, also new amylolytic enzymes encoded by (Ia).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (II) is used for liquefaction, saccharification and/or debranching of starch or for prodn. of syrups, cyclodextrin or oligosaccharides. Typically applications are in the wine and fruit industries, textile desizing, baking, detergents, biomass (waste) conversion for energy prodn. etc. DNA fragments (43 specified) present in (I) can be used to identify/isolate new amylolytic enzymes. (A) can be expressed in host cells without any modification to the ribosome binding site. (II) can be produced in good yield as recombinant protein with high purity i.e. without additional enzymatic activities. Because of its high heat stability, (II) is esp. useful in high temp. starch liquefaction.
Organic matter (10) is processed by worms. The organic matter is placed in containers (1) with access for worms to migrate between the containers when placed, pref. stacked, together.    Pref. worms are placed in the next to bottom container and migrate upwards through the stack.    Also claimed is an assembly of the containers. Each container may have a perforated base (2) and a peripheral wall. The bottom container in a stack does not have a perforated base.    USE -   Treatment of domestic organic waste matter, and for breeding or fattening of worms for bait.
Hydrogen sulphide content of an aq. system is reduced, and/or the formation of hydrogen sulphide is inhibited, by bringing into contact with the molybdate ions, or cpds. which yield these ions, in concn. sufficient to enhance the growth of denitrifying bacteria (I) which are present or are added to the system. Bacteria (I) outcompete sulphate-reducing bacteria (II) which may be present in the system for organic nutrients in the system, so that bacteria (II) are deprived of the nutrient they need to produce hydrogen sulphide.    A compsn. comprising (a) and (b) is claimed per se. Also claimed is a method of reducing the hydrogen sulphide content of an aq. system and inhibiting formation of hydrogen sulphide, by bringing molybdate and nitrite ions or cpds. that yield these ions, into contact with the system in concn. sufficient to kill bacteria (II) which may be present in the system, and enhance the growth of bacteria (I).    USE -   The method is of use in the oil field to reduce contamination by hydrogen sulphide in enhanced oil recovery. The treated aq. system is injected into the subterranean formation to displace oil therefrom.
Anaerobic processing of orgnaic waste uses a low dry matter content of 10-15% in the feed material and 2-8% in the reactor tank to ensure optimum contact between the substrate and the microorganisms. Special measures are incorporated for pre-treatment of the waste material and sepn. of plastic bags from solid organic household waste.    Household waste is delivered to a receiving station (1) which is constructed to minimise odour problems. For this purpose, the station includes a flexible rubber bellows (1b) which may be attached to the tipping delivery vehicle, a sliding cover (1c) for the reception pit (1a), a suction ventilator (1d) and a biofilter (1e).    The receiving container (2) includes an agitator which opens the bags contg. househbold waste. The solid organic waste is mixed with 25-50% biologically processed materials from an anaerobic reactor (7) for carrying out a prehydrolysis and with some organic industrial waste, and possibly recycled water to bring the dry matter content to 10-15%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for anaerobic processing of organic waste materials. Provides a simple and efficient process for anaerobic treatment of organic wastes. Granular sludge contg. anaerobic microorganisms is added to process to shorten start up time and lead to an improved gas yield and a lower concn. of volatile fatty acids in the effluent.
Rotary drum type composting apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum (10) rotatable about its horizontal axis with closed ends (11,12) and having perforated panels (13) forming part of its cylindrical surface (14), a removable door panel (16) for loading material to be composted, a support structure (25,26,27) for the drum with drive (34) for two horizontal support wheels (32,33) a clearing bar (41) secured to the outer surface of the drum parallel to the axis and a removable cover for the perforated portions of the cylindrical surface of the drum.    USE -   Used for quickly composting organic matter.    ADVANTAGE -   Has clearing bar for easy emptying.
Method of treating a subterranean formation to extend or widen fractures intersecting a wellbore to facilitate the flow of fluids from the formation into the fracture, comprises (a) introducing an explosive gas consisting of a gaseous oxidiser and a gaseous fuel intersecting a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation; and (b) igniting the explosive gas within the fracture whereby the detonation of the gas produces a high pressure wave within the fracture which results in the expansion of the fracture in the formation so that the subsequent flow of fluids to the wellbore is enhanced.    Also claimed are a method of propping a fracture; and a method of extending fractures.    USE -   Opening and extending (natural) fractures in a subterranean formation.    ADVANTAGE -   Natural fractures such as coal seams, shales and chalk formations, which exhibit non-linear elastic properties are opened or extended by using a gaseous explosive mixt. of a fuel and an oxidiser.
The wastes of live organisms, assimilating and accumulating contaminating substances in the test area are subjected to reprocessing by anaerobic bacteria, with obtaining. of bio-gas and water and contaminated sludge. The process is repeated until the concn. of contaminated sludge. The process is repeated until the concn. of contamination on a cleaned section reaches a limiting permitted or assigned level.    USE -   Cleaning of contaminating heavy metals and radioactive elements.    ADVANTAGE -   Better economical effectiveness.
A palladium catalyst on alumina support for selective thermal hydrogenation of acetylene derived from pyrolysis gases is prepd. by impregnating (eta (gamma)-alumina extrudates of well determined physical-structural properties with dil. solns. of salts of active components in repeated steps. This is followed by drying and redn. in a hydrogen stream.    Observing optimum impregnation conditions and correct physical-structural alumina extrudate characteristics, ensure advanced dispersion of palladium, good mechanical strength, high activity, selectivity and prolonged catalyst life.
Chemical pulp is bleached by using white wood destroying fungus and bacteria. Chemical pulp is treated with white wood destroying fungus and then with bacteria.    The white wood destroying fungus is at least one selected from Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Coriolus versicolor, Coriolus hirsutas and Lenzites betulina. The bacterium includes those belonging to Pseudomonus and/or Xanthomnas family. The fungus and bacteria are added to slurry which contains chemical pulp and are cultured for a predetermined period of 25-45 deg. C and at a pH of 3.0-8.0. The fungus decomposes lignin in the pulp to produce low mol. lignin and modified lignin e.g. myrwood lignin, lignin sulphonic acid and kraft lignin and the bacteria causes decomposition and metabolysis of lignin and decomposition of formed low mol. and modified lignins.    ADVANTAGE -   Chemical pulp is bleached efficiently to have a high degree of whiteness with good yield of pulp., reducing chlorine bleaching agent consumption.    In an example, a pulp slurry was prepd. by mixing 1,000 g unbleached kraft pulp with 3,450 deionised water and heating it at 121 deg. C for 15 minutes. 100 ml of suspension of Coriolus versicolor and 1 ml of culture soln. of Xanthomonas oryzae were added to the pulp slurry and bleaching was effected at 25 deg. C for 5 days.
In a fermentation device for organic refuse, a cylindrical shell body having a material feed port and a treated material discharge port is horizontally arranged. A shaft is mounted in the axial direction in the shell body and stirring blades are installed on the shaft. A heating device is connected with the shell body. A crusher is installed in the material feed port.    Solid refuse such as bony parts of fish can be crushed finely by the crusher, so that the surface area of the material is increased and the grading becomes uniform. Thereby contact efficiency with air in drying and fermentation processes and rate of drying and fermentation can be increased. Further more the moisture can be removed in the drying process after crushing in the return pipeline, the heat loss to the outside can be eliminated and malodours formation can be prevented.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to ferment organic refuse such as wet refuse, etc. for composting.
The deodorisation method involves bringing a gas contg malodours into contact with the extn residue of conifer saw dust carrying microorganisms.    A claimed deodorising appts is filled with extn residue of conifer saw dust.    The extn residue can be obtd by extracting raw conifer saw dust with boiling water for 60-120 min. As the microorganism, a usual activated sludge obtd in waste water treatment can be used, particularly sulphur oxidn bacteria eg Thiobacillus thioparus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can be used for treating odorous gases of kitchen garbage, sewage, toilet, etc. The method provides a high growth efficiency of microorganism, long term stable deodorisation and low cost deodorisation operation.
The process converts liq. organic matter with possible solids in reactor chambers. Microorganisms or catalytic agents convert the feedstock into liq. and/or gaseeous effluents. The interior of the reactor vessel is filled with a slowly rotating rotor with baffle plates spaced apart on a central axis defining separate chambers. Each chamber is sepd. by baffle plates or by the ends of the reactor vessel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to digest organic waste materials. The process takes place more effectively in separate chambers and can handle liquids with high solids contents.
A compost bead aerator has a two counter-rotating milling cylinders (8,10) displaceable along a compost bed and can peel off and transfer a layer of compost to an inclined conveyor belt (22). The aerator is on a frame towed by a tractor with the trailing cylinder (10) projecting laterally beyond the leading cylinder (8). Each cylinder has projecting scrapers arranged on three helices.    USE -   Compost aerator for use with longitudinal triangular or trapezoidal beds of comminuted refuse.    ADVANTAGE -   Two milling cylinders give more even loading of the conveyor than prior appts.. with only one cylinder.
Cellulose, newspapers, rubber, glass or synthetics in waste materials are cleaned by (a) providing a washer with a basket which is perforated so that water flows through and the material is retained in the basket, (b) charging the basket with the materials, water, alkali and a surfactant, (c) agitating the basket so that the material moves back and forth and is freed from impurities, and (d) allowing the water, alkali, surfactant and impurities to pass through the perforations, retaining the material in the basket.    A system of two washing machines, such as used for washing textiles is claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Material can be recycled from used prods. e.g. disposable nappies, soiled cellulose and newsprint and old tyres. Organic waste, e.g. from kitchens or gardens, can be composted.
In a new procedure for composting organic materials, the material is placed in an aerated composting container and broken down by microbial action. The novel feature is that after intensive composting, the material is chopped and returned to the container for further composting. Also claimed is a procedure in which the material is moistened after a first period of composting before being once more composted in an aerated container.    USE -   Especially for composting waste materials, household refuse etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The compost produced is of high quality and does not need to undergo a post-composting process, which normally requires the compost to be spread on a suitable surface. The space required for the composting process is therefore greatly reduced.
The inoculum is produced by fermentation with a bacterial culture in a prepd. nutrient medium. The continuous supply of nutrient medium to the fermenter is controlled by the activity of the bacteria, the bacterial culture is maintained in logarithmic growth phase, and the fermentation off-gas is recycled to the nutrient medium prepn. (step) to control the anaerobic conditions.    Also claimed is appts. for carrying out the above process.    ADVANTAGE -   The process permits continuous on-site prodn. of an inoculum of constant quality.
Prodn. of livestock feed from potato waste comprises: (a) comminuting the potato waste to form particles; (b) heating the particles; (c) adding a starch-hydrolysing enzyme (I) after cooling the particles to a temp. below that at which (I) is inactivated; (d) adding a fermenting yeast (II) after cooling the particles to a temp. below that at which (II) is inactivated; (e) dividing the mixt. into two portions, and adding a second fermenting yeast (III) to one portion and adding Saccharomycopsis fibuliyer to the other portion; (f) growing the yeasts in the two portions; (g) combining the two portions and growing the yeasts in the recombined batch; and (h) drying the recombined batch. Also claimed is the prod. of the above process.    The particles have no dimension greater than 1/16 inch. The temp. in stap (b) is at least 100 deg.C. (I) is an amyloglucosidase and is added in an amt. of 0.25 wt.% after cooling to 55-60 deg.C. (I) is maintained in contact with the particles for 1-2 hr. before step (d). (II) is Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is added after cooling to 25-30 deg.C. (III) is Candida utilis. Step (f) is conducted for 2 hr., and step (g) for at least 48 hr.. The prod. is shaped into pellets.    ADVANTAGE -   The process converts potato waste with a low food value into a nutritious livestock feed with a high protein content and a low carbohydrate content.
The composite film is separated into various layers by a process of mechanical attrition in aq. medium, using a hydro-cyclone or similar equipment. The carbon/nitrogen ratio in the cellulose is reduced by treatment in an aq. medium, in a soln. contg. nitrogen and/or phosphorus. The cellulose fibres may also be inoculated with fungi and/or bacteria which promote composting.    USE -   Prodn. of humus and/or organic compost from packaging film.
Reforming device includes concentric reforming pipe having concentric double-wall structure of inner and outer tubes in reforming vessel, heating chamber in central portion of reforming vessel. High temp. gas flow path is formed in heating chamber, used gas discharge path is formed in heating chamber, and heat-conductive filler layer is formed between discharge path and reforming pipe. Catalyst layer inner pipe with concentric double-wall structure is arranged inside reforming pipe, and catalyst-filled layer is formed between catalyst layer inner pipe and reforming pipe. Cylindrical partition is arranged inside catalyst layer inner pipe to form return path for passing produced gas on inner and outer peripheral sides of partition. High temp. exhaust gas having passed heat-conductive layer is discharged through exhaust path, and raw gas is passed through catalyst-filled layer between inner tube of reforming pipe and inner tube of catalyst layer. When raw gas is passed through catalyst-filled layer between outer pipe of reforming pipe and inner pipe of catalyst layer, raw gas is reformed. After reformed prod. gas is entirely passed through return path, it is extracted outside reforming vessel.    ADVANTAGE -   Heat efficiency is improved.
Isomerisation catalyst for hydrocarbon comprises: (a) a catalyst formed by supporting a cpd. contg. sulphuric acid radical or precursor of sulphuric acid radical on the oxide or the hydroxide of zirconium and/or titanium; and (b) a catalyst formed by supporting a periodic gp. VIII metal on porous substance.    The cpd. pref. comprises: sulphuric acid, ammonium sulphate, zirconium sulphate, oxyzirconium sulphate, titanium sulphate, oxytitanium sulphate, sulphonic acids, sulphonates, amine sulphates, thiophenes, mercaptans, or sulphides. Sulphuric acid, or the ammonium sulphate is pref..    The porous material comprises: silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, or hydrate; or zeolite, activated carbon or carbon black. The periodic gp. VIII metal pref. comprises: iron, nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, or osmium. Platinum or the palladium is pref..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The isomerisation catalyst is used for hydrocarbon. The isomerisation catalyst has superior activity even at low temps. for isomerising 4-6C paraffin-based hydrocarbons. The isomerisation catalyst is used for isomerisation reaction, to obtain high octane value gasoline having no environmental problems.
The device elimiantes odours by using micro-organisms. It has a filling material contg. calcium carbonate and/or magnesium carbonate in a deodorising tower.    The aggregate size of the filling mateiral is 1-50 mm. The contact time of odours with the filling material is pref. 5-30 min.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is used for deodorisation in a sewage or night soil treatment plant. The carbonate controls a fall of pH and a rise of sulphate ion concn. without a special arrangement, and a stable and efficient deodorisation can be maintained for a long period.
A vegetable growing method, where vegetable seeds are planted in and budded from an upper layer of vegetable growing culture medium. The upper layer comprises an organic culture medium mainly organic fertiliser, made from a culture medium used for growing mushrooms and a lower layer comprises a fertiliser layer or a soil wherein a fertiliser is mixed. The roots of the seeds are extended through the upper layer into the lower layer so that the fertiliser in the fertiliser layer or the soil is absorbed by the vegetable to grow the vegetable. The organic culture medium can also comprise: (1) saw-dust and rice bran; (2) powder or granular corn cob and rice bran; (3) bean-curd refuse, powder or granular corn cob and residues of rice, barley and potatoes left after alcohol brewing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Just by supplying water and without applying any fertiliser, the vegetables can be grown well, without causing nutrition deficiency nor hypernutrition. Previously, bean-curd waste, corn cob, and residue of rice, barley and potatoes left after alcohol brewing, have been discarded after a complicated and expensive treatment, but here, the effective utilisation process of such waste is provided.
An organic culture medium is almost completely made into organic fertiliser by putrefaction and fermentation of bean-curd waste, powder or granular corn cob, and residue of rice, barley and potatoes left after alcohol brewing.    Vegetable seeds are planted in the organic medium for growing vegetables, then water is supplied to the organic medium so that the vegetables are budded and grown.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Just by supplying water and without applying any fertiliser, the vegetables are grown well, without causing nutrition deficiency nor hypernutrition. Previously, the bean-curd waste, corn cob and residues of rice, barley and potatoes left after alcohol brewing, have been discarded after a complicated and expensive treatment, but here, the effective utilisation process of such waste is provided.
An organic culture medium is almost completely made into organic fertiliser by putrefraction and fermentation of a culture medium used for growing mushroom. The culture medium mainly comprises (1) saw-dust and rice bran or (2) powder or granular corn cob and rice bran.    Vegetable seeds are planted in the organic medium, then water is supplied to the organic medium so that the vegetables are budded and grown.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Just by supplying water and without applying any fertiliser, the vegetables are grown well, without causing nutrition deficiency nor hypernutrition. Previously, the medium used for growing mushroom was discarded after a complicated and expensive treatment, but here, the effective utilisation process of such waste is provided.
The mixer, incorporating a compressor connected to a perforated pipe in the bottom of the tank and used for filling, emptying and mixing purposes, has the pipe (9) between the compressor and perforated pipe equipped with two valves (14,12), the first of which prevents air from passing through the main safety unit (8), while the other (12) prevents it from being sucked back through the filling pipe (9). The seal between the valve (14) and its seat (15) is not total, so that a small amount of air can pass through the main safety unit.    Improved performance, obviating need to purge safety systems between fillings.
Non-flammable azeotrope or azeotrope like compsn. comprises: at least one fluorine contg. molecule selected from HFC-134a, HFC-134, HFC-23, HFC-236 ea and HFC-236 fa; and 0-6 wt.% of at least one hydrocarbon; at a temp. and pressure sufficient to cause formation of the compsn. The atmospheric pressure b.pt. of the fluorine contg. molecule and the hydrocarbon differ by at least 37 deg.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. may be used as refrigerants (claimed), cleaning agents, expansion agents, for polyolefins, and polyurethanes, aerosol propellants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids, polymerisation media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents, and displacement drying agents. The formation of an azeotropic or azeotrope like compsn. can lower or eliminate the flammability of mixts. contg. a hydrocarbon and a fluorinated molecule. The heat transfer coefft. of refrigerants such as hydrofluorocarbons or hydrochlorofluorocarbons is increased by 10-50% in heat transfer equipment having enhanced substances by addn. of a small amt. of a hydrocarbon.
Continuous composting appts. has an enclosed tunnel with inlet and outlet ends. A conveyor track runs through the tunnel and a series of conveyor trays may be shunted through the appts. The trays contain material to be composted which is agitated and aerated during its progress through the tunnel. The trays are shunted by means of a ram, the stroke of which is set to a chosen shunting increment for the conveyor trays.    The trays (24) are shunted through the tunnel on the conveyor tracks. Material for composting is added from the conveyor (15) through sliding door (17) to a suitable depth in tray (24a). The tray is then stepped forwards by means of a ram (26) which has a stroke sufficient to allow for the next tray (24b). Ram (26) is then withdrawn and tray (24b) is inserted between the ram and tray (24a). The number of trays and the length of the tunnel are such that composting is complete when a tray (24) reaches end (18) of the tunnel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the continuous composting of waste material. The invention provides an improved composting appts. which allows proper aeration during the composting process, avoids compaction of the composting material and inhibits the unpleasant smells normally associated with composting.
Method for improving the performance of anaerobic solids digesters comprises adding at least one chelating agent (I) to a solid substrate (i.e. the digester sludge) to solubilise solid nutrients and thus enhance bacterial growth. Pref (I) is 1,2-cyclohexanediamine- N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (Ia) and is added together with a nutrient comprising FeSO4.    ADVANTAGE -   Methane prodn. can be increased or smaller digesters can be used to achieve the same methane prodn. Faster start-up, greater stability and more rapid recovery from upsets should also result.
The compsn., based on association of methane tank bacteria, including sulphate-reducing bacteria, additionally contains 0.5-5.0% aq. soln. of methanol in microbiologically purified aq. effluent, or methanol effluents contg. 0.5-5.0% methanol, to increase rock-dissolving and hydrocarbons-displacing capability. The components are taken at ratio (in vol.%): association of methane tank bacteria, including sulphate-reducing bacteria (0.1-0.5), aq. 0.5-5.0% soln. of methanol in microbiologically purified aq. effluents, or methanol effluents contg. 0.5-5.0% methanol (99.5-99.9). The compsn. is prepd. by introduction of gypsum, in amt. 50-200 g/cc, and methane tank bacteria, into methanol soln. in biologically purified aq. effluents, or into methanol effluents as described above, and leaving obtd. mixt. to stand for at least one day.    Sulphate-reducing bacteria present in methane-tank bacteria enter microbiological inter-reaction with carbonate sulphatised productive strata, with generation of hydrogen sulphide, causing increase of stratal pressure and displacing of hydrocarbons-contg. material to extn. wells. Microbiologically purified effluents, contg. methanol, or methanol-contg. industrial effluents act as culture medium for associations of methane tank bacteria and also as medium transporting bacteria into stratum, while gypsum provides also culture medium for sulphate-reducing bacteria. The coeffts. of displacement of oil is increased up to 69.7% and time of extn. reduced to 8.1 hrs. compared to 21.8% and 22.7 hrs in the known method.    USE -   In oil and gas extn. industry, as compsn. for treatment of carbonate productive strata.    ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. has increased rock-dissolving and hydrocarbons-displacing capability.
Organic waste to be composed is placed in a layer inside a tunnel (6) with a floor (2) providing air passage. At specified times, the waste is stirred up throughout its vol. while water is added simultaneously.    An arrangement to carry out the process described above contains at least one stirring arm (14) supported on a truck (8) that can move the length of the tunnel. The arms have a reach corresp. to the cross-section of the waste layer and means for supplying water to the waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The aerobic or anaerobic compositing of organic and household waste. Compost is produced with a controlled end prod. quality without diseases or bacteria present. Excessive drying is eliminated by maintaining a controlled humidity level and temp.
A fermentation and drying device, an upper tank (1) having a stirring device (18) to receive wet vegetable or animal waste and a first heating device (24) to maintain at a proper temperature for fermentation; and a lower tank (2) arranged below the upper tank (1) and having a stirring device (38) to receive the material which has been fermented in the upper tank (1) and stir it and a second heating device (44) to maintain at a proper temp. for drying.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to treat wet vegetable and animal waste for use as an organic soil conditioner. Since the upper tank for fermentation and the lower tank for drying are separately provided, the upper tank can maintain the most suited conditions for fermentation, and the lower tank can maintain the most suited conditions for drying. Therefore, by controlling each tank at the desired conditions, the fermentation and the drying can be performed efficiently, and the generation of malodours can be prevented. It is possible to treat the wet waste in a shorter time by using less energy consumption. Since the lower tank is arranged below the upper tank, the material treated in the upper tank can be conveyed to the lower tank by the gravity-drop of the material. Therefore, no special conveying device is needed, resulting in a redn. in equipment cost and running cost.
Producing organic fertiliser, by using coffee beans hulls as the raw material, comprises (1) preparing granular bean hulls abandoned after parching, grinding and immersing coffee bean e.g., Arabica L., Robusta Linden, Liberica Bull, etc.; (2) spraying dispersion, prepd. by adding carbohydrase, small amt. of protease, other hydrolase and fermentation promoter for water, uniformly to the bean hulls; (3) accumulating the bean hulls to ferment; (4) mixing them after 70-80 hrs. to mature; and (5) cooling, drying and adjusting the moisture.    Pref., amt. of hydrolase to be used is 0.05-2.0 wt. %. Fermentation promoter is, e.g., cholane, sanasmell T (sic.), arzeron (sic.), aures C (sic.), thomas fungi, etc., and is used in an amt. of 0.01-0.8 wt. %.    In an example, Ethiopian Blue Mountain coffee beans were parched, ground and immersed, and granular bean hulls (10 kg) were prepd. To this were added water (10 kg), amylase (150 g), cholane (20 g) and pepsin (30 g). The obtd. dispersion was sprayed onto bean hulls uniformly. The accumulated bean hulls were fermented for 3 days. Internal temp. of accumulated material was 70 deg. C. Accumulated material was then mixed, allowed to mature, dried and moisture-adjusted to give the organic fertiliser.
Catalyst comprises: (C1) carrier of composite oxides of zirconium and titanium and (C2) metal or oxide of gp. Ib-, Va-, VIa-, VIIa-, VIII; (C3) oxide of rare earth metal, and (C4) zirconium oxide. (C2), (C3) and (C4) are supported onto the carrier. Carrier is pref. honeycomb mould. Carrier can be heat resistant honeycomb mould of crystalline composite oxides of cordierite, mullite, etc.; or MgO, Al2O3, TiO2 etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst is used for burning hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, etc., partic. for burning methane in high efficiency at low temp. and high ratio of vol. of gas flow to catalyst. also has high heat resistance even at over 1000 deg.C.
The appts. to compost green waste has an independent mobile tub, which can be fitted to a skip truck, fitted with a physical or mechanical system to mix the contents of the tub (X).    Also claimed is a process using a tub, or series of tubs, which can be moved and are independent except for electricity and water. A ventilation system, sprinkler and control are integrated in the tub, which contains an aerobic fermentation medium. A ventilation system is triggered while the mean air temp. in the tub is more than a variable threshold value, according to the nature of the waste material.    USE -   The system is for compositing green waste.    ADVANTAGE -   The compositing process is easily controlled in tubs which can be moved by skip trucks.
H2S, mercaptans and volatile organo-N cpds. are eliminated in 3 stages: (a) conversion of mercaptans into disulphides, and H2S into sulphides, in presence of air and specific catalysts for this oxidn.; (b) catalytic combustion of the volatile organic cpds. entrained in the air, including NH3 and some light amines, in 30-70% (50-65%) of the current, and (c) catalytic redn. of the oxides of N by NH3 and the reducing amines in the part of the current not subjected to combustion.    USE -   Appln. is esp. to fermenting organic matter, partic. liq. pig manure, poultry manure or other animal excreta, or to waste water.
Composting of crushed organic waste material such as garden and woodland refuse, raw or cooked food comprises (a) humidification by immersion in aq liq for 2-10 hours, (b) aerobic pre-composting in a digester for 2-6 days at 65-80 C, (c) aerobic maturation in maturation chamber for 8-20 days at 25-40 C.    ADVANTAGE -   Continuous automatic process. Compact odour free installation.
A domestic and garden waste composter has two or more pivotable screens (2,3) and one or more interposed partition plates (4) arranged in a housing (1) which can be set in two or more end positions on two or more standing faces (A,B) so that the housing forms two or more alternatively loadable holding chambers (20,21)    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Aerobic rotting conditions are easily achieved without expensive overturning and control measures and the composter is easy to handle during loading and unloading.    Loading of the holding chambers (20,21) is carried out cyclically such that (i) at the beginning of the first composting cycle the holding chambers are successively filled while the housing is set on its first standing face (A); (ii) the housing is tilted onto its second standing face (B) after expiry of the compositing time of material in the first chamber so that the first chamber can be emptied; (iii) the first chamber is closed by the screen fixed to the housing and is filled; (iv) the housing is tilted onto its first standing face (A) after expiry of the composting time of material in the second chamber, and after detaching the corresponding screen, the second chamber is emptied; and (v) after re-attaching the screen the second chamber is ready for reloading.
Catalytic prepn. of low mol gas mixt. free from pollutants involves reaction of organic pollutants and wastes of differing compsn. and origin with steam, at 600-1000 deg.C. in presence of a Ca aluminate catalyst contg. 20-99.9 wt.% of CaO and 80-0.1% of Al2O3, at a ratio of hydrocarbon:water of 110-5-4, to give low mol olefins, water, CH4 and CO as main components.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The pollutants and waste are rapidly converted to chemical raw materials or fuel gas, in a flexible, environment-friendly process, on a single catalyst. The catalyst is stable at up to 1400 deg.C, is stable against steam, is not affected by heteroatoms, esp. S, and has long life. Waste prods. can be recycled into the materials and energy cycle. Re-formation of dioxins and furans is prevented.
An insect repellent contains Bacillus subtilis S-1.    Bacillus subtilis S-1 (FERM-P 13347) is aerobically cultured in an agar medium contg. 0.5-1.0 wt.% of meat extract and peptone at 20-40 deg.C, pH 5.5-8.0 and the cultured mixt. is adsorbed in mineral powder to give the repellent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Insect pest repellent during compost prodn. against flies, mites, ants and cockroaches and their larvae.    In an example, kitchen waste and the repellent were placed in a cylindrical container of 15 cm. da. and allowed to stand for 30 min. The waste attracted 0.5 (sic) fly, while control gp. without the repellent attracted 4.25 (sic) flies.
Process comprises (a) crushing garbage; (b) mixing the garbage with a dry compost contg. live bacteria; (c) forming the mixt. into granule-, cord- or net-like form; (d) coating the moulded product with a dry compost (pref. having a water content of 20 wt.% or less); (e) piling up the moulded product coated with the dry compost; and (f) fermenting and drying the piled product to obtain the compost (which is then pref. used for the steps (b) and (d)).    ADVANTAGE -   The garbage can be quickly and aerobically fermented with less energy, to obtain a matured dry compost.
A method of composting an organic sludge, comprises making a sludge of water content 60 - 75 % into small lumps having max diameter of 3 - 20 mm; putting in a fermenter having an air circulation device and a heating device so that the sludge is heated to 40 deg.C or higher to accelerate the start of the fermentation, then controlling the oxygen concn. in the fermenter to 5 - 20 % and the temperature to 55 - 65 deg.C to complete the fermentation; then drying to produce compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fermentation can be completed much quicker forming matured organic fertiliser in a few days.    In an example, sewage sludge having water content of 75 - 85 % was made into small lumps of around 10 mm. Product compost (1.0 part), and porous plastic balls (0.25 parts) were mixed with the small lumps (1.0 part) to control the total water content to 60 - 65 %, and the blend was put in a fermenter (shelved in a size of 1.5 m x about 40 cm). The initial ambient temperature in the fermenter was 45 deg.C, and after the blend temperature reached to 60 deg.C, the temperature of the blend was kept around 60 deg.C and the oxygen concn. in the fermenter was controlled to be about 5 %.
The process is carried out as follows: organic material is made paste-like by adjusting the moisture; the material is cut and kneaded under pressure so that the temperature is raised to such a degree to restrict the growth of the psychrophilic (including anaerobic) material, etc. existing in the material, and the material is fermented at the high temperature; after releasing the material from the pressurising condition, the material continues to ferment under aerobic conditions to obtain compost; and a part of the compost is returned to the material to be treated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to compost the faeces of domesticated animals such as fowl droppings, etc.. The fermentation using the thermophilic and methophilic aerobic bacterial which can grow at high temperatures is rapid, and anaerobic bacteria die or are restricted in growth. As a result, the generation of bad smell can be restricted. Returning a part of the compost material accelerates the process further. The cutting and kneading also gives a uniform compost material without uneven fermentation.
Appts. to remove foreign matter from laver mixed water comprises a water spray unit to spray water from a first sepn. chamber having a laver mixed water inlet port to a second sepn. chamber having a laver mixed water outlet port.    USE -   For making dry sheets of laver.
Acidifying manure, in partic. slurry, is effected by acidification using acid-producing bacteria. The NH3 present in the manure is fixed in the manure and the carbonates present in the manure are discharged in the form of CO2 gas.    Day fresh manure is pref. treated with lactic acid-producing bacteria, pref. Lactobacillus plantarum. The pH of the manure decreases to between 4.5 and 6.2 and is maintained in this range. The process is carried out in a 'fed batch' system. Substrates, e.g. sugars, partic. glucose, for acid-producing bacteria are added to the manure. Alternatively, macromolecular substrates are added, together with microorganisms or enzymes capable of breaking down macromolecular substrates into substrates for the acid-producing bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is useful in the prepn. of dry manure from slurry. Acidification of the manure prevents NH3 generated being emitted into the atmosphere in the form of gas. The emission of NH3 must be prevented, not only from the point of view of environmental protection, but also to ensure the highest possible quality of the dry manure to be formed from the slurry. The process eliminates the need for a strong acid to be used for acidification of the slurry. Strong acids are a health hazard, corrosive and cause strong, hard to control foam formation when CO2 is released from the slurry.
A pressurised aerosol, paint prod. comprises: (a) a container; (b) a compsn. of a non-aq dispersion of addn. polymer is in an alkyd medium; and (c) a propellant. (a) consists of a can, a valve cup, a dip tube and a actuator.    (a) further contains a valve cup having a vapour tap of dia. 0.008 in. The dip tube has a dia. of 0.147 in. The non-aq. dispersion comprises the reaction prod. of two or more monomers polymerised in the presence of alkyd by free radical addn. mechanism.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The aerosols are partic. useful in interior and exterior applications in architectural, industrial maintenance, hardware and general purpose aerosols, and in the auto touch-up paint and coatings industries. The aerosol has a volatile organic content (VOC) of less than 65% good in-can stability and better performance properties than aq-based compsns. The non-aq. dispersions have low viscosity (less than 7,000 cps) enabling the prod. to be sprayed acceptably, and are stable, non-gritty, filterable, and have improved air dry times.
Kitchen garbage disposal system has a process vessel (1) installed outdoors with an indoor garbage disposal port (20) located indoors and connected by a passage (19) to the vessel. The vessel contains a medium (2) and a mixing device for mixing the medium with the garbage.    The port may be mounted in a window frame (71,72) or in an exterior wall. Pref. a garbage grinder is located between the port and the vessel. The system may be associated with an outdoor trash bin for non-decomposable material which is connected to a separate indoor trash disposal port.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Kitchen garbage disposal system. System is easy to operate and decompose of garbage in a short period of time.
(A) Biodegrading trichloroethylene (I) comprises bringing aq. medium contg. (I) into contact with microorganisms (having ability to degrade (I)) from intestines of termites. Also claimed are (B) obtaining microorganisms which have ability to degrade (I), by culturing microorganisms sepd. from bodies of termites in culture medium; (C) remediating soil by bringing (I) in soil into contact with above microorganisms; and (D) degrading chlorinated organic cpd. by contacting microorganisms (whose degrading activity can be induced with the aid of an inducer) with chlorinated cpd. in presence of inducer.    Termites are Nasuititermes takasagoensis. The microorganisms are Pseudomonas cepacia, esp. strain KK01 (FERM BP-4235).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for purificn. of sewage or waste water contg. (I) and for remediating soil contg. (I) (or other chlorinated organic cpds.).
A system for the disposal of liquid manure such as arises from ruminants, monogastrics and poultry consists of 2-3 separated substance mixts. (A), (B) and (C), such that (A) is a finely divided feedstuff premix which is added to the feedstuff to neutralise poisonous and gaseous substances in the intestines of the animals and to alter the raw materials and main components of the manure, (B) is a granulated rotting initiator to start the rotting of the excrement from the animals thus improving the climate and hygiene in the animal stalls, and (C) is solid rotting stones for post rotting and stabilising the flowability of the liq. manure in a fertiliser pit from which liq. natural fertiliser can be removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system can be used to dispose of liquid manure from ruminants, monogastrics and poultry and turn it into fertiliser. The system ensures that the liquid manure can be applied to fields in the aq. phase in an environmentally friendly manner. The appts. required is simplified, as are the techniques of work up and application to the fields. (A) stabilises the N-balance and promotes better uptake of feedstuff, and prolongs passage through the intestine, improving the consistency of the faeces as a result of increased absorption of water. It also protects cattle and pigs against diarrhoea and essentially solves the problem of greasy eggs in laying hens. (B) increases the rate of decomposition of the components in the stall and reduces the emission of odours by binding substances such as ammonia and methane.
The assembly to give an intense aerobic decomposition to waste matter, has rotting bed containers (9) which rotate round their longitudinal axes on a frame mounting (10) through a rotary drive, during filling as well as in operation. The start material is transferred (8) to the containers, to be filled by gravimetric progression. The containers (9) are emptied by reverse rotation. The containers (9) are rotated in alternate directions, to homogenise the contents and accelerate the rotting action.    Agitators and mixers are at the inner surfaces of the rotating containers (9), to move the contents forwards and back on rotation for filling and emptying together with mixing. The spiral or angled mixer sections have openings near the filler to allow air to carry oxygen into the interior, from an air feed (11), to flow through the container contents. Ring and/or longitudinal channels at the containers (9) carry the feed and exhaust air and condensation, and they can be blanked off partially. The containers (9) have outlets for the exhaust channel (12) and outflows for condensation. Each container (9) is thermally insulated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly is for producing compost from vegetable waste, sludge, earth and the like, in a system supported by EDP, in a closed circuit, with min. emissions. The composting times are reduced, with fewer containers, which remain on site.
The compsn. comprises (a) a plasticised polyolefin resin and (b) a blowing agent comprising CO2 and a hydrocarbon from n-butane, isobutane, propane and mixts. of these.    Also claimed is a process for the prodn. of an extruded low density foam polyolefin prod. comprising (a) mixing the CO2 and hydrocarbon blowing agent with the plasticised polyolefin, and (b) extruding the compsn.    The polyolefin is pref. a plasticised PE resin blended with the following in amts. per 100 kg. of resin: 0.5-5 (1) kg. of glycerol monostearate ageing modifier, 0.05-5 (0.1) kg. of zinc oxide nucleating agent, and 1-20 (10) kg. of a mixt. of 25-75 wt.% of CO2 and 25-75 wt.% of hydrocarbon. The blowing agent is pref. mixed over 1-3 min. with the blend of the PE resin, nucleating agent and ageing modifier at 20-100 deg.C above the normal m.pt. of the resin in the melting zone of an extruder, and extruded at 85-100 deg.C to give a stable foam with a density of 20-40 kg/m3 after 7 deg.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to mfr. polyethylene foams of density 20-40 kg/m3. The process produces dimensionally stable low density foams with a superior surface texture without the use of CFC and HCFC blowing agents.
The method comprises treating the initial suspension of active sludge by membrane electrolysis, in the positive electrode chamber, followed by sepn. into conc. prod. and clarified liq. To improve the degree of concn., the treatment of the active sludge suspension is conducted at pH 1-4 and with an electric current density of 1-30 mA/sq.cm, for 0.5-2.0 hrs.. The prod. is satd with air under pressure, and the suspension is sepd. into the conc. prod. and clarified liq. by flotation.    USE -   The method can be used in the food, meat processing and other industries, for the concentration-dehydration of excess active sludge. It may also be used in the prodn. of protein, fodder additives and biologically active substances.    ADVANTAGE -   The method increases the degree of dehydration of the active sludge.
A wet refuse treating device comprises a hollow cylinder provided with a wet refuse feed port and a heat conductor extending outwards from the hollow cylinder. The tip of the heat conductor is immersed in the waste water pipe from a bathtub.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to ferment wet refuse produced in the kitchen of restaurant, hotel, hospital, etc. and compost it. In the winter or in a cold region, the heat of the waste water makes the bacteria active enough to decompose the refuse.    In an example, a hollow cylinder (2) of plastics provided with a wet refuse feed port (1) is installed on the ground outdoors, and a metallic heat conductor (5) is secured to the bottom of the hollow cylinder (2). The tip of the heat conductor (5) extends outward from the hollow cylinder (2). The feed port (1) is normally closed with a lid (3). The exhaust water pipe (7) from the bathtub (6) is embedded in the ground, and its tip is connected with a sewer pipe (8). The tip of the heat conductor (5) penetrates in the exhaust water pipe (7) on the way.
A new separator (20), especially for oil-water mixtures, consists of a sludge sedimentation tank, a light liquid separator and a coalescence separator, and has the novel feature that the sludge sedimentation tank (1) is seeded with bacteria or microbes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In particular for separating oil or oil sludge from waste water. The separated substances are almost completely disposed of at the treatment site.
Usable substances are recovered from a composite comprising an Al layer and a polyolefin layer, by charging the composite into a reaction chamber and carbonising at a temp. below the m.pt. of the Al. The residue is sepd. into Al and other residues, and the carbonisation gas is used to supply energy to a furnace.    (Part of) the carbonisation gas is pref. used to maintain the carbonisation temp. The raw material is pref. comminuted, followed by removal of any cellulose present, is opt. pre-dried, and is fed (dis)continuously, uncompressed, to an oven contg. the reaction chamber. The temp. is pref. raised, in the direction of movement of the charge, from an initial temp. to the required temp., and the gas formed is withdrawn, with residue being withdrawn and cooled.    USE -   The composite may also contain cellulose, e.g. in the form of drinks cartons, and the carbonisation gas can be used to supply energy for recovery and processing of the cellulose.
Compost bin (1) for making organic liq. fertiliser, is provided with a bottom tap (5), and holds compost in a mesh strainer bucket (2) which is smaller than the bin (1). Pref. the tap (5) has a strainer (6).    Pref. a lid (7) clamps the strainer bucket rim (3) and is provided with clips (4), and within the bucket centre is a paddle (10, 11) operable by an external handle (9) above the lid (7) which has aeration holes. Pref. the bin material is heavy moulded plastic.    USE -   Used for recycling garden waste or other organic materials.
Removal of dimethyl ether (I), methyl, tert.-butyl ether (II), tert.-butyl alcohol (III), MeOH (IV) or mixts. of these from a 4C hydrocarbon stream is effected by (a) feeding a normal 4C hydrocarbon stream contg. minor amts. of (I)-(IV) to a distn. column reactor; and (b) simultaneously in the reactor (i) contacting (II) and (III) with a dissociation catalyst in the form of a catalytic distn. structure to decompose at least a portion to form isobutene, MeOH and water; and (ii) fractionating the feed stream and decompsn. prod. in the column to provide an overhead vapour fraction contg. hydrocarbons and all of (I) and MeOH and a liq. bottoms fraction contg. substantially less (I)-(IV) than the feed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used to remove oxygenates from a raffinate stream (washed to remove gross amts. of MeOH and (I)) from methyl-tert.-butyl ether processes or in other processes which will leave (I)-(IV) as impurities at 5 wt.% or less. The minor amts. of (II) and (III) present in the feed are converted during distn. to the original components for mfr. of (II), leaving none in either the overheads or bottoms. The bottoms from the distn. column (contg. the majority of the hydrocarbons) are free of MeOH and (I) and may be recovered for further use.
The method includes the first anaerobic fermentation of the effluent, separating the effluent into liq. and solid fractions with subsequent second stage anaerobic fermentation of the liq. fraction forming fermented suspension biomass, and joining the biogases formed during the first and second stages. The biogas formed during fermentation is cleaned from ammonia by its passage through ammonia water soln. and separating into methane and carbon dioxide gases. The solid fraction after the first stage is hydrolysed and sepd. into liq. and solid fractions. The hydrolysis liq. fraction is supplied for yeast growing. The suspension biomass obtd. after stage two is sepd. into liq. fraction and silt sediment. The ammonia is removed from the liq. phase by blowing through with obtd. methane. An aerobic fermentation is carried out forming a mixt. contg. liq. fraction and silt sediment. The liq. phase, carbon dioxide gas and ammonia water, formed during biogas cleaning, are supplied for micro seaweed growing. The seaweed suspension formed is sepd. into green biomass used as food supplement, and clean water. The yeast suspension formed during yeast growing is joined with the solid fraction formed during hydrolysis, silt sediment after second stage, anaerobic and aerobic fermentation and the mixt. obtd. is plasma treated and used as food supplement.    USE -   The method is used for protein animal food biosynthesis using untraditional raw materials.    ADVANTAGE -   The environmental pollution is reduced, effluent cleaning efficiency and yield are increased.
Methane is converted into C2 hydrocarbons with greater selectivity w.r.t. ethylene using highly stable catalysts.    USE -   The method is used to produce ethane and ethylene from methane.    ADVANTAGE -   The method gives up to 52% methane conversion with an increased yield of ethylene of 13-15 mol.% and the catalyst used is highly stable.
Fermented compost (A) of organic fertilisers, is mfd. by adding squashy pebbles, turfs, swelled rice hulls and an additive to beancurd dregs obtd. in the prodn. of beancurd; inoculating Bacillus Brevis AS91B to mixt; and cultivating at 25-30 deg.C for 25-35 days.    The liquor fertiliser (B) of the organic fertilisers is mfd. by adding 0.01-0.1 % saccharines to the beancurd liquors; inoculating the Bacillus to the mixt. and cultivating it at 25-35 deg.C for 4-5 days.    USE -   Organic fertiliser is used for vegetable culture.
In the process, raw hydrocarbon is desulphurised, preheated with steam and reformed on a reforming catalyst through low-temp. steam reforming to obtain a methane-rich reformed gas, from which CO2 is removed to obtain city gas. The desulphurisation is carried out by contacting the hydrocarbon with a catalyst contg. copper oxide, opt. after preliminary desulphurisation with zinc oxide catalyst, without addn. of a H2-contg. gas.    Pref. the removal of CO2 is carried out by treating the reformed gas in a membrane separator composed of an organic high molecular hollow thread membrane, selectively permeable to carbon dioxide to obtain the impermeable, methane-rich gas portion as a prod. gas for city gas and the permeable gas portion rich in H2 and CO2 as a fuel gas.    The CuO contg. catalyst pref. has a CuO content of 30-60%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Requiring no recycle gas for hydrogenation desulphurisation, the method achieves a significant redn. of equipment costs and simplification of equipment. The membrane separator is easy to operate with much reduced labour. The method is easily feasible in factories of middle to small cities.
Wet slurry is fed into a longitudinal cylindrical container formed of a porous material, where the wet slurry is filtered and concentrated; and, by introducing a dry gas around the porous container, the slurry is further concentrated and dried.    The longitudinal cylindrical container of a porous material is housed in a closed container to form a composting device. The closed container has a wet slurry inlet port at the top, a product compost outlet port at the bottom, a gas inlet and exhaust water outlet port at the lower part, and a gas outlet at the upper part. The wet slurry fed from the sludge feed port is dropped in the porous container, where it is dewatered due to gravity and capillary action.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to compost wet sludge. Dewatering device and dryer are not necessary.
Binderless CaA-type zeolite moulded body has Ca ion exchange rate of at least 40% and under 70%, and crystal content of at least 90%. The moulded body is produced by ion exchanging binderless NaA-type moulded body of crystal content at least 90%, for Ca ion of 0.25 - 1.0 mole to 100 g NaA-type zeolite in the NaX-type moulded body.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The CaA-type zeolite has excellent adsorption property and mechanical strength. It is used for selective adsorption sepn. of n-paraffin from hydrocarbon mixt., sepn. of n-butylene from butane-butylene fraction, sepn. concn. of oxygen from the mixed gas of oxygen and nitrogen.    In an example, binderless NaA-type zeolite moulded body of 98% crystal content was hydrated and degasified. It was ion exchanged for Ca chloride soln. contg. 0.35 mole Ca ion, at 60 deg.C, for 3 hours. After cleaning, it was dried at 120 deg.C and burned at 400 deg.C for 1 hour. The ion exchange rate of the zeolite moulded body was 51%.
An exhaust gas contg. nitrogen oxides and an stoichiometrically excess amt. of oxygen to react with unburnt fuel, is mixed with hydrocarbon from at least one of liquefied petroleum gas, town gas, and/or liquefied natural gas, is treated with the catalyst made of porous inorganic oxide (A) carrying silver or silver cpds. at 350-650 deg.C.    (A) in (1) is the composite oxide of alumina series. Concn. of silver or silver cpds. in (1) is 0.5-15 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for decomposing nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas contg. excess oxygen. Conventional methods using catalyst made from zeolite and transition metal such as JP-63-100919 is highly efficient for exhaust gas contg. no water vapour, but for the exhaust gas contg. water vapour it is not effective. This method is able to remove nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas efficiently, which contg. excess oxygen and water vapour up to 10 %.    In an example, 10 gm of gamma-alumina pellets (dia. = 3 mm, length = 6 mm, specific surface area = 200 m2/gm) was impregnated with an aqueous soln. contg. silver nitrate then dried at 70 deg.C and heated at (150, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600) deg.C for 2 hrs. and a catalyst contg. 5 wt.% of silver obtd. A gas contg. (800 ppm of nitrogen monoxide, 10% of oxygen, 1700 ppm of LPG, and the residual amt. of nitrogen gas) was made to flow through a reaction tube holding 7.2 gm of the catalyst at the rate of 4.4 litre/min. (= standard condition, contact time = 0.1 gm*sec/ml, space velocity = 15,000 h=1) at 200-600 deg.C. More than 80% of the nitrogen monoxide had been removed from the exhaust gas.
A part of fuel which has been extracted from fuel line, is introduced into a press. swing absorber where hydrocarbon is isolated, and into which is injected exhaust gas. The mixt. is treated with a tri-functional catalyst or with a nitrogen oxide removing catalyst made of zeolite and metal oxides.    A fluid bed catalyst layer utilising the power of engine is used as the catalyst.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engine or lean burn gasoline engine. Conventional tri-functional catalysts have been inefficient for removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engine or lean burn gasoline engine which contg. excess oxygen, besides precise control of oxygen concn. of the exhaust gas has been necessary to hold its activity high. Remove nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engine or lean burn gasoline engine with high efficiency without controlling the oxygen concn. of the exhaust gas, besides able to remove particulates in the exhaust gas of diesel engine using fluid bed catalyst.    In an example (2) is a lean burn engine driving by a fuel (supplied by a fuel pipe=1) comprising methane, propane, and butane, (3) is an exhaust pipe, (4) is a catalytic chamber equipped with a fluid catalytic bed, and (8) is a press. swing absorber. A part of fuel is extracted from the fuel pipe and is sent to (PWA) via pipe (7), in which methane is isolated from propane and butane then sent back to fuel pipe via pipe (9) and propane and butane are injected into the exhaust gas via pipe (10). Tri-functional catalyst in (4) is activated with propane and butane.
Prodn. of organic and mineral-organic (mixed) fertiliser, comprises microbially composting raw material contg.: (a) up to 51 wt.% whole plants; and (b) sludge, which may be previously processed.    Pref. plants are grasses and cereals, partic. soft wheat, rye, oats, Triticum spp., maslin, etc. Legumes and/or straw may also be present. Pref. sludge conveniently contains poultry manure or nutrients derived from other organic waste or by-products. When the sludge used contains harmful biaryl ethers, opt. chlorinated biphenyls, phenols or aromatic acids, the microorganism is pref. a Pseudomonas or Sphingomonas bacterium or a Phanerochaetae, Paecilomyces, Trametes, Trichosporon or Candida fungus, which degrades these chemicals.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method produces fertiliser which is hygienic, standardised and has high nutrient value, esp. essential amts. of free, assimilable N2. The method is cheap to operate, requiring low prim. energy input, and can make use of dairy and similar industrial sludge which is otherwise expensive to depose of. Furthermore, fertiliser provides improved soil conditioning and better nutrient availability compared with conventional nitrogen fertilisers.
Appts., to convert kitchen and garden waste into compost, has a compost container (2) which swings on a horizontal axis (1) to mix the contents through.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is for the provision of fresh compost, within a few weeks, from kitchen and garden waste. The appts. eliminates the need for a compost heap, and the attendant problems of remixing and the emission of smell and liquid fertiliser.
Method comprises (a) inoculating a consortium of microorganisms into a medium contg. N-contg. phenol cpds.. The consortium is capable of utilising the N-contg. phenol cpds. as a sole carbon source; and (b) growing the microorganisms in the medium until a decrease in the concn. of the phenol cpds. and their break-down intermediates is achieved.    Also claimed is a biologically pure consortium of microorganisms capable of completely degrading the N-contg. phenol cpds..    Pref., the decrease in concn. of the N-contg. phenol cpds. or their break-down intermediates is 50-100%. The consortium of microorganisms are ATCC 55381 or ATCC 55382.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is useful for degrading picric acid and other N-substd. phenols. The phenols that can be degraded include ammonium picrate, picramic acid, 2,4-dinitrophenol, 2,5-dinitrophenol, 2-aminophenol, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, mononitrophenols, etc.. The method is esp. useful for the remediation of picric acid from contaminated environments. The microorganisms are able to use N-contg. phenol cpds. as a sole C-source and of completely degrading them so that no aromatic degradation prods. are detectable.
Hydrogenation of a non-aromatic unsatd. hydrocarbon is effected by reacting the hydrocarbon with (i) a catalyst precursor which includes a source of a Gp. VIIIB transition metal from the 2nd and 3rd rows of the Periodic Table and a hetero bifunctional ligand constructed with a phosphine centre and an imine nitrogen centre; in the presence of (ii) hydrogen; and (iii) a promoter selected from sec. and tert. acyclic alkyl amines; in (iv) a suitable solvent which solubilises the hydrocarbon, (i), (ii) and (iii).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used with materials including those with formulae: (a) R'-CH=CH2; (b) R''-CH=CH-R'''; and (c) R''-CH=CR'R'', where R', R'', R''' are each alkyl or aryl and R'' and R''' together form a non-aromatic unsatd. hydrocarbon ring of 6C or more. In partic., it can be used with hex-1-ene, cyclohexene, styrene and 1-methyl cyclohexene. The system provides excellent catalysts and gives prods. in quantitative yield.
A delayed-gelling, post-foaming compsn. comprises: (a) 15-30 wt.% of an anionic alkoxylated alkyl phosphate ester surfactant of formula R1(OR2)n-O-P(=O)(OH)2 (I), where R1 = 8-18C alkyl; (OR2) = ethoxy or propoxy gp.; and n = 1-10; (b) a sufficient amt. of a neutralising agent to provide a pH for the compsn. of 4.5-8, pref. 5-6.5; (c) 0.5-15 wt.% of a post-forming agent selected from at least one higher hydrocarbon having 5-8C and a mixt. of at least one lower hydrocarbon having up to 4C and at least one higher hydrocarbon having 5-8C, and (d) water to balance. The compsn.is dispersed from a container in the form of a liq. and remains as a liq. for a predetermined period of time before it sets up into a gel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is suitable for use as a skin or hair cleaner, such as having gel or a shampoo, or as a fabric cleaner. The compsn. is mild and effective, while liq., the compsn. can be applied easily to the skin or hair in a fluid and even manner. The liq. then rapidly sets up into a gel until it is rubbed, at which time it post-foams into a lathered prod.
Treatment of a solid or liq. medium contaminated with a hydrocarbon (I) comprises treating the medium, in presence of water and microorganism(s) (MO) capable of metabolising (I), with a salt compsn. (II) contg. ammonium bicarbonate and/or potassium bicarbonate. (II) yields NH4 and HCO3 ions when dissolved in water, and is added to the medium as aq. soln. or as a solid. (I) contamination is eliminated or reduced to a desired lower level.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. for treating soil or groundwater contaminated with crude oil, diesel fuel or gasoline (all claimed), e.g. due to leakage or spillage during storage, pumping, prodn. or transportation. (II) provides nutrients for enhancing the propagation of MO, and hence the degradation of (I), without any undesirably large increase or decrease in the pH of the medium being decontaminated. If soil is decontaminated with (II) contg. KHCO3, the treatment also provides K as a nutrient for future plant growth.
Disposal system involves charging a rotating vessel (4) with kitchen garbage via a port (30b). The garbage is mixed in the vessel with a medium for cultivating the aschelminthes and microorganisms.    The port may open into the centre or the side of the vessel's rotation. The vessel can be rotated intermittently. Rotational position detectors (8, 9) ensure the vessel stops in a set position. Vessel wt. detector (91) detects when decomposition is complete. A grinder (3) can act on the garbage before it enters the vessel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Disposal system for organic kitchen garbage. Faster decomposition of organic kitchen garbage than with composting.
Manure and organic moisture absorbing material is positioned in layers, components are mixed with simultaneous mixt. displacement to the composting point and subsequent aerobic mixt. composting. The composting is carried out in a fermenter at mixt. humidity of 70% with periodic ventilation for 5-7 days. Prior to composting, the mixt. loaded to the fermenter is covered with a layer of ready compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for fertiliser prodn. Environmental pollution is reduced.    In an example, the raw material is brought to the composting area along the road (3). The trench (5) is filled with peat, wood shavings or crushed straw to a layer of 40 cm. and then manure is loaded into layer depth of 40 cm. After trench filling, the organic mixt. is simultaneously mixed and loaded into the fermenter until it is full and is covered at the top with a layer of ready fertiliser to a thickness of 10 cm. The ventilation system is switched on and the air is supplied at intervals.
Fermentation device comprises a crushing device to crush wet refuse, a stirring device to stir the wet refuse, a temp. control device to control the temp. in the fermentation device, a wet refuse inlet port, a compost discharge port, an air taking-in port, and an air taking-out port.    Wet refuse is pref. fed into the fermenter (1) through the wet refuse inlet port (7). The wet refuse is subjected to crushing and stirring by stirring blades (2a), (2b), (2c) and crushing blades (3a), (3b), (3c). The crushing blades and stirring blades are rotated by a common shaft (5). The compost is discharged from the compost discharge port (11), and the gas is discharged from the air taking-out port (18).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to ferment domestic wet refuse for composting to reduce the amt. of discharged refuse. The crushing device for wet refuse is installed in the fermentation device, so no transporting devices are required. The wet refuse attached to the crushing device is treated by fermentation, so that washing of the wet refuse may be eliminated, and no separating device is needed to separate water from wet refuse. Generation of odour, etc. may be eliminated.
Fermenter is formed from a closed-end container having an opening at the top. A porous organic filler contg., fermentable bacteria is arranged at the bottom of the fermenter. A shaft is positioned in the fermenter in the central longitudinal direction of the fermenter, which is rotated by a motor. Spiral stirring blades are positioned on the outside periphery of the shaft. A heat source to heat the interior of the fermenter is positioned on the outside of the fermenter. A wet refuse feed cylinder leads to the fermenter.    On the inside of a closed-end container (2) having an opening at the top (1), a porous cylinder (4) e.g. wire gauze is pref. arranged to hold a clearance (3) of 5 cm. The porous organic filler (7) including wood powder, bean-curd refuse, and fermentable bacteria is arranged at the bottom of the porous cylinder (4) and at the clearance (3) between the cylinder (4) and the container (2).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to feed domestic wet refuse into a small container of a PVC bucket placed on a veranda for several years. The refuse may be decomposed rapidly to form an inorganic substance. After feeding the refuse into the fermenter, the stirring in the fermenter and the temp. increase may be effected at the same time, so that the activity of the fermentable bacteria may be controlled freely, and the refuse may be treated rapidly.
System used to ferment an organic substance using anaerobic thermophilic bacteria for composting comprises (a) a hopper to feed the organic material; (b) a material supply device to feed the material fed into the hopper; (c) a drum type stirring device to stir the material together with the thermophilic bacteria; (d) a hot air supply device to supply hot air to the stirring device; (e) a blower connected to the material stirring device to discharge the vol. of air corresp. to the vol. supplied from the hot air supply device; (f) a dust collector on the piping of the blower to remove the dust in the exhaust; and (g) a deodorisation device which takes the exhaust including odour and deodorises the exhaust with a Pt catalyst.    The organic substance fermentation system pref. comprises a drying drum (1) arranged to rotate about the horizontal axis forwardly or in reverse. The drying drum (1) has organic material housed in it, and accelerates the fermentation using the thermophilic bacteria. The drying drum (1) has a crushing shaft (5) horizontally at the lower part, and the crushing shaft has knives (7) to crush the organic material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to ferment organic material e.g. bones of fish, rubbish of vegetables, etc. in sanitary environmental conditions at high speeds. The fermentation may be effected without emitting dust or odour to outside of the system.
A composting device to accelerate the aerobic fermentation of a sediment in a fermenter supplies air from the outside via stirring blade members (15a). At the back of the blade members rotating horizontally in the fermenter there are several air supply ports (19) have air supply pipes (17) penetrating the blade membes (15a) in the longitudinal direction and overhanging wings (20) to prevent sediment entering the air supply ports (19).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the composting devices for cattle faeces. The clogging of the air supply ports can be prevented, and the air supply blades ensure accurate ventilation. Therefore, it is possible to accelerate efficiently the moisture evaporation and aerobic fermentation. Thus even the faeces of cattle having high water content can be fermented without adjusting the water content before feeding into the fermenter.    In an example, a vertical composting device (1) comprised a cylindrical fermenter (2), blowers (3a), (3b) at the top and at the bottom of fermenter, and a feed port (4) for the fermentation material. A shaft (5) is provided at the center of the fermenter, and air introducing pipes (7a), (7b) are inserted in the shaft (5). Ten mounting frames (11) are installed to the outside periphery of the shaft. The five mounting frames (11) at the lower part supply air to the blades (15), and the other five mounting frames are for the stirring blades (13).
Magnetic catalyst particles which are fixed on a source material and are used for a reaction are recovered as follows, magnet are placed on the outside wall of a channel through which the reaction mixt. flow after reaction, so that the magnetic catalyst particles are stuck on the inside wall of the channel; then the magnet are removed from the channel to cut off the magnetic field; fluid is introduced into the channel to transport the magnetic catalyst particles out of the channel.    Pref. the ratio of Fm./Ff is controlled to be 100 to 1000000, where Fm is the magnetic force which the catalyst particles receive from the magnetos and Ff is the force which the catalyst particles receive from the fluid of the reaction mixt..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to recover magnetic catalyst particles which are used in the chemical processing of food, medicine or chemical prodn. or in waste water treatment. Bacteria or enzymes are fixed on the magnetic particles. The catalyst particles are removed from the reaction mixt. by magnetic means, so that they are not mechanically damaged and that impurities are hardly involved in the recovery process.
In the prodn. water is decomposed electrolytically to generate hydrogen; the hydrogen and carbon dioxide are supplied to a hydrogen-assimilating methane-producing bacterial culture; the methane produced is burned to obtain energy; the resultant carbon dioxide is supplied to the culture of the bacterium; and at least part of the cell of the grown bacterium is purified to obtain a useful material.    Appts. for the prodn. has a hydrogen generator for the electrolytic decomposition of water; a reactor with a mechanism to introduce hydrogen and carbon dioxide and a mechanism to discharge methane for culture of hydrogen-assimilating methane-producing bacterium; a combustor to burn the methane discharged from the reactor; and a mechanism to circulate carbon dioxide from the combustion to the reactor.    The methane-producing bacteria is e.g. methanobacterium, methanobrevibacter, methanomicrobium and methanococcus bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   With the method, the original material, hydrogen, can be obtd. stably from solar energy to solar cell for hydrolytical decomposition of water. The cost of hydrogen is only about one fourth of the conventional hydrogen cost. The carbon dioxide is used in a closed system, to reduce global warming. It permits mass accumulation of useful matter in the cell of the bacteria without prodn. of excessive sludge; and the residue after extn. of material e.g. cholinoid can be used as a feed or fertiliser.
Enzyme activity and organic properties of a quantitatively determined mixt. of waste water slurry and lignocellular products is increased using a microorganism starter culture.    USE -   Biochemical compost compsn.
A bacteria supporting medium is made of synthetic resin and has a spiral shape with a relatively small pitch. It is constructed of a number of S-shaped continuous portions defining along their outer boundary a continuous winding line.    Each S-shaped portion extends radially and has an upwardly expanding part and a downwardly expanding part. These taper towards a central opening. A portion of each of the upwardly and downwardly expanding portions bulge slightly outwards. Upper and lower segments of the winding line are slightly offset.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The medium is used to support bacteria in the treatment of water. The medium has a large bacteria-supporting surface. It is shaped so that solids do not become trapped.
Purificn. of (waste) gases and vapours, which may contain aerosols and are contaminated or mixed with undesirable chemical substances, involves a photocatalysis reaction on the surface of semiconductor oxide catalysts (I), esp. TiO2, in a closed or open system, using a fluidised or fixed bed catalyst; and opt. washing out the mineralisation prods. formed by photocatalysis. The novel features are that (a) (I) is treated with liquid or solid agent (II), which acts as electrolyte and improves capillary condensation, i.e. mineral acid, alkali, salt or hydrolysis prods. (IIA) or mixts. or these; and/or (b) doped with inorg. halogen cpd(s). (III), excluding pure F cpds., as halogen radical source; or (c) doped with agent(s) (IV) combining the properties and functions of (a) and (b).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) are used for oxidn. of NOx to HNO3 or redn. of NOx to N2 with NH3 and/or other reducing agents (claimed). They are also useful for decomposing e.g. CO and CH4 in air. Charge recombination inside (I) is very limited and additional new radicals are formed to reactivate the reaction.
For the microbial degrading of organic waste, with an intermediate air flow through it, the duration of the rest periods between ventilation is controlled according to the lowest value of the O2 content of the exhaust air.    Also claimed is an assembly with a container (1) and a ventilation base (3) formed by adjacent longitudinal profiled members or rods (23) at a small gap from each other.    The exhaust air is extracted from the zone over the waste material at the same time as the air is fed in, or shortly after. The ventilation periods have a duration of 1-5 minutes, with a ventilation air vol. according to the capacity of the container. The waste material temp. is held below 75 deg.C. The ventilation air is fed in upwards, from below. The extracted air is fed through an active filter. The ventilation period duration is controlled so that the O2 content of the exhaust air does not fall below 16 Vol.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The operation is for rotting and microbial degrading of organic waste material. Method gives an effective control of the rotting process, where ventilation air is fed through intermittently.
Volume of decomposable materials (I) is reduced by mixing, aerating and moistening (I). These steps are carried out in a preselected sequence and on a periodic basis.    Mixing, aeration and moistening are each on 2-3 week cycles. Moistening is with at least 1 part of water, leachate or raw sewage w.r.t. (I). Mixing is by a mechanical means, esp. a rotor tiller. Non-biodegradable materials are sepd. from biodegradable. Aeration is by mechanical means. Vol. is reduced by mechanical means, esp. using a material reducer, esp. to a final volume reduction of 20-25%. The materials are periodically covered with lime.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process alleviates refuse crisis by increasing capacity of existing landfill sites. Conventional aeration only acts on parts of landfill unlike this process.
A process for alkylating or isomerising an at least 4C hydrocarbon involves (i) forming a Lewis acid-hydrocarbon complex catalyst comprising the reaction prod. of (a) a Lewis acid of formula R(m-2-z)MX(2+z), (b) a hydrogen halide and (c) an organic cpd. comprising (1) a first paraffin with not above 12C, or (2) an olefin with not above 12C, or (3) an ether with not above 6C; (ii) dissolving this prod. in a second liq. paraffin; (iii) keeping the soln. at a temp. such that the catalyst does not ppte., for a time sufficient for alkylation or isomerisation to occur on addn. of the hydrocarbon to be alkylated or isomerised; and (iv) sepg.the hydrocarbon prod. from the complex catalyst.    In the formula, M = metal of Gp. 3a, 5a or 5b; X = halogen; R = 1-12C hydrocarbon gp.; m = highest oxidn. state of M; z = 0-2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The alkylate can be blended into motor gasolines, and the isoalkanes and internal olefins resulting from isomerisation can be alkylated, also to prods. for addn. to gasoline. Alkylation is rapid, with high selectivity and conversion at at least 24 deg.C.. Prodn. of polymers and of toxic waste is a min.. Use of HF is avoided.
Skin lesions are treated as follows: (a) a tube (bottom end slightly larger than the lesion; top end open) is placed upright on the skin over the lesion; (b) a liq. cryogenic agent (I) is added through the top to form a liq. pool of (I) in the tube on the lesion; (c) the tube contg. (I) is kept on the lesion to allow (I) to reduce the skin temp. to a level where permanent, irreversible rupture of cellular membranes of the lesion cells occurs while (I) is evaporating; and (d) the tube is removed.    Step (b) addn. of (I) is pref. effected over 3-10 sec when the lesion is benign. Pref. (I) are CH4, C3H8, C4H10 (i- or n-), Me2O, esp. CHF2CL, CF2Cl2, CHF3, CF3CHF2, CF3CHFCl, CF3CH2F, CFCl2Me, CF2ClMe, CHF2Me, or mixts..    Step (c) retention time is pref. 10-25 sec..    Step (d) lesion is pref. allowed to thaw completely (esp. for at least 45 sec.), then steps (a)-(d) are repeated.    The lesions treated are partic. melanocytes, osteocytes, lentigo, seborrhoeic or actinic keratoses, achrochordon, molluscum contagiosum, venereal warts, or verruca lesions (digitata, periungual, filiformis, glabra, plana, plantaris or vulgaris).    ADVANTAGE -   The method is less expensive than known procedures, does not require expensive storage dewar flasks, and delivery devices, and is far more rapid than conventional methods (scalpel surgery, electrodesiccation and curettage). In addn., suffering and permanent disfiguration is eliminated.
Appts. includes a fermenting vessel (3) with a feed lid (20), stirring pawl shaft (4) with stirring pawls, suction blower (8), and driving motor (7) for detecting opening or closing of the feed lid (20) and rotating the stirring pawl shaft (4) based on the detection result.    ADVANTAGE -   Dispersion of malodour from garbage may be prevented.
Biological treatment of polluted water, sludge and sediments is by using bacteria, fungi or yeasts in growth phase.    Stored microorganisms are mixed with water to produce an initial soln. which is activated by agitation (14) and heating to 10-70 deg.C. After activation, the soln. (13) is distributed into the liq. to be treated via a diffusion tube (34) on the base of the medium. The appts. (100) comprises the means of activation (MA) of the microorganisms, distribution (MD) of microorganisms into the liq. to be treated and a control system (MR). Activation (MA) of the microorganisms in the treatment soln. (13) takes place in a vessel (1) with an agitator (14), driven by a motor (16) and a gas supply (27) with valve (28). The vessel (1) is enclosed in a second vessel (2), with heater (18), contg. heated water (17).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to treat domestic, industrial and agricultural pollution. Microorganisms can be selected to suit type of pollution, and a mixt. of microorganisms can be used, aerobic or anaerobic. Max. activity of microorganisms by addn. during growth phase. Appts. is portable.
The biofilter for cleaning soiled water, especially from a compost assembly, has a container (2) with an aeration unit (7). A filling (9) of bodies follows the aeration unit (7), in the flow direction, pref. of aerated concrete fragments.    Also claimed is an assembly with a biofilter (1), which is controlled for the oxygen content of the waste water and the filtering speed, followed by a separation unit to separate air from the water.    Also claimed is a process where the soiled water is initially aerated, and then cleaned by filling bodies (9) pref. as drops pref. of aerated concrete.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is for cleaning soiled waste water, especially from compost sites. The operation gives an improved cleaning action, in a compost assembly, with a biological water processing stage which also degrades easily degraded organic matter and also eliminates nitrogen and smell-producing low mol. organic acids such as acetic acid.
For rapid composting of biomasses, where the material passes through a rotting stretch with an air feed, the local temps. of the material are equalised by heat exchange in the successive material sections in the flow direction, with a heat carrier medium which is not directly in contact with the rotting material.    Also claimed is an assembly for aerobic rapid composting, with a shrouded rotting stretch fitted with an air feed and exhaust. It has a system to recirculate a heat carrier medium, not directly in contact with the material, for heat exchange in the successive sections in the flow direction.    The heat carrier medium is water. The rotting stretch is composed of part stretches which are separate and parallel and/or in succession to each other, such as three successive stretches. The material is mixed through in at least one stretch. The heat carrier medium is heated externally, and heat from the medium is transferred to the air feed, and heat from the exhaust air is also transferred to the air feed. Condensn. droplets are sepd. from the air travelling along material, and the exhaust air is filtered at the end of the rotting stretch. Used filter material is added to the material for rotting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Operation gives rapid and consistent composting action, with temp. control for an even effect without the risk of spontaneous combustion, using less space. System is for composting biomass materials in three stages, with a pre-composting, main composting and final composting actions, in an aerobic process using microorganisms and heat.
The mobile system has a cube container (1), with a number of chambers (2) each with a closable opening (16) at the leading side. In at least one chamber (2), a water spray (4) is at the upper section and a water drainage is at the base. A pump (5) takes drained water as a feed for the spray (4).    Part of the container (1) walls (12,13) are formed by sandwich plates of reinforced foamed plastics.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is for composting vegetable waste, in a mobile assembly. The assembly can be set up on site, and requires only a water supply and connection to electricity. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9424 based on complete specification).
Compsn. comprises an intimately mixed, mixed oxide of (a) at least one cationic species of a naturally occurring gp. IIB element, (b) at least one cationic species of a gp. IIA element which is Mg, Ca, Sr or B and (c) a cationic species of Al.    (a) is Y, La, Nd, Sm or Yb, pref. T. (b) is Sr or Ba. The compsn. contains 2-20 pref. 5-10 wt.% Al and has molar ratio of (a):(b) of 1:0.5-3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful as catalysts for hydrocarbon conversion esp. oxidative conversions and syngas conversion to gasoline and diesel fuel. Stable contact material with long life and high activity and selectivity in the oxidative connversion of hydrocarbons.
Method of performing a photochemical reaction comprises (a) introducing a first molecular substance into a chamber, (b) tuning the outlet of at least one optical parametric oscillator/laser to at least one absorption band of the first molecular substance, and (c) directing the at least one portion of the output of the optical parametric oscillator/laser tuned to the absorption band of the first molecular substance into the chamber to dissociate the first molecular substance.    The first molecular substance is dissociated into at least two second molecular substances, in which the first substance is a hydrocarbon which is dissociated into at least one second hydrocarbon, the first hydrocarbon being methane and the second is ethane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Photocatalytic or photochemical processes and appts. for processes. The process employs abundant, inexpensive IR photons to promote chemical reactivity to carry out chemical processing with higher efficiencies at higher rates, partic. for converting methane to ethane and other higher hydrocarbons.
Hydrocarbon (I) of C4 or more than C5, which includes a lot of iso-paraffin, is prepd. by low-polymerisation of low hydrocarbon whose main component is ethylene, using special zeolite having compsn. of formula    aM On/2.Ga2O3.bSiO2 (II)    M = alkali metal or alkali earth metal; n = atomic value of the metal; a = 0-6, b = 20-2000.    Zeolite (III) of ZSM-5 type structure is used as special zeolite. Also substd. (III) with at least one metal selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Cu, P, Zn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, Ru, Rh and Pt, can be used as special zeolite.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Isoparaffin shows high-octane value. (I) is given in high conversion rate (99.3-99.9%) and in high selectivity yield (72-95 wt.%). And ethylene is prepd. from natural gas, so high-octane gasoline can be given from materials except petrol.
A 4C or more than 5C hydrocarbon (I) which includes lots of isoparaffin, is prepd by low-polymerisation of low hydrocarbon whose main component is ethylene, with special zeolite at composition aMOn/2.Al2O3.bSiO2 (II) at 230-550 deg C and at normal pressure -30 kg/cm2G (WHSV:0.5-5.0 h-1), where M= alkali metal or alkaline earth metal; n= atom value of the metal, a= 0-6, b= 350-4000.    Zeolite (III) of ZSM-5 type is pref used opt substituted (III) with at least one of Mg, Ca, Sr, Cu, P, Ga, Zn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, Ru, Rh and Pt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Isoparaffin shows high-octane value, but it is hard to cause exhaust gas pollution. (I) is obtd with high conversion rate (96.3-99.8%) and in high selectivity yield (75.05-92.50 wt%). Ethylene is prepared from natural gas, so high-octane gasoline can be obtd from materials other than petrol.
Appts. comprises a rotary tubular treating chamber having a deodoriser at the outlet side, nozzle to spray the urea into the chamber having stirring blades inside.    USE -   For fermenting cattle droppings.
Liq comprises 10-200 ml of liq aldehyde, 5-50 g of 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol and deodorising components, and 50-500 ml of supernatant obtd from the centrifuged culture soln for the microorganism.    Pref the microorganism is at least one genus selected from Bacillus, Streptococcus, Enterobacter, Rhizopus and Aspergillus; the culture soln results from the culture of 2.0-10.0 g of the microorganism in the soln contg 0.2-1.0 g of ammonium chloride, 2.0-10.0 g of glucose and 1-5 l of water; the liq aldehyde cpd is glutaraldehyde; and an aroma is contained in the deodorising liq.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The liq is esp effective for fish garbage emitting trimethylamine.
Unit has several stages at fixed intervals, of packed beds carrying micro-organism which decomposes malodour. Branch pipes of the feed gas are fixed for acclimating the micro-organism.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for removing malodours such as ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan, methyl sulphide, methyl disulphide, etc. released from night soil and sewage treatment plants and various chemical plants. Because the acclimation of the micro-organism is carried out by feeding the gas from the supply pipes and the branch pipes, the acclimation time of the whole beds is shortened and leakage of odours is avoided despite fluctuation of odour concn.
Oxidisable species are removed from a feed stream by: (a) compressing a feed stream of oxygen and at least one oxidisable species from carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane while elevating the temp. of the feed stream by compression heat generated during the compression; (b) passing the feed stream contg. the heat of compression through a catalytic zone contg. oxidn. catalyst; (c) oxidising oxidisable species in the feed stream to produce oxidised species within the catalytic zone; and (d) removing oxidised species from the feed stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To remove oxidisable impurities e.g. CO, H and/or CH4 from an oxygen contg. stream. Useful in the cleaning of a feed stream to a cryogenic acid sepn plant. It is easier to remove oxidisable impurities from an O-contg. stream. The prod. produced after cryogenic rectification may be used in an ultra high purity application without needing a point of use purifier. The technique is capable of narrowing the variation in impurity levels in the plant prod. so improving the consistency of the prod.
Mfr. comprises (a) heating a propylene polymer material comprising greater than 50 wt.% propylene monomeric units based upon the wt. of the propylene polymer material to form a melt polymer material; (b) incorporating into the melt polymer material a blowing agent to form a foamable gel; (c) cooling the foamable gel to an optimum foaming temp.; and (d) extruding the foamable gel through a die to a region of lower pressure to form the foam; and the blowing agent contains greater than 85 wt.% of organic blowing agent(s) based upon the total wt. of the blowing agent.    A dimensionally stable, open cell, propylene polymer foam obtd. as above    The foam is pref 30-70% open cell. The blowing agent is 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane, or 1,1-difluoroethane, or the mixt. with ethyl chloride, or is of isobutane, n-butane and n-pentane. The blowing agent incorporated into the melt polymer material contains 95 wt.% or more of organic blowing agent(s), and may further contain inorganic blowing agent(s).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This foam is suitable for cushion packaging since it has adequate impact absorption properties and resilience. It is also used for sound absorption and thermal insulation. This foam offers high cushioning properties and resiliency. It mitigates impact during multiple drops and absorbs dynamic impacts surprisingly well. It has satisfactory dimensional stability even though it is expanded with fast permeating blowing agents.
Process for isomerisation of a feedstream (I) comprising 4-6C hydrocarbon, and separating the reactor effluent, comprises (a) contacting (I) in an isomerisation reaction zone with a catalyst to produce an effluent (II); (b) passing at least a portion of (II) to a stabiliser zone, and recovering an overhead stream (III) comprising C4- hydrocarbons, and bottoms stream (IV) comprising C5+ hydrocarbons, and a (side-cut) stream (V) comprising C4-hydrocarbons; (c) passing (VO to a stripping zone, and obtaining therefrom an overhead stream (VI) comprising C3- hydrocarbons, and a bottoms stream (VII) comprising C4 hydrocarbons; (d) mixing at least a portion of (VI) with a hydrocarbon fraction produced by the stabiliser having a b.pt. at or below the b.pt. of (V) (in an embodiment, (VI) is returned either to the stabiliser above the feed entry point, or to stream (III)); and (e) recovering (VII).    USE -   Isomerisation prods. of low Reid Vapour Pressure are obtained, of use as high octane gasoline components. Energy and equipment costs of recovery of LPG components are also reduced. When used with a chlorine-promoted catalyst, corrosion associated with condensation of overheads to a product stream containing liquid HCl is reduced.
A process for monomer recovery from a polymeric material comprises heating the polymeric material in a flow-through reactor using a heat transfer material at a heating rate of at least 500 deg.C/sec. to recover a monomeric component of the polymeric material.    Also claimed are the following: (i) a process for monomer recovery from a polymeric material comprising heating the polymeric material in a pyrolyser at a rate of 500 deg.C/sec. to recover a monomer component without formation of solid carbon and non-monomer liq. by contacting the polymeric material for less than 2 secs. with a heat-transfer material that circulates through the pyrolyser; and (ii) a process for monomer recovery comprising heating the polymeric material at a rate of at least 500 deg.C/sec. to a pyrolysis temp. of 650-1000 deg.C in less than 2 secs. in a reactor using a heat transfer material that circulates through the reactor, than 2 secs. in a reactor using a heat transfer material that circulates through the reactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used to recover monomers from waste and scrap polymeric materials. The monomers are obtd. in high yield with minimal amts. of char and tar.
Formation damage in a diatomaceous or silicon-contg. formation during steam flooding is minimised by injecting into an interval of the formation an organosilicone surfactant (I) foam along with steam, in amt., and for time sufficient to cause a local equilibrium with the formation, thereby preventing dissolution of silicon from the formation, so minimising caving near the wellbore and reduction of permeability in the formation.    (I) is a nonionic silicone glycol polymer, a siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymer or a sulpho-deriv. of organisilicone maleates. A non-condensible gas is used in the foam, eg., helium, methane, carbon dioxide, flue gas and/or stack gas.    USE -   Steam flooding for recovery of oil from a subterranean reservoir is ineffective when the formation has significant silicon content, as silicon salts in the formation become soluble in the liquid component of the steam at high temps. and pH. Such solution is here prevented; the foam also reduces the tendency of the steam to override.
The unit for sepn. of methane from aquiferous stratal water comprises pipes (1) of 19-22 mm diameter with connector stubs for drying devices, and a line (2) collecting the water and methane and connected to the gas separator unit (3).    The line can vary in cross-section depending on the flow volume and the number of dryers in operation.    Flanges (4) supplement line (5) taking the membrane to the dilution chamber (6) safeguarded against necessary increase in length with the methane concentration, by a 1.5 kW electric motor actuating a fan. Two or three gas separator units are required if the water volume is substantial.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mining. The water is diluted to below 0.5 per cent methane.
The carbon monoxide gas detector has at least one overhanging section comprising an electrically insulating material overhanged in the air; metal oxide semiconductor layers for gas detection provided on the overhanging section. Electrode leads are kept in contact with the metal oxide semiconductor layers and heater leads are provided parallel to the electrode leads. A metal particle catalyst layer is supported on at least one metal oxide semiconductor layer and hydrogenating carbon monoxide for forming methane or methanol. A circuit (output converter) for determining methane or methanol concn. from sensor output is used for forming methane or methanol. A circuit (concn. converter) converts methane or methanol concn. into carbon monoxide concn.    Detection of carbon monoxide using the detector comprises heating the metal particle catalyst layer to 200 deg. C and keeping the catalyst layer contact with a gas to be measured; forming the carbon monoxide in the gas into methane or methanol; determining the methane or methanol concn. by the output converter from sensor output and converting the methane concn. or the methanol concn. by the concn. converter into carbon monoxide concn. to detect the presence or the absence of the carbon monoxide or its concn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The carbon monoxide gas detector and the method detect carbon monoxide gas. The detector is compact and has a simple structure. The detector and the method detect low-concn. carbon monoxide gas.
Flammable gas is collected from the output smoke of the carbonising furnace through a condenser and supplied to the burner of the furnace.    ADVANTAGE -   Energy saving can be ensured and air pollution can be prevented.
A chain conveyor furnished with a heat-resistant steel wire brush is placed between the carbonised material discharge stage of carbonising furnace and a storage casing furnished with a water jacket.    ADVANTAGE -   The carbonised material in the casing can be cooled by heat exchange due to water in the water jacket.
A compsn. contains (a) 0.01-99.99 wt.% of an anionic and/or nonionic surfactant and (b) 99.99-0.01% of a glycolipid, as least partly as an ester.    The amts. are (a) 45-85% (50-65%), and (b) 15-55%. (a) The surfactant is an alkylaryl sulphonate as a Na or Ca salt or as a 2-8C amine, with 10-16C alkyl gps., 1-10 aryl gps. and 1-2 sulphonate gps., mono- or di-esters of Na sulphosuccinate reacted with 6-20C linear alcohols, Na alkyl- or alkenyl- sulphonates with 10-18C alk(en)yl gps., petroleum sulphonates or Na, Ca or NH4 lignosulphonates, polyethoxylated alkylphenols with 8-24 EO and 8-12C alkyl gps., polyoxyethylene alkylphenoxy-ethanol, polyethoxylated esters of 4-18C fatty acids with 4-12 EO, ethers of 4-18C fatty alcohols with 4-12 EO, mono- and polyoleates of polyethoxylated sorbitol with 4-8C EO. Pref. surfactants are Na dioctyl sulpho-succinate, petroleum sulphonates, isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulphonate, and nonylphenol ethoxylates with 9 EO. The esters are prepd. from 1-18C (1-8C) alcohols. (b) The glycolipids are sophorolipids, rhamnolipids, glucose-lipids, trehalose lipids and cellobiose lipids, where the sophorolipids as esters are (partly) deacetylated and/or delactonised and the cellobiose lipids are (partly) deacetylated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is used to clean media contaminated by hydrocarbons, esp. underground formations. Accessibility of the hydrocarbons to bacteria is improved, resulting in min. residual hydrocarbons in the polluted-medium.
Removal of nitrogen oxide from exhaust comprises contacting exhausts contg. nitrogen oxide with an alumina catalyst contg. not more than 0.5 wt.% of an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal. It has a total pore vol. of 0.48-1.2 cm3 g-1 with 0.26-0.6 cm3 g-1 of pores not greater than 80 A in an oxidative atmosphere contg. excess oxygen in the presence of a hydrocarbon or an oxygen-contg. organic cpd.    Also claimed is a process for removing nitrogen oxide from exhaust which comprises contacting the exhaust contg. nitrogen oxide with an alumina catalyst contg. not more than 0.5 wt.% of an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal. It has a pore vol. of pores not greater than 60 A of 0.06-0.2 cm3 g-1 and a pore vol. of pores less than 80 A of 0.1-0.26 cm3 g-1 in an oxidative atmosphere contg. excess oxygen in the presence of a hydrocarbon or an oxygen-contg. organic cpd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to remove nitrogen oxide cpds. from exhaust systems including a diesel engine. It has a high NOx redn. removal efficiency at a lower temp. There is also less variation in the NOx removal efficiency. The alumina catalyst is able to accelerate the moderate oxidn. of the reducing agent.
Methane fermentation method comprises growing at least one methanogenic bacterium (A) in a medium contg. major substrates assimilated by the bacterium at a low rate. The new feature is that fermentation is carried out using at least 2 substrates, one of which is more rapidly assimilated than the other.    Suitable (A) are Methanosarcina; the rapidly assimilated substrate is MeOH or MeNH2, and the slowly assimilated one is acetic acid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used to generate methane, esp. in treatment of solid waste and waste water. Rapid and efficient methane prodn. is achieved. Use of the rapidly assimilated substrate reduces start-up time (high cell concns. are reached quickly) and allows smaller fermenters to be used. Typically M. acetivorans C2A, at 35-40 deg.C, had generation times of 24.1 hour on acetic acid; 5.2 hour on MeOH and 6.7-7.3 hour on methylamine.
An open-pored mineral bulk material carries immobilised microorganisms.    The substrate is expanded clay, expanded slate, lava, pumice, perlite and/or broken brick, esp. with size 4-8mm, pref. expanded clay and/or slate. The microorganisms are bacteria, pref. those converting hydrocarbons.    The loaded substrate is prepd. by stirring a suspension of microorganisms with the substrate, esp. for 2-200 h (50 h), in a fluid-mixed bed reactor with a propeller stirrer. The O2 requirement in the reactor is (partly) supplied by addn. of H2O2, partic. 30% H2O2, added at the height of the stirrer. The reactor may be connected to the fermenter in which the microorganisms are cultured. With anaerobic microorganisms, a gas-tight reactor filled with an O2-free medium, is used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The substance is used to clean polluted material, e.g. soil (opt. polluted with oil), waste water, used air, and sludge, and in silos.
A refrigerant mixt., for use in compression refrigerating circuits, consists of 12-25 wt.% trifluoromethane (R23,CHF3), 68-86 wt.% hepta-fluoropropane (R227,C3HF7) and 2-7 wt.%, ancillary component, pref. hydrocarbon, esp. dimethylether (DME C2H6O), propane (R270,C3H8) or propylene (R1270,C3H6).    ADVANTAGE -   The refrigerant mixt. is chlorine-free, has a wide temp. range of phase transformation and permits low pressure ratios.
A 1:1 mixt. of a 15% aq. soln. of sodium hydroxide and ethylene glycol is used to inhibit the hydrolysis of aq. acetonitrile during extractive rectification of 4-5C hydrocarbons. The base is added at 0.001-0.01 wt.% of the extractant. The inhibitor dissolves well in acetonitrile and delays auto-catalytic hydrolysis by binding to H+ ions. A conc. of sodium hydroxide over 15% causes the formation of an insol. ppte. Ethylene glycol improves soln. in acetonitrile and a redn. in the water necessary without adversely effecting the process.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced loss of acetonitrile and reduced ammonia contamination of prod.    In an example, a metallic reactor was charged with acetonitrile contg. 6 wt.% water, 0.00005 wt.% NaOH and 0.003 wt.% ethylene glycol. The mixt. was held at 150 deg.C for 24 hrs. The content of ammonia as determined by potentiometric titration was 0.00022 wt.% as opposed to 0.003% where triethanolamine was used.
Addn. of active mud hydrolysed with mineral acid at 65-130 deg.C and concentrated (I) to the mixt. for the prepn. of bio-organo-mineral fertiliser, improves its properties. Evaporated post-yeast liquor is mixed with hydrolysed sludge and HNO3 neutralised with ammonia (waste from cleaning the evaporators) and additional (I), and the mixt. dried and granulated to yield the product.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in agriculture. Utilisation of industrial waste giving higher quality prod.
Process is as follows: 1) porous granules made of calcium silicate hydrate are mixed with organic waste to obtain a mixt.; 2) the mixt. is force fermented to produce a semi-fermented material; and 3) the semi-fermented material is force fermented under milder fermentation condition than that of step 2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic waste is completely fermented material in a shorter period. The obtained material has high and uniform fermentation degree (little fluctuation in the fermentation degree from one product to another), i.e. has high fertilisation effect.    In an example, 90 t of animal faeces (70% from pigs, 20% from chickens, 10% from cows) having water content of 75%, was mixed with 18 t of porous granules made of calcium silicate hydrate (having particle size of less than 2 mm); 2) forced fermentation by aeration process was carried out for 4 days; 3) forced fermentation by aeration process was carried for 7 days (aeration was carried out 2 hours a day when mixer was operated).
Porous support of r-alumina, x-alumina, titania, zirconia, niobia, silica or zeolite is immersed in RhCl3 soln., dried and reduced with H2 to form Rh metal with (111) plane on its surface (dia. of Rh = 1 nm = 8 nm).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   It is applicable to hydrogenation of CO2 at 200-550 deg.C to form methane. Methane is selectively mfd. from CO2 at relatively low temp. and ambient pressure using this catalyst.    In an example, 10g activated alumina is immersed in water soln. contg. 5% RhCl3, dried and burned at 500 deg.C for 2 hrs. in air to form Rh-alumina catalyst.
A biological treatment of a foul-smelling gas using a treatment apparatus comprising two or more treatment chambers (2,2') which are separated by a diaphragm (6), a fixed bed (2a, 2b) in the treatment chamber which contains a filler wherein foul-smelling component decomposing microorganism are implanted, and a neutralisation path which connects the bottom of the treatment chamber through a neutralisation bath (8) to the water sprinkler (3a, 3b) provided at the top of the treatment chamber. A foul-smelling gas is introduced into the treatment chamber and contacted with the fixed bed to remove the foul-smelling component.    Pref. the sprinkler working time in each chamber is pref. unsynchronised.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Foul-smelling gas from sewage etc. can be efficiently treated without interfering with the activity of the microorganism since the pH of the fixed bed can be maintained at neutral. Because the sprinkling time is shifted by each treatment chamber, the amount of the treated gas can be stabilised.
Method involves introducing specimen soln into a measuring cell with a microbiological electrode thorugh an immobilised enzyme layer, and comparing the output of the elcetrode with the output of the electrode exposed to BOD-known standard soln. contg. organic matter.    ADVANTAGE -   The BOD in the specimen soln. may be detected after organic compoinents in the soln. are decomposed thoroughly.
Abattoir sludge, organic manure, and agricultural by-prods. are composed, as follows: Compartments formed by banking earth in a water impermeable base, are filled with layers of agricultural waste (pref. straw), organic manure and abattoir sludge.    The stratified compartments are sealed by an "active peat" layer. Active peat arises, when peat is treated by a soln. contg. 0.025 wt.% cerium sulphate and/or cerium-chloride. Finally, the earth banking is dismantled and mixed in with the materials to be composted. Following a customary precomposting stage, well aerated stacks are formed for post ripening.
An upset resistant porous inorganic oxide catalyst support comprises ultimate particles of a zeolite and an inorganic binder. The support has: a total pore vol. of 0.1-1.5 cm3/g; a gp. of large pores with pore dias. as measured by mercury porosimetry of 0.5-100 microns, the large pores providing a pore vol. of 0.1-1.0 cm3/g; and a strong crush resistance which is of the order of 5 lbs when measured on particles having a min. dimension of 3mm.    Also claimed is a method of making porous inorganic bodies with large micropores.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A catalyst for the biotreatment of aq. waste streams or contaminated vapours is claimed, comprising the catalyst support of the invention having on it a catalytically effective amt. of a microorganism. The porous bodies may also be used as adsorbents or in filtration devices. The catalyst support has very large pores and good physical strength. It offers improved protection against process upsets and is resistant to excursions in pH.
Sepn. of 4C hydrocarbons from a feed contg. a gaseous mixt. comprises (a) cooling and partially condensing the feed in a plurality of successive stages of condensation and phase sepn., and (b) supplying further refrigeration to the gas to effect condensations by indirect heat exchange with a closed cycle refrigerant subjected to compression / expansion cycles. In (a), a gaseous overhead from each sepn. stage is further cooled and partially condensed and supplied to the next sepn. stage while the liq. sepd. from each stage is used to cool the gas. The feed undergoes no compression and no abrupt expansion and undergoes a pressure loss due only to friction of the feed flow through equipment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For sepn. of 4C hydrocarbons, esp. isobutylene and isobutane from gaseous mixt.. The max. temp. of the process is below 150 deg.F, thus avoiding polymerisation of 1,3-butadiene. Power consumption and pressure change are minimised. Has high sepn. efficiency.
Method of treatment of incineration residues involves treating the residues with air contg. 0,.1-100% by vol. CO2.    Pref. treatment is carried out at a temp. from ambient temp. - 200 deg. C under a pressure from atmos. - 10 bar overpressure. More pref. this method is carried out with a gas contg. 5 - 20% by vol. CO2 at a temp. of not more than 100 deg. C and an overpressure of not more than 1 atmos.. Microorganisms are added during treatment or before treatment with CO2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method of treatment of incineration residues produced by e.g. incineration of domestic waste. Incineration residues produced by e.g. incineration of domestic waste. Incineration residues can be used as absorption material for CO2 removal from CO2 rich off gases e.g. flue gas, biogas, disposal site gas or off-gas of composting plants (claimed). The CO2 enriched air treatment of WIP slags substantially reduces the leaching concns. e.g. Cu, Al, Mo by e.g. 50% in comparison to treatment with air. The decrease of the pH to 8 can result in the growth of microorganisms which are beneficial for the degradation of residual (unincinerated) organic matter.
Appts. for treating a garbage mixture comprises a fermentation stage (20) where the garbage is deposited into non-compacted swathes for fermentation of any organic waste. The resulting mixture is loaded into grinder/separator stages (30, 40, 50) where it is reduced into smaller particles.These are sorted in screened separators.    The grinders each have three parallel rotating axles carrying chains mounted by one end and having a hardened flailing tip at the other. The axles are spaced so that the tips of the chains pass in close proximity to each other. Two of the axles are arranged opposite each other at an upstream location and are counter-rotated. The third is downstream and is rotated in the same direction as one of the upstream axles.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Appts. transforms household waste to usable output prods., including an organic soil fertiliser and non-fermentable prods. with various industrial uses, e.g. as a high strength, moulded prod. for fence parts, pavement blocks, curbs, railway ties etc. The grinder chains do not become snarled and are subject to less wear and deterioration than known models. Also, the fermentation waste is readily separated from the non-fermentable.
Sensor comprises two electrodes sepd. by a solid-state electrolyte which is water-free non-hygroscopic and water-insoluble and has a compsn. effective to allow an ionic conductivity of at least 10 power -4 per ohm.cm at room temp. The ionic conductivity is due to Ag ion and the electrolyte pref. includes AgI.    Electrolyte comprises one of: Ag2WO4.4AgI, Ag2CrO4.4AgI, Ag2SeO4.3AgI, Ag2HgS2.6AgI, Ag1.85Hg0.40Te0.66I1.35, Ag1.80Hg0.45Se0.70I1.30, Ag3HgSe2.AgI, Ag3Po4.4AgI and Ag4P2O7.15AgI.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used esp. in detection of atmospheric pollutants such as CO, NO, H2CO, N2H4, CH3N2H3, (CH3)2N2H2CH4 or C2H5OH. Solid state detector operates at ambient temp., has long term stability and is not adversely affected by humidity.
Sepn. of a light component from a mix contg. it and hydrocarbons comprises: (1) countercurrent absorption with lean solvent to produce a rich solvent and light component; (2) countercurrent desorptive treatment of the rich solvent with a precooled light gas stream to produce second rich solvent; and (3) recovering solvent and hydrocarbon product from the second rich solvent.    Also claimed is a catalytic dehydrogenation process for 3-5C hydrocarbons comprising: (i) mixing hydrocarbon feed with hydrogen-contg. recycle and passing the mix over a dehydrogenation catalyst to give effluent comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbon product; (ii) subjecting the effluent to the above process steps; and (iii) using recovered H2 (light component) as recycle.    ADVANTAGE -   Process gives good separation and recovery without using expensive cryogenic processing. It can also be used to treat natural gas prior to pipelining.
Nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas contg. at least 5000 ppm oxygen is removed using hydrocarbon as a reducing agent. In the denitration, two or more kinds of catalyst, those have different reaction temp. for the max. activity, are provided in series in the flow passage direction of exhaust gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Nitrogen oxide in oxygen excels exhaust gas can be removed. High denitration capacity can be obtained in wider temp. extent.    In an example, a fixed amt. of Co nitrate and distilled water were added to mordenite. It was kneaded for 15 mins. and dried for 120 deg.C. It was burned at 600 deg.C for 2 hrs. Denitration catalyst of hydrocarbon carrying 2.5 wt. %, 5 wt. %, and 7.5 wt. % Co (as Co3O4 conversion) was obtd. Those catalyst was laminated by three steps in the order of 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% from the upstream. The reaction gas of NO:C3H8:02 = 1:1.50, nitrogen balance was flown with 2000/hr space velocity in the fixed bed flowing reaction appts.
An absorbing layer in which microorganism is cultured is formed in a reaction vessel and a waste gas and water are passed through the absorbing layer so that methane gas in the waste gas is reformed to CO2 gas by the microorganism. The absorbing layer is made by filling a porous body with small voids having a pore size of less than 1 mm, and a water bath to reserve water is positioned at the bottom of the reaction vessel and the water in the water bath is recycled and scattered over the top of the reaction layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The methine component in the waste gas may be efficiently removed.
Calcium carbide is produced by reacting calcium oxide with a carbon-contg. component in an electric arc furnace, said component being produced from crushed plastic waste which undergoes coking in the presence of granular CaO at 600-1400 deg.C in a chamber furnace.    Thermoplastic waste, namely polythene, polypropylene and polystyrene, contg. 70-85 wt.% C is crushed to obtain particles of max. size 20 (pref. 1-5)mm. Granular CaO, particle size max. 5 (pref. max. 3) mm, in the form of calcined lime or anhydrous calcium hydroxide is heated to 80-400 deg.C prior to coking. CaO and plastic are used at a wt. ratio of 1:1-3.    Environmentally-friendly and virtually complete utilisation of waste plastic. A carbon-contg. component for calcium carbide mfr. is produced from low-cost raw materials. The exhaust gases produced by pyrolysis are high purity and may be used for power generation.
Calcium carbide is produced by reacting calcium oxide with a carbon-contg. component in an electric arc furnace, said component being produced from crushed plastic waste which, in the presence of granular CaO and in a rotary kiln, undergoes: (a) pyrolysis at 400-800 deg.C; and (b) calcination of the resultant CaO-pyrolytic coke mixt. at 1000-1300 deg.C.    Thermoplastic waste, namely polythene, polypropylene and polystyrene, contg. 70-85 wt.% C is crushed to obtain particles of max. size 20 nm, pref. 1-10 mm.. Granular CaO, particle size max. 10 mm, pref. max. 5 mm, in the form of calcined lime or anhydrous calcium hydroxide is heated to 80-400 deg.C prior to pyrolysis.    Environmentally-friendly and virtually complete utilisation of waste plastic. A carbon-contg. component for calcium carbide mfr. is produced from low-cost raw materials. The exhaust gases produced by pyrolysis are high purity and may be used for power generation.
Calcium carbide is produced by reacting calcium oxide with a carbon-contg. component in an electric arc furnace, said component being produced from crushed plastic waste which undergoes pyrolysis in the presence of granular CaO at 600-1300 deg.C in a rotary kiln.    Thermoplastic waste, namely polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene, contg. 70-85 wt.% C is crushed to obtain particles of max. size 20 nm, pref. 1-5 mm.. Granular CaO, particle size max. 2 mm, pref. max. 1 mm, in the form of calcined lime or anhydrous calcium hydroxide is mixed with the plastic waste at a wt. ratio of 1:1-3, this mixt. being compressed prior to pyrolysis to form pellets 10-50 mm in size.    Environmentally-friendly and virtually complete utilisation of waste plastic. A carbon-contg. component for calcium carbide mfr. is produced from low-cost raw materials. The exhaust gases produced by pyrolysis are high purity and may be used for power generation.
In a catalytic process for reaction of a 2-10C acyclic satd. cpd. with a 2-5C acyclic unsatd. cpd. to form cpds. of greater mol. wt. than the starting materials, the catalyst comprises a sulphated and calcined mixt. of (1) a support comprising an oxide or hydroxide of a Gp. IVA element; (2) an oxide or hydroxide of Mo; and (3) a metal selected from Gps. VA, VIA other than Mo, IB, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVB and the lanthanides.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to upgrade chemical cpds. in crude oil to cpds. of greater value as fuels. The catalysts provide results superior to those obtd. with a sulphated catalyst support alone. They provide higher concns. of 8C species and lower amts. of 5-70 cracked prods. and a significantly higher percentage of high octane trimethylpentanes within the 8C fraction than can be achieved with catalyst (1) or traditional catalysts. Alkylation reactions can be carried out in a more energy efficient manner at room temp. to give good yields of alkylate.
Conversion or methane to higher hydrocarbons comprises: (a) providing a methane gas; (b) providing a catalyst comprising a support material which is an oxide of Si, Zr or Mg, a Mn catalytic agent on the support material and an alkali metal promoter impregnated into the catalyst, the surface atomic ratio of promoter:Mn being at least 5; and (c) contacting the methane gas with the catalyst at effective conversion conditions.    The dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon comprises: (i) providing a feedstock including O and dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon; (ii) providing a catalyst as in (b); and (iii) contacting the feedstock with the catalyst at effective dehydrogenation conditions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For direct conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons and the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons. Catalysts has high stability, activity and conversion rates which are maintained over the reaction time. Enhanced yields are obtd.
Oxidative coupling of methane is effected by contacting a gaseous 02/CH4 mixt. with a fluidised bed of a catalyst comprising Fe203 supported on high-purity silica bearing surface H20 mols and having a particle size of 150-215 microns. The catalyst has a surface area of ca. 0.004m2/g and a surface Fe concn. of ca 2 wt. %.    The 02/CH4 mixt. may also contain steam.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process converts CH4 to C2+ hydrocarbons esp. ethane and ethylene. The catalyst is inexpensive and has good attrition resistance.
Method of composting organic waste, e.g. garden refuse, by enclosing the waste under a tubular cover (1) of flexibelt material. The open ends of (1) are provided with a circular article (2) for keeping said ends open, the first opening (4) being placed on an underlay or directly on the ground (3) so that the waste comes into contact with the underlying soil. All or part of the second upper opening (5) is covered by rotating the end of (1) from the underlay or ground about an axis lengthways to the (4), and then placing the upper part of the (1) on the underlying parts of (1) so that radial pleats and air pockets occur between the flexibelt material layers.    The appts. for carrying out the composting process is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Compost is protected from rain, wind and sunshine, without hindering the passage of diffusing process gases to or from the compost. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9420 based on complete specification)
In the catalytic conversion of CH4 to hydrocarbons with at least 2C, a 1st feed gas contg. CH4 and O2 is fed to a 1st reaction space under conditions of temp. and pressure such that an exothermal conversion takes place, and a prod. gas relatively rich in at least 2C hydrocarbons and steam is withdrawn. The novelty is that at the same time, a 2nd feed gas contg. hydrocarbons and opt. steam or CO2 is fed to a 2nd reaction space, in heat-exchange contact with the 1st reaction space. This 2nd space is held under conditions such that an endothermal reaction takes place, and a prod. gas of desired compsn. is withdrawn. The temp. in both reaction spaces can be controlled by heat-exchange from the 1st to the 2nd reaction space.    ADVANTAGE -   Control of the CH4 coupling reaction is better. The heat of reaction is utilised in situ, avoiding loss during transparent and giving max. recovery of energy. Prodn. of CO2 and consumption of raw materials are limited.
A exothermic material, consists of a support (A) made of ceramics, high frequency absorber (B) which is coated on (A), microparticles (C) which are coated on (B), a catalyst (D) which is coated on (C). (A) Is made by (i) moulding ceramic microparticles. (ii)) moulding ceramic fibre. (A) Has micropores in which gas molecules can pass through. (B) Is made of semiconductor, or is at least one of oxide, carbide, and composite oxide, of which main constituents are Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Fe, Sn, Ti, and Si. Alternatively (B) is made of silicon carbide whisker. Ceramic fibre is at least one of alumina, silica, and zirconia. (D) Is at least one of Pt, Rh, and Pd, or at least one metal oxide of Cu, Mn, Co, and Fe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for producing exothermic material which generates heat by the absorption of high frequency and decomposes hydrocarbon and carbon mono-oxide in the exhaust gas of automobiles. One minute warm-up time has been necessary for conventional catalyst which oxidises hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide and reduces nitrogen oxides, this product is able to warm-up the catalyst in very short time before starting engine.
A catalyst (a) supports at least one Pt gp. element comprising Pd, Pt, or Rh (0.3-10g/L) on a gamma Al2O3 substrate on an acid-resistant three-dimensional ceramic honeycomb. A catalyst (b) is formed by adding at least one oxide of lanthanide-based metal La, Nd, or Pr, with a lanthanide-based metal/catalyst support Al mol. ratio of 2/98-40/60, to the catalyst (a) for preventing a decrease in methane invert ratio at high temps. and for improving catalyst heat resistance.    A catalyst (c) is formed by adding Mg oxide, with Mg/catalyst (a) Pt gp.-element atomic ratio of 1-30, to the catalyst (b) for depressing formaldehyde growth by NOx coexistence. The catalyst comprises a multistage catalyst layer (catalyst (b) and catalyst (c), (5a), (5b).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used for purifying exhaust gas released from a natural gas engine. The catalyst reduces the generation of formaldehyde harmful to a human body and having high photochemical reaction, and traces of other components.
Cleaning of (G) an exhaust gas contg. (N) nitrogen oxide, (H) hydrocarbon, (O) oxygen, etc. by removing the nitrogen oxide comprises by selectively reducing (N) nitrogen oxide by (H) hydrocarbon, using (C) a selectively reducing catalyst of silica-alumina prepd. by sol-gel method contg. Cu, Co, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Ag, etc. (C) catalyst is pref. of sol-gel method of a metal-alkoxide contg. (A) a mineral acid or its anhydride and an organic base which is (T) a tert-amine insol. to water and soluble to an organic solvent. (G) exhaust gas is pref. of combustion of natural gas to which more than 3 paraffin and more than 2C olefin is added. (C) catalyst pref. supports Cu in an amt. of 0.5-5 wt. % based on silica-alumina.    (C) catalyst is pref. of sol-gel of silica-alumina has pref. pores of dia. of 30-50 angstrom, and acid intensity Ho = -5-10. (A) mineral acid is pref. hydrochloric-, sulphuric-acid, etc. (T) tert-amine is pref. N,N-dimethyl-benzyl-amine, tributyl-amine, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cleaning of an exhaust gas can be efficiently effected even in case of the exhaust gas contg. a large amt. of oxygen and moisture.
(JP6124717-A)   NOVELTY - The separators (11, 12) are arranged on either sides of the positive and negative electrodes (51, 52) between which a solid polymer electrolyte film (1) is sandwiched. An air flow path (3) is formed between the positive electrode and the separator (11). A gas-sealing portion (10) is formed at the air outlet side end of the air flow path, so as to eject the unconverted gas through the air outlet (16).    USE - Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Improves the flow of hydrogen gas and air in the electrodes and prevents reduction in partial pressure, effectively.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of a fuel cell. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    solid polymer electrolyte film (1)    air flow path (3)    gas sealing portion (10)    separators (11,12)    air outlet (16)
Grass is introduced into a fermenter and its output prod. is fed to a pellet forming machine, then to dryer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Grass is treated in a short time without offensive odour emission and used as compost.
Organic waste, partic. domestic refuse, is composed by a process in which waste material (14) is put on a mat of fluorohydrocarbon-contg. plastic (12), which is rolled up. Heat is supplied to the mat via water fed into internal passages (26) in the mat and is controlled to a predetermined constant value by supply of hot or cold water. The mat is unrolled to remove the compost by means of stripping devices (20,28).    ADVANTAGE -   Rapid and complete composting, reducing bulk by approx. 50%.
Chemical recycling of plastic waste materials uses an improved partial oxidn. gasification process comprising gasification, waste heat recovery and carbon removal in a scrubber unit during formation of a soot water slurry contg. the unburned carbon and ash. The process is characterised in that the plastic waste material and oil feedstock are fed directly into the reactor and the unburned carbon and ash are sepd. from the formed gases and removed from the gasification process. A continuous once-through partial oxidn. process is established without the need to recirculate carbon/ash residue.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A partial oxidn. process for chemical recycling of plastics waste. Provides continuous once-through prodn. process eliminating the need for recirculation of the unburned carbon/ash residue. The overall efficiency of gasification is improved and amt. of contaminants in the feedstock can be increased.
A non-toxic, non-flammable refrigerant free of halogenated chlorofluorocarbons for use in a closed cycle refrigeration system comprises (i) a major component (70-95 mole-%) consisting of at least 2 and no more than 3 hydrocarbons; and (ii) a minor component (5-30 mole-%) comprising CO2 and other constituents serving as both refrigerants and flame retardants. The refrigerant has a b.pt. at the higher operating pressure of the system approximating ambient temp. for the operating pressures of the refrigeration systems.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is used in a closed cycle refrigeration system (claimed) such as household and commercial refrigeration, freezer units, air conditioning units, heat pumps, etc.. It permits a 2-temp. level refrigerating operation, the characteristics of the refrigerant being suited to cool 1st a freezer compartment then subsequently a refrigeration compartment. The refrigerant is non-toxic and non-flammable. It provides improved results and higher efficiencies than other known refrigerants. It contains very little or no halogenated chlorofluorocarbons. It permits more effective utilisation of heat exchangers, condensers and evaporators. Energy redns. of ca. 15% cf. Freon refrigerants have been observed, Lower temp. levels than are currently available for pure substance refrigerants can be achieved at lower pressures.
A landfill waste-water treatment system comprises an ozone supply, means for collecting landfill waste-water, a primary O3/UV reactor for treating landfill waste-water and means for transferring the mixed landfill waste water and ozone to the primary O3/UV reactor in the form of a spray.    The treatment system further comprises a secondary O3/UV reactor for pretreating landfill waste-water, and a filter system for filtering solid and soluble components from the treated waste-water. The waste-water contains at least two contaminants selected from organic solvents, insecticides, heavy metals, bacteria, fats, oils, and/or priority pollutants.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system and method are effective for the decontamination of waste-water contg. a variety of contaminants. The method in itself is non polluting and the quality of water produced is at least the minimum required for water for use in irrigation or for dumping into a publicly-owned treatment works for further processing. The cost of the method is economical.
Pretreatment of natural gas for removal of CO2 and water by absorption down to liquefied natural gas (LNG) specification regarding CO2 and water contents. The natural gas(2) is fed into absorption column (C10l) where it is brought into contact with an absorption soln. substantially free of water. The absorption soln. comprises one component acting as a solvent, which can be a mix. of solvents having a high affinity for water and being compatible with the other components having the ability to react reversibly with CO2. Used absorption soln. (6) is regenerated by stripping with large amts. of inert gas contg. substantially no CO2 or water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Pretreatment of natural gas for removal of CO2 and water by means of absorption down to LNG specification regarding CO2 and water contents. Pretreatment of crude natural gas. Natural gas can be purified to contain less than 50 - 100 ppm CO and less than 1 ppm water. Smaller amts. of stripping gas is necessary for obtaining LNG. Water and CO2 can be removed simultaneously. Desired LNG specification can be easily met.
Aerosol compsn. is based on polymeric organic material, monohydric saturated alcohol, foam-extinguishing agent, organic acid and propellant (aerosol-forming agent). To improve coefft. of deactivation, isopropyl alcohol is used as monohydric alcohol, oxyethyl-cellulose (3% aq. soln.) and polyvinyl butyral as polymeric substance, higher alcohol as foam-extinguishing agent, acetic acid (80% soln.) as organic acid and propane-butane mixt. (1:4) as propellant.    The compsn. additionally contains orthophosphoric acid (80% soln.), at ratio of components (in pts. wt.): polyvinyl butyral (100%) 8-15, isopropanol 85-92, oxyethyl cellulose 0.03-0.5, higher alcohol 0.1-5.0, acetic acid 2-4, orthophosphoric acid 3-10 and propane-butane mixt. 2-40.    The compsn. may also contain methylol polyamide resin as polymeric organic cpd., ethanol as monohydric alcohol, difluoro-dichloromethane as propellent, and nitric acid (56% soln.) as additional mineral acid, at ratio of components (in pts. wt.): methylol polyamide resin 9100%) 10-35, ethanol 65-90, higher alcohol 0.1-5.0, acetic acid 2-4, nitric acid 3-10 and difluoro-dichloromethane 2-40.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As aerosol compsn. for dry-deactivation (by spraying) of various surfaces contaminated with alpha- and beta-active radionuclides, for use e.g. in atomic power industry. The compsn. provides increased deactivation coefft..    In an example, compsn. is applied in 1-2 layers onto contaminated surface, by spraying, in amt. 200 g/sq. m, with drying period between application of layers equal 2 hrs., to the total thickness of coating 60-100 microns. The coating is removable manually. No corrosion is caused to metal surface.
Catalyst mfr comprises reacting a vanadium cpd with a phosphoric acid at a temp of 0-200 deg C in the presence of a glycol ether solvent, then eliminating the solvent.    Also claimed are (i) the mfr as above but including activation of the catalyst by the addn of butane or any other hydrocarbon feedstock and a phosphorus cpd at a temp of 300-500 deg C; (ii) the mfr where V and H3PO4 are slurried with a glycol ether solvent; the slurry is refluxed at 0-200 deg C for 0.5-6 hrs to reduce V from (V) to (IV); drying to remove solvent; shaping the catalyst in a geometric shape; and activating; and (iii) the mfr of maleic anhydride by oxidising butane at elevated temp in the presence of the catalyst above.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The maleic anhydride is used for the mfr of alkyd resins and is a versatile intermediate for chemical synthesis. The prodn of the catalyst has improved efficiency and cost with no chlorinated hydrocarbon by-prods as in prior art. The catalyst can be activated quickly and gives improved maleic anhydride yields.
Enclosed compost maker consists of an inner part (1) made of a compostable material and provides insulation and an outer part (2) which provides the structural stability of the unit. The outer part is also made of a compostable material.    Pref. the inner part is made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or paper, and its walls may be solid or contain a void. If a void is provided, it can be filled with air, cow manure, particles of wood, cardboard or leaves, and its inner surface may be perforated. The outer part is pref. made of wood.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting vegetable matter. Serves to contain and insulate the rotting material, and is made of easily obtainable natural materials which assist the rotting process.
The assembly has a drag chain conveyor (6) mounted on a vehicle chassis (7), which travels on the composting contg. frame (4) over the wide side of the composting zone (2) across the turning-over direction. The working width of the drag chain conveyor (6) is a fraction of the width of the composting zone (2).    The drag chain conveyor (6) mounting is at the centre of its length, to be pitched into two working positions by a draw cable (10) to work the material in two directions, with a direction change at the ends of the compost pile.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly is for turning over biowaste material, during composting, for ventilation and moistening where the material is held in layers in longitudinal piles between side walls. The system gives an automatic and continuous turning over action on the material, in succession, to work the compost in strips.
(AT9300779-A)      Assembly has at least one tunnel-shaped box (1) with a continuous drag chain conveyor (8) at the base. A conveyor (2), angled upwards, is at the feed end side (A) of the box (1), with a feed box (3), and a further conveyor (2) is at the other end side to extract the material, generally parallel to the first conveyor. Both conveyors (2) have the same design, fitted to the ends of the flanged housing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for rotting organic waste, such as household and industrial waste, waste from the food industry and also forestry and agricultural waste materials into compost The assembly takes up little space, and can be fed continuously, with reduced degrading times. (Reissue of the entry advised in Week 9418 based on complete specification)
New compsns. are halogen-contg. mixed oxides of (a) Y, La, Nd, Sm and/or Yb; (b) Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba; and (c) Ge and/or Ga.    Component (a) is Y, (b) is Ba and (c) is Ge or Ga.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are useful as catalysts for converting lower alkanes (esp. Me) to heavier hydrocarbons (esp. C2H4 and C2H6) by oxidative coupling. The catalysts have better C2 selectivity than similar 2-component catalysts and better activity maintenance than prior art halogen-contg. catalysts.
Method for the recovery of separate fractions of paper fibre, plastic, soil fertilising agents and methane obtd. by extraction of household waste with water, comprises (a) carrying out the extraction in a vessel provided with a stirring appts. and a device that homogenises the waste without grinding down any mercury-contg. batteries that may be present; (b) leading the extract from the extractor and through a separator, decanter or cyclone, where the waste is sepd. into a heavier fraction, comprising mainly sludge, and a lighter fraction comprising dissolved paper fibre; (c) draining off the water from both fractions by filtering or centrifugal force and returning the eluate to the extractor; (d) removing scrap-iron from the remaining waste by magnetism and taking out plastic by sieving or pneumatic methods; and (e) repeatedly using the recovered extract as extraction liq. and fermenting to give a suitable concn. of methane, or removing the extract to use as a liq. fertiliser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The extract can be used as a fertiliser. The recovered waste is free from heavy metals.
In take-out of a waste plastic thermal decomposition residue, waste plastic is continuously or intermittently fed to a thermal decompsn. oven to thermally decompose waste plastic. A thermal decompsn. distillate content is taken out and recovered as an oil content .In the take-out method, the thermal decompsn. residue contg. an oil content is intermittently discharged from the lower pt. of the oven. The intermittently discharged thermal decompsn. residue is heated for a given time each time the residue is intermittently discharged. An oil content is vaporised and recovered at the upper pt. of the oven, and a non-vaporised content is taken out to the outside.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An oil content contd. in a decompsn. residue can be sepd. with a high coefft. of sepn. and high efficiency through a heating system.
The device thermally decomposes waste plastic and cools and condenses a thermal decomposition distillate content and recovers it as an oil content. The device comprises a thermal decomposition oven 1 to thermally decompose waste plastic by a heat source generated by combustion; a lead-out part 4 for the thermal decomposition distillate content connected to the thermal decomposition oven 1 through a rise communicating part 2; a cooling liquefier 5 connected to the lead-put part 4; an air-cooled heat-exchanger 3 arranged to the rise communicating part 2; and an air feeder 21 heated by the thermal decomposition distillate content flowing through the rise communicating part 2 and feeding air, flowing out from the heat-exchanger 3, as air for combustion for the thermal decomposition oven 1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A thermal decomposition distillate content abundant in a comparatively soft content flows out from a lead-out part and an oil content softened by a cooling liquefier can be recovered.
Liq. from sludge from waste treatment is treated as follows: (i) treating with anaerobic microbes in an anaerobic tank; (ii) treating the treated liq. waste from the anaerobic tank with aerobic microbes in an aerobic tank; (iii) sterilising the treated liq. waste from the aerobic tank; and recirculating to the anaerobic tank to make fertiliser.    Pref. the liq. is circulated 2-5 times, and the treated liq. waste in the aerobic tank has a BOD of less than 0.5 kg-BOD/kg microbial cells/day.    Also new is an appts. consisting of an anaerobic tank, an aerobic tank, and a sterilising tank, with a device to circulate the treated liq. waste from the aerobic tank to the anaerobic tank.    ADVANTAGE -   This method enables easy and simple prepn. of low-BOD liq. fertiliser with N, P and K appropriately maintained.    In an example, the following conditions were set up for operating a system of making liq. fertiliser from liq. sludge waste: For anaerobic tank: HRT 8 hrs.; for aerobic tank: BOD vol. load 1kg BOD/m3/day, amt. of microbial cell bodies 5000 mg/l, BOD-microbial cell body load 0.2kg BOD/kg microbial cell bodies/day, HRT 24 hrs.; circulation ratio 3; for liq. sludge waste: BOD 1000 mg/l, N (soluble, mainly NH4) 100 mg/l, P (soluble) 20 mg/l, K (soluble) 20 mg/l; for microbe-treated liq. waste (outflowing liq. from the aerobic tank): BOD 30 mg/l. N (soluble, mainly NO3) 30 mg/l, P (soluble) 20 mg/l, K (soluble) 20 mg/l. The amt. of the remaining sludge was very small.
Fertiliser comprises animal and/or plant material composted anaerobically to remove methane and a fertiliser raw material for pH adjustment. It has a pH value of pH 3-11.    Also claimed is method for producing anaerobically fermented and pH adjustable compost which comprises mixing a compost raw material obtd. by excluding methane gas from anaerobically fermented animal and vegetable compost materials and a pH adjustable compost raw material selected from the group of alkaline raw materials and acidic raw materials with an amount by which a pH value being suitable for crops to be applied in the range of pH 3-11.    Methane gas is removed from animal and vegetable compost materials by anaerobically fermenting it in a room isolated from oxygen supply, a plastic bag, a drum can or water. Animal and vegetable compost materials are such as animal compost materials, e.g. animal feces, sewage sludge, urea fertilizers, etc. and vegetable compost materials, e.g, rice straw, mown weed, bark, saw dust, soybean meal, etc., pref. free from contamination    by agrochemicals and heavy metals.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost produced can adjust pH suitable for crops, prevent metabolic damages of crops and diseases of crops, and is to the air.
To treat oil in oil-contg. waste water by bacteria, the oil is adsorbed on sludge in an oil adsorbing tank, the water is sepd. to solid and liquid in a sedimentation tank, supernatant sepd. in the sedimentation tank is released, oil contg. sludge is led to an oil decomposing tank, where the oil is aerobically treated by bacteria and at the same time the sludge is activated, and the treated sludge is used again as the sludge for the adsorption.    ADVANTAGE -   Oil in waste water can be adsorbed on sludge and decomposed there by bacteria. A treating appts. is made smaller. Sludge is formed in a reduced amount. Running cost is reduced.
Soil-nutrients are prepd. from vegetable oil prodn. and agricultural by-prods. as follows:    Oil soaked fullers earth boiled with an aq. soln. contg. 3-5 wt. % sodium-carbonate, under constant agitation, at 2.5-3.5 bar pressure. The prod. contg. 10-20 wt. % fat is sepd. by mechanical filtration 25-40 wt. % of sludge obtd. as a result of biological purification of sewage is added. Further 25-40 wt. % of sunflower-seed husk is added and sufficient quantities of 10-30mm long comminuted straw and liq. manure and are added so that a mixt. of following proportions is reached: organic content:20-50 wt. %; carbon:nitrogen ratio:27-30; moisture; 55-80 wt. %. The final mixt. is composted exposed to air for 5-7 months at 70 deg.C max. temp.
Th by-prod. or waste is placed in a pressure vessel (1) from which the air is exhausted. The vacuum is maintained while the vessel is flooded with a liq. mixt. prepd. in accordance with the requirements of utilisation. Atmospheric pressure is restored and the liquid mixt. penetrates into the cells of the plant material. The excess liq. is removed from the vessel and the plant material is further processed.    ADVANTAGE -   Treatment enables utilisation of agricultural waste.
Process for reduction of water usage in photographic developing equipment having a washing bath for developed films supplied with water which is evacuated via an overflow to drain. A measured quantity of water is supplied to the washing tank each time a film is introduced into the appts. and at predetermined times, when the appts. is stopped, the additions are made; (a) a biocide/dispersant/surfactant to the filled washing tank, (b) a glycolic enzymatic cpd. to the pipe connected to the overflow.    Biocide addn. to the washing tank (7) is shortly after stopping appts., e.g. at the end of the day, and after allowing the biocide to act for several hours, e.g. overnight, the tank is emptied and refilled with water ready for operation. Addn. of the glycolic enzymatic cpd. is made after 20-40 hrs. operation, pref. weekly.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Developing of photographic films. Reduction in water usage (claimed). Elimination of algae. Prevention of pipe blockages by gelatine.
Fermentation treatment appts. for organic refuse, has a closed container (1) to which refuse is introduced via a charging port (2) into a pre-fermentation region (10) from which it passes to a main fermentation region and then to a ripening region (12). Gas from the pre-fermentation region (10) is passed together with fresh air from ventilation tubes (17), into the stacked layer, pref. via a pump (14) and discharge device (15), while gas from the main fermentation and ripening regions (11, 12) is discharged (21) to atmos.    Also claimed is (i) a fermentation appts. with agitation pawls (6) in which gas discharged from refuse is discharged via discharge tube (22) contg. a demister, for sepg. mist from gas, and a discharge path for condensed water; and (ii) a fermentation appts. in which a charging box is coupled at its lower end, which ha a detachable lid, to a grinding chamber, formed by a relatively moving conveying shaft and a friction cylinder which feeds the compacted crushed material into main fermentation and ripening chambers contg. agitation shafts and vent tubes.    Preferred embodiment has air introduced into the material in the container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in fermenting and drying organic refuse, such as domestic refuse, night soil, livestock and food processing waste, and sludge. Appts. has high capacity which, by circulation of gases from pre-fermentation region into main fermentation and ripening regions, prevents generation of odours.
Organic waste, partic. domestic waste, is composted by a process in which structure material, e.g. woodchips is placed in a chamber (12) of a large vol. container (10) and organic waste is added at the collection point. A vertical screw (14) in the chamber is operated to mix the structure material with the waste and air is introduced to obtain optimum composting conditions. The filled container is brought to a centre.    ADVANTAGE -   Optimum conditions for composting are obtd.
Method for continuous recovery of materials such as gas, oil, and solid substances from, for example, rubber through anaerobic pyrolysis in a continuous substantially horizontal pyrolysis chamber where this then pyrolysis products such as gas or oil are burnt and fed to the raw material counter-currently in a last step before the introduction of the raw material into the pyrolysis chamber for expelling of oxygen, so-called inerting and preheating of the raw mtaerials.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the recovery of, for example, rubber which mainly originates from worn out car tyres. The pyrolysis products are burnt and fed back to the raw material to inert and preheat the raw materials.
A thermophilic cellulose-decomposing bacterium Clostridium thermocellum biovar.SK522 (FERM BP-3459), which is able to solubilise lignin, has optimum growth temp. of 65-72 deg.C, grows in the range 40-80 deg.C and ferments cellulose energetically, is new.    Also claimed is a thermus aquaticus biovar. SK542 (FERM BP-3382) which is completely aerobic, has optimum growth temp. 72-76 deg.C, will grow in the range 40-82 deg.C, produces a thermophilic protease (having optimum working temp. 75-85 deg.C, working pH 4.0-11.3) and produces a yellow carotenoid pigment.    The bacterial strains are used together as a mixed culture at 60 deg.C or higher. They may be formulated into an organic material decompsn. agent which may also contain vitamins, amino acids and other micronutrients and minerals.    USE -   The bacteria are used in lignin solubilisation treatment of organic materials contg. lignin and/or cellulose (e.g. deodorisation of excreta and mfr. of organic fertiliser) and soil conditioning.
(A) A catalyst complex comprises an organosulphonic acid contg. at least one covalent C-F or C-P bond provided by a phosphono radical which has been contacted with a Lewis acid to produce a catalyst complex contg. the Lewis acid. (B) An alkylation catalyst comprises (A) and an amt. of Lewis acid sufficient to maintian the Lewis acid concn. of the organic sulphonic acid alkylation catalyst component. An alkylation process comprises contacting a mixt. of isoparaffins and olefins with (B) and sepg. the alkylate stream from the catalyst.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst complex is used in alkylation of olefins into alkylate prods. useful as high octane gasoline blending components, and for conversion of organic reactants into reaction prods. Process improves octane number rating of gasolines. Acid catalyst has little or no corrosive components and no disposal problems.
A composting device comprises a cylindrical drum (1) rotatably supported in a frame (2) with a slightly inclined axis. The drum (1) is subdivided into compartments (13, 14, 15) by means of sieve screens (16, 17), where lower screens (17) have a smaller mesh size than adjacent higher screens (16).    A hopper feed (4) leading to a feeding opening (3) leads to the first chamber (13) for material to be composted. A discharge opening (5) leading to a discharge funnel (6) deposits finish composed material into a sack (7). External gear rings (9) driven by a transmission gear drive (12) operated by a driving motor (10) controlled by a timer (20) rotates the drum to expose the contents to oxygen in the atmosphere, assisting the process of decomposition.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the degradation of organic waste into compost material. A simple, easy to operate device for speeding up the process of degradation without a forced air supply.
Process for recovering a condensable organic component from a gas stream comprises: (a) providing an incoming gas stream contg. a condensable organic component, the component having b.pt. more than 50 deg.C at atmos. pressure; (b) providing a membrane with a feed side and a permeate side and which comprises a polymer material with a glass transition temp. of at least 100 deg.C and free vol. of at least 10%; (c) contacting the feed side with the gas stream; (d) withdrawing from the permeate side a permeate stream enriched in the condensable organic component compared with gas stream; and (e) withdrawing from the feed side a residue stream depleted in the condensable organic component compared with gas stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Membrane gas sepn. process esp. for removing condensable organic vapours from gas mixts., e.g. hydrocarbons from natural gas, organic vapours from air, methane, nitrogen or hydrogen. Process combines high flux with selectivity for the condensable component.
Polymeric material is depolymerised by (a) preparing a molten mixt. of (i) a basic material which is NaOH, KOH, Na2B4O7.10H2O, Na3BO3, Na2SiO2 and/or K2SiO3, (ii) a source of Cu selected from Cumetal, univalent Cu and/or divalent Cu and (iii) a polymeric material which is polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride and/or polypropylene and (b) maintaining the molten mixt. under unpressurised air atmos. and at temp. sufficient to reflux the mixt. below 250 deg.C for sufficient time to depolymerise the material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for depolymerising polymeric materials for recycling or disposal. Process for the recycling or safe disposal of polymeric materials esp. polyethylene which can be carried out in the presence of solids or liq. waste contaminants. The liq. active hydrocarbon prod. obtd. from degradation of polyethylene has b.pt. and chemical properties resembling kerosene or diesel fuel.
Producing a foam polyolefin prod. exhibiting desirable antistatic properties comprises (1) forming a polyolefin compsn. (I) comprising (a) a polyolefin resin, (b) a hydrocarbyl sulphonate, and (c) an ester of a long-chain fatty acid and polyhydric alcohol, wherein (b) and (c) are each present in an amt. sufficient to form a polyolefin foam prod. having desirable antistatic properties; (2) adding a blowing agent (d) for expanding the compsn.; and (3) extruding the mixt. of (I) and (d) under conditions producing a foamed antistatic polyolefin prod.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as insulating and packaging materials, partic. for components, such as electronic devices, which require static dissipation. The foam prods. exhibiting good antistatic properties and stress crack resistance, do not have a corrosive effect on metal substrates and are readily prepd. using existing processes and equipment.
In a process for the cryogenic distn. of air using high and low pressure columns in a multiple column distn. system, wherein: (a) at least a portion of the air feed is fed to the high pressure column for rectification into a high pressure N2 overhead and a high pressure crude liq. O2 bottoms; (b) at least a portion of the crude liq. O2 bottoms is fed to the low pressure column for rectification into a low pressure N2 overhead and a low pressure liq. O2 bottoms; and (c) at least a portion of the liq. O2 bottoms from (b) is boiled in a sump located at the bottom of the low pressure column; a method to produce a stream enriched in Kr and Xe directly from the low pressure column comprises: (i) withdrawing an O2-enriched vapour stream and an O2-enriched liq. stream from a point at least one equilibrium stage above the sump; (ii) returning the O2-enriched liq. stream to a point between the sump and the low pressure column's initial equilibrium stage; and (iii) withdrawing the Kr/Xe enriched stream from the bottom of the sump.    Pref. after step (iii) the process further comprises: (iv) removing any C2+ hydrocarbons and N2O from the Kr/Xe enriched stream in an adsorber; (v) boiling the Kr/Xe enriched stream in a second sump by indirect heat exchange against a condensing process stream (pref. a portion of the high pressure N2 overhead) and the vapour is returned to the low pressure column and a prod. stream further enriched in Kr/Xe is withdrawn from the bottom of the second sump.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows safe increase of the concn. of Kr and Xe in liq. O2 streams of up to, e.g. 1082 vppm and 209 vppm respectively. Methane is removed in the main air distn. column and thus saves the expense of a separate distn. column and the associated reboiler/condenser.
A manometric thermometer contains a body for a flexible sensitive element, a transmitting-amplifying mechanism and a read-out device, while a thermo-bottle is filled with a vapour-liq. mixt. and is connected by a capillary to the flexible sensitive element. Nitrogen is additionally added to the bottle, while the mixt. is formed of n-butane at 15-25% by mass.    During filling of the thermo-system of a manometric thermometer with a gas-liq. mixt. in a phase ratio of 1:4 by vol., a 2-phase system with a sharp surface of its interface is formed in the closed space, i.e. n-butane and nitrogen above. As the temp. increases, the pressure of satd. vapours of n-butane increases, increasing the portion of n-butane of the gas phase. The end of a flexible sensitive element (2) is moved by the increased pressure and acts through an amplifying mechanism (3) on a needle (4) of a read-out device. A thermo-bottle (5) is filled with a mixt. of liq. n-butane 20+-5% (vol) and of nitrogen 80+-5% by vol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Measurement of temp. in various areas of mfg.. Extended measuring range.
Waste is crushed and sepd. into scrap metal and finely crushed domestic waste. The domestic waste is dehydrated in a dehydrating machine, mixed with CaO and coal dust and reacted. After the reaction the waste is compression-moulded into pellets by a high-pressure briquetting machine and solidified by drying to obtain a solid fuel.    ADVANTAGE -   The method achieves high disinfecting and deodorising efficiency and ease of compression moulding, permitting utilisation of garbage with small amts. of fuel.    In an example, domestic waste was crushed by a crusher and sepd. into finely crushed domestic waste and scrap metal. The waste was dehydrated by a roll compressing machine, CaO and dust coal added and reacted in a mixing reaction vessel. The waste from the vessel was compression-moulded into pellets in a high pressure-briquetting machine, dried, neutralised and solidified to obtain a solid fuel. Ca(OH)2 formed by the aq. reaction of CaO was mixed well with the domestic waste, resulting in high disinfecting and deodorising effects.
Cycloolefin copolymer resin foam consists of cyclic olefin copolymer resin contg. foams formed from alkali metal carbonate and foaming agent.    Prepn. of the resin foam is carried out by extruding a mixture of cycloolefin copolymer resin, alkali metal carbonate and foaming agent, which is fused under heat pressing in an extrusion moulding machine, to low pressure zone through metal mould of the extrusion moulding machine to obtain a foam.    The olefin copolymer resin has density about 1 g/cm3 and glass transition temp. about 140 deg.C. The foaming agent is satd. aliphatic hydrocarbon, e.g. n-butane, iso-butane, n-pentane, iso-pentane, neo-pentane, etc. are desirable.    ADVANTAGE -   The cyclic olefin copolymer resin foam has good dimensional stability, heat resistant stiffness, chemical resistance, weathering property and electrical insulation based on cyclic olefin copolymer and has light weight based on uniform fine foams and shows reduced contraction to inhibit generation of creasing on the surface.
Catalyst (I) comprises one or more of platinum complex(es) (IIa) (IIb), (IIc), (IId) and their salt(s) to oxidise or hydrogenate olefin(s) (III), where L = deprotonated amide ligand, L', L" = ligand, 1 - 0, 2, 3, 4, m = 9, 10 and n = 5, 6.    Platinum complexes (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and (IVd) and their salts are also claimed. of similar formula to (IIa) - (IId) where L = c5H10No or C7H6NO.    Pref. (IIa)-(IId) have L= alpha-pyrrolidonato (C4H6NO), pivalylamidato(C5H10NO), benzamidato(C7H6NO), L',L" = NO3-, NO2-, H2O, OH-, halogen, SO42-.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as catalyst to oxidise (III) with oxygen directly under mild conditions to obtain epoxide(s) etc.. (I) is useful as hydrogenating catalyst of (III).
Plant pathogenic fungus inhibitor contg. Pseudomonas sp. bacterium having antagonism against plant pathogenic fungus and betaine.    Also claimed are organic fertiliser having plant pathogenic fungus inhibiting ability to which above Pseudomonas sp. bacterium and betaine are added.    The organic fertiliser is prepd. by (1) fermenting by adding water to Pseudomonas sp. bacterium, betaine, organic raw material and raw material for fertiliser opt. contg. fermenting additive or (2) mixing Pseudomonas sp. bacterium, betaine, water and opt. porous adsorptive carrier to fermented organic fertiliser.    Examples of Pseudomonas sp. bacteria are, P. mesophilica, P. putida, P. fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, P. pickettii, P. stuzeri, P. maltophilia, etc. Pref. betaine is trimethyl glycine,. Number of Pseudomonas sp. bacterium to be added to, e.g. turf grass is about 10 power 5 to 10 power 12, pref. 10 power 7 to 10 power 10/1 m2 and amount of betaine to be added is about 10 mg to 50 g, pref. 250 mg-25 g.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plant pathogenic fungus inhibitor and the organic fertiliser enhance particularly resistance of turf grass against pathogenic fungi such as Pythium aphanidermatum Pythium vanterpooli, Pythium graminicola, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, etc.
The appts. comprises air heating pipes in a hot water tank to heat the air and air pump to feed the heated air to hot air pipes at the bottoms and/or walls of composting tanks having stirring blades.    USE -   Used for treating organic wastes.
System includes refuse disposal unit arranged in common space in each or specific floor in group of apartment, building, etc.; pipes arranged inside wall near the common space and connected to disposal unit through small pipes, refuse collectors at lowermost ends of pipes, and compost fermenting vessel and crushing or compacting means inside garbage disposal unit.    Crushing or compacting means crushes cans, bottles and plastics are broken into pieces or compacts them. Compost or broken or compacted pieces are gravitationally dropped into respective refuse collectors from which waste is periodically discharged.    Frequency at which refuse must be collected and carried by public service can be reduced.
In the prodn. of solid fuel, waste mainly contg. plastic is softened at a temp. lower than the m.pt. of the plastic. The softened material is added to a Ca cpd., agitated, mixed, moulded, and cooled so that a solid fuel is produced.    In the prodn., the waste is melted to be liq. and then added with the fine Ca cpd. The amt. of the fine Ca cpd. to be added is 1-30 wt.% based on the waste. The plastics may be polystyrene vinyl chloride, FRP, etc. resins. The Ca cpd. may be CaO, Ca(OH)2, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As solid fuels. The Ca cpd. can be permeated into the waste or evenly dispersed, in a short time. When the solid fuel is burned in an incinerator, the Ca cpd. reacts with harmful cpds. contg. Cl, S, etc., reducing the discharge amt. of harmful substances, e.g. HCl, SOx, etc.
Garbage treating appts. comprises a garbage crashing device, an anaerobically decomposing tank for treating crashed garbage anaerobically, a pH adjusting tank for adjusting pH of waste soln. after anaerobic decomposition, an anaerobic methane fermenting tank for methane fermenting waste soln. after pH adjustment, aerobic treating tank for oxidising waste soln. after methane fermentation and sedimentation tank for sedimenting sludge in waste after oxidn. pH Adjustment in the pH adjusting tank is conducted by aerating the waste soln.    More specifically, appts. has a circulating path for returning waste solution in sedimentation tank to pH adjusting tank so that N-contg. components in waste soln. are removed and water quality of treated water in treated water released area is kept good. By aerating, waste soln. is reduced by increase of OH caused by the reaction of O2 in the air and H+ in waste soln. and by the escape of small amt. of volatile acidic components out of the pH adjusting tank so that the waste soln. is neutralised.    ADVANTAGE -   pH Of waste soln. can be adjusted without using an alkali agent or a filter device. pH Adjustment and pH maintenance can be easily be conducted.
Acclimatisation and proliferation of sulphur oxidising bacteria comprises aerating activated sludge contg. reductive sulphur cpds. and a carbonate in an aerator with aeration under control with an indicator of oxidn.-redn. potential (ORP), calculated from changes of free energy (delta GO) resulted from oxidn. of the reductive sulphur cpds. to sulphuric acid cpds. and pH 4.0-7.5.    In an aeration tank, waste water of 0 to +150 mV is placed at pH 4.0-7.5 pref. 5.5-6.5 and sulphur oxidising bacteria are cultured opt. together with carbonate (e.g. CaCO3 and Na2CO3) at ratios of 0.083-4.3 kg/m3/day or 0.088-4.4 kg/m3/day, respectively. The resultant sludge is circulated at ratios of 20-30% to the aeration tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Accelerated acclimation of sulphur oxidising bacteria active under pH 4.0-7.5 for the treatment of waste water contg. reductive sulphur cpds.    In an example, in an aeration tank and a sludge pptn. tank, a mixt. of waste water and active sludge was placed at a rate of 1130 mg/l. Waste water of COD = 300-600 mg/l. and 0.83 kg/m3/day of CaCO3 were supplied and aerated for 3-5 days to eliminate thiosulphate and sulphide cpds. in 3-5 days and COD was reduced to 50 mg/l. or less. The treatment period was gradually shortened with the acclimation of microorganisms down to 2 hrs/day and treated water exhibiting COD less than 10 mg/l. can be released to public water body.
Proliferation and accumulation of S oxidising bacteria in activated sludge contg. reductive S cpds. and organic cpds. is effected in an aerator with aeration under control with an indicator of oxidn.-redn. potential (ORP) calculated from changes of free energy (delta GO) resulting from oxidn. of the reductive S cpds. to sulphuric acid cpds. and pH 4.0-7.5.    Pref., in an aeration tank, waste water of 0 to +150 mV is placed at pH 4.0-7.5 (5.5-6.5) and sulphur oxidising bacteria are cultured opt. together with AcOH or Ca(OAc)2 as a C source at ratios of 0.025-0.5 kg/m3/day or 0.033-0.66 kg/m3/day, respectively. Gaseous C sources, e.g., coke gas, contg. total organic carbon (TOC) source of 2,000 mg/L may be introduced at a rate of 5-100 L/day/m3. The obtd. sludge is circulated at ratios of 20-30% to the aeration tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Accumulation of S oxidising bacteria active under pH 4.0-7.5 is accelerated.    In an example, in an aeration tank and a sludge pptn. tank, a mixt. of waste water and active sludge was placed at a rate of 1,130 mg/L. Waste water of COD = 300-600 mg/L and 0.25 kg/m3/day of AcOH were supplied and aerated for 3-5 days to eliminate thiosulphate and sulphide cpds. in 3-5 days and COD was reduced to up to 50 mg/L. The treatment period was gradually reduced with the accumulation of microorganisms down to 2 hrs./day and treated water with COD of less than 10 mg/L may be released.
To treat waste soln. generating during distillation of shochu, mould belonging to genus Aspergillus is incubated in the waste soln., the waste soln. after the incubation is sepd. to solid and liquid, the sepd. soln. is treated by an up flow anaerobics sludge blanket method, the treated water is released out of the system and the residue is used as feed.    More specifically, treatment comprises a sterilising step, a bacteria incubating step, a solid-liquid sepg. step and an UASB treating step. In the sterilising step, the waste soln. is heated at 100-120 deg.C for 10-30 minutes to kill miscellaneous germs. In the bacteria incubating step, the mould belonging to genus Aspergillus e.g. A. awamori, A. oryzae or A. niger, is added to the waste soln. in an amt. of 5-10%. In the solid-liquid sepg. step, the waste soln. is filtered by a nylon filter of 20-40 meshes or a porous metal plate. In the UASB treating step, anaerobic bacteria self-fixed to a granule of 1-3 mm. size are put at the lower part in a reactor and the waste soln. is flowed upward from the bottom and the anaerobic bacteria are slowly stirred by the waste soln. flowed in and by the upward stream of gas generated such that the bacteria are granulated to form granular sludge.    ADVANTAGE -   The waste soln. is easily sepd. to solid and liquid and the filtrate is effectively treated.
(JP6104000-A)   NOVELTY - The device includes an ejector (25) which mixes the anode waste gas (6) ejected from fuel cell (21), with the heating gas (7) supplied to the modifier (22). A pressure-reduction orifice (24) lowers the pressure of heating gas supplied to modifier (20).    USE - Used in buildings or apartments.    ADVANTAGE - The device reduces the partial pressure of water vapor supplied to the fuel cell, improving reaction in fuel cell is improved. A high fuel utilization factor is obtained.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the block diagram of the fuel cell power generating device.    heating gas (1)    water vapor (2)    anode waste gas (6)    heating gas (7)    modifiers (20,22)    fuel cells (21,23)    pressure-reduction orifice (24)    ejector (25)
Rubbish tip has discharge zone (1) with biogas collector (2) connected to an electroburner (9), and process for vitrification of waste by melting in fusion oven (41) using collected biogas as fuel. Reduction of volume of domestic and industrial waste at discharge sites.    The biogas collected is also used to provide electrical power to the fusion oven electroburner and to heat air supplied to the fusion oven.    ADVANTAGE -   Uses evolved biogas from waste as fuel and for prodn. of electricity, reducing costs. Combination of biogas and hot air in fusion oven allows temp. to reach magma fusion temp. of 1400-1500 deg.C compared with 1100-1200 deg.C for raw biogas.
The work up of compost comprises granulating the compost by rolling in rotating plates or drums and then drying it followed by sorting according to granule size into a fraction contg. the desired size (A), an undersized fraction (B) and an oversized fraction (C). Finally fraction (A) is subjected to a cleaning process by separating the granules from accompanying impurities.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process can convert composts of varying origin into marketable products, such as can be used as soil improvers or for decorative soil cover or path cover when mixed with dyestuffs. The process does not require any special composition of starting materials, unlike pelleting and can be used with composts which are of too low adhesiveness or have too high a content of abrasive materials to be suitable for pelleting. It is possible to work up weak and completely rotted composts.
To monitor the biological decomposition of compost material, the temp. is measured continuous by contact at a side wall of the decomposition cell to show the level within the compost.    Also claimed is an assembly with contact plates (3) at about half the height of the side wall (1) of the decomposition cell, with immersion sleeves (4) for the insertion of a temp. sensor (5).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is for monitoring the disinfection of compost through the effect of heat to kill any germs developed through decomposition. The technique ensures that sufficiently high temps. are achieved and maintained in the compost for an effective disinfection over a sufficient time.
Composter assembly (10) comprises a plastic assembly including a lower body half (14) and an upper body half (16), which fit together to form a truncated cone shaped container. A lid (18) is provided, and there is an optional baseplate (12) which may be anchored to the ground of anchor-bolts (78). A lockable, slidable hatch prevents unauthorised entry, and provision is made for cooling and venting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for composting domestic organic waste. The unit is compact, lightweight easily assembled and disassembled without tools, and readily transportable by automobile.
Methane monitor and engine shutdown appts. has (a) a methane monitoring control connected to a methane monitoring sensor device; such that (b) the sensor is sensitive to methane gas in the atmos.; (c) when a predetermined unsafe condition develops, such as when the concn. level of ambient methane gas exceeds a predetermined setting, the sensor generates an output signal; and (d) the output signal causes the methane monitoring control to attenuate the intake air supply of an internal combustion engine; resulting in (e) prompt and safe engine shutdown.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Methane monitor and engine shutdown system at oil wells. The system detects a concn. level of combustible hydrocarbons in the atmos. at oil and natural gas well sites.
The unit has a methane tank (1) with a throat (2) and gas hood (4), product loading and unloading pipes, an additional container (6), fitted outside the methane tank and connected to pressure pump (10). The additional container is connected to the methane tank throat. The pump pressure pipe is connected to the tank lower part. The gas hood is made as a cylinder which contains a conical-plate packing (5).    In an embodiment, the mass is supplied by pump (15) to the pulp-pulp heat exchanger (14) where it is heated by the fermented mass heat and then flows to the water-pulp heat exchanger (13) where it is heated to the required fermentation temp. and is then supplied by pump (15) tangentially to the tank (1) lower part where the mass is effected by the anaerobic microorganisms. During fermentation the heavy particles settle to the tank (1) base and are removed through pipe (16). The organic suspended matter is floated to the top by biogas bubbles and then together with part of the liq. flows through openings (3) to the additional container (6), and is pumped by pump (10) to the heat exchanger (13).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for organic waste utilisation. The metal volume is reduced and operation reliability is increased.
Resin beads consist of styrene-type resin having wt. average mol. wt. of 150,000-250,000 as measured by GPC and contains 2-8 wt.% of at least isobutane as a blowing agent and 0.2-2 wt.% of (A) fatty acid esters of glycerine based on the styrene-type resin.    Pref. (A) are triglycerides and diacetylated monoglycerides.    ADVANTAGE -   The resin beads provide cellular mouldings resistant to distortion and contraction.    In an example, after distilled water (100 kg), Ca3(PO4)2 (0.3 kg) and Na dodecyl benzene sulphonate (0.003 kg) were put in an autoclave, benzyl peroxide (0.30 kg) tert. butylperbenzoate (0.15 kg), tert. dodecyl mercaptan (0.05 kg), and glycerine tristearate (0.8 kg) were dissolved in styrene monomer (100 kg) and added to them. The temp. was raised to 90 deg.C over one hour, and n-butane (1.3 kg), isobutane (3.8 kg), and pentane (3.0 kg) were forced unto the autoclave 4 hr. after the temp. reached 90 deg.C. Then the temp. was continuously raised to 120 deg.C and kept at 120 deg.C for 3 hrs. to obtain polystyrene beads. They has wt. average mol.wt. of 195,000 and contained 3.2 wt.% isobutane, 0.9 wt.% n-butane and 2.7 wt.% pentane.
The putrefaction/maturation of good-quality compost is carried out by fermenting compost with the addn. of 2-oxo-4-methyl-5-ureido hexahydropyridine (CDU) and dried blood, and pref. with the addn. of thermophile and alkaliphile bacteria, pref. Bacillus licheniformis.    ADVANTAGE -   The compost accelerates the growth of young seedlings, and also effectively controls various plant diseases, e.g. cucumber cracked-vine diseases, etc..
Garbage disposal device includes cylindrical drum (4) fitted inside a ring (2) with three sets of rollers (5) at equal distance. A holder supports the rear face of drum, it is rotated by a rotary shaft (6b). A lid (8) fitted to front face of drum through hinges (7) at almost central locations, and handle (9) turns the drum. Three hollow pipes (12) having ventilation holes (13) are axially arranged at equal distances inside the drum, while one end of each pipe extends outside the drum. Turnover blades (14a, 14b, 14c) are provided between the lower end of one pipe and the upper end of another.    ADVANTAGE -   Device can be easily manually turned.
A worm composter has a container of water permeable substance which allows surplus moisture from waste and waste processing to pass through its wall and evaporate from its outer surface.    Pref. the base and lower parts of the container have a reinforcing mesh of flexible netting. Pref. the container is not plastics.    ADVANTAGE -   Rotting is avoided.
Process for recovery of high purity liq methane from gas mixts. of methane, 2C+ hydrocarbons, CO2 and N2, comprises (a) passing the input gas mixt. into an adsorption unit to remove moisture, (b) passing the dried gas mixt. into a membrane sepn. unit where CO2 is sepd. off to a residual content of less than 2 vol.% and (c) subjecting the remaining gas mixt., consisting essentially of methane, 2C+ hydrocarbons and N2, to a low temp. distn. in which the 2C+ hydrocarbons and residual CO2 are removed by distn. and the N2 is removed by flash evapn., to give a high purity liq. methane prod. stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The high purity liq. methane is useful as an environmentally benign fuel for diesel engines in locomotives, buses and commercial vehicles. The process allows recovery of high purity liq. methane from natural gas. The amine scrubbing stage used in some previous processes to remove CO2 is eliminated and a smaller adsorption unit can be used than previously.
Reduction of deposits on thermally treating synthetic organic wastes at 230-550 deg C, 10 mbar-450 bar, and for 0.02-40 hrs in inert gas, opt in the presence of small amts of oxygen, is claimed, in which the specific amt of meltable plastic contg heteroatoms is limited to less than 10-0 (pref 5-0) wt% in the starting product to be treated.    ADVANTAGE -   Esp. prevents formation of coke.
Prepn. of high quality compost contg. a main component of compost (prepd. from untreated organic wastes) comprises mixing the compost with paper or cardboard wastes (which is low in harmful substances and which have been worked up into a woolly or flaky structure) which serve as a second main component.    Prior to mixing the paper or cardboard is pref. worked into a form which has specific wt. of 150 g/l. Plant nutrients esp. nitrogen are added to the mixt. during the mixing process. At least a portion of these nutrients show rapid (bio)availability. The mixt. is also treated with other mineral additives e.g. sand or native soil, during the mixing process. These additives are added up to amts. of 10-50 vol.%. The mixt. is also treated with bark wastes, bark compost or sludge, in amts. up to 10-50 vol.%. The mixt. is stored for at least 4 hrs. prior to use. It may be dried or moistened to a definite water content esp. 20-30 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prod. is useful as a compost e.g. for horticulture. The process allows prodn. of composts which do not contain turf and are therefore favourable on certain ecological grounds (e.g. protection of damp natural environments). The compost contains low amts. of harmful substances.
A refrigerant compsn. comprises bis(difluoromethyl) ether and 1-trifluoromethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, difluoro, methoxy pentafluoroethane, 1-trifluoromethoxy-1,2,2,2-tetra-fluoroethane, 1-trifluoromethoxy-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, tris(trifluoromethyl)-amine, difluoromethyl sulphur pentafluoride, pentafluoroethyl sulphur pentafluoride, ammonia, butane or isobutane.    Also claimed is the above refrigerant compsn. being an azeotropic or azeotropic-like compsn.    Also claimed are: (i) a process for producing refrigeration by condensing and evaporating the above compsn. in the vicinity of the body to be cooled; and (ii) a process for producing heat comprising condensing an evaporating the above compsn. in the vicinity of the body to be heated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is useful as cleaning agent, expansion agent for polyolefins and polyurethanes, aerosol propellant, refrigerant, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectric, fire extinguishing agent, power cycle working fluid, polymerisation media, particulate removal fluid, carrier fluid, buffing abrasive agent and displacement drying agent. HFCs have no chlorine and therefore have zero ozone depletion potential.
Inhibiting methane production in methanogenic bacteria comprises treating the medium contg. the methanogenic bacteria with an anthraquinone cpd..    The medium can comprise a mixed culture including hydrogen- and acetate-producing strains. The anthraquinone cpd. is a simple deriv. in which the anthraquinone is substd. by up to 4 of halo, carboxyl, OH or NH2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is useful for controlling methane prodn. (by e.g. methanococcus, methanobacterium, methanosarcina, methanobrevibacter, methanothermus, methanothrix, methanospirillum, methanomicrobium, methanococcoides, methanogenium and methanoplanus) in subsurface landfills, rumen of ruminant animals (e.g. cattle and sheep) and rice paddies. Methane prodn. in cattle rumen reduces the efficiency with which cattle produce milk and beef from feedstocks. Previous treatments have lacked specificity for methane formation and some exhibit a multitude of side effects. Methane is a major greenhouse gas and prodn. from landfill sites needs to be regulated.
A remote control device of natural gas concn. contains, on the receiving side, a spark-safe AC supply source and a threshold device. A methane sensor is in the form of 2 series connected transformers, with their prim. windings loaded respectively on working and comparing elements of a thermo-catalytic converter. The sec. windings are connected through capacitors to diodes.    AC voltage from a spark-safe source (1) passes along a line (2) to a methane sensor (3), in the form of 2 series connected transformers (4,5), loaded respectively on working and comparing elements (6,7) of a thermo-catalytic converter. Voltages from the transformers (4,5) pass through rectifying diodes (8,9) counter to each other and through capacitors (10,11) shunted by resistors (12,13) and a constant component equal to the difference of voltages of the transformers (4,5), is sepd. in the line (2).    This component is formed during change of resistance of the working element (6) in proportion to concn. of a measurement component, is sepd. on a sepg. capacitor (14) and passed to a measuring instrument (15). A comparator connects a light diode (17) when this component exceeds a set value.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Tele-monitoring of concn. of methane in objects. Better reliability and increased length of connecting line.
A test stand of methane signal device is equipped with a second flow-through cell with a control valve, a control methane sensor, a control manometer, a valve control unit, a cadence pulse generator, a time interval former and series connected voltage-code converter, memory register, digital-analogue converter, comparing unit and correction unit, connected between the control sensor and the standard sensor.    Standard and test methanemeters (6,13) are calibrated using a check gas mixt. from a bottle (5) passed through a 2-input gas tap (4) to flow-through cells (11,8) with test and standard sensors (12,7). Methane is passed from a tank (2) and a methane -air mixt. is passed from a chamber (1) by a fan (3) through the cells (11,8). When a valve (22) is opened, a control gas mixt. is formed in cell (11) and the valve (22) is closed after a determined time. The signal from the test meter (13) passes through a voltage-frequency converter (14) and digital integrator (15) to a memory register (16) and is then converted in a digital-analogue converter (17) and passed to a comparing unit (18), also receiving the signal of the standard meter (6) and acting through a correction unit (19) to compensate the reading of the standard meter (6) for instability of the sensor (7) and to improve working stability.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Checking and adjustment of shaft methane signal devices. Better methane concn. measuring accuracy.
A portable shaft methane signal device is equipped with 4 counters and a sensor protection unit, connected to a concn. indication unit and to a signal device, connected to the concn. indication unit and to the third counter. The signal device is used to form an audio or light signal corresp. to the working mode of the sensor.    A button (2) is pressed to pass a high potential to a transistor (11) and open it, to pass voltage from a source (10) to a HF generator (12) and supply a signal device (8). A thermo-catalytic sensor (7) is supplied with 1.8 +/- 0.05 volts, stabilised by a voltage stabiliser (5) controlled by a transistor (6) and a negative feedback. Flameless combustion of methane in the sensor (7) alters its resistance.    A signal from the sensor (7) passes to the signal device (8) and a signal of methane concn. is amplified and passed to an audio signal device (9). If the methane concn. exceeds 2%, a comparator produces an intermittent signal from device (9). During failure of the comparing element of the signal device, device (9) forms equal sound signals and pauses and an emergency methane concn. of 5% is indicated by intermittent sound and light signals.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Monitoring of methane content of mine atmos. Better working safety.
The tank has a housing (1) with acid and alkali fermenting chambers (2,3) and a section (4) for filtered silt water, a raw water supply and silt water and biogas outlet pipes (5,6,7). The alkali chamber (2) is placed above the acid chamber (3) and is provided with perforated false base (8) forming the silt water collector (4). The tank also has a unit (9) for gas methanisation, divided by baffles (10) and false base (11) into bubbling chambers (12) with overflow cups (13), and immobilising packing made as flexible threads and outlet pipes. The unit upper part is connected to the silt water collector and the lower part is connected to the biogas outlet pipe (16) from the alkali chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For biogas production with high methane content. The methane content is increased by increasing the organic matter decomposition.    The bird droppings with a humidity of 80 percent is dissolved in mixer (25) to a humidity of 90 percent and is pumped by through pipe (5) to chamber (2) at 54-55 deg.C and fermentation takes place for 4-5 days oxidising the organic matter and fatty acids. The mass is then pumped to chamber (3) where the silt water is separated by the false base (8) and flows to the collector (4) and then flows to the bubbling chamber (12). The biogas from the chambers (3,2) flows to the blowing chamber (17) for gas methanisation.
Waste heat generated by incineration of garbage in garbage disposal plant is fed to contaminated water disposing plant to generate methane gas from sludge. Methane gas and offensive odour gas are recovered in garbage disposal plant. Garbage is burnt by using methane gas and offensive odour gas as auxiliary fuel and combustion air, respectively.    ADVANTAGE -   Offensive odour gas can be easily disposed of and waste heat can be effectively utilised.
Desulphurisation catalyst working at lower pressure in the presence of CO3 and CO, consists of a Ni-ion exchanged Y-type zeolite support and a catalyst alloy of Ni-Mo. A desulphurisation plant is also claimed, which comprises a means supplying crude kerosine oil to the plant, a means supplying to the plant H2 gas which contains CO2 and CO, and a reactor contg. the catalyst. Pref. the H2 gas is supplied from a steam cracking plant of a fuel cell system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Kerosine oil is desulphurised at a lower pressure, below 10 kg/cm2. Thus desulphurised kerosine oil is used to produce H2 gas for a fuel cell system.    In an example, Y-type zeolite with Si/Al=5 was treated with 1 M NiNO3 aq. soln. and fired at 500 deg.C. It was further treated with an aq. soln. dissolving 1 M of ammonium molybdate and fired at 550 deg.C. A catalyst loaded with 3 wt.% Ni and 7 wt.% Mo was obtd.
Recovery of acid catalyst from an acid catalysed hydrocarbon conversion process is effected by (a) passing a prod. stream of converted hydrocarbon leaving the conversion process contg. the acid catalyst through a fixed bed of solid adsorbent material having an affinity for the catalyst to adsorb the catalyst material; (b) desorbing the catalyst by passing a process stream of hydrocarbon through the adsorbent bed; and (c) cycling the process stream and catalyst to the hydrocarbon conversion process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used partic. with a process stream which comprises a mixt. of paraffinic and olefinic hydrocarbons for prepn. of high octane gasoline by acid catalysed alkylation of the paraffinic with olefinic hydrocarbons (claimed). It is also used for isomerisation and hydration of hydrocarbons. Recovery and reuse of the catalyst improves the economy of the process and diminishes the environmental risk during storage and final processing of spent catalyst (partic. HF). The catalyst is recycled without further processing. Distn., extraction or filtration of the catalyst, necessary in prior art processes, is avoided. Adsorption occurs at the same process conditions as the conversion and no detrimental side reactions occur in the prod. stream during removal of the catalyst.
Dehalogenation and/or degradation of halogenated organic chemical contaminants in water, sediment or soil is affected by adding a combination of fibrous organic matter which is capable of supporting bacterial or fungal growth and multivalent metal particles in amts. which promote reductive dehalogenation of the organic cpds. A compsn. for carrying this out comprising metal particles and fibrous organic matter in a wt. ratio of 1:1-1:500000 is also claimed.    Pref. the metal is selected from (a) Fe and Mg or mixts. of these, at 50-5000 mg, pref. 250-2500 mg/kg of water or dry wt. of soil or sediment, with the wt. ratio of metal:organic matter = 1:1-1:10000; or (b) Zn, Cu, Co and Ni or mixts. of these, at 1-1000 mg, pref. 10-100 mg/kg of water or dry wt. of soil or sediment, with the wt. ratio of metal:organic matter = 1:10-1:500000.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process and compsn. promote an anaerobic reductive dehalogenation thereby making the contaminants more readily degradable by microorganisms which are naturally present in the soil, water or sediment.
Solid catalyst active in converting CH4 to higher hydrocarbons comprise CaO, MgO, a rare earth metal oxide (RE2O3) and opt. Li2O, where the Li content is 0-0.2 wt.%, the Ca/Mg atomic ratio is 0.05-0.7, and the (Cu+Mg)RE atomic ratio is 0.8-8. Also claimed is a process for converting CH4 to higher hydrocarbons, comprising contacting a gas mixt. contg. CH4 and O2 with a catalyst as above at a temp. of at least 650 deg. C..    A gas stream comprising CH4, O2 and opt. an inert gas diluent is passed through a fixed bed of the catalyst at 650-1000 (esp. 800-950) deg. C.. The CH4/O2 molar ratio is 1.5-12, esp. 207. The contact time is 0.0005-0.02 min./g catalyst per ml feed gas.    ADVANTAGE -   Partial replacement of Mg by Ca in the catalysts of IT 22483A/90 improves catalyst stability.
The process comprises (1) treatment of polluted water by known methods in artificial pools by culture of fish, molluscs or aquatic plants with removal of floating debris for sorting and recycling; (2) weld/enzymatic hydrolysis of organic wastes including chopped plant growth and fish from (1), sugar can bagasse, field stubble etc. to convert hemicelluloses to sugars, with sepn. of the liquid must for fermentation and prodn. of alcohol for fuel, (3) bio-digestion of the dry residue from (2) with addn. of the sludge from (1) with control of pH, temp. and concn. in a series of digesters made of ferro-cement with vermiculite cement thermal insulator.    The digesters contain coils for heating by solar radiation and stirrers actuated by wind power or motors. Methane-rich gas produced is taken off for use as fuel (4). Sepn. by gravity of sludge rich in heavy metals which is withdrawn from the base of the last digester, while the liquid rich in fertiliser is drawn off from above.    ADVANTAGE -   Problems with composting waste, e.g. bad smells, percolation of liquid into soil, wasted energy, flies and mosquitoes, cost of labour and equipment are avoided. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9415 based on complete specification).
Solidified and cultured material bering 10 power 8 to 10 power 10 cfu/g actinomyces is mixed in one unit of dewatered sludge and then it is adjusted to 45-65% water and forcibly ventilated for 3-10 days for fermentation in order to obtain a cured compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A fermented compost is produced in a short time.
A new controlled catalytic process for the oxidn. of methane by microwaves, it is carried out in the presence of a catalyst which has electrical imbalances and geometric deformations in its structure which enable absorption of electro-magnetic energy in an electro-magnetic field. Also claimed are new catalysts designed for the process.    The process is used for the prepn. of ethane and ethylene, by an adsorption reaction between CH4 and the catalyst surface (contg. O- ions) to give CH3 radicals and OH gps., the CH3 radicals then combining to give C2H6 with elimination of OH gps. as water. Further controlled oxidn. of C2H6 gives C2H4.    ADVANTAGE -   Oxidn. processes in prior art have not attained very high yields and selectivities, due to subsequent oxidn. of C2H6 and C2H4 to CO2 (x = 1 or 2). The invention obviates this disadvantage by operating at temps. 100-200 deg.C lower than have been used in conventional heating ovens and the use of mixed oxide catalysts. Global yields of 14.8% and selectivities up to 98% were attainable.
In sepg. an operating process stream consisting essentially of hydrogen, methane, and C3/C4 hydrocarbons which has previously undergone a treatment step e.g. dehydrogenation, and which is then at least subject to a single stage condensation and separation into a C3/C4 hydrocarbon-rich fraction and a H2/CH4 fraction, after which a partial stream of the H2/CH4 fraction is added back to the original, as yet untreated process stream, the H2/CH4 gas fraction withdrawn from the first separator (S1) is divided into two streams (10,17), where the first stream (10) together with the liquid fraction (11) from the bottom of the first separator (S1) is fed, after partial condensation in (W2), to a second separator (S2). The C3/C4 hydrocarbon-rich liquid fraction withdrawn from the bottom of the second separator (S2) together with the second H2/CH4 gas fraction stream (7) from the first separator (S1) are fed into a stripping column (S3). A H2-rich gas fraction of high purity (13) is withdrawn from the top of the second separator (S2) and, after evaporation *in a heat exchanger (W2) against the operating process stream to be cooled, is mixed with the as yet untreated operating stream (2,2a,2b). From the bottom of stripper column (S3) a C3/C4-rich product fraction (20) and from the top of stripper column (S3) a H2-rich gas fraction of lower purity (18), are withdrawn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Separation process for reaction products stream containing hydrogen, methane and other low molecular weight hydrocarbons arising from e.g. dehydrogenation of iso-butane to iso-butene for subsequent production of MTBE (me-t-butyl ether). Reduction of soot formation, increasing the capacity and economy of the dehydrogenation reaction by using a low methane content hydrogen recycle stream to provide the necessary ballast for the reactor.
Conversion of a chlorinated alkane to prods. including a less chlorinated alkane in a commercially substantial proportion is effected by reaction with H2 in the presence of a supported catalyst including one or more Gp. IB metals or cpds. and one or more Gp. VIII metals inclusive of Pt, Ir, Pd or Ru or their cpds.    HCl is pref. incorporated in the feed to the process. The Gp. IB metal pref. includes Ag or Au and the Gp. VIII metal includes Pt or Ir, pref. Pt. More pref., the catalyst consists entirely of Au and Pt. A pref. process involves gas phase conversion of 1,2-dichloropropane to give prods. including propane. The reaction occurs in the gas phase at 1 atmos.-10.3 Pa (gauge), pref. 0.03-3.4 Pa, more pref. 0.28-2.1 Pa, and 100-350 deg. C, pref. 180-300 deg.C, more pref. 200-260 deg.C with residence time of 0.25-180secs, pref. 0.5-120secs, more pref. 1-90secs. The H2:chlorinated alkane molar feed ratio is 0.1:1-100:1, pref. 0.5:1-20:1 and more pref. 0.75:1-6:1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The less-chlorinated alkane prods. are directly useful in the processes from which the waste or by-prod. chlorinated alkane feed was taken or are used in other processes or for sale. The chlorinated alkanes are by-prods. or waste prods. from useful chemical mfg. processes. The less-chlorinated alkanes are produced in at least 20% yield, pref. at least 30%. Addn. of HCl to the feed reduces coking and catalyst, deactivation rates to a loss in conversion of no more than ca. 0.03%/h, pref. no. more than 0.01%/h.
Heavy metals and sepd. from aq. media by treatment with finely-divided Fe3O4 (I) and finely divided FeS (II), then after a suitable time, removing Fe3O4-FeS with bound heavy metals. (II) is formed in situ so that it becomes bound to (I), e.g. by reducing FeSO4 with either a water-soluble sulphide or with a sulphate-reducing bacterium (partic. Desulphovibrio).    (I), which is synthetic material, has particle size not over 1 micron and the Fe3O4:FeS ratio is 1:1-10, partic. so that the total content of Fe cpds. is 0.01-1 wt.-vol.%. The (I)-(II) material is sepd. magnetically.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used to remove toxic heavy metals such Cd, U, Pb, Cu, Hg, Co, Cr and Ni, partic. from industrial effluent. The method is simple; is not restricted to paramagnetic metals; does not require bacteria and removes 90-95% of the heavy metal present. It can be operated continuously or batchwise.
Compositing appts. has a motor driven, elevated, rotatably mounted chamber (14) formed of a helically corrugated metal pipe (24) with axial internal baffles (50). The baffles and corrugations mix and move the material between the tube inlet (12) and outlet (16) as the chamber rotates. The elevation of the tube controls residence time of chamber contents.    Also claimed is a composting appts. in which the chamber is a pair of synthetic containers arranged with their open ends together to form an annular channel permitting controlled leakage of material from the chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Composting appts. for yard waste, waste paper, grass, leaves and trimmings, food and meat scraps. Efficient compositing appts. of scale suited to both home, municipal and commercial use.
Prodn. of C2 hydrocarbons is carried out by oxidative coupling of methane under definite conditions including passing methane or methane-contg. gas through the membrane side of membrane reactor composed by forming membrane on the surface of one side of a support consisting of porous material and passing oxygen or oxygen-contg. gas through another side of the reactor. The support consists of silica-alumina porous material and the above membrane consists of an elaborate liq. film formed by melting, while painting slurry of compsn. consisting of Bi2O3, Li2CO3, and K2CO3 on the surface of one side of above supporter and sintering after drying, component consisting of above Li2CO3 and K2CO3.    Pref. SnO is additionally used in the compsn. used to membrane formation. Pref. appts. used consists of (1) support composed of porous material. (2) Membrane formed on the surface of one side of the support and (3) region of methane or methane-contg. gas flow directly adjacent, through the support to the membrane side and region of oxygen or oxygen-contg. gas flow directly adjacent to opposite side through the support. Pref. amts. are Bi2O3:1-50 molar % as Bi, Li2CO3:10-70 molar % as Li, and K2CO3: 5-60 molar % as K.    ADVANTAGE -   Membrane-constituting film is elaborate and easily producible; with good reproducibility, increasing its yield rate on repeated use. Selectivity to C2 hydrocarbons is very high and selectivity to ethylene can be exceedingly increased.
A new polyimide sepn. membrane is made of aromatic polyimide having the repeat unit of formula (I).    USE -   Used for gas sepn. like methane from He, methane from H2, or O2 from N2, or for dehydration, purification, or filtration. Esp., the new membrane has a higher sepn. factor for methane sepn. from He.    In an example, in 64.9g of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone were suspended 2.9g of 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetra carboxylic acid dianhydride; 2.3g of 3,3'-dihydroxy-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane were added over 30 min. The reaction mixt. was polymerised at 25 deg. C for 1 hr. The resultant polyamic acid was cast on a glass substrate, heated at 100 deg. C for 3 hrs., further heated at 300 deg. C for 1 hr. to obtain a polyimide sepn. membrane 28.45 microns thick.
(JP6076853-A)   NOVELTY - The fuel cell (31) is divided into electricity generation chamber (35), fuel ejection chamber (36) and fuel supply chamber (37) filled with catalyst. The cell tubes (38) in the fuel cell, have fuel injection tube (39) whose one end is connected to the chamber (37) and other end extends into the cell tube. A cave hole ejects water to the fuel waste gas (42) collected in chamber (37), for discharging waste gas.    USE - Cylindrical-type solid electrolyte fuel cell (SOFC) module used for generating electricity using fuels such as natural gas, coal gas, methane, methanol.    ADVANTAGE - An inexpensive cylindrical-type solid electrolyte fuel cell module with uniform capability and high recycle capability, is provided.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a longitudinal sectional view of the cylindrical-type SOFC module. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    SOFC (31)    electricity generation chamber (35)    fuel ejection chamber (36)    fuel supply chamber (37)    cell tubes (38)    fuel injection tube (39)    fuel supply port (41)    fuel waste gas (42)    fuel discharge port (43)
A liq. core material (A) and a liq. curing resin (B) are extruded continuously to form drops; an energy ray is irradiated on the drops so as to cure the surface layer of liq. curing resin(B).    (Claimed) Core material (A) and resin (B) are extruded co-axially. Let the drops fall freely and energy rays are irradiated on them. Resin (B) has a lower surface tension than core material (A). Resin (B) is a cross-linking curing resin, esp. contains curing monomers and oligomers. Resin (B) is an acrylic resin contg. at least 30 wt.% of monomers which contain at least two acryloyl gps.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to produce capsules encapsulating food, medicine, fertiliser, agriculture chemicals, cosmetics, or enzyme. Various kinds of liq. core material can be encapsulated. The capsules have a higher mechanical strength.    In an example, liq. curing resin with 28 dyne/cm surface tension was prepd. by blending 60 pts.wt. of urethaneacrylate oligomer with 3 acryl gps., 40 pts.wt. of 1,6-hexanedioldiacrylate, and 4 pts.wt. of initiator of benzyldimethylketal. The liq. curing resin and liq. core material of water with 72 dyne/cm surface tension were extruded through a tube-on-orifice spinneret. UV-light with 360 nm wavelength was irradiated on the resultant drops to obtain capsules with 1.5 mm dia. and 0.15 mm wall thickness.
Prodn. of a substance by culturing a microbe in a medium prepd. from an organic waste. The medium being pref. prepd. by treating an organic waste microbe with an enzyme or with an enzyme-producing microbe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An organic waste discarded from a food plant can be used again as a resource and the final residue can be used as a fertiliser and/or a feed. In an example, 10 times, the amount of tap water was added to 100 g of dry beer gains and the mixt. was stirred at room temp. slowly for 5 hrs. to extract the components which may be nutrients for the useful microbe. 10 times the amount of tap water was added to 500 g of a live yeast dehydrated by a dehydrator and 300 cc of a culture of Myxococcus xanthus ATCC25232 was added to it and cultured at 25 deg.C for 3 days. 5 l of the culture was mixed with 1 l of the above beer grain extract. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was inoculated to the above mixed soln. and cultured at 38 deg.C for 48 hrs. Ethanol was added to the culture to recover 4 to 5 g/l white powder hyaluronic acid.
A catalyst for partial oxidn. of methane or a gas mixt. contg. methane has the formula LnxA1-yBy03 (I) in which x is greater than 0 and less than 10 y = 0-1 Ln = a rare earth metal, Sr or Bi A is a metal chosen from elements of gps. IVb, Vb, VIb, VIII and VIII and B is a metal chosen from elements of gps. IVb, Vb, VIb, VIII and VIII.    Pref. in (I) Ln = at least one element chosen from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, En, Dy, Ho and Er, A is a metal chosen from gps. IVb, VIb and VIII and B (different from A) is a metal chosen from gps. IVb, VIb and VIII, esp. where A is chosen from Ti, Cr, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh and Ni and B (different to A) is chosen from Ti, Cr, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh and Ni. Pref. y is greater than 0 and less than 1. Pref. the catalyst has perovskite type crystal structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalysts are useful for vapour phase partial oxidn. of methane and gas mixts. contg. a high proportion of methane, such as natural gas and gases associated with petroleum, to form H2 or a synthesis gas mixt. comprising CO and H2 with small amts. of CO2. The catalysts are stable under the prevailing reaction conditions and give high conversion of methane-contg. gases such as natural gas and petroleum gases using oxidising agents such as oxygen, air or CO2, opt. with addn. of N2, under relatively mild conditions, to give high yields of H2 or synthesis gas consisting predominantly of CO and H2.
Fuel gas is recovered from waste and abandoned coal mines by introducing the waste into a coal mine which is tightly sealed by a lock system and which serves as a reaction space, in which reaction of the waste with mine coal (dust) and water is activated to form fuel gas.    A lock system, esp for carrying out the above process, has one or more conical lock elements (15,16) which are operated by an opening and closing mechanism and which are located in a lock shaft (14) formed in a steel-reinforced concrete core (13) in the mine entrance region, the or each lock element (15,16) sealing on an abutment (18,19).    ADVANTAGE -   The process produces a high grade fuel gas esp from domestic waste and the residual coal content of abandoned coal mines.
In the environmentally friendly disposal of municipal and industrial clarification sludges by utilising the thermal energy of their carbon contents, the novelty is that the sludge is dewatered to 50-70% water content and then dried to a pneumatically transportable product, which is assessed for use as a fuel, conditioned by addn of carbon sources and then used in an ore smelting process.    Also claimed is a disposal plant for carrying out the above process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp to produce a substitute fuel for the continuous direct lead smelting (QSL) process. The carbon content is utilised for ore redn or similar reactions; pollutants, esp heavy metals, are combined in the smelting slag or the metal melt; and no special waste gas treatment is required, other than that normally employed in ore smelting.
The biogas plant consists of an underground bio-reactor (1) with bell-shaped gas collector (2) and with horizontal mixer inside the reactor in the form of a set of spokes (3) on a common shaft (4). The bio-reactor has oppositely-located trays (5,6) for loading fresh manure and unloading effluent, through which a chain transporter (7) passes, also passing through the reactor. The transporter has a drive (8) and equidistant scrapers (9), which engage with the spokes in the lower position. The scraper spacing is equal to the peripheral pitch of the spokes.    With the gas collector (2) removed, the bio-reactor (1) is loaded with the prepared initial manure composition. The collector is then put in place. The collector floats up to the top of the manure when gas accumulates under it, and sinks as the gas is used. It serves as a receiver, preventing atmospheric air from penetrating the reactor. The initial mixture is poured into the reactor with the apertures in the trays (5,6) overlapping, to prevent air reaching the fermented manure, which is biologically converted. The gas is stored in the collector and used as required.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For processing agricultural waste. Easier loading and unloading, high productivity.
Expandable beads consisting of acrylonitrile-styrene-type copolymer is obtd. by incorporating (A) a mixt. consisting of 60-95 wt.% cyclopentane and 40-5 wt. % butane as blowing agents with (B) resin beads obtd. by copolymerising 65-85 wt.% styrene-type monomers and 35-15 wt.% acrylonitrile in amt. of 3-25 pts. wt. w.r.t. 100 pts. wt. of the resin beads.    Prodn. of the expandable beads is by dispersing (B) in an aq. medium, putting the dispersion in a closed vessel; heating to 80 - 140 deg.C and forcing (A) into the closed vessel at 80-140 deg.C while stirring until (B) contains at least 3 pts. wt. of (A) w.r.t. 100 pts. wt. of (B).    ADVANTAGE -   The expandable beads provide cellular materials having small coefft. of contraction. Also the blowing agents does not delete ozone layer.
(JP6068896-A)   NOVELTY - Fuel electrode (3) and oxidizing agent electrodes (4) are formed on both sides of electroconductive solid state polymer film (22). A fuel gas humidification portion (36) comprises a water replenishment path (24) which is formed in a bipolar plate (25B) and opposes fuel gas humidification path (26) formed in a bipolar plate (25A). The fuel gas humidification path is connected to a fuel gas path (6).    USE - Solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Eliminates the need for humidification tank and gas piping. Hence, fuel cell is simplified. Thermal efficiency and performance of the fuel cell are improved. The number of components is reduced and manufacturing cost is reduced.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An oxidizing agent humidification portion (37) comprises water replenishment path (23) which is formed in the bipolar plate (25A) and opposes oxidizing agent humidification path (27) formed in the bipolar plate (25B). The oxidizing agent humidification path is connected to an oxidizing agent path (7). The oxidizing agent and fuel gas humidification paths are arranged mutually at symmetrical position with respect to the solid polymer film.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of the solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Fuel electrode (3)    Oxidizing agent (4)    Fuel gas path (6)    Oxidizing agent path (7)    Electroconductive solid polymer film (22)    Water replenishment paths (23,24)    Bipolar plates (25A,25B)    Fuel gas humidification path (26)    Oxidizing agent humidification path (27)    Fuel gas humidification portion (36)    Oxidizing agent humidification portion (37)
The plant has several adjacent composting boxes which are located in a closed shed and which are connected to underlying aeration channels. Material supply, mixing, circulation, transfer and discharge are carried out by (a) one or more fixed discharge conveyor spirals extending below the discharge openings of several composting boxes; (b) one or more fixed entry conveyor spirals extending above several composting boxes; (c) one or more inclined interconnecting conveyor spirals; and (d) one or more distribution conveyor spirals which can move above the composting boxes.    ADVANTAGE -   The plant has a capacity covering municipal and/or regional organic waste composting requirements, is emission free and operates without risk to operating personnel.
Appts. to regenerate and sterilise soil, has a screw conveyor (4) within a longitudinal treatment zone (2), to give a continuous mixing and forward movement to the earth from the entry (5) to the exit (16) sides. A steam system (8) delivers steam under pressure into the treatment zone (2) through steam entry openings (20) along its length.    The treatment zone (2) is aligned at an angle to the horizontal of 10-60, or 20-40, or 30 deg., so that the outlet (16) is higher than the entry (5). The steam entry openings (20) are in a higher density at the entry (5) end than at the outlet (16) end of the zone (2), in terms of number of openings and the opening interval is smaller at the entry end. The screw conveyor can be hollow, with steam openings at the wall surfaces of the screw.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. for compost soil, contg. bacteria and microorganisms, which require sterilising by steam, etc.. The appts. gives a continuous and cost-effective action, to give a steam sterilisation, which can be used universally.
For the biological cleaning of coarse inorganic material, soiled by hydrocarbons, the coarse-grain material and water are inserted into a watertight container in a vol. where the material is wholly covered by the water. Adapted microorganisms are added to clean out the hydrocarbons together with nutrients, vitamins and trace elements, and oxygen is delivered to the watery solution. The material is allowed to dwell in the container until the impurities have degraded or dissolved significantly. The coarse grain material is washed for further use. The sludge is removed and the water is extracted to give water containing microorganisms and some nutrient salts for return to the container, and the dried sludge is disposed of.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is for soiled material such as railway ballast, which is subject to soiling by diesel fuel and lubricating oil deposited by trains. It can also be used to clean construction rubble and gravel. The method gives a simple and cost-effective cleaning action, where the cleaned material can be used again, such as railway ballast.
Thermal cracking of synthetic organic waste materials is effected at 200-600 deg.C and 0.01-450 bar for a residence time of 1 min to 24 hr. in an inert gas atmos. contg. 0.1-10 vol.% O2. The temp. is pref. 220-500 (esp. 240-480) deg.C. The pressure is 0.1-350 (esp. 0.1-1) bar. The resilience time is pref. 5 min. to 24 hr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used to convert waste plastics, e.g. high-density polyethylene (HDPE), to prods. of lower viscosity. Addn. of O2 accelerates thermal degradation without causing resin or deposit formation.
A spherical composter (10) consists of identical triangular panels (14) made from polypropylene, polyethylene or similar. The panels (14) are flat, with edges (16) each having a male tab (18) and a female tab (20). The male tabs have side units (28), whilst the female tabs include sub tabs (32). The sphere (10) is built up by interconnecting a sufficient number of panels (14), interlocking in disconnectable fashion by the tabs (18,20).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use as a composter, or for contg. instruments, or as a shelter. As a composter it can be easily rolled to promote aerobic action.
Liquid effluents e.g. sugar cane or fruit juices, residues from the alcohol and alcoholic drinks industries, vegetable oil extraction, etc. are subjected to anaerobic fermentation with lactic bacteria, yeasts, photosynthesis bacteria and actinomycetes, with removal of excess CO2 during fermentation.    If necessary, fish meal or other nutrient is added during fermentation, and the pH adjusted by addn. of organic or inorganic acid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Pollutant waste prods. are converted into useful materials for applicn. to soil or plants as manure, treatment of animal bedding etc. to remove odours, treatment of effluents, etc. Pollution and disposal problems are avoided. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9412 based on complete specification)
Organic waste is placed on a closed tank which is immersed on water in a larger tank and heated over a furnace. The waste undergoes fermentation and is converted into petroleum, being subsequently discharged under vacuum. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9412 based on complete specification)
Organic waste is treated by forming an maintaining an aerobic compost bed onto which are fed solid organic waste and waste water. Excess wastewater is filtered through the bed and removed from the bottom to prevent anaerobic conditions from developing. Composted waste material is also removed from the bottom of the bed.    The appts. includes a compost reactor vessel (11) partially filled with active bed of compost (12) supported by drainage medium (14). A drainage system, (15) pref. of perforated flexible plastic ducting with a corrugated annular wall profile is coiled about the bottom of the vessel and leads to a drain (43). Air is drawn over bed down vent (26) and under bed and through drainage system to maintain aerobic conditions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Waste may be partially or completely derived from water closet or dry toilet. The compost bed may include wood waste and garden waste. Additional materials which the process can convert into a valuable soil amendment include cellulose fibre-based prods., e.g. paper, cardboard and box board; natural cellulose fibre prods., e.g. cloth, contaminated dressings, facial tissues, sanitary pads, tampons and disposable nappy linings; food wastes; grass clippings, shredded prunings and leaf litter; dust, hair and link; and water borne organics including soap, detergents, household chemicals and mineral salts. The process is reliable and efficient not requiring frequency specialised management intervention.
Animal bedding manure is processed more efficiently as follows. A suitable hole is dug in the ground nearby, and half-filled with a mixt. of soil and sand contg. Oligochaete class ring worms in amounts of 30-35 worms/ton of manure which is gradually added on top of the soil and layer. After 5-9 months the worms are sepd. for use as protein-contg. additive to fodders, and the rest is used as fertiliser.    The worms used belong the families of Lumbricidae, Eisenis foetida, Lumbricus terrestris, Allolophora coliginosa and megascolecidae.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture. The process is more efficient and prevents bacterial contamination of the animals.
Mixt. of soln. of sewage and activated sludge that has generated bulking or has the possibility of generating bulking, is added to OS-4 gps., their culture, or processed culture, that belong to (Acinetobacter) genus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for preventing generation of bulking caused by growth of filamentous fungus, by using Acinetobacter fungus which produce substances impeding their growth. Conventionally to prevent generation of bulking, adjusting the vol. of air, redn. in the sludge load, or intermittent aeration has been used, and when the bulking generates countermeasures such as extn. of sludge, increasing oxygen concn. in the aeration tank, or addn. of reagent is used. This method prevents bulking generation by adding small amt. of fungus for long time, which dissolves filamentous fungus quickly.    In an example, 2 ml of PGY culture ground were put into five 20 ml test tubes respectively, which after thermally processed in an autoclave 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 ml of culture soln. of OS-4 gps. were put into the test tubes respectively, then added them physiological saline soln. so as the total vol. to be 10 ml, and added them 0.5 ml of (S. natans: KRN-A1 and -SY-1). The test tubes had been incubated at 30 deg.C for 3 days. Results are shown in fig.1, where OD expresses the density of filamentous fungus.
Light is irradiated as the organic cpd. in the presence of titanium oxide and/or hydrated titanium oxide, and oxygen in a perfluoro inert liq., including perfluoroalkyl amine.    The organic cpd. pref. comprises, e.g., methane or ethane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The use of the perfluoro inert liq. for oxidn. decomposition readily decomposes gas or liq. organic cpd. No intermediate prod. or CO is grown. C contained in the organic cpd. is converted into CO2. The result treats the harmful organic cpd. causing environmental pollution. Decomposing polydiphenyl chloride generates no harmful substance, including dioxin.
Process for producing isoparaffins from a mix. of 4C hydrocarbons comprises: 1) deisobutanisation by distillation of mixture of 4C mix and effluent from step 3) below with part condensation of distillate for recycle as reflux liquid; 2) adsorption of the other part of the distillate by upward flow through a bed of molecular sieve whilst in vapour phase to give essentially pure isobutane product; 3) desorption, alternating with step 2), by lowering pressure in the adsorber and passing through a portion of the isobutane product from step 2), with desorption effluent being passed to the column in step 1); 4) isomerisation of residue from step 1) in the vapour phase; and 5) separation of isomerisation product into recycled vapour phase and liquid crude effluent.    ADVANTAGE -   High purity isobutane (suitable for MTBE manufacture) is produced with minimised energy use. The process allows use of high-activity halogenated catalysts without effecting molecular sieves used in the adsorptive separation.
Improved PSA process for the recovery of two gas products at high yield and purity from a feed gas contg. less and more strongly adsorbed components, comprises (a) introducing the feed gas stream at elevated pressure into parallel adsorptive beds filled with adsorbents to retain the more strongly adsorbed components, allowing the less strongly adsorbed components to be recovered as product at high recovery and purity; (b) terminating the introduction of the feed gas before the more strongly adsorbed components break through the downstream end of the bed, and depressurising the bed to ambient pressure removing the less strongly adsorbed component from the bed and recycling a portion of the depressurisation effluent to the feed gas; (c) passing a low pressure purge gas of more strongly adsorbed components through the bed to remove any residual less strongly adsorbed components from the bed; (d) evacuating the bed to a subambient pressure to recover the more strongly adsorbed components as the second product at high recovery and purity; (e) repressurising the bed with less strongly adsorbed components to about the pressure of the feed gas, in which the steps (a)-(e) are performed on the several beds resulting in a continuous process; and (f) increasing the energy efficiency of the process by a purge effluent repressurisation in which the bed is partially repressurised between steps (d) and (e) with the effluent from one of the parallel beds presently undergoing step (c).    ADVANTAGE -   Two prods. are recovered at high yield and purity using less power.
Polyamideimide(s) (PAI) are claimed based on repeat units of formula -A-X-A-Z- (E) where A = amide gp. or linkage; Z = divalent organic residue; and X = divalent organic residue with 1 or 2 imide rings in the chain, with the imide N atoms linked to an in-chain phenylene gp. which is substd. with gp(s). (S) (other than H) in the ortho position to the N atom.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Membranes made of PAI are used e.g. for gas sepn. and as catalyst supports. The invention provides new, vitreous polyamideimide(s) (PAI) with good film-forming properties (from soln. in NMP etc) which can be used to produce membranes with very good mechanical properties as unsupported thin films having high gas permeability and high gas selectivity. These membranes are also able to absorb large amts. of metal salts and particles obtd. therefrom by chemical reactions (e.g. for prodn. of metallised plastic films, catalyst supports, etc).
An appts. for clarifying a contaminated fluid comprises a separator vessel (12) housing a cyclonic flow chamber. This consists of two concentric shells defining between them an annular space (74) into which the contaminated fluid is introduced tangentially. A third cylindrical shell surrounds a lower portion of the concentric shells, its upper end positioned below the tangential inlet. A first separated fluid (H) is discharged from the annular space via a gap (G) between the upper portion of the third shell and the lower portion of the concentric shells. It is discharged into a first fluid zone (15, 17) formed between the outer walls of the concentric shells and the separator vessel. A second separated fluid is discharged from the top end of the annular space to a second fluid zone in the upper portion of the separator vessel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As an oil/water separator in the oil and gas industry, pulp and paper mills, municipal waste treatment, facilities, steel mills, food processing plants and electricity generating plants. The system can cope with contaminated liqs. having a high solid and high oil content.
The composting unit comprises a frame (1) carrying at least two adjacent containers (4) one of whose side walls is common to the tanks.    The common wall is made as a plate (3) and the other side walls are gratings (2).    The grating mesh size is 3-25 mm and the total waste volume from household gardening and foul waste sources etc is 5.0 m3/year, compared with the conventional 1.3 m3/year. The material is dug over at least once per year in an installation made up of three composting units.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is for composting domestic waste. The waste and air contact surface area is increased.
Carbonaceous gas (C) is prepd. by decomposition of carbonic acid gas in the presence of activated iron oxide. (C) is carried on the surface of activated iron oxide and CH4 is prepd. by reaction of (C) which is carried on the surface of the activated iron oxide, with H2.    More specifically, activated iron oxide is prepd. by reaction of iron oxide with H2. CH4 is prepd. at 100-500 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Exhaustion of CO2 has to be controlled because it makes the earth be warmer. By this method CH4 is given efficiently from CO2.    In an example, activated magnetite was obtd. by reaction of magnetite (Fe3O4)(30g) with H2 gas for 4 hrs. CO2 was supplied to the activated magnetite at 150-350 deg.C without air. After remained CO2 was exhausted, H2 gas was supplied. H2 was reacted at 300 deg.C for 2 hrs. CH4 was given in 14.4% yield.
The adsorbent consists of activated C loaded with metal or metal cpd. which can chemically adsorb methane. Pref. the metal or metal cpd. is selected from Gp.IIA, VIA, VIIA, VIII, IB, IIB or IIIB elements. The activated C has a specific surface area of at least 750 m2/g. The metal or the metal cpd. is loaded in an amt. of 0.1-30 wt.% w.r.t. activated C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to store methane gas in a cylinder or tank for cars or gas stations. A larger amt. of methane gas or natural gas can be adsorbed for storage, so that the size of the gas cylinder or tank can be minimised.    In an example, 45g of activated C fibres with 1000 m2/g surface area were degassed in a vacuum chamber at 110 deg.C for 2 hrs. under a reduced pressure of 10 power(-5) Torr. After the fibres were cooled to room temp. in the vacuum chamber, they were immersed in a Mg(NO3)2 satd. aq. soln. for 24 hrs. at 30 deg.C. Mg(OH)2 pptes. were formed by dropping 0.2N NaOH soln. to the fibres, then they were heated at 400 deg.C to obtain active carbon fibres loaded with 11 wt.% MgO. At 2500 kPa, about 80 mg/g-adsorbent CH4 were adsorbed.
Prodn. of a liquified rubber prod. in the recycling of scrap rubber, where a batch of non-comminuted rubber waste prods. is subjected to a thermal decomposition process by heating to 350-500 deg.C in a hermetically sealed reactor in the presence of high boiling residues from crude oil distn. ("masut") as decomposition promoter and solvation agent, whereby thermal decomposition of the rubber and breaking of the sulphur bonds occurs and dissolved rubber components are produced.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. useful for reclaiming scrap tyres. The liquified rubber prod. from scrap tyres contains dissolved components from the tyre cord and despite having no binding capacity has a high mol.wt. and is chemically active and useful as an additive to bitumen in the prodn. of mastics and anti-corrosion coatings having excellent water sealing properties and UV. The process can be used for reclaiming scrap tyres without prior comminution of the tyres. By carrying out the decomposition of the rubber in perforated cassettes each shaped to hold a number of whole tyres, the liq. rubber prod. can be recovered and the residual metal and cord components of the tyres can be washed off with recycled solvent whilst still in the cassette, and the process can be run on a quasi-continuous basis.
The assembly to produce a biogas, from the gas generated by a sludge, has a raw sludge gassing in front where the sludge rots, for handling in the system, to give the gas to drive a gas turbine to power an electro-generator. After rotting, water is extracted from the sludge, followed by sludge drying, where the drying air is heated indirectly by a heat exchanger. An initial gas exhaust at the exhaust side of the gas turbine leads to the inlet for a heating medium at the heat exchanger. A further exhaust gas channel leads from the outlet for heating medium at the heat exchanger to the raw sludge gassing. A third exhaust gas channel leads the turbine gas from the raw sludge gassing into the atmosphere.    Alleyways claimed is an operation where the turbine gas is taken at a temp. of more than 450 deg. C and passed at this temp. to the heat exchanger.    An exhaust filter is fitted to the third exhaust gas channel. A gas cleaner, to remove sulphur, is in front of the gas turbine. The sludge dryer is a drum assembly, where the drying air is circulated pref. in a circular path.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the prodn. of a biogas fuel from manure, etc. System gives waste product which is comparatively easy to dispose of, and generates max. energy.
Disposal of wood impregnated with tar oil or salt, e.g. railway sleepers, is effected by comminuting the wood in admixture with organic material (wood chips, leaves, twigs, reeds, straw or grass cuttings); comminuting the mixt. again after an intermediate storage period; adding sewage sludge, phenol-degrading microorganisms and recycled compost; and storing the mixt.    ADVANTAGE -   Old railway sleepers can be disposed of without pollution problems.
Plastic scrap of any kind of composition is used for generating electricity. In the process the scrap in a plasma reactor and under reducing conditions is exposed to plasma contg. sub-stoichiometric oxygen at a temp. above 1200 deg.C; it is there converted to plasma-pyrolytic gas which consists of low molecular weight carbon fragments, after which the gas is cooled down to below 1500 deg.C. The gas used is compressed to have a high calorific value and is fed at high temp. to a gas turbine for electricity generation; the heat lost is utilised to generate steam and this too is fed to a similar turbine for current generation.    ADVANTAGE -   The process converts the high energy content of mixed plastic scrap into electrical energy with a very high conversion efficiency. At the same time it converts the scrap into environmentally acceptable material which can be disposed of without producing any harmful substances. It saves fossil fuels, raw material resources generally and hence the whole environment.
The covering material for a compost heap has a membrane (1) which is impermeable to water but permeable to air. It is covered on both sides by a textile carrier material (2,3).    The membrane (1) is of polyethylene or polyurethane. The textile carriers (2,3) are a high density non-woven, woven or knitted material of polyester.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material is for covering a compost heap, esp. for rotting in the compost conversion of bio-waste. The material gives the required ventilation and water movement, with protection against drying out or saturation.
Prodn. of plant growth media comprises forming a mixt. of 10-40% cellulose or paper pulp, 15-25% sewage sludge and 50-70% ceramic material, e.g. granulated blast furnace slag or brick dust, together with organic industrial wastes, organic and/or inorganic additives (e.g. methylcellulose and/or bentonite) and water.    Also claimed is the appts. for the above process, comprising a mixing and processing unit in which partially premixed and homogeneous materials are introduced via a central conveyor belt into a mixer. Other ingredients are added to the mixer; and the prod. is withdrawn continuously or discontinuously.    The mixt. contains 18-22% pulp, 20% sewage sludge and 55-65% ceramic material.    ADVANTAGE -   Prods. have high water uptake capacity (at least 40 wt.%), providing good nutrient retention and minimal ground water pollution. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9409 based on complete specification.)
In a refrigerant system having a compressor (11), a condenser (18), an expansion valve and an evaporator (22), and designed for use with refrigerant R-12, this is replaced by a mixture of propane and butane. The mixt. may contain 25, 50, 60 or 75 vol.% of propane, remainder butane, which may be iso- or n-butane. The pref. mixt. is 50-60% propane, 50-40% butane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in an automobile or domestic refrigerator. R-12 can be directly replaced by a low-cost mixt. which is compatible with existing lubrication systems and construction materials.
A fluid (I) is simultaneously dried and both metallic/inorganic and organic mercury are removed therefrom by contacting (I) with a multilayered molecular sieve (eg zeolite) bed. The bed comprises a first layer (11) consisting of a porous substrate having silver mixed with, coated on, or impregnated therein, and a second layer (12) comprising a porous substrate having gold mixed with, coated on or impregnated therein. Layer (11) removed water and metallic/inorganic mercury, and layer (12) removed organic mercury and residual water.    Also claimed is appts for the above process.    The porous substrate is molecular sieve, alumina, silica-alumina, silica gel, or activated carbon, esp zeolite A (3A, 4A or 5A). Ag is 0.001-15 wt% and Au 0.0001-15 wt%. Zeolite 4A is used in both regions. The ratio Ag/4A region to Au/4A region is eg 100:1; the depth of the first region is a fraction 0.1-1.0 of the depth of the total absorption region. A third layer comprising zeolite A without Ag or Au may be present. The absorption system may be regenerated (water removed therefrom) by passing an inert or reducing gas eg natural gas, in reverse flow at 200-600 deg C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is a hydrocarbon fluid eg natural gas. Metallic and inorganic mercury are readily removed from gas stream, eg by absorbents comprising silver, but organic mercury is more difficult to remove. Gold is found to be effective for the latter purpose, and its use together with a silver absorbent renders the use of gold economic.
Stable, water-in-oil emulsion comprises: an aq. phase contg. a water-soluble polymer comprising a homopolymer of (meth)acrylamide or a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and at least one monoethylenically unsatd. comonomer copolymerisable therewith; and an oil phase contg. a partially esterified lower N,N-dialkanol fatty amide emulsifier and a second emulsifier comprising a non-ionic, reaction prod. of ethylene oxide and a long chain cpd. contg. a reactive hydroxyl and/or carboxyl gp. and having an HLB above 5 but less than 14, the total wt. of the emulsifiers comprises about 1-5% of the emulsion, and the second emulsifier constitutes about 10-150% of the wt. of the fatty amide and contains less than 0.1 wt.% of sorbitan, sorbital, mixts. thereof and derivs. thereof; the ratio of the aq. phase to the oil phase being 2:1-3.5:1 and the polymer content of the emulsion being at least 20 wt.%, based on the total wt. of the emulsion.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Water-in-oil emulsions are used in municipal and industrial waste treatment, in process streams in the mining and paper industry and for enhanced oil recovery. This water-in-oil emulsion has superior stability with high polymer solids but a low bulk viscosity.
Sludge and excreta of livestock are passed into a rotary kiln and the kiln is rotated at very slow speed. Materials inside are agitated and passed downstream slowly. The rotary kiln rotating device has a pair of rotary shafts parallel each on a plane surface and has tyres. The rotary kiln rotating device has a pair of rotary shafts parallel each other on a plane surface and has tyres. The rotary kiln is mounted on the tyres and the kiln is rotated by rotation of the tyres. The rotary shafts are rotated synchronously by chain transfer. Three swing arms are fixed to the drive shaft and each arm is rotated for a specified angle by each cylinder separately.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fermentation equipment is used to form good quality organic fertiliser. Drive force transfer to the kiln is dispersed which reduces the weight of the kiln. The rotary shafts are driven by a hydraulic cylinder that rotates the kiln at very slow speed without using a reducing gear.
An analysis system (10) (fig 1) is used to measure the concn of non-methane organic gases (NMOGs) in a gas mixture including methane, and includes a porous layer open tubular (plot) column (30) which is used as part of a trap (22) in which the NMOGs are collected prior to analysis.    When at a low trapping temp the plot column adsorbs the NMOGs but allows the methane in the mixt to pass through when the plot column is at a higher, desorption temp the NMOGs are desorbed into a stream of carried gas flowing through the column.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For determn of non-methane organic gases in gas mixts including methane eg IC engine exhaust gas. Esp useful for eg environmental studies. Simple appts capable of giving quick, accurate, reliable determn can give results very rapidly (eg within a few seconds of several minutes with prior art analysers). Allows use of direct sampling techniques without the need for collection traps and large volumes of dilution air.
To process waste matter, esp. organic waste from restaurants and catering establishments, it is finely ground and mixed to pass continuously through an irrigation unit (6,9) where the separate particles are wholly rinsed with air.    Also claimed is an appts. with an irrigation unit (6,9) having a rising section (9) and a feed (6) for the rising section (9).    Pref., in addition to irrigation, the ground material is continuously mixed through, and a portion of the material is constantly returned to the grinder (15). The temp. and/or the moisture level of the ground material is maintained according to the nature of the waste matter and the working condition. The fresh air is fed in under control.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is for the disposal of organic waste, esp. from restaurants and the like. The system gives the matter an even consistency with a high moisture content, in a compact and suitable structure for mixing, with good aeration for aerobic conversion into a compost.
Waste processing appts. has a charging device (1), a degassing channel (2) and a high temp. reactor (3) with discharge openings for a melt (Sch) and a synthesis gas (Cy), the synthesis gas discharge opening (3a) being connected to a gas cleaning system (5) having a scrubbing water feed line (6), a waste water discharge line (7) and a cleaned synthesis has outlet line (8). The novelty is that the gas cleaning system (5) is associated with a particle and/or aerosol filter (10,11).    ADVANTAGE -   The filter prevents entrainment of particles and aerosols (e.g. soot, dust and tar) into the waste water so that a simple and inexpensive water treatment plant can be used.
Closed system process for the recovery of carbon dioxide from coal power stations and its subsequent hydro-biological conversion into methane by anaerobic fermentation, which ends with a fermentation reactor rather than a chimney.    Pref. sulphur and nitrogen are removed following liquefaction of the exhaust gas/carbon dioxide, with vol. redn. further increased by cooling and over pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for the treatment of industrial exhaust gases and as a commercially-viable process for the prepn. of methane. Methane is obtd. via a low energy process.
The contaienr (1) filled with compostable material has closable openings (2) for loading and unloading. Venting tubes (3) are divided and can be cut off by valves (5), being provided with air outlet apertures. A blower (8) sucks air via a pipe conduit (4) out of the upper part of the container (1) and presses it into the cooler (9) and from their via the valves (5) and the venting tubes (3) into the container (1) again.    From a regulatable branch valve (6) this circuit has a part quantity removed from it and via an odour filter (10) discharged into the atmos.. On the container (1) is fitted a safety valve (7) which prevents a harmful vacuum appertaining in the container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the compositing of bio-waste matter. The container used is mobile and suitable for movement by road, obviates smell pollution of the atmos., and obviates the risk of damage during loading and unloading.
Gas is dissolved in a liq. using a bubble contactor. This has a chamber defining a bubble contact zone with an underlying lower chamber section in which is located a liq. outlet. Gas is introduced into the chamber.    Undissolved gas is prevented from exiting the contactor through the liq. outlet using a sensor which detects the existence of undissolved gas in the lower chamber section. This is selectively vented in response to the sensor detecting this condition.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bubble contactor is used to dissolve a gas in a liq esp. for dissolving oxygen in water during water treatment to remove fuel constituents, esp. benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and other hydrocarbons, from contaminated water, e.g. industrial or municipal.    The venting appts. is simple in construction and operates automatically. It prevents the unnecessary release and waste of gases.
Process for selectively sepg. at least one more strongly absorbable component(s) (I) from a less strongly absorbable component (II) of a feed gas mixt. in several adsorption beds contg. an adsorbent (III) selective for cpd. (I) comprises (a) introducing the mixt. at elevated pressure contg. cpds. (I and II) into the inlet of a first bed contg. adsorbent (III) and adsorbing cpd. (I) while cpd. (II) passes through until the adsorption front of cpd. (I) approaches the outlet and terminating the introduction of the mixt.; (b) concurrently depressurising the first bed to remove the mixt. and passing the mixt. to the outlet of another bed to countercurrently purge cpd. (I) from the other bed under vacuum, while simultaneously countercurrently venting the first bed; (c) countercurrently evacuating the first bed to further remove cpd. (I) at the lowest pressure; (d) countercurrently purging the first bed with concurrently depressurising mixt. from another of the several beds undergoing step (b) to remove addn. cpd. (I) from the first bed under vacuum; (e) repressurising the first bed; and (f) performing steps (a)-(e) in each of the several beds in phased sequence.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Adsorption process recovering hydrogen from gas mixts. Hydrogen is recovered in high yield and purity from low pressure, low purity hydrogen-contg. gases, such as off-gas.
Device includes number of garbage-treating vessels piled one upon another. Each of vessels includes bottom inclined downwardly from central portion to peripheral portion, and peripheral face with discharge hole for discharging liquid collected along inclined bottom.    ADVANTAGE -   Water contained in garbage can be effectively discharged outside.
Photochemical conversion substances comprises heating a metal oxide to activate the surface and feeding water and carbon dioxide to the surface-activated metal oxide at 0-10 deg.C. and 30-40 atoms with simultaneous irradiation of a visible light to the metal oxide, converting the carbon oxide into organic substances.    Water pref. forms a clathrate hydride phase of water contacting to the surface-activated metal oxide and CO2 is feed into the clathrate hydride phase. The visible light includes sunlight and the metal oxide is ZnO or wO3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method converts CO2 into methanol and methane in high yields.    In an example, ZnO was activated at 400 deg.C. CO2 at 5 deg.C. and 33 atoms was feed to a reactor contg. 2-5 cc water and 2-5g of the surface-activated ZnO with a surface area of 10 m2/g and UV-cut Xe lamp light was irradiated to the metal oxide with the clathrate hydride phase contg. 2.5 and 3.0% CH4 and 0.2 and 0.4% CH3OH w.r.t. H2O at 2 and 4 hrs. respectively.
Elimination of substances (A) of high fat content (esp. processed leather scraps for glue prodn.) comprises subjected to anaerobic decomposition in admixture with (a) NH3-contg. pH stabilising buffer and (b) biogas-generating bacteria.    Pref. (A) is mixed with liq. chicken manure and with a liq. medium to produce a pumpable mixt. The medium, already mixed with buffer and bacteria (able to cleave fat and generate methane) before adding (A), in esp. water recycled from the fermenter, opt. contg. some liq. manure.    ADVANTAGE -   The method is economical and less polluting than known methods of (A) disposal. Almost complete conversion is achieved and since methane is generated energy can be recovered. The slurry-like residue left after fermentation can be used as organic fertiliser. The use of a buffer allows very large amts. of acid to be produced without causing a fall in pH sufficient to kill the bacteria.
Earthworm composting bin comprises first and second organic waste receiving compartments formed from flexible sheet wall members made of UV stabilised polypropylene fluteboard releasably engaged together, an apertured control panel between the first and second compartment with a U-shaped pocket, coordinated slide covers for the apertures formed in a panel sliding in the U-shaped pocket to permit control of earthworm migration between compartments for completing composting in one compartment before allowing migration into the other compartment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows earthworms to break down organic waste into compost. Earthworms can move into another compartment and to leave completed compost in one compartment before it is removed.
Constant boiling compsns. contg. 2.5-95 wt.% of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFO-134a), 2.9-95 wt.% of dimethyl ether (DME) and 2.5-50 wt.% isobutane (IB) resistant to component segregation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are useful as, e.g. refrigerants for cooling and heating (claimed), aerosol propellants, heat transfer media, power cycle working fluids, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents and expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethanes. The compsns. are potentially environmentally safe, having ozone depletion levels of zero, compared with CFC-12. The compsns. also provide an increase in C.O-P (energy efficiency) compared with CFC-12.
The membrane comprises a layer of a polyazole-type polymer of formula (I) (where n = equal to or greater than 2 and equal to or less than 990,000; R = a rigid linking gp.; and X = O, S, N-R1 and R1-C-R2; R1 and R2 being H or an organic radical).    Also claimed are the following: (1) prepn. of the membrane and (2) a process for sepg. fluids.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membranes are gas sepn. membranes and porous membranes used in gas sepn. and reverse osmosis processes. The membranes are shaped in the form of flat sheets or films, and hollow fibres or tubes; films and hollow fibres of circular cross-section being pref. The polymers used have qualities of high permeability, high flux, high strength, high continuous use temps. and/or high resistance to common solvents and vapours.
A method of sepg. component gases in a mixt. comprises: (a) contacting a side of the membrane with the mixt. at 5 deg.C or lower while maintianing a difference in chemical potential from one side to the other side of the membrane; and (b) recovering a permeate gas(es) or rejected non-permeate gas(es). A component of gas selectively permeates relative to the second component, with permeation occurring at or above the freezing pt. of any liq. present. The membrane consists of a discriminating layer or region of a glassy polymer, and is selected so that, when using a mixt. of 80 mole% N2 and 20 mole% O2 as feed at 30 deg.C with a pressure of 30 psia on the initial side of the membrane and a vacuum of less than 1mm Hg on the other side, the permeability of O2 is less than 2000.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used to separate, remove, purify, or partially recover gases including H, He, O2, N2, CO, CO2, NH3, A, CH4, H2O vapour and other light hydrocarbons. The method achieves improved performance compared to ambient temp. membrane sepn. processes. For air sepn., to produce N2, there is a higher recovery of N2 at the same prod. purity, or a higher purity prod. is formed at the same recovery.
Decontamination and reclamation of materials contaminated with radionuclides and/or metals comprises: (a) extracting the contaminants by contacting the material with an aq. citric acid and/or citrate salt soln. to form citrate complexes; (b) treating the extract with a bacterial culture contg. Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 55241 to degrade the complexes (other than uranium citrate) and ppte. the contaminants or incorporate them in the biomass; and (c) if U citrate is present, photolytically degrading it to ppte. the U as a polymer.    The citrate concn. is 0.01-1 M. Step (b) is at 18-32 deg.C and an initial pH of 4-8, opt. with addn. of a supplemental C source, esp. glucose. Step (c) is effected by exposure to daylight for at least 12 hr., opt. after adding a photoreactive (esp. ferric) cpd.. Step (c) may also be effected before or at the same time as step (b).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to decontaminate soils, sediments, sludges and aquatic environments. The contaminants are recovered in conc. form.
Sewage sludge is disposed of as follows: (a) an aq. slurry sludge (I) is dewatered to solids content 8-35% by wt; (b) (I) is heated to 120-210 deg.F at atmos. pressure by direct contact with steam, and held at this temp. for 1-30 min. while an off-gas comprising air, H2O and organic vapours is removed simultaneously; (c) (I) is then heated, mixed and sheared by indirect heat exchange in the absence of air at 210-350 deg.F/50-100 psig above the vapour pressure of H2O at this temp. for 2-10 min. (d) (I) is hydrothermally treated by direct steam injection in an autoclave in the absence of air, and kept in the autoclave for 15-150 min at 450-600 deg. F/50-100 psig above the vapour pressure of H2O at this temp. while off-gas comprising air, H2O organic vapours, CO2, H2S, and COS is simultaneously removed; (e) the pressure is suddenly reduced to 25-50 psig and H2O is flash evaporated. to increase the solids content to 25-55%; (f) the (I) slurry is centrifuged to remove H2O to solids content 28-58%; and (g) the resulting pumpable slurry is burnt opt. with a supplementary solid carboniferous fuel either (i) in a furnace, boiler or incinerator to afford a hot raw effluent gas stream, or (ii) in a partial oxidn. gas generator to produce a hot raw stream of synthesis gas, reducing gas or fuel gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The process safely disposes of noxious sewage sludge without contaminating the environment. In addn. synthesis gas, reducing gas or fuel gas may be produced. In the process, a greater amt. of the sludge to be fed to a partial oxidn. gasifier, boiler or incinerator while requiring less energy per unit mass of sludge processed.
The method is carried out by dumping the refuse, assembling a system of horizontal and vertical perforated pipes (2), covering the refuse with polymer film (6) and gas removal. The refuse initially is arranged in two parallel dumps, e.g. such as extended heaps, and assembling the system of horizontal and vertical perforated pipes along the symmetry line between the heaps. As the refuse accumulates, the heaps are displaced towards each other and cover the pipes system. The refuse is covered by the polymer film by spraying the refuse with rapidly solidifying polymer material, e.g. latex.    The base (1) which comprises a water resistant layer and drainage system for alkali filtrate collection, is prepd.. The refuse (4) is initially arranged in two parallel dumps and a system of vertical and horizontal pipe (2) is assembled. The refuse heaps are then displaced towards each other. The refuse is covered with polymer film (6) and covered with soil (7).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For biological gas removal from rubbish dumps. The gas collection efficiency is increased and the harmful matter discharge to atmos. is reduced.
Treatment comprises roughly crushing the plastics, throwing the crushed plastics into a finely crushing machine, together with a liq. contg. a surfactant, and crushing the grains with the liq. into a slurry-like fuel.
Treatment comprises roughly crushing a combustible material contg. the plastics, heating and pressuring the grains to form half molten solids, crushing the solids being cooled into fine grains and adding a liq. to them to produce slurry-like fuel.
Treating waste comprises crushing the wastes into fine grains, mixing a liq. contg. a surfactant with the fine grains to make a slurry-like fuel; a flow rate adjuster may be provided for the liq.
Appts. comprises a wastes housing disposed in a combustion chamber, and gas guide passage connected to the wastes housing. The gas produced in the wastes housing is guided to an engine.
The converter consists of a bottomless container buried in the ground and surmounted by a domed top, also buried, and an aperture with lid.    The container and domed top are perforated with small holes which have a dual function - to allow in bacteria contained naturally in the soil and to allow out gases produced by the fermentation of the waste material in the container.    The lid is opened manually for waste material to be deposited inside the converter. The container can be in a variety of shapes and made from diverse materials.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For private or community use for converting biodegradable household waste into compost.
Fermentable prod. (I) is prepd. by: (a) treatment of ripe fermentable material (II) with worms, bacteria and fungi; then (b) (I) is dug off and (if necessary) ground and sifted.    Pref., (II) is pref. vegetable, fruit and garden waste. Worms are pref. Lumbricideae, Eisenieae, Allolobophoreae, Dendrobaeneae spp., and the African Nightcrawler or mixts. Bacteria are pref. Pseudomonas fluorescens, Cellevibrio sp., Bacillus cereus sp. and spp., Azotobacter sp., Flavobacterium sp., Basidomycetes sp. and Rhizobium spp., and mixts. Fungi are pref. Aspergillus sp., Micorrhizae and low temp. sp. of Trichoderma harzianum sp., and mixts. The process is opt. effected in more than 1 layer. Pref., albuminous nutrients are added to (II), and a single sugar acid is added during or after the growing process. (All components added are pref. scattered across the (III) layer.) (I) is pref. pre-dehydrated at less than 50 deg. C, opt. ground and sifted, then desiccated at not more than 30 deg. C. The prod. (I) may be formed into pellets or grains of dia. 4-6 mm and length 10-20 mm, pref. with addn. of an attractive odour for cats before pelleting or granulating.    USE -   The prod. is useful as a soil supplement, as a fermentation starter in trash cans for organic waste, for degrading oils and grease (e.g. on garage floors), as a filter in purification systems (e.g. plant nutrient systems), and esp. as cat;s box litter to adsorb and decompose droppings without producing odour.
Stabilising of mixed cultures, for degrading organic matter, and distribution comprises a watery suspension augmented by a mixed culture of microorganisms, specific to a given toxic material, to a dry mass concn. of 10-80 g/l, then conc. and applied to a carrier material. The augmented watery suspension is brought to a dry mass concn. of 40-120 g/l by sepn., filtration, drying or other suitable method. The nutrient and other additives are added to the carrier material for adsorption. The residue, as unwanted matter for the substrates, is removed from the suspension.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The carrier material (such as glass balls, ceramics, ground pumice and active carbon) together with the mixed culture is for scattering over sewage or within sewage treatment plant appts. The method gives a stable material which can be carried and distributed at the point of use.
Process is for composting a mixt. of a raw material comprising clarifier sludge, organic waste (e.g. domestic refuse) or clarifier sludge from paper factories, with additives comprising excavated soil (e.g. dredgings from rivers and harbours) and straw or straw chaff.    Pref. the basic raw material makes up at least 50% of the total mixt. for composting. The mixt. is pref. moistened, esp. to a moisture content of 50-60%, e.g. with a mixt. of surface water, non-dewatered clarifier sludge and liq. manure. Organic waste is pref. comminuted to a suitable particle size before use. Part of the already composted mixt. may be used together with straw as the additives for a further batch of raw material for composting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process allows clarifier sludge and organic wastes to be composted into a useful prod. The process can be used e.g. to dispose of the effluent sludge from sugar factories and allows better local inclusion of waste materials and additives without provision of additional transport or intermediate storage.
In a single stage rectification process to separate a gas mixture under pressure at low temperature, the light boiling fraction is drawn off from the head of the rectification column and the heavier fraction from the sump. The novelty is that the has mixture (1) under pressure is first cooled (W), partially or fully condensed and in a separated (A) into a liquid (4) consisting primarily of heavier boiling components, and a gaseous (7) fraction consisting of light b.p. components. Further, the gaseous fraction (7) is cooled (W), partially or fully condensed and then is sent via a choke (9) at the head of the rectification column (R) as return flow, while the liquid (4) fraction is charged into the rectification column (R) via choke (5).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process separates constituents of a gas mixt. with a single-stage rectifier at low temp. The process facilitates the separation of gas mixt. without using an expansion chamber or a compressor.
To decontaminate ground soiled by organic toxic matter, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the organic matter is extracted from the ground by a microemulsion of biologically degradable components.    Also claimed is an extraction system (3) with a feed for the contaminated soil (2) and a feed (5) for the microemulsion of biologically degradable components. It is followed by a separation stage (6) to remove microemulsion soiled by the organic matter from the cleaned soil. The separated microemulsion is separated (8) into a phase enriched by tenside and a phase containing the contaminating matter.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used for decontamination of ground soiled by organic matter, such as from old oil storage, coking plants, plants using tar and pitch, old rubbish dumps, and also after forest fires or buildings destroyed by fire, industrial sites with furnaces and where combustion motors have been used excessively to give an air deposit on the ground.    The technique is used on site, with an effective removal of hazardous matter and recovery of cleaned soil.
Measurement of the intensity of biogenic formation of methane and other hydrocarbon gases is carried out by placing a 15gm specimen of each microbiological sample in a glass tube. The tube is sealed and a syringe is used to inject a radioactive marker through the bung, before the sample is incubated at natural temp. for 1 month. The samples are then fixed by injection of sodium hydroxide.    The resulting soln. is mixed and heated, before being transferred to a flask, from where the sepd. gas is passed through an absorber, which collects all hydrocarbon gases. The mixt. of hydrocarbon gases is broken down in a column and the radioactivity of the gases is measured separately and are used in calculation of the rate of formation of the analysis hydrocarbon gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Determn. of rate of biogenic formation of gaseous hydrocarbons. Reduced time of measurement. Bul.43-44/30.11.93
Prepn. of resources energy gas is by reacting an Fe oxide cpd. with C adhered to its surface with hydrogen and water at 300 deg.C or more to give methanol. The C is pref. pptd.    ADVANTAGE -   The method gives methanol at low temp. and pressure.    In an example, a quartz column is filled with log magnetite (Fe304) and heated up to 300 deg.C followed by feeding hydrogen gas for 4 hr. to give an oxygen defective Fe oxide. This is reacted with CO2 and fed into the column at 300 deg. C to ppte. C on the surface of magnetite. A quartz cell is filled with 5g of the obtd. magnetite contg. 3.2% of the pptd. C, 0.5 ml water is added to the cell whose inner press. is reduced followed by heating at 400 deg.C for 4 hr. under 1 atm. to give 1.1% methanol, 0.2 % methane and 4% hydrogen.
prodn. comprises fermenting an organic material mixed with fermenting bacteria in a treatment tank to aerobically ferment the material for 12-24 hrs. and heating the fermented material to dry.    USE -   For treating vegetable waste.
Treatment of the kitchen refuse comprises; (a) breaking the refuse; (b) mixing the kitchen refuse with earth and sand, 40% of the kitchen refuse, lime, and a soil conditioner being desalinated; (c) allowing the mixt. to stand for 1 - 2 months for fermentation; (d) using the mixt. as compost.    The compost is burned at high temps. Aseptic treatment can be applied to the compost to obtain aseptic compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method treats the kitchen refuse. A large amt. of the kitchen refuse is treated. The resulting compost is effectively used.
(HU208659-B)      To be reissued in later week based on complete specification.
Accelerated composting of wine mark based biomass using a starter culture, takes place, when permitted, stacked, precomposted mark is inoculated by a mixed culture of bacteria, capable of degrading materials that are difficult to decompose.    Prodn. of humus is accelerated as nutrients are made more readily available by the culture.
Sludge is added to waste in a landfill site, either during or after formation of the site and the gas generated during decomposition of the mixt. is collecting and either separated into components having a common molecular structure and stored in separate containers or is burnt to generate energy, which may be mechanical or electrical.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In methane prod. from municipal waste. Addition of sludge to the waste substantially increases gas production relative the production when waste alone is decomposed, justifying the expense of a gas recovery system.
Appts. comprises a cylindrical tank (21) with an entrance aperture (2) near first end and exit aperture (6) near second end and a curtained (31) central section (23) for anaerobic composting of contents, an external support (25) on which the cylindrical tank rolls to and fro under external actuation through an angle of 210 deg. with the inlet end higher by 5 deg., collecting means for combustible gas produced in the tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Enables semi-automatic agitation and composting of inorganic material. Appts. allows easy loading, manipulation, collection of compost, etc.
In the chromatograph, a branch joint is connected immediately after the sample injection part; a capillary column and a detector are connected to one of the branch joint and a packed column, and a difference kind of detector connected to another of the branch joint.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Inorganic gases such as H2 or O2 and organic gas such as methane or ethane can be simultaneously analysed. Slight amts. of inorganic gas and organic gas can be simultaneously detected without loss by the gas chromatograph.    In an example, of the gas chromatograph is shown in figure, (1), 2 is sample injection part, 3 is branch joint, and 8 is reference gas injection part. to one of the branch joints, capillary column (4) and hydrogen flame ionisation detector (FID) (5) are connected for e.g. the analysis of organic gas, and to another of the branch joint, packed column (6) and thermal conductivity detector (TCD) (7) connected for e.g. the analysis of inorganic gas, a sample gas injected in (2) is split in the branch joint (3) into the two chromatographic passages.
A refrigerant carrier comprises liquefied Co2 gas mixed with propane at a limiting value of more than ignition. The mixt. ratio of propane and liquefied Co2 in the liq. phase is 8:2-6:4 by mol. Pref. concn. of the liquefied CO2 mixed with propane is 30-35 mol.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The refrigerant carrier is not under high pressure and flammability of propane is reduced.
The fertiliser is composed of physocyanin isolated residue from aq. extract of blue-green algae, partic. Spirulina sp., with of one or more N, P and K fertiliser components.    Phycocyanin is extracted from blue-green algae (e.g. Anabaena, Synechococcus and Spirulina), partic. Spirulina platensis, S. maxima, S. geitleri, S. major, S. caldaria and S. curta with water and the residue is mixed with conventional fertiliser components to adjust the compsns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the growth stimulation of plants both above and underground, increase in chlorophyll and yield of crops. Wasted residue of fertiliser is recycled.    In an example, a mixt. of 74.1 pts. of extract residue contg. 0.9% solid, 8.1 pts. of NH4H2PO4, 10.7 pts. of KNO3, 5.1 pts. of NH4NO3 and 2.0 pts. of chitosan was thoroughly mixed to give a fertiliser compsn. The compsn. was diluted to 500-fold soln. and given to seedlings of cabbage 5 times every 7 days. The wt. of above and underground was 44.4 and 9.5g, respectively, while corresp. wt. of control gp. cultured with conventional fertiliser without using the compsn. gave 31.9 and 7.2g, respectively.
In the method garbage is fed with water to a pulveriser and the finely pulverized garbage produced is conducted to a decomposing tank where it is decomposed with the aid of bacteria.    USE -   Used for vol. reduction garbage.
Device has at least a high temp. fermentation tank with an agitator and a heater and a middle temp. fermentation tank with a heater.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Compact fermentation device prevents malodour generation
Fermentation tank is fitted on a loading body of truck directly and crude refuse is recovered by turning the fermenter. Hot air is fed by a fan into the fermenter to ferment the refuse using aerobic bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Crude refuse is decomposed and fermented in a short time and becomes compost.
Mfr. of compost by compressing crushed or crumbled organic rubbish into rectangular bales through which vertical channels, open at each end, are bored.    Bales are stacked vertically such that channels form a network through the stack and enclosed in a sealed container. The liquid required for humidification flows through the channels.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Mfr. of compost and methane. Rapid process using wide range of substrates with recovery of methane and heat.
Process comprises liberating the liq. present in the compost cells.    The compost pref. undergoes pressure extraction. Pref. the liq. present in the compost cells is liberated by (pref. suddenly) alternating the pressure. The pressure or pressure difference is pref. obtd. by mechanical pressure, relaxation of expanded gases or sub-atmospheric pressure application. The liberated liq. is pref. removed by centrifugal force. Pref. the organic material, esp. the organic material contg. waste, is composted pref. until the more readily biodegradable components are degraded, prior to the stabilisation process. Pref. the organic material is powdered prior to compostation. Pref. a helical and/or piston press or centrifuge is used to carry out the process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for the disposal or organic waste. Harmful bacteria are destroyed large surface areas and climatisation measures are hot required and the process can differentiate between bacteria degradable low mol.wt. and fungi degradable high mol.wt. organic waste components.
Removal of unbound organic substances from surfaces and bodies of water is effected by adsorbing the substances on a coal-based adsorbent (I) and subjecting them to further treatment to degrade or destroy their molecular structure.    Pref. (I) is coke, briquette fines, dry coal or brown coal dust.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used, e.g. to clean up oil spills. Adsorbents of type (I) are cheap and non-polluting and have good handling properties.
Coolant mixt. for partially or fully hermetic refrigeration cycles is characterised by the addn. of 10-20 wt.% hydrocarbon (A) to the 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) coolant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for CF or HFC based coolant mixts. The mixts. have a cooling performance comparable with CFC's, and standard refrigeration machine oils (e.g. mineral oils or polyalkylbenzene derivs.) are more readily soluble in the mixts.    In an example, mixt. comprising R134a and 20 wt.% propane (partial pressures 12.0 and 10.4 respectively) gave an evapn. band of 0.02 (O) deg. C, a volumetric cooling performance of 563 (626) kj/m3 and an isentropic performance value of 1.93 (1.95)s at an evapn. temp. of -30 deg. C and a condensation temp. of 40 deg. C; (figs in brackets are for an R12 (CFC) coolant).
A mixt. of carbon black and polymeric binder, obtd. as waste from prodn. of acetylene and methane in the form of a 13.6% aq. suspension, is heated at 20-100 deg. to a friable state, with moisture content not more than 40%, then the powder is granulated and carbonised at 700 deg. for 1 hr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The use of waste material improves the economics of the prodn., and the sorbent has strength 1.5-2 times higher c.f. prior amt at 401-424 kg./cm.2, and porosity 0.43-0.60 ml./g., cf. prior amt of 200-300 and 0.5-0.7 respectively.    Bul.2/15.1.93
A methane analyser test device is connected to connecting lines (2) and a commutator (9) is used to connect the lines (2) to a resistance meter (10), measuring the resistances of the lines (2). During variation of the resistances from a nominal value, a fault indicator (11) is activated. The lines (2) are then connected to sensors. A fault indicator (13) indicates unpermitted variation of the supply voltages.    During variation of all voltages, a fault indicator (5) is connected. The voltages from the sensors carry information of the presence of gas in the form of information pulses, the on-off time ratio of which is measured by meters (14) and displayed on an information panel (15), calibrated in percentages of methane. During passage of 1.5% methane-air mixt., calibration information is obtd. from the information panel (15).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Diagnosis of serviceability, adjustment and tuning of methane analysers. Extended functional capability.
Appts. includes a treating vessel having organic material feed and discharge openings and in which at least the bottom part has a round section, a stirring screw reversely rotatably positioned along the bottom of treating vessel, a means for fermenting or drying organic material in the treating vessel by heating, an extruder including a cylinder with one end communicating with the discharge opening of the treating vessel and discharge opening at the other end, and coaxial first and second transfer screws meshing with each other in parallel. The discharge side of the treating vessel is conically shaped and has a dia. gradually decreasing toward the first transfer screw. The outer periphery of the stirring screw is conically shaped to follow the conical wall of the treating vessel. Threads of the first transfer screw are extended conically along the conical wall, and a phase of the threads is equal to that of the threads of the stirring screw. Threading directions are the same between the first transfer screw and stirring screw.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic material may be continuously extruded.
Prepn. of a biodegradable plastic comprises (i) adding an inorganic salt(s) and/or an organic acid(s) to sludge of sewage wih stirring for several days, (ii) adding a soln. of a hypochlorite(s) to the mixt. and decomposing, (iii) adding chloroform to the decomposed sluge and extg. biodegradable plastic and (iv) evaporating the chloroform to obtain a prod.    Typically the biodegradable plastic is usually based on 3- and 4-hydroxybutyrate. The organic acid is typically a mixt. of n-butyric acid with 1,4-butanediol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By utilising the waste which has been so far discarded without utilisation, the method permits mass prodn. of biodegradable plastic. The plastic obtd. is biodegradable in soil and melts on heating, allowing recycling.    In an example, excessive sludge was placed in an aeroator and aerated with an organic salt(s) and a mxit. of 1,4-butanediol and n-butyric acid in a concn. of 2.5 g/l added at a rate of 2 1/day, and overflowing sludge was to circulate. The sludge was cultured for several days, dried thoroughly and ground finely. The ground sludge was placed in a soln. of a specific gravity of 1.2 with stirring and left standing. The resultant biodegradable plastic was sepd. from other ingredients. The sepd. plstic was dried to obtain the prod..
(JP6005299-A)   NOVELTY - A heat exchanger (40) has a high temperature chamber and a low temperature chamber separated by a tube. The fuel gas flowing through the low temperature chamber is heated by the hot anode gas from a reformer (10). A desulfurizing agent is packed in the low temperature chamber to remove sulfur content in the fuel gas, simultaneously while heating of the fuel gas.    USE - In buildings and apartments.    ADVANTAGE - The desulfurizing property of the device is increased, thus reducing heat retention and the piping. The heating and desulfurizing are performed simultaneously as the fuel gas is heated with the hot anode gas flowing from the reformer, thus reducing the size and cost of the device.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the schematic view of the electric power generation device.    modifier (10)    air preheater (14)    fuel cell (20)    catalyst combustor (30)    heat exchanger (40)
Composting wood impregnated with tar oil comprises mixing the comminuted wood with materials contg. active microorganisms and nutrients, and aerating the mixt. in a closed container or covered heap until the tar oil components have been degraded to the desired extent and the compost has the desired consistency.    Pref., the wood is mechanically comminuted to a particle size of 5-20 mm, further comminuted by a thermomechanical process (not described), and mixed with a concd. activated sludge suspension from the coal industry. Additional nutrients and wood-destroying microorganisms may be added. Part of the compost may be recycled to a source of microorganisms for the next batch.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost is suitable for use in horticulture and agriculture.
Appts. for composting organic waste has an outer container (2) with a lid (3), two inner containers (5,6) with apertured bottoms stacked together, and an air supply (11,12,13) directed to the interior of the lower inner container.    Also claimed is method of use in which the lower container (5) receives a potting mix air supplied to the lower container. Worms and bacteria migrate to the upper container to breakdown the waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Composting appts. is used indoors. The appts. is odourless in operation and enables persons living in flats, apartments, condominiums and other premises without ground level gardens to compost their organic wastes.
An aq. self foaming, self-levelling liq. compsn. comprises: water; at least one surfactant; and sufficient gaseous aliphatic hydrocarbon(s) to exert a positive pressure in the head space of a dispenser for dispensation of the compsn. The compsn. is dispensed as a liq. the liq. foaming instantly on spreading. A package combination comprises the compsn. packed in a non-pressurised dispenser of barrier material. The dispenser is adapted to contain the compsn. under positive pressure and is equipped with a positive shut-off valve adapted to dispense a proportional amt. of the compsn.    USE -   The compsns. are useful for topical applications of personal cleaning, household cleaning and shaving prepns. They are replacements for bar soaps and shampoos.
Windrow of material being composted is mixed and aerated by an elongate cylindrical drum (22) which is rotated about its longitudinal axis and carries paddles extending outwardly from its surface and which generate a compost entraining airstream having a velocity sufficient to entrain, mix, and aerate the windrow of compost material.    The paddles have a base portion connected to the drum and a blade portion oriented to generate a vortex like air current to carry the entrained material upwardly and transversely toward the centre portion of the drum.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. for composting light materials such as straw. The appts. can compost light material in windrows and can easily be transported between sites.
A sepn. device comprises: (a) a bundle(s) of membranes; and (b) a housing, designed also to function as a shipping crate, surrounding the bundle(s) and providing an annular space for fluid around the bundle(s), and sealed in a fluid-tight relationship to each end of the bundle having a tube-sheet, wherein the housing is reclosably affixed around the bundle(s) and is mfd. primarily from expanded polystyrene, expanded polyurethane, expanded polyethylene, fibreglass, asbestos, graphite and/or wood.    The membranes are pref. hollow fibre membranes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sepn. device is used in a (claimed) gas sepn. process. It can be used for many fluid sepns. including sepn. of oxygen, nitrogen, methane or hydrogen from a mixt. of gases. The device housing functions both as a lightweight, impact-resistant shipping container and as a vessel for the sepn. membranes. It may be readily opened and reclosed for repairing, cleaning or replacing the membranes or changing the configuration of the annular space.
The plant comprises a filling shaft for the material to be compressed, at the bottom of which is an outlet opening (5). Connected is a compression channel (6) with a rectangular cross-section, whereby at least two sidewalls of the channel are formed by parts of two conveyor belts (10,11) driven by a motor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to produce pressed cakes of compost and/or manure for cultivating mushrooms. The plant produces cakes by homogeneous compression, which can be maintained in a stable and cohesive state.
Process comprises sepn. of foreign materials, adjustment of water content, moulding, drying and carbonising of the moulded pieces.    USE -   Used for deodorised and harmless carbonised excrement.
The moulding for a bio-reactor comprises a fibre-like gels or fibres, which are fixed in a bristling manner near fine vents on a strip-like base having the fine vents and a corrugated or pipe-like cross-section.    Pref. when the moulding is of a sheet form, it may be wound up after the gels or the fibres are fixed.    ADVANTAGE -   High speed treatment is possible in the bio-reactor. Since the biocatalytic reaction is effectively carried out because of high oxygen supply and high catalytic activity, sludge is formed in a reduced amt.    In an example, to PVA (with an average polymerisation deg. of 4000 and saponification degree of 99.85 mole%) washed with water, water was added and then pH of the soln. was adjusted to 6. The soln. was treated at 120 deg.C for 3 minutes in an autoclave to dissolve the PVA and then cooled to room temp. To the PVA aq. soln. 4 wt% sodium alginate aq. soln. and activated sludge (with MLSS of 80000 mg/l) gathered in a waste water treating tank were added and the mixed soln. was stirred well. The mixed soln. was squirted with polyester spun fibre from a syringe-like outlet with an inner diameter of 1.2 mm in CaCl2 aq. soln. The fibre was washed with distilled water, freezed at -20 deg.C for 24 hrs. and then thawed to room temp. The process was repeated twice. The obtd. fibres were arranged on a strip-like base of vinylon fibre at 2 mm intervals and after cutting them to about 1000 mm height, they were fixed by adhesive.
Composting of structured and/or unstructured organic materials is effected by: (a) preparing a starting material comprising one or more such materials and having a macropore vol. of at least 300 ml air/l, a solids content of at least 45%, an organic solids content of at least 30% of the total solids content, a water absorption capacity of at least 150 ml/l and a pH of 6.5-8; and (b) allowing the material to rot spontaneously under aerobic conditions.    Pref. the starting material has a conductivity of up to 2.5 mS; a macropore vol. of 300-600 ml air/l, a solids content of 45-55% (esp. 50%), an organic solids content by 30-60% of the total solids content, a water absorption capacity of 150-200 ml/l and a pH of 6.8-7.5. The material is turned at least once during composting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost produced may be used as a soil improver, fertiliser or filter material. The process is simple and can convert a wide range of waste materials, including sewage sludge, agricultural wastes and sorted domestic refuse, into friable sanitised compost.
The assembly to contain compost material, which rots while dwelling in the structure, has at least two frame section (10,20) over each other, each with a larger upper opening (11,21) and a smaller lower opening (12,22). Each upper frame section (10) is turned by a displacement angle against the lower frame section (20) so that each corner of the upper section (10) lies on a side wall (13) of the lower section (20).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Holds compost material, to rot while contained within it. Frame structure creates ideal conditions for rotting and accelerates rotting process without generating odours.
A multistage process for sepn. of fluids using permeable membranes includes: (a) feeding a fluid (1) to at least one 1st stage membrane unit (5) at a pressure sufficient to produce a permeate stream (6) and a non-permeate stream (7); (b) feeding the non-permeate stream to at least one 2nd stage membrane unit (8) at a pressure sufficient to give second permeate (9) and non-permeate streams (13) which forms the prod.; (c) feeding the second permeate stream via a recycle compressor/pump (11) to at least one 3rd stage membrane unit (12) at a pressure sufficient to give third permeate and non-permeate streams, the compressor/pump being fitted with a control system which adjusts the output so as to maintain a substantially constant pressure on the permeate side of the 2nd stage membrane unit (8); (d) feeding the non-permeate stream from the 3rd stage membrane unit to either the feed inlet or the inlet of the 2nd stage unit, for recycle; (e) using a sensor (26) to monitor the flow rate, pressure or purity of the 2nd stage permeate stream (9) and provide a signal (28) to a controller (21) which, in turn, sends a control signal (29) to the control unit (30) which adjusts the recycle compressor/pump; and (f) adjusting the output of the feed compressor/pump (2) to correspond with demand for the prod..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Multistage membrane sepn. process for efficient sepn. of fluid mixts., esp. gases, esp. useful in prodn. of high purity N2 without use of deoxo systems. Gives improved control of multistage membrane sepn. systems, esp. during turndown situations and low demand periods. Maintains sepn. efficiency at low prod. demand or in variable demand conditions. Process is esp. useful for 3-stage systems with at least 1 recycle compressor.
The unit has a U-shaped two chamber (1,2) biological reactor, a connection pipe (3) which connects the chambers in the lower part, a spiral mixing ribs (4) placed in the connection pipe and biological gas removal system with a gas holder (5) connected by a gas line (6) and bypass device to the reactor chambers. The opeation reliability is increased since the bypass device is made as a T-piece (10) connected by gas line to the gas holder and connecting two U-shaped elbows (7,8) connected by gas lines to corresponding chambers (1,2). One of the elbows is filled with liq. and the T-piece is provided with liq. velocity dampers (9) fitted on the elbow peripheral ends.    The chambers (1,2) are filled with liq. manure and the heating jacket is switched on. As the biological gas is formed it flows from chamber (1) through the U-shaped elbow (7) to the gas holder (5). The pressure in chamber (2) rises and the manure is pushed from chamber (2) to chamber (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for biological gas prodn. from liq. manure. The operation reliability and output are increased by ensuring automatic periodic gas removal and by mixing the fermenting mass. Bul.1/7.1.93
Liq. comprises 20-40 wt.% FeSO4, 2-10 wt.% MgSO4 and balance water. Ascorbic acid is included in an amt. of at least 1/100,000 wt.% and acetic acid is included in an amt. of up to 1/10,000 wt.% (w.r.t. the total amt. of FeSO4 and MgSO4).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to absorb toxic gas e.g., CO, NH3, H2S or CH4. The liq. may be stored stably and oxidises and decomposes human waste Fe2+ oxidises the waste and Fe(2+) ions are kept stably in open air by the action of MgSO4. The mixt. of the liq. and human waste produces no ammonia gas and is used as fertiliser.    In an example, charcoal was burnt in a closed greenhouse for 50 mins. A bottle contg. 3500 cm3 of the new liq. was placed in the house for 10 min. No CO toxic symptoms were developed after a man stayed in the house over 3 hrs.
The horizontally arranged sieve-type, permeable floor or intermediate floor, pref. a gas and/or fluid-permeable floor for e.g, a bio filter, a compositing plant, a pourable material or rubbish deposit is formed (4) of individually positionable floor plates (5,6). The floor plates are arranged on a base surface (2) via distance holders formed as legs (7). These legs (7) are formed as conically upwards or obelisk-type narrow formations.    Each leg (7) on its upper free face surface for location of one or more floor plates (5,6) has a shaped connector which connects with a counter shape connector on the floor plates. Each leg (8) is hollow and moulded. Each floor plate (6) has air passage apertures on more than 30% of its surface and is formed from polymer concrete or reinforced plastics.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use for a bio filter, a compositing plant a pourable material or rubbish deposit. Eradicates waste air and seepage water.
To loosen and carry loose material in a composting assembly, it is subjected to a compressed air flow (9) and carried off in an airstream (10).    Also claimed is an assembly with a compressed air supply (6), a compressed air channel (5) and at least one jet (3).    The material is carried in a suction airstream (10) to move it onwards.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is for loosening and movement of material for composting, such as domestic waste and the like, where the composted material has compacted into a solid mass in the composting container. The operation gives an effective removal of the composted material.
The prodn. comprises addn. of comminuted harvest residues e.g. corn cobs and straw, barley straw, etc., and the residues are comminuted to a particle dia. of a few microns while mixing with the dung, and the latter is adsorbed on and absorbed in the residues.    Pref. the residues are transferred by conveying and dosing devices (10,11) from a hopper (9) into a grinding and mixing machine (7), in which they are mixed with dung pumped from a tank (2). The residues are comminuted in the machine (7) by discs with prongs or swing hammers, impact crosses or plates, vortex flow rotors or rotors with cutting blades.    ADVANTAGE -   The comminution activates the added solids to achieve maximal adsorption and reaction capacity for rapid and efficient chemical reaction with the organic components of the dung, so a high quality manure is obtained without composting. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9402 based on complete specification).
A liquefied fuel gas comprises a mixt. of: (a) propane; (b) methylethyl ketone; and (c) a member of the C4H10O or C4H20O2 group of hydrocarbons.    A process for making the above liquified fuel is also claimed.    Liquified fuel gas comprising a mixt. of propane, methyl-ethyl ketone and a member of the mono- or di:oxy butane group of hydrocarbon(s).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel gas can be used as an automotive fuel and as a torch fuel for cutting and/or welding. The liquified fuel gas of the invention has a higher flame temp., a faster rate of burning and a lower emission of pollutants than prior art fuel gases. It can be stored and transported easily and economically. It can be burned with oxygen for flame cutting of ferrous materials, producing a cleaner, faster cut with no slag or scoria formation. It may be used with 95% oxygen whereas other burning and cutting fuels require 99% oxygen or better. It may be used for cutting underwater at considerable depths, down to 400 ft. It also provides an automotive fuel having enhanced performance and lower emissions of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitric oxides.
Gas decontamination system comprises a loop in which a bioagent (i.e. a microorganism able to degrade a contaminant) is circulated, and a system for introducing contaminated gas into the loop.    The bioagent may also include a liq. carrier to absorb contaminants from the gas phase and in other embodiments the loop is replaced by a conduit or the microorganism is retained in a bioreactor incorporated into the loop.    The system also includes (1) a separator for removing gas phase from the loop; (2) bioreactor in the loop contg. a microrganism which is the same as, or different from, that in the circulation and/or (3) column to facilitate absorption of contaminants in carrier. The absorption columns contain a packing which supports the microorganisms and the system may further include (1) systems for supplying nutrient, water and surfactant; (2) if the contaminated gas contains a metal, an oxidn. reactor for conerting this to its oxide (which is filtered out) and (3) reactor for converting CO to CO2. Gas removed from the loop can be recycled. Pref. microrganisms are bacteria, esp. Pseudomonas for removing organic cpds.. By-pords. (e.g. CH4 or H2S) produced in an anaerobic loop can be biodegraded in a second (aerobic) loop.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is esp. (1) applied to vapours released from contaminated soil or (2) used for degassing tanks contg. contaminated gas, but can also be used e.g. to clean industrial stack gases. Partic. contaminants removed are S or N oxides, hydrocarbons, other organic sovlents etc.. The method is more effective and more economical than known processes, and the system can be made transportable.
The method is for the processing of manure, whereby the material is dried. The manure is moved to a location with a predominently sunny climate where it is dried in sunlight, and dried manure is then used as such or as fuel. The manure, is moved by thip and during the voyage the biogas emanating from it is at least partly used as fuel for the ship. Normally, this maure is moved to a location in South America, AFrica, the Middle East and/or Asia. The manure can be moved by oil tanker, which has already discharged its oil in Europe and can take it on its return voyage to the Middle East or can discharge it in India. It is moved from its original location in Europe to the tanker by tanker truck which contains two flexible holders.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To move manure from a Europenan location to a warmer part of the world for drying and re-use. The method recycles manure in a dried state for fuel and other purposes.
Process for growing plants comprises adding organic N, P and K sources to a limited vol. of a growth medium comprising organic material produced by rapid composting of forestry or agricultural material, esp. with bacteria and fungi; introducing a plant propagule into the medium; and watering the medium.    Also claimed is a plant growth medium, esp. for use in horticulture and for growing fruit and vegetables, comprising: (a) an organic material produced by rapid composting of forestry or agricultural material, esp. with bacteria, fungi or enzymes capable of degrading lignin and cellulose and of antagonising pathogenic microorganisms; (b) a water-absorbing cation-exchange resin in an amt. of 1-10 kg per m3 of organic material; (c) microorganisms capable of antagonising pathogenic agents; (d) clay and/or expanded clay; and (e) 1-10 kg of additives selected from clay, expanded clay, volcanic ash and microorganisms capable of antagonising pathogenic agents, e.g. Phytophthora, Fusarium, Verticillium and Armillaria mellea.    Also claimed is a device comprising a container contg. the above growth medium.    The growth medium comprises 0.5-4 kg 'Actilex' reactivated with water, 1.5-5 kg (per m3 of 'Actilex') of a polyuronic acid resin, and 10power5-10power8 (cells of a Trichoderma sp., esp. T. viride or T. harzianum. The N:P:K ratio is 5.0:4.1:4.8, respectively. The device comprises a first container contg. the growth medium, surmounted by a second, bottomless container in which the propagule and then the plant is grown. The two containers are pref. stacked.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used to grow, e.g. chicory, asparagus or tomatoes. The process eliminates cross-infection between propagules and produces fruit and vegetables with good flavour.
Procedure for controlling pressure in an electrolysis appts. producing hydrogen and oxygen by decomposing electrolytic liq. with an electric current, the appts. comprising (a) a closed pressurised electrolytic cell(10); (b) a line(23,28) conducting hydrogen out of the cell (10) to storage(30); (c) a line(22,33) conducting oxygen out of the cell; and (d) a feed(17-21) supplying electrolytic liq. to the cell; such that (e) a pressure differential is maintained between the hydrogen and oxygen lines(28,33) by passing a first product gas discharging valves(34,34a,34b); such that (f) the pressure prevailing in line(28) contg. a second product gas is passed to the spring side of the overflow valves.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Controlling pressure in pressurised electrolysis appts. The pressure differential between the hydrogen and oxygen lines is maintained mechanically, the control being automatic, without electricity consumption.
In an oxidation process, a feedstock (I) comprising 1-10C gaseous hydrocarbons or oxygenated hydrocarbons is converted to an oxidation product by passing (I) at 300-600 deg. C. with air or oxygen through a reaction zone contg. an open space and a bed of solid granular oxidation catalyst, withdrawing oxidation product from the open space, and simultaneously withdrawing oxidation product from an additional location in the reaction zone representative of a longer contact with the catalyst bed than the product withdrawn from the open space.    Also claimed is a process for converting (I) to intermediate products (II) and then to final products (III) by passing (I) at 300-600 deg. C. with air or oxygen through a reaction zone contg. granular solid oxidation catalyst, withdrawing a mixt. of (II) and (III), passing the mixt. into an effluent zone free of catalyst, and introducing additional (I) into the effluent zone to react non-catalytically with (II) and form additional (III).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Feedstock may be natural gas, methane or a higher aliphatic, aromatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or an oxygenate, e.g. methanol, butanol, ketone, aldehyde, valeric acid, phenol or cyclohexanol. Products may be methanol from methane, or alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters or coupled products from other hydrocarbons. Yield and/or selectivity for a desired product is improved. The process is an improvement on that of US4918249, in which a catalyst contg. crystalline silicometallate having iron in the framework is used.
Polymer foam compsn. comprises: (a) a foamable plastic free of polyisocyanate-based polymers; and (b) a blowing agent consists of (i), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ea) combined with (ii) hydrocarbon(s) or partially halogenated alkanes. (b) is new.    Pref. the hydrocarbon is selected from propane, butane, isobutane, n-pentane, i-pentane, neopentane, n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane and 2,2-dimethylbutane. The alkanes have b.pts. of less than 50 deg.C and contain 4C or less. Most pref. alkanes are: 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134), 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b), and 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236ea). Concn. of (i) is 60-95 wt. % and concn. of (ii) 5-40 wt. %.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are used in the prodn. of cellular plastics such as polystyrene, PVC, PE and other polyisocyanate-based foams. The compsns. are nontoxic, chemically stable, of reduced or zero flammability, and they also have improved compatibility in liq. systems, and do not contribute to photochemical smog. With as litle as 5 wt. % HFC-227ea combined with a flammable adjuvant, a foam can be formed with flammability characteristics only slightly less than those of foams blown with CFC-11.
Variable pressure passive regenerative fuel cell system comprises (a) a fuel cell including a wicked anode for receiving hydrogen gas and a cathode for receiving oxygen gas; (b) an electrolyser for electrolysing water to produce pure hydrogen and pure oxygen; (c) means to store the hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolyser; (d) a main water storage tank communicating wtih the fuel cell and the electrolyser; (e) a secondary water storage tank communicating with the main water storage tank and the fuel cell; (f) means communicating with the main water storage tank and the secondary water storage tank for supplying water to an anode cavity of the anode of the fuel cell; (g) means for supplying water to the electrolyser for producing hydrogen and oxygen; (h) means for supplying hydrogen gas and water tank and secondary water tank.    Also claimed is a method for controlling process water used in a variable pressure passive regenerative fuel cell system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   System for converting chemical energy into electric energy by providing a variable pressure passive regenerative fuel cell system designed to operate under variable pressure conditions, as opposed to constant pressure, such fuel cells being free of complex operational components.
Rhizobium sp.(Onobrychis) VNIISKhM No.2921 strain is used in the prepn. of a fertiliser for legumes, in partic. for sainfoin. The strain is grown in a medium contg. C and N sources and mineral salt, with aeration, for 36-48 hrs. at 28-30 deg. The culture is then mixed with 6% molasses and used to inoculate peat, which is then left for 3-5 days at 15-20 deg. to yield rhizopeat contg. 50-55% moisture and 5-10G cells of rhizobacteria per g. of peat. Shelf life of the prod. is 6 months.    ADVANTAGE -   High quality prod.    In an example, tests show that the strain 2921 is more effective than the known strain 820, increasing the amt. of protein in green matter of sainfoin by 1.8%. Bul.48/30.12.92
Waste is fermented over 8-10 days, then passed to the bio-oxidn. stage, where it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 : 3-5 and treated with blue and blue-green algae in the ratio 1 : 4, added in an amt. of at least 1 x 106 power cells per ml., in presence of 50-70 mg./1. of ammophos (rtm).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method has improved efficiency, with redn. of the Coli index from 105 power to 909 and BOD from 237-240 to 10-12. The method is used in the meat processing industry. Bul 48/30.12.92
The appts. comprises a vessel contg. soil to compost the refuse and regenerative agent disposed in the vessel; this agent is to absorb and accumulate the sunshine heat to accelerate the fermenting of the garbage.    USE -   For making composts.
The fertiliser comprises fermented seed fungi made of a mixt. of cow, pig and fowl droppings and fermenting accelerator comprising rice, bran, sugar and crushed pieces to which leguminous bacteria are deposited.    USE -   Used for culturing agricultural plants.
The system comprises a bioreactor, where water contg. bacteria gps. including methane forming bacteria is stored and supports for fixing methane forming bacteria are packed at the upper part, an evap. tank for evap. stored CH3OH, a pipe for connecting the bioreactor and the evap. tank and for introducing CH3OH vapour from the evapg,. tank to the lower part of the supports in the bioreactor, and a circulating pipe for connecting the lower part and the upper part of the bioreactor and for sending the bacteria contg. water from the lower part to the upper part.    By operating a pump (12), the bacteria contg. water (6) in the bioreactor (1) is introduced in a circulating pipe (3) and spouted to the supports from the outlet of a spouting pipe (9) placed in the bioreator (1) to wash them. In the bioreactor (1), CH3OH vapour introduced through a pipe (4) from the evapg. tank (2) is passed upward through the supports to generate CH4. A part of the CH4 gas is gathered at the upper part of the bioreactor (1) and recovered through a pipe (8). Remaining part of the CH4 gas is sent to the evapg tank (2) through a pipe (5), where the CH4 gas bubbles CH3OH and CH3OH is evapd.    ADVANTAGE -   As CH3OH is supplied in a vapour state to the bioreactor, it is effectively contacted with the methane forming bacteria. As the supports in the bioreactor are washed with the bacteria contg. water, highly concn. CH3OH is prevented from contacting with the methane forming bacteria so that the methane forming bacteria are increased and CH4 gas is generated in high efficiency.
The appts. for deodorising gaseous sulphur-contg. cpds. e.g. hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan, comprises a filler mixed with rice hulls remaining in its original form and a microorganism supported on a filler.    The filler is compost. The amt. of (R) rice hull is pref. 20-40 vol.% based on filler. Micro-organism is pref. Thiobacillus, Alcaligenes, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   or waste gas of excrement or sewage treatment plant, animal husbandry or food treating plant, etc. Improved deodorising efficiency is obtd., esp. w.r.t. methyl mercaptan, and pressure drop is improved, increasing the life of the deodorising agent.
Determn. of organic acid remaining in water obtd by treating organic waste water by methane fermentation comprises (a) passing a part of treated water through monitoring reacting tank for treating it by methane fermentation, (b) measuring the amt of methane gas formed from unit amt of treated water and (c) calculating residual organic acid concn in treated water from measured methane gas amt.    Methane fermenting appts includes (A) methane fermenting tank which receives organic waste water and treats it by methane fermentation, (B) monitoring reacting tank which receives a part of treated water and methane-ferments it, (C) means to measure methane gas formed in monitoring reacting tank, (D) means to measure flow rate of treated water entering monitoring reacting tank, (E) appts for calculating residual organic acid concn. from measured values and (F) appts for the regulating the flow rate of organic waste water entering methane fermenting tank (A) and the temp in methane fermenting tank(A).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The concn. of organic acids such as propionic acid, acetic acid, etc. which inhibit methane fermentation, can be easily determined, efficiently with high accuracy, continuously and the methane fermenting process can be regulated depending upon the determined value under optimum condition.
Method of separating a gas mixture of at least three components by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) into three different fractions comprises (a) repeatedly performing a cycle of operations including (b) passing the gas mixture through first and second adsorptive regions in series; both of the adsorptive regions having (c) an adsorbent on which a second component of the mixture is more strongly adsorbed than a first component, but less strongly adsorbed than a third component; (d) withdrawing a first fraction enriched in the first component from the downstream end of the first adsorptive region; (e) stopping admission of the gas mixture to the first adsorptive region; (f) withdrawing a second fraction enriched in the second component from the downstream end of the second adsorptive region, and from the upstream end of the second adsorptive region into a common pipeline; and (g) withdrawing a third fraction enriched in the third component from the upstream end of the first adsorptive region.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method improves the overall efficiency of a PSA process in which a multicomponent gas mixt. flowing out of an adsorbent bed continuously changes in concn. either during the prodn. step or the depressurisation step by collecting the mixt. in two fractions, one enriched in a desired product and the other enriched in an impurity.
Appts. for removing carbon dioxide contained in exhaust gas comprises (a) a hydrogen supply appts. for supplying a hydrogen source; (b) a mixer for uniformly mixing the hydrogen source supplied from the hydrogen supply appts. with exhaust gas contg. carbon dioxide to form mixed gas; (c) a beam generator for generating high energy beams; (d) a reaction container for activating the mixed gas by irradiating high energy beams from the beam generator and for causing reduction reaction of the carbon dioxide; and (e) a recovery section for separating a prod. formed by the redn. reaction from the exhaust gas and recovering the prod.    Also claimed is a method of removing carbon dioxide contd. in exhaust gas.    The hydroven source is one type of gas chosen from hydrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, acetylene or water, in which the high energy beams are electron beams of 100 KV or above, or laser beams of wavelength 500 microns or lower. The beam generator is a beam deflector for the high energy irradiation. Solid and liquid prods. are recovered in the recovery section which is an electric dust collector. The reaction container has many layers of metallic wire mesh, such as stainless steel, the wires being grit blasted or ceramic coated, causing surface irregularities, the mesh aperture being no less than 0.3mm. At least one type of filler choen from a porous member, a foaming member, a honeycomb or a fin is disposed within the reaction container to promote the reduction reaction. The cross-sectional area of the reaction container is gradually decreased in the direction of flow of the mixed gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Carbon dioxide is removed from exhaust gas at a high reaction speed under the conditions of temp. and pressure of the exhaust gas itself without needing to heat or pressurise an amount of exhaust gas discharged from thermal power plants, the reaction prods. finding use industrially.
Rubbish is processed by separating into fractions, compressing these in a container, placing the container in a container formed of metal wire web coated with plastic, sealing the container w.r.t. the environmental and connecting it via a tube to a device for using fermentation gas.    The tube may be connected to the ends or centre of the container, and the device is pref. a gas burner for powering an electrical generator. The container ends may be filled with heavy material such as rock to ensure that the container will sink.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides a useful product.
In a fixed bed reactor for biological waste water treatment in a partitioned fixed bed (i) the waste water inlet consists of a channel connected to the reactor vessel rim and extending a bore the fixed bed surface over at least part of the rim, the channel (15, 16) having an overflow facing the fixed bed (9, 10); (ii) the treated waste water outlet has a collection pipe which is arranged on the vessel bottom at a sideways distance from the overflow; and (iii) at least one riser pipe, connected to the collection pipe, extends upwardly to an open end (27) above the bed surface and is connected to a discharge pipe which discharges, at a distance below the bed surface, into a collection channel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The reactor is useful for treating waste water in municipal clarification plants as well as in plants for clarification of 'difficult' waste waters, e.g. textile waste waters. It has a simple construction, is predominantly maintenance-free, operates efficiently and simply and suppresses odour emission.
Timed-release tablets of a dry, particulate compsn. comprises (a) an inner core of dehydrated bacterial cysts (I) which is coated with H2O-soluble hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (II); and (b) an outer layer of Na2SO4-coated Na carbonate peroxyhydrate (III) particles which in turn is coated with (II).    The tablets may also comprise at least 1 live microoganism in dormant condition (aerobic or facultative bacteria or yeast; capable of forming cysts, endospores or ascorpores in adverse conditions) as inner core (a), coated with (II) or polyethylene glycol; and an outer layer of (III) coated with (II) or polyethylene glycol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The timed-release tablets provide a non-toxic, in situ method for the accelerating biological degradation of organic matter (sewage sludge or petroleum hydrocarbons) on the surface of aquatic objects submerged in a range of waters, esp. in low-O2 conditions. In the process, neither sediment nor living organisms are disturbed. The tablets are also useful for oxygenating and seeding hypoxic bottom waters of lakes etc. with aerobic bacteria.
Natural gas contg. 85-98% methane and 250 mg/nm.3 sulphur is hydrogenated at 300-350 deg. with waste gas from prodn. of butyl alcohol, which contains 96% hydrogen, in an amt. of 0.01-0.03 mole/mole methane in the feed gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method give l t. ammonia from 1240 nm.3 natural gas, which contains only 0.5 mg/nm.3 sulphur, at a reduced temp. of 300-350 deg. compared to the previous temp. of 360-410 deg., and a reduced energy consumption of 10 mill. Kjoule/hr. The process is used in prodn of fertiliser. Bul 47/23.12.92. (6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Hopper (1) has double bottom under which is compartment (5), having in centre part, movable mesh (7), parallel to bottom. Latter comprises top/bottom plates (2,3) movable horizontally. Compartment is made as box open at top and bottom.    Into hopper-accumulator (1), on movable bottom plate (3), prepd. compost is loaded, comprising ingredients in known ratio, passed through methane-fermentation stage, and prepd. for processing. To load compartment (5) with prepd. compost, movable top plate (2) is pushed into hopper and movable bottom plate (3) taken out by rack mechanism. Compost between plates is moved into (5). Worms to treat compost are added from top. Depending on extent to which compost is eaten by worms, fresh compost is added to (5) from hopper as described. As compost is handled, worms stay above sepg. mesh (7), with worm-compost in bottom part of (5) to enable (5) to be removed from hopper. As (5) has no bottom, compost is discharged into transport by gravity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in agriculture to mfr. biological fodder and 'worm compost'. Technical possibilities are widened. Bul.47/23.12.92
The method comprises prepn. of sowing material using sowing medium contg. sources of cellulose, organic and mineral nitrogen in form of ammonium sulphate, salt of phosphoric acid, magnesium sulphate, sodium acetate, isobutyrate, valerate and isovalerate and water, sowing obtd. grown culture onto productive culture medium contg. cellulose and nitrogen sources, magnesium sulphate, reductone, calcium salt and water, cultivation of bacteria association in anaerobic conditions, sepn. of biomass and drying of biomass.    To reduce cost of prod. sugar beet pressings, yeast autolysate and sodium sulphide are used as sources of cellulose, organic nitrogen and reductone, disubstd. sodium phosphate and calcium carbonate are used as phosphorus and calcium salts, potassium chloride is additionally introduced into each of media and filtrate of culture liq. of bacteria association, obtd. after sepn. of biomass, is additionally introduced into productive culture medium. Sowing medium contains: sugar beet pressings 0.4-0.8g, yeast autolysate 0.02-0.06, sodium phosphate 0.07-0.11g, magnesium sulphate 0.006-0.014g, potassium chloride 0.002-0.006g, ammonium sulphate 0.07-0.11g, sodium sulphide 0.01-0.3g, sodium acetate 0.05-0.65 mg%, sodium isobutyrate 6.0-10.0 mg%, sodium isovalerate 7.5-11.5 mg%, sodium valerate 7.5-11.5 mg% and balance water.    Tests show that dried prod. contains not less than 400x10 power 6 colonies/g, has cellulolytic activity at least 8% and carboxymethyl cellulose saccharifying activity 35+/-2 units/g.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In microbiological industry. The method reduces cost and utilises industrial waste. Bul.46/15.12.92
The straw (I) used in the prepn. is first mixed with hydrolysed lignin neutralised with dolomite dust (II) and active mud (III) from municipal water filters, with (I):(II):(III) = 0.6-1.0:1:0.04-0.08. Impregnating the resulting mixt. with liq. manure completes the process. This yields a compost of optimal granulometric compsn., which matures more rapidly.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher quality produce is obtd. more rapidly.    In an example, a typical compost contg. the base (N90P90K140) + a 1:0.06:1 mxit. of lignin, active mud and straw + liq. manure, used in amts. of 80 tons/ha, increased crop yield by 9%. Bul 34/15.9.92 (4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Appts. comprises a roll tube rotatably supported with rollers and feed blades protruding from the inner side wall of the roll tube. The blades are deflected in the reverse direction to the rotating direction of the tube.    USE -   Used for making composts from organic wastes.
Appts. comprises an endless belt conveyor disposed in stairs in a drying chamber, openable floor plates attached to the conveyor and a drive unit to open and close the floor plates to drop fowl droppings.    USE -   Used for treating fowl droppings.
Producing agent comprising (1) mixing crushed animal entrails, powdered cereals and yeasts and heating the mixt. after fermentation; (2) finely cutting the burned material obtd. in the step (1) and adding Koji and yeasts to decompose and ferment them; and (3) adding a culture soln. of soil fungi to the culture medium obtd. in the step (2).    Also claimed is a method further comprising (4) adding a culture soln. of soil fungi to the culture medium obtd. in the step (3).    The entrails include livers, pancreas, brains, bloods, spinal cords, etc. Nonfat milk or fermentative sugar can be added in combination with Koji and yeasts as a nutrient. At the time of decomposition and fermentation in steps (2) and (3), lactic acid bacteria or Karekusa (sic) bacteria is opt. added. The fermentation can be promoted by supplying air into the soln.. Propagation of the soil fungi can be promoted by adding the culture soln. of soil fungi after neutralisation of the culture medium, or supplying air after addition of the culture soln. of soil fungi. The entrails used contain a large amt. of proteins which constitute essential aminoacid required for propagation of soil fungi. In step (1), fermentation is conducted for 17-24 hrs. at ordinary temp.. The mixt. is heated at about 200 deg.C. after fermentation to sterilise the entrails.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Soil conditioning agent.
Activated sludge contg. oil-contg. waste water-tamed activated sludge adhered particles is kept in contact with oil-contg. waste water. The activated sludge is pptd. and sepd.. Alternatively, porous material particles are kept in contact with oil-contg. waste water to absorb and remove oil in the waste water.    The porous material particles are made of natural pumice, including liparite (or quartz trachyte)-based natural glass.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For treatment of oil-contg. waste water generated from vessel bilge or discharged from land based sources, esp. sepn. and removal of oil from emulsifying oil-contg. waste water. The use of the activated sludge contg. oil-contg. waste water-tamed activated sludge adhered particles ensures efficient treatment of emulsifying oil. Oil decomposed by microorganisms finally becomes harmless carbon dioxide and water, requiring no post-treatment. The use of the porous material particles provides superior oil adsorption and produces low concn. oil-contg. treated water.
Degradable organic waste is anaerobically decomposed in a reactor from which biogas is extracted. The reactor contains an active, anaerobic, methanogene biomass. Fermentation occurs without any mixing. The waste is supplied to the reactor as a semi-solid or solid organic substrate in the top of the reactor. A phase sepn. into liq. and solid occurs in the lower part of the reactor. The liq. phase is removed before fresh substrate is supplied. A max. amt. of solid phase is retained. After removal of the liq., the solid phase is removed from the reactor in an amt. of at least one third of the entire reactor content. The removed fraction is thoroughly mixed with fresh substrate as inoculum.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process treats the organic fraction of domestic or biological waste or similar organic sludges of industrial origin. The process provides efficient treatment for organic waste of all types not merely dry solid substrates and the fraction which can be easily hydrolysed.
The composting assembly, has a composting cell constantly linked to an activated main suction unit for the exhaust when the door is closed. An additional suction system is activated by a sensor when the door is opened.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly, for composting organic waste material, is simple to assemble and operate, with a low emission rate and low energy consumption.
Conversion of organic material into a prod. gas comprises (a) providing a liq. reactant mixt. contg. water and liq. organic material within a pressure reactor, (b) providing an effective amt. of a reduced metal catalyst which is Ru, Rh, Os and/or Ir within the reactor, and (c) maintaining the liq. reactant mixt. and catalyst at temp. of 350-450 deg.C and pressure of at least 130 atmos. for a time sufficient to catalyse a reaction to obtain a prod. gas of methane, CO2 and H2.    The conversion of multi-carbon cpds. into a prod. gas by the above steps is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for conversion of organic materials esp. hazardous wastes and biomass materials to prod. gas useful as fuel. Process energy requirements are minimised by maintaining organic material as liq.
Organic waste (I) treatment process comprises:    (A) feeding (I) into molten metal contained in a carbonisation reactor without adding separate oxidising agent to generate hydrogen gas and carbonise the metal;    (B) directing the metal into a decarbonisation reactor;    (C) adding oxidising agent to the decarbonisation reactor metal to decarbonise the metal and generate an enriched stream of carbon monoxide gas; and    (D) directing the metal to the carbonisation reactor.    Appts. for the process is also claimed.    The metal is pref. Fe or Mg. Also the metal may comprise two immiscible metals, the first having free energy of oxidn. exceeding that of oxidn. of C to CO at the prevailing conditions, and the second having free energy of oxidn. exceeding that of oxidn. of CO to CO2. An Fe/Cu mixt. is pref.. The enriched C oxide stream pref. comprises CO or CO and CO2 with increased CO2/CO mol. ratio compared to that produced in molten Fe. The oxidising agent is pref. oxygen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The gas stream produced are utilised, e.g. the H2 is used for sythesis of NH3 or oxoalcohol or as fuel. The waste is e.g. tar, oil, organic waste contg. halogens, metals, etc. and may include inorganic waste.
Process comprises:    (A) introducing organic waste contg. H and C into molten metal without adding separate oxidising agent, to decompose the waste and form an enriched H2 gas stream while carbonising the molten metal;    (B) removing the hydrogen enriched gas stream;    (C) subsequently adding separate oxidising agent to the metal to oxidise carbon and form an enriched carbon monoxide gas stream while decarbonising the metal; and    (D) removing all the enriched CO gas stream from the vessel.    The metal is pref. Fe or Mg. The enriched C oxide stream comprises CO or CO and CO2 with increased CO2/CO mol. ratio compared to that produced in molten Fe. The oxidising agent is oxygen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The H2 enriched stream is used for synthesis of NH3 or oxoalcohol or as fuel. The waste may be tar, oil, organic waste contg. halogens, metals, etc. and may include inorganic waste.
The rate of oxidn. of toxic vapours (I) by methanotrophic bacteria (II) is increased using an appts. that includes a gas-phase bioreactor within a closed loop pumping system or a single pass system. (II) are grown on bio-rings in the reactor (e.g. Pall rings, ceramic bio-rings or fibrous supports), and the lower portion of the reactor is filled with a salt soln. A gas contg. (I) is then pumped within a closed loop through the humidifying salt soln. and (II) culture. (II) include Methylomonas methanica, Methylosinus trichosporium and environmental enrichments.    ADVANTAGE -   Use of the gas-phase bioreator affords increased oxidn. rates of toxic vapours esp. CH4 and trichloroethylene. Thus CH4 removal rate in the gas-phase reactors running under high CH4 conditions was ca. 3-fold greater than average CH4 removal rates by liq. cultures. The method is applicable to CH4 removal from mines etc.
The unit has a body (1) with suspension supply, filtrate and disintegrate outlet pipes (2,3,4), a circular filtering baffle (5) placed in the body (1) and working discs (6,7) placed one above the other.    The efficiency is increased since the upper disc is fitted on strings (8) fitted on the inner surface of the filtering baffle, connected at the top to flexible support (9) which is provided with a vibration drive (10). The discs coupled working surfaces have grids whose cells are staggered on one grid w.r.t. the other.    The agriculture effluent after treatment in bio-cultivator by bacteria is supplied through pipe (2) to the filtering baffle (5). Due to the centrifugal force created by drive shaft (21) rotation and vibration created by drive (10) the clarified liq. is separated and flows over the cone (15) and leaves through pipe (3). The sediment formed displaces due to the tangential forces. The concentrate flows between the grids and part of the liq. is evaporated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for micro-organisms suspension concentration and disintegration. The feeding value is increased by a more complete crushing. Bul.46/15.12.92
The method is for composting biologically degradable material/waste in a specifically insulated coolecting container. Extra heat is fed to the compositing hearth when the temp. in the hearth is less than a value for the satisfactory function of the composting process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To keep a composting process going, even at very low temp. (To be reissued in later week based on complete specification).
Activated oxygen agents comprising or contg. (1) extracts obtd. are removed by extn. of residual substance of alcoholic drink prepd. from grains, using water or organic solvents, or (2) residual soln. of alcoholic fermentation.    Grains are pref. rice, or wheat and the solvent is pref. ethanol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For therapy of rheumatism caused from redn. of superoxide dismutase action.    In an example, (1) Sake lees (15kg) was mixed with warm water (30 l) of 60 deg.C, stirred at 45 deg.C, and kept at 45 deg.C for 10 hrs.. Obtd. mixt. was heated at 90 deg.C and cooled at 30 deg.C. Mixt. was filtered to obtain an extract of Sake lees (27 l) and residual substance (16kg). (2) Beer lees (10kg) was mixed with 60% ethanol (20 l) and kept for 24 hrs.. Mixt. was filtered to form an extract soln. (19.2 l) and residual substance (10.5kg).
Environmentally friendly fuel compsn. contains as main component fatty-acid-glycerol esters of plant or animal origin.    1-20% proteins and/or lipids and/or phytosterols and/or cholesterol; 0.01-0.5% metallic soap; 5-30% fatty acid, 1-20 % water. Opt. the compsn. also contains stabilisers and bactericides.    The compsn. is prepd. in a single step from vegetable oils and/or animal fats, and/or effluent sludges contg. inorganic matter and/or detergent contg. waste fats- by subjecting these to steam at 100-130 deg.C and 0.6 mega Pa pressure for 15-16 mins. These compsns. may be used wth conventional fuels, directly.
Optimum extraction of biogas from organic matter contained in waste dumps is achieved by insulating these and by moistening the segregated contents. Effluent sludge contg. 70-80 % water is added to organic waste, or 10-20 vol. % of biochemically similar industrial or agricultural waste is added to effluent sludge.    Vertical hollow dividers section the waste dopant. Dividers are filled with porous matter to ensure that the sequence rate should increase in downwards direction, thus ensuring constraint 50-60% moisture level throughout the whole depth of the deposit. Water, that seeps through is collected at the bottom, to be recirculated and any excess removed.
The use of biomass (A) obtd. in the fermentative prepn. of lipase inhibitors (I), esp. lipstatin (Ia) is claimed in the prepn. of foods, feedstuffs, food or feedstuff additives, supplementary feedstuffs, feedstuff-medicament premixes or orally administered medicaments.    Also claimed are foods, feedstuffs, food or feedstuff additives, supplementary feedstuffs, feed-medicament premixes or oral medicaments which either: (a) contain (A), opt. added to water-insoluble crude fibres; or (b) contain (I), esp. (Ia) or tetrahydrolipstatin (Ib), added to water-insoluble crude fibres.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) inhibit enzymatic cleavage of fats in the body, and are added at 0.1-100 (pref. 1-50) mg (opt. as (A)) as dietary additive to feedstuffs (esp. for dogs or cats) to prevent or treat adiposity and optimise the wt. of the animal. (A) also contains valuable protein and fat, and can replace animal and/or vegetable constituents of the feed. Use of (I) with fibre further reduces fat resorption. Dose of (I) plus fibre reduces resorption of fat in the feedstuff by 1-100 (esp. 40-70)%. Feeds contg. (I) or (A) are acceptable to animals and adequately satisfy hunger. (A) or (I) can also be used in meat animals (to promote formation of low-fat musculature) or humans.
Appts. comprises refuse grinder, mixer to ground refuse from the grinder with separately supplied dry compost, a means of granulating the refuse/compost mixt. from the mixing means to obtain particles, a means of covering the particles from the granulating means with separately supplied dry compost, a means of supplying the dry compost to the mixing means and the covering means, a tank structure in which the particles covered with the dry compost from the covering means is received and refuse is fermented and is made into dry compost, and a means of storing the dry compost from the tank structure.    ADVANTAGE -   Energy can be saved and refuse can be made into dry compost at a high speed.
Anaerobic microorganisms are added as seed bacteria to an open type pre-reactor (1), where they are preliminarily granulated in an acidic state by floating many floatable elements (6) on the surface of soln stored in the pre-reactor (1), and then granulated anaerobic microorganism are granulated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket type reactor.    USE -   For shortening time required for granulating anaerobic microorganisms.
Garbage is fluidised by stirring at ordinary temp., which is primarily fermented by blowing air heated to constant temp. of 35-50 deg. C under stirring. Fermented material is secondarily fermented by blowing air heated to constant temp. of 50-70 deg. C under stirring. Treated material is left at ordinary temp.    ADVANTAGE -   Treated material can be used as useful compost.
A new paraffin isomerisation catalyst contains as an essential ingredient a specific solid acid consisting of acidic salt of heteropolyacid.    Isomerisation of paraffin in the presence of the new catalyst is also claimed.    Pref. the heteropolyacid has the compositional formula of H(80-m-12n) (Xm+Yn+12O40)-(80-m-12n), where X = hetero atom, Y = polyatom, m = valency of X, and n = valency of Y, esp., X = P or Si and Y = W or Mo.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for paraffin isomerisation including gasoline prodn. from C5 or C6 distillates or isobutane prodn. from butane. The new catalyst has a higher activity and selectivity.
Desulfovibrio genus strain RS-1 having sulphate reducing power, power for endosynthesis of magnetic microparticles comprising magnetite and magnetic reactivity.    Magnetite magnetic microparticles are prepd. by culturing. Desulfovibrio genus bacteria having sulphate reducing power, power for endosynthesis of magnetic microparticles comprising magnetite and magnetic reactivity in the presence of sulphate ion and separating out magnetite microparticles from grown bacteria body.    USE -   Desulfovibrio genus strain RS-1 (FERM P-13283) has sulphate-reducing power and is useful in processing life waste water or sewage by means of active sludge, and is useful for synthesis of uniform form and size of magnetite magnetic microparticles. Magnetite magnetic microparticles are expected to be useful as carrier for physiologically active substance fixing.
In the gasification of fine solids by the unidirectional flow method using gas channels which lead into the hot bed and which cannot be filled with bulk material and ash, the novelty is that the gas channels are located in the side walls of the gasifier. Also claimed is a gasifier for carrying out the process, in which the gas channels pass downwardly pref. in a spiral manner.    USE -   For gasification of industrial and agricultural organic waste to produce a pyrolysis gas which can be converted into mechanical energy in i.c. engines e.g. for current generation.    ADVANTAGE -    The process ensures decomposition of all carbonisation products into easily combustible CO, CO2 and H2.
A refrigeration agent mixt. comprising 35-99.5 wt.% dimethylether (I), 65-0.5 wt.% butane (II) and 0-12.5 % propane (III).    USE -   As refrigerating agent in compression type refrigeration units with vapourisation temps. of 0 to -40C in the cooling circuit.    ADVANTAGE -   The agents contain no toxic or environmentally harmful components which could contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer or promotion of the greenhouse effect. The compsns. give higher refrigeration capacity values than any of the individual components alone.
A protective coating compsn. (I) for motor-vehicle underbodies and gravel guards is claimed. It is characterised in that it comprises, in wt.% of the wt. of the compsn., 20-40% of PVC resin (PVC/PVA), 1-3% of a hot-swelling agent comprising an acrylonitrile/acrylic ester/olefin copolymer encapsulating an appropriate amt. of a 4-6C alkane.    Also claimed is a protective coating compsn. (II) comprising 20-40 wt.% PVC (PVA) resin, 30-50 wt.% plasticiser, 0.5-1.5 wt.% adhesion promoter, 20-30% natural coated fillers, 1-3% additives and pigments, 1-3% swelling agent, 0.2-1.2% phenolic resin and 1-3 wt.% solvents.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A compsn. for protecting underbodies of motor vehicles and gravel guards against bruising, abrasive and/or corrosive action of external agents is provided. The wt. of the protective coating is reduced without redn. in the protective efficiency. The coating also provides improved soundproofing.
A detector for an IR analyser has a front cell (54) receiving IR radiation and a rear cell (56) receiving IR radiation from the front cell. A gas flow sensor (46) communicates with both cells and an auxiliary chamber (64) is in fluid communication with the front cell. The optical path of the front cell is pref. shorter than that of the rear cell and an IR radiation baffle is located between the front cell and auxiliary chamber, which has a vol. to approx. balance the signals from the two cells. The cells pref. hold Xe mixed with a sensitising gas having a similar IR absorption spectrum to that of a gas being analysed.    USE -   E.g. for detection of CO, CO2, water vapour, SO2 or CH4 in vehicle or smoke stack emissions.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides enhanced sensitivity.
A method and apparatus for continuously processing and reclaiming waste materials includes provision of a number of adjacent cells, each with an impermeable liner. An impermeable domed structure is erected over each cell. Waste material and cover soil is added to each cell in the ratio 1:5 to 10:1. Each cell is covered with an impermeable cover after which the impermeable domed structure is moved to another cell. The decomposition of the waste is controlled and monitored in the cells and after a period of time the material in the cells is recovered and recycled. Each cell is then used for further waste disposal.    USE -   For the reclamation of waste material and garbage.    ADVANTAGE -   The method and apparatus of the invention allows reuse of the components on site. The amount of potentially hazardous leachates is limited and used to enhance decomposition of the waste material. After decomposition, the resultant material is removed and recycled and the cell is available for reuse.
Organic matter is gasified at least 600 deg.C Solid carbonaceous material is not produced from the organic matter and tar gas is produced without producing liq. tarry material in the presence of steam and O2 to produce gas contg. H2 and CO with high concn. Gaseous unreacted matter and tar gas from the first stage gasification is gasified at a temp. higher than the 1st stage gasification process.    Solid carbonaceous material passed from the stage gasification to second stage gasification process is disturbed by narrowing the passage between the two stages. A filter is set between the 1st stage gasification process and 2nd stage gasification process to disturb passage of solid carbonaceous material. The temp. of the passage from the 1st stage gasification process to the 2nd stage gasification process is kept at least more than the temp. of the 1st stage gasification process to prevent deposition of tar in the passage.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic matter is gasified completely and may be used for synthesis of methane, etc.
A sepg. membrane made of polyisoimide, which has a repetition unit as shown in formula (1), in which (R) is a residual gp. of tetracarboxylic acid and (R') is a residual gp. of diamine.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for producing new sepg. membrane from polyisoimide. Conventional membranes made of polyisoimide such as (PCT-9,001,522) have high solvent solubility and excellent mechanical strength, but their selective permeabilities have been low. This method is able to produce polyisoimide sepg. membranes with high thermal resistance solvent solubility and selective permeability for liq. or gas mixts..
Use of rice where a base material of white rice bran, or rice flakes is treated by a yeast to form cyclodextrin, glucose for material of fermentation, and protein-rich rice powder, is new.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   White rice bran and rice flakes can be reused for prepn. of cyclodextrin with side-products of protein-rich rice powder and glucose.    In an example, white rice bran (100g) is mixed with CaCl2 (10mM) and water (1 l), stirred at 100 deg.C for 15-30 mins. to form gel starch, and reacted at 50 deg.C for 24 hrs. with /CGTase T-42 (5 THU per 1g of starch) to form a suspension mixt.. The mixt. was centrifuged at 8,000 /min. for 15 mins. to obtain solid component (10g) surfactant. The solid component was dried to form rice powder (5g) contg. 40.4% of protein. The surfactant was reacted with glucoamylase (124 U/g) (80mg) at 50 deg.C or lower for 30 mins. to 1 hr.. Obtd. reactant was filtered by activated charcoal, and condensed to form a condensate. The condensate was cooled at 4 deg.C to give crystal of beta-cyclodextrin (14g). Cyclohexane was added to the residual soln. and kept at 4 deg.C or lower for 1 hr., and centrifuged for 15 mins. to obtain alpha-cyclodextrin (13g). The centrifuged surfactant is pure glucose-contg. soln., which is filtered and dried to obtain glucose crystalline powder (50-60g).
(JP6251778-A)   NOVELTY - The laminated cell has a fuel supplier (36) which supplies fuel to an anode pole (33) through fuel route (35), and an oxidizing agent supplier (38) which supplies agent to cathode pole (34) through agent path (37). The interval of path (41) of cooling water supplier (38) arranged orthogonal to the path (37), is changed towards a downstream region from the upper region of the path (37).    USE - Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - By changing the interval of the cooling-water flow path towards downstream region from upper region of oxidizing agent flow path, battery cooling capacity is made small towards downstream region and oxidizing agent temperature rises gradually, thus gaseous-diffusion elimination is carried out easily, liquefaction and dropletizing on cathode pole decrease and also gas occlusion is prevented.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows an explanatory drawing of the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell.    anode pole (33)    cathode pole (34)    fuel route (35)    fuel supplier (36)    oxidizing agent flowpath (37)    oxidizing agent supplier (38)    cool water supplier (40)    cool water flowpath (41)
The control of the fermentation of bio waste, which has been chopped and preheated and passed to a fermenter, comprises; adding methane bacteria and fermented waste from the outlet fresh waste in an anaerobic fermenter; monitoring, during mixing with a screw mixer, at a number of points along the conveyor path through the fermenter, at least in relation to its pH value and the dry content, for adjustment. The passage speed is set according to the measured amount of material introduced and through the feedback of generally fermented waste.    USE -   The system is for the degrading of bio waste material.    ADVANTAGE -   The fermenter has a continuous and trouble-free control, to give a continuous operation.
First section A non-flammable refrigerant compsn. for use in a refrigerant apparatus comprises the three following components: (i) a refrigerant selected from chlorodifluoromethane (R22) and peutafluoroethane (R125); (ii) a refrigerant selected from (R125) and octafluoropropane (R218); and (iii) propane (I). Also claimed are: (i) a vapour compression refrigeration apparatus employing the above refrigerant medium; and (ii) a method of performing vapour compression refrigeration.    ADVANTAGE -   This three-component refrigerant mixt. has improved environmental acceptability.
To convert bio waste into reusable material, especially vegetable waste matter in communal waste collection, it is initially ground and then mixed with a biological carrier material. The water content of the mixt. is reduced to 8-10 % and the mixt. is further ground. The dried and ground material is finally separated into usable and unusable fractions by a metal separator, wind sifter and a drum sieve.    ADVANTAGE -   The waste conversion costs are reduced, and the waste is restructured into a usable material which can be offered for sale on a cost effective basis.
Decontamination of soil and building rubble loaded with heavy metals and hydrocarbons involves (a) irreversible chemical adsorptive immobilisation of heavy metals, followed by    (b) microbiological breakdown of hydrocarbons to volatile end-prods.    ADVANTAGE -   The prods. can safely be used as fillers in recycling surface material, in underground building and in restitution of industrial land. The adsorbent is cheap, and the process can be used on- or off-site.
The appts. to grind, sort and mash bio waste has a sorting unit (7) at the upper section of the interior of the container (2) which divides it from the lower section (3). The upper section (2) has a feed (4) for the waste and a water feed (5) for the cutter/stirrer (6) assembly. The material is removed (8) to an ejector (10). The lower section (3) has take-off (12) for solids and an outlet (13) for the mashed waste.    USE -   The appts. is for processing bio waste separated from communal rubbish.    ADVANTAGE -   The operation gives a continuous process with simultaneous mashing of the waste and removal of unwanted matter from the bio degradable material.
Prepn. of Li diarylphosphide cpds. of formula Li+ P- (R1 R2 ) comprises contacting a triarylphosphine of formula R3 P(R1 R2 ) with Li and a prim. or sec. amine in the presence of an inert organic solvent, (in which R1 = alkyl-substd. aryl; R2 and R3each = phenyl or alkyl-substd. aryl).    USE -   Useful in prepn. of catalyst ligand systems e.g. for hydroformylation, oligomerisation or hydrogenation of olefins.    ADVANTAGE -   Li diarylphosphide cpds. can be obtd. with improved yield and/or purity.
Remobilisation of a coprecipitated metal from an Fe oxide/metal coprecipitate is effected by contacting the coprecipitate with a biologically pure culture of Clostridium sp. ATCC 53464 in a nutrient medium so that the metal is solubilised or incorporated into the bacterial biomass.    Also claimed is a process for removing metal ions from an aq. liq. comprising: (a) concentrating the metal ions by treating the liq. with excess coprecipitating agent, namely magnetic, haematite, limonite, goethite or ferrite at 0-110 deg.C and pH 7.5-14; (b) removing the coprecipitate from the liq.; (c) contacting the coprecipitate with an ATCC 53464 culture in a nutrient medium under anaerobic conditions at 15-37 deg.C and pH 4-8 for 1 sec. to 48 hrs.; and (d) removing the solubilised metal ions from the medium.    USE -   The process may be used to remove toxic metals, esp. As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, U, Pu, Zn, Au, Ag, Pt, or Pd from waste water streams, esp. mining effluents, fossil and nuclear fuel cycle wastes, geothermal wastes and electroplating and metal-finishing wastes.
Propane/butane mixt. (with high-butane content) is withdrawn in vapour phase from underground reservoir at reduced temp./pressure, and in liquid phase which is evaporated in underground flow-through gasifier (5) with natural heat-supply. To obtain heat-energy economy, evapn. is done to max. intermediate degree of dryness of vapour/liquid mixt. of propane/butane, as determined by formula, in terms of absolute pressure in gasifier, achieved minimally to guarantee stable working of gasification equipment and low-pressure regulator, 10 -5Pa.; original molar-content of butane in mixt. coming from reservoir; max. intermediate temp. of vapour/liquid mixt. at exit from gasifier, = natural temp. of surrounding ground (in deg. C); and empirical coeffts. for butane and propane.    USE -   In gas-supply e.g. evapn. of liquefied hydrocarbon gas (such as propane/-butane mixt. (with high-butane content) in flow-through gasifiers, to agricultural and domestic-communal customers.    ADVANTAGE -   In addn. to heat-economy, liquid-phase is partially evapd. in underground gasifiers using natural heat.
The biologically degradable material is collected up into small containers where the coarse material is sifted away and subjected to a continuous stirring. Heat and air are fed into the process to maintain a started degradable process in force at approximately 25 deg.C. A rough adjustment of the carbon-nitrogen ratio occurs through the feed of straw with the simultaneous elimination of smell from the process in a condensate pptn. device.    The material is delivered from the small containers after an approximate 10% biological decomposition of the material and collected in a mobile processing device where an anaerobic decomposition process. Hot air is fed to the material and held at approximately 30 deg.C until the material is subjected to a further approximate 5% biological degradation during continuous stirring. An adjustment of the carbon-nitrogen ratio occurs with simultaneously stirring. An adjustment of the carbon-nitrogen ratio occurs.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To process biologically degradable material. Enables methane gas to be recovered.
Starch paste soln. is prepd. as follows: mixed slurry of corn starch powder and underground starch (A) powder is modified by enzymatic or thermochemical modification into modified paste, and the starch paste soln. is adjusted to a pH above 5.    Pref. (A) is a processed starch, esp. acetylated starch, and the mixed slurry is adjusted to pH 5-8, followed by modification into paste.    (S) is e.g. tapioca, potato or sweet potato starch. The corn starch and (A) are used in a blend ratio of 1:9 or 9:1, pref. 2:8 to 8:2. The enzymatic modification is done by adding an oxidising agent to the slurry and heating it at above 100 deg. C.    ADVANTAGE -   The starch paste soln. has ageing resistance and high stability with time and is useful as size press soln. and coating soln. for coated paper.
Animal wastes are treated by fermentation, by adding acetaldehyde treated urea, dried blood and superphosphate, opt. with cellulose degrading bacteria, partic. Myrethecium sp..    Animal wastes including faeces, urine, bedding, bark and sawdust, urea treated with acetaldehyde, dried blood and superphosphate are fermented by the addn. of cellulose degrading bacteria, partic. Myrethecium sp. SF-M-001 (FERM P-13387).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Sufficient humification of animal wastes.
Method comprises (1) culturing bacteria using methanol as carbon source, and (2) culturing and activating them using methane gas.    Also claimed is a method also comprising (1) immobilising the bacteria and (2) contacting immobilised bacteria with a mixt. of methane and oxygen for activation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bacteria produce methane monooxygenase (MMO), and decompose organic chlorine cpds. e.g. reduce trichloroethylene at 10ppm to half in 10 days. It is useful to remove toxic organic chlorine cpds. contained in waste water and gas, and the ground and ground water near factories. The bacteria may be efficiently produced at lower cost (1/6) than a conventional method which uses explosive and dangerous methane gas adone and requires an expensive large fermenter.    Concentration: Pref methanol concn. for (1) is maintained at upto 3000mg/l. Predf. methane concn. for (2) is maintained at 20-50%.    In an example Pre-culture of methylosinus trichloroporium TSUKUBA (50ml) was cultured in a medium (1.51) contg. methanol (1000mg/l) at 30 deg. at pH6.5 at an air flow of 40ml/min. with stirring at 600rpm for 150 hrs. In 50 and 100hrs. methanol was added to adjust the concn. to 1000mg/l. In 150 hrs. the concn. of bacteria reached to 2500 mg/l, and the bacteria was measured for the ability to decompose trichloroethylene, but K1 primary reaction constant) was 0. The bacteria was cultured at a flow of mixt. gas of methane/air (methane concn. 20v/v%) at a flow rate of 50ml/min. In 70hrs. the concn. of bacteria reached 4000mg/l, and K1 was found to be 31/g.hr, showing a high ability to decompose trichloroethylene.
Culture method to decompose organic chlorine cpds. comprises culturing bacteria utilising methane in a culture soln. contg. copper in a concentration of 0.18 micro mol/l or less.    The concentration of copper is pref. 0.024-0.18 micro l/l. By lowering the concentration of copper, more of the soluble MMO can be produced, which shows higher substrate specificity than membrane fraction MMO.    The bacteria belonging to Methylosinus genus, Methylocystis genus and Methylobactor genus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bacteria produce methane monoxygenase (MMO), and show an excellent ability to decompose organic chlorine cpds., e.g., they can reduce trichloroethylene at 10 ppm to half in 10 days. Therefore, it is useful to remove toxic organic chlorine cpds. contained in waste water and gas, and ground and ground water near factories, and advantageous over the conventional methods such as air diffusion and absorption with activated carbon which inevitably leave harmful waste. By this method, the ability of the bacteria can be improved and stabilised so that organic chlorine cpds. may be decomposed in a common equipment.
Bacillus natto is propagated on residues generated in food processing, a residual agricultural prod., or leftover rice. The resulting prod. is used as food, feed, or fertiliser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Decay due to miscellaneous germs is replaced by fermentation by the Bacillus natto. The result reduces time for residue treatment and bad smell. Drying treatment increases storage and transportation, eliminating energy for waste or burning for the residues.
A dynamic air sparging soil remediation system drills, mixes and agitates soil at a contaminated site, injects compressed air into the agitated soil, and has a shroud for collecting released contaminant vapour and passing it through a HEPA carbon filter. Pref. a self-propelled crane supports the drilling and agitating units, which include a kelly bar driven drill, and the filter system and an air compressor are mounted in place of a conventional counterweight. The filter can pref. handle up to 2000 cubic ft/min and the filtered air is recirculated into the site. H2O2 soln. steam, ambient air, a chemical oxidant or microorganisms may be injected into the soil.    ADVANTAGE -   Can be used to treat most contaminated sites, is highly effective and has enhanced safety.
In the extn. and removal of rubbish dumps contg. domestic or industrial waste, portions of the removal material are heated in a multistage heating action at different temps. for the unsorted matter together with seepage water. The final heating stage has a temp. of more than 1000C. for matter conversion, together with a synthesis gas, with material sepn. if required.    USE -   The technique is esp. for rubbish dumps which have been in place for a number of years without control contg. domestic and industrial waste.    ADVANTAGE -   The method gives a complete clearance of the rubbish and its conversion to a material which can be used for recultivation.
Pulpwood or pulp retaining at least 60 wt.% of lignin is treated with an inoculum of one or more fungi from the group consisting of Schizophyllum commune, Trichaptum biforme and Phanerochaete gigantea. Environmental conditions effective for promoting fungal growth are maintained.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to reduce the pitch content of pulps and pulpwoods used in papermaking. The improved field of useful white rot fungi have good colour effects and are more flexible in respect of growth and temp. operating ranges.
A composter (300) with a body for containing material to be converted to humus has a base (303 which promotes air flow through itself and the body, and a lid (302), the lid and base promoting aerobic decomposition.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Humus is produced from household wastes. Composting is efficient. Construction and installation are simple, enabling distribution in knocked down form to householders by Local Authorities. Operation and access are easy. The lid is kept closed against high winds and vermin.
Purificn. of propylene oxide prepd. by reaction of an organic hydroperoxide with propylene and contg. less than 0.05 wt. ppm. poly(propylene oxide) having a mol.wt. of at least 50,000, with contaminating amts. of methyl formate, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde and 4-7C hydrocarbons, comprises: (a) contacting a liq. mixt. of polypropylene oxide and impurities with solid activated carbon absorbent; and (b) sepg. propylene oxide contg. a reduced impurity content.    ADVANTAGE -   Purificn. can be greatly simplified and the formation of additional impurities, e.g. high-boiling ether is minimised by avoiding extractive distn. purificn.
The proposed process includes thermal treatment of used catalyst in the medium of gaseous redn. agent at temp. 400-650C..    USE -   In physico-chemical processes for the regeneration of vanadium contg. catalysts.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced residue content of sulphur and simultaneously reduced porous structure transformation.
A mixed coolant comprising butane, freon and silicone of same or higher quantity than that of a freon medium used in housing equipment is added to the freon medium. The result increases the wt. of the freon.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is applied to the freon-housing equipment for preventing environmental pollution due to freon. The method readily and rapidly changes the coolant inviting ozone environmental pollution into heavy coolant. This eliminates substances depleting the ozone layer. Pref. freon mixed with the butane comprises: R-22, R-14 CF4, R-23CH F3, C2H4F2 (part of R-500 component).
Soil activator is prepd. by aerobic fermentation of mature terrestrial and marine vegetable resources by use of vegetable complex enzyme and contains living microbes.    Bran, oil cake, fossil sea-shell and vegetable complex enzyme are added to crushed mature terrestrial vegetable resources rich in vegetable fibre such as rice hull, sawdust and waste wood chip and water content of the mixt. is adjusted to 30 to 70% with water or 0.01 to 0.5, pref. 0.05 to 0.1% water soln. of dilute organic acid. The mixt. is subjected to aerobic fermentation at below 70 deg.C. for more than four days to produce a fermentation prod. (A). The mature terrestrial vegetable resources, bran, shell, fossil sea-shell, oil cake and vegetable complex enzyme are added to (A) and the mixt. is fermented aerobically to produce fermentation prod (B).    Marine vegetable resources such as dried and crushed seaweed and residue of extn. of seaweed, earth yeast and enzyme-treated sawdust or crushed wood chip are added to (B) and the mixt. is fermented aerobically to produce fermentation prod. (C). Vegetable complex enzyme and water are added to (C) and it is extracted at room temp. for 1 to 4 days and is filtered. Water soln. of raw sugar or soybean soup is added to the filtrate and the mixt. is fermented for more than 14 days under weak agitation and ample supply of air to produce liq. fermentation prod. (D).    ADVANTAGE -   The soil activator promotes growth of agricultural produce.
Garbage (A) charged through an inlet port (24) is crushed with a crusher (3), and crushed garbage is introduced into a disposal chamber (4). Disposal medium is mixed into the crushed garbage with a mixer bar (14), and the mixed garbage is decomposed with bacteria.    ADVANTAGE -   Reliable garbage disposal with bacteria is effected.
Garbage-treating device includes means for crushing garbage fed through garbage feed opening, treating vessel connected to crushing means and adapted to mix crushed garbage with treating medium by stirrer and decompose garbage by activity of microorganism in treating medium. The treating vessel has water supplied to the middle part.    ADVANTAGE -   Garbage can be stably decomposed.
A disposal site of garbage has, on its bottom, a drain system that introduces leachate of garbage to waste water treating facilities and a water tight sheet. Garbage is deposited on the site and covered with a cap sheet i.e., fabric, nonwoven fabric, or net united with a photo-decomposable polymer sheet, which makes pptn. to permeate homogeneously into the garbage. Sedimentation of garbage and covering with the cap sheet are repeated many times. Fabric, nonwoven fabric, or net is made of at least one of artificial polymer, natural polymer, inorganic materials, and metals.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for disposing garbage. This method can level the permeation of pptn. into garbage and prevent the generation of smell in the early stage of disposal, and level the discharge of inorganic or organic substances into leachate.
A metal absorbent obtd. from the alga Chattonella antiqua, is new.    Also claimed is the preparation of a metal adsorbent, which comprises cultivating Chattonella antiqua to a high concentration in a medium containing inorganic nutrient salts, separating the alga from the culture solution, and extracting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Since the adsorbent obtained has a high ability to adsorb heavy metals, it can be used to remove harmful metals and recover useful heavy metals from mining and industrial waste water. It can be produced from the alga Chattonella antiqua, which is a kind of red tide plankton.    In an example, an inorganic nutrient salt medium was prepared by adding 21 mg of sodium sulphate, 13 mg of sodium dihydrogenphosphate, and 1 mg of iron to 1 l of seawater. Seawater containing Chattonella antiqua was added to the medium at 24 deg.C and Chattonella antiqua was exposed to 15000 lux light for 6 days under ventilation and stirring to be cultivated. The Chattonella antiqua was separated with a centrifugal separator, extracted with a mixture of chloroform and methanol in an equal volume and then with boiling distilled water, and freeze-dried to obtain a metal adsorbent.
New microorganisms belong to the genus Bacillus, producing proteases and specifically decomposing soybean meal, pref. Bacillus circulans HA12 (FERM P-13428) or Bacillus stearothermophilus HA19 (FERM P-13429).    Also new is a soybean meal-derived organic fertiliser made from soybean meal as starting material by decomposing it, pref. using microorganisms, pref. the above-mentioned bacilli, to decompose soybean meal into smaller mol.-wt. molecules.    ADVANTAGE -   The new soybean meal-derived fertiliser made through Bacillus-aided decomposition is safe, inexpensive, and as effective as the conventional cpd. fertilisers.    In an example, peptone (1 g), yeast extract (0.5 g), NaCl (0.5g), agar (2 g) and distilled water (100 ml) were put together in a 300-ml Erlenmeyer flask. This mixt. was autoclave-sterilised, and then dispensed in an autoclave-sterilised plate to prepare an LB-plus-agar plate medium. Soil-derived microorganisms found positive by screening test were inoculated on this medium and were cultured for 12 hours in an incubator maintained at a temp. below 30C, at 37.5, 50, 70, 75 and 80C, respectively. Strains producing halos in which proteases were being produced decomposing casein were judged as positive. Twenty positive strains growing in the soybean meal medium were obtd. (HA1-20). These strains include HA12 that grows at 50C or under and HA19 that grows at 50-75C.
A near-azeotropic compsn. comprises (a) 38-53 wt.% 'R22' (RTM: chlorodifluoromethane); (b) 34-56 wt.% 'R124' (RTM: 1-chloro-1,2,2,2- tetrafluoroethane) and/or 'R124a' (RTM: 1-chloro-1,1,2,2- tetrafluoroethane); and (c) 2-13.5 wt.% 'R600' (RTM: n-butane) and/or 'R600a' (RTM: isobutane).    USE -   The compsn. is used in refrigerating circuits working according to Rankine cycle partic. in motor vehicles provided with air conditioning (claimed).    ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is interchangeable with 'R12' (RTM: dichlorodifluoromethane) without the need of replacing the lubricating oil; the compsn. is not flammable, and does not give rise to flammable liqs. or vapours owing to unavoidable losses from the circuits; the compsn. has an Ozone Depleting Potentiality (ODP) lower than 0.03; and the compsn. is of lower cost than prior art substitutes for 'R12'.
A container comprising a metered dose valve and microparticles of a drug for topical treatment of skin disorders is new. Also claimed is a method for delivering a preset dose of drug comprising: (i) preparing the microparticles; (ii) packaging the microparticles in a container; (iii) sealing the container with a metered dose valve; and (iv) adding propellant to the container.    USE -   The container, with propellant and lubricant, is used to deliver the drug as a spray directly on to the disorder, which includes wounds and surgical incisions, skin cancers, dermatitis, rashes, allergic reactions, and acne. A wide range of drugs, including steroids, antibiotics, proteins, esp. growth factors, e.g. keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), implicated in healing and tissue repair an be delivered. For use, these are admin. as a compsn. with excipients. Either instant or sustained release formulations can be delivered.    ADVANTAGE -   The method provides localised application at the desired site. Unlike topical application, the skin is not touched in application as with ointments, creams, or gels, which may cause irritation at the site and increase the risk of infection.
In a new procedure for compositing organic waste comprises: (a) chopped and mixed waste in a reaction vessel is agitated from time to time and is moistened from below by a mixture of air and water vapour for a period of twenty hours. (b) the supply of air and water vapour is controlled so that the temperature of the material during the reaction period is limited to 70 C and no water vapour is visible on the surface of the material.    Also claimed is a device for carrying out this procedure, consisting of a reaction vessel (1) containing an agitator system (2) and at least partly enclosed by a housing (3), and a steam producing system which is connected to the vessel by a duct (8) containing perforations (6). The section of the reaction vessel enclosed by the housing contains perforations (4).    USE -   The method is used for composting not only soft materials such as leaves, fruit and vegetable waste, but also hard materials such as old wood, bones, leather etc.    ADVANTAGE -   Compost, which can be used in agriculture or gardening, is produced from a wide range of organic waste materials in a short time.
In an enzyme granulate, suitable for incorporation in washing or cleaning compsns., contg. enzyme, (in)organic carrier and a granulation aid contg. carboxymethylcellulose, the granulation aid is a system of alkali CMC with deg. of substitution of 0.5-1 and polyethylene glycol and/or alk(en)yl-polyethoxylate, with at least 0.5 wt.%, w.r.t. final granulate, of polyethylene glycol with mol.wt. below 1000 and/or alk(en)yl-polyethoxylate with at least 20 ethylene oxide (EO), if more than 2 wt.% of alkali CMC is present.    USE -   Use of the enzyme granulate in prepn. of solid, esp. particulate, washing or cleaning compsns. is claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The disintegration rate of the granulate is high (100% of the enzyme activity is released within 3 mins. in water at 25C), and sufficient enzyme is present in the liquor in the initial stage of machine washing to remove enzymatically removable soil. Fermentation brews of low concn. can be used. The enzyme and the granulate are stable on storage, esp. at above room temp. and at high air moisture, and loss of enzyme activity is reduced.
A process for composting thermoplastic material includes: (a) providing thermoplastic material including: (i) a thermoplastic polymer; and (ii) an effective composting amt of a polymeric composting promoting agent comprising a metal complexing agent and/or a metal complex, which converts in the presence of an oxidising metal comprising Cu, Fe, Mn or Co to an active oxidant; (b) contacting the thermoplastic material with a medium contg oxidising metal, comprising garden waste, food waste, paper, wood chips, sewage sludge and/or mixed solid organic waste, lime, manure and liq media solns of oxidising metals, to cause the oxidising metal to convert the polymeric composting converting agent to the active oxidant in an amt sufficient to cause the active oxidant to degrade thermally the thermoplastic polymer to a low mol wt material having enhanced biodegradability under composting conditions; and (c) concomitantly subjecting the thermoplastic material to composting conditions to biodegrade (partially) the low mol wt material.    USE -   The process biodegrades items such as agricultural films, liners for disposable napkins and sanitary towels, rubbish bags, packaging films, plastic clips and containers and other items intended for indoor use or limited outdoor use. Plastics in sewage sludge etc can also be treated. The final prod may be used as fertiliser for field and golf courses, cover for landfill and as an additive for fertiliser.    ADVANTAGE -   Composting is offered as an alternative to dumping in a landfill site. The additive used is neither a photoactivator nor a pro-oxidant and it does not degrade the polymer used to make the film prematurely, allowing it to retain its full strength in sunlight.
The process for recovering the organic component from the wasted waters in the artificial fibres industry provides the treating of the solution resulting from the dialysis installation by a solution containing 60 ... 80% alcohol and 20 ... 30% acetic acid, the pH of the resulting solution being in the range from 4 to 6, and the precipitated residue being sluiced with an alcoholic solution of 60 ... 70 % alcohol at a ratio of 50 :1 than the precipitate mass, for 5 ... 6 times, the sluiced residue being then treated with a sulphuric acid solution, in order to result a final concentration of the acid in the range from 60 to 75%, at 20 ... 30 deg C, for 1 ... 4h, at a ratio of 1 ...3/l between liquid and solid, the resulting solution being then diluted by water to a ratio liquid/residue of 10 ... 60/l and boiling for 1 ... 5h, thus resulting an acid solution of monosaccharide, that can be processed, in the usual ways, to ferment to yeasts.
Refrigerant compsns. contg. hexafluoropropane and butane, cyclopropane, isobutane, propane or dimethyl ether are claimed..    Also claimed are mixts. forming azeotropic and azeotrope-like compsns. and compsns. having a vapour pressure higher than both the components.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are useful for heating and cooling (claimed); as cleaning agents, expansion agents, power cycle working fluids, gaseous dielectrics and fire extinguishing agents, polymerisation media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents and displacement drying agents; and as replacement for e.g. CFC-12 and HCFC-22. Partic. examples of use include cleaning electronic circuit boards, placing a thin film of lubricant onto metal parts, displacement of water from jewellery or metal parts, as resist developers in circuit mfg. and as strippers for photoresists. The compsns. are azeotropic or azeotrope-like and have zero ozone depletion potential.
Manure is processed by collecting it and sepg. it into at least one solid and at least one liq. fraction and making both fractions suitable for use as a fertiliser or nutrient.    Also claimed is a device for performing the method as above and having in series a manure collector (1), a separator (2) for producing the fractions and fractions processors.    Pref., the fractions are sepd. using at least one centrifuge. The liq. fraction (L) is bacteriologically cleaned (5) to produce water (7) and a residue (R). The solid fraction (S) is composted.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method and device for processing manure, partic manure from intensive cattle farming. On-site processing eliminates transporting of manure for processing or spreading.
At least one component is separated from a mixture by use of a sorbent (I) comprising a film of interconnected zeolite crystals bonded to the surface of a substrate (II). (I) Is formed by contacting (II) with a reaction mixture (III) capable of forming the zeolite film under crystallisation conditions. (III) Comprises (molar ratios): H2O/YO2 at least 25 when YO2/X2O3 is greater than 400; H2O/YO2 is at least 35 when YO2/X2O3 is 150-400; and H2O/YO2 is at least 45 when YO2/X2O3 is less than 150. Y is a tetravalent element and X is a tervalent element.    USE -   (I) has affinity for hydrocarbons. It may be used to remove atmospheric pollutants from industrial exhaust gases, including gases from incinerators, turbines, HNO3 plants, coal fired and fossil fueled power plants and internal combustion engines. A particular application is removal of unburned hydrocarbons, e.g. 3-6C paraffins and olefins, and aromatics, from cold engine flue gas. Hydrocarbon may be adsorbed from a mixture comprising water and hydrocarbons or alcohol(s) and hydrocarbons; a hydrocarbon may be selectively adsorbed from a mixture of hydrocarbons.
A process for separating at least one gas component from a mixt. comprises contacting with a composite membrane at a pressure sufficient to permeate the desired component(s). The membrane comprises a porous substrate coated with a modified poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) polymer comprising a PPO precursor of number average mol. wt. (Mn) above 25,000 and contg. at least 10% of backbone units of formula (I) where R1, R2 = H, SO3H, SO3M, sulphonyl SO2R3, sulphonamide, SO2N(R3), carbonyl COR3 or amide COHNR3, provided that at least one is not H; R3 = 1-4C aliphatic; and M = an alkali, alkaline earth or transition metal, NH4+ or an organic base. Also claimed are (1) a separation process as above including a prepn. process for the membrane; (2) the above composite membrane; (3) a membrane prepd. using the sulphonation process in (1) above; (4) a process for making composite membranes comprising at least one separation layer of the above polymer on a porous substrate; (5) process (4) incorporating the further purification process given for membrane (3); (6) PPO polymer produced by the method included in the membrane prepn. (3); and (7) a process for preparing a membrane forming material capable of forming a fluid sepn. membrane comprising the membrane prepn. process used in (1).    USE -   The membranes may be used to separate, e.g. hydrogen from hydrogen-contg. gases, O2/N2 and CO2/CH4 separations, and separations of helium from helium-contg. gases.    ADVANTAGE -   The membranes have desirably consistent permeability, selectivity, strength and film-forming characteristics suitable for commercial separations.
The mfg. device for compost comprises a fermenter to ferment organic waste and compost it, a curing tank, a deodorisation unit to suck the generated gases from the fermenter and the curing tank to deodorise them, and a fan. The gas concn. at the discharge port of the deodorisation unit is detected and when the gas concn. exceeds a specified value, the activated coal in the deodorisation unit is taken out and fed into the fermenter so as to mix with the organic waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to mfr. compost from organic waste such as wet refuse from kitchen, leaves and trees from road side trees, etc.. With this device, cut trees obtd. which have been burnt, are made to comparatively small chip size, and form charcoal. Charcoal can be used as the activated coal. Further more the activated coal which has been used can be fed into the fermenter for use as compost material. In addition, the replacement of activated coal is judged by detecting gas concn. in exhaust, so no malodours are leaked outside. Also, it avoids discarding activated coal which is still useful.
The measurement of the activity of sulphur-oxidising bacteria comprises mixing a sample soln. of microorganisms with an aq. soln. of reducing sulphur cpd(s)., stirring and injecting at the same time alkali agent(s) of an amt. corresponding to the redn. of the pH of the mixed soln. and calculating the rate of formation of sulphuric acid from the amt. of the alkali agent consumed after a specified time.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Measurement of the activity of the bacteria is simple, and allows an understanding of the variation of the quality and quantity of incoming water and the behaviour of the system of microorganisms to toxic contaminants and is thus useful for operation and management of waste water treatment plants using the microorganisms.
Cleaning contaminated soil comprises scattering Methylosinus microorganism(s) able to decompose aliphatic chlorine cpds. and a readily oxygen-generating substance(s). Pref., microorganism is a methane-utilising bacterium(ia).    Microorganism is pref. Methyosinul tricospolium TSUKUBA, Bi-ko Ken, Donation No. 10004. Oxygen-generating substance is pref. a peroxide(s).    ADVANTAGE -   Method is simple and cleans effectively soil contaminated by organic chlorine cpds. In an example, the method achieved a decompsn. rate of the trichloroethylene contaminant of 80% three days after scattering.    In an example, Gram negative Methylosinus bacterium utilises methane, has no flagella or motility and grows in methane and methanol but does not grow in ethane, propane, n-butane, dimethyl ether, methylamine, ethanol or nutrient broth. It has 64.5 mol% (G+C) DNA, 96.5% of C18:1 major fatty acids a hydroxy fatty acid type of 2-oH and a quinone type of Q8. Bacterium can decompose trichloromethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane and chloroform. It decomposes e.g. 10 ppm trichloroethylene by a half in 10 days. Oxygen-generating substance is pref. hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide and/or magnesium peroxide.    A culture liq. of the bacterium and hydrogen peroxide were scattered on soil contaminated by 0.1 ppm trichloroethylene to final levels of 10power6 cells/g soil and 10 ppm, respectively. Method achieved decompsn. rates 40% after 1 day, 65% after 2 days and 80% after 3 days.
Device comprises a gas sensor for detecting a gaseous body generated during the anaerobic treatment in an anaerobic treatment tank and an information processor for determining the reaction state in the anaerobic treatment tank according to outputs from gas sensors.    The gas sensor is composed of a methane sensor such as a tin dioxide semiconductor gas sensor for detecting methane and a carbon dioxide sensor for measuring carbon dioxide by using infrared rays. The tin dioxide semiconductor gas sensor is sensitive against carbon monoxide and ethanol; however, the principal components of gas generated by the anaerobic treatment are methane and carbon dioxide. The gas sensor can be placed in an anaerobic treatment tank or in a piping. The ratio of generated carbon dioxide is getting higher as the load increases. The ratio of generated methane and carbon dioxide are more than 70-55% and less than 30-45% respectively when the load to an anaerobic bacteria is adequate. When the ratio of methane comes to less than 60-50%, that is the ratio of carbon dioxide is more than 40-50%, the highly concentrated volatile fatty acid in the disposed waste water is detected and it is decided that the bad treatment state exists. An information processor decides the reaction state in the anaerobic treatment tank by using mutual relation between the generating ratio of methane and carbon dioxide and the reacting state of the anaerobic bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Overloading of the device is avoided by controlling the dumping of garbage according to the treatment state and deterioration of the disposed waste water is prevented by decomposing garbage completely.
Method for analysing a continuously flowing gas stream using gas emission spectroscopy to detect at least one gas or vapour impurity in the gas stream at low concn. levels, comprises (a) directing a sample of the gas stream through an electric discharge source, (b) applying an alternating source of power across the electric discharge source at a preselected excitation frequency with the alternating power source having a peak voltage sufficient to sustain an electric discharge and to generate a wide radiation spectrum of emissive radiation from the gas stream, (c) filtering the radiation spectrum to form an optical signal having a narrow radiation emission bandwidth corresponding to the stronger emission wavelength(s) of a preselected impurity gas or vapour to be analysed, (d) converting the optical signal into an electrical signal, (e) selectively amplifying the electrical signal within a narrow frequency range centered at twice the excitation frequency, and (f) analysing the se lectively amplified electrical signal to determine the concn. level of the impurity gas or vapour under analysis, in which (g) the electric discharge source is a silent electric discharge tube.    Also claimed is a gas emission spectrometer for such analysis.    USE -   Gas emission spectrometer for analysing low concns. with high accuracy.    ADVANTAGE -   The method of analysis uses emissive radiation filtered to form a narrow bandwidth optical signal converted and amplified within a narrow range at twice the excitation frequency, increases the sensitivity of detection of any gaseous impurity in the gas sample by an order of magnitude.
Sepn. of a mixt. of a conductive phase (II) dispersed as particles (e.g. droplets) in a continuous phase (I), in which the two phases have different densities, is carried out by (a) feeding the mixt. into an annular zone (5) delimited by two cylinders, the mixt. being introduced towards the periphery of one of the cylinders to impart rotational motion within the annular zone; (b) applying a potential difference between the cylinders (1,3) to create a radial electric field in the annular zone (5) to promote dispersed phase (II) coalescence and phase sepn.; and (c) recovering the (partially) sepd. phases in a reception and decantation zone. Also claimed is an appts. for carrying out the above process.    USE -   Sepn. of a mixt. such as crude oil contg. a dispersed aq. phase, esp. desalination of crude oil involving addn. of water with low salt content (claimed).    ADVANTAGE -   Sepn. is enhanced by combining the effects of an electric field and centrifugal forces, using electrodes of simple shape.
Removal of lumen filler and/or unwanted processing auxiliaries from hollow fibres or hollow fibre membranes is effected by extracting the fibre or membrane with a supercritical gas (I). Also claimed are hollow fibres or membranes from which lumen filler has been removed by the above process, where the residual content of isopropyl myristate (IPM) is below 500 ppm, esp. below 300 ppm.    (I) is CO2, H2O, N2, NH2, N2O, N2O2, MeOH, CHF3, n-butane, propane, ethylene and/or toluene. (I) is opt. mixed with a liq. or solvent, esp. MeOH or H2O. The fibre/membrane (esp. a hollow fibre bundle) is contacted with (I) for 1-600 (pref. 20-240) min., pref. using CO2 at at least 73 (esp. at least 100) bar and at least 31 (esp. at least 40) deg.C. The sepd. lumen filler and/or additive may be recovered and re-used.    USE -   The process is useful for removing lumen filler or stabiliser (pref. IPM) and other auxiliaries (e.g. thickeners or precipitants) from hollow fibres or fibre membranes for industrial or medicinal use (e.g. in haemodialysis, haemofiltration, sterile filtration or plasmapheresis).    ADVANTAGE -   (I) have a good cleaning effect, with no problems of environmental pollution or inflammability. They can be used with a wide range of fibre/membrane materials, e.g. cellulose, regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyolefin, polysulphone, polyacrylonitrile or polyamide. Necessary additives (e.g. glycerol pore stabiliser; or PVP or PEG hydrophobising agent) are not removed.
To recover a conc. protein extract from manure, a rapid growth yeast is added with a high carbon content, a high oxygen content together with nitrogen, hydrogen and other dosed trace elements according to the manure analysis.    The yeast is freed from manure solids by centrifuge action. The manure is heated to about 37C with a slight overpressure to form a protein assimilate which is recirculated with acceleration stages and dwell intervals, and the remaining liq. is drawn off.    Also claimed is an assembly with at least two vessels (1,2) interlinked by channels (3,4) between their interiors at the top of one and the bottom of the other. The vessels (1,2) have a pressure build-up and release system (5,6), and closable outlets (7,8) for liq.. They are fitted with dosed feeds (9,10) for the additives.    USE -   The system is for the biological treatment of manure for cleaning, and recovery of useful matter.    ADVANTAGE -   The action recovers a conc. protein extract from manure freed of solids.
An assembly to process refuse incorporates a loading unit (1), a gas removal passage (2) and a high temperature reactor (3). The assembly has outlets for molten material (SCH) and synthesised gas (SY). The synthesised gas passes to an outlet (3a) through a pipe (4). The novelty is that the gas cleaning unit incorporates a dust removal unit, and that an inlet (7,8) delivers a separation agent (A) which processes sticky dust in the dust removal unit.    USE -   The assembly processes municipal refuse.    ADVANTAGE -   Sticky dust particles can be removed from the synthesised gases without loss of efficiency to the entire plant.
To compost waste materials, heated air is introduced into a composting container has the novel feature that the air is preheated using combustion exhaust gas, and esp. exhaust gas from a domestic heating system, or that the exhaust gas is introduced directly into the composting container.    Also claimed is an appts. for carrying out this procedure, with a container (11) and an air preheater. A pipe connection (3,8,10) is provided to the exhaust duct of a heating system (1).    A further claim covers the composting container itself.    Fresh air maybe mixed with the exhaust gas before it enters the composting container. Before the air comes into contact with the composting material, it passes through a heat retention material (14) in or upstream of the composting container. The air may also be moistened, using water preheated by the exhaust gas or extracted from the exhaust gas itself.    USE -   Used esp. in the composting of domestic refuse.    ADVANTAGE -   The procedure is independent of the availability of solar radiation.
Biodegradable and nontoxic substrate bioavailability enhancing agent (A) for increasing the speed and efficiency of microbial bioremediation of hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenols and other oils and fats is new. The compsn. is an aq. mixt. contg. (by wt.) 0.2-10% emulsifier (esp. ethoxylated nonylphenol (I)); 0.21-9% surfactant (esp. linear Na alkylarylsulphonate (II)); 0.05-3% sequestrant (esp. EDTA); 0.8-3.5% pH control agent (esp. Na silicate); 0.17-8% emulsifying solvent (esp. dipropylene glycol methyl ether (III)) and 10-70% biocatalyst (esp. atomically-stable, nonoxidising oxygen catalyst in a water base).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (A) is used to clean oil-contaminated (sub)surfaces. (A) rapidly converts oil contaminants to microscopic, colloidally suspended particles so improves microbial digestion because of the increased available surface area. Also it activates microbes (at L) or indigenous); serves as nutrient carrier and stimulates microbial reproduction. The most effective pollutant degrading organisms are those that replicate most quickly and they convert pollutants to CO2 and water without formation of toxic intermediates. (A) is not harmful to indigenous microbes and can be handled safely.
New DNA constructs (A) contain a sequence (I) encoding a Pyrococcus alpha-amylase (II), or its active and/or immunologically cross-reactive variants. (I) (1) comprises at least one of 5 partial sequences (117-3036p) reproduced in the specification or analogues able to hybridise with probes (P) derived from them, (2) corresponds to a genomic Pyrococcus sequence located within 5 kb of a sequence hybridising with P, or (3) is a 1380 bp sequence (reproduced) or analogues able to hybridise with probes (Pt) derived from it.    Also new are (1) DNA constructs (Ia) encoding related amylolytic enzyme, (2) vectors contg. the new constructs, (3) host cells contg. the new constructs or vectors, (4) (II) having a 435 amino acid sequence (reproduced), its variants or enzymes with at least 70% homology, also new amylolytic enzymes encoded by (Ia).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (II) is used for liquefaction, saccharification and/or debranching of starch or for prodn. of syrups, cyclodextrin or oligosaccharides. Typically applications are in the wine and fruit industries, textile desizing, baking, detergents, biomass (waste) conversion for energy prodn. etc. DNA fragments (43 specified) present in (I) can be used to identify/isolate new amylolytic enzymes. (A) can be expressed in host cells without any modification to the ribosome binding site. (II) can be produced in good yield as recombinant protein with high purity i.e. without additional enzymatic activities. Because of its high heat stability, (II) is esp. useful in high temp. starch liquefaction.
Organic matter (10) is processed by worms. The organic matter is placed in containers (1) with access for worms to migrate between the containers when placed, pref. stacked, together.    Pref. worms are placed in the next to bottom container and migrate upwards through the stack.    Also claimed is an assembly of the containers. Each container may have a perforated base (2) and a peripheral wall. The bottom container in a stack does not have a perforated base.    USE -   Treatment of domestic organic waste matter, and for breeding or fattening of worms for bait.
Hydrogen sulphide content of an aq. system is reduced, and/or the formation of hydrogen sulphide is inhibited, by bringing into contact with the molybdate ions, or cpds. which yield these ions, in concn. sufficient to enhance the growth of denitrifying bacteria (I) which are present or are added to the system. Bacteria (I) outcompete sulphate-reducing bacteria (II) which may be present in the system for organic nutrients in the system, so that bacteria (II) are deprived of the nutrient they need to produce hydrogen sulphide.    A compsn. comprising (a) and (b) is claimed per se. Also claimed is a method of reducing the hydrogen sulphide content of an aq. system and inhibiting formation of hydrogen sulphide, by bringing molybdate and nitrite ions or cpds. that yield these ions, into contact with the system in concn. sufficient to kill bacteria (II) which may be present in the system, and enhance the growth of bacteria (I).    USE -   The method is of use in the oil field to reduce contamination by hydrogen sulphide in enhanced oil recovery. The treated aq. system is injected into the subterranean formation to displace oil therefrom.
Anaerobic processing of orgnaic waste uses a low dry matter content of 10-15% in the feed material and 2-8% in the reactor tank to ensure optimum contact between the substrate and the microorganisms. Special measures are incorporated for pre-treatment of the waste material and sepn. of plastic bags from solid organic household waste.    Household waste is delivered to a receiving station (1) which is constructed to minimise odour problems. For this purpose, the station includes a flexible rubber bellows (1b) which may be attached to the tipping delivery vehicle, a sliding cover (1c) for the reception pit (1a), a suction ventilator (1d) and a biofilter (1e).    The receiving container (2) includes an agitator which opens the bags contg. househbold waste. The solid organic waste is mixed with 25-50% biologically processed materials from an anaerobic reactor (7) for carrying out a prehydrolysis and with some organic industrial waste, and possibly recycled water to bring the dry matter content to 10-15%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for anaerobic processing of organic waste materials. Provides a simple and efficient process for anaerobic treatment of organic wastes. Granular sludge contg. anaerobic microorganisms is added to process to shorten start up time and lead to an improved gas yield and a lower concn. of volatile fatty acids in the effluent.
Rotary drum type composting apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum (10) rotatable about its horizontal axis with closed ends (11,12) and having perforated panels (13) forming part of its cylindrical surface (14), a removable door panel (16) for loading material to be composted, a support structure (25,26,27) for the drum with drive (34) for two horizontal support wheels (32,33) a clearing bar (41) secured to the outer surface of the drum parallel to the axis and a removable cover for the perforated portions of the cylindrical surface of the drum.    USE -   Used for quickly composting organic matter.    ADVANTAGE -   Has clearing bar for easy emptying.
Method of treating a subterranean formation to extend or widen fractures intersecting a wellbore to facilitate the flow of fluids from the formation into the fracture, comprises (a) introducing an explosive gas consisting of a gaseous oxidiser and a gaseous fuel intersecting a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation; and (b) igniting the explosive gas within the fracture whereby the detonation of the gas produces a high pressure wave within the fracture which results in the expansion of the fracture in the formation so that the subsequent flow of fluids to the wellbore is enhanced.    Also claimed are a method of propping a fracture; and a method of extending fractures.    USE -   Opening and extending (natural) fractures in a subterranean formation.    ADVANTAGE -   Natural fractures such as coal seams, shales and chalk formations, which exhibit non-linear elastic properties are opened or extended by using a gaseous explosive mixt. of a fuel and an oxidiser.
The wastes of live organisms, assimilating and accumulating contaminating substances in the test area are subjected to reprocessing by anaerobic bacteria, with obtaining. of bio-gas and water and contaminated sludge. The process is repeated until the concn. of contaminated sludge. The process is repeated until the concn. of contamination on a cleaned section reaches a limiting permitted or assigned level.    USE -   Cleaning of contaminating heavy metals and radioactive elements.    ADVANTAGE -   Better economical effectiveness.
A palladium catalyst on alumina support for selective thermal hydrogenation of acetylene derived from pyrolysis gases is prepd. by impregnating (eta (gamma)-alumina extrudates of well determined physical-structural properties with dil. solns. of salts of active components in repeated steps. This is followed by drying and redn. in a hydrogen stream.    Observing optimum impregnation conditions and correct physical-structural alumina extrudate characteristics, ensure advanced dispersion of palladium, good mechanical strength, high activity, selectivity and prolonged catalyst life.
Chemical pulp is bleached by using white wood destroying fungus and bacteria. Chemical pulp is treated with white wood destroying fungus and then with bacteria.    The white wood destroying fungus is at least one selected from Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Coriolus versicolor, Coriolus hirsutas and Lenzites betulina. The bacterium includes those belonging to Pseudomonus and/or Xanthomnas family. The fungus and bacteria are added to slurry which contains chemical pulp and are cultured for a predetermined period of 25-45 deg. C and at a pH of 3.0-8.0. The fungus decomposes lignin in the pulp to produce low mol. lignin and modified lignin e.g. myrwood lignin, lignin sulphonic acid and kraft lignin and the bacteria causes decomposition and metabolysis of lignin and decomposition of formed low mol. and modified lignins.    ADVANTAGE -   Chemical pulp is bleached efficiently to have a high degree of whiteness with good yield of pulp., reducing chlorine bleaching agent consumption.    In an example, a pulp slurry was prepd. by mixing 1,000 g unbleached kraft pulp with 3,450 deionised water and heating it at 121 deg. C for 15 minutes. 100 ml of suspension of Coriolus versicolor and 1 ml of culture soln. of Xanthomonas oryzae were added to the pulp slurry and bleaching was effected at 25 deg. C for 5 days.
In a fermentation device for organic refuse, a cylindrical shell body having a material feed port and a treated material discharge port is horizontally arranged. A shaft is mounted in the axial direction in the shell body and stirring blades are installed on the shaft. A heating device is connected with the shell body. A crusher is installed in the material feed port.    Solid refuse such as bony parts of fish can be crushed finely by the crusher, so that the surface area of the material is increased and the grading becomes uniform. Thereby contact efficiency with air in drying and fermentation processes and rate of drying and fermentation can be increased. Further more the moisture can be removed in the drying process after crushing in the return pipeline, the heat loss to the outside can be eliminated and malodours formation can be prevented.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to ferment organic refuse such as wet refuse, etc. for composting.
The deodorisation method involves bringing a gas contg malodours into contact with the extn residue of conifer saw dust carrying microorganisms.    A claimed deodorising appts is filled with extn residue of conifer saw dust.    The extn residue can be obtd by extracting raw conifer saw dust with boiling water for 60-120 min. As the microorganism, a usual activated sludge obtd in waste water treatment can be used, particularly sulphur oxidn bacteria eg Thiobacillus thioparus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can be used for treating odorous gases of kitchen garbage, sewage, toilet, etc. The method provides a high growth efficiency of microorganism, long term stable deodorisation and low cost deodorisation operation.
The process converts liq. organic matter with possible solids in reactor chambers. Microorganisms or catalytic agents convert the feedstock into liq. and/or gaseeous effluents. The interior of the reactor vessel is filled with a slowly rotating rotor with baffle plates spaced apart on a central axis defining separate chambers. Each chamber is sepd. by baffle plates or by the ends of the reactor vessel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to digest organic waste materials. The process takes place more effectively in separate chambers and can handle liquids with high solids contents.
A compost bead aerator has a two counter-rotating milling cylinders (8,10) displaceable along a compost bed and can peel off and transfer a layer of compost to an inclined conveyor belt (22). The aerator is on a frame towed by a tractor with the trailing cylinder (10) projecting laterally beyond the leading cylinder (8). Each cylinder has projecting scrapers arranged on three helices.    USE -   Compost aerator for use with longitudinal triangular or trapezoidal beds of comminuted refuse.    ADVANTAGE -   Two milling cylinders give more even loading of the conveyor than prior appts.. with only one cylinder.
Cellulose, newspapers, rubber, glass or synthetics in waste materials are cleaned by (a) providing a washer with a basket which is perforated so that water flows through and the material is retained in the basket, (b) charging the basket with the materials, water, alkali and a surfactant, (c) agitating the basket so that the material moves back and forth and is freed from impurities, and (d) allowing the water, alkali, surfactant and impurities to pass through the perforations, retaining the material in the basket.    A system of two washing machines, such as used for washing textiles is claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Material can be recycled from used prods. e.g. disposable nappies, soiled cellulose and newsprint and old tyres. Organic waste, e.g. from kitchens or gardens, can be composted.
In a new procedure for composting organic materials, the material is placed in an aerated composting container and broken down by microbial action. The novel feature is that after intensive composting, the material is chopped and returned to the container for further composting. Also claimed is a procedure in which the material is moistened after a first period of composting before being once more composted in an aerated container.    USE -   Especially for composting waste materials, household refuse etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The compost produced is of high quality and does not need to undergo a post-composting process, which normally requires the compost to be spread on a suitable surface. The space required for the composting process is therefore greatly reduced.
The inoculum is produced by fermentation with a bacterial culture in a prepd. nutrient medium. The continuous supply of nutrient medium to the fermenter is controlled by the activity of the bacteria, the bacterial culture is maintained in logarithmic growth phase, and the fermentation off-gas is recycled to the nutrient medium prepn. (step) to control the anaerobic conditions.    Also claimed is appts. for carrying out the above process.    ADVANTAGE -   The process permits continuous on-site prodn. of an inoculum of constant quality.
Prodn. of livestock feed from potato waste comprises: (a) comminuting the potato waste to form particles; (b) heating the particles; (c) adding a starch-hydrolysing enzyme (I) after cooling the particles to a temp. below that at which (I) is inactivated; (d) adding a fermenting yeast (II) after cooling the particles to a temp. below that at which (II) is inactivated; (e) dividing the mixt. into two portions, and adding a second fermenting yeast (III) to one portion and adding Saccharomycopsis fibuliyer to the other portion; (f) growing the yeasts in the two portions; (g) combining the two portions and growing the yeasts in the recombined batch; and (h) drying the recombined batch. Also claimed is the prod. of the above process.    The particles have no dimension greater than 1/16 inch. The temp. in stap (b) is at least 100 deg.C. (I) is an amyloglucosidase and is added in an amt. of 0.25 wt.% after cooling to 55-60 deg.C. (I) is maintained in contact with the particles for 1-2 hr. before step (d). (II) is Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is added after cooling to 25-30 deg.C. (III) is Candida utilis. Step (f) is conducted for 2 hr., and step (g) for at least 48 hr.. The prod. is shaped into pellets.    ADVANTAGE -   The process converts potato waste with a low food value into a nutritious livestock feed with a high protein content and a low carbohydrate content.
The composite film is separated into various layers by a process of mechanical attrition in aq. medium, using a hydro-cyclone or similar equipment. The carbon/nitrogen ratio in the cellulose is reduced by treatment in an aq. medium, in a soln. contg. nitrogen and/or phosphorus. The cellulose fibres may also be inoculated with fungi and/or bacteria which promote composting.    USE -   Prodn. of humus and/or organic compost from packaging film.
Reforming device includes concentric reforming pipe having concentric double-wall structure of inner and outer tubes in reforming vessel, heating chamber in central portion of reforming vessel. High temp. gas flow path is formed in heating chamber, used gas discharge path is formed in heating chamber, and heat-conductive filler layer is formed between discharge path and reforming pipe. Catalyst layer inner pipe with concentric double-wall structure is arranged inside reforming pipe, and catalyst-filled layer is formed between catalyst layer inner pipe and reforming pipe. Cylindrical partition is arranged inside catalyst layer inner pipe to form return path for passing produced gas on inner and outer peripheral sides of partition. High temp. exhaust gas having passed heat-conductive layer is discharged through exhaust path, and raw gas is passed through catalyst-filled layer between inner tube of reforming pipe and inner tube of catalyst layer. When raw gas is passed through catalyst-filled layer between outer pipe of reforming pipe and inner pipe of catalyst layer, raw gas is reformed. After reformed prod. gas is entirely passed through return path, it is extracted outside reforming vessel.    ADVANTAGE -   Heat efficiency is improved.
Isomerisation catalyst for hydrocarbon comprises: (a) a catalyst formed by supporting a cpd. contg. sulphuric acid radical or precursor of sulphuric acid radical on the oxide or the hydroxide of zirconium and/or titanium; and (b) a catalyst formed by supporting a periodic gp. VIII metal on porous substance.    The cpd. pref. comprises: sulphuric acid, ammonium sulphate, zirconium sulphate, oxyzirconium sulphate, titanium sulphate, oxytitanium sulphate, sulphonic acids, sulphonates, amine sulphates, thiophenes, mercaptans, or sulphides. Sulphuric acid, or the ammonium sulphate is pref..    The porous material comprises: silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, or hydrate; or zeolite, activated carbon or carbon black. The periodic gp. VIII metal pref. comprises: iron, nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, or osmium. Platinum or the palladium is pref..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The isomerisation catalyst is used for hydrocarbon. The isomerisation catalyst has superior activity even at low temps. for isomerising 4-6C paraffin-based hydrocarbons. The isomerisation catalyst is used for isomerisation reaction, to obtain high octane value gasoline having no environmental problems.
The device elimiantes odours by using micro-organisms. It has a filling material contg. calcium carbonate and/or magnesium carbonate in a deodorising tower.    The aggregate size of the filling mateiral is 1-50 mm. The contact time of odours with the filling material is pref. 5-30 min.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is used for deodorisation in a sewage or night soil treatment plant. The carbonate controls a fall of pH and a rise of sulphate ion concn. without a special arrangement, and a stable and efficient deodorisation can be maintained for a long period.
A vegetable growing method, where vegetable seeds are planted in and budded from an upper layer of vegetable growing culture medium. The upper layer comprises an organic culture medium mainly organic fertiliser, made from a culture medium used for growing mushrooms and a lower layer comprises a fertiliser layer or a soil wherein a fertiliser is mixed. The roots of the seeds are extended through the upper layer into the lower layer so that the fertiliser in the fertiliser layer or the soil is absorbed by the vegetable to grow the vegetable. The organic culture medium can also comprise: (1) saw-dust and rice bran; (2) powder or granular corn cob and rice bran; (3) bean-curd refuse, powder or granular corn cob and residues of rice, barley and potatoes left after alcohol brewing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Just by supplying water and without applying any fertiliser, the vegetables can be grown well, without causing nutrition deficiency nor hypernutrition. Previously, bean-curd waste, corn cob, and residue of rice, barley and potatoes left after alcohol brewing, have been discarded after a complicated and expensive treatment, but here, the effective utilisation process of such waste is provided.
An organic culture medium is almost completely made into organic fertiliser by putrefaction and fermentation of bean-curd waste, powder or granular corn cob, and residue of rice, barley and potatoes left after alcohol brewing.    Vegetable seeds are planted in the organic medium for growing vegetables, then water is supplied to the organic medium so that the vegetables are budded and grown.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Just by supplying water and without applying any fertiliser, the vegetables are grown well, without causing nutrition deficiency nor hypernutrition. Previously, the bean-curd waste, corn cob and residues of rice, barley and potatoes left after alcohol brewing, have been discarded after a complicated and expensive treatment, but here, the effective utilisation process of such waste is provided.
An organic culture medium is almost completely made into organic fertiliser by putrefraction and fermentation of a culture medium used for growing mushroom. The culture medium mainly comprises (1) saw-dust and rice bran or (2) powder or granular corn cob and rice bran.    Vegetable seeds are planted in the organic medium, then water is supplied to the organic medium so that the vegetables are budded and grown.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Just by supplying water and without applying any fertiliser, the vegetables are grown well, without causing nutrition deficiency nor hypernutrition. Previously, the medium used for growing mushroom was discarded after a complicated and expensive treatment, but here, the effective utilisation process of such waste is provided.
The mixer, incorporating a compressor connected to a perforated pipe in the bottom of the tank and used for filling, emptying and mixing purposes, has the pipe (9) between the compressor and perforated pipe equipped with two valves (14,12), the first of which prevents air from passing through the main safety unit (8), while the other (12) prevents it from being sucked back through the filling pipe (9). The seal between the valve (14) and its seat (15) is not total, so that a small amount of air can pass through the main safety unit.    Improved performance, obviating need to purge safety systems between fillings.
Non-flammable azeotrope or azeotrope like compsn. comprises: at least one fluorine contg. molecule selected from HFC-134a, HFC-134, HFC-23, HFC-236 ea and HFC-236 fa; and 0-6 wt.% of at least one hydrocarbon; at a temp. and pressure sufficient to cause formation of the compsn. The atmospheric pressure b.pt. of the fluorine contg. molecule and the hydrocarbon differ by at least 37 deg.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. may be used as refrigerants (claimed), cleaning agents, expansion agents, for polyolefins, and polyurethanes, aerosol propellants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids, polymerisation media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents, and displacement drying agents. The formation of an azeotropic or azeotrope like compsn. can lower or eliminate the flammability of mixts. contg. a hydrocarbon and a fluorinated molecule. The heat transfer coefft. of refrigerants such as hydrofluorocarbons or hydrochlorofluorocarbons is increased by 10-50% in heat transfer equipment having enhanced substances by addn. of a small amt. of a hydrocarbon.
Continuous composting appts. has an enclosed tunnel with inlet and outlet ends. A conveyor track runs through the tunnel and a series of conveyor trays may be shunted through the appts. The trays contain material to be composted which is agitated and aerated during its progress through the tunnel. The trays are shunted by means of a ram, the stroke of which is set to a chosen shunting increment for the conveyor trays.    The trays (24) are shunted through the tunnel on the conveyor tracks. Material for composting is added from the conveyor (15) through sliding door (17) to a suitable depth in tray (24a). The tray is then stepped forwards by means of a ram (26) which has a stroke sufficient to allow for the next tray (24b). Ram (26) is then withdrawn and tray (24b) is inserted between the ram and tray (24a). The number of trays and the length of the tunnel are such that composting is complete when a tray (24) reaches end (18) of the tunnel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the continuous composting of waste material. The invention provides an improved composting appts. which allows proper aeration during the composting process, avoids compaction of the composting material and inhibits the unpleasant smells normally associated with composting.
Method for improving the performance of anaerobic solids digesters comprises adding at least one chelating agent (I) to a solid substrate (i.e. the digester sludge) to solubilise solid nutrients and thus enhance bacterial growth. Pref (I) is 1,2-cyclohexanediamine- N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (Ia) and is added together with a nutrient comprising FeSO4.    ADVANTAGE -   Methane prodn. can be increased or smaller digesters can be used to achieve the same methane prodn. Faster start-up, greater stability and more rapid recovery from upsets should also result.
The compsn., based on association of methane tank bacteria, including sulphate-reducing bacteria, additionally contains 0.5-5.0% aq. soln. of methanol in microbiologically purified aq. effluent, or methanol effluents contg. 0.5-5.0% methanol, to increase rock-dissolving and hydrocarbons-displacing capability. The components are taken at ratio (in vol.%): association of methane tank bacteria, including sulphate-reducing bacteria (0.1-0.5), aq. 0.5-5.0% soln. of methanol in microbiologically purified aq. effluents, or methanol effluents contg. 0.5-5.0% methanol (99.5-99.9). The compsn. is prepd. by introduction of gypsum, in amt. 50-200 g/cc, and methane tank bacteria, into methanol soln. in biologically purified aq. effluents, or into methanol effluents as described above, and leaving obtd. mixt. to stand for at least one day.    Sulphate-reducing bacteria present in methane-tank bacteria enter microbiological inter-reaction with carbonate sulphatised productive strata, with generation of hydrogen sulphide, causing increase of stratal pressure and displacing of hydrocarbons-contg. material to extn. wells. Microbiologically purified effluents, contg. methanol, or methanol-contg. industrial effluents act as culture medium for associations of methane tank bacteria and also as medium transporting bacteria into stratum, while gypsum provides also culture medium for sulphate-reducing bacteria. The coeffts. of displacement of oil is increased up to 69.7% and time of extn. reduced to 8.1 hrs. compared to 21.8% and 22.7 hrs in the known method.    USE -   In oil and gas extn. industry, as compsn. for treatment of carbonate productive strata.    ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. has increased rock-dissolving and hydrocarbons-displacing capability.
Organic waste to be composed is placed in a layer inside a tunnel (6) with a floor (2) providing air passage. At specified times, the waste is stirred up throughout its vol. while water is added simultaneously.    An arrangement to carry out the process described above contains at least one stirring arm (14) supported on a truck (8) that can move the length of the tunnel. The arms have a reach corresp. to the cross-section of the waste layer and means for supplying water to the waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The aerobic or anaerobic compositing of organic and household waste. Compost is produced with a controlled end prod. quality without diseases or bacteria present. Excessive drying is eliminated by maintaining a controlled humidity level and temp.
A fermentation and drying device, an upper tank (1) having a stirring device (18) to receive wet vegetable or animal waste and a first heating device (24) to maintain at a proper temperature for fermentation; and a lower tank (2) arranged below the upper tank (1) and having a stirring device (38) to receive the material which has been fermented in the upper tank (1) and stir it and a second heating device (44) to maintain at a proper temp. for drying.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to treat wet vegetable and animal waste for use as an organic soil conditioner. Since the upper tank for fermentation and the lower tank for drying are separately provided, the upper tank can maintain the most suited conditions for fermentation, and the lower tank can maintain the most suited conditions for drying. Therefore, by controlling each tank at the desired conditions, the fermentation and the drying can be performed efficiently, and the generation of malodours can be prevented. It is possible to treat the wet waste in a shorter time by using less energy consumption. Since the lower tank is arranged below the upper tank, the material treated in the upper tank can be conveyed to the lower tank by the gravity-drop of the material. Therefore, no special conveying device is needed, resulting in a redn. in equipment cost and running cost.
Producing organic fertiliser, by using coffee beans hulls as the raw material, comprises (1) preparing granular bean hulls abandoned after parching, grinding and immersing coffee bean e.g., Arabica L., Robusta Linden, Liberica Bull, etc.; (2) spraying dispersion, prepd. by adding carbohydrase, small amt. of protease, other hydrolase and fermentation promoter for water, uniformly to the bean hulls; (3) accumulating the bean hulls to ferment; (4) mixing them after 70-80 hrs. to mature; and (5) cooling, drying and adjusting the moisture.    Pref., amt. of hydrolase to be used is 0.05-2.0 wt. %. Fermentation promoter is, e.g., cholane, sanasmell T (sic.), arzeron (sic.), aures C (sic.), thomas fungi, etc., and is used in an amt. of 0.01-0.8 wt. %.    In an example, Ethiopian Blue Mountain coffee beans were parched, ground and immersed, and granular bean hulls (10 kg) were prepd. To this were added water (10 kg), amylase (150 g), cholane (20 g) and pepsin (30 g). The obtd. dispersion was sprayed onto bean hulls uniformly. The accumulated bean hulls were fermented for 3 days. Internal temp. of accumulated material was 70 deg. C. Accumulated material was then mixed, allowed to mature, dried and moisture-adjusted to give the organic fertiliser.
Catalyst comprises: (C1) carrier of composite oxides of zirconium and titanium and (C2) metal or oxide of gp. Ib-, Va-, VIa-, VIIa-, VIII; (C3) oxide of rare earth metal, and (C4) zirconium oxide. (C2), (C3) and (C4) are supported onto the carrier. Carrier is pref. honeycomb mould. Carrier can be heat resistant honeycomb mould of crystalline composite oxides of cordierite, mullite, etc.; or MgO, Al2O3, TiO2 etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst is used for burning hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, etc., partic. for burning methane in high efficiency at low temp. and high ratio of vol. of gas flow to catalyst. also has high heat resistance even at over 1000 deg.C.
The appts. to compost green waste has an independent mobile tub, which can be fitted to a skip truck, fitted with a physical or mechanical system to mix the contents of the tub (X).    Also claimed is a process using a tub, or series of tubs, which can be moved and are independent except for electricity and water. A ventilation system, sprinkler and control are integrated in the tub, which contains an aerobic fermentation medium. A ventilation system is triggered while the mean air temp. in the tub is more than a variable threshold value, according to the nature of the waste material.    USE -   The system is for compositing green waste.    ADVANTAGE -   The compositing process is easily controlled in tubs which can be moved by skip trucks.
H2S, mercaptans and volatile organo-N cpds. are eliminated in 3 stages: (a) conversion of mercaptans into disulphides, and H2S into sulphides, in presence of air and specific catalysts for this oxidn.; (b) catalytic combustion of the volatile organic cpds. entrained in the air, including NH3 and some light amines, in 30-70% (50-65%) of the current, and (c) catalytic redn. of the oxides of N by NH3 and the reducing amines in the part of the current not subjected to combustion.    USE -   Appln. is esp. to fermenting organic matter, partic. liq. pig manure, poultry manure or other animal excreta, or to waste water.
Composting of crushed organic waste material such as garden and woodland refuse, raw or cooked food comprises (a) humidification by immersion in aq liq for 2-10 hours, (b) aerobic pre-composting in a digester for 2-6 days at 65-80 C, (c) aerobic maturation in maturation chamber for 8-20 days at 25-40 C.    ADVANTAGE -   Continuous automatic process. Compact odour free installation.
A domestic and garden waste composter has two or more pivotable screens (2,3) and one or more interposed partition plates (4) arranged in a housing (1) which can be set in two or more end positions on two or more standing faces (A,B) so that the housing forms two or more alternatively loadable holding chambers (20,21)    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Aerobic rotting conditions are easily achieved without expensive overturning and control measures and the composter is easy to handle during loading and unloading.    Loading of the holding chambers (20,21) is carried out cyclically such that (i) at the beginning of the first composting cycle the holding chambers are successively filled while the housing is set on its first standing face (A); (ii) the housing is tilted onto its second standing face (B) after expiry of the compositing time of material in the first chamber so that the first chamber can be emptied; (iii) the first chamber is closed by the screen fixed to the housing and is filled; (iv) the housing is tilted onto its first standing face (A) after expiry of the composting time of material in the second chamber, and after detaching the corresponding screen, the second chamber is emptied; and (v) after re-attaching the screen the second chamber is ready for reloading.
Catalytic prepn. of low mol gas mixt. free from pollutants involves reaction of organic pollutants and wastes of differing compsn. and origin with steam, at 600-1000 deg.C. in presence of a Ca aluminate catalyst contg. 20-99.9 wt.% of CaO and 80-0.1% of Al2O3, at a ratio of hydrocarbon:water of 110-5-4, to give low mol olefins, water, CH4 and CO as main components.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The pollutants and waste are rapidly converted to chemical raw materials or fuel gas, in a flexible, environment-friendly process, on a single catalyst. The catalyst is stable at up to 1400 deg.C, is stable against steam, is not affected by heteroatoms, esp. S, and has long life. Waste prods. can be recycled into the materials and energy cycle. Re-formation of dioxins and furans is prevented.
An insect repellent contains Bacillus subtilis S-1.    Bacillus subtilis S-1 (FERM-P 13347) is aerobically cultured in an agar medium contg. 0.5-1.0 wt.% of meat extract and peptone at 20-40 deg.C, pH 5.5-8.0 and the cultured mixt. is adsorbed in mineral powder to give the repellent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Insect pest repellent during compost prodn. against flies, mites, ants and cockroaches and their larvae.    In an example, kitchen waste and the repellent were placed in a cylindrical container of 15 cm. da. and allowed to stand for 30 min. The waste attracted 0.5 (sic) fly, while control gp. without the repellent attracted 4.25 (sic) flies.
Process comprises (a) crushing garbage; (b) mixing the garbage with a dry compost contg. live bacteria; (c) forming the mixt. into granule-, cord- or net-like form; (d) coating the moulded product with a dry compost (pref. having a water content of 20 wt.% or less); (e) piling up the moulded product coated with the dry compost; and (f) fermenting and drying the piled product to obtain the compost (which is then pref. used for the steps (b) and (d)).    ADVANTAGE -   The garbage can be quickly and aerobically fermented with less energy, to obtain a matured dry compost.
A method of composting an organic sludge, comprises making a sludge of water content 60 - 75 % into small lumps having max diameter of 3 - 20 mm; putting in a fermenter having an air circulation device and a heating device so that the sludge is heated to 40 deg.C or higher to accelerate the start of the fermentation, then controlling the oxygen concn. in the fermenter to 5 - 20 % and the temperature to 55 - 65 deg.C to complete the fermentation; then drying to produce compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fermentation can be completed much quicker forming matured organic fertiliser in a few days.    In an example, sewage sludge having water content of 75 - 85 % was made into small lumps of around 10 mm. Product compost (1.0 part), and porous plastic balls (0.25 parts) were mixed with the small lumps (1.0 part) to control the total water content to 60 - 65 %, and the blend was put in a fermenter (shelved in a size of 1.5 m x about 40 cm). The initial ambient temperature in the fermenter was 45 deg.C, and after the blend temperature reached to 60 deg.C, the temperature of the blend was kept around 60 deg.C and the oxygen concn. in the fermenter was controlled to be about 5 %.
The process is carried out as follows: organic material is made paste-like by adjusting the moisture; the material is cut and kneaded under pressure so that the temperature is raised to such a degree to restrict the growth of the psychrophilic (including anaerobic) material, etc. existing in the material, and the material is fermented at the high temperature; after releasing the material from the pressurising condition, the material continues to ferment under aerobic conditions to obtain compost; and a part of the compost is returned to the material to be treated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to compost the faeces of domesticated animals such as fowl droppings, etc.. The fermentation using the thermophilic and methophilic aerobic bacterial which can grow at high temperatures is rapid, and anaerobic bacteria die or are restricted in growth. As a result, the generation of bad smell can be restricted. Returning a part of the compost material accelerates the process further. The cutting and kneading also gives a uniform compost material without uneven fermentation.
Appts. to remove foreign matter from laver mixed water comprises a water spray unit to spray water from a first sepn. chamber having a laver mixed water inlet port to a second sepn. chamber having a laver mixed water outlet port.    USE -   For making dry sheets of laver.
Acidifying manure, in partic. slurry, is effected by acidification using acid-producing bacteria. The NH3 present in the manure is fixed in the manure and the carbonates present in the manure are discharged in the form of CO2 gas.    Day fresh manure is pref. treated with lactic acid-producing bacteria, pref. Lactobacillus plantarum. The pH of the manure decreases to between 4.5 and 6.2 and is maintained in this range. The process is carried out in a 'fed batch' system. Substrates, e.g. sugars, partic. glucose, for acid-producing bacteria are added to the manure. Alternatively, macromolecular substrates are added, together with microorganisms or enzymes capable of breaking down macromolecular substrates into substrates for the acid-producing bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is useful in the prepn. of dry manure from slurry. Acidification of the manure prevents NH3 generated being emitted into the atmosphere in the form of gas. The emission of NH3 must be prevented, not only from the point of view of environmental protection, but also to ensure the highest possible quality of the dry manure to be formed from the slurry. The process eliminates the need for a strong acid to be used for acidification of the slurry. Strong acids are a health hazard, corrosive and cause strong, hard to control foam formation when CO2 is released from the slurry.
A pressurised aerosol, paint prod. comprises: (a) a container; (b) a compsn. of a non-aq dispersion of addn. polymer is in an alkyd medium; and (c) a propellant. (a) consists of a can, a valve cup, a dip tube and a actuator.    (a) further contains a valve cup having a vapour tap of dia. 0.008 in. The dip tube has a dia. of 0.147 in. The non-aq. dispersion comprises the reaction prod. of two or more monomers polymerised in the presence of alkyd by free radical addn. mechanism.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The aerosols are partic. useful in interior and exterior applications in architectural, industrial maintenance, hardware and general purpose aerosols, and in the auto touch-up paint and coatings industries. The aerosol has a volatile organic content (VOC) of less than 65% good in-can stability and better performance properties than aq-based compsns. The non-aq. dispersions have low viscosity (less than 7,000 cps) enabling the prod. to be sprayed acceptably, and are stable, non-gritty, filterable, and have improved air dry times.
Kitchen garbage disposal system has a process vessel (1) installed outdoors with an indoor garbage disposal port (20) located indoors and connected by a passage (19) to the vessel. The vessel contains a medium (2) and a mixing device for mixing the medium with the garbage.    The port may be mounted in a window frame (71,72) or in an exterior wall. Pref. a garbage grinder is located between the port and the vessel. The system may be associated with an outdoor trash bin for non-decomposable material which is connected to a separate indoor trash disposal port.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Kitchen garbage disposal system. System is easy to operate and decompose of garbage in a short period of time.
(A) Biodegrading trichloroethylene (I) comprises bringing aq. medium contg. (I) into contact with microorganisms (having ability to degrade (I)) from intestines of termites. Also claimed are (B) obtaining microorganisms which have ability to degrade (I), by culturing microorganisms sepd. from bodies of termites in culture medium; (C) remediating soil by bringing (I) in soil into contact with above microorganisms; and (D) degrading chlorinated organic cpd. by contacting microorganisms (whose degrading activity can be induced with the aid of an inducer) with chlorinated cpd. in presence of inducer.    Termites are Nasuititermes takasagoensis. The microorganisms are Pseudomonas cepacia, esp. strain KK01 (FERM BP-4235).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for purificn. of sewage or waste water contg. (I) and for remediating soil contg. (I) (or other chlorinated organic cpds.).
A system for the disposal of liquid manure such as arises from ruminants, monogastrics and poultry consists of 2-3 separated substance mixts. (A), (B) and (C), such that (A) is a finely divided feedstuff premix which is added to the feedstuff to neutralise poisonous and gaseous substances in the intestines of the animals and to alter the raw materials and main components of the manure, (B) is a granulated rotting initiator to start the rotting of the excrement from the animals thus improving the climate and hygiene in the animal stalls, and (C) is solid rotting stones for post rotting and stabilising the flowability of the liq. manure in a fertiliser pit from which liq. natural fertiliser can be removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system can be used to dispose of liquid manure from ruminants, monogastrics and poultry and turn it into fertiliser. The system ensures that the liquid manure can be applied to fields in the aq. phase in an environmentally friendly manner. The appts. required is simplified, as are the techniques of work up and application to the fields. (A) stabilises the N-balance and promotes better uptake of feedstuff, and prolongs passage through the intestine, improving the consistency of the faeces as a result of increased absorption of water. It also protects cattle and pigs against diarrhoea and essentially solves the problem of greasy eggs in laying hens. (B) increases the rate of decomposition of the components in the stall and reduces the emission of odours by binding substances such as ammonia and methane.
The assembly to give an intense aerobic decomposition to waste matter, has rotting bed containers (9) which rotate round their longitudinal axes on a frame mounting (10) through a rotary drive, during filling as well as in operation. The start material is transferred (8) to the containers, to be filled by gravimetric progression. The containers (9) are emptied by reverse rotation. The containers (9) are rotated in alternate directions, to homogenise the contents and accelerate the rotting action.    Agitators and mixers are at the inner surfaces of the rotating containers (9), to move the contents forwards and back on rotation for filling and emptying together with mixing. The spiral or angled mixer sections have openings near the filler to allow air to carry oxygen into the interior, from an air feed (11), to flow through the container contents. Ring and/or longitudinal channels at the containers (9) carry the feed and exhaust air and condensation, and they can be blanked off partially. The containers (9) have outlets for the exhaust channel (12) and outflows for condensation. Each container (9) is thermally insulated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly is for producing compost from vegetable waste, sludge, earth and the like, in a system supported by EDP, in a closed circuit, with min. emissions. The composting times are reduced, with fewer containers, which remain on site.
The compsn. comprises (a) a plasticised polyolefin resin and (b) a blowing agent comprising CO2 and a hydrocarbon from n-butane, isobutane, propane and mixts. of these.    Also claimed is a process for the prodn. of an extruded low density foam polyolefin prod. comprising (a) mixing the CO2 and hydrocarbon blowing agent with the plasticised polyolefin, and (b) extruding the compsn.    The polyolefin is pref. a plasticised PE resin blended with the following in amts. per 100 kg. of resin: 0.5-5 (1) kg. of glycerol monostearate ageing modifier, 0.05-5 (0.1) kg. of zinc oxide nucleating agent, and 1-20 (10) kg. of a mixt. of 25-75 wt.% of CO2 and 25-75 wt.% of hydrocarbon. The blowing agent is pref. mixed over 1-3 min. with the blend of the PE resin, nucleating agent and ageing modifier at 20-100 deg.C above the normal m.pt. of the resin in the melting zone of an extruder, and extruded at 85-100 deg.C to give a stable foam with a density of 20-40 kg/m3 after 7 deg.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to mfr. polyethylene foams of density 20-40 kg/m3. The process produces dimensionally stable low density foams with a superior surface texture without the use of CFC and HCFC blowing agents.
The method comprises treating the initial suspension of active sludge by membrane electrolysis, in the positive electrode chamber, followed by sepn. into conc. prod. and clarified liq. To improve the degree of concn., the treatment of the active sludge suspension is conducted at pH 1-4 and with an electric current density of 1-30 mA/sq.cm, for 0.5-2.0 hrs.. The prod. is satd with air under pressure, and the suspension is sepd. into the conc. prod. and clarified liq. by flotation.    USE -   The method can be used in the food, meat processing and other industries, for the concentration-dehydration of excess active sludge. It may also be used in the prodn. of protein, fodder additives and biologically active substances.    ADVANTAGE -   The method increases the degree of dehydration of the active sludge.
A wet refuse treating device comprises a hollow cylinder provided with a wet refuse feed port and a heat conductor extending outwards from the hollow cylinder. The tip of the heat conductor is immersed in the waste water pipe from a bathtub.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to ferment wet refuse produced in the kitchen of restaurant, hotel, hospital, etc. and compost it. In the winter or in a cold region, the heat of the waste water makes the bacteria active enough to decompose the refuse.    In an example, a hollow cylinder (2) of plastics provided with a wet refuse feed port (1) is installed on the ground outdoors, and a metallic heat conductor (5) is secured to the bottom of the hollow cylinder (2). The tip of the heat conductor (5) extends outward from the hollow cylinder (2). The feed port (1) is normally closed with a lid (3). The exhaust water pipe (7) from the bathtub (6) is embedded in the ground, and its tip is connected with a sewer pipe (8). The tip of the heat conductor (5) penetrates in the exhaust water pipe (7) on the way.
A new separator (20), especially for oil-water mixtures, consists of a sludge sedimentation tank, a light liquid separator and a coalescence separator, and has the novel feature that the sludge sedimentation tank (1) is seeded with bacteria or microbes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In particular for separating oil or oil sludge from waste water. The separated substances are almost completely disposed of at the treatment site.
Usable substances are recovered from a composite comprising an Al layer and a polyolefin layer, by charging the composite into a reaction chamber and carbonising at a temp. below the m.pt. of the Al. The residue is sepd. into Al and other residues, and the carbonisation gas is used to supply energy to a furnace.    (Part of) the carbonisation gas is pref. used to maintain the carbonisation temp. The raw material is pref. comminuted, followed by removal of any cellulose present, is opt. pre-dried, and is fed (dis)continuously, uncompressed, to an oven contg. the reaction chamber. The temp. is pref. raised, in the direction of movement of the charge, from an initial temp. to the required temp., and the gas formed is withdrawn, with residue being withdrawn and cooled.    USE -   The composite may also contain cellulose, e.g. in the form of drinks cartons, and the carbonisation gas can be used to supply energy for recovery and processing of the cellulose.
Compost bin (1) for making organic liq. fertiliser, is provided with a bottom tap (5), and holds compost in a mesh strainer bucket (2) which is smaller than the bin (1). Pref. the tap (5) has a strainer (6).    Pref. a lid (7) clamps the strainer bucket rim (3) and is provided with clips (4), and within the bucket centre is a paddle (10, 11) operable by an external handle (9) above the lid (7) which has aeration holes. Pref. the bin material is heavy moulded plastic.    USE -   Used for recycling garden waste or other organic materials.
Removal of dimethyl ether (I), methyl, tert.-butyl ether (II), tert.-butyl alcohol (III), MeOH (IV) or mixts. of these from a 4C hydrocarbon stream is effected by (a) feeding a normal 4C hydrocarbon stream contg. minor amts. of (I)-(IV) to a distn. column reactor; and (b) simultaneously in the reactor (i) contacting (II) and (III) with a dissociation catalyst in the form of a catalytic distn. structure to decompose at least a portion to form isobutene, MeOH and water; and (ii) fractionating the feed stream and decompsn. prod. in the column to provide an overhead vapour fraction contg. hydrocarbons and all of (I) and MeOH and a liq. bottoms fraction contg. substantially less (I)-(IV) than the feed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used to remove oxygenates from a raffinate stream (washed to remove gross amts. of MeOH and (I)) from methyl-tert.-butyl ether processes or in other processes which will leave (I)-(IV) as impurities at 5 wt.% or less. The minor amts. of (II) and (III) present in the feed are converted during distn. to the original components for mfr. of (II), leaving none in either the overheads or bottoms. The bottoms from the distn. column (contg. the majority of the hydrocarbons) are free of MeOH and (I) and may be recovered for further use.
The method includes the first anaerobic fermentation of the effluent, separating the effluent into liq. and solid fractions with subsequent second stage anaerobic fermentation of the liq. fraction forming fermented suspension biomass, and joining the biogases formed during the first and second stages. The biogas formed during fermentation is cleaned from ammonia by its passage through ammonia water soln. and separating into methane and carbon dioxide gases. The solid fraction after the first stage is hydrolysed and sepd. into liq. and solid fractions. The hydrolysis liq. fraction is supplied for yeast growing. The suspension biomass obtd. after stage two is sepd. into liq. fraction and silt sediment. The ammonia is removed from the liq. phase by blowing through with obtd. methane. An aerobic fermentation is carried out forming a mixt. contg. liq. fraction and silt sediment. The liq. phase, carbon dioxide gas and ammonia water, formed during biogas cleaning, are supplied for micro seaweed growing. The seaweed suspension formed is sepd. into green biomass used as food supplement, and clean water. The yeast suspension formed during yeast growing is joined with the solid fraction formed during hydrolysis, silt sediment after second stage, anaerobic and aerobic fermentation and the mixt. obtd. is plasma treated and used as food supplement.    USE -   The method is used for protein animal food biosynthesis using untraditional raw materials.    ADVANTAGE -   The environmental pollution is reduced, effluent cleaning efficiency and yield are increased.
Methane is converted into C2 hydrocarbons with greater selectivity w.r.t. ethylene using highly stable catalysts.    USE -   The method is used to produce ethane and ethylene from methane.    ADVANTAGE -   The method gives up to 52% methane conversion with an increased yield of ethylene of 13-15 mol.% and the catalyst used is highly stable.
Fermented compost (A) of organic fertilisers, is mfd. by adding squashy pebbles, turfs, swelled rice hulls and an additive to beancurd dregs obtd. in the prodn. of beancurd; inoculating Bacillus Brevis AS91B to mixt; and cultivating at 25-30 deg.C for 25-35 days.    The liquor fertiliser (B) of the organic fertilisers is mfd. by adding 0.01-0.1 % saccharines to the beancurd liquors; inoculating the Bacillus to the mixt. and cultivating it at 25-35 deg.C for 4-5 days.    USE -   Organic fertiliser is used for vegetable culture.
In the process, raw hydrocarbon is desulphurised, preheated with steam and reformed on a reforming catalyst through low-temp. steam reforming to obtain a methane-rich reformed gas, from which CO2 is removed to obtain city gas. The desulphurisation is carried out by contacting the hydrocarbon with a catalyst contg. copper oxide, opt. after preliminary desulphurisation with zinc oxide catalyst, without addn. of a H2-contg. gas.    Pref. the removal of CO2 is carried out by treating the reformed gas in a membrane separator composed of an organic high molecular hollow thread membrane, selectively permeable to carbon dioxide to obtain the impermeable, methane-rich gas portion as a prod. gas for city gas and the permeable gas portion rich in H2 and CO2 as a fuel gas.    The CuO contg. catalyst pref. has a CuO content of 30-60%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Requiring no recycle gas for hydrogenation desulphurisation, the method achieves a significant redn. of equipment costs and simplification of equipment. The membrane separator is easy to operate with much reduced labour. The method is easily feasible in factories of middle to small cities.
Wet slurry is fed into a longitudinal cylindrical container formed of a porous material, where the wet slurry is filtered and concentrated; and, by introducing a dry gas around the porous container, the slurry is further concentrated and dried.    The longitudinal cylindrical container of a porous material is housed in a closed container to form a composting device. The closed container has a wet slurry inlet port at the top, a product compost outlet port at the bottom, a gas inlet and exhaust water outlet port at the lower part, and a gas outlet at the upper part. The wet slurry fed from the sludge feed port is dropped in the porous container, where it is dewatered due to gravity and capillary action.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to compost wet sludge. Dewatering device and dryer are not necessary.
Binderless CaA-type zeolite moulded body has Ca ion exchange rate of at least 40% and under 70%, and crystal content of at least 90%. The moulded body is produced by ion exchanging binderless NaA-type moulded body of crystal content at least 90%, for Ca ion of 0.25 - 1.0 mole to 100 g NaA-type zeolite in the NaX-type moulded body.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The CaA-type zeolite has excellent adsorption property and mechanical strength. It is used for selective adsorption sepn. of n-paraffin from hydrocarbon mixt., sepn. of n-butylene from butane-butylene fraction, sepn. concn. of oxygen from the mixed gas of oxygen and nitrogen.    In an example, binderless NaA-type zeolite moulded body of 98% crystal content was hydrated and degasified. It was ion exchanged for Ca chloride soln. contg. 0.35 mole Ca ion, at 60 deg.C, for 3 hours. After cleaning, it was dried at 120 deg.C and burned at 400 deg.C for 1 hour. The ion exchange rate of the zeolite moulded body was 51%.
An exhaust gas contg. nitrogen oxides and an stoichiometrically excess amt. of oxygen to react with unburnt fuel, is mixed with hydrocarbon from at least one of liquefied petroleum gas, town gas, and/or liquefied natural gas, is treated with the catalyst made of porous inorganic oxide (A) carrying silver or silver cpds. at 350-650 deg.C.    (A) in (1) is the composite oxide of alumina series. Concn. of silver or silver cpds. in (1) is 0.5-15 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for decomposing nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas contg. excess oxygen. Conventional methods using catalyst made from zeolite and transition metal such as JP-63-100919 is highly efficient for exhaust gas contg. no water vapour, but for the exhaust gas contg. water vapour it is not effective. This method is able to remove nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas efficiently, which contg. excess oxygen and water vapour up to 10 %.    In an example, 10 gm of gamma-alumina pellets (dia. = 3 mm, length = 6 mm, specific surface area = 200 m2/gm) was impregnated with an aqueous soln. contg. silver nitrate then dried at 70 deg.C and heated at (150, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600) deg.C for 2 hrs. and a catalyst contg. 5 wt.% of silver obtd. A gas contg. (800 ppm of nitrogen monoxide, 10% of oxygen, 1700 ppm of LPG, and the residual amt. of nitrogen gas) was made to flow through a reaction tube holding 7.2 gm of the catalyst at the rate of 4.4 litre/min. (= standard condition, contact time = 0.1 gm*sec/ml, space velocity = 15,000 h=1) at 200-600 deg.C. More than 80% of the nitrogen monoxide had been removed from the exhaust gas.
A part of fuel which has been extracted from fuel line, is introduced into a press. swing absorber where hydrocarbon is isolated, and into which is injected exhaust gas. The mixt. is treated with a tri-functional catalyst or with a nitrogen oxide removing catalyst made of zeolite and metal oxides.    A fluid bed catalyst layer utilising the power of engine is used as the catalyst.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engine or lean burn gasoline engine. Conventional tri-functional catalysts have been inefficient for removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engine or lean burn gasoline engine which contg. excess oxygen, besides precise control of oxygen concn. of the exhaust gas has been necessary to hold its activity high. Remove nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engine or lean burn gasoline engine with high efficiency without controlling the oxygen concn. of the exhaust gas, besides able to remove particulates in the exhaust gas of diesel engine using fluid bed catalyst.    In an example (2) is a lean burn engine driving by a fuel (supplied by a fuel pipe=1) comprising methane, propane, and butane, (3) is an exhaust pipe, (4) is a catalytic chamber equipped with a fluid catalytic bed, and (8) is a press. swing absorber. A part of fuel is extracted from the fuel pipe and is sent to (PWA) via pipe (7), in which methane is isolated from propane and butane then sent back to fuel pipe via pipe (9) and propane and butane are injected into the exhaust gas via pipe (10). Tri-functional catalyst in (4) is activated with propane and butane.
Prodn. of organic and mineral-organic (mixed) fertiliser, comprises microbially composting raw material contg.: (a) up to 51 wt.% whole plants; and (b) sludge, which may be previously processed.    Pref. plants are grasses and cereals, partic. soft wheat, rye, oats, Triticum spp., maslin, etc. Legumes and/or straw may also be present. Pref. sludge conveniently contains poultry manure or nutrients derived from other organic waste or by-products. When the sludge used contains harmful biaryl ethers, opt. chlorinated biphenyls, phenols or aromatic acids, the microorganism is pref. a Pseudomonas or Sphingomonas bacterium or a Phanerochaetae, Paecilomyces, Trametes, Trichosporon or Candida fungus, which degrades these chemicals.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method produces fertiliser which is hygienic, standardised and has high nutrient value, esp. essential amts. of free, assimilable N2. The method is cheap to operate, requiring low prim. energy input, and can make use of dairy and similar industrial sludge which is otherwise expensive to depose of. Furthermore, fertiliser provides improved soil conditioning and better nutrient availability compared with conventional nitrogen fertilisers.
Appts., to convert kitchen and garden waste into compost, has a compost container (2) which swings on a horizontal axis (1) to mix the contents through.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is for the provision of fresh compost, within a few weeks, from kitchen and garden waste. The appts. eliminates the need for a compost heap, and the attendant problems of remixing and the emission of smell and liquid fertiliser.
Method comprises (a) inoculating a consortium of microorganisms into a medium contg. N-contg. phenol cpds.. The consortium is capable of utilising the N-contg. phenol cpds. as a sole carbon source; and (b) growing the microorganisms in the medium until a decrease in the concn. of the phenol cpds. and their break-down intermediates is achieved.    Also claimed is a biologically pure consortium of microorganisms capable of completely degrading the N-contg. phenol cpds..    Pref., the decrease in concn. of the N-contg. phenol cpds. or their break-down intermediates is 50-100%. The consortium of microorganisms are ATCC 55381 or ATCC 55382.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is useful for degrading picric acid and other N-substd. phenols. The phenols that can be degraded include ammonium picrate, picramic acid, 2,4-dinitrophenol, 2,5-dinitrophenol, 2-aminophenol, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, mononitrophenols, etc.. The method is esp. useful for the remediation of picric acid from contaminated environments. The microorganisms are able to use N-contg. phenol cpds. as a sole C-source and of completely degrading them so that no aromatic degradation prods. are detectable.
Hydrogenation of a non-aromatic unsatd. hydrocarbon is effected by reacting the hydrocarbon with (i) a catalyst precursor which includes a source of a Gp. VIIIB transition metal from the 2nd and 3rd rows of the Periodic Table and a hetero bifunctional ligand constructed with a phosphine centre and an imine nitrogen centre; in the presence of (ii) hydrogen; and (iii) a promoter selected from sec. and tert. acyclic alkyl amines; in (iv) a suitable solvent which solubilises the hydrocarbon, (i), (ii) and (iii).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used with materials including those with formulae: (a) R'-CH=CH2; (b) R''-CH=CH-R'''; and (c) R''-CH=CR'R'', where R', R'', R''' are each alkyl or aryl and R'' and R''' together form a non-aromatic unsatd. hydrocarbon ring of 6C or more. In partic., it can be used with hex-1-ene, cyclohexene, styrene and 1-methyl cyclohexene. The system provides excellent catalysts and gives prods. in quantitative yield.
A delayed-gelling, post-foaming compsn. comprises: (a) 15-30 wt.% of an anionic alkoxylated alkyl phosphate ester surfactant of formula R1(OR2)n-O-P(=O)(OH)2 (I), where R1 = 8-18C alkyl; (OR2) = ethoxy or propoxy gp.; and n = 1-10; (b) a sufficient amt. of a neutralising agent to provide a pH for the compsn. of 4.5-8, pref. 5-6.5; (c) 0.5-15 wt.% of a post-forming agent selected from at least one higher hydrocarbon having 5-8C and a mixt. of at least one lower hydrocarbon having up to 4C and at least one higher hydrocarbon having 5-8C, and (d) water to balance. The compsn.is dispersed from a container in the form of a liq. and remains as a liq. for a predetermined period of time before it sets up into a gel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is suitable for use as a skin or hair cleaner, such as having gel or a shampoo, or as a fabric cleaner. The compsn. is mild and effective, while liq., the compsn. can be applied easily to the skin or hair in a fluid and even manner. The liq. then rapidly sets up into a gel until it is rubbed, at which time it post-foams into a lathered prod.
Treatment of a solid or liq. medium contaminated with a hydrocarbon (I) comprises treating the medium, in presence of water and microorganism(s) (MO) capable of metabolising (I), with a salt compsn. (II) contg. ammonium bicarbonate and/or potassium bicarbonate. (II) yields NH4 and HCO3 ions when dissolved in water, and is added to the medium as aq. soln. or as a solid. (I) contamination is eliminated or reduced to a desired lower level.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. for treating soil or groundwater contaminated with crude oil, diesel fuel or gasoline (all claimed), e.g. due to leakage or spillage during storage, pumping, prodn. or transportation. (II) provides nutrients for enhancing the propagation of MO, and hence the degradation of (I), without any undesirably large increase or decrease in the pH of the medium being decontaminated. If soil is decontaminated with (II) contg. KHCO3, the treatment also provides K as a nutrient for future plant growth.
Disposal system involves charging a rotating vessel (4) with kitchen garbage via a port (30b). The garbage is mixed in the vessel with a medium for cultivating the aschelminthes and microorganisms.    The port may open into the centre or the side of the vessel's rotation. The vessel can be rotated intermittently. Rotational position detectors (8, 9) ensure the vessel stops in a set position. Vessel wt. detector (91) detects when decomposition is complete. A grinder (3) can act on the garbage before it enters the vessel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Disposal system for organic kitchen garbage. Faster decomposition of organic kitchen garbage than with composting.
Manure and organic moisture absorbing material is positioned in layers, components are mixed with simultaneous mixt. displacement to the composting point and subsequent aerobic mixt. composting. The composting is carried out in a fermenter at mixt. humidity of 70% with periodic ventilation for 5-7 days. Prior to composting, the mixt. loaded to the fermenter is covered with a layer of ready compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for fertiliser prodn. Environmental pollution is reduced.    In an example, the raw material is brought to the composting area along the road (3). The trench (5) is filled with peat, wood shavings or crushed straw to a layer of 40 cm. and then manure is loaded into layer depth of 40 cm. After trench filling, the organic mixt. is simultaneously mixed and loaded into the fermenter until it is full and is covered at the top with a layer of ready fertiliser to a thickness of 10 cm. The ventilation system is switched on and the air is supplied at intervals.
Fermentation device comprises a crushing device to crush wet refuse, a stirring device to stir the wet refuse, a temp. control device to control the temp. in the fermentation device, a wet refuse inlet port, a compost discharge port, an air taking-in port, and an air taking-out port.    Wet refuse is pref. fed into the fermenter (1) through the wet refuse inlet port (7). The wet refuse is subjected to crushing and stirring by stirring blades (2a), (2b), (2c) and crushing blades (3a), (3b), (3c). The crushing blades and stirring blades are rotated by a common shaft (5). The compost is discharged from the compost discharge port (11), and the gas is discharged from the air taking-out port (18).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to ferment domestic wet refuse for composting to reduce the amt. of discharged refuse. The crushing device for wet refuse is installed in the fermentation device, so no transporting devices are required. The wet refuse attached to the crushing device is treated by fermentation, so that washing of the wet refuse may be eliminated, and no separating device is needed to separate water from wet refuse. Generation of odour, etc. may be eliminated.
Fermenter is formed from a closed-end container having an opening at the top. A porous organic filler contg., fermentable bacteria is arranged at the bottom of the fermenter. A shaft is positioned in the fermenter in the central longitudinal direction of the fermenter, which is rotated by a motor. Spiral stirring blades are positioned on the outside periphery of the shaft. A heat source to heat the interior of the fermenter is positioned on the outside of the fermenter. A wet refuse feed cylinder leads to the fermenter.    On the inside of a closed-end container (2) having an opening at the top (1), a porous cylinder (4) e.g. wire gauze is pref. arranged to hold a clearance (3) of 5 cm. The porous organic filler (7) including wood powder, bean-curd refuse, and fermentable bacteria is arranged at the bottom of the porous cylinder (4) and at the clearance (3) between the cylinder (4) and the container (2).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to feed domestic wet refuse into a small container of a PVC bucket placed on a veranda for several years. The refuse may be decomposed rapidly to form an inorganic substance. After feeding the refuse into the fermenter, the stirring in the fermenter and the temp. increase may be effected at the same time, so that the activity of the fermentable bacteria may be controlled freely, and the refuse may be treated rapidly.
System used to ferment an organic substance using anaerobic thermophilic bacteria for composting comprises (a) a hopper to feed the organic material; (b) a material supply device to feed the material fed into the hopper; (c) a drum type stirring device to stir the material together with the thermophilic bacteria; (d) a hot air supply device to supply hot air to the stirring device; (e) a blower connected to the material stirring device to discharge the vol. of air corresp. to the vol. supplied from the hot air supply device; (f) a dust collector on the piping of the blower to remove the dust in the exhaust; and (g) a deodorisation device which takes the exhaust including odour and deodorises the exhaust with a Pt catalyst.    The organic substance fermentation system pref. comprises a drying drum (1) arranged to rotate about the horizontal axis forwardly or in reverse. The drying drum (1) has organic material housed in it, and accelerates the fermentation using the thermophilic bacteria. The drying drum (1) has a crushing shaft (5) horizontally at the lower part, and the crushing shaft has knives (7) to crush the organic material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to ferment organic material e.g. bones of fish, rubbish of vegetables, etc. in sanitary environmental conditions at high speeds. The fermentation may be effected without emitting dust or odour to outside of the system.
A composting device to accelerate the aerobic fermentation of a sediment in a fermenter supplies air from the outside via stirring blade members (15a). At the back of the blade members rotating horizontally in the fermenter there are several air supply ports (19) have air supply pipes (17) penetrating the blade membes (15a) in the longitudinal direction and overhanging wings (20) to prevent sediment entering the air supply ports (19).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in the composting devices for cattle faeces. The clogging of the air supply ports can be prevented, and the air supply blades ensure accurate ventilation. Therefore, it is possible to accelerate efficiently the moisture evaporation and aerobic fermentation. Thus even the faeces of cattle having high water content can be fermented without adjusting the water content before feeding into the fermenter.    In an example, a vertical composting device (1) comprised a cylindrical fermenter (2), blowers (3a), (3b) at the top and at the bottom of fermenter, and a feed port (4) for the fermentation material. A shaft (5) is provided at the center of the fermenter, and air introducing pipes (7a), (7b) are inserted in the shaft (5). Ten mounting frames (11) are installed to the outside periphery of the shaft. The five mounting frames (11) at the lower part supply air to the blades (15), and the other five mounting frames are for the stirring blades (13).
Magnetic catalyst particles which are fixed on a source material and are used for a reaction are recovered as follows, magnet are placed on the outside wall of a channel through which the reaction mixt. flow after reaction, so that the magnetic catalyst particles are stuck on the inside wall of the channel; then the magnet are removed from the channel to cut off the magnetic field; fluid is introduced into the channel to transport the magnetic catalyst particles out of the channel.    Pref. the ratio of Fm./Ff is controlled to be 100 to 1000000, where Fm is the magnetic force which the catalyst particles receive from the magnetos and Ff is the force which the catalyst particles receive from the fluid of the reaction mixt..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to recover magnetic catalyst particles which are used in the chemical processing of food, medicine or chemical prodn. or in waste water treatment. Bacteria or enzymes are fixed on the magnetic particles. The catalyst particles are removed from the reaction mixt. by magnetic means, so that they are not mechanically damaged and that impurities are hardly involved in the recovery process.
In the prodn. water is decomposed electrolytically to generate hydrogen; the hydrogen and carbon dioxide are supplied to a hydrogen-assimilating methane-producing bacterial culture; the methane produced is burned to obtain energy; the resultant carbon dioxide is supplied to the culture of the bacterium; and at least part of the cell of the grown bacterium is purified to obtain a useful material.    Appts. for the prodn. has a hydrogen generator for the electrolytic decomposition of water; a reactor with a mechanism to introduce hydrogen and carbon dioxide and a mechanism to discharge methane for culture of hydrogen-assimilating methane-producing bacterium; a combustor to burn the methane discharged from the reactor; and a mechanism to circulate carbon dioxide from the combustion to the reactor.    The methane-producing bacteria is e.g. methanobacterium, methanobrevibacter, methanomicrobium and methanococcus bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   With the method, the original material, hydrogen, can be obtd. stably from solar energy to solar cell for hydrolytical decomposition of water. The cost of hydrogen is only about one fourth of the conventional hydrogen cost. The carbon dioxide is used in a closed system, to reduce global warming. It permits mass accumulation of useful matter in the cell of the bacteria without prodn. of excessive sludge; and the residue after extn. of material e.g. cholinoid can be used as a feed or fertiliser.
Enzyme activity and organic properties of a quantitatively determined mixt. of waste water slurry and lignocellular products is increased using a microorganism starter culture.    USE -   Biochemical compost compsn.
A bacteria supporting medium is made of synthetic resin and has a spiral shape with a relatively small pitch. It is constructed of a number of S-shaped continuous portions defining along their outer boundary a continuous winding line.    Each S-shaped portion extends radially and has an upwardly expanding part and a downwardly expanding part. These taper towards a central opening. A portion of each of the upwardly and downwardly expanding portions bulge slightly outwards. Upper and lower segments of the winding line are slightly offset.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The medium is used to support bacteria in the treatment of water. The medium has a large bacteria-supporting surface. It is shaped so that solids do not become trapped.
Purificn. of (waste) gases and vapours, which may contain aerosols and are contaminated or mixed with undesirable chemical substances, involves a photocatalysis reaction on the surface of semiconductor oxide catalysts (I), esp. TiO2, in a closed or open system, using a fluidised or fixed bed catalyst; and opt. washing out the mineralisation prods. formed by photocatalysis. The novel features are that (a) (I) is treated with liquid or solid agent (II), which acts as electrolyte and improves capillary condensation, i.e. mineral acid, alkali, salt or hydrolysis prods. (IIA) or mixts. or these; and/or (b) doped with inorg. halogen cpd(s). (III), excluding pure F cpds., as halogen radical source; or (c) doped with agent(s) (IV) combining the properties and functions of (a) and (b).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) are used for oxidn. of NOx to HNO3 or redn. of NOx to N2 with NH3 and/or other reducing agents (claimed). They are also useful for decomposing e.g. CO and CH4 in air. Charge recombination inside (I) is very limited and additional new radicals are formed to reactivate the reaction.
For the microbial degrading of organic waste, with an intermediate air flow through it, the duration of the rest periods between ventilation is controlled according to the lowest value of the O2 content of the exhaust air.    Also claimed is an assembly with a container (1) and a ventilation base (3) formed by adjacent longitudinal profiled members or rods (23) at a small gap from each other.    The exhaust air is extracted from the zone over the waste material at the same time as the air is fed in, or shortly after. The ventilation periods have a duration of 1-5 minutes, with a ventilation air vol. according to the capacity of the container. The waste material temp. is held below 75 deg.C. The ventilation air is fed in upwards, from below. The extracted air is fed through an active filter. The ventilation period duration is controlled so that the O2 content of the exhaust air does not fall below 16 Vol.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The operation is for rotting and microbial degrading of organic waste material. Method gives an effective control of the rotting process, where ventilation air is fed through intermittently.
Volume of decomposable materials (I) is reduced by mixing, aerating and moistening (I). These steps are carried out in a preselected sequence and on a periodic basis.    Mixing, aeration and moistening are each on 2-3 week cycles. Moistening is with at least 1 part of water, leachate or raw sewage w.r.t. (I). Mixing is by a mechanical means, esp. a rotor tiller. Non-biodegradable materials are sepd. from biodegradable. Aeration is by mechanical means. Vol. is reduced by mechanical means, esp. using a material reducer, esp. to a final volume reduction of 20-25%. The materials are periodically covered with lime.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process alleviates refuse crisis by increasing capacity of existing landfill sites. Conventional aeration only acts on parts of landfill unlike this process.
A process for alkylating or isomerising an at least 4C hydrocarbon involves (i) forming a Lewis acid-hydrocarbon complex catalyst comprising the reaction prod. of (a) a Lewis acid of formula R(m-2-z)MX(2+z), (b) a hydrogen halide and (c) an organic cpd. comprising (1) a first paraffin with not above 12C, or (2) an olefin with not above 12C, or (3) an ether with not above 6C; (ii) dissolving this prod. in a second liq. paraffin; (iii) keeping the soln. at a temp. such that the catalyst does not ppte., for a time sufficient for alkylation or isomerisation to occur on addn. of the hydrocarbon to be alkylated or isomerised; and (iv) sepg.the hydrocarbon prod. from the complex catalyst.    In the formula, M = metal of Gp. 3a, 5a or 5b; X = halogen; R = 1-12C hydrocarbon gp.; m = highest oxidn. state of M; z = 0-2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The alkylate can be blended into motor gasolines, and the isoalkanes and internal olefins resulting from isomerisation can be alkylated, also to prods. for addn. to gasoline. Alkylation is rapid, with high selectivity and conversion at at least 24 deg.C.. Prodn. of polymers and of toxic waste is a min.. Use of HF is avoided.
Skin lesions are treated as follows: (a) a tube (bottom end slightly larger than the lesion; top end open) is placed upright on the skin over the lesion; (b) a liq. cryogenic agent (I) is added through the top to form a liq. pool of (I) in the tube on the lesion; (c) the tube contg. (I) is kept on the lesion to allow (I) to reduce the skin temp. to a level where permanent, irreversible rupture of cellular membranes of the lesion cells occurs while (I) is evaporating; and (d) the tube is removed.    Step (b) addn. of (I) is pref. effected over 3-10 sec when the lesion is benign. Pref. (I) are CH4, C3H8, C4H10 (i- or n-), Me2O, esp. CHF2CL, CF2Cl2, CHF3, CF3CHF2, CF3CHFCl, CF3CH2F, CFCl2Me, CF2ClMe, CHF2Me, or mixts..    Step (c) retention time is pref. 10-25 sec..    Step (d) lesion is pref. allowed to thaw completely (esp. for at least 45 sec.), then steps (a)-(d) are repeated.    The lesions treated are partic. melanocytes, osteocytes, lentigo, seborrhoeic or actinic keratoses, achrochordon, molluscum contagiosum, venereal warts, or verruca lesions (digitata, periungual, filiformis, glabra, plana, plantaris or vulgaris).    ADVANTAGE -   The method is less expensive than known procedures, does not require expensive storage dewar flasks, and delivery devices, and is far more rapid than conventional methods (scalpel surgery, electrodesiccation and curettage). In addn., suffering and permanent disfiguration is eliminated.
Appts. includes a fermenting vessel (3) with a feed lid (20), stirring pawl shaft (4) with stirring pawls, suction blower (8), and driving motor (7) for detecting opening or closing of the feed lid (20) and rotating the stirring pawl shaft (4) based on the detection result.    ADVANTAGE -   Dispersion of malodour from garbage may be prevented.
Biological treatment of polluted water, sludge and sediments is by using bacteria, fungi or yeasts in growth phase.    Stored microorganisms are mixed with water to produce an initial soln. which is activated by agitation (14) and heating to 10-70 deg.C. After activation, the soln. (13) is distributed into the liq. to be treated via a diffusion tube (34) on the base of the medium. The appts. (100) comprises the means of activation (MA) of the microorganisms, distribution (MD) of microorganisms into the liq. to be treated and a control system (MR). Activation (MA) of the microorganisms in the treatment soln. (13) takes place in a vessel (1) with an agitator (14), driven by a motor (16) and a gas supply (27) with valve (28). The vessel (1) is enclosed in a second vessel (2), with heater (18), contg. heated water (17).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to treat domestic, industrial and agricultural pollution. Microorganisms can be selected to suit type of pollution, and a mixt. of microorganisms can be used, aerobic or anaerobic. Max. activity of microorganisms by addn. during growth phase. Appts. is portable.
The biofilter for cleaning soiled water, especially from a compost assembly, has a container (2) with an aeration unit (7). A filling (9) of bodies follows the aeration unit (7), in the flow direction, pref. of aerated concrete fragments.    Also claimed is an assembly with a biofilter (1), which is controlled for the oxygen content of the waste water and the filtering speed, followed by a separation unit to separate air from the water.    Also claimed is a process where the soiled water is initially aerated, and then cleaned by filling bodies (9) pref. as drops pref. of aerated concrete.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is for cleaning soiled waste water, especially from compost sites. The operation gives an improved cleaning action, in a compost assembly, with a biological water processing stage which also degrades easily degraded organic matter and also eliminates nitrogen and smell-producing low mol. organic acids such as acetic acid.
For rapid composting of biomasses, where the material passes through a rotting stretch with an air feed, the local temps. of the material are equalised by heat exchange in the successive material sections in the flow direction, with a heat carrier medium which is not directly in contact with the rotting material.    Also claimed is an assembly for aerobic rapid composting, with a shrouded rotting stretch fitted with an air feed and exhaust. It has a system to recirculate a heat carrier medium, not directly in contact with the material, for heat exchange in the successive sections in the flow direction.    The heat carrier medium is water. The rotting stretch is composed of part stretches which are separate and parallel and/or in succession to each other, such as three successive stretches. The material is mixed through in at least one stretch. The heat carrier medium is heated externally, and heat from the medium is transferred to the air feed, and heat from the exhaust air is also transferred to the air feed. Condensn. droplets are sepd. from the air travelling along material, and the exhaust air is filtered at the end of the rotting stretch. Used filter material is added to the material for rotting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Operation gives rapid and consistent composting action, with temp. control for an even effect without the risk of spontaneous combustion, using less space. System is for composting biomass materials in three stages, with a pre-composting, main composting and final composting actions, in an aerobic process using microorganisms and heat.
The mobile system has a cube container (1), with a number of chambers (2) each with a closable opening (16) at the leading side. In at least one chamber (2), a water spray (4) is at the upper section and a water drainage is at the base. A pump (5) takes drained water as a feed for the spray (4).    Part of the container (1) walls (12,13) are formed by sandwich plates of reinforced foamed plastics.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is for composting vegetable waste, in a mobile assembly. The assembly can be set up on site, and requires only a water supply and connection to electricity. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9424 based on complete specification).
Compsn. comprises an intimately mixed, mixed oxide of (a) at least one cationic species of a naturally occurring gp. IIB element, (b) at least one cationic species of a gp. IIA element which is Mg, Ca, Sr or B and (c) a cationic species of Al.    (a) is Y, La, Nd, Sm or Yb, pref. T. (b) is Sr or Ba. The compsn. contains 2-20 pref. 5-10 wt.% Al and has molar ratio of (a):(b) of 1:0.5-3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful as catalysts for hydrocarbon conversion esp. oxidative conversions and syngas conversion to gasoline and diesel fuel. Stable contact material with long life and high activity and selectivity in the oxidative connversion of hydrocarbons.
Method of performing a photochemical reaction comprises (a) introducing a first molecular substance into a chamber, (b) tuning the outlet of at least one optical parametric oscillator/laser to at least one absorption band of the first molecular substance, and (c) directing the at least one portion of the output of the optical parametric oscillator/laser tuned to the absorption band of the first molecular substance into the chamber to dissociate the first molecular substance.    The first molecular substance is dissociated into at least two second molecular substances, in which the first substance is a hydrocarbon which is dissociated into at least one second hydrocarbon, the first hydrocarbon being methane and the second is ethane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Photocatalytic or photochemical processes and appts. for processes. The process employs abundant, inexpensive IR photons to promote chemical reactivity to carry out chemical processing with higher efficiencies at higher rates, partic. for converting methane to ethane and other higher hydrocarbons.
Hydrocarbon (I) of C4 or more than C5, which includes a lot of iso-paraffin, is prepd. by low-polymerisation of low hydrocarbon whose main component is ethylene, using special zeolite having compsn. of formula    aM On/2.Ga2O3.bSiO2 (II)    M = alkali metal or alkali earth metal; n = atomic value of the metal; a = 0-6, b = 20-2000.    Zeolite (III) of ZSM-5 type structure is used as special zeolite. Also substd. (III) with at least one metal selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Cu, P, Zn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, Ru, Rh and Pt, can be used as special zeolite.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Isoparaffin shows high-octane value. (I) is given in high conversion rate (99.3-99.9%) and in high selectivity yield (72-95 wt.%). And ethylene is prepd. from natural gas, so high-octane gasoline can be given from materials except petrol.
A 4C or more than 5C hydrocarbon (I) which includes lots of isoparaffin, is prepd by low-polymerisation of low hydrocarbon whose main component is ethylene, with special zeolite at composition aMOn/2.Al2O3.bSiO2 (II) at 230-550 deg C and at normal pressure -30 kg/cm2G (WHSV:0.5-5.0 h-1), where M= alkali metal or alkaline earth metal; n= atom value of the metal, a= 0-6, b= 350-4000.    Zeolite (III) of ZSM-5 type is pref used opt substituted (III) with at least one of Mg, Ca, Sr, Cu, P, Ga, Zn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, Ru, Rh and Pt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Isoparaffin shows high-octane value, but it is hard to cause exhaust gas pollution. (I) is obtd with high conversion rate (96.3-99.8%) and in high selectivity yield (75.05-92.50 wt%). Ethylene is prepared from natural gas, so high-octane gasoline can be obtd from materials other than petrol.
Appts. comprises a rotary tubular treating chamber having a deodoriser at the outlet side, nozzle to spray the urea into the chamber having stirring blades inside.    USE -   For fermenting cattle droppings.
Liq comprises 10-200 ml of liq aldehyde, 5-50 g of 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol and deodorising components, and 50-500 ml of supernatant obtd from the centrifuged culture soln for the microorganism.    Pref the microorganism is at least one genus selected from Bacillus, Streptococcus, Enterobacter, Rhizopus and Aspergillus; the culture soln results from the culture of 2.0-10.0 g of the microorganism in the soln contg 0.2-1.0 g of ammonium chloride, 2.0-10.0 g of glucose and 1-5 l of water; the liq aldehyde cpd is glutaraldehyde; and an aroma is contained in the deodorising liq.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The liq is esp effective for fish garbage emitting trimethylamine.
Unit has several stages at fixed intervals, of packed beds carrying micro-organism which decomposes malodour. Branch pipes of the feed gas are fixed for acclimating the micro-organism.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for removing malodours such as ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan, methyl sulphide, methyl disulphide, etc. released from night soil and sewage treatment plants and various chemical plants. Because the acclimation of the micro-organism is carried out by feeding the gas from the supply pipes and the branch pipes, the acclimation time of the whole beds is shortened and leakage of odours is avoided despite fluctuation of odour concn.
Oxidisable species are removed from a feed stream by: (a) compressing a feed stream of oxygen and at least one oxidisable species from carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane while elevating the temp. of the feed stream by compression heat generated during the compression; (b) passing the feed stream contg. the heat of compression through a catalytic zone contg. oxidn. catalyst; (c) oxidising oxidisable species in the feed stream to produce oxidised species within the catalytic zone; and (d) removing oxidised species from the feed stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To remove oxidisable impurities e.g. CO, H and/or CH4 from an oxygen contg. stream. Useful in the cleaning of a feed stream to a cryogenic acid sepn plant. It is easier to remove oxidisable impurities from an O-contg. stream. The prod. produced after cryogenic rectification may be used in an ultra high purity application without needing a point of use purifier. The technique is capable of narrowing the variation in impurity levels in the plant prod. so improving the consistency of the prod.
Mfr. comprises (a) heating a propylene polymer material comprising greater than 50 wt.% propylene monomeric units based upon the wt. of the propylene polymer material to form a melt polymer material; (b) incorporating into the melt polymer material a blowing agent to form a foamable gel; (c) cooling the foamable gel to an optimum foaming temp.; and (d) extruding the foamable gel through a die to a region of lower pressure to form the foam; and the blowing agent contains greater than 85 wt.% of organic blowing agent(s) based upon the total wt. of the blowing agent.    A dimensionally stable, open cell, propylene polymer foam obtd. as above    The foam is pref 30-70% open cell. The blowing agent is 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane, or 1,1-difluoroethane, or the mixt. with ethyl chloride, or is of isobutane, n-butane and n-pentane. The blowing agent incorporated into the melt polymer material contains 95 wt.% or more of organic blowing agent(s), and may further contain inorganic blowing agent(s).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This foam is suitable for cushion packaging since it has adequate impact absorption properties and resilience. It is also used for sound absorption and thermal insulation. This foam offers high cushioning properties and resiliency. It mitigates impact during multiple drops and absorbs dynamic impacts surprisingly well. It has satisfactory dimensional stability even though it is expanded with fast permeating blowing agents.
Process for isomerisation of a feedstream (I) comprising 4-6C hydrocarbon, and separating the reactor effluent, comprises (a) contacting (I) in an isomerisation reaction zone with a catalyst to produce an effluent (II); (b) passing at least a portion of (II) to a stabiliser zone, and recovering an overhead stream (III) comprising C4- hydrocarbons, and bottoms stream (IV) comprising C5+ hydrocarbons, and a (side-cut) stream (V) comprising C4-hydrocarbons; (c) passing (VO to a stripping zone, and obtaining therefrom an overhead stream (VI) comprising C3- hydrocarbons, and a bottoms stream (VII) comprising C4 hydrocarbons; (d) mixing at least a portion of (VI) with a hydrocarbon fraction produced by the stabiliser having a b.pt. at or below the b.pt. of (V) (in an embodiment, (VI) is returned either to the stabiliser above the feed entry point, or to stream (III)); and (e) recovering (VII).    USE -   Isomerisation prods. of low Reid Vapour Pressure are obtained, of use as high octane gasoline components. Energy and equipment costs of recovery of LPG components are also reduced. When used with a chlorine-promoted catalyst, corrosion associated with condensation of overheads to a product stream containing liquid HCl is reduced.
A process for monomer recovery from a polymeric material comprises heating the polymeric material in a flow-through reactor using a heat transfer material at a heating rate of at least 500 deg.C/sec. to recover a monomeric component of the polymeric material.    Also claimed are the following: (i) a process for monomer recovery from a polymeric material comprising heating the polymeric material in a pyrolyser at a rate of 500 deg.C/sec. to recover a monomer component without formation of solid carbon and non-monomer liq. by contacting the polymeric material for less than 2 secs. with a heat-transfer material that circulates through the pyrolyser; and (ii) a process for monomer recovery comprising heating the polymeric material at a rate of at least 500 deg.C/sec. to a pyrolysis temp. of 650-1000 deg.C in less than 2 secs. in a reactor using a heat transfer material that circulates through the reactor, than 2 secs. in a reactor using a heat transfer material that circulates through the reactor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used to recover monomers from waste and scrap polymeric materials. The monomers are obtd. in high yield with minimal amts. of char and tar.
Formation damage in a diatomaceous or silicon-contg. formation during steam flooding is minimised by injecting into an interval of the formation an organosilicone surfactant (I) foam along with steam, in amt., and for time sufficient to cause a local equilibrium with the formation, thereby preventing dissolution of silicon from the formation, so minimising caving near the wellbore and reduction of permeability in the formation.    (I) is a nonionic silicone glycol polymer, a siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymer or a sulpho-deriv. of organisilicone maleates. A non-condensible gas is used in the foam, eg., helium, methane, carbon dioxide, flue gas and/or stack gas.    USE -   Steam flooding for recovery of oil from a subterranean reservoir is ineffective when the formation has significant silicon content, as silicon salts in the formation become soluble in the liquid component of the steam at high temps. and pH. Such solution is here prevented; the foam also reduces the tendency of the steam to override.
The unit for sepn. of methane from aquiferous stratal water comprises pipes (1) of 19-22 mm diameter with connector stubs for drying devices, and a line (2) collecting the water and methane and connected to the gas separator unit (3).    The line can vary in cross-section depending on the flow volume and the number of dryers in operation.    Flanges (4) supplement line (5) taking the membrane to the dilution chamber (6) safeguarded against necessary increase in length with the methane concentration, by a 1.5 kW electric motor actuating a fan. Two or three gas separator units are required if the water volume is substantial.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mining. The water is diluted to below 0.5 per cent methane.
The carbon monoxide gas detector has at least one overhanging section comprising an electrically insulating material overhanged in the air; metal oxide semiconductor layers for gas detection provided on the overhanging section. Electrode leads are kept in contact with the metal oxide semiconductor layers and heater leads are provided parallel to the electrode leads. A metal particle catalyst layer is supported on at least one metal oxide semiconductor layer and hydrogenating carbon monoxide for forming methane or methanol. A circuit (output converter) for determining methane or methanol concn. from sensor output is used for forming methane or methanol. A circuit (concn. converter) converts methane or methanol concn. into carbon monoxide concn.    Detection of carbon monoxide using the detector comprises heating the metal particle catalyst layer to 200 deg. C and keeping the catalyst layer contact with a gas to be measured; forming the carbon monoxide in the gas into methane or methanol; determining the methane or methanol concn. by the output converter from sensor output and converting the methane concn. or the methanol concn. by the concn. converter into carbon monoxide concn. to detect the presence or the absence of the carbon monoxide or its concn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The carbon monoxide gas detector and the method detect carbon monoxide gas. The detector is compact and has a simple structure. The detector and the method detect low-concn. carbon monoxide gas.
Flammable gas is collected from the output smoke of the carbonising furnace through a condenser and supplied to the burner of the furnace.    ADVANTAGE -   Energy saving can be ensured and air pollution can be prevented.
A chain conveyor furnished with a heat-resistant steel wire brush is placed between the carbonised material discharge stage of carbonising furnace and a storage casing furnished with a water jacket.    ADVANTAGE -   The carbonised material in the casing can be cooled by heat exchange due to water in the water jacket.
A compsn. contains (a) 0.01-99.99 wt.% of an anionic and/or nonionic surfactant and (b) 99.99-0.01% of a glycolipid, as least partly as an ester.    The amts. are (a) 45-85% (50-65%), and (b) 15-55%. (a) The surfactant is an alkylaryl sulphonate as a Na or Ca salt or as a 2-8C amine, with 10-16C alkyl gps., 1-10 aryl gps. and 1-2 sulphonate gps., mono- or di-esters of Na sulphosuccinate reacted with 6-20C linear alcohols, Na alkyl- or alkenyl- sulphonates with 10-18C alk(en)yl gps., petroleum sulphonates or Na, Ca or NH4 lignosulphonates, polyethoxylated alkylphenols with 8-24 EO and 8-12C alkyl gps., polyoxyethylene alkylphenoxy-ethanol, polyethoxylated esters of 4-18C fatty acids with 4-12 EO, ethers of 4-18C fatty alcohols with 4-12 EO, mono- and polyoleates of polyethoxylated sorbitol with 4-8C EO. Pref. surfactants are Na dioctyl sulpho-succinate, petroleum sulphonates, isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulphonate, and nonylphenol ethoxylates with 9 EO. The esters are prepd. from 1-18C (1-8C) alcohols. (b) The glycolipids are sophorolipids, rhamnolipids, glucose-lipids, trehalose lipids and cellobiose lipids, where the sophorolipids as esters are (partly) deacetylated and/or delactonised and the cellobiose lipids are (partly) deacetylated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is used to clean media contaminated by hydrocarbons, esp. underground formations. Accessibility of the hydrocarbons to bacteria is improved, resulting in min. residual hydrocarbons in the polluted-medium.
Removal of nitrogen oxide from exhaust comprises contacting exhausts contg. nitrogen oxide with an alumina catalyst contg. not more than 0.5 wt.% of an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal. It has a total pore vol. of 0.48-1.2 cm3 g-1 with 0.26-0.6 cm3 g-1 of pores not greater than 80 A in an oxidative atmosphere contg. excess oxygen in the presence of a hydrocarbon or an oxygen-contg. organic cpd.    Also claimed is a process for removing nitrogen oxide from exhaust which comprises contacting the exhaust contg. nitrogen oxide with an alumina catalyst contg. not more than 0.5 wt.% of an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal. It has a pore vol. of pores not greater than 60 A of 0.06-0.2 cm3 g-1 and a pore vol. of pores less than 80 A of 0.1-0.26 cm3 g-1 in an oxidative atmosphere contg. excess oxygen in the presence of a hydrocarbon or an oxygen-contg. organic cpd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to remove nitrogen oxide cpds. from exhaust systems including a diesel engine. It has a high NOx redn. removal efficiency at a lower temp. There is also less variation in the NOx removal efficiency. The alumina catalyst is able to accelerate the moderate oxidn. of the reducing agent.
Methane fermentation method comprises growing at least one methanogenic bacterium (A) in a medium contg. major substrates assimilated by the bacterium at a low rate. The new feature is that fermentation is carried out using at least 2 substrates, one of which is more rapidly assimilated than the other.    Suitable (A) are Methanosarcina; the rapidly assimilated substrate is MeOH or MeNH2, and the slowly assimilated one is acetic acid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used to generate methane, esp. in treatment of solid waste and waste water. Rapid and efficient methane prodn. is achieved. Use of the rapidly assimilated substrate reduces start-up time (high cell concns. are reached quickly) and allows smaller fermenters to be used. Typically M. acetivorans C2A, at 35-40 deg.C, had generation times of 24.1 hour on acetic acid; 5.2 hour on MeOH and 6.7-7.3 hour on methylamine.
An open-pored mineral bulk material carries immobilised microorganisms.    The substrate is expanded clay, expanded slate, lava, pumice, perlite and/or broken brick, esp. with size 4-8mm, pref. expanded clay and/or slate. The microorganisms are bacteria, pref. those converting hydrocarbons.    The loaded substrate is prepd. by stirring a suspension of microorganisms with the substrate, esp. for 2-200 h (50 h), in a fluid-mixed bed reactor with a propeller stirrer. The O2 requirement in the reactor is (partly) supplied by addn. of H2O2, partic. 30% H2O2, added at the height of the stirrer. The reactor may be connected to the fermenter in which the microorganisms are cultured. With anaerobic microorganisms, a gas-tight reactor filled with an O2-free medium, is used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The substance is used to clean polluted material, e.g. soil (opt. polluted with oil), waste water, used air, and sludge, and in silos.
A refrigerant mixt., for use in compression refrigerating circuits, consists of 12-25 wt.% trifluoromethane (R23,CHF3), 68-86 wt.% hepta-fluoropropane (R227,C3HF7) and 2-7 wt.%, ancillary component, pref. hydrocarbon, esp. dimethylether (DME C2H6O), propane (R270,C3H8) or propylene (R1270,C3H6).    ADVANTAGE -   The refrigerant mixt. is chlorine-free, has a wide temp. range of phase transformation and permits low pressure ratios.
A 1:1 mixt. of a 15% aq. soln. of sodium hydroxide and ethylene glycol is used to inhibit the hydrolysis of aq. acetonitrile during extractive rectification of 4-5C hydrocarbons. The base is added at 0.001-0.01 wt.% of the extractant. The inhibitor dissolves well in acetonitrile and delays auto-catalytic hydrolysis by binding to H+ ions. A conc. of sodium hydroxide over 15% causes the formation of an insol. ppte. Ethylene glycol improves soln. in acetonitrile and a redn. in the water necessary without adversely effecting the process.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced loss of acetonitrile and reduced ammonia contamination of prod.    In an example, a metallic reactor was charged with acetonitrile contg. 6 wt.% water, 0.00005 wt.% NaOH and 0.003 wt.% ethylene glycol. The mixt. was held at 150 deg.C for 24 hrs. The content of ammonia as determined by potentiometric titration was 0.00022 wt.% as opposed to 0.003% where triethanolamine was used.
Addn. of active mud hydrolysed with mineral acid at 65-130 deg.C and concentrated (I) to the mixt. for the prepn. of bio-organo-mineral fertiliser, improves its properties. Evaporated post-yeast liquor is mixed with hydrolysed sludge and HNO3 neutralised with ammonia (waste from cleaning the evaporators) and additional (I), and the mixt. dried and granulated to yield the product.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in agriculture. Utilisation of industrial waste giving higher quality prod.
Process is as follows: 1) porous granules made of calcium silicate hydrate are mixed with organic waste to obtain a mixt.; 2) the mixt. is force fermented to produce a semi-fermented material; and 3) the semi-fermented material is force fermented under milder fermentation condition than that of step 2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic waste is completely fermented material in a shorter period. The obtained material has high and uniform fermentation degree (little fluctuation in the fermentation degree from one product to another), i.e. has high fertilisation effect.    In an example, 90 t of animal faeces (70% from pigs, 20% from chickens, 10% from cows) having water content of 75%, was mixed with 18 t of porous granules made of calcium silicate hydrate (having particle size of less than 2 mm); 2) forced fermentation by aeration process was carried out for 4 days; 3) forced fermentation by aeration process was carried for 7 days (aeration was carried out 2 hours a day when mixer was operated).
Porous support of r-alumina, x-alumina, titania, zirconia, niobia, silica or zeolite is immersed in RhCl3 soln., dried and reduced with H2 to form Rh metal with (111) plane on its surface (dia. of Rh = 1 nm = 8 nm).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   It is applicable to hydrogenation of CO2 at 200-550 deg.C to form methane. Methane is selectively mfd. from CO2 at relatively low temp. and ambient pressure using this catalyst.    In an example, 10g activated alumina is immersed in water soln. contg. 5% RhCl3, dried and burned at 500 deg.C for 2 hrs. in air to form Rh-alumina catalyst.
A biological treatment of a foul-smelling gas using a treatment apparatus comprising two or more treatment chambers (2,2') which are separated by a diaphragm (6), a fixed bed (2a, 2b) in the treatment chamber which contains a filler wherein foul-smelling component decomposing microorganism are implanted, and a neutralisation path which connects the bottom of the treatment chamber through a neutralisation bath (8) to the water sprinkler (3a, 3b) provided at the top of the treatment chamber. A foul-smelling gas is introduced into the treatment chamber and contacted with the fixed bed to remove the foul-smelling component.    Pref. the sprinkler working time in each chamber is pref. unsynchronised.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Foul-smelling gas from sewage etc. can be efficiently treated without interfering with the activity of the microorganism since the pH of the fixed bed can be maintained at neutral. Because the sprinkling time is shifted by each treatment chamber, the amount of the treated gas can be stabilised.
Method involves introducing specimen soln into a measuring cell with a microbiological electrode thorugh an immobilised enzyme layer, and comparing the output of the elcetrode with the output of the electrode exposed to BOD-known standard soln. contg. organic matter.    ADVANTAGE -   The BOD in the specimen soln. may be detected after organic compoinents in the soln. are decomposed thoroughly.
Abattoir sludge, organic manure, and agricultural by-prods. are composed, as follows: Compartments formed by banking earth in a water impermeable base, are filled with layers of agricultural waste (pref. straw), organic manure and abattoir sludge.    The stratified compartments are sealed by an "active peat" layer. Active peat arises, when peat is treated by a soln. contg. 0.025 wt.% cerium sulphate and/or cerium-chloride. Finally, the earth banking is dismantled and mixed in with the materials to be composted. Following a customary precomposting stage, well aerated stacks are formed for post ripening.
An upset resistant porous inorganic oxide catalyst support comprises ultimate particles of a zeolite and an inorganic binder. The support has: a total pore vol. of 0.1-1.5 cm3/g; a gp. of large pores with pore dias. as measured by mercury porosimetry of 0.5-100 microns, the large pores providing a pore vol. of 0.1-1.0 cm3/g; and a strong crush resistance which is of the order of 5 lbs when measured on particles having a min. dimension of 3mm.    Also claimed is a method of making porous inorganic bodies with large micropores.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A catalyst for the biotreatment of aq. waste streams or contaminated vapours is claimed, comprising the catalyst support of the invention having on it a catalytically effective amt. of a microorganism. The porous bodies may also be used as adsorbents or in filtration devices. The catalyst support has very large pores and good physical strength. It offers improved protection against process upsets and is resistant to excursions in pH.
Sepn. of 4C hydrocarbons from a feed contg. a gaseous mixt. comprises (a) cooling and partially condensing the feed in a plurality of successive stages of condensation and phase sepn., and (b) supplying further refrigeration to the gas to effect condensations by indirect heat exchange with a closed cycle refrigerant subjected to compression / expansion cycles. In (a), a gaseous overhead from each sepn. stage is further cooled and partially condensed and supplied to the next sepn. stage while the liq. sepd. from each stage is used to cool the gas. The feed undergoes no compression and no abrupt expansion and undergoes a pressure loss due only to friction of the feed flow through equipment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For sepn. of 4C hydrocarbons, esp. isobutylene and isobutane from gaseous mixt.. The max. temp. of the process is below 150 deg.F, thus avoiding polymerisation of 1,3-butadiene. Power consumption and pressure change are minimised. Has high sepn. efficiency.
Method of treatment of incineration residues involves treating the residues with air contg. 0,.1-100% by vol. CO2.    Pref. treatment is carried out at a temp. from ambient temp. - 200 deg. C under a pressure from atmos. - 10 bar overpressure. More pref. this method is carried out with a gas contg. 5 - 20% by vol. CO2 at a temp. of not more than 100 deg. C and an overpressure of not more than 1 atmos.. Microorganisms are added during treatment or before treatment with CO2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method of treatment of incineration residues produced by e.g. incineration of domestic waste. Incineration residues produced by e.g. incineration of domestic waste. Incineration residues can be used as absorption material for CO2 removal from CO2 rich off gases e.g. flue gas, biogas, disposal site gas or off-gas of composting plants (claimed). The CO2 enriched air treatment of WIP slags substantially reduces the leaching concns. e.g. Cu, Al, Mo by e.g. 50% in comparison to treatment with air. The decrease of the pH to 8 can result in the growth of microorganisms which are beneficial for the degradation of residual (unincinerated) organic matter.
Appts. for treating a garbage mixture comprises a fermentation stage (20) where the garbage is deposited into non-compacted swathes for fermentation of any organic waste. The resulting mixture is loaded into grinder/separator stages (30, 40, 50) where it is reduced into smaller particles.These are sorted in screened separators.    The grinders each have three parallel rotating axles carrying chains mounted by one end and having a hardened flailing tip at the other. The axles are spaced so that the tips of the chains pass in close proximity to each other. Two of the axles are arranged opposite each other at an upstream location and are counter-rotated. The third is downstream and is rotated in the same direction as one of the upstream axles.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Appts. transforms household waste to usable output prods., including an organic soil fertiliser and non-fermentable prods. with various industrial uses, e.g. as a high strength, moulded prod. for fence parts, pavement blocks, curbs, railway ties etc. The grinder chains do not become snarled and are subject to less wear and deterioration than known models. Also, the fermentation waste is readily separated from the non-fermentable.
Sensor comprises two electrodes sepd. by a solid-state electrolyte which is water-free non-hygroscopic and water-insoluble and has a compsn. effective to allow an ionic conductivity of at least 10 power -4 per ohm.cm at room temp. The ionic conductivity is due to Ag ion and the electrolyte pref. includes AgI.    Electrolyte comprises one of: Ag2WO4.4AgI, Ag2CrO4.4AgI, Ag2SeO4.3AgI, Ag2HgS2.6AgI, Ag1.85Hg0.40Te0.66I1.35, Ag1.80Hg0.45Se0.70I1.30, Ag3HgSe2.AgI, Ag3Po4.4AgI and Ag4P2O7.15AgI.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used esp. in detection of atmospheric pollutants such as CO, NO, H2CO, N2H4, CH3N2H3, (CH3)2N2H2CH4 or C2H5OH. Solid state detector operates at ambient temp., has long term stability and is not adversely affected by humidity.
Sepn. of a light component from a mix contg. it and hydrocarbons comprises: (1) countercurrent absorption with lean solvent to produce a rich solvent and light component; (2) countercurrent desorptive treatment of the rich solvent with a precooled light gas stream to produce second rich solvent; and (3) recovering solvent and hydrocarbon product from the second rich solvent.    Also claimed is a catalytic dehydrogenation process for 3-5C hydrocarbons comprising: (i) mixing hydrocarbon feed with hydrogen-contg. recycle and passing the mix over a dehydrogenation catalyst to give effluent comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbon product; (ii) subjecting the effluent to the above process steps; and (iii) using recovered H2 (light component) as recycle.    ADVANTAGE -   Process gives good separation and recovery without using expensive cryogenic processing. It can also be used to treat natural gas prior to pipelining.
Nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas contg. at least 5000 ppm oxygen is removed using hydrocarbon as a reducing agent. In the denitration, two or more kinds of catalyst, those have different reaction temp. for the max. activity, are provided in series in the flow passage direction of exhaust gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Nitrogen oxide in oxygen excels exhaust gas can be removed. High denitration capacity can be obtained in wider temp. extent.    In an example, a fixed amt. of Co nitrate and distilled water were added to mordenite. It was kneaded for 15 mins. and dried for 120 deg.C. It was burned at 600 deg.C for 2 hrs. Denitration catalyst of hydrocarbon carrying 2.5 wt. %, 5 wt. %, and 7.5 wt. % Co (as Co3O4 conversion) was obtd. Those catalyst was laminated by three steps in the order of 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% from the upstream. The reaction gas of NO:C3H8:02 = 1:1.50, nitrogen balance was flown with 2000/hr space velocity in the fixed bed flowing reaction appts.
An absorbing layer in which microorganism is cultured is formed in a reaction vessel and a waste gas and water are passed through the absorbing layer so that methane gas in the waste gas is reformed to CO2 gas by the microorganism. The absorbing layer is made by filling a porous body with small voids having a pore size of less than 1 mm, and a water bath to reserve water is positioned at the bottom of the reaction vessel and the water in the water bath is recycled and scattered over the top of the reaction layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The methine component in the waste gas may be efficiently removed.
Calcium carbide is produced by reacting calcium oxide with a carbon-contg. component in an electric arc furnace, said component being produced from crushed plastic waste which undergoes coking in the presence of granular CaO at 600-1400 deg.C in a chamber furnace.    Thermoplastic waste, namely polythene, polypropylene and polystyrene, contg. 70-85 wt.% C is crushed to obtain particles of max. size 20 (pref. 1-5)mm. Granular CaO, particle size max. 5 (pref. max. 3) mm, in the form of calcined lime or anhydrous calcium hydroxide is heated to 80-400 deg.C prior to coking. CaO and plastic are used at a wt. ratio of 1:1-3.    Environmentally-friendly and virtually complete utilisation of waste plastic. A carbon-contg. component for calcium carbide mfr. is produced from low-cost raw materials. The exhaust gases produced by pyrolysis are high purity and may be used for power generation.
Calcium carbide is produced by reacting calcium oxide with a carbon-contg. component in an electric arc furnace, said component being produced from crushed plastic waste which, in the presence of granular CaO and in a rotary kiln, undergoes: (a) pyrolysis at 400-800 deg.C; and (b) calcination of the resultant CaO-pyrolytic coke mixt. at 1000-1300 deg.C.    Thermoplastic waste, namely polythene, polypropylene and polystyrene, contg. 70-85 wt.% C is crushed to obtain particles of max. size 20 nm, pref. 1-10 mm.. Granular CaO, particle size max. 10 mm, pref. max. 5 mm, in the form of calcined lime or anhydrous calcium hydroxide is heated to 80-400 deg.C prior to pyrolysis.    Environmentally-friendly and virtually complete utilisation of waste plastic. A carbon-contg. component for calcium carbide mfr. is produced from low-cost raw materials. The exhaust gases produced by pyrolysis are high purity and may be used for power generation.
Calcium carbide is produced by reacting calcium oxide with a carbon-contg. component in an electric arc furnace, said component being produced from crushed plastic waste which undergoes pyrolysis in the presence of granular CaO at 600-1300 deg.C in a rotary kiln.    Thermoplastic waste, namely polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene, contg. 70-85 wt.% C is crushed to obtain particles of max. size 20 nm, pref. 1-5 mm.. Granular CaO, particle size max. 2 mm, pref. max. 1 mm, in the form of calcined lime or anhydrous calcium hydroxide is mixed with the plastic waste at a wt. ratio of 1:1-3, this mixt. being compressed prior to pyrolysis to form pellets 10-50 mm in size.    Environmentally-friendly and virtually complete utilisation of waste plastic. A carbon-contg. component for calcium carbide mfr. is produced from low-cost raw materials. The exhaust gases produced by pyrolysis are high purity and may be used for power generation.
In a catalytic process for reaction of a 2-10C acyclic satd. cpd. with a 2-5C acyclic unsatd. cpd. to form cpds. of greater mol. wt. than the starting materials, the catalyst comprises a sulphated and calcined mixt. of (1) a support comprising an oxide or hydroxide of a Gp. IVA element; (2) an oxide or hydroxide of Mo; and (3) a metal selected from Gps. VA, VIA other than Mo, IB, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVB and the lanthanides.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to upgrade chemical cpds. in crude oil to cpds. of greater value as fuels. The catalysts provide results superior to those obtd. with a sulphated catalyst support alone. They provide higher concns. of 8C species and lower amts. of 5-70 cracked prods. and a significantly higher percentage of high octane trimethylpentanes within the 8C fraction than can be achieved with catalyst (1) or traditional catalysts. Alkylation reactions can be carried out in a more energy efficient manner at room temp. to give good yields of alkylate.
Conversion or methane to higher hydrocarbons comprises: (a) providing a methane gas; (b) providing a catalyst comprising a support material which is an oxide of Si, Zr or Mg, a Mn catalytic agent on the support material and an alkali metal promoter impregnated into the catalyst, the surface atomic ratio of promoter:Mn being at least 5; and (c) contacting the methane gas with the catalyst at effective conversion conditions.    The dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon comprises: (i) providing a feedstock including O and dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon; (ii) providing a catalyst as in (b); and (iii) contacting the feedstock with the catalyst at effective dehydrogenation conditions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For direct conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons and the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons. Catalysts has high stability, activity and conversion rates which are maintained over the reaction time. Enhanced yields are obtd.
Oxidative coupling of methane is effected by contacting a gaseous 02/CH4 mixt. with a fluidised bed of a catalyst comprising Fe203 supported on high-purity silica bearing surface H20 mols and having a particle size of 150-215 microns. The catalyst has a surface area of ca. 0.004m2/g and a surface Fe concn. of ca 2 wt. %.    The 02/CH4 mixt. may also contain steam.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process converts CH4 to C2+ hydrocarbons esp. ethane and ethylene. The catalyst is inexpensive and has good attrition resistance.
Method of composting organic waste, e.g. garden refuse, by enclosing the waste under a tubular cover (1) of flexibelt material. The open ends of (1) are provided with a circular article (2) for keeping said ends open, the first opening (4) being placed on an underlay or directly on the ground (3) so that the waste comes into contact with the underlying soil. All or part of the second upper opening (5) is covered by rotating the end of (1) from the underlay or ground about an axis lengthways to the (4), and then placing the upper part of the (1) on the underlying parts of (1) so that radial pleats and air pockets occur between the flexibelt material layers.    The appts. for carrying out the composting process is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Compost is protected from rain, wind and sunshine, without hindering the passage of diffusing process gases to or from the compost. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9420 based on complete specification)
In the catalytic conversion of CH4 to hydrocarbons with at least 2C, a 1st feed gas contg. CH4 and O2 is fed to a 1st reaction space under conditions of temp. and pressure such that an exothermal conversion takes place, and a prod. gas relatively rich in at least 2C hydrocarbons and steam is withdrawn. The novelty is that at the same time, a 2nd feed gas contg. hydrocarbons and opt. steam or CO2 is fed to a 2nd reaction space, in heat-exchange contact with the 1st reaction space. This 2nd space is held under conditions such that an endothermal reaction takes place, and a prod. gas of desired compsn. is withdrawn. The temp. in both reaction spaces can be controlled by heat-exchange from the 1st to the 2nd reaction space.    ADVANTAGE -   Control of the CH4 coupling reaction is better. The heat of reaction is utilised in situ, avoiding loss during transparent and giving max. recovery of energy. Prodn. of CO2 and consumption of raw materials are limited.
A exothermic material, consists of a support (A) made of ceramics, high frequency absorber (B) which is coated on (A), microparticles (C) which are coated on (B), a catalyst (D) which is coated on (C). (A) Is made by (i) moulding ceramic microparticles. (ii)) moulding ceramic fibre. (A) Has micropores in which gas molecules can pass through. (B) Is made of semiconductor, or is at least one of oxide, carbide, and composite oxide, of which main constituents are Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Fe, Sn, Ti, and Si. Alternatively (B) is made of silicon carbide whisker. Ceramic fibre is at least one of alumina, silica, and zirconia. (D) Is at least one of Pt, Rh, and Pd, or at least one metal oxide of Cu, Mn, Co, and Fe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for producing exothermic material which generates heat by the absorption of high frequency and decomposes hydrocarbon and carbon mono-oxide in the exhaust gas of automobiles. One minute warm-up time has been necessary for conventional catalyst which oxidises hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide and reduces nitrogen oxides, this product is able to warm-up the catalyst in very short time before starting engine.
A catalyst (a) supports at least one Pt gp. element comprising Pd, Pt, or Rh (0.3-10g/L) on a gamma Al2O3 substrate on an acid-resistant three-dimensional ceramic honeycomb. A catalyst (b) is formed by adding at least one oxide of lanthanide-based metal La, Nd, or Pr, with a lanthanide-based metal/catalyst support Al mol. ratio of 2/98-40/60, to the catalyst (a) for preventing a decrease in methane invert ratio at high temps. and for improving catalyst heat resistance.    A catalyst (c) is formed by adding Mg oxide, with Mg/catalyst (a) Pt gp.-element atomic ratio of 1-30, to the catalyst (b) for depressing formaldehyde growth by NOx coexistence. The catalyst comprises a multistage catalyst layer (catalyst (b) and catalyst (c), (5a), (5b).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used for purifying exhaust gas released from a natural gas engine. The catalyst reduces the generation of formaldehyde harmful to a human body and having high photochemical reaction, and traces of other components.
Cleaning of (G) an exhaust gas contg. (N) nitrogen oxide, (H) hydrocarbon, (O) oxygen, etc. by removing the nitrogen oxide comprises by selectively reducing (N) nitrogen oxide by (H) hydrocarbon, using (C) a selectively reducing catalyst of silica-alumina prepd. by sol-gel method contg. Cu, Co, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Ag, etc. (C) catalyst is pref. of sol-gel method of a metal-alkoxide contg. (A) a mineral acid or its anhydride and an organic base which is (T) a tert-amine insol. to water and soluble to an organic solvent. (G) exhaust gas is pref. of combustion of natural gas to which more than 3 paraffin and more than 2C olefin is added. (C) catalyst pref. supports Cu in an amt. of 0.5-5 wt. % based on silica-alumina.    (C) catalyst is pref. of sol-gel of silica-alumina has pref. pores of dia. of 30-50 angstrom, and acid intensity Ho = -5-10. (A) mineral acid is pref. hydrochloric-, sulphuric-acid, etc. (T) tert-amine is pref. N,N-dimethyl-benzyl-amine, tributyl-amine, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cleaning of an exhaust gas can be efficiently effected even in case of the exhaust gas contg. a large amt. of oxygen and moisture.
(JP6124717-A)   NOVELTY - The separators (11, 12) are arranged on either sides of the positive and negative electrodes (51, 52) between which a solid polymer electrolyte film (1) is sandwiched. An air flow path (3) is formed between the positive electrode and the separator (11). A gas-sealing portion (10) is formed at the air outlet side end of the air flow path, so as to eject the unconverted gas through the air outlet (16).    USE - Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Improves the flow of hydrogen gas and air in the electrodes and prevents reduction in partial pressure, effectively.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of a fuel cell. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    solid polymer electrolyte film (1)    air flow path (3)    gas sealing portion (10)    separators (11,12)    air outlet (16)
Grass is introduced into a fermenter and its output prod. is fed to a pellet forming machine, then to dryer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Grass is treated in a short time without offensive odour emission and used as compost.
Organic waste, partic. domestic refuse, is composed by a process in which waste material (14) is put on a mat of fluorohydrocarbon-contg. plastic (12), which is rolled up. Heat is supplied to the mat via water fed into internal passages (26) in the mat and is controlled to a predetermined constant value by supply of hot or cold water. The mat is unrolled to remove the compost by means of stripping devices (20,28).    ADVANTAGE -   Rapid and complete composting, reducing bulk by approx. 50%.
Chemical recycling of plastic waste materials uses an improved partial oxidn. gasification process comprising gasification, waste heat recovery and carbon removal in a scrubber unit during formation of a soot water slurry contg. the unburned carbon and ash. The process is characterised in that the plastic waste material and oil feedstock are fed directly into the reactor and the unburned carbon and ash are sepd. from the formed gases and removed from the gasification process. A continuous once-through partial oxidn. process is established without the need to recirculate carbon/ash residue.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A partial oxidn. process for chemical recycling of plastics waste. Provides continuous once-through prodn. process eliminating the need for recirculation of the unburned carbon/ash residue. The overall efficiency of gasification is improved and amt. of contaminants in the feedstock can be increased.
A non-toxic, non-flammable refrigerant free of halogenated chlorofluorocarbons for use in a closed cycle refrigeration system comprises (i) a major component (70-95 mole-%) consisting of at least 2 and no more than 3 hydrocarbons; and (ii) a minor component (5-30 mole-%) comprising CO2 and other constituents serving as both refrigerants and flame retardants. The refrigerant has a b.pt. at the higher operating pressure of the system approximating ambient temp. for the operating pressures of the refrigeration systems.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is used in a closed cycle refrigeration system (claimed) such as household and commercial refrigeration, freezer units, air conditioning units, heat pumps, etc.. It permits a 2-temp. level refrigerating operation, the characteristics of the refrigerant being suited to cool 1st a freezer compartment then subsequently a refrigeration compartment. The refrigerant is non-toxic and non-flammable. It provides improved results and higher efficiencies than other known refrigerants. It contains very little or no halogenated chlorofluorocarbons. It permits more effective utilisation of heat exchangers, condensers and evaporators. Energy redns. of ca. 15% cf. Freon refrigerants have been observed, Lower temp. levels than are currently available for pure substance refrigerants can be achieved at lower pressures.
A landfill waste-water treatment system comprises an ozone supply, means for collecting landfill waste-water, a primary O3/UV reactor for treating landfill waste-water and means for transferring the mixed landfill waste water and ozone to the primary O3/UV reactor in the form of a spray.    The treatment system further comprises a secondary O3/UV reactor for pretreating landfill waste-water, and a filter system for filtering solid and soluble components from the treated waste-water. The waste-water contains at least two contaminants selected from organic solvents, insecticides, heavy metals, bacteria, fats, oils, and/or priority pollutants.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system and method are effective for the decontamination of waste-water contg. a variety of contaminants. The method in itself is non polluting and the quality of water produced is at least the minimum required for water for use in irrigation or for dumping into a publicly-owned treatment works for further processing. The cost of the method is economical.
Pretreatment of natural gas for removal of CO2 and water by absorption down to liquefied natural gas (LNG) specification regarding CO2 and water contents. The natural gas(2) is fed into absorption column (C10l) where it is brought into contact with an absorption soln. substantially free of water. The absorption soln. comprises one component acting as a solvent, which can be a mix. of solvents having a high affinity for water and being compatible with the other components having the ability to react reversibly with CO2. Used absorption soln. (6) is regenerated by stripping with large amts. of inert gas contg. substantially no CO2 or water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Pretreatment of natural gas for removal of CO2 and water by means of absorption down to LNG specification regarding CO2 and water contents. Pretreatment of crude natural gas. Natural gas can be purified to contain less than 50 - 100 ppm CO and less than 1 ppm water. Smaller amts. of stripping gas is necessary for obtaining LNG. Water and CO2 can be removed simultaneously. Desired LNG specification can be easily met.
Aerosol compsn. is based on polymeric organic material, monohydric saturated alcohol, foam-extinguishing agent, organic acid and propellant (aerosol-forming agent). To improve coefft. of deactivation, isopropyl alcohol is used as monohydric alcohol, oxyethyl-cellulose (3% aq. soln.) and polyvinyl butyral as polymeric substance, higher alcohol as foam-extinguishing agent, acetic acid (80% soln.) as organic acid and propane-butane mixt. (1:4) as propellant.    The compsn. additionally contains orthophosphoric acid (80% soln.), at ratio of components (in pts. wt.): polyvinyl butyral (100%) 8-15, isopropanol 85-92, oxyethyl cellulose 0.03-0.5, higher alcohol 0.1-5.0, acetic acid 2-4, orthophosphoric acid 3-10 and propane-butane mixt. 2-40.    The compsn. may also contain methylol polyamide resin as polymeric organic cpd., ethanol as monohydric alcohol, difluoro-dichloromethane as propellent, and nitric acid (56% soln.) as additional mineral acid, at ratio of components (in pts. wt.): methylol polyamide resin 9100%) 10-35, ethanol 65-90, higher alcohol 0.1-5.0, acetic acid 2-4, nitric acid 3-10 and difluoro-dichloromethane 2-40.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As aerosol compsn. for dry-deactivation (by spraying) of various surfaces contaminated with alpha- and beta-active radionuclides, for use e.g. in atomic power industry. The compsn. provides increased deactivation coefft..    In an example, compsn. is applied in 1-2 layers onto contaminated surface, by spraying, in amt. 200 g/sq. m, with drying period between application of layers equal 2 hrs., to the total thickness of coating 60-100 microns. The coating is removable manually. No corrosion is caused to metal surface.
Catalyst mfr comprises reacting a vanadium cpd with a phosphoric acid at a temp of 0-200 deg C in the presence of a glycol ether solvent, then eliminating the solvent.    Also claimed are (i) the mfr as above but including activation of the catalyst by the addn of butane or any other hydrocarbon feedstock and a phosphorus cpd at a temp of 300-500 deg C; (ii) the mfr where V and H3PO4 are slurried with a glycol ether solvent; the slurry is refluxed at 0-200 deg C for 0.5-6 hrs to reduce V from (V) to (IV); drying to remove solvent; shaping the catalyst in a geometric shape; and activating; and (iii) the mfr of maleic anhydride by oxidising butane at elevated temp in the presence of the catalyst above.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The maleic anhydride is used for the mfr of alkyd resins and is a versatile intermediate for chemical synthesis. The prodn of the catalyst has improved efficiency and cost with no chlorinated hydrocarbon by-prods as in prior art. The catalyst can be activated quickly and gives improved maleic anhydride yields.
Enclosed compost maker consists of an inner part (1) made of a compostable material and provides insulation and an outer part (2) which provides the structural stability of the unit. The outer part is also made of a compostable material.    Pref. the inner part is made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or paper, and its walls may be solid or contain a void. If a void is provided, it can be filled with air, cow manure, particles of wood, cardboard or leaves, and its inner surface may be perforated. The outer part is pref. made of wood.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For composting vegetable matter. Serves to contain and insulate the rotting material, and is made of easily obtainable natural materials which assist the rotting process.
The assembly has a drag chain conveyor (6) mounted on a vehicle chassis (7), which travels on the composting contg. frame (4) over the wide side of the composting zone (2) across the turning-over direction. The working width of the drag chain conveyor (6) is a fraction of the width of the composting zone (2).    The drag chain conveyor (6) mounting is at the centre of its length, to be pitched into two working positions by a draw cable (10) to work the material in two directions, with a direction change at the ends of the compost pile.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly is for turning over biowaste material, during composting, for ventilation and moistening where the material is held in layers in longitudinal piles between side walls. The system gives an automatic and continuous turning over action on the material, in succession, to work the compost in strips.
(AT9300779-A)      Assembly has at least one tunnel-shaped box (1) with a continuous drag chain conveyor (8) at the base. A conveyor (2), angled upwards, is at the feed end side (A) of the box (1), with a feed box (3), and a further conveyor (2) is at the other end side to extract the material, generally parallel to the first conveyor. Both conveyors (2) have the same design, fitted to the ends of the flanged housing.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for rotting organic waste, such as household and industrial waste, waste from the food industry and also forestry and agricultural waste materials into compost The assembly takes up little space, and can be fed continuously, with reduced degrading times. (Reissue of the entry advised in Week 9418 based on complete specification)
New compsns. are halogen-contg. mixed oxides of (a) Y, La, Nd, Sm and/or Yb; (b) Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba; and (c) Ge and/or Ga.    Component (a) is Y, (b) is Ba and (c) is Ge or Ga.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are useful as catalysts for converting lower alkanes (esp. Me) to heavier hydrocarbons (esp. C2H4 and C2H6) by oxidative coupling. The catalysts have better C2 selectivity than similar 2-component catalysts and better activity maintenance than prior art halogen-contg. catalysts.
Method for the recovery of separate fractions of paper fibre, plastic, soil fertilising agents and methane obtd. by extraction of household waste with water, comprises (a) carrying out the extraction in a vessel provided with a stirring appts. and a device that homogenises the waste without grinding down any mercury-contg. batteries that may be present; (b) leading the extract from the extractor and through a separator, decanter or cyclone, where the waste is sepd. into a heavier fraction, comprising mainly sludge, and a lighter fraction comprising dissolved paper fibre; (c) draining off the water from both fractions by filtering or centrifugal force and returning the eluate to the extractor; (d) removing scrap-iron from the remaining waste by magnetism and taking out plastic by sieving or pneumatic methods; and (e) repeatedly using the recovered extract as extraction liq. and fermenting to give a suitable concn. of methane, or removing the extract to use as a liq. fertiliser.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The extract can be used as a fertiliser. The recovered waste is free from heavy metals.
In take-out of a waste plastic thermal decomposition residue, waste plastic is continuously or intermittently fed to a thermal decompsn. oven to thermally decompose waste plastic. A thermal decompsn. distillate content is taken out and recovered as an oil content .In the take-out method, the thermal decompsn. residue contg. an oil content is intermittently discharged from the lower pt. of the oven. The intermittently discharged thermal decompsn. residue is heated for a given time each time the residue is intermittently discharged. An oil content is vaporised and recovered at the upper pt. of the oven, and a non-vaporised content is taken out to the outside.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An oil content contd. in a decompsn. residue can be sepd. with a high coefft. of sepn. and high efficiency through a heating system.
The device thermally decomposes waste plastic and cools and condenses a thermal decomposition distillate content and recovers it as an oil content. The device comprises a thermal decomposition oven 1 to thermally decompose waste plastic by a heat source generated by combustion; a lead-out part 4 for the thermal decomposition distillate content connected to the thermal decomposition oven 1 through a rise communicating part 2; a cooling liquefier 5 connected to the lead-put part 4; an air-cooled heat-exchanger 3 arranged to the rise communicating part 2; and an air feeder 21 heated by the thermal decomposition distillate content flowing through the rise communicating part 2 and feeding air, flowing out from the heat-exchanger 3, as air for combustion for the thermal decomposition oven 1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A thermal decomposition distillate content abundant in a comparatively soft content flows out from a lead-out part and an oil content softened by a cooling liquefier can be recovered.
Liq. from sludge from waste treatment is treated as follows: (i) treating with anaerobic microbes in an anaerobic tank; (ii) treating the treated liq. waste from the anaerobic tank with aerobic microbes in an aerobic tank; (iii) sterilising the treated liq. waste from the aerobic tank; and recirculating to the anaerobic tank to make fertiliser.    Pref. the liq. is circulated 2-5 times, and the treated liq. waste in the aerobic tank has a BOD of less than 0.5 kg-BOD/kg microbial cells/day.    Also new is an appts. consisting of an anaerobic tank, an aerobic tank, and a sterilising tank, with a device to circulate the treated liq. waste from the aerobic tank to the anaerobic tank.    ADVANTAGE -   This method enables easy and simple prepn. of low-BOD liq. fertiliser with N, P and K appropriately maintained.    In an example, the following conditions were set up for operating a system of making liq. fertiliser from liq. sludge waste: For anaerobic tank: HRT 8 hrs.; for aerobic tank: BOD vol. load 1kg BOD/m3/day, amt. of microbial cell bodies 5000 mg/l, BOD-microbial cell body load 0.2kg BOD/kg microbial cell bodies/day, HRT 24 hrs.; circulation ratio 3; for liq. sludge waste: BOD 1000 mg/l, N (soluble, mainly NH4) 100 mg/l, P (soluble) 20 mg/l, K (soluble) 20 mg/l; for microbe-treated liq. waste (outflowing liq. from the aerobic tank): BOD 30 mg/l. N (soluble, mainly NO3) 30 mg/l, P (soluble) 20 mg/l, K (soluble) 20 mg/l. The amt. of the remaining sludge was very small.
Fertiliser comprises animal and/or plant material composted anaerobically to remove methane and a fertiliser raw material for pH adjustment. It has a pH value of pH 3-11.    Also claimed is method for producing anaerobically fermented and pH adjustable compost which comprises mixing a compost raw material obtd. by excluding methane gas from anaerobically fermented animal and vegetable compost materials and a pH adjustable compost raw material selected from the group of alkaline raw materials and acidic raw materials with an amount by which a pH value being suitable for crops to be applied in the range of pH 3-11.    Methane gas is removed from animal and vegetable compost materials by anaerobically fermenting it in a room isolated from oxygen supply, a plastic bag, a drum can or water. Animal and vegetable compost materials are such as animal compost materials, e.g. animal feces, sewage sludge, urea fertilizers, etc. and vegetable compost materials, e.g, rice straw, mown weed, bark, saw dust, soybean meal, etc., pref. free from contamination    by agrochemicals and heavy metals.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost produced can adjust pH suitable for crops, prevent metabolic damages of crops and diseases of crops, and is to the air.
To treat oil in oil-contg. waste water by bacteria, the oil is adsorbed on sludge in an oil adsorbing tank, the water is sepd. to solid and liquid in a sedimentation tank, supernatant sepd. in the sedimentation tank is released, oil contg. sludge is led to an oil decomposing tank, where the oil is aerobically treated by bacteria and at the same time the sludge is activated, and the treated sludge is used again as the sludge for the adsorption.    ADVANTAGE -   Oil in waste water can be adsorbed on sludge and decomposed there by bacteria. A treating appts. is made smaller. Sludge is formed in a reduced amount. Running cost is reduced.
Soil-nutrients are prepd. from vegetable oil prodn. and agricultural by-prods. as follows:    Oil soaked fullers earth boiled with an aq. soln. contg. 3-5 wt. % sodium-carbonate, under constant agitation, at 2.5-3.5 bar pressure. The prod. contg. 10-20 wt. % fat is sepd. by mechanical filtration 25-40 wt. % of sludge obtd. as a result of biological purification of sewage is added. Further 25-40 wt. % of sunflower-seed husk is added and sufficient quantities of 10-30mm long comminuted straw and liq. manure and are added so that a mixt. of following proportions is reached: organic content:20-50 wt. %; carbon:nitrogen ratio:27-30; moisture; 55-80 wt. %. The final mixt. is composted exposed to air for 5-7 months at 70 deg.C max. temp.
Th by-prod. or waste is placed in a pressure vessel (1) from which the air is exhausted. The vacuum is maintained while the vessel is flooded with a liq. mixt. prepd. in accordance with the requirements of utilisation. Atmospheric pressure is restored and the liquid mixt. penetrates into the cells of the plant material. The excess liq. is removed from the vessel and the plant material is further processed.    ADVANTAGE -   Treatment enables utilisation of agricultural waste.
Process for reduction of water usage in photographic developing equipment having a washing bath for developed films supplied with water which is evacuated via an overflow to drain. A measured quantity of water is supplied to the washing tank each time a film is introduced into the appts. and at predetermined times, when the appts. is stopped, the additions are made; (a) a biocide/dispersant/surfactant to the filled washing tank, (b) a glycolic enzymatic cpd. to the pipe connected to the overflow.    Biocide addn. to the washing tank (7) is shortly after stopping appts., e.g. at the end of the day, and after allowing the biocide to act for several hours, e.g. overnight, the tank is emptied and refilled with water ready for operation. Addn. of the glycolic enzymatic cpd. is made after 20-40 hrs. operation, pref. weekly.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Developing of photographic films. Reduction in water usage (claimed). Elimination of algae. Prevention of pipe blockages by gelatine.
Fermentation treatment appts. for organic refuse, has a closed container (1) to which refuse is introduced via a charging port (2) into a pre-fermentation region (10) from which it passes to a main fermentation region and then to a ripening region (12). Gas from the pre-fermentation region (10) is passed together with fresh air from ventilation tubes (17), into the stacked layer, pref. via a pump (14) and discharge device (15), while gas from the main fermentation and ripening regions (11, 12) is discharged (21) to atmos.    Also claimed is (i) a fermentation appts. with agitation pawls (6) in which gas discharged from refuse is discharged via discharge tube (22) contg. a demister, for sepg. mist from gas, and a discharge path for condensed water; and (ii) a fermentation appts. in which a charging box is coupled at its lower end, which ha a detachable lid, to a grinding chamber, formed by a relatively moving conveying shaft and a friction cylinder which feeds the compacted crushed material into main fermentation and ripening chambers contg. agitation shafts and vent tubes.    Preferred embodiment has air introduced into the material in the container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in fermenting and drying organic refuse, such as domestic refuse, night soil, livestock and food processing waste, and sludge. Appts. has high capacity which, by circulation of gases from pre-fermentation region into main fermentation and ripening regions, prevents generation of odours.
Organic waste, partic. domestic waste, is composted by a process in which structure material, e.g. woodchips is placed in a chamber (12) of a large vol. container (10) and organic waste is added at the collection point. A vertical screw (14) in the chamber is operated to mix the structure material with the waste and air is introduced to obtain optimum composting conditions. The filled container is brought to a centre.    ADVANTAGE -   Optimum conditions for composting are obtd.
Method for continuous recovery of materials such as gas, oil, and solid substances from, for example, rubber through anaerobic pyrolysis in a continuous substantially horizontal pyrolysis chamber where this then pyrolysis products such as gas or oil are burnt and fed to the raw material counter-currently in a last step before the introduction of the raw material into the pyrolysis chamber for expelling of oxygen, so-called inerting and preheating of the raw mtaerials.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the recovery of, for example, rubber which mainly originates from worn out car tyres. The pyrolysis products are burnt and fed back to the raw material to inert and preheat the raw materials.
A thermophilic cellulose-decomposing bacterium Clostridium thermocellum biovar.SK522 (FERM BP-3459), which is able to solubilise lignin, has optimum growth temp. of 65-72 deg.C, grows in the range 40-80 deg.C and ferments cellulose energetically, is new.    Also claimed is a thermus aquaticus biovar. SK542 (FERM BP-3382) which is completely aerobic, has optimum growth temp. 72-76 deg.C, will grow in the range 40-82 deg.C, produces a thermophilic protease (having optimum working temp. 75-85 deg.C, working pH 4.0-11.3) and produces a yellow carotenoid pigment.    The bacterial strains are used together as a mixed culture at 60 deg.C or higher. They may be formulated into an organic material decompsn. agent which may also contain vitamins, amino acids and other micronutrients and minerals.    USE -   The bacteria are used in lignin solubilisation treatment of organic materials contg. lignin and/or cellulose (e.g. deodorisation of excreta and mfr. of organic fertiliser) and soil conditioning.
(A) A catalyst complex comprises an organosulphonic acid contg. at least one covalent C-F or C-P bond provided by a phosphono radical which has been contacted with a Lewis acid to produce a catalyst complex contg. the Lewis acid. (B) An alkylation catalyst comprises (A) and an amt. of Lewis acid sufficient to maintian the Lewis acid concn. of the organic sulphonic acid alkylation catalyst component. An alkylation process comprises contacting a mixt. of isoparaffins and olefins with (B) and sepg. the alkylate stream from the catalyst.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst complex is used in alkylation of olefins into alkylate prods. useful as high octane gasoline blending components, and for conversion of organic reactants into reaction prods. Process improves octane number rating of gasolines. Acid catalyst has little or no corrosive components and no disposal problems.
A composting device comprises a cylindrical drum (1) rotatably supported in a frame (2) with a slightly inclined axis. The drum (1) is subdivided into compartments (13, 14, 15) by means of sieve screens (16, 17), where lower screens (17) have a smaller mesh size than adjacent higher screens (16).    A hopper feed (4) leading to a feeding opening (3) leads to the first chamber (13) for material to be composted. A discharge opening (5) leading to a discharge funnel (6) deposits finish composed material into a sack (7). External gear rings (9) driven by a transmission gear drive (12) operated by a driving motor (10) controlled by a timer (20) rotates the drum to expose the contents to oxygen in the atmosphere, assisting the process of decomposition.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the degradation of organic waste into compost material. A simple, easy to operate device for speeding up the process of degradation without a forced air supply.
Process for recovering a condensable organic component from a gas stream comprises: (a) providing an incoming gas stream contg. a condensable organic component, the component having b.pt. more than 50 deg.C at atmos. pressure; (b) providing a membrane with a feed side and a permeate side and which comprises a polymer material with a glass transition temp. of at least 100 deg.C and free vol. of at least 10%; (c) contacting the feed side with the gas stream; (d) withdrawing from the permeate side a permeate stream enriched in the condensable organic component compared with gas stream; and (e) withdrawing from the feed side a residue stream depleted in the condensable organic component compared with gas stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Membrane gas sepn. process esp. for removing condensable organic vapours from gas mixts., e.g. hydrocarbons from natural gas, organic vapours from air, methane, nitrogen or hydrogen. Process combines high flux with selectivity for the condensable component.
Polymeric material is depolymerised by (a) preparing a molten mixt. of (i) a basic material which is NaOH, KOH, Na2B4O7.10H2O, Na3BO3, Na2SiO2 and/or K2SiO3, (ii) a source of Cu selected from Cumetal, univalent Cu and/or divalent Cu and (iii) a polymeric material which is polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride and/or polypropylene and (b) maintaining the molten mixt. under unpressurised air atmos. and at temp. sufficient to reflux the mixt. below 250 deg.C for sufficient time to depolymerise the material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for depolymerising polymeric materials for recycling or disposal. Process for the recycling or safe disposal of polymeric materials esp. polyethylene which can be carried out in the presence of solids or liq. waste contaminants. The liq. active hydrocarbon prod. obtd. from degradation of polyethylene has b.pt. and chemical properties resembling kerosene or diesel fuel.
Producing a foam polyolefin prod. exhibiting desirable antistatic properties comprises (1) forming a polyolefin compsn. (I) comprising (a) a polyolefin resin, (b) a hydrocarbyl sulphonate, and (c) an ester of a long-chain fatty acid and polyhydric alcohol, wherein (b) and (c) are each present in an amt. sufficient to form a polyolefin foam prod. having desirable antistatic properties; (2) adding a blowing agent (d) for expanding the compsn.; and (3) extruding the mixt. of (I) and (d) under conditions producing a foamed antistatic polyolefin prod.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as insulating and packaging materials, partic. for components, such as electronic devices, which require static dissipation. The foam prods. exhibiting good antistatic properties and stress crack resistance, do not have a corrosive effect on metal substrates and are readily prepd. using existing processes and equipment.
In a process for the cryogenic distn. of air using high and low pressure columns in a multiple column distn. system, wherein: (a) at least a portion of the air feed is fed to the high pressure column for rectification into a high pressure N2 overhead and a high pressure crude liq. O2 bottoms; (b) at least a portion of the crude liq. O2 bottoms is fed to the low pressure column for rectification into a low pressure N2 overhead and a low pressure liq. O2 bottoms; and (c) at least a portion of the liq. O2 bottoms from (b) is boiled in a sump located at the bottom of the low pressure column; a method to produce a stream enriched in Kr and Xe directly from the low pressure column comprises: (i) withdrawing an O2-enriched vapour stream and an O2-enriched liq. stream from a point at least one equilibrium stage above the sump; (ii) returning the O2-enriched liq. stream to a point between the sump and the low pressure column's initial equilibrium stage; and (iii) withdrawing the Kr/Xe enriched stream from the bottom of the sump.    Pref. after step (iii) the process further comprises: (iv) removing any C2+ hydrocarbons and N2O from the Kr/Xe enriched stream in an adsorber; (v) boiling the Kr/Xe enriched stream in a second sump by indirect heat exchange against a condensing process stream (pref. a portion of the high pressure N2 overhead) and the vapour is returned to the low pressure column and a prod. stream further enriched in Kr/Xe is withdrawn from the bottom of the second sump.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows safe increase of the concn. of Kr and Xe in liq. O2 streams of up to, e.g. 1082 vppm and 209 vppm respectively. Methane is removed in the main air distn. column and thus saves the expense of a separate distn. column and the associated reboiler/condenser.
A manometric thermometer contains a body for a flexible sensitive element, a transmitting-amplifying mechanism and a read-out device, while a thermo-bottle is filled with a vapour-liq. mixt. and is connected by a capillary to the flexible sensitive element. Nitrogen is additionally added to the bottle, while the mixt. is formed of n-butane at 15-25% by mass.    During filling of the thermo-system of a manometric thermometer with a gas-liq. mixt. in a phase ratio of 1:4 by vol., a 2-phase system with a sharp surface of its interface is formed in the closed space, i.e. n-butane and nitrogen above. As the temp. increases, the pressure of satd. vapours of n-butane increases, increasing the portion of n-butane of the gas phase. The end of a flexible sensitive element (2) is moved by the increased pressure and acts through an amplifying mechanism (3) on a needle (4) of a read-out device. A thermo-bottle (5) is filled with a mixt. of liq. n-butane 20+-5% (vol) and of nitrogen 80+-5% by vol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Measurement of temp. in various areas of mfg.. Extended measuring range.
Waste is crushed and sepd. into scrap metal and finely crushed domestic waste. The domestic waste is dehydrated in a dehydrating machine, mixed with CaO and coal dust and reacted. After the reaction the waste is compression-moulded into pellets by a high-pressure briquetting machine and solidified by drying to obtain a solid fuel.    ADVANTAGE -   The method achieves high disinfecting and deodorising efficiency and ease of compression moulding, permitting utilisation of garbage with small amts. of fuel.    In an example, domestic waste was crushed by a crusher and sepd. into finely crushed domestic waste and scrap metal. The waste was dehydrated by a roll compressing machine, CaO and dust coal added and reacted in a mixing reaction vessel. The waste from the vessel was compression-moulded into pellets in a high pressure-briquetting machine, dried, neutralised and solidified to obtain a solid fuel. Ca(OH)2 formed by the aq. reaction of CaO was mixed well with the domestic waste, resulting in high disinfecting and deodorising effects.
Cycloolefin copolymer resin foam consists of cyclic olefin copolymer resin contg. foams formed from alkali metal carbonate and foaming agent.    Prepn. of the resin foam is carried out by extruding a mixture of cycloolefin copolymer resin, alkali metal carbonate and foaming agent, which is fused under heat pressing in an extrusion moulding machine, to low pressure zone through metal mould of the extrusion moulding machine to obtain a foam.    The olefin copolymer resin has density about 1 g/cm3 and glass transition temp. about 140 deg.C. The foaming agent is satd. aliphatic hydrocarbon, e.g. n-butane, iso-butane, n-pentane, iso-pentane, neo-pentane, etc. are desirable.    ADVANTAGE -   The cyclic olefin copolymer resin foam has good dimensional stability, heat resistant stiffness, chemical resistance, weathering property and electrical insulation based on cyclic olefin copolymer and has light weight based on uniform fine foams and shows reduced contraction to inhibit generation of creasing on the surface.
Catalyst (I) comprises one or more of platinum complex(es) (IIa) (IIb), (IIc), (IId) and their salt(s) to oxidise or hydrogenate olefin(s) (III), where L = deprotonated amide ligand, L', L" = ligand, 1 - 0, 2, 3, 4, m = 9, 10 and n = 5, 6.    Platinum complexes (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and (IVd) and their salts are also claimed. of similar formula to (IIa) - (IId) where L = c5H10No or C7H6NO.    Pref. (IIa)-(IId) have L= alpha-pyrrolidonato (C4H6NO), pivalylamidato(C5H10NO), benzamidato(C7H6NO), L',L" = NO3-, NO2-, H2O, OH-, halogen, SO42-.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful as catalyst to oxidise (III) with oxygen directly under mild conditions to obtain epoxide(s) etc.. (I) is useful as hydrogenating catalyst of (III).
Plant pathogenic fungus inhibitor contg. Pseudomonas sp. bacterium having antagonism against plant pathogenic fungus and betaine.    Also claimed are organic fertiliser having plant pathogenic fungus inhibiting ability to which above Pseudomonas sp. bacterium and betaine are added.    The organic fertiliser is prepd. by (1) fermenting by adding water to Pseudomonas sp. bacterium, betaine, organic raw material and raw material for fertiliser opt. contg. fermenting additive or (2) mixing Pseudomonas sp. bacterium, betaine, water and opt. porous adsorptive carrier to fermented organic fertiliser.    Examples of Pseudomonas sp. bacteria are, P. mesophilica, P. putida, P. fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, P. pickettii, P. stuzeri, P. maltophilia, etc. Pref. betaine is trimethyl glycine,. Number of Pseudomonas sp. bacterium to be added to, e.g. turf grass is about 10 power 5 to 10 power 12, pref. 10 power 7 to 10 power 10/1 m2 and amount of betaine to be added is about 10 mg to 50 g, pref. 250 mg-25 g.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plant pathogenic fungus inhibitor and the organic fertiliser enhance particularly resistance of turf grass against pathogenic fungi such as Pythium aphanidermatum Pythium vanterpooli, Pythium graminicola, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, etc.
The appts. comprises air heating pipes in a hot water tank to heat the air and air pump to feed the heated air to hot air pipes at the bottoms and/or walls of composting tanks having stirring blades.    USE -   Used for treating organic wastes.
System includes refuse disposal unit arranged in common space in each or specific floor in group of apartment, building, etc.; pipes arranged inside wall near the common space and connected to disposal unit through small pipes, refuse collectors at lowermost ends of pipes, and compost fermenting vessel and crushing or compacting means inside garbage disposal unit.    Crushing or compacting means crushes cans, bottles and plastics are broken into pieces or compacts them. Compost or broken or compacted pieces are gravitationally dropped into respective refuse collectors from which waste is periodically discharged.    Frequency at which refuse must be collected and carried by public service can be reduced.
In the prodn. of solid fuel, waste mainly contg. plastic is softened at a temp. lower than the m.pt. of the plastic. The softened material is added to a Ca cpd., agitated, mixed, moulded, and cooled so that a solid fuel is produced.    In the prodn., the waste is melted to be liq. and then added with the fine Ca cpd. The amt. of the fine Ca cpd. to be added is 1-30 wt.% based on the waste. The plastics may be polystyrene vinyl chloride, FRP, etc. resins. The Ca cpd. may be CaO, Ca(OH)2, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As solid fuels. The Ca cpd. can be permeated into the waste or evenly dispersed, in a short time. When the solid fuel is burned in an incinerator, the Ca cpd. reacts with harmful cpds. contg. Cl, S, etc., reducing the discharge amt. of harmful substances, e.g. HCl, SOx, etc.
Garbage treating appts. comprises a garbage crashing device, an anaerobically decomposing tank for treating crashed garbage anaerobically, a pH adjusting tank for adjusting pH of waste soln. after anaerobic decomposition, an anaerobic methane fermenting tank for methane fermenting waste soln. after pH adjustment, aerobic treating tank for oxidising waste soln. after methane fermentation and sedimentation tank for sedimenting sludge in waste after oxidn. pH Adjustment in the pH adjusting tank is conducted by aerating the waste soln.    More specifically, appts. has a circulating path for returning waste solution in sedimentation tank to pH adjusting tank so that N-contg. components in waste soln. are removed and water quality of treated water in treated water released area is kept good. By aerating, waste soln. is reduced by increase of OH caused by the reaction of O2 in the air and H+ in waste soln. and by the escape of small amt. of volatile acidic components out of the pH adjusting tank so that the waste soln. is neutralised.    ADVANTAGE -   pH Of waste soln. can be adjusted without using an alkali agent or a filter device. pH Adjustment and pH maintenance can be easily be conducted.
Acclimatisation and proliferation of sulphur oxidising bacteria comprises aerating activated sludge contg. reductive sulphur cpds. and a carbonate in an aerator with aeration under control with an indicator of oxidn.-redn. potential (ORP), calculated from changes of free energy (delta GO) resulted from oxidn. of the reductive sulphur cpds. to sulphuric acid cpds. and pH 4.0-7.5.    In an aeration tank, waste water of 0 to +150 mV is placed at pH 4.0-7.5 pref. 5.5-6.5 and sulphur oxidising bacteria are cultured opt. together with carbonate (e.g. CaCO3 and Na2CO3) at ratios of 0.083-4.3 kg/m3/day or 0.088-4.4 kg/m3/day, respectively. The resultant sludge is circulated at ratios of 20-30% to the aeration tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Accelerated acclimation of sulphur oxidising bacteria active under pH 4.0-7.5 for the treatment of waste water contg. reductive sulphur cpds.    In an example, in an aeration tank and a sludge pptn. tank, a mixt. of waste water and active sludge was placed at a rate of 1130 mg/l. Waste water of COD = 300-600 mg/l. and 0.83 kg/m3/day of CaCO3 were supplied and aerated for 3-5 days to eliminate thiosulphate and sulphide cpds. in 3-5 days and COD was reduced to 50 mg/l. or less. The treatment period was gradually shortened with the acclimation of microorganisms down to 2 hrs/day and treated water exhibiting COD less than 10 mg/l. can be released to public water body.
Proliferation and accumulation of S oxidising bacteria in activated sludge contg. reductive S cpds. and organic cpds. is effected in an aerator with aeration under control with an indicator of oxidn.-redn. potential (ORP) calculated from changes of free energy (delta GO) resulting from oxidn. of the reductive S cpds. to sulphuric acid cpds. and pH 4.0-7.5.    Pref., in an aeration tank, waste water of 0 to +150 mV is placed at pH 4.0-7.5 (5.5-6.5) and sulphur oxidising bacteria are cultured opt. together with AcOH or Ca(OAc)2 as a C source at ratios of 0.025-0.5 kg/m3/day or 0.033-0.66 kg/m3/day, respectively. Gaseous C sources, e.g., coke gas, contg. total organic carbon (TOC) source of 2,000 mg/L may be introduced at a rate of 5-100 L/day/m3. The obtd. sludge is circulated at ratios of 20-30% to the aeration tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Accumulation of S oxidising bacteria active under pH 4.0-7.5 is accelerated.    In an example, in an aeration tank and a sludge pptn. tank, a mixt. of waste water and active sludge was placed at a rate of 1,130 mg/L. Waste water of COD = 300-600 mg/L and 0.25 kg/m3/day of AcOH were supplied and aerated for 3-5 days to eliminate thiosulphate and sulphide cpds. in 3-5 days and COD was reduced to up to 50 mg/L. The treatment period was gradually reduced with the accumulation of microorganisms down to 2 hrs./day and treated water with COD of less than 10 mg/L may be released.
To treat waste soln. generating during distillation of shochu, mould belonging to genus Aspergillus is incubated in the waste soln., the waste soln. after the incubation is sepd. to solid and liquid, the sepd. soln. is treated by an up flow anaerobics sludge blanket method, the treated water is released out of the system and the residue is used as feed.    More specifically, treatment comprises a sterilising step, a bacteria incubating step, a solid-liquid sepg. step and an UASB treating step. In the sterilising step, the waste soln. is heated at 100-120 deg.C for 10-30 minutes to kill miscellaneous germs. In the bacteria incubating step, the mould belonging to genus Aspergillus e.g. A. awamori, A. oryzae or A. niger, is added to the waste soln. in an amt. of 5-10%. In the solid-liquid sepg. step, the waste soln. is filtered by a nylon filter of 20-40 meshes or a porous metal plate. In the UASB treating step, anaerobic bacteria self-fixed to a granule of 1-3 mm. size are put at the lower part in a reactor and the waste soln. is flowed upward from the bottom and the anaerobic bacteria are slowly stirred by the waste soln. flowed in and by the upward stream of gas generated such that the bacteria are granulated to form granular sludge.    ADVANTAGE -   The waste soln. is easily sepd. to solid and liquid and the filtrate is effectively treated.
(JP6104000-A)   NOVELTY - The device includes an ejector (25) which mixes the anode waste gas (6) ejected from fuel cell (21), with the heating gas (7) supplied to the modifier (22). A pressure-reduction orifice (24) lowers the pressure of heating gas supplied to modifier (20).    USE - Used in buildings or apartments.    ADVANTAGE - The device reduces the partial pressure of water vapor supplied to the fuel cell, improving reaction in fuel cell is improved. A high fuel utilization factor is obtained.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the block diagram of the fuel cell power generating device.    heating gas (1)    water vapor (2)    anode waste gas (6)    heating gas (7)    modifiers (20,22)    fuel cells (21,23)    pressure-reduction orifice (24)    ejector (25)
Rubbish tip has discharge zone (1) with biogas collector (2) connected to an electroburner (9), and process for vitrification of waste by melting in fusion oven (41) using collected biogas as fuel. Reduction of volume of domestic and industrial waste at discharge sites.    The biogas collected is also used to provide electrical power to the fusion oven electroburner and to heat air supplied to the fusion oven.    ADVANTAGE -   Uses evolved biogas from waste as fuel and for prodn. of electricity, reducing costs. Combination of biogas and hot air in fusion oven allows temp. to reach magma fusion temp. of 1400-1500 deg.C compared with 1100-1200 deg.C for raw biogas.
The work up of compost comprises granulating the compost by rolling in rotating plates or drums and then drying it followed by sorting according to granule size into a fraction contg. the desired size (A), an undersized fraction (B) and an oversized fraction (C). Finally fraction (A) is subjected to a cleaning process by separating the granules from accompanying impurities.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process can convert composts of varying origin into marketable products, such as can be used as soil improvers or for decorative soil cover or path cover when mixed with dyestuffs. The process does not require any special composition of starting materials, unlike pelleting and can be used with composts which are of too low adhesiveness or have too high a content of abrasive materials to be suitable for pelleting. It is possible to work up weak and completely rotted composts.
To monitor the biological decomposition of compost material, the temp. is measured continuous by contact at a side wall of the decomposition cell to show the level within the compost.    Also claimed is an assembly with contact plates (3) at about half the height of the side wall (1) of the decomposition cell, with immersion sleeves (4) for the insertion of a temp. sensor (5).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is for monitoring the disinfection of compost through the effect of heat to kill any germs developed through decomposition. The technique ensures that sufficiently high temps. are achieved and maintained in the compost for an effective disinfection over a sufficient time.
Composter assembly (10) comprises a plastic assembly including a lower body half (14) and an upper body half (16), which fit together to form a truncated cone shaped container. A lid (18) is provided, and there is an optional baseplate (12) which may be anchored to the ground of anchor-bolts (78). A lockable, slidable hatch prevents unauthorised entry, and provision is made for cooling and venting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for composting domestic organic waste. The unit is compact, lightweight easily assembled and disassembled without tools, and readily transportable by automobile.
Methane monitor and engine shutdown appts. has (a) a methane monitoring control connected to a methane monitoring sensor device; such that (b) the sensor is sensitive to methane gas in the atmos.; (c) when a predetermined unsafe condition develops, such as when the concn. level of ambient methane gas exceeds a predetermined setting, the sensor generates an output signal; and (d) the output signal causes the methane monitoring control to attenuate the intake air supply of an internal combustion engine; resulting in (e) prompt and safe engine shutdown.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Methane monitor and engine shutdown system at oil wells. The system detects a concn. level of combustible hydrocarbons in the atmos. at oil and natural gas well sites.
The unit has a methane tank (1) with a throat (2) and gas hood (4), product loading and unloading pipes, an additional container (6), fitted outside the methane tank and connected to pressure pump (10). The additional container is connected to the methane tank throat. The pump pressure pipe is connected to the tank lower part. The gas hood is made as a cylinder which contains a conical-plate packing (5).    In an embodiment, the mass is supplied by pump (15) to the pulp-pulp heat exchanger (14) where it is heated by the fermented mass heat and then flows to the water-pulp heat exchanger (13) where it is heated to the required fermentation temp. and is then supplied by pump (15) tangentially to the tank (1) lower part where the mass is effected by the anaerobic microorganisms. During fermentation the heavy particles settle to the tank (1) base and are removed through pipe (16). The organic suspended matter is floated to the top by biogas bubbles and then together with part of the liq. flows through openings (3) to the additional container (6), and is pumped by pump (10) to the heat exchanger (13).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for organic waste utilisation. The metal volume is reduced and operation reliability is increased.
Resin beads consist of styrene-type resin having wt. average mol. wt. of 150,000-250,000 as measured by GPC and contains 2-8 wt.% of at least isobutane as a blowing agent and 0.2-2 wt.% of (A) fatty acid esters of glycerine based on the styrene-type resin.    Pref. (A) are triglycerides and diacetylated monoglycerides.    ADVANTAGE -   The resin beads provide cellular mouldings resistant to distortion and contraction.    In an example, after distilled water (100 kg), Ca3(PO4)2 (0.3 kg) and Na dodecyl benzene sulphonate (0.003 kg) were put in an autoclave, benzyl peroxide (0.30 kg) tert. butylperbenzoate (0.15 kg), tert. dodecyl mercaptan (0.05 kg), and glycerine tristearate (0.8 kg) were dissolved in styrene monomer (100 kg) and added to them. The temp. was raised to 90 deg.C over one hour, and n-butane (1.3 kg), isobutane (3.8 kg), and pentane (3.0 kg) were forced unto the autoclave 4 hr. after the temp. reached 90 deg.C. Then the temp. was continuously raised to 120 deg.C and kept at 120 deg.C for 3 hrs. to obtain polystyrene beads. They has wt. average mol.wt. of 195,000 and contained 3.2 wt.% isobutane, 0.9 wt.% n-butane and 2.7 wt.% pentane.
The putrefaction/maturation of good-quality compost is carried out by fermenting compost with the addn. of 2-oxo-4-methyl-5-ureido hexahydropyridine (CDU) and dried blood, and pref. with the addn. of thermophile and alkaliphile bacteria, pref. Bacillus licheniformis.    ADVANTAGE -   The compost accelerates the growth of young seedlings, and also effectively controls various plant diseases, e.g. cucumber cracked-vine diseases, etc..
Garbage disposal device includes cylindrical drum (4) fitted inside a ring (2) with three sets of rollers (5) at equal distance. A holder supports the rear face of drum, it is rotated by a rotary shaft (6b). A lid (8) fitted to front face of drum through hinges (7) at almost central locations, and handle (9) turns the drum. Three hollow pipes (12) having ventilation holes (13) are axially arranged at equal distances inside the drum, while one end of each pipe extends outside the drum. Turnover blades (14a, 14b, 14c) are provided between the lower end of one pipe and the upper end of another.    ADVANTAGE -   Device can be easily manually turned.
A worm composter has a container of water permeable substance which allows surplus moisture from waste and waste processing to pass through its wall and evaporate from its outer surface.    Pref. the base and lower parts of the container have a reinforcing mesh of flexible netting. Pref. the container is not plastics.    ADVANTAGE -   Rotting is avoided.
Process for recovery of high purity liq methane from gas mixts. of methane, 2C+ hydrocarbons, CO2 and N2, comprises (a) passing the input gas mixt. into an adsorption unit to remove moisture, (b) passing the dried gas mixt. into a membrane sepn. unit where CO2 is sepd. off to a residual content of less than 2 vol.% and (c) subjecting the remaining gas mixt., consisting essentially of methane, 2C+ hydrocarbons and N2, to a low temp. distn. in which the 2C+ hydrocarbons and residual CO2 are removed by distn. and the N2 is removed by flash evapn., to give a high purity liq. methane prod. stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The high purity liq. methane is useful as an environmentally benign fuel for diesel engines in locomotives, buses and commercial vehicles. The process allows recovery of high purity liq. methane from natural gas. The amine scrubbing stage used in some previous processes to remove CO2 is eliminated and a smaller adsorption unit can be used than previously.
Reduction of deposits on thermally treating synthetic organic wastes at 230-550 deg C, 10 mbar-450 bar, and for 0.02-40 hrs in inert gas, opt in the presence of small amts of oxygen, is claimed, in which the specific amt of meltable plastic contg heteroatoms is limited to less than 10-0 (pref 5-0) wt% in the starting product to be treated.    ADVANTAGE -   Esp. prevents formation of coke.
Prepn. of high quality compost contg. a main component of compost (prepd. from untreated organic wastes) comprises mixing the compost with paper or cardboard wastes (which is low in harmful substances and which have been worked up into a woolly or flaky structure) which serve as a second main component.    Prior to mixing the paper or cardboard is pref. worked into a form which has specific wt. of 150 g/l. Plant nutrients esp. nitrogen are added to the mixt. during the mixing process. At least a portion of these nutrients show rapid (bio)availability. The mixt. is also treated with other mineral additives e.g. sand or native soil, during the mixing process. These additives are added up to amts. of 10-50 vol.%. The mixt. is also treated with bark wastes, bark compost or sludge, in amts. up to 10-50 vol.%. The mixt. is stored for at least 4 hrs. prior to use. It may be dried or moistened to a definite water content esp. 20-30 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The prod. is useful as a compost e.g. for horticulture. The process allows prodn. of composts which do not contain turf and are therefore favourable on certain ecological grounds (e.g. protection of damp natural environments). The compost contains low amts. of harmful substances.
A refrigerant compsn. comprises bis(difluoromethyl) ether and 1-trifluoromethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, difluoro, methoxy pentafluoroethane, 1-trifluoromethoxy-1,2,2,2-tetra-fluoroethane, 1-trifluoromethoxy-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, tris(trifluoromethyl)-amine, difluoromethyl sulphur pentafluoride, pentafluoroethyl sulphur pentafluoride, ammonia, butane or isobutane.    Also claimed is the above refrigerant compsn. being an azeotropic or azeotropic-like compsn.    Also claimed are: (i) a process for producing refrigeration by condensing and evaporating the above compsn. in the vicinity of the body to be cooled; and (ii) a process for producing heat comprising condensing an evaporating the above compsn. in the vicinity of the body to be heated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is useful as cleaning agent, expansion agent for polyolefins and polyurethanes, aerosol propellant, refrigerant, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectric, fire extinguishing agent, power cycle working fluid, polymerisation media, particulate removal fluid, carrier fluid, buffing abrasive agent and displacement drying agent. HFCs have no chlorine and therefore have zero ozone depletion potential.
Inhibiting methane production in methanogenic bacteria comprises treating the medium contg. the methanogenic bacteria with an anthraquinone cpd..    The medium can comprise a mixed culture including hydrogen- and acetate-producing strains. The anthraquinone cpd. is a simple deriv. in which the anthraquinone is substd. by up to 4 of halo, carboxyl, OH or NH2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is useful for controlling methane prodn. (by e.g. methanococcus, methanobacterium, methanosarcina, methanobrevibacter, methanothermus, methanothrix, methanospirillum, methanomicrobium, methanococcoides, methanogenium and methanoplanus) in subsurface landfills, rumen of ruminant animals (e.g. cattle and sheep) and rice paddies. Methane prodn. in cattle rumen reduces the efficiency with which cattle produce milk and beef from feedstocks. Previous treatments have lacked specificity for methane formation and some exhibit a multitude of side effects. Methane is a major greenhouse gas and prodn. from landfill sites needs to be regulated.
A remote control device of natural gas concn. contains, on the receiving side, a spark-safe AC supply source and a threshold device. A methane sensor is in the form of 2 series connected transformers, with their prim. windings loaded respectively on working and comparing elements of a thermo-catalytic converter. The sec. windings are connected through capacitors to diodes.    AC voltage from a spark-safe source (1) passes along a line (2) to a methane sensor (3), in the form of 2 series connected transformers (4,5), loaded respectively on working and comparing elements (6,7) of a thermo-catalytic converter. Voltages from the transformers (4,5) pass through rectifying diodes (8,9) counter to each other and through capacitors (10,11) shunted by resistors (12,13) and a constant component equal to the difference of voltages of the transformers (4,5), is sepd. in the line (2).    This component is formed during change of resistance of the working element (6) in proportion to concn. of a measurement component, is sepd. on a sepg. capacitor (14) and passed to a measuring instrument (15). A comparator connects a light diode (17) when this component exceeds a set value.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Tele-monitoring of concn. of methane in objects. Better reliability and increased length of connecting line.
A test stand of methane signal device is equipped with a second flow-through cell with a control valve, a control methane sensor, a control manometer, a valve control unit, a cadence pulse generator, a time interval former and series connected voltage-code converter, memory register, digital-analogue converter, comparing unit and correction unit, connected between the control sensor and the standard sensor.    Standard and test methanemeters (6,13) are calibrated using a check gas mixt. from a bottle (5) passed through a 2-input gas tap (4) to flow-through cells (11,8) with test and standard sensors (12,7). Methane is passed from a tank (2) and a methane -air mixt. is passed from a chamber (1) by a fan (3) through the cells (11,8). When a valve (22) is opened, a control gas mixt. is formed in cell (11) and the valve (22) is closed after a determined time. The signal from the test meter (13) passes through a voltage-frequency converter (14) and digital integrator (15) to a memory register (16) and is then converted in a digital-analogue converter (17) and passed to a comparing unit (18), also receiving the signal of the standard meter (6) and acting through a correction unit (19) to compensate the reading of the standard meter (6) for instability of the sensor (7) and to improve working stability.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Checking and adjustment of shaft methane signal devices. Better methane concn. measuring accuracy.
A portable shaft methane signal device is equipped with 4 counters and a sensor protection unit, connected to a concn. indication unit and to a signal device, connected to the concn. indication unit and to the third counter. The signal device is used to form an audio or light signal corresp. to the working mode of the sensor.    A button (2) is pressed to pass a high potential to a transistor (11) and open it, to pass voltage from a source (10) to a HF generator (12) and supply a signal device (8). A thermo-catalytic sensor (7) is supplied with 1.8 +/- 0.05 volts, stabilised by a voltage stabiliser (5) controlled by a transistor (6) and a negative feedback. Flameless combustion of methane in the sensor (7) alters its resistance.    A signal from the sensor (7) passes to the signal device (8) and a signal of methane concn. is amplified and passed to an audio signal device (9). If the methane concn. exceeds 2%, a comparator produces an intermittent signal from device (9). During failure of the comparing element of the signal device, device (9) forms equal sound signals and pauses and an emergency methane concn. of 5% is indicated by intermittent sound and light signals.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Monitoring of methane content of mine atmos. Better working safety.
The tank has a housing (1) with acid and alkali fermenting chambers (2,3) and a section (4) for filtered silt water, a raw water supply and silt water and biogas outlet pipes (5,6,7). The alkali chamber (2) is placed above the acid chamber (3) and is provided with perforated false base (8) forming the silt water collector (4). The tank also has a unit (9) for gas methanisation, divided by baffles (10) and false base (11) into bubbling chambers (12) with overflow cups (13), and immobilising packing made as flexible threads and outlet pipes. The unit upper part is connected to the silt water collector and the lower part is connected to the biogas outlet pipe (16) from the alkali chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For biogas production with high methane content. The methane content is increased by increasing the organic matter decomposition.    The bird droppings with a humidity of 80 percent is dissolved in mixer (25) to a humidity of 90 percent and is pumped by through pipe (5) to chamber (2) at 54-55 deg.C and fermentation takes place for 4-5 days oxidising the organic matter and fatty acids. The mass is then pumped to chamber (3) where the silt water is separated by the false base (8) and flows to the collector (4) and then flows to the bubbling chamber (12). The biogas from the chambers (3,2) flows to the blowing chamber (17) for gas methanisation.
Waste heat generated by incineration of garbage in garbage disposal plant is fed to contaminated water disposing plant to generate methane gas from sludge. Methane gas and offensive odour gas are recovered in garbage disposal plant. Garbage is burnt by using methane gas and offensive odour gas as auxiliary fuel and combustion air, respectively.    ADVANTAGE -   Offensive odour gas can be easily disposed of and waste heat can be effectively utilised.
Desulphurisation catalyst working at lower pressure in the presence of CO3 and CO, consists of a Ni-ion exchanged Y-type zeolite support and a catalyst alloy of Ni-Mo. A desulphurisation plant is also claimed, which comprises a means supplying crude kerosine oil to the plant, a means supplying to the plant H2 gas which contains CO2 and CO, and a reactor contg. the catalyst. Pref. the H2 gas is supplied from a steam cracking plant of a fuel cell system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Kerosine oil is desulphurised at a lower pressure, below 10 kg/cm2. Thus desulphurised kerosine oil is used to produce H2 gas for a fuel cell system.    In an example, Y-type zeolite with Si/Al=5 was treated with 1 M NiNO3 aq. soln. and fired at 500 deg.C. It was further treated with an aq. soln. dissolving 1 M of ammonium molybdate and fired at 550 deg.C. A catalyst loaded with 3 wt.% Ni and 7 wt.% Mo was obtd.
Recovery of acid catalyst from an acid catalysed hydrocarbon conversion process is effected by (a) passing a prod. stream of converted hydrocarbon leaving the conversion process contg. the acid catalyst through a fixed bed of solid adsorbent material having an affinity for the catalyst to adsorb the catalyst material; (b) desorbing the catalyst by passing a process stream of hydrocarbon through the adsorbent bed; and (c) cycling the process stream and catalyst to the hydrocarbon conversion process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used partic. with a process stream which comprises a mixt. of paraffinic and olefinic hydrocarbons for prepn. of high octane gasoline by acid catalysed alkylation of the paraffinic with olefinic hydrocarbons (claimed). It is also used for isomerisation and hydration of hydrocarbons. Recovery and reuse of the catalyst improves the economy of the process and diminishes the environmental risk during storage and final processing of spent catalyst (partic. HF). The catalyst is recycled without further processing. Distn., extraction or filtration of the catalyst, necessary in prior art processes, is avoided. Adsorption occurs at the same process conditions as the conversion and no detrimental side reactions occur in the prod. stream during removal of the catalyst.
Dehalogenation and/or degradation of halogenated organic chemical contaminants in water, sediment or soil is affected by adding a combination of fibrous organic matter which is capable of supporting bacterial or fungal growth and multivalent metal particles in amts. which promote reductive dehalogenation of the organic cpds. A compsn. for carrying this out comprising metal particles and fibrous organic matter in a wt. ratio of 1:1-1:500000 is also claimed.    Pref. the metal is selected from (a) Fe and Mg or mixts. of these, at 50-5000 mg, pref. 250-2500 mg/kg of water or dry wt. of soil or sediment, with the wt. ratio of metal:organic matter = 1:1-1:10000; or (b) Zn, Cu, Co and Ni or mixts. of these, at 1-1000 mg, pref. 10-100 mg/kg of water or dry wt. of soil or sediment, with the wt. ratio of metal:organic matter = 1:10-1:500000.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process and compsn. promote an anaerobic reductive dehalogenation thereby making the contaminants more readily degradable by microorganisms which are naturally present in the soil, water or sediment.
Solid catalyst active in converting CH4 to higher hydrocarbons comprise CaO, MgO, a rare earth metal oxide (RE2O3) and opt. Li2O, where the Li content is 0-0.2 wt.%, the Ca/Mg atomic ratio is 0.05-0.7, and the (Cu+Mg)RE atomic ratio is 0.8-8. Also claimed is a process for converting CH4 to higher hydrocarbons, comprising contacting a gas mixt. contg. CH4 and O2 with a catalyst as above at a temp. of at least 650 deg. C..    A gas stream comprising CH4, O2 and opt. an inert gas diluent is passed through a fixed bed of the catalyst at 650-1000 (esp. 800-950) deg. C.. The CH4/O2 molar ratio is 1.5-12, esp. 207. The contact time is 0.0005-0.02 min./g catalyst per ml feed gas.    ADVANTAGE -   Partial replacement of Mg by Ca in the catalysts of IT 22483A/90 improves catalyst stability.
The process comprises (1) treatment of polluted water by known methods in artificial pools by culture of fish, molluscs or aquatic plants with removal of floating debris for sorting and recycling; (2) weld/enzymatic hydrolysis of organic wastes including chopped plant growth and fish from (1), sugar can bagasse, field stubble etc. to convert hemicelluloses to sugars, with sepn. of the liquid must for fermentation and prodn. of alcohol for fuel, (3) bio-digestion of the dry residue from (2) with addn. of the sludge from (1) with control of pH, temp. and concn. in a series of digesters made of ferro-cement with vermiculite cement thermal insulator.    The digesters contain coils for heating by solar radiation and stirrers actuated by wind power or motors. Methane-rich gas produced is taken off for use as fuel (4). Sepn. by gravity of sludge rich in heavy metals which is withdrawn from the base of the last digester, while the liquid rich in fertiliser is drawn off from above.    ADVANTAGE -   Problems with composting waste, e.g. bad smells, percolation of liquid into soil, wasted energy, flies and mosquitoes, cost of labour and equipment are avoided. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9415 based on complete specification).
Solidified and cultured material bering 10 power 8 to 10 power 10 cfu/g actinomyces is mixed in one unit of dewatered sludge and then it is adjusted to 45-65% water and forcibly ventilated for 3-10 days for fermentation in order to obtain a cured compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A fermented compost is produced in a short time.
A new controlled catalytic process for the oxidn. of methane by microwaves, it is carried out in the presence of a catalyst which has electrical imbalances and geometric deformations in its structure which enable absorption of electro-magnetic energy in an electro-magnetic field. Also claimed are new catalysts designed for the process.    The process is used for the prepn. of ethane and ethylene, by an adsorption reaction between CH4 and the catalyst surface (contg. O- ions) to give CH3 radicals and OH gps., the CH3 radicals then combining to give C2H6 with elimination of OH gps. as water. Further controlled oxidn. of C2H6 gives C2H4.    ADVANTAGE -   Oxidn. processes in prior art have not attained very high yields and selectivities, due to subsequent oxidn. of C2H6 and C2H4 to CO2 (x = 1 or 2). The invention obviates this disadvantage by operating at temps. 100-200 deg.C lower than have been used in conventional heating ovens and the use of mixed oxide catalysts. Global yields of 14.8% and selectivities up to 98% were attainable.
In sepg. an operating process stream consisting essentially of hydrogen, methane, and C3/C4 hydrocarbons which has previously undergone a treatment step e.g. dehydrogenation, and which is then at least subject to a single stage condensation and separation into a C3/C4 hydrocarbon-rich fraction and a H2/CH4 fraction, after which a partial stream of the H2/CH4 fraction is added back to the original, as yet untreated process stream, the H2/CH4 gas fraction withdrawn from the first separator (S1) is divided into two streams (10,17), where the first stream (10) together with the liquid fraction (11) from the bottom of the first separator (S1) is fed, after partial condensation in (W2), to a second separator (S2). The C3/C4 hydrocarbon-rich liquid fraction withdrawn from the bottom of the second separator (S2) together with the second H2/CH4 gas fraction stream (7) from the first separator (S1) are fed into a stripping column (S3). A H2-rich gas fraction of high purity (13) is withdrawn from the top of the second separator (S2) and, after evaporation *in a heat exchanger (W2) against the operating process stream to be cooled, is mixed with the as yet untreated operating stream (2,2a,2b). From the bottom of stripper column (S3) a C3/C4-rich product fraction (20) and from the top of stripper column (S3) a H2-rich gas fraction of lower purity (18), are withdrawn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Separation process for reaction products stream containing hydrogen, methane and other low molecular weight hydrocarbons arising from e.g. dehydrogenation of iso-butane to iso-butene for subsequent production of MTBE (me-t-butyl ether). Reduction of soot formation, increasing the capacity and economy of the dehydrogenation reaction by using a low methane content hydrogen recycle stream to provide the necessary ballast for the reactor.
Conversion of a chlorinated alkane to prods. including a less chlorinated alkane in a commercially substantial proportion is effected by reaction with H2 in the presence of a supported catalyst including one or more Gp. IB metals or cpds. and one or more Gp. VIII metals inclusive of Pt, Ir, Pd or Ru or their cpds.    HCl is pref. incorporated in the feed to the process. The Gp. IB metal pref. includes Ag or Au and the Gp. VIII metal includes Pt or Ir, pref. Pt. More pref., the catalyst consists entirely of Au and Pt. A pref. process involves gas phase conversion of 1,2-dichloropropane to give prods. including propane. The reaction occurs in the gas phase at 1 atmos.-10.3 Pa (gauge), pref. 0.03-3.4 Pa, more pref. 0.28-2.1 Pa, and 100-350 deg. C, pref. 180-300 deg.C, more pref. 200-260 deg.C with residence time of 0.25-180secs, pref. 0.5-120secs, more pref. 1-90secs. The H2:chlorinated alkane molar feed ratio is 0.1:1-100:1, pref. 0.5:1-20:1 and more pref. 0.75:1-6:1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The less-chlorinated alkane prods. are directly useful in the processes from which the waste or by-prod. chlorinated alkane feed was taken or are used in other processes or for sale. The chlorinated alkanes are by-prods. or waste prods. from useful chemical mfg. processes. The less-chlorinated alkanes are produced in at least 20% yield, pref. at least 30%. Addn. of HCl to the feed reduces coking and catalyst, deactivation rates to a loss in conversion of no more than ca. 0.03%/h, pref. no. more than 0.01%/h.
Heavy metals and sepd. from aq. media by treatment with finely-divided Fe3O4 (I) and finely divided FeS (II), then after a suitable time, removing Fe3O4-FeS with bound heavy metals. (II) is formed in situ so that it becomes bound to (I), e.g. by reducing FeSO4 with either a water-soluble sulphide or with a sulphate-reducing bacterium (partic. Desulphovibrio).    (I), which is synthetic material, has particle size not over 1 micron and the Fe3O4:FeS ratio is 1:1-10, partic. so that the total content of Fe cpds. is 0.01-1 wt.-vol.%. The (I)-(II) material is sepd. magnetically.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used to remove toxic heavy metals such Cd, U, Pb, Cu, Hg, Co, Cr and Ni, partic. from industrial effluent. The method is simple; is not restricted to paramagnetic metals; does not require bacteria and removes 90-95% of the heavy metal present. It can be operated continuously or batchwise.
Compositing appts. has a motor driven, elevated, rotatably mounted chamber (14) formed of a helically corrugated metal pipe (24) with axial internal baffles (50). The baffles and corrugations mix and move the material between the tube inlet (12) and outlet (16) as the chamber rotates. The elevation of the tube controls residence time of chamber contents.    Also claimed is a composting appts. in which the chamber is a pair of synthetic containers arranged with their open ends together to form an annular channel permitting controlled leakage of material from the chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Composting appts. for yard waste, waste paper, grass, leaves and trimmings, food and meat scraps. Efficient compositing appts. of scale suited to both home, municipal and commercial use.
Prodn. of C2 hydrocarbons is carried out by oxidative coupling of methane under definite conditions including passing methane or methane-contg. gas through the membrane side of membrane reactor composed by forming membrane on the surface of one side of a support consisting of porous material and passing oxygen or oxygen-contg. gas through another side of the reactor. The support consists of silica-alumina porous material and the above membrane consists of an elaborate liq. film formed by melting, while painting slurry of compsn. consisting of Bi2O3, Li2CO3, and K2CO3 on the surface of one side of above supporter and sintering after drying, component consisting of above Li2CO3 and K2CO3.    Pref. SnO is additionally used in the compsn. used to membrane formation. Pref. appts. used consists of (1) support composed of porous material. (2) Membrane formed on the surface of one side of the support and (3) region of methane or methane-contg. gas flow directly adjacent, through the support to the membrane side and region of oxygen or oxygen-contg. gas flow directly adjacent to opposite side through the support. Pref. amts. are Bi2O3:1-50 molar % as Bi, Li2CO3:10-70 molar % as Li, and K2CO3: 5-60 molar % as K.    ADVANTAGE -   Membrane-constituting film is elaborate and easily producible; with good reproducibility, increasing its yield rate on repeated use. Selectivity to C2 hydrocarbons is very high and selectivity to ethylene can be exceedingly increased.
A new polyimide sepn. membrane is made of aromatic polyimide having the repeat unit of formula (I).    USE -   Used for gas sepn. like methane from He, methane from H2, or O2 from N2, or for dehydration, purification, or filtration. Esp., the new membrane has a higher sepn. factor for methane sepn. from He.    In an example, in 64.9g of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone were suspended 2.9g of 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetra carboxylic acid dianhydride; 2.3g of 3,3'-dihydroxy-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane were added over 30 min. The reaction mixt. was polymerised at 25 deg. C for 1 hr. The resultant polyamic acid was cast on a glass substrate, heated at 100 deg. C for 3 hrs., further heated at 300 deg. C for 1 hr. to obtain a polyimide sepn. membrane 28.45 microns thick.
(JP6076853-A)   NOVELTY - The fuel cell (31) is divided into electricity generation chamber (35), fuel ejection chamber (36) and fuel supply chamber (37) filled with catalyst. The cell tubes (38) in the fuel cell, have fuel injection tube (39) whose one end is connected to the chamber (37) and other end extends into the cell tube. A cave hole ejects water to the fuel waste gas (42) collected in chamber (37), for discharging waste gas.    USE - Cylindrical-type solid electrolyte fuel cell (SOFC) module used for generating electricity using fuels such as natural gas, coal gas, methane, methanol.    ADVANTAGE - An inexpensive cylindrical-type solid electrolyte fuel cell module with uniform capability and high recycle capability, is provided.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a longitudinal sectional view of the cylindrical-type SOFC module. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    SOFC (31)    electricity generation chamber (35)    fuel ejection chamber (36)    fuel supply chamber (37)    cell tubes (38)    fuel injection tube (39)    fuel supply port (41)    fuel waste gas (42)    fuel discharge port (43)
A liq. core material (A) and a liq. curing resin (B) are extruded continuously to form drops; an energy ray is irradiated on the drops so as to cure the surface layer of liq. curing resin(B).    (Claimed) Core material (A) and resin (B) are extruded co-axially. Let the drops fall freely and energy rays are irradiated on them. Resin (B) has a lower surface tension than core material (A). Resin (B) is a cross-linking curing resin, esp. contains curing monomers and oligomers. Resin (B) is an acrylic resin contg. at least 30 wt.% of monomers which contain at least two acryloyl gps.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to produce capsules encapsulating food, medicine, fertiliser, agriculture chemicals, cosmetics, or enzyme. Various kinds of liq. core material can be encapsulated. The capsules have a higher mechanical strength.    In an example, liq. curing resin with 28 dyne/cm surface tension was prepd. by blending 60 pts.wt. of urethaneacrylate oligomer with 3 acryl gps., 40 pts.wt. of 1,6-hexanedioldiacrylate, and 4 pts.wt. of initiator of benzyldimethylketal. The liq. curing resin and liq. core material of water with 72 dyne/cm surface tension were extruded through a tube-on-orifice spinneret. UV-light with 360 nm wavelength was irradiated on the resultant drops to obtain capsules with 1.5 mm dia. and 0.15 mm wall thickness.
Prodn. of a substance by culturing a microbe in a medium prepd. from an organic waste. The medium being pref. prepd. by treating an organic waste microbe with an enzyme or with an enzyme-producing microbe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An organic waste discarded from a food plant can be used again as a resource and the final residue can be used as a fertiliser and/or a feed. In an example, 10 times, the amount of tap water was added to 100 g of dry beer gains and the mixt. was stirred at room temp. slowly for 5 hrs. to extract the components which may be nutrients for the useful microbe. 10 times the amount of tap water was added to 500 g of a live yeast dehydrated by a dehydrator and 300 cc of a culture of Myxococcus xanthus ATCC25232 was added to it and cultured at 25 deg.C for 3 days. 5 l of the culture was mixed with 1 l of the above beer grain extract. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was inoculated to the above mixed soln. and cultured at 38 deg.C for 48 hrs. Ethanol was added to the culture to recover 4 to 5 g/l white powder hyaluronic acid.
A catalyst for partial oxidn. of methane or a gas mixt. contg. methane has the formula LnxA1-yBy03 (I) in which x is greater than 0 and less than 10 y = 0-1 Ln = a rare earth metal, Sr or Bi A is a metal chosen from elements of gps. IVb, Vb, VIb, VIII and VIII and B is a metal chosen from elements of gps. IVb, Vb, VIb, VIII and VIII.    Pref. in (I) Ln = at least one element chosen from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, En, Dy, Ho and Er, A is a metal chosen from gps. IVb, VIb and VIII and B (different from A) is a metal chosen from gps. IVb, VIb and VIII, esp. where A is chosen from Ti, Cr, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh and Ni and B (different to A) is chosen from Ti, Cr, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh and Ni. Pref. y is greater than 0 and less than 1. Pref. the catalyst has perovskite type crystal structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalysts are useful for vapour phase partial oxidn. of methane and gas mixts. contg. a high proportion of methane, such as natural gas and gases associated with petroleum, to form H2 or a synthesis gas mixt. comprising CO and H2 with small amts. of CO2. The catalysts are stable under the prevailing reaction conditions and give high conversion of methane-contg. gases such as natural gas and petroleum gases using oxidising agents such as oxygen, air or CO2, opt. with addn. of N2, under relatively mild conditions, to give high yields of H2 or synthesis gas consisting predominantly of CO and H2.
Fuel gas is recovered from waste and abandoned coal mines by introducing the waste into a coal mine which is tightly sealed by a lock system and which serves as a reaction space, in which reaction of the waste with mine coal (dust) and water is activated to form fuel gas.    A lock system, esp for carrying out the above process, has one or more conical lock elements (15,16) which are operated by an opening and closing mechanism and which are located in a lock shaft (14) formed in a steel-reinforced concrete core (13) in the mine entrance region, the or each lock element (15,16) sealing on an abutment (18,19).    ADVANTAGE -   The process produces a high grade fuel gas esp from domestic waste and the residual coal content of abandoned coal mines.
In the environmentally friendly disposal of municipal and industrial clarification sludges by utilising the thermal energy of their carbon contents, the novelty is that the sludge is dewatered to 50-70% water content and then dried to a pneumatically transportable product, which is assessed for use as a fuel, conditioned by addn of carbon sources and then used in an ore smelting process.    Also claimed is a disposal plant for carrying out the above process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp to produce a substitute fuel for the continuous direct lead smelting (QSL) process. The carbon content is utilised for ore redn or similar reactions; pollutants, esp heavy metals, are combined in the smelting slag or the metal melt; and no special waste gas treatment is required, other than that normally employed in ore smelting.
The biogas plant consists of an underground bio-reactor (1) with bell-shaped gas collector (2) and with horizontal mixer inside the reactor in the form of a set of spokes (3) on a common shaft (4). The bio-reactor has oppositely-located trays (5,6) for loading fresh manure and unloading effluent, through which a chain transporter (7) passes, also passing through the reactor. The transporter has a drive (8) and equidistant scrapers (9), which engage with the spokes in the lower position. The scraper spacing is equal to the peripheral pitch of the spokes.    With the gas collector (2) removed, the bio-reactor (1) is loaded with the prepared initial manure composition. The collector is then put in place. The collector floats up to the top of the manure when gas accumulates under it, and sinks as the gas is used. It serves as a receiver, preventing atmospheric air from penetrating the reactor. The initial mixture is poured into the reactor with the apertures in the trays (5,6) overlapping, to prevent air reaching the fermented manure, which is biologically converted. The gas is stored in the collector and used as required.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For processing agricultural waste. Easier loading and unloading, high productivity.
Expandable beads consisting of acrylonitrile-styrene-type copolymer is obtd. by incorporating (A) a mixt. consisting of 60-95 wt.% cyclopentane and 40-5 wt. % butane as blowing agents with (B) resin beads obtd. by copolymerising 65-85 wt.% styrene-type monomers and 35-15 wt.% acrylonitrile in amt. of 3-25 pts. wt. w.r.t. 100 pts. wt. of the resin beads.    Prodn. of the expandable beads is by dispersing (B) in an aq. medium, putting the dispersion in a closed vessel; heating to 80 - 140 deg.C and forcing (A) into the closed vessel at 80-140 deg.C while stirring until (B) contains at least 3 pts. wt. of (A) w.r.t. 100 pts. wt. of (B).    ADVANTAGE -   The expandable beads provide cellular materials having small coefft. of contraction. Also the blowing agents does not delete ozone layer.
(JP6068896-A)   NOVELTY - Fuel electrode (3) and oxidizing agent electrodes (4) are formed on both sides of electroconductive solid state polymer film (22). A fuel gas humidification portion (36) comprises a water replenishment path (24) which is formed in a bipolar plate (25B) and opposes fuel gas humidification path (26) formed in a bipolar plate (25A). The fuel gas humidification path is connected to a fuel gas path (6).    USE - Solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - Eliminates the need for humidification tank and gas piping. Hence, fuel cell is simplified. Thermal efficiency and performance of the fuel cell are improved. The number of components is reduced and manufacturing cost is reduced.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An oxidizing agent humidification portion (37) comprises water replenishment path (23) which is formed in the bipolar plate (25A) and opposes oxidizing agent humidification path (27) formed in the bipolar plate (25B). The oxidizing agent humidification path is connected to an oxidizing agent path (7). The oxidizing agent and fuel gas humidification paths are arranged mutually at symmetrical position with respect to the solid polymer film.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a sectional view of the solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Fuel electrode (3)    Oxidizing agent (4)    Fuel gas path (6)    Oxidizing agent path (7)    Electroconductive solid polymer film (22)    Water replenishment paths (23,24)    Bipolar plates (25A,25B)    Fuel gas humidification path (26)    Oxidizing agent humidification path (27)    Fuel gas humidification portion (36)    Oxidizing agent humidification portion (37)
The plant has several adjacent composting boxes which are located in a closed shed and which are connected to underlying aeration channels. Material supply, mixing, circulation, transfer and discharge are carried out by (a) one or more fixed discharge conveyor spirals extending below the discharge openings of several composting boxes; (b) one or more fixed entry conveyor spirals extending above several composting boxes; (c) one or more inclined interconnecting conveyor spirals; and (d) one or more distribution conveyor spirals which can move above the composting boxes.    ADVANTAGE -   The plant has a capacity covering municipal and/or regional organic waste composting requirements, is emission free and operates without risk to operating personnel.
Appts. to regenerate and sterilise soil, has a screw conveyor (4) within a longitudinal treatment zone (2), to give a continuous mixing and forward movement to the earth from the entry (5) to the exit (16) sides. A steam system (8) delivers steam under pressure into the treatment zone (2) through steam entry openings (20) along its length.    The treatment zone (2) is aligned at an angle to the horizontal of 10-60, or 20-40, or 30 deg., so that the outlet (16) is higher than the entry (5). The steam entry openings (20) are in a higher density at the entry (5) end than at the outlet (16) end of the zone (2), in terms of number of openings and the opening interval is smaller at the entry end. The screw conveyor can be hollow, with steam openings at the wall surfaces of the screw.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. for compost soil, contg. bacteria and microorganisms, which require sterilising by steam, etc.. The appts. gives a continuous and cost-effective action, to give a steam sterilisation, which can be used universally.
For the biological cleaning of coarse inorganic material, soiled by hydrocarbons, the coarse-grain material and water are inserted into a watertight container in a vol. where the material is wholly covered by the water. Adapted microorganisms are added to clean out the hydrocarbons together with nutrients, vitamins and trace elements, and oxygen is delivered to the watery solution. The material is allowed to dwell in the container until the impurities have degraded or dissolved significantly. The coarse grain material is washed for further use. The sludge is removed and the water is extracted to give water containing microorganisms and some nutrient salts for return to the container, and the dried sludge is disposed of.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is for soiled material such as railway ballast, which is subject to soiling by diesel fuel and lubricating oil deposited by trains. It can also be used to clean construction rubble and gravel. The method gives a simple and cost-effective cleaning action, where the cleaned material can be used again, such as railway ballast.
Thermal cracking of synthetic organic waste materials is effected at 200-600 deg.C and 0.01-450 bar for a residence time of 1 min to 24 hr. in an inert gas atmos. contg. 0.1-10 vol.% O2. The temp. is pref. 220-500 (esp. 240-480) deg.C. The pressure is 0.1-350 (esp. 0.1-1) bar. The resilience time is pref. 5 min. to 24 hr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used to convert waste plastics, e.g. high-density polyethylene (HDPE), to prods. of lower viscosity. Addn. of O2 accelerates thermal degradation without causing resin or deposit formation.
A spherical composter (10) consists of identical triangular panels (14) made from polypropylene, polyethylene or similar. The panels (14) are flat, with edges (16) each having a male tab (18) and a female tab (20). The male tabs have side units (28), whilst the female tabs include sub tabs (32). The sphere (10) is built up by interconnecting a sufficient number of panels (14), interlocking in disconnectable fashion by the tabs (18,20).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use as a composter, or for contg. instruments, or as a shelter. As a composter it can be easily rolled to promote aerobic action.
Liquid effluents e.g. sugar cane or fruit juices, residues from the alcohol and alcoholic drinks industries, vegetable oil extraction, etc. are subjected to anaerobic fermentation with lactic bacteria, yeasts, photosynthesis bacteria and actinomycetes, with removal of excess CO2 during fermentation.    If necessary, fish meal or other nutrient is added during fermentation, and the pH adjusted by addn. of organic or inorganic acid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Pollutant waste prods. are converted into useful materials for applicn. to soil or plants as manure, treatment of animal bedding etc. to remove odours, treatment of effluents, etc. Pollution and disposal problems are avoided. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9412 based on complete specification)
Organic waste is placed on a closed tank which is immersed on water in a larger tank and heated over a furnace. The waste undergoes fermentation and is converted into petroleum, being subsequently discharged under vacuum. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9412 based on complete specification)
Organic waste is treated by forming an maintaining an aerobic compost bed onto which are fed solid organic waste and waste water. Excess wastewater is filtered through the bed and removed from the bottom to prevent anaerobic conditions from developing. Composted waste material is also removed from the bottom of the bed.    The appts. includes a compost reactor vessel (11) partially filled with active bed of compost (12) supported by drainage medium (14). A drainage system, (15) pref. of perforated flexible plastic ducting with a corrugated annular wall profile is coiled about the bottom of the vessel and leads to a drain (43). Air is drawn over bed down vent (26) and under bed and through drainage system to maintain aerobic conditions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Waste may be partially or completely derived from water closet or dry toilet. The compost bed may include wood waste and garden waste. Additional materials which the process can convert into a valuable soil amendment include cellulose fibre-based prods., e.g. paper, cardboard and box board; natural cellulose fibre prods., e.g. cloth, contaminated dressings, facial tissues, sanitary pads, tampons and disposable nappy linings; food wastes; grass clippings, shredded prunings and leaf litter; dust, hair and link; and water borne organics including soap, detergents, household chemicals and mineral salts. The process is reliable and efficient not requiring frequency specialised management intervention.
Animal bedding manure is processed more efficiently as follows. A suitable hole is dug in the ground nearby, and half-filled with a mixt. of soil and sand contg. Oligochaete class ring worms in amounts of 30-35 worms/ton of manure which is gradually added on top of the soil and layer. After 5-9 months the worms are sepd. for use as protein-contg. additive to fodders, and the rest is used as fertiliser.    The worms used belong the families of Lumbricidae, Eisenis foetida, Lumbricus terrestris, Allolophora coliginosa and megascolecidae.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture. The process is more efficient and prevents bacterial contamination of the animals.
Mixt. of soln. of sewage and activated sludge that has generated bulking or has the possibility of generating bulking, is added to OS-4 gps., their culture, or processed culture, that belong to (Acinetobacter) genus.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for preventing generation of bulking caused by growth of filamentous fungus, by using Acinetobacter fungus which produce substances impeding their growth. Conventionally to prevent generation of bulking, adjusting the vol. of air, redn. in the sludge load, or intermittent aeration has been used, and when the bulking generates countermeasures such as extn. of sludge, increasing oxygen concn. in the aeration tank, or addn. of reagent is used. This method prevents bulking generation by adding small amt. of fungus for long time, which dissolves filamentous fungus quickly.    In an example, 2 ml of PGY culture ground were put into five 20 ml test tubes respectively, which after thermally processed in an autoclave 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 ml of culture soln. of OS-4 gps. were put into the test tubes respectively, then added them physiological saline soln. so as the total vol. to be 10 ml, and added them 0.5 ml of (S. natans: KRN-A1 and -SY-1). The test tubes had been incubated at 30 deg.C for 3 days. Results are shown in fig.1, where OD expresses the density of filamentous fungus.
Light is irradiated as the organic cpd. in the presence of titanium oxide and/or hydrated titanium oxide, and oxygen in a perfluoro inert liq., including perfluoroalkyl amine.    The organic cpd. pref. comprises, e.g., methane or ethane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The use of the perfluoro inert liq. for oxidn. decomposition readily decomposes gas or liq. organic cpd. No intermediate prod. or CO is grown. C contained in the organic cpd. is converted into CO2. The result treats the harmful organic cpd. causing environmental pollution. Decomposing polydiphenyl chloride generates no harmful substance, including dioxin.
Process for producing isoparaffins from a mix. of 4C hydrocarbons comprises: 1) deisobutanisation by distillation of mixture of 4C mix and effluent from step 3) below with part condensation of distillate for recycle as reflux liquid; 2) adsorption of the other part of the distillate by upward flow through a bed of molecular sieve whilst in vapour phase to give essentially pure isobutane product; 3) desorption, alternating with step 2), by lowering pressure in the adsorber and passing through a portion of the isobutane product from step 2), with desorption effluent being passed to the column in step 1); 4) isomerisation of residue from step 1) in the vapour phase; and 5) separation of isomerisation product into recycled vapour phase and liquid crude effluent.    ADVANTAGE -   High purity isobutane (suitable for MTBE manufacture) is produced with minimised energy use. The process allows use of high-activity halogenated catalysts without effecting molecular sieves used in the adsorptive separation.
Improved PSA process for the recovery of two gas products at high yield and purity from a feed gas contg. less and more strongly adsorbed components, comprises (a) introducing the feed gas stream at elevated pressure into parallel adsorptive beds filled with adsorbents to retain the more strongly adsorbed components, allowing the less strongly adsorbed components to be recovered as product at high recovery and purity; (b) terminating the introduction of the feed gas before the more strongly adsorbed components break through the downstream end of the bed, and depressurising the bed to ambient pressure removing the less strongly adsorbed component from the bed and recycling a portion of the depressurisation effluent to the feed gas; (c) passing a low pressure purge gas of more strongly adsorbed components through the bed to remove any residual less strongly adsorbed components from the bed; (d) evacuating the bed to a subambient pressure to recover the more strongly adsorbed components as the second product at high recovery and purity; (e) repressurising the bed with less strongly adsorbed components to about the pressure of the feed gas, in which the steps (a)-(e) are performed on the several beds resulting in a continuous process; and (f) increasing the energy efficiency of the process by a purge effluent repressurisation in which the bed is partially repressurised between steps (d) and (e) with the effluent from one of the parallel beds presently undergoing step (c).    ADVANTAGE -   Two prods. are recovered at high yield and purity using less power.
Polyamideimide(s) (PAI) are claimed based on repeat units of formula -A-X-A-Z- (E) where A = amide gp. or linkage; Z = divalent organic residue; and X = divalent organic residue with 1 or 2 imide rings in the chain, with the imide N atoms linked to an in-chain phenylene gp. which is substd. with gp(s). (S) (other than H) in the ortho position to the N atom.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Membranes made of PAI are used e.g. for gas sepn. and as catalyst supports. The invention provides new, vitreous polyamideimide(s) (PAI) with good film-forming properties (from soln. in NMP etc) which can be used to produce membranes with very good mechanical properties as unsupported thin films having high gas permeability and high gas selectivity. These membranes are also able to absorb large amts. of metal salts and particles obtd. therefrom by chemical reactions (e.g. for prodn. of metallised plastic films, catalyst supports, etc).
An appts. for clarifying a contaminated fluid comprises a separator vessel (12) housing a cyclonic flow chamber. This consists of two concentric shells defining between them an annular space (74) into which the contaminated fluid is introduced tangentially. A third cylindrical shell surrounds a lower portion of the concentric shells, its upper end positioned below the tangential inlet. A first separated fluid (H) is discharged from the annular space via a gap (G) between the upper portion of the third shell and the lower portion of the concentric shells. It is discharged into a first fluid zone (15, 17) formed between the outer walls of the concentric shells and the separator vessel. A second separated fluid is discharged from the top end of the annular space to a second fluid zone in the upper portion of the separator vessel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As an oil/water separator in the oil and gas industry, pulp and paper mills, municipal waste treatment, facilities, steel mills, food processing plants and electricity generating plants. The system can cope with contaminated liqs. having a high solid and high oil content.
The composting unit comprises a frame (1) carrying at least two adjacent containers (4) one of whose side walls is common to the tanks.    The common wall is made as a plate (3) and the other side walls are gratings (2).    The grating mesh size is 3-25 mm and the total waste volume from household gardening and foul waste sources etc is 5.0 m3/year, compared with the conventional 1.3 m3/year. The material is dug over at least once per year in an installation made up of three composting units.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is for composting domestic waste. The waste and air contact surface area is increased.
Carbonaceous gas (C) is prepd. by decomposition of carbonic acid gas in the presence of activated iron oxide. (C) is carried on the surface of activated iron oxide and CH4 is prepd. by reaction of (C) which is carried on the surface of the activated iron oxide, with H2.    More specifically, activated iron oxide is prepd. by reaction of iron oxide with H2. CH4 is prepd. at 100-500 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Exhaustion of CO2 has to be controlled because it makes the earth be warmer. By this method CH4 is given efficiently from CO2.    In an example, activated magnetite was obtd. by reaction of magnetite (Fe3O4)(30g) with H2 gas for 4 hrs. CO2 was supplied to the activated magnetite at 150-350 deg.C without air. After remained CO2 was exhausted, H2 gas was supplied. H2 was reacted at 300 deg.C for 2 hrs. CH4 was given in 14.4% yield.
The adsorbent consists of activated C loaded with metal or metal cpd. which can chemically adsorb methane. Pref. the metal or metal cpd. is selected from Gp.IIA, VIA, VIIA, VIII, IB, IIB or IIIB elements. The activated C has a specific surface area of at least 750 m2/g. The metal or the metal cpd. is loaded in an amt. of 0.1-30 wt.% w.r.t. activated C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to store methane gas in a cylinder or tank for cars or gas stations. A larger amt. of methane gas or natural gas can be adsorbed for storage, so that the size of the gas cylinder or tank can be minimised.    In an example, 45g of activated C fibres with 1000 m2/g surface area were degassed in a vacuum chamber at 110 deg.C for 2 hrs. under a reduced pressure of 10 power(-5) Torr. After the fibres were cooled to room temp. in the vacuum chamber, they were immersed in a Mg(NO3)2 satd. aq. soln. for 24 hrs. at 30 deg.C. Mg(OH)2 pptes. were formed by dropping 0.2N NaOH soln. to the fibres, then they were heated at 400 deg.C to obtain active carbon fibres loaded with 11 wt.% MgO. At 2500 kPa, about 80 mg/g-adsorbent CH4 were adsorbed.
Prodn. of a liquified rubber prod. in the recycling of scrap rubber, where a batch of non-comminuted rubber waste prods. is subjected to a thermal decomposition process by heating to 350-500 deg.C in a hermetically sealed reactor in the presence of high boiling residues from crude oil distn. ("masut") as decomposition promoter and solvation agent, whereby thermal decomposition of the rubber and breaking of the sulphur bonds occurs and dissolved rubber components are produced.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. useful for reclaiming scrap tyres. The liquified rubber prod. from scrap tyres contains dissolved components from the tyre cord and despite having no binding capacity has a high mol.wt. and is chemically active and useful as an additive to bitumen in the prodn. of mastics and anti-corrosion coatings having excellent water sealing properties and UV. The process can be used for reclaiming scrap tyres without prior comminution of the tyres. By carrying out the decomposition of the rubber in perforated cassettes each shaped to hold a number of whole tyres, the liq. rubber prod. can be recovered and the residual metal and cord components of the tyres can be washed off with recycled solvent whilst still in the cassette, and the process can be run on a quasi-continuous basis.
The assembly to produce a biogas, from the gas generated by a sludge, has a raw sludge gassing in front where the sludge rots, for handling in the system, to give the gas to drive a gas turbine to power an electro-generator. After rotting, water is extracted from the sludge, followed by sludge drying, where the drying air is heated indirectly by a heat exchanger. An initial gas exhaust at the exhaust side of the gas turbine leads to the inlet for a heating medium at the heat exchanger. A further exhaust gas channel leads from the outlet for heating medium at the heat exchanger to the raw sludge gassing. A third exhaust gas channel leads the turbine gas from the raw sludge gassing into the atmosphere.    Alleyways claimed is an operation where the turbine gas is taken at a temp. of more than 450 deg. C and passed at this temp. to the heat exchanger.    An exhaust filter is fitted to the third exhaust gas channel. A gas cleaner, to remove sulphur, is in front of the gas turbine. The sludge dryer is a drum assembly, where the drying air is circulated pref. in a circular path.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the prodn. of a biogas fuel from manure, etc. System gives waste product which is comparatively easy to dispose of, and generates max. energy.
Disposal of wood impregnated with tar oil or salt, e.g. railway sleepers, is effected by comminuting the wood in admixture with organic material (wood chips, leaves, twigs, reeds, straw or grass cuttings); comminuting the mixt. again after an intermediate storage period; adding sewage sludge, phenol-degrading microorganisms and recycled compost; and storing the mixt.    ADVANTAGE -   Old railway sleepers can be disposed of without pollution problems.
Plastic scrap of any kind of composition is used for generating electricity. In the process the scrap in a plasma reactor and under reducing conditions is exposed to plasma contg. sub-stoichiometric oxygen at a temp. above 1200 deg.C; it is there converted to plasma-pyrolytic gas which consists of low molecular weight carbon fragments, after which the gas is cooled down to below 1500 deg.C. The gas used is compressed to have a high calorific value and is fed at high temp. to a gas turbine for electricity generation; the heat lost is utilised to generate steam and this too is fed to a similar turbine for current generation.    ADVANTAGE -   The process converts the high energy content of mixed plastic scrap into electrical energy with a very high conversion efficiency. At the same time it converts the scrap into environmentally acceptable material which can be disposed of without producing any harmful substances. It saves fossil fuels, raw material resources generally and hence the whole environment.
The covering material for a compost heap has a membrane (1) which is impermeable to water but permeable to air. It is covered on both sides by a textile carrier material (2,3).    The membrane (1) is of polyethylene or polyurethane. The textile carriers (2,3) are a high density non-woven, woven or knitted material of polyester.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material is for covering a compost heap, esp. for rotting in the compost conversion of bio-waste. The material gives the required ventilation and water movement, with protection against drying out or saturation.
Prodn. of plant growth media comprises forming a mixt. of 10-40% cellulose or paper pulp, 15-25% sewage sludge and 50-70% ceramic material, e.g. granulated blast furnace slag or brick dust, together with organic industrial wastes, organic and/or inorganic additives (e.g. methylcellulose and/or bentonite) and water.    Also claimed is the appts. for the above process, comprising a mixing and processing unit in which partially premixed and homogeneous materials are introduced via a central conveyor belt into a mixer. Other ingredients are added to the mixer; and the prod. is withdrawn continuously or discontinuously.    The mixt. contains 18-22% pulp, 20% sewage sludge and 55-65% ceramic material.    ADVANTAGE -   Prods. have high water uptake capacity (at least 40 wt.%), providing good nutrient retention and minimal ground water pollution. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9409 based on complete specification.)
In a refrigerant system having a compressor (11), a condenser (18), an expansion valve and an evaporator (22), and designed for use with refrigerant R-12, this is replaced by a mixture of propane and butane. The mixt. may contain 25, 50, 60 or 75 vol.% of propane, remainder butane, which may be iso- or n-butane. The pref. mixt. is 50-60% propane, 50-40% butane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in an automobile or domestic refrigerator. R-12 can be directly replaced by a low-cost mixt. which is compatible with existing lubrication systems and construction materials.
A fluid (I) is simultaneously dried and both metallic/inorganic and organic mercury are removed therefrom by contacting (I) with a multilayered molecular sieve (eg zeolite) bed. The bed comprises a first layer (11) consisting of a porous substrate having silver mixed with, coated on, or impregnated therein, and a second layer (12) comprising a porous substrate having gold mixed with, coated on or impregnated therein. Layer (11) removed water and metallic/inorganic mercury, and layer (12) removed organic mercury and residual water.    Also claimed is appts for the above process.    The porous substrate is molecular sieve, alumina, silica-alumina, silica gel, or activated carbon, esp zeolite A (3A, 4A or 5A). Ag is 0.001-15 wt% and Au 0.0001-15 wt%. Zeolite 4A is used in both regions. The ratio Ag/4A region to Au/4A region is eg 100:1; the depth of the first region is a fraction 0.1-1.0 of the depth of the total absorption region. A third layer comprising zeolite A without Ag or Au may be present. The absorption system may be regenerated (water removed therefrom) by passing an inert or reducing gas eg natural gas, in reverse flow at 200-600 deg C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is a hydrocarbon fluid eg natural gas. Metallic and inorganic mercury are readily removed from gas stream, eg by absorbents comprising silver, but organic mercury is more difficult to remove. Gold is found to be effective for the latter purpose, and its use together with a silver absorbent renders the use of gold economic.
Stable, water-in-oil emulsion comprises: an aq. phase contg. a water-soluble polymer comprising a homopolymer of (meth)acrylamide or a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and at least one monoethylenically unsatd. comonomer copolymerisable therewith; and an oil phase contg. a partially esterified lower N,N-dialkanol fatty amide emulsifier and a second emulsifier comprising a non-ionic, reaction prod. of ethylene oxide and a long chain cpd. contg. a reactive hydroxyl and/or carboxyl gp. and having an HLB above 5 but less than 14, the total wt. of the emulsifiers comprises about 1-5% of the emulsion, and the second emulsifier constitutes about 10-150% of the wt. of the fatty amide and contains less than 0.1 wt.% of sorbitan, sorbital, mixts. thereof and derivs. thereof; the ratio of the aq. phase to the oil phase being 2:1-3.5:1 and the polymer content of the emulsion being at least 20 wt.%, based on the total wt. of the emulsion.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Water-in-oil emulsions are used in municipal and industrial waste treatment, in process streams in the mining and paper industry and for enhanced oil recovery. This water-in-oil emulsion has superior stability with high polymer solids but a low bulk viscosity.
Sludge and excreta of livestock are passed into a rotary kiln and the kiln is rotated at very slow speed. Materials inside are agitated and passed downstream slowly. The rotary kiln rotating device has a pair of rotary shafts parallel each on a plane surface and has tyres. The rotary kiln rotating device has a pair of rotary shafts parallel each other on a plane surface and has tyres. The rotary kiln is mounted on the tyres and the kiln is rotated by rotation of the tyres. The rotary shafts are rotated synchronously by chain transfer. Three swing arms are fixed to the drive shaft and each arm is rotated for a specified angle by each cylinder separately.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fermentation equipment is used to form good quality organic fertiliser. Drive force transfer to the kiln is dispersed which reduces the weight of the kiln. The rotary shafts are driven by a hydraulic cylinder that rotates the kiln at very slow speed without using a reducing gear.
An analysis system (10) (fig 1) is used to measure the concn of non-methane organic gases (NMOGs) in a gas mixture including methane, and includes a porous layer open tubular (plot) column (30) which is used as part of a trap (22) in which the NMOGs are collected prior to analysis.    When at a low trapping temp the plot column adsorbs the NMOGs but allows the methane in the mixt to pass through when the plot column is at a higher, desorption temp the NMOGs are desorbed into a stream of carried gas flowing through the column.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For determn of non-methane organic gases in gas mixts including methane eg IC engine exhaust gas. Esp useful for eg environmental studies. Simple appts capable of giving quick, accurate, reliable determn can give results very rapidly (eg within a few seconds of several minutes with prior art analysers). Allows use of direct sampling techniques without the need for collection traps and large volumes of dilution air.
To process waste matter, esp. organic waste from restaurants and catering establishments, it is finely ground and mixed to pass continuously through an irrigation unit (6,9) where the separate particles are wholly rinsed with air.    Also claimed is an appts. with an irrigation unit (6,9) having a rising section (9) and a feed (6) for the rising section (9).    Pref., in addition to irrigation, the ground material is continuously mixed through, and a portion of the material is constantly returned to the grinder (15). The temp. and/or the moisture level of the ground material is maintained according to the nature of the waste matter and the working condition. The fresh air is fed in under control.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is for the disposal of organic waste, esp. from restaurants and the like. The system gives the matter an even consistency with a high moisture content, in a compact and suitable structure for mixing, with good aeration for aerobic conversion into a compost.
Waste processing appts. has a charging device (1), a degassing channel (2) and a high temp. reactor (3) with discharge openings for a melt (Sch) and a synthesis gas (Cy), the synthesis gas discharge opening (3a) being connected to a gas cleaning system (5) having a scrubbing water feed line (6), a waste water discharge line (7) and a cleaned synthesis has outlet line (8). The novelty is that the gas cleaning system (5) is associated with a particle and/or aerosol filter (10,11).    ADVANTAGE -   The filter prevents entrainment of particles and aerosols (e.g. soot, dust and tar) into the waste water so that a simple and inexpensive water treatment plant can be used.
Closed system process for the recovery of carbon dioxide from coal power stations and its subsequent hydro-biological conversion into methane by anaerobic fermentation, which ends with a fermentation reactor rather than a chimney.    Pref. sulphur and nitrogen are removed following liquefaction of the exhaust gas/carbon dioxide, with vol. redn. further increased by cooling and over pressure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for the treatment of industrial exhaust gases and as a commercially-viable process for the prepn. of methane. Methane is obtd. via a low energy process.
The contaienr (1) filled with compostable material has closable openings (2) for loading and unloading. Venting tubes (3) are divided and can be cut off by valves (5), being provided with air outlet apertures. A blower (8) sucks air via a pipe conduit (4) out of the upper part of the container (1) and presses it into the cooler (9) and from their via the valves (5) and the venting tubes (3) into the container (1) again.    From a regulatable branch valve (6) this circuit has a part quantity removed from it and via an odour filter (10) discharged into the atmos.. On the container (1) is fitted a safety valve (7) which prevents a harmful vacuum appertaining in the container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the compositing of bio-waste matter. The container used is mobile and suitable for movement by road, obviates smell pollution of the atmos., and obviates the risk of damage during loading and unloading.
Gas is dissolved in a liq. using a bubble contactor. This has a chamber defining a bubble contact zone with an underlying lower chamber section in which is located a liq. outlet. Gas is introduced into the chamber.    Undissolved gas is prevented from exiting the contactor through the liq. outlet using a sensor which detects the existence of undissolved gas in the lower chamber section. This is selectively vented in response to the sensor detecting this condition.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bubble contactor is used to dissolve a gas in a liq esp. for dissolving oxygen in water during water treatment to remove fuel constituents, esp. benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and other hydrocarbons, from contaminated water, e.g. industrial or municipal.    The venting appts. is simple in construction and operates automatically. It prevents the unnecessary release and waste of gases.
Process for selectively sepg. at least one more strongly absorbable component(s) (I) from a less strongly absorbable component (II) of a feed gas mixt. in several adsorption beds contg. an adsorbent (III) selective for cpd. (I) comprises (a) introducing the mixt. at elevated pressure contg. cpds. (I and II) into the inlet of a first bed contg. adsorbent (III) and adsorbing cpd. (I) while cpd. (II) passes through until the adsorption front of cpd. (I) approaches the outlet and terminating the introduction of the mixt.; (b) concurrently depressurising the first bed to remove the mixt. and passing the mixt. to the outlet of another bed to countercurrently purge cpd. (I) from the other bed under vacuum, while simultaneously countercurrently venting the first bed; (c) countercurrently evacuating the first bed to further remove cpd. (I) at the lowest pressure; (d) countercurrently purging the first bed with concurrently depressurising mixt. from another of the several beds undergoing step (b) to remove addn. cpd. (I) from the first bed under vacuum; (e) repressurising the first bed; and (f) performing steps (a)-(e) in each of the several beds in phased sequence.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Adsorption process recovering hydrogen from gas mixts. Hydrogen is recovered in high yield and purity from low pressure, low purity hydrogen-contg. gases, such as off-gas.
Device includes number of garbage-treating vessels piled one upon another. Each of vessels includes bottom inclined downwardly from central portion to peripheral portion, and peripheral face with discharge hole for discharging liquid collected along inclined bottom.    ADVANTAGE -   Water contained in garbage can be effectively discharged outside.
Photochemical conversion substances comprises heating a metal oxide to activate the surface and feeding water and carbon dioxide to the surface-activated metal oxide at 0-10 deg.C. and 30-40 atoms with simultaneous irradiation of a visible light to the metal oxide, converting the carbon oxide into organic substances.    Water pref. forms a clathrate hydride phase of water contacting to the surface-activated metal oxide and CO2 is feed into the clathrate hydride phase. The visible light includes sunlight and the metal oxide is ZnO or wO3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method converts CO2 into methanol and methane in high yields.    In an example, ZnO was activated at 400 deg.C. CO2 at 5 deg.C. and 33 atoms was feed to a reactor contg. 2-5 cc water and 2-5g of the surface-activated ZnO with a surface area of 10 m2/g and UV-cut Xe lamp light was irradiated to the metal oxide with the clathrate hydride phase contg. 2.5 and 3.0% CH4 and 0.2 and 0.4% CH3OH w.r.t. H2O at 2 and 4 hrs. respectively.
Elimination of substances (A) of high fat content (esp. processed leather scraps for glue prodn.) comprises subjected to anaerobic decomposition in admixture with (a) NH3-contg. pH stabilising buffer and (b) biogas-generating bacteria.    Pref. (A) is mixed with liq. chicken manure and with a liq. medium to produce a pumpable mixt. The medium, already mixed with buffer and bacteria (able to cleave fat and generate methane) before adding (A), in esp. water recycled from the fermenter, opt. contg. some liq. manure.    ADVANTAGE -   The method is economical and less polluting than known methods of (A) disposal. Almost complete conversion is achieved and since methane is generated energy can be recovered. The slurry-like residue left after fermentation can be used as organic fertiliser. The use of a buffer allows very large amts. of acid to be produced without causing a fall in pH sufficient to kill the bacteria.
Earthworm composting bin comprises first and second organic waste receiving compartments formed from flexible sheet wall members made of UV stabilised polypropylene fluteboard releasably engaged together, an apertured control panel between the first and second compartment with a U-shaped pocket, coordinated slide covers for the apertures formed in a panel sliding in the U-shaped pocket to permit control of earthworm migration between compartments for completing composting in one compartment before allowing migration into the other compartment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Allows earthworms to break down organic waste into compost. Earthworms can move into another compartment and to leave completed compost in one compartment before it is removed.
Constant boiling compsns. contg. 2.5-95 wt.% of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFO-134a), 2.9-95 wt.% of dimethyl ether (DME) and 2.5-50 wt.% isobutane (IB) resistant to component segregation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are useful as, e.g. refrigerants for cooling and heating (claimed), aerosol propellants, heat transfer media, power cycle working fluids, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents and expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethanes. The compsns. are potentially environmentally safe, having ozone depletion levels of zero, compared with CFC-12. The compsns. also provide an increase in C.O-P (energy efficiency) compared with CFC-12.
The membrane comprises a layer of a polyazole-type polymer of formula (I) (where n = equal to or greater than 2 and equal to or less than 990,000; R = a rigid linking gp.; and X = O, S, N-R1 and R1-C-R2; R1 and R2 being H or an organic radical).    Also claimed are the following: (1) prepn. of the membrane and (2) a process for sepg. fluids.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membranes are gas sepn. membranes and porous membranes used in gas sepn. and reverse osmosis processes. The membranes are shaped in the form of flat sheets or films, and hollow fibres or tubes; films and hollow fibres of circular cross-section being pref. The polymers used have qualities of high permeability, high flux, high strength, high continuous use temps. and/or high resistance to common solvents and vapours.
A method of sepg. component gases in a mixt. comprises: (a) contacting a side of the membrane with the mixt. at 5 deg.C or lower while maintianing a difference in chemical potential from one side to the other side of the membrane; and (b) recovering a permeate gas(es) or rejected non-permeate gas(es). A component of gas selectively permeates relative to the second component, with permeation occurring at or above the freezing pt. of any liq. present. The membrane consists of a discriminating layer or region of a glassy polymer, and is selected so that, when using a mixt. of 80 mole% N2 and 20 mole% O2 as feed at 30 deg.C with a pressure of 30 psia on the initial side of the membrane and a vacuum of less than 1mm Hg on the other side, the permeability of O2 is less than 2000.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used to separate, remove, purify, or partially recover gases including H, He, O2, N2, CO, CO2, NH3, A, CH4, H2O vapour and other light hydrocarbons. The method achieves improved performance compared to ambient temp. membrane sepn. processes. For air sepn., to produce N2, there is a higher recovery of N2 at the same prod. purity, or a higher purity prod. is formed at the same recovery.
Decontamination and reclamation of materials contaminated with radionuclides and/or metals comprises: (a) extracting the contaminants by contacting the material with an aq. citric acid and/or citrate salt soln. to form citrate complexes; (b) treating the extract with a bacterial culture contg. Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 55241 to degrade the complexes (other than uranium citrate) and ppte. the contaminants or incorporate them in the biomass; and (c) if U citrate is present, photolytically degrading it to ppte. the U as a polymer.    The citrate concn. is 0.01-1 M. Step (b) is at 18-32 deg.C and an initial pH of 4-8, opt. with addn. of a supplemental C source, esp. glucose. Step (c) is effected by exposure to daylight for at least 12 hr., opt. after adding a photoreactive (esp. ferric) cpd.. Step (c) may also be effected before or at the same time as step (b).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to decontaminate soils, sediments, sludges and aquatic environments. The contaminants are recovered in conc. form.
Sewage sludge is disposed of as follows: (a) an aq. slurry sludge (I) is dewatered to solids content 8-35% by wt; (b) (I) is heated to 120-210 deg.F at atmos. pressure by direct contact with steam, and held at this temp. for 1-30 min. while an off-gas comprising air, H2O and organic vapours is removed simultaneously; (c) (I) is then heated, mixed and sheared by indirect heat exchange in the absence of air at 210-350 deg.F/50-100 psig above the vapour pressure of H2O at this temp. for 2-10 min. (d) (I) is hydrothermally treated by direct steam injection in an autoclave in the absence of air, and kept in the autoclave for 15-150 min at 450-600 deg. F/50-100 psig above the vapour pressure of H2O at this temp. while off-gas comprising air, H2O organic vapours, CO2, H2S, and COS is simultaneously removed; (e) the pressure is suddenly reduced to 25-50 psig and H2O is flash evaporated. to increase the solids content to 25-55%; (f) the (I) slurry is centrifuged to remove H2O to solids content 28-58%; and (g) the resulting pumpable slurry is burnt opt. with a supplementary solid carboniferous fuel either (i) in a furnace, boiler or incinerator to afford a hot raw effluent gas stream, or (ii) in a partial oxidn. gas generator to produce a hot raw stream of synthesis gas, reducing gas or fuel gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The process safely disposes of noxious sewage sludge without contaminating the environment. In addn. synthesis gas, reducing gas or fuel gas may be produced. In the process, a greater amt. of the sludge to be fed to a partial oxidn. gasifier, boiler or incinerator while requiring less energy per unit mass of sludge processed.
The method is carried out by dumping the refuse, assembling a system of horizontal and vertical perforated pipes (2), covering the refuse with polymer film (6) and gas removal. The refuse initially is arranged in two parallel dumps, e.g. such as extended heaps, and assembling the system of horizontal and vertical perforated pipes along the symmetry line between the heaps. As the refuse accumulates, the heaps are displaced towards each other and cover the pipes system. The refuse is covered by the polymer film by spraying the refuse with rapidly solidifying polymer material, e.g. latex.    The base (1) which comprises a water resistant layer and drainage system for alkali filtrate collection, is prepd.. The refuse (4) is initially arranged in two parallel dumps and a system of vertical and horizontal pipe (2) is assembled. The refuse heaps are then displaced towards each other. The refuse is covered with polymer film (6) and covered with soil (7).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For biological gas removal from rubbish dumps. The gas collection efficiency is increased and the harmful matter discharge to atmos. is reduced.
Treatment comprises roughly crushing the plastics, throwing the crushed plastics into a finely crushing machine, together with a liq. contg. a surfactant, and crushing the grains with the liq. into a slurry-like fuel.
Treatment comprises roughly crushing a combustible material contg. the plastics, heating and pressuring the grains to form half molten solids, crushing the solids being cooled into fine grains and adding a liq. to them to produce slurry-like fuel.
Treating waste comprises crushing the wastes into fine grains, mixing a liq. contg. a surfactant with the fine grains to make a slurry-like fuel; a flow rate adjuster may be provided for the liq.
Appts. comprises a wastes housing disposed in a combustion chamber, and gas guide passage connected to the wastes housing. The gas produced in the wastes housing is guided to an engine.
The converter consists of a bottomless container buried in the ground and surmounted by a domed top, also buried, and an aperture with lid.    The container and domed top are perforated with small holes which have a dual function - to allow in bacteria contained naturally in the soil and to allow out gases produced by the fermentation of the waste material in the container.    The lid is opened manually for waste material to be deposited inside the converter. The container can be in a variety of shapes and made from diverse materials.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For private or community use for converting biodegradable household waste into compost.
Fermentable prod. (I) is prepd. by: (a) treatment of ripe fermentable material (II) with worms, bacteria and fungi; then (b) (I) is dug off and (if necessary) ground and sifted.    Pref., (II) is pref. vegetable, fruit and garden waste. Worms are pref. Lumbricideae, Eisenieae, Allolobophoreae, Dendrobaeneae spp., and the African Nightcrawler or mixts. Bacteria are pref. Pseudomonas fluorescens, Cellevibrio sp., Bacillus cereus sp. and spp., Azotobacter sp., Flavobacterium sp., Basidomycetes sp. and Rhizobium spp., and mixts. Fungi are pref. Aspergillus sp., Micorrhizae and low temp. sp. of Trichoderma harzianum sp., and mixts. The process is opt. effected in more than 1 layer. Pref., albuminous nutrients are added to (II), and a single sugar acid is added during or after the growing process. (All components added are pref. scattered across the (III) layer.) (I) is pref. pre-dehydrated at less than 50 deg. C, opt. ground and sifted, then desiccated at not more than 30 deg. C. The prod. (I) may be formed into pellets or grains of dia. 4-6 mm and length 10-20 mm, pref. with addn. of an attractive odour for cats before pelleting or granulating.    USE -   The prod. is useful as a soil supplement, as a fermentation starter in trash cans for organic waste, for degrading oils and grease (e.g. on garage floors), as a filter in purification systems (e.g. plant nutrient systems), and esp. as cat;s box litter to adsorb and decompose droppings without producing odour.
Stabilising of mixed cultures, for degrading organic matter, and distribution comprises a watery suspension augmented by a mixed culture of microorganisms, specific to a given toxic material, to a dry mass concn. of 10-80 g/l, then conc. and applied to a carrier material. The augmented watery suspension is brought to a dry mass concn. of 40-120 g/l by sepn., filtration, drying or other suitable method. The nutrient and other additives are added to the carrier material for adsorption. The residue, as unwanted matter for the substrates, is removed from the suspension.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The carrier material (such as glass balls, ceramics, ground pumice and active carbon) together with the mixed culture is for scattering over sewage or within sewage treatment plant appts. The method gives a stable material which can be carried and distributed at the point of use.
Process is for composting a mixt. of a raw material comprising clarifier sludge, organic waste (e.g. domestic refuse) or clarifier sludge from paper factories, with additives comprising excavated soil (e.g. dredgings from rivers and harbours) and straw or straw chaff.    Pref. the basic raw material makes up at least 50% of the total mixt. for composting. The mixt. is pref. moistened, esp. to a moisture content of 50-60%, e.g. with a mixt. of surface water, non-dewatered clarifier sludge and liq. manure. Organic waste is pref. comminuted to a suitable particle size before use. Part of the already composted mixt. may be used together with straw as the additives for a further batch of raw material for composting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process allows clarifier sludge and organic wastes to be composted into a useful prod. The process can be used e.g. to dispose of the effluent sludge from sugar factories and allows better local inclusion of waste materials and additives without provision of additional transport or intermediate storage.
In a single stage rectification process to separate a gas mixture under pressure at low temperature, the light boiling fraction is drawn off from the head of the rectification column and the heavier fraction from the sump. The novelty is that the has mixture (1) under pressure is first cooled (W), partially or fully condensed and in a separated (A) into a liquid (4) consisting primarily of heavier boiling components, and a gaseous (7) fraction consisting of light b.p. components. Further, the gaseous fraction (7) is cooled (W), partially or fully condensed and then is sent via a choke (9) at the head of the rectification column (R) as return flow, while the liquid (4) fraction is charged into the rectification column (R) via choke (5).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process separates constituents of a gas mixt. with a single-stage rectifier at low temp. The process facilitates the separation of gas mixt. without using an expansion chamber or a compressor.
To decontaminate ground soiled by organic toxic matter, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the organic matter is extracted from the ground by a microemulsion of biologically degradable components.    Also claimed is an extraction system (3) with a feed for the contaminated soil (2) and a feed (5) for the microemulsion of biologically degradable components. It is followed by a separation stage (6) to remove microemulsion soiled by the organic matter from the cleaned soil. The separated microemulsion is separated (8) into a phase enriched by tenside and a phase containing the contaminating matter.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used for decontamination of ground soiled by organic matter, such as from old oil storage, coking plants, plants using tar and pitch, old rubbish dumps, and also after forest fires or buildings destroyed by fire, industrial sites with furnaces and where combustion motors have been used excessively to give an air deposit on the ground.    The technique is used on site, with an effective removal of hazardous matter and recovery of cleaned soil.
Measurement of the intensity of biogenic formation of methane and other hydrocarbon gases is carried out by placing a 15gm specimen of each microbiological sample in a glass tube. The tube is sealed and a syringe is used to inject a radioactive marker through the bung, before the sample is incubated at natural temp. for 1 month. The samples are then fixed by injection of sodium hydroxide.    The resulting soln. is mixed and heated, before being transferred to a flask, from where the sepd. gas is passed through an absorber, which collects all hydrocarbon gases. The mixt. of hydrocarbon gases is broken down in a column and the radioactivity of the gases is measured separately and are used in calculation of the rate of formation of the analysis hydrocarbon gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Determn. of rate of biogenic formation of gaseous hydrocarbons. Reduced time of measurement. Bul.43-44/30.11.93
Prepn. of resources energy gas is by reacting an Fe oxide cpd. with C adhered to its surface with hydrogen and water at 300 deg.C or more to give methanol. The C is pref. pptd.    ADVANTAGE -   The method gives methanol at low temp. and pressure.    In an example, a quartz column is filled with log magnetite (Fe304) and heated up to 300 deg.C followed by feeding hydrogen gas for 4 hr. to give an oxygen defective Fe oxide. This is reacted with CO2 and fed into the column at 300 deg. C to ppte. C on the surface of magnetite. A quartz cell is filled with 5g of the obtd. magnetite contg. 3.2% of the pptd. C, 0.5 ml water is added to the cell whose inner press. is reduced followed by heating at 400 deg.C for 4 hr. under 1 atm. to give 1.1% methanol, 0.2 % methane and 4% hydrogen.
prodn. comprises fermenting an organic material mixed with fermenting bacteria in a treatment tank to aerobically ferment the material for 12-24 hrs. and heating the fermented material to dry.    USE -   For treating vegetable waste.
Treatment of the kitchen refuse comprises; (a) breaking the refuse; (b) mixing the kitchen refuse with earth and sand, 40% of the kitchen refuse, lime, and a soil conditioner being desalinated; (c) allowing the mixt. to stand for 1 - 2 months for fermentation; (d) using the mixt. as compost.    The compost is burned at high temps. Aseptic treatment can be applied to the compost to obtain aseptic compost.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method treats the kitchen refuse. A large amt. of the kitchen refuse is treated. The resulting compost is effectively used.
(HU208659-B)      To be reissued in later week based on complete specification.
Accelerated composting of wine mark based biomass using a starter culture, takes place, when permitted, stacked, precomposted mark is inoculated by a mixed culture of bacteria, capable of degrading materials that are difficult to decompose.    Prodn. of humus is accelerated as nutrients are made more readily available by the culture.
Sludge is added to waste in a landfill site, either during or after formation of the site and the gas generated during decomposition of the mixt. is collecting and either separated into components having a common molecular structure and stored in separate containers or is burnt to generate energy, which may be mechanical or electrical.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In methane prod. from municipal waste. Addition of sludge to the waste substantially increases gas production relative the production when waste alone is decomposed, justifying the expense of a gas recovery system.
Appts. comprises a cylindrical tank (21) with an entrance aperture (2) near first end and exit aperture (6) near second end and a curtained (31) central section (23) for anaerobic composting of contents, an external support (25) on which the cylindrical tank rolls to and fro under external actuation through an angle of 210 deg. with the inlet end higher by 5 deg., collecting means for combustible gas produced in the tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Enables semi-automatic agitation and composting of inorganic material. Appts. allows easy loading, manipulation, collection of compost, etc.
In the chromatograph, a branch joint is connected immediately after the sample injection part; a capillary column and a detector are connected to one of the branch joint and a packed column, and a difference kind of detector connected to another of the branch joint.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Inorganic gases such as H2 or O2 and organic gas such as methane or ethane can be simultaneously analysed. Slight amts. of inorganic gas and organic gas can be simultaneously detected without loss by the gas chromatograph.    In an example, of the gas chromatograph is shown in figure, (1), 2 is sample injection part, 3 is branch joint, and 8 is reference gas injection part. to one of the branch joints, capillary column (4) and hydrogen flame ionisation detector (FID) (5) are connected for e.g. the analysis of organic gas, and to another of the branch joint, packed column (6) and thermal conductivity detector (TCD) (7) connected for e.g. the analysis of inorganic gas, a sample gas injected in (2) is split in the branch joint (3) into the two chromatographic passages.
A refrigerant carrier comprises liquefied Co2 gas mixed with propane at a limiting value of more than ignition. The mixt. ratio of propane and liquefied Co2 in the liq. phase is 8:2-6:4 by mol. Pref. concn. of the liquefied CO2 mixed with propane is 30-35 mol.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The refrigerant carrier is not under high pressure and flammability of propane is reduced.
The fertiliser is composed of physocyanin isolated residue from aq. extract of blue-green algae, partic. Spirulina sp., with of one or more N, P and K fertiliser components.    Phycocyanin is extracted from blue-green algae (e.g. Anabaena, Synechococcus and Spirulina), partic. Spirulina platensis, S. maxima, S. geitleri, S. major, S. caldaria and S. curta with water and the residue is mixed with conventional fertiliser components to adjust the compsns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for the growth stimulation of plants both above and underground, increase in chlorophyll and yield of crops. Wasted residue of fertiliser is recycled.    In an example, a mixt. of 74.1 pts. of extract residue contg. 0.9% solid, 8.1 pts. of NH4H2PO4, 10.7 pts. of KNO3, 5.1 pts. of NH4NO3 and 2.0 pts. of chitosan was thoroughly mixed to give a fertiliser compsn. The compsn. was diluted to 500-fold soln. and given to seedlings of cabbage 5 times every 7 days. The wt. of above and underground was 44.4 and 9.5g, respectively, while corresp. wt. of control gp. cultured with conventional fertiliser without using the compsn. gave 31.9 and 7.2g, respectively.
In the method garbage is fed with water to a pulveriser and the finely pulverized garbage produced is conducted to a decomposing tank where it is decomposed with the aid of bacteria.    USE -   Used for vol. reduction garbage.
Device has at least a high temp. fermentation tank with an agitator and a heater and a middle temp. fermentation tank with a heater.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Compact fermentation device prevents malodour generation
Fermentation tank is fitted on a loading body of truck directly and crude refuse is recovered by turning the fermenter. Hot air is fed by a fan into the fermenter to ferment the refuse using aerobic bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Crude refuse is decomposed and fermented in a short time and becomes compost.
Mfr. of compost by compressing crushed or crumbled organic rubbish into rectangular bales through which vertical channels, open at each end, are bored.    Bales are stacked vertically such that channels form a network through the stack and enclosed in a sealed container. The liquid required for humidification flows through the channels.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Mfr. of compost and methane. Rapid process using wide range of substrates with recovery of methane and heat.
Process comprises liberating the liq. present in the compost cells.    The compost pref. undergoes pressure extraction. Pref. the liq. present in the compost cells is liberated by (pref. suddenly) alternating the pressure. The pressure or pressure difference is pref. obtd. by mechanical pressure, relaxation of expanded gases or sub-atmospheric pressure application. The liberated liq. is pref. removed by centrifugal force. Pref. the organic material, esp. the organic material contg. waste, is composted pref. until the more readily biodegradable components are degraded, prior to the stabilisation process. Pref. the organic material is powdered prior to compostation. Pref. a helical and/or piston press or centrifuge is used to carry out the process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for the disposal or organic waste. Harmful bacteria are destroyed large surface areas and climatisation measures are hot required and the process can differentiate between bacteria degradable low mol.wt. and fungi degradable high mol.wt. organic waste components.
Removal of unbound organic substances from surfaces and bodies of water is effected by adsorbing the substances on a coal-based adsorbent (I) and subjecting them to further treatment to degrade or destroy their molecular structure.    Pref. (I) is coke, briquette fines, dry coal or brown coal dust.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used, e.g. to clean up oil spills. Adsorbents of type (I) are cheap and non-polluting and have good handling properties.
Coolant mixt. for partially or fully hermetic refrigeration cycles is characterised by the addn. of 10-20 wt.% hydrocarbon (A) to the 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) coolant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for CF or HFC based coolant mixts. The mixts. have a cooling performance comparable with CFC's, and standard refrigeration machine oils (e.g. mineral oils or polyalkylbenzene derivs.) are more readily soluble in the mixts.    In an example, mixt. comprising R134a and 20 wt.% propane (partial pressures 12.0 and 10.4 respectively) gave an evapn. band of 0.02 (O) deg. C, a volumetric cooling performance of 563 (626) kj/m3 and an isentropic performance value of 1.93 (1.95)s at an evapn. temp. of -30 deg. C and a condensation temp. of 40 deg. C; (figs in brackets are for an R12 (CFC) coolant).
A mixt. of carbon black and polymeric binder, obtd. as waste from prodn. of acetylene and methane in the form of a 13.6% aq. suspension, is heated at 20-100 deg. to a friable state, with moisture content not more than 40%, then the powder is granulated and carbonised at 700 deg. for 1 hr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The use of waste material improves the economics of the prodn., and the sorbent has strength 1.5-2 times higher c.f. prior amt at 401-424 kg./cm.2, and porosity 0.43-0.60 ml./g., cf. prior amt of 200-300 and 0.5-0.7 respectively.    Bul.2/15.1.93
A methane analyser test device is connected to connecting lines (2) and a commutator (9) is used to connect the lines (2) to a resistance meter (10), measuring the resistances of the lines (2). During variation of the resistances from a nominal value, a fault indicator (11) is activated. The lines (2) are then connected to sensors. A fault indicator (13) indicates unpermitted variation of the supply voltages.    During variation of all voltages, a fault indicator (5) is connected. The voltages from the sensors carry information of the presence of gas in the form of information pulses, the on-off time ratio of which is measured by meters (14) and displayed on an information panel (15), calibrated in percentages of methane. During passage of 1.5% methane-air mixt., calibration information is obtd. from the information panel (15).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Diagnosis of serviceability, adjustment and tuning of methane analysers. Extended functional capability.
Appts. includes a treating vessel having organic material feed and discharge openings and in which at least the bottom part has a round section, a stirring screw reversely rotatably positioned along the bottom of treating vessel, a means for fermenting or drying organic material in the treating vessel by heating, an extruder including a cylinder with one end communicating with the discharge opening of the treating vessel and discharge opening at the other end, and coaxial first and second transfer screws meshing with each other in parallel. The discharge side of the treating vessel is conically shaped and has a dia. gradually decreasing toward the first transfer screw. The outer periphery of the stirring screw is conically shaped to follow the conical wall of the treating vessel. Threads of the first transfer screw are extended conically along the conical wall, and a phase of the threads is equal to that of the threads of the stirring screw. Threading directions are the same between the first transfer screw and stirring screw.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic material may be continuously extruded.
Prepn. of a biodegradable plastic comprises (i) adding an inorganic salt(s) and/or an organic acid(s) to sludge of sewage wih stirring for several days, (ii) adding a soln. of a hypochlorite(s) to the mixt. and decomposing, (iii) adding chloroform to the decomposed sluge and extg. biodegradable plastic and (iv) evaporating the chloroform to obtain a prod.    Typically the biodegradable plastic is usually based on 3- and 4-hydroxybutyrate. The organic acid is typically a mixt. of n-butyric acid with 1,4-butanediol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By utilising the waste which has been so far discarded without utilisation, the method permits mass prodn. of biodegradable plastic. The plastic obtd. is biodegradable in soil and melts on heating, allowing recycling.    In an example, excessive sludge was placed in an aeroator and aerated with an organic salt(s) and a mxit. of 1,4-butanediol and n-butyric acid in a concn. of 2.5 g/l added at a rate of 2 1/day, and overflowing sludge was to circulate. The sludge was cultured for several days, dried thoroughly and ground finely. The ground sludge was placed in a soln. of a specific gravity of 1.2 with stirring and left standing. The resultant biodegradable plastic was sepd. from other ingredients. The sepd. plstic was dried to obtain the prod..
(JP6005299-A)   NOVELTY - A heat exchanger (40) has a high temperature chamber and a low temperature chamber separated by a tube. The fuel gas flowing through the low temperature chamber is heated by the hot anode gas from a reformer (10). A desulfurizing agent is packed in the low temperature chamber to remove sulfur content in the fuel gas, simultaneously while heating of the fuel gas.    USE - In buildings and apartments.    ADVANTAGE - The desulfurizing property of the device is increased, thus reducing heat retention and the piping. The heating and desulfurizing are performed simultaneously as the fuel gas is heated with the hot anode gas flowing from the reformer, thus reducing the size and cost of the device.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the schematic view of the electric power generation device.    modifier (10)    air preheater (14)    fuel cell (20)    catalyst combustor (30)    heat exchanger (40)
Composting wood impregnated with tar oil comprises mixing the comminuted wood with materials contg. active microorganisms and nutrients, and aerating the mixt. in a closed container or covered heap until the tar oil components have been degraded to the desired extent and the compost has the desired consistency.    Pref., the wood is mechanically comminuted to a particle size of 5-20 mm, further comminuted by a thermomechanical process (not described), and mixed with a concd. activated sludge suspension from the coal industry. Additional nutrients and wood-destroying microorganisms may be added. Part of the compost may be recycled to a source of microorganisms for the next batch.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost is suitable for use in horticulture and agriculture.
Appts. for composting organic waste has an outer container (2) with a lid (3), two inner containers (5,6) with apertured bottoms stacked together, and an air supply (11,12,13) directed to the interior of the lower inner container.    Also claimed is method of use in which the lower container (5) receives a potting mix air supplied to the lower container. Worms and bacteria migrate to the upper container to breakdown the waste.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Composting appts. is used indoors. The appts. is odourless in operation and enables persons living in flats, apartments, condominiums and other premises without ground level gardens to compost their organic wastes.
An aq. self foaming, self-levelling liq. compsn. comprises: water; at least one surfactant; and sufficient gaseous aliphatic hydrocarbon(s) to exert a positive pressure in the head space of a dispenser for dispensation of the compsn. The compsn. is dispensed as a liq. the liq. foaming instantly on spreading. A package combination comprises the compsn. packed in a non-pressurised dispenser of barrier material. The dispenser is adapted to contain the compsn. under positive pressure and is equipped with a positive shut-off valve adapted to dispense a proportional amt. of the compsn.    USE -   The compsns. are useful for topical applications of personal cleaning, household cleaning and shaving prepns. They are replacements for bar soaps and shampoos.
Windrow of material being composted is mixed and aerated by an elongate cylindrical drum (22) which is rotated about its longitudinal axis and carries paddles extending outwardly from its surface and which generate a compost entraining airstream having a velocity sufficient to entrain, mix, and aerate the windrow of compost material.    The paddles have a base portion connected to the drum and a blade portion oriented to generate a vortex like air current to carry the entrained material upwardly and transversely toward the centre portion of the drum.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. for composting light materials such as straw. The appts. can compost light material in windrows and can easily be transported between sites.
A sepn. device comprises: (a) a bundle(s) of membranes; and (b) a housing, designed also to function as a shipping crate, surrounding the bundle(s) and providing an annular space for fluid around the bundle(s), and sealed in a fluid-tight relationship to each end of the bundle having a tube-sheet, wherein the housing is reclosably affixed around the bundle(s) and is mfd. primarily from expanded polystyrene, expanded polyurethane, expanded polyethylene, fibreglass, asbestos, graphite and/or wood.    The membranes are pref. hollow fibre membranes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sepn. device is used in a (claimed) gas sepn. process. It can be used for many fluid sepns. including sepn. of oxygen, nitrogen, methane or hydrogen from a mixt. of gases. The device housing functions both as a lightweight, impact-resistant shipping container and as a vessel for the sepn. membranes. It may be readily opened and reclosed for repairing, cleaning or replacing the membranes or changing the configuration of the annular space.
The plant comprises a filling shaft for the material to be compressed, at the bottom of which is an outlet opening (5). Connected is a compression channel (6) with a rectangular cross-section, whereby at least two sidewalls of the channel are formed by parts of two conveyor belts (10,11) driven by a motor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to produce pressed cakes of compost and/or manure for cultivating mushrooms. The plant produces cakes by homogeneous compression, which can be maintained in a stable and cohesive state.
Process comprises sepn. of foreign materials, adjustment of water content, moulding, drying and carbonising of the moulded pieces.    USE -   Used for deodorised and harmless carbonised excrement.
The moulding for a bio-reactor comprises a fibre-like gels or fibres, which are fixed in a bristling manner near fine vents on a strip-like base having the fine vents and a corrugated or pipe-like cross-section.    Pref. when the moulding is of a sheet form, it may be wound up after the gels or the fibres are fixed.    ADVANTAGE -   High speed treatment is possible in the bio-reactor. Since the biocatalytic reaction is effectively carried out because of high oxygen supply and high catalytic activity, sludge is formed in a reduced amt.    In an example, to PVA (with an average polymerisation deg. of 4000 and saponification degree of 99.85 mole%) washed with water, water was added and then pH of the soln. was adjusted to 6. The soln. was treated at 120 deg.C for 3 minutes in an autoclave to dissolve the PVA and then cooled to room temp. To the PVA aq. soln. 4 wt% sodium alginate aq. soln. and activated sludge (with MLSS of 80000 mg/l) gathered in a waste water treating tank were added and the mixed soln. was stirred well. The mixed soln. was squirted with polyester spun fibre from a syringe-like outlet with an inner diameter of 1.2 mm in CaCl2 aq. soln. The fibre was washed with distilled water, freezed at -20 deg.C for 24 hrs. and then thawed to room temp. The process was repeated twice. The obtd. fibres were arranged on a strip-like base of vinylon fibre at 2 mm intervals and after cutting them to about 1000 mm height, they were fixed by adhesive.
Composting of structured and/or unstructured organic materials is effected by: (a) preparing a starting material comprising one or more such materials and having a macropore vol. of at least 300 ml air/l, a solids content of at least 45%, an organic solids content of at least 30% of the total solids content, a water absorption capacity of at least 150 ml/l and a pH of 6.5-8; and (b) allowing the material to rot spontaneously under aerobic conditions.    Pref. the starting material has a conductivity of up to 2.5 mS; a macropore vol. of 300-600 ml air/l, a solids content of 45-55% (esp. 50%), an organic solids content by 30-60% of the total solids content, a water absorption capacity of 150-200 ml/l and a pH of 6.8-7.5. The material is turned at least once during composting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compost produced may be used as a soil improver, fertiliser or filter material. The process is simple and can convert a wide range of waste materials, including sewage sludge, agricultural wastes and sorted domestic refuse, into friable sanitised compost.
The assembly to contain compost material, which rots while dwelling in the structure, has at least two frame section (10,20) over each other, each with a larger upper opening (11,21) and a smaller lower opening (12,22). Each upper frame section (10) is turned by a displacement angle against the lower frame section (20) so that each corner of the upper section (10) lies on a side wall (13) of the lower section (20).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Holds compost material, to rot while contained within it. Frame structure creates ideal conditions for rotting and accelerates rotting process without generating odours.
A multistage process for sepn. of fluids using permeable membranes includes: (a) feeding a fluid (1) to at least one 1st stage membrane unit (5) at a pressure sufficient to produce a permeate stream (6) and a non-permeate stream (7); (b) feeding the non-permeate stream to at least one 2nd stage membrane unit (8) at a pressure sufficient to give second permeate (9) and non-permeate streams (13) which forms the prod.; (c) feeding the second permeate stream via a recycle compressor/pump (11) to at least one 3rd stage membrane unit (12) at a pressure sufficient to give third permeate and non-permeate streams, the compressor/pump being fitted with a control system which adjusts the output so as to maintain a substantially constant pressure on the permeate side of the 2nd stage membrane unit (8); (d) feeding the non-permeate stream from the 3rd stage membrane unit to either the feed inlet or the inlet of the 2nd stage unit, for recycle; (e) using a sensor (26) to monitor the flow rate, pressure or purity of the 2nd stage permeate stream (9) and provide a signal (28) to a controller (21) which, in turn, sends a control signal (29) to the control unit (30) which adjusts the recycle compressor/pump; and (f) adjusting the output of the feed compressor/pump (2) to correspond with demand for the prod..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Multistage membrane sepn. process for efficient sepn. of fluid mixts., esp. gases, esp. useful in prodn. of high purity N2 without use of deoxo systems. Gives improved control of multistage membrane sepn. systems, esp. during turndown situations and low demand periods. Maintains sepn. efficiency at low prod. demand or in variable demand conditions. Process is esp. useful for 3-stage systems with at least 1 recycle compressor.
The unit has a U-shaped two chamber (1,2) biological reactor, a connection pipe (3) which connects the chambers in the lower part, a spiral mixing ribs (4) placed in the connection pipe and biological gas removal system with a gas holder (5) connected by a gas line (6) and bypass device to the reactor chambers. The opeation reliability is increased since the bypass device is made as a T-piece (10) connected by gas line to the gas holder and connecting two U-shaped elbows (7,8) connected by gas lines to corresponding chambers (1,2). One of the elbows is filled with liq. and the T-piece is provided with liq. velocity dampers (9) fitted on the elbow peripheral ends.    The chambers (1,2) are filled with liq. manure and the heating jacket is switched on. As the biological gas is formed it flows from chamber (1) through the U-shaped elbow (7) to the gas holder (5). The pressure in chamber (2) rises and the manure is pushed from chamber (2) to chamber (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for biological gas prodn. from liq. manure. The operation reliability and output are increased by ensuring automatic periodic gas removal and by mixing the fermenting mass. Bul.1/7.1.93
Liq. comprises 20-40 wt.% FeSO4, 2-10 wt.% MgSO4 and balance water. Ascorbic acid is included in an amt. of at least 1/100,000 wt.% and acetic acid is included in an amt. of up to 1/10,000 wt.% (w.r.t. the total amt. of FeSO4 and MgSO4).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to absorb toxic gas e.g., CO, NH3, H2S or CH4. The liq. may be stored stably and oxidises and decomposes human waste Fe2+ oxidises the waste and Fe(2+) ions are kept stably in open air by the action of MgSO4. The mixt. of the liq. and human waste produces no ammonia gas and is used as fertiliser.    In an example, charcoal was burnt in a closed greenhouse for 50 mins. A bottle contg. 3500 cm3 of the new liq. was placed in the house for 10 min. No CO toxic symptoms were developed after a man stayed in the house over 3 hrs.
The horizontally arranged sieve-type, permeable floor or intermediate floor, pref. a gas and/or fluid-permeable floor for e.g, a bio filter, a compositing plant, a pourable material or rubbish deposit is formed (4) of individually positionable floor plates (5,6). The floor plates are arranged on a base surface (2) via distance holders formed as legs (7). These legs (7) are formed as conically upwards or obelisk-type narrow formations.    Each leg (7) on its upper free face surface for location of one or more floor plates (5,6) has a shaped connector which connects with a counter shape connector on the floor plates. Each leg (8) is hollow and moulded. Each floor plate (6) has air passage apertures on more than 30% of its surface and is formed from polymer concrete or reinforced plastics.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use for a bio filter, a compositing plant a pourable material or rubbish deposit. Eradicates waste air and seepage water.
To loosen and carry loose material in a composting assembly, it is subjected to a compressed air flow (9) and carried off in an airstream (10).    Also claimed is an assembly with a compressed air supply (6), a compressed air channel (5) and at least one jet (3).    The material is carried in a suction airstream (10) to move it onwards.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system is for loosening and movement of material for composting, such as domestic waste and the like, where the composted material has compacted into a solid mass in the composting container. The operation gives an effective removal of the composted material.
The prodn. comprises addn. of comminuted harvest residues e.g. corn cobs and straw, barley straw, etc., and the residues are comminuted to a particle dia. of a few microns while mixing with the dung, and the latter is adsorbed on and absorbed in the residues.    Pref. the residues are transferred by conveying and dosing devices (10,11) from a hopper (9) into a grinding and mixing machine (7), in which they are mixed with dung pumped from a tank (2). The residues are comminuted in the machine (7) by discs with prongs or swing hammers, impact crosses or plates, vortex flow rotors or rotors with cutting blades.    ADVANTAGE -   The comminution activates the added solids to achieve maximal adsorption and reaction capacity for rapid and efficient chemical reaction with the organic components of the dung, so a high quality manure is obtained without composting. (Reissue of the entry advised in week 9402 based on complete specification).
A liquefied fuel gas comprises a mixt. of: (a) propane; (b) methylethyl ketone; and (c) a member of the C4H10O or C4H20O2 group of hydrocarbons.    A process for making the above liquified fuel is also claimed.    Liquified fuel gas comprising a mixt. of propane, methyl-ethyl ketone and a member of the mono- or di:oxy butane group of hydrocarbon(s).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel gas can be used as an automotive fuel and as a torch fuel for cutting and/or welding. The liquified fuel gas of the invention has a higher flame temp., a faster rate of burning and a lower emission of pollutants than prior art fuel gases. It can be stored and transported easily and economically. It can be burned with oxygen for flame cutting of ferrous materials, producing a cleaner, faster cut with no slag or scoria formation. It may be used with 95% oxygen whereas other burning and cutting fuels require 99% oxygen or better. It may be used for cutting underwater at considerable depths, down to 400 ft. It also provides an automotive fuel having enhanced performance and lower emissions of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitric oxides.
Gas decontamination system comprises a loop in which a bioagent (i.e. a microorganism able to degrade a contaminant) is circulated, and a system for introducing contaminated gas into the loop.    The bioagent may also include a liq. carrier to absorb contaminants from the gas phase and in other embodiments the loop is replaced by a conduit or the microorganism is retained in a bioreactor incorporated into the loop.    The system also includes (1) a separator for removing gas phase from the loop; (2) bioreactor in the loop contg. a microrganism which is the same as, or different from, that in the circulation and/or (3) column to facilitate absorption of contaminants in carrier. The absorption columns contain a packing which supports the microorganisms and the system may further include (1) systems for supplying nutrient, water and surfactant; (2) if the contaminated gas contains a metal, an oxidn. reactor for conerting this to its oxide (which is filtered out) and (3) reactor for converting CO to CO2. Gas removed from the loop can be recycled. Pref. microrganisms are bacteria, esp. Pseudomonas for removing organic cpds.. By-pords. (e.g. CH4 or H2S) produced in an anaerobic loop can be biodegraded in a second (aerobic) loop.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is esp. (1) applied to vapours released from contaminated soil or (2) used for degassing tanks contg. contaminated gas, but can also be used e.g. to clean industrial stack gases. Partic. contaminants removed are S or N oxides, hydrocarbons, other organic sovlents etc.. The method is more effective and more economical than known processes, and the system can be made transportable.
The method is for the processing of manure, whereby the material is dried. The manure is moved to a location with a predominently sunny climate where it is dried in sunlight, and dried manure is then used as such or as fuel. The manure, is moved by thip and during the voyage the biogas emanating from it is at least partly used as fuel for the ship. Normally, this maure is moved to a location in South America, AFrica, the Middle East and/or Asia. The manure can be moved by oil tanker, which has already discharged its oil in Europe and can take it on its return voyage to the Middle East or can discharge it in India. It is moved from its original location in Europe to the tanker by tanker truck which contains two flexible holders.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To move manure from a Europenan location to a warmer part of the world for drying and re-use. The method recycles manure in a dried state for fuel and other purposes.
Process for growing plants comprises adding organic N, P and K sources to a limited vol. of a growth medium comprising organic material produced by rapid composting of forestry or agricultural material, esp. with bacteria and fungi; introducing a plant propagule into the medium; and watering the medium.    Also claimed is a plant growth medium, esp. for use in horticulture and for growing fruit and vegetables, comprising: (a) an organic material produced by rapid composting of forestry or agricultural material, esp. with bacteria, fungi or enzymes capable of degrading lignin and cellulose and of antagonising pathogenic microorganisms; (b) a water-absorbing cation-exchange resin in an amt. of 1-10 kg per m3 of organic material; (c) microorganisms capable of antagonising pathogenic agents; (d) clay and/or expanded clay; and (e) 1-10 kg of additives selected from clay, expanded clay, volcanic ash and microorganisms capable of antagonising pathogenic agents, e.g. Phytophthora, Fusarium, Verticillium and Armillaria mellea.    Also claimed is a device comprising a container contg. the above growth medium.    The growth medium comprises 0.5-4 kg 'Actilex' reactivated with water, 1.5-5 kg (per m3 of 'Actilex') of a polyuronic acid resin, and 10power5-10power8 (cells of a Trichoderma sp., esp. T. viride or T. harzianum. The N:P:K ratio is 5.0:4.1:4.8, respectively. The device comprises a first container contg. the growth medium, surmounted by a second, bottomless container in which the propagule and then the plant is grown. The two containers are pref. stacked.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process may be used to grow, e.g. chicory, asparagus or tomatoes. The process eliminates cross-infection between propagules and produces fruit and vegetables with good flavour.
Procedure for controlling pressure in an electrolysis appts. producing hydrogen and oxygen by decomposing electrolytic liq. with an electric current, the appts. comprising (a) a closed pressurised electrolytic cell(10); (b) a line(23,28) conducting hydrogen out of the cell (10) to storage(30); (c) a line(22,33) conducting oxygen out of the cell; and (d) a feed(17-21) supplying electrolytic liq. to the cell; such that (e) a pressure differential is maintained between the hydrogen and oxygen lines(28,33) by passing a first product gas discharging valves(34,34a,34b); such that (f) the pressure prevailing in line(28) contg. a second product gas is passed to the spring side of the overflow valves.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Controlling pressure in pressurised electrolysis appts. The pressure differential between the hydrogen and oxygen lines is maintained mechanically, the control being automatic, without electricity consumption.
In an oxidation process, a feedstock (I) comprising 1-10C gaseous hydrocarbons or oxygenated hydrocarbons is converted to an oxidation product by passing (I) at 300-600 deg. C. with air or oxygen through a reaction zone contg. an open space and a bed of solid granular oxidation catalyst, withdrawing oxidation product from the open space, and simultaneously withdrawing oxidation product from an additional location in the reaction zone representative of a longer contact with the catalyst bed than the product withdrawn from the open space.    Also claimed is a process for converting (I) to intermediate products (II) and then to final products (III) by passing (I) at 300-600 deg. C. with air or oxygen through a reaction zone contg. granular solid oxidation catalyst, withdrawing a mixt. of (II) and (III), passing the mixt. into an effluent zone free of catalyst, and introducing additional (I) into the effluent zone to react non-catalytically with (II) and form additional (III).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Feedstock may be natural gas, methane or a higher aliphatic, aromatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or an oxygenate, e.g. methanol, butanol, ketone, aldehyde, valeric acid, phenol or cyclohexanol. Products may be methanol from methane, or alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters or coupled products from other hydrocarbons. Yield and/or selectivity for a desired product is improved. The process is an improvement on that of US4918249, in which a catalyst contg. crystalline silicometallate having iron in the framework is used.
Polymer foam compsn. comprises: (a) a foamable plastic free of polyisocyanate-based polymers; and (b) a blowing agent consists of (i), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ea) combined with (ii) hydrocarbon(s) or partially halogenated alkanes. (b) is new.    Pref. the hydrocarbon is selected from propane, butane, isobutane, n-pentane, i-pentane, neopentane, n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane and 2,2-dimethylbutane. The alkanes have b.pts. of less than 50 deg.C and contain 4C or less. Most pref. alkanes are: 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134), 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b), and 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236ea). Concn. of (i) is 60-95 wt. % and concn. of (ii) 5-40 wt. %.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsns. are used in the prodn. of cellular plastics such as polystyrene, PVC, PE and other polyisocyanate-based foams. The compsns. are nontoxic, chemically stable, of reduced or zero flammability, and they also have improved compatibility in liq. systems, and do not contribute to photochemical smog. With as litle as 5 wt. % HFC-227ea combined with a flammable adjuvant, a foam can be formed with flammability characteristics only slightly less than those of foams blown with CFC-11.
Variable pressure passive regenerative fuel cell system comprises (a) a fuel cell including a wicked anode for receiving hydrogen gas and a cathode for receiving oxygen gas; (b) an electrolyser for electrolysing water to produce pure hydrogen and pure oxygen; (c) means to store the hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolyser; (d) a main water storage tank communicating wtih the fuel cell and the electrolyser; (e) a secondary water storage tank communicating with the main water storage tank and the fuel cell; (f) means communicating with the main water storage tank and the secondary water storage tank for supplying water to an anode cavity of the anode of the fuel cell; (g) means for supplying water to the electrolyser for producing hydrogen and oxygen; (h) means for supplying hydrogen gas and water tank and secondary water tank.    Also claimed is a method for controlling process water used in a variable pressure passive regenerative fuel cell system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   System for converting chemical energy into electric energy by providing a variable pressure passive regenerative fuel cell system designed to operate under variable pressure conditions, as opposed to constant pressure, such fuel cells being free of complex operational components.
Rhizobium sp.(Onobrychis) VNIISKhM No.2921 strain is used in the prepn. of a fertiliser for legumes, in partic. for sainfoin. The strain is grown in a medium contg. C and N sources and mineral salt, with aeration, for 36-48 hrs. at 28-30 deg. The culture is then mixed with 6% molasses and used to inoculate peat, which is then left for 3-5 days at 15-20 deg. to yield rhizopeat contg. 50-55% moisture and 5-10G cells of rhizobacteria per g. of peat. Shelf life of the prod. is 6 months.    ADVANTAGE -   High quality prod.    In an example, tests show that the strain 2921 is more effective than the known strain 820, increasing the amt. of protein in green matter of sainfoin by 1.8%. Bul.48/30.12.92
Waste is fermented over 8-10 days, then passed to the bio-oxidn. stage, where it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 : 3-5 and treated with blue and blue-green algae in the ratio 1 : 4, added in an amt. of at least 1 x 106 power cells per ml., in presence of 50-70 mg./1. of ammophos (rtm).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method has improved efficiency, with redn. of the Coli index from 105 power to 909 and BOD from 237-240 to 10-12. The method is used in the meat processing industry. Bul 48/30.12.92
The appts. comprises a vessel contg. soil to compost the refuse and regenerative agent disposed in the vessel; this agent is to absorb and accumulate the sunshine heat to accelerate the fermenting of the garbage.    USE -   For making composts.
The fertiliser comprises fermented seed fungi made of a mixt. of cow, pig and fowl droppings and fermenting accelerator comprising rice, bran, sugar and crushed pieces to which leguminous bacteria are deposited.    USE -   Used for culturing agricultural plants.
The system comprises a bioreactor, where water contg. bacteria gps. including methane forming bacteria is stored and supports for fixing methane forming bacteria are packed at the upper part, an evap. tank for evap. stored CH3OH, a pipe for connecting the bioreactor and the evap. tank and for introducing CH3OH vapour from the evapg,. tank to the lower part of the supports in the bioreactor, and a circulating pipe for connecting the lower part and the upper part of the bioreactor and for sending the bacteria contg. water from the lower part to the upper part.    By operating a pump (12), the bacteria contg. water (6) in the bioreactor (1) is introduced in a circulating pipe (3) and spouted to the supports from the outlet of a spouting pipe (9) placed in the bioreator (1) to wash them. In the bioreactor (1), CH3OH vapour introduced through a pipe (4) from the evapg. tank (2) is passed upward through the supports to generate CH4. A part of the CH4 gas is gathered at the upper part of the bioreactor (1) and recovered through a pipe (8). Remaining part of the CH4 gas is sent to the evapg tank (2) through a pipe (5), where the CH4 gas bubbles CH3OH and CH3OH is evapd.    ADVANTAGE -   As CH3OH is supplied in a vapour state to the bioreactor, it is effectively contacted with the methane forming bacteria. As the supports in the bioreactor are washed with the bacteria contg. water, highly concn. CH3OH is prevented from contacting with the methane forming bacteria so that the methane forming bacteria are increased and CH4 gas is generated in high efficiency.
The appts. for deodorising gaseous sulphur-contg. cpds. e.g. hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan, comprises a filler mixed with rice hulls remaining in its original form and a microorganism supported on a filler.    The filler is compost. The amt. of (R) rice hull is pref. 20-40 vol.% based on filler. Micro-organism is pref. Thiobacillus, Alcaligenes, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   or waste gas of excrement or sewage treatment plant, animal husbandry or food treating plant, etc. Improved deodorising efficiency is obtd., esp. w.r.t. methyl mercaptan, and pressure drop is improved, increasing the life of the deodorising agent.
Determn. of organic acid remaining in water obtd by treating organic waste water by methane fermentation comprises (a) passing a part of treated water through monitoring reacting tank for treating it by methane fermentation, (b) measuring the amt of methane gas formed from unit amt of treated water and (c) calculating residual organic acid concn in treated water from measured methane gas amt.    Methane fermenting appts includes (A) methane fermenting tank which receives organic waste water and treats it by methane fermentation, (B) monitoring reacting tank which receives a part of treated water and methane-ferments it, (C) means to measure methane gas formed in monitoring reacting tank, (D) means to measure flow rate of treated water entering monitoring reacting tank, (E) appts for calculating residual organic acid concn. from measured values and (F) appts for the regulating the flow rate of organic waste water entering methane fermenting tank (A) and the temp in methane fermenting tank(A).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The concn. of organic acids such as propionic acid, acetic acid, etc. which inhibit methane fermentation, can be easily determined, efficiently with high accuracy, continuously and the methane fermenting process can be regulated depending upon the determined value under optimum condition.
Method of separating a gas mixture of at least three components by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) into three different fractions comprises (a) repeatedly performing a cycle of operations including (b) passing the gas mixture through first and second adsorptive regions in series; both of the adsorptive regions having (c) an adsorbent on which a second component of the mixture is more strongly adsorbed than a first component, but less strongly adsorbed than a third component; (d) withdrawing a first fraction enriched in the first component from the downstream end of the first adsorptive region; (e) stopping admission of the gas mixture to the first adsorptive region; (f) withdrawing a second fraction enriched in the second component from the downstream end of the second adsorptive region, and from the upstream end of the second adsorptive region into a common pipeline; and (g) withdrawing a third fraction enriched in the third component from the upstream end of the first adsorptive region.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method improves the overall efficiency of a PSA process in which a multicomponent gas mixt. flowing out of an adsorbent bed continuously changes in concn. either during the prodn. step or the depressurisation step by collecting the mixt. in two fractions, one enriched in a desired product and the other enriched in an impurity.
Appts. for removing carbon dioxide contained in exhaust gas comprises (a) a hydrogen supply appts. for supplying a hydrogen source; (b) a mixer for uniformly mixing the hydrogen source supplied from the hydrogen supply appts. with exhaust gas contg. carbon dioxide to form mixed gas; (c) a beam generator for generating high energy beams; (d) a reaction container for activating the mixed gas by irradiating high energy beams from the beam generator and for causing reduction reaction of the carbon dioxide; and (e) a recovery section for separating a prod. formed by the redn. reaction from the exhaust gas and recovering the prod.    Also claimed is a method of removing carbon dioxide contd. in exhaust gas.    The hydroven source is one type of gas chosen from hydrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, acetylene or water, in which the high energy beams are electron beams of 100 KV or above, or laser beams of wavelength 500 microns or lower. The beam generator is a beam deflector for the high energy irradiation. Solid and liquid prods. are recovered in the recovery section which is an electric dust collector. The reaction container has many layers of metallic wire mesh, such as stainless steel, the wires being grit blasted or ceramic coated, causing surface irregularities, the mesh aperture being no less than 0.3mm. At least one type of filler choen from a porous member, a foaming member, a honeycomb or a fin is disposed within the reaction container to promote the reduction reaction. The cross-sectional area of the reaction container is gradually decreased in the direction of flow of the mixed gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Carbon dioxide is removed from exhaust gas at a high reaction speed under the conditions of temp. and pressure of the exhaust gas itself without needing to heat or pressurise an amount of exhaust gas discharged from thermal power plants, the reaction prods. finding use industrially.
Rubbish is processed by separating into fractions, compressing these in a container, placing the container in a container formed of metal wire web coated with plastic, sealing the container w.r.t. the environmental and connecting it via a tube to a device for using fermentation gas.    The tube may be connected to the ends or centre of the container, and the device is pref. a gas burner for powering an electrical generator. The container ends may be filled with heavy material such as rock to ensure that the container will sink.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides a useful product.
In a fixed bed reactor for biological waste water treatment in a partitioned fixed bed (i) the waste water inlet consists of a channel connected to the reactor vessel rim and extending a bore the fixed bed surface over at least part of the rim, the channel (15, 16) having an overflow facing the fixed bed (9, 10); (ii) the treated waste water outlet has a collection pipe which is arranged on the vessel bottom at a sideways distance from the overflow; and (iii) at least one riser pipe, connected to the collection pipe, extends upwardly to an open end (27) above the bed surface and is connected to a discharge pipe which discharges, at a distance below the bed surface, into a collection channel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The reactor is useful for treating waste water in municipal clarification plants as well as in plants for clarification of 'difficult' waste waters, e.g. textile waste waters. It has a simple construction, is predominantly maintenance-free, operates efficiently and simply and suppresses odour emission.
Timed-release tablets of a dry, particulate compsn. comprises (a) an inner core of dehydrated bacterial cysts (I) which is coated with H2O-soluble hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (II); and (b) an outer layer of Na2SO4-coated Na carbonate peroxyhydrate (III) particles which in turn is coated with (II).    The tablets may also comprise at least 1 live microoganism in dormant condition (aerobic or facultative bacteria or yeast; capable of forming cysts, endospores or ascorpores in adverse conditions) as inner core (a), coated with (II) or polyethylene glycol; and an outer layer of (III) coated with (II) or polyethylene glycol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The timed-release tablets provide a non-toxic, in situ method for the accelerating biological degradation of organic matter (sewage sludge or petroleum hydrocarbons) on the surface of aquatic objects submerged in a range of waters, esp. in low-O2 conditions. In the process, neither sediment nor living organisms are disturbed. The tablets are also useful for oxygenating and seeding hypoxic bottom waters of lakes etc. with aerobic bacteria.
Natural gas contg. 85-98% methane and 250 mg/nm.3 sulphur is hydrogenated at 300-350 deg. with waste gas from prodn. of butyl alcohol, which contains 96% hydrogen, in an amt. of 0.01-0.03 mole/mole methane in the feed gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method give l t. ammonia from 1240 nm.3 natural gas, which contains only 0.5 mg/nm.3 sulphur, at a reduced temp. of 300-350 deg. compared to the previous temp. of 360-410 deg., and a reduced energy consumption of 10 mill. Kjoule/hr. The process is used in prodn of fertiliser. Bul 47/23.12.92. (6pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Hopper (1) has double bottom under which is compartment (5), having in centre part, movable mesh (7), parallel to bottom. Latter comprises top/bottom plates (2,3) movable horizontally. Compartment is made as box open at top and bottom.    Into hopper-accumulator (1), on movable bottom plate (3), prepd. compost is loaded, comprising ingredients in known ratio, passed through methane-fermentation stage, and prepd. for processing. To load compartment (5) with prepd. compost, movable top plate (2) is pushed into hopper and movable bottom plate (3) taken out by rack mechanism. Compost between plates is moved into (5). Worms to treat compost are added from top. Depending on extent to which compost is eaten by worms, fresh compost is added to (5) from hopper as described. As compost is handled, worms stay above sepg. mesh (7), with worm-compost in bottom part of (5) to enable (5) to be removed from hopper. As (5) has no bottom, compost is discharged into transport by gravity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in agriculture to mfr. biological fodder and 'worm compost'. Technical possibilities are widened. Bul.47/23.12.92
The method comprises prepn. of sowing material using sowing medium contg. sources of cellulose, organic and mineral nitrogen in form of ammonium sulphate, salt of phosphoric acid, magnesium sulphate, sodium acetate, isobutyrate, valerate and isovalerate and water, sowing obtd. grown culture onto productive culture medium contg. cellulose and nitrogen sources, magnesium sulphate, reductone, calcium salt and water, cultivation of bacteria association in anaerobic conditions, sepn. of biomass and drying of biomass.    To reduce cost of prod. sugar beet pressings, yeast autolysate and sodium sulphide are used as sources of cellulose, organic nitrogen and reductone, disubstd. sodium phosphate and calcium carbonate are used as phosphorus and calcium salts, potassium chloride is additionally introduced into each of media and filtrate of culture liq. of bacteria association, obtd. after sepn. of biomass, is additionally introduced into productive culture medium. Sowing medium contains: sugar beet pressings 0.4-0.8g, yeast autolysate 0.02-0.06, sodium phosphate 0.07-0.11g, magnesium sulphate 0.006-0.014g, potassium chloride 0.002-0.006g, ammonium sulphate 0.07-0.11g, sodium sulphide 0.01-0.3g, sodium acetate 0.05-0.65 mg%, sodium isobutyrate 6.0-10.0 mg%, sodium isovalerate 7.5-11.5 mg%, sodium valerate 7.5-11.5 mg% and balance water.    Tests show that dried prod. contains not less than 400x10 power 6 colonies/g, has cellulolytic activity at least 8% and carboxymethyl cellulose saccharifying activity 35+/-2 units/g.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In microbiological industry. The method reduces cost and utilises industrial waste. Bul.46/15.12.92
The straw (I) used in the prepn. is first mixed with hydrolysed lignin neutralised with dolomite dust (II) and active mud (III) from municipal water filters, with (I):(II):(III) = 0.6-1.0:1:0.04-0.08. Impregnating the resulting mixt. with liq. manure completes the process. This yields a compost of optimal granulometric compsn., which matures more rapidly.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher quality produce is obtd. more rapidly.    In an example, a typical compost contg. the base (N90P90K140) + a 1:0.06:1 mxit. of lignin, active mud and straw + liq. manure, used in amts. of 80 tons/ha, increased crop yield by 9%. Bul 34/15.9.92 (4pp Dwg.No.0/0)
Appts. comprises a roll tube rotatably supported with rollers and feed blades protruding from the inner side wall of the roll tube. The blades are deflected in the reverse direction to the rotating direction of the tube.    USE -   Used for making composts from organic wastes.
Appts. comprises an endless belt conveyor disposed in stairs in a drying chamber, openable floor plates attached to the conveyor and a drive unit to open and close the floor plates to drop fowl droppings.    USE -   Used for treating fowl droppings.
Producing agent comprising (1) mixing crushed animal entrails, powdered cereals and yeasts and heating the mixt. after fermentation; (2) finely cutting the burned material obtd. in the step (1) and adding Koji and yeasts to decompose and ferment them; and (3) adding a culture soln. of soil fungi to the culture medium obtd. in the step (2).    Also claimed is a method further comprising (4) adding a culture soln. of soil fungi to the culture medium obtd. in the step (3).    The entrails include livers, pancreas, brains, bloods, spinal cords, etc. Nonfat milk or fermentative sugar can be added in combination with Koji and yeasts as a nutrient. At the time of decomposition and fermentation in steps (2) and (3), lactic acid bacteria or Karekusa (sic) bacteria is opt. added. The fermentation can be promoted by supplying air into the soln.. Propagation of the soil fungi can be promoted by adding the culture soln. of soil fungi after neutralisation of the culture medium, or supplying air after addition of the culture soln. of soil fungi. The entrails used contain a large amt. of proteins which constitute essential aminoacid required for propagation of soil fungi. In step (1), fermentation is conducted for 17-24 hrs. at ordinary temp.. The mixt. is heated at about 200 deg.C. after fermentation to sterilise the entrails.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Soil conditioning agent.
Activated sludge contg. oil-contg. waste water-tamed activated sludge adhered particles is kept in contact with oil-contg. waste water. The activated sludge is pptd. and sepd.. Alternatively, porous material particles are kept in contact with oil-contg. waste water to absorb and remove oil in the waste water.    The porous material particles are made of natural pumice, including liparite (or quartz trachyte)-based natural glass.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For treatment of oil-contg. waste water generated from vessel bilge or discharged from land based sources, esp. sepn. and removal of oil from emulsifying oil-contg. waste water. The use of the activated sludge contg. oil-contg. waste water-tamed activated sludge adhered particles ensures efficient treatment of emulsifying oil. Oil decomposed by microorganisms finally becomes harmless carbon dioxide and water, requiring no post-treatment. The use of the porous material particles provides superior oil adsorption and produces low concn. oil-contg. treated water.
Degradable organic waste is anaerobically decomposed in a reactor from which biogas is extracted. The reactor contains an active, anaerobic, methanogene biomass. Fermentation occurs without any mixing. The waste is supplied to the reactor as a semi-solid or solid organic substrate in the top of the reactor. A phase sepn. into liq. and solid occurs in the lower part of the reactor. The liq. phase is removed before fresh substrate is supplied. A max. amt. of solid phase is retained. After removal of the liq., the solid phase is removed from the reactor in an amt. of at least one third of the entire reactor content. The removed fraction is thoroughly mixed with fresh substrate as inoculum.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process treats the organic fraction of domestic or biological waste or similar organic sludges of industrial origin. The process provides efficient treatment for organic waste of all types not merely dry solid substrates and the fraction which can be easily hydrolysed.
The composting assembly, has a composting cell constantly linked to an activated main suction unit for the exhaust when the door is closed. An additional suction system is activated by a sensor when the door is opened.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The assembly, for composting organic waste material, is simple to assemble and operate, with a low emission rate and low energy consumption.
Conversion of organic material into a prod. gas comprises (a) providing a liq. reactant mixt. contg. water and liq. organic material within a pressure reactor, (b) providing an effective amt. of a reduced metal catalyst which is Ru, Rh, Os and/or Ir within the reactor, and (c) maintaining the liq. reactant mixt. and catalyst at temp. of 350-450 deg.C and pressure of at least 130 atmos. for a time sufficient to catalyse a reaction to obtain a prod. gas of methane, CO2 and H2.    The conversion of multi-carbon cpds. into a prod. gas by the above steps is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for conversion of organic materials esp. hazardous wastes and biomass materials to prod. gas useful as fuel. Process energy requirements are minimised by maintaining organic material as liq.
Organic waste (I) treatment process comprises:    (A) feeding (I) into molten metal contained in a carbonisation reactor without adding separate oxidising agent to generate hydrogen gas and carbonise the metal;    (B) directing the metal into a decarbonisation reactor;    (C) adding oxidising agent to the decarbonisation reactor metal to decarbonise the metal and generate an enriched stream of carbon monoxide gas; and    (D) directing the metal to the carbonisation reactor.    Appts. for the process is also claimed.    The metal is pref. Fe or Mg. Also the metal may comprise two immiscible metals, the first having free energy of oxidn. exceeding that of oxidn. of C to CO at the prevailing conditions, and the second having free energy of oxidn. exceeding that of oxidn. of CO to CO2. An Fe/Cu mixt. is pref.. The enriched C oxide stream pref. comprises CO or CO and CO2 with increased CO2/CO mol. ratio compared to that produced in molten Fe. The oxidising agent is pref. oxygen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The gas stream produced are utilised, e.g. the H2 is used for sythesis of NH3 or oxoalcohol or as fuel. The waste is e.g. tar, oil, organic waste contg. halogens, metals, etc. and may include inorganic waste.
Process comprises:    (A) introducing organic waste contg. H and C into molten metal without adding separate oxidising agent, to decompose the waste and form an enriched H2 gas stream while carbonising the molten metal;    (B) removing the hydrogen enriched gas stream;    (C) subsequently adding separate oxidising agent to the metal to oxidise carbon and form an enriched carbon monoxide gas stream while decarbonising the metal; and    (D) removing all the enriched CO gas stream from the vessel.    The metal is pref. Fe or Mg. The enriched C oxide stream comprises CO or CO and CO2 with increased CO2/CO mol. ratio compared to that produced in molten Fe. The oxidising agent is oxygen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The H2 enriched stream is used for synthesis of NH3 or oxoalcohol or as fuel. The waste may be tar, oil, organic waste contg. halogens, metals, etc. and may include inorganic waste.
The rate of oxidn. of toxic vapours (I) by methanotrophic bacteria (II) is increased using an appts. that includes a gas-phase bioreactor within a closed loop pumping system or a single pass system. (II) are grown on bio-rings in the reactor (e.g. Pall rings, ceramic bio-rings or fibrous supports), and the lower portion of the reactor is filled with a salt soln. A gas contg. (I) is then pumped within a closed loop through the humidifying salt soln. and (II) culture. (II) include Methylomonas methanica, Methylosinus trichosporium and environmental enrichments.    ADVANTAGE -   Use of the gas-phase bioreator affords increased oxidn. rates of toxic vapours esp. CH4 and trichloroethylene. Thus CH4 removal rate in the gas-phase reactors running under high CH4 conditions was ca. 3-fold greater than average CH4 removal rates by liq. cultures. The method is applicable to CH4 removal from mines etc.
The unit has a body (1) with suspension supply, filtrate and disintegrate outlet pipes (2,3,4), a circular filtering baffle (5) placed in the body (1) and working discs (6,7) placed one above the other.    The efficiency is increased since the upper disc is fitted on strings (8) fitted on the inner surface of the filtering baffle, connected at the top to flexible support (9) which is provided with a vibration drive (10). The discs coupled working surfaces have grids whose cells are staggered on one grid w.r.t. the other.    The agriculture effluent after treatment in bio-cultivator by bacteria is supplied through pipe (2) to the filtering baffle (5). Due to the centrifugal force created by drive shaft (21) rotation and vibration created by drive (10) the clarified liq. is separated and flows over the cone (15) and leaves through pipe (3). The sediment formed displaces due to the tangential forces. The concentrate flows between the grids and part of the liq. is evaporated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The unit is used for micro-organisms suspension concentration and disintegration. The feeding value is increased by a more complete crushing. Bul.46/15.12.92
The method is for composting biologically degradable material/waste in a specifically insulated coolecting container. Extra heat is fed to the compositing hearth when the temp. in the hearth is less than a value for the satisfactory function of the composting process.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To keep a composting process going, even at very low temp. (To be reissued in later week based on complete specification).
Activated oxygen agents comprising or contg. (1) extracts obtd. are removed by extn. of residual substance of alcoholic drink prepd. from grains, using water or organic solvents, or (2) residual soln. of alcoholic fermentation.    Grains are pref. rice, or wheat and the solvent is pref. ethanol.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For therapy of rheumatism caused from redn. of superoxide dismutase action.    In an example, (1) Sake lees (15kg) was mixed with warm water (30 l) of 60 deg.C, stirred at 45 deg.C, and kept at 45 deg.C for 10 hrs.. Obtd. mixt. was heated at 90 deg.C and cooled at 30 deg.C. Mixt. was filtered to obtain an extract of Sake lees (27 l) and residual substance (16kg). (2) Beer lees (10kg) was mixed with 60% ethanol (20 l) and kept for 24 hrs.. Mixt. was filtered to form an extract soln. (19.2 l) and residual substance (10.5kg).
Environmentally friendly fuel compsn. contains as main component fatty-acid-glycerol esters of plant or animal origin.    1-20% proteins and/or lipids and/or phytosterols and/or cholesterol; 0.01-0.5% metallic soap; 5-30% fatty acid, 1-20 % water. Opt. the compsn. also contains stabilisers and bactericides.    The compsn. is prepd. in a single step from vegetable oils and/or animal fats, and/or effluent sludges contg. inorganic matter and/or detergent contg. waste fats- by subjecting these to steam at 100-130 deg.C and 0.6 mega Pa pressure for 15-16 mins. These compsns. may be used wth conventional fuels, directly.
Optimum extraction of biogas from organic matter contained in waste dumps is achieved by insulating these and by moistening the segregated contents. Effluent sludge contg. 70-80 % water is added to organic waste, or 10-20 vol. % of biochemically similar industrial or agricultural waste is added to effluent sludge.    Vertical hollow dividers section the waste dopant. Dividers are filled with porous matter to ensure that the sequence rate should increase in downwards direction, thus ensuring constraint 50-60% moisture level throughout the whole depth of the deposit. Water, that seeps through is collected at the bottom, to be recirculated and any excess removed.
The use of biomass (A) obtd. in the fermentative prepn. of lipase inhibitors (I), esp. lipstatin (Ia) is claimed in the prepn. of foods, feedstuffs, food or feedstuff additives, supplementary feedstuffs, feedstuff-medicament premixes or orally administered medicaments.    Also claimed are foods, feedstuffs, food or feedstuff additives, supplementary feedstuffs, feed-medicament premixes or oral medicaments which either: (a) contain (A), opt. added to water-insoluble crude fibres; or (b) contain (I), esp. (Ia) or tetrahydrolipstatin (Ib), added to water-insoluble crude fibres.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) inhibit enzymatic cleavage of fats in the body, and are added at 0.1-100 (pref. 1-50) mg (opt. as (A)) as dietary additive to feedstuffs (esp. for dogs or cats) to prevent or treat adiposity and optimise the wt. of the animal. (A) also contains valuable protein and fat, and can replace animal and/or vegetable constituents of the feed. Use of (I) with fibre further reduces fat resorption. Dose of (I) plus fibre reduces resorption of fat in the feedstuff by 1-100 (esp. 40-70)%. Feeds contg. (I) or (A) are acceptable to animals and adequately satisfy hunger. (A) or (I) can also be used in meat animals (to promote formation of low-fat musculature) or humans.