EXAMPLE - 100 weight parts of plastic mixture containing 50 weight% each of polyethylene and polypropylene was heated to 400degreesC in a reaction tube and nitrogen gas was circulated. The thermolysis formation gas obtained was filled in cooled glass tube and coal dust was circulated at 50degreesC. The condensation property component was held by the coal dust. Air was circulated at 50degreesC in the glass tube after thermolysis and polymerization solidification of organic substance caught in the coal dust was carried out. The solid obtained was not sticky and had excellent handling property. 10 volume% hydrogen and 90 volume% nitrogen gas were circulated at 850degreesC and 40 barometric pressure. The ejected gas was analyzed and found to contain methane.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Design: The radial fibers and reinforcing materials are formed in the shape of a ring on the core portion.Preferred Unit: The support has water supply unit for supplying water.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The temperature and pressure in vessels (1,6) are 1-4degreesC and 30-100 barometric pressure, respectively. The raw material gas, and water or antifreeze are supplied at a weight ratio of 1:6 respectively to vessels (1,6) and agitated at a agitating speed (circumferential speed) in vessels (1,6) of 2-20 m/s and 0.5-5 m/s, respectively.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Apparatus: The cylindrical container comprises gas containing methane supply aperture, gas introduction pipe having an opened upper end, and methane hydrate exhaust outlet at the side of container (1). The apparatus comprises water or antifreeze pulling-out line (4), and unit for collecting the obtained methane hydrate (19) from exhaust outlet (7). The stirring blade which incorporated guide blade is provided at the lower end of the rotation shaft.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The connecting flow passages include grooves (50, 74) and through-holes (52, 76) penetrating through the separator. The gas flow passages have several grooves provided in direction of gravity, and through-holes composed of long holes corresponding to the numbers of the grooves. The through-hole is inclined through separator thickness.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Composition: The feed stream contains less than 3% nitrogen, preferably less than 1.5% nitrogen. The gas stream before being passed through the zeolite adsorbent, contains on an average less than 0.15 mol% carbon dioxide. The feed gas stream to be treated is synthetic gas containing 60-90 mol% hydrogen. The zeolite is type X with ion exchange more than 80% calcium. Preferred Process: The feed gas stream is first passed through the adsorbent bed containing alumina layer (21) for adsorbing water, then through an activated carbon layer (22) for adsorbing carbon monoxide, methane and carbon dioxide, and then through a zeolite adsorbent layer (23) for adsorbing nitrogen. Water, carbon dioxide, carbon tetrafluoride and carbon monoxide are adsorbed from the gas stream before the passing stream through naturally occurring adsorbent or synthetic zeolite adsorbent. The stream is passed at a pressure of 5-20 bars through four adsorbent beds each of which includes a layer of the naturally occurring or synthetic zeolite for adsorbing nitrogen from the gas stream. The total bed size factor is less than 9000 lb/TPD of hydrogen and hydrogen recoveries of the order to 80 or greater are obtained.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The step of monitoring the temperature includes monitoring at least two temperatures of the recirculating gases stream adjacent the discharge end of the heater, at different points in time; calculating the rate-of-change of the temperature versus time; and comparing the result to a preselected rate of change value.An output signal is generated if:(a) monitored temperature is less than a first selected temperature value and hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to fuel cell stack,(b) monitored temperature is greater than a second preselected temperature value, or(c) the rate-of-change of the monitored temperature is greater than a third preselected value. If an output signal is generated, the signal is blocked for a time and operation is terminated when time duration is over.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Method: Pure oxygen or a gas containing 21-30 vol. % of oxygen is injected. Injection is carried out using an injection lance. Preferably injection is carried out in the early stages of composting, e.g. in the first 1 - 240 hours. The oxygen is preferably fed into the upper region of the compost heap.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The detector comprises a flow cytometer, an immunofluorescence technology and a photodetector, or immunoassay components and a spectrometer. The water system includes an alarm system (121) which is activated by the controller during detection of the predetermined target agent. The water system also includes a dual delivery system. A first delivery system (127) is provided for non-potable water, and a second delivery system (125) is provided for potable water.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: The treatment step comprises two stages, a first stage providing non-pathogenic non-potable water and a second stage providing potable water. The second treatment stage may include distillation, treatment with ion exchange resin followed with activated carbon, or reverse osmosis.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Agent: The target agent is anthrax, tularemia, Yersina pestis, Shigella flexneri, S. dysenteriae (shiga bacillus), salmonella species, cholera, Escherichia coli, mycotoxins, ricin, staph enterotoxin B, VX, or botulinum toxin.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Agent: The target agent can also be phencyclidine (PCP), lysergic acid diethylamide (LCD), quinuclidinyl benzilate (BZ), hallucinogenic drugs, soman, or sarin.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Agent: The target agent can also be cyanogen chloride or hydrogen cyanide.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The condensate generated after removing ammonia is cooled and returned to the deodorization process.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Process: During culture of purifying microorganism, a nutrient broth culture medium is added to the purifier unit. The nutrient broth culture medium contains meat extract, yeast extract, bovine heart, brain or liver extracts, corn meal extract, malt, potato, peptone or soybean extracts and cattle bile, protease peptone and/or cattle heart extract. SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - The microorganism having sporulation ability with protein and lipid degradation activity is Bacillus subtilis Bn3 (FERM P-16405) (claimed).    EXAMPLE - Bacillus subtilis Bn3 was cultivated and the spore was added to water to form a spore suspension containing 109 CFU/ml. A filter media containing porous ceramic and natural rock material was put into the spore suspension and immersed for 3-18 hours, so that the filter medium adsorb the spore. The medium was dried for 16-24 hours at 45degreesC, until water content was 0.3-3%. The dried filter medium was preserved in an aluminum laminate bag. The bacteria density S of the filter medium was calculated and was found to be 105 CFU/g filter media. The filter media were installed in a purifier unit and assembled in a bath water circulation path for purification of bath water. In the culture mode, in the by-pass path 1-2.5 g of a nutrient broth culture medium was added into the purifier unit and water was circulated at 80degreesC for elimination of common bacteria. Then the temperature was reduced to 40degreesC and circulated for 8 hours or more, for culture of microorganism. The water was then drained and proliferation of bacteria by spore germination was carried out for 6 hours. It was found that by eliminating common bacteria microbe, proliferation of the specified bacteria was enhanced effectively.
EXAMPLE - A recombinant phenol assimilable and toluene non-assimilable of toluene Ralstonia sp. KNI-200A and chlorinated ethylene assimilable Escherichia coli KWI-10 (FERM P-13966) were used. In a 157 ml volume column filled with river sand of 0.35 mm size, dechlorinated tap water containing 500 mug/L of trichloroethylene (TCE) was passed at a rate of 40 ml/day for 10 days. Then, Ralstonia sp. KNI-200A and E. coli KWI-10 were alternatively passed the column and improved dechlorination was observed in comparison to those carried out using single microorganism.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The catchment measure unit, pipe and permeable material are provided one after the other. The remaining water ejected from the pipe is recycled to the catchment measure unit, using a pump (6).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Condition: The stirring of the stirrer is restarted when the amount of air subjected to the fermenter after pausing of the stirrer is 1/2-1/4 of the maximum amount of air to be injected. The amount of air flow, water supply or the frequency of the stirring of the organic waste in the fermenter are determined by the concentration of oxygen, temperature and moisture content. The processing of organic waste is started after stirring the sample for 12-48 hrs. The air flow is increased when the oxygen concentration is less than the solidifying condition and water is added. When the temperature of fermentation is less than the minimum condition the amount of air flow is reduced and the air flow is increased when the temperature is at maximum condition.Preferred function: A monitor calculates the oxygen consumption co-efficient of the compost produced by fermentation. The heat generated and the ratio of carbon to nitrogen, ash content or organic matter content are calculated. A judging unit judges the completion of fermentation reaction from the calculated values of the monitor. Preferred Method: The fermentation is performed with microorganisms and fermentation period is determined from the quality of the raw material. The compost formed by fermentation of organic waste is added as a fertilizer to the soil depending upon the components in the compost. A soil information unit decides the amount of compost to be added. The amount of raw material to be injected to the fermenter for continuous processing and the amount of compost formed are determined.
EXAMPLE - In an EMBODIMENT the retenate and permeate are stored after production in buffers (4, 5). The gases are preferably fed into the converters at a pressure of at least 0.4 bar. The retenate contains at least 95, preferably at least 99 %, nitrogen. The permeate contains at least 30, preferably at least 35 %, oxygen.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Process: Before it is recycled, the gas containing H2 is passed to a fuel cell for generating current. The reformed is operated autothermally. The gas containing H2 leaving the fuel cell is (partly) passed to complete combustion in a catalytic burner. EXAMPLE - Hydrogen drives for vehicles had an autothermal reformer supplied with air, water and petrol at suitable temperatures. Exothermic oxidation of carbon, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons and H2 gave the heat needed for reaction. Hydrogen was generated by steam cracking of hydrocarbons, whilst CO was also converted to hydrogen by the shift reaction. All the mixture from the reformer was passed to a fuel cell, where 80% of the H2 present was converted to current. In an existing system, the stream leaving the fuel cell system was passed to a catalytic burner to recover part of the heat/energy. If the gas was recycled to the reformer, the carbon dioxide, H2 and water present reduced soot formation and increased the yield of the shift reaction by 1%.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The substrate is silicon wafer. The inert gas is argon.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The parting material is cellulose acetate and the solvent is acetone.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Method: The sputtering process is carried out using magnetron sputtering equipment.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: The organic substance liquid (I) is particulated before dehydration. Preferred Apparatus: The apparatus in addition consists of a drying detection unit to detect the completion of drying of (I), a waste liquid process unit to treat waste solid substance liquid ejected by the centrifugal hydroextraction, and a particulation unit for particulating the liquid. The tumbler has an inlet to guide the liquid containing organic solid substance to surrounding wall inner surface of the tumbler, and a horizontal projection which divides the liquid in the surrounding wall inner surface. The cross section of the projection narrows towards inside of tumbler surface. The surrounding wall inner surface and the projection surface of the tumbler is formed with the material having 70 degrees or more of contact angle with water (good wettability). The surrounding wall inner surface is connected to a suction draft for drawing out the solid compost in vertical direction. The bottom part of the tumbler has an opening for dropping solid compost.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: One end of the collecting boards (8) is connected to one of the endless rotating object and other end of the collecting boards is connected to other endless rotating object. A slide board (3) for supporting the processed material, collected by the collecting board, is arranged vertically to the gathering board. The conveyor (A) is equipped with the truck. The connection member (short member) (81) is connected to the arbitrary position or center section of the collecting boards.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The hollow tube is rotated focusing around a shaft. A hollow branch pipe having a triangular longitudinal cross section turns in the rotation direction of hollow tube. The top corner part of the triangular cross-section is connected to the outer wall of hollow tube. A hollow base part is attached horizontally to the hollow tube and faces the top corner part in the rotation direction of hollow tube. Blow off hole is also provided in the base part.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Features: The dewatering/conveying device extends along a linear axis and is a screw device. A screw (25) rotates in a housing of the device on a shaft and the screw is enclosed partially by a coaxially fixed sieve.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Method: The fuel stream contains at least25 vol.%, preferably at least40 vol.%, even more preferably at least50 vol.%, most preferably at least60 vol.%, of CH4 measured on a wet basis. The temperature in the steam pre-reformer is 250-450degreesC, preferably 300-400degreesC. The reaction between the steam and the fuel in the CH4 generator is performed adiabatically, with a steam to carbon ratio of at most1.54, preferably at most1.25, most preferably at most1.0. Additional steam, recycled form an anode exhaust stream, is introduced to the fuel stream downstream of the steam pre-reformer. The fuel is a C3+ hydrocarbon fuel, selected from at least one of ethane, propane, butane, LPG, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil, jet oil and naphtha. The reaction at the anode is at least700degreesC. Waste heat from the fuel cell is recycled to the steam pre-reformer. The reaction in the steam pre-reformer results in the conversion of at least 97% (preferably complete conversion) of the higher carbon (C2+) hydrocarbon fuel.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Steel: The steel comprises ca. 6 wt.% Al and 18-25 (preferably 21) wt.% chromium (Cr).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Cell: The gas distribution element comprises nickel (Ni). The cathode-side component comprises a gas distribution element comprising non-stainless steel with a corrugation on the side of the separator. The fuel cell stack comprises MCFC or SOFC cells.Preferred Operation: Bringing the separator plate into contact with the carbonate starts operation of the fuel cell stack.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Reactor: (4A) and (5A) are linked with floats floating on the liquid in (2) and (3) respectively and are operated by the movement of the floats. At least one of the tanks i.e. (1), (2) and (3) has a device for controlling its temperature. The ratio of the volume capacities of (1) and (2) is 1:5-1:10. EXAMPLE - Swinery excrement was transferred to a feed tank, agitated and transferred by pump to be separated into liquids and solids. The obtained liquid was then subjected to aeration treatment until the temperature reached 20-25 degreesC and was then transferred to an acid fermentation compartment and then, through a gate valve, to a methane fermentation tank having an effective capacity of 130 tons. Here the liquid was subjected to an anaerobic fermentation treatment taking about 10-13 days depending on the volume of the dilution water periodically introduced into the feeder tank. The space above the upper part of the methane fermentation tank served as a gas holder for the biogas, of which 65-70 % was methane. Liquid was discharged from the methane fermentation tank into a settling tank via a second gate valve. The yield of methane gas reached 60-130 m3 per day.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The catalyst further includes a noble metal (oxide). It comprises a solid solution having the perovskite crystal structure of the rare earth metal cobalt oxide and an alkaline earth metal cobalt oxide.Preferred Materials: The rare earth metal is lanthanum. The noble metal (oxide) is ruthenium (oxide) or platinum (oxide). The alkaline earth is calcium, strontium, or barium.Preferred Composition: The alkaline earth metal cobalt oxide is in a proportion of up to 50%. The noble metal (oxide) is present in up to 2 mole%.Preferred Process: The catalyst undergoes thermal decomposition so that its surface becomes coated with catalytically active lanthanum oxide, hydrated lanthanum oxide, and cobalt metal particles.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The gasification process involves heat decomposing-gasifying combustible material in a low temperature gasification furnace, and gasifying the formed gas in a high temperature gasification furnace.The low temperature gasification furnace is a fluidized bed furnace having a moving bed in which a fluid medium is precipitation dispersed and a fluid layer in which a fluid medium is actively fluidized.The combustible material is combustible waste.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalyst: The metal oxide carrier is zirconia, alumina, titania, silica, silica-magnesia, zeolite, magnesia, niobium oxide, zinc oxide and/or chromium oxide.The support amount of platinum is 0.1-10 weight % based on the support weight.Rhenium is also present on the support in an amount of 0.1-10 weight% based on the support.Additionally, at least one of yttrium, calcium, chromium, samarium, cerium, tungsten, neodymium, praseodymium, magnesium, molybdenum and/or tantalum is added in an amount of 0.1-10 weight % based on the support.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The palladium-bearing membrane is palladium/35-45 weight% copper alloy. The turbulence is created by particulates, screens and/or non-flattened expanded metal sheets inserted along the path. The turbulence promoters which are chemically non-reactive with hydrogen, steam, oxides of carbon and methanol, comprise a particulate reforming copper-based catalyst within the path. The amount of residual hydrogen in the depleted reformate is controlled to 5-25% of the generated hydrogen. The excess steam is controlled to 5-20%.Preferred Conditions: The reforming process is performed at 200-325 degreesC. The reforming and permeation processes are carried out simultaneously, preferably between 275-325 degreesC. At least two-third of hydrogen generation occurs simultaneously with permeation.Preferred Method: The residual hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the depleted reformate are subjected to catalytic air or oxidation in situ heat exchange, thereby providing carbon monoxide-free exhaust and at least part of the required process heat.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - The co generation is carried out using a fuel from one or more of the cracked hydrocarbons, preferably 1 - 4C alkanes. The mechanical energy is produced by a thermal motor, preferably a gas turbine. The co generation produces thermal energy in the form of hot combustion gases and uses O2 as combustion supporter to effect a post combustion to increase the thermal energy used for preheating of the charge to be cracked. The exhaust gases are at a temperature of 500 - 1100 degrees C, preferably 550 - 800 degrees C. The heat is simultaneously exchanged with water or water vapor in boilers to produce vapor at medium or low pressure. The electrical heating is by high frequency induction or by Joule effect, the latter being effected by a tube for the passage of current, through which circulates the mixture to be cracked. Alternatively, heating may be by ultrasonic waves from a generator supplied with electrical energy by co generation. EXAMPLE - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Device: The reformer is membrane reformer.Preferred Method: The generated hydrogen is once stored in a hydrogen absorbing alloy(s) incorporated into a storage apparatus (5) before supplying it to the fuel cell. Some of the absorbing alloy absorbs hydrogen supplied from the reformer while the other are discharging and supplying it to the fuel cell. Hydrogen is generated by carbon monoxide shift reaction after partial oxidation of the fuel, or after reforming reaction of the fuel carried out by water vapor.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Fuel: The fuel is compressed natural gas, ethane, propane, butane, gasoline, naphtha, dimethyl ether, and/or methanol.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The zeolite X has a pore size of 4-10 Angstrom, preferably 5-8 Angstrom, and also contains cations from groups IA or IIA, preferably K and/or NaThe Si / Al ratio is between 1 and 1.40, preferably 1-1.15 and more preferably about 1.The gas flow to be purified may contain CO2 and water vapor.The gas flow is at a temperature of -40 degreesC. and +80 degreesC.The adsorption pressure is 3-40 bars, preferably 5-25 bars, and the desorption pressure is 0.5-6 bars, preferably 1-1.5 bars.The flow rate of the gas is between 1 and 106 Nm3/h, preferably 10 power 4 and 5x10 power 5 Nm3/h.The process is of the type PSA or TSA, preferably TSA. The regeneration temperature is 80-400 degreesC., preferably 100-250 degreesC.The gas freed from impurities is subsequently submitted to a cryogenic distillation.The adsorbent for the process contains a zeolite X with a Si / Al ratio of 1-1.25 and containing 10-98% of Ba cations, 2-90% of Na and/or K cations, the sum of the Ba and K and/or Na cations being at least 50% of the total exchangeable cations.More preferably, the zeolite contains 70-96% of Ba cations, the remainder of the exchangeable sites being occupied by Na and/or K cations. EXAMPLE - A zeolite X exchanged with 94% of Ba ions and 6% of Na and/or K ions was used in the adsorption of a N2 air flow artificially polluted with 1.5 ppm of ethylene, CnHm and propane, and 400 ppm of CO2 at 20 degreesC. and adsorption pressure 6 bars and flow rate 8.72 Nm3/h. From the results, it was noted that the breakthrough of ethylene and propane occurred well after that of CO2.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Biosensor: The measuring unit further contains a potentiostat to control potential of the anodic compartment. EXAMPLE - A biofuel cell was comprised of carbon felt cathode and anode electrodes connected with a platinum wire. The anodic and the cathodic compartments were separated from each other by an ion exchange membrane and connected through an external circuit. The cathodic compartment was provided with air, while anodic compartment was provided with waste water and sludge. After addition of samples a resistor was connected in the external circuit to control flow of electric current. The anodic compartment was supplied with nitrogen to maintain anaerobic condition and the cathodic compartment with air to maintain aerobic condition buffer used was a phosphate buffer. A dense culture of microorganisms started to grow in the anodic compartment. After 3 weeks of dense current, the background current was maintained at a constant level. At this time, the waste water having certain biological oxygen demand (BOD) was added to anodic compartment and the current was integrated. When the current indicated the basic value, the waste water of another chemical oxygen demand (COD) was added to the cell. The electric current was increased in proportion to the COD of the sample. It was also observed that BOD sensor could be operated while maintaining the quantity of generated electricity at a constant level depending on COD of the sample, regardless of operation duration of the sensor.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The gas treated by the reforming and modifying processes passes a carbon dioxide water absorption process as a pre-stage of the carbon dioxide amine absorption process.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Components: The composted sewage sludge is prepared by mixing primary sewage sludge with from one to two times its weight of particulated cellulosic plant material, and composting as for the main process, i.e., at least 8 weeks while allowing the temperature to rise at least once to between 130-180 degrees Fahrenheit. The cellulosic plant material source may be arboreal and/or herbal waste.Preferred Process: The cellulosic plant material content should be adjusted to 25-40%, and the moisture content to 40-60%, both by weight, during composting. If the cellulosic plant material contains tree bark, the pH during composting can be maintained at the optimum of 6.2-7.5 by regulation of the proportion of bark, which generates acidic products on composting. In the pelleting operation, the moisture content should be 10-40% by weight. EXAMPLE - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: After decomposing, the net-like container containing decomposed waste material is dried and incinerated.
EXAMPLE - (In kilogram) Incinerated ashes of timber (5) was mixed with carbohydrate (50) and aspergillus (1) and fermented for 10 hours at 70 degrees centigrade, to obtain primary FPA. Then, the obtained primary FPA (5) was mixed with protein (50) and lactic acid bacteria (1) and fermented at 70 degrees centigrade for 10 hours, to obtain secondary FPA. The obtained secondary FPA (5), lactic acid bacteria (1) and meat (50) were mixed and fermented for 10 hours, to obtain tertiary FPA. The obtained tertiary FPA (1) was mixed with rice bran (150) and chaff (800), and fermented at 70 degrees centigrade for 10 hours, to obtain organic waste processing agent. The organic waste ground by a grinder was mixed with the organic waste processing agent and thermophilic bacteria using an agitator. The obtained mixture was fermented in a fermentation machine at 70 degrees centigrade for 10 hours. Thus, the organic waste was effectively processed with complete decomposition of carbohydrate, plant protein and animal protein. The generation of putrefactive smell and dioxine during organic waste treatment was not observed.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The steps (c) and (b) are repeated at least two times. The first and second hydrogen (H) concentration, and addition rate are constant, The first and second H concentration, addition rate, and depletion rate vary with respect to time.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The catalyst system comprises Ziegler-Natta catalyst modified with metallocene of formula (Cp)mTiXn.Cp = optionally substituted cyclopentadienyl ring;X = halo;m = 1-2;n = 2-3;m+n = 4.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The catalyst system comprises an olefin polymerization catalyst and hydrogenation catalyst. EXAMPLE - Laboratory batch bulk polymerization was carried out to know the hydrogenation phenomenon using different polymerization catalysts and different cyclopentadienyl titanium, zirconium or hafnium compounds. The reactor headspace was sampled at 10, 20, and 60 minutes after the start of each test and analyzed by the head space gas chromatography (GC) for propane and hydrogen. The hydrogen analysis was shown to highlight those cases where complete consumption was observed by the total disappearance of hydrogen peak in the GC trace. The initial propane level in the headspace was approximately 0.34 mole %. The calculated propane level after hydrogenation, assuming all hydrogen gas was consumed to form propane was approximately 0.54 mole %. Results showed that titanocene dichloride (Cp2TiCl2) and the catalyst incorporating the Cp2TiCl2 all exhibited complete H consumption with increasing propane levels.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The cylinder extends inside the combustion tube and the water feed pipe is introduced into the combustion tube and contact with the inner peripheral wall of the combustion tube. The reformed gas delivery tube delivers the reformed gas to the exterior of cylinder. The mixed gas of fuel and water vapor is preheated by the heat of reformed gas and then guided to the catalyst layer. The reformed gas delivery tube and the mixed gas introduction pipe are wound into a double helix structure. The fuel before winding the reformed gas delivery tube spirally, is guided to catalyst layer and mixed gas are then supplied. The heat exchange chamber to which combustion gas is guided, is installed with the reformed delivery tube, fuel feed pipe, and mixed gas introduction pipe.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Arrangement: Heaters are independently dispersed in two or more places with two or more temperature controls. A reformation unit is provided at the raw material supply side at the downstream of which another reformation unit containing pellet-like catalyst held in a holder and heater provided externally are arranged. Preferred Condition: Temperature at the raw material supply side is increased from the production gas emission of each heater. Unreacted raw material is recovered from the latter part of the reformer.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalyst: The catalyst is at least one kind of Group (IIIa-IVa) element. The copper microparticle is precipitated on surface by preprocessing using reactive gas (such as methanol or water vapor at 200-400degreesC) volume/unit time opposing to catalyst volume of 0.2-1 second-1 at 300-500degreesC for 10 hours or more by 300-500degreesC in air.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Process: (I) may preferably comprise the following steps:(1) formation of an gaseous mass from the organic materials by contact with the microorganisms,(2) exhaustion of gas containing the organic materials;(3) the pollutant of soil or air;(4) extraction of the gas containing the organic materials under reduced pressure and contact with the microorganisms in a sealed condition; and(5) extraction of the formed polyester in the cells of microorganism with an extracting agent, particularly chloroform, followed by recovery of the solvent containing the polyester and precipitation of the polyester. EXAMPLE - Decomposition of trichloroethylene (TCE) to give poly 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and poly 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) was carried out with Burkholderia cepacia KK01 (BP-4235), Alcaligenes sp. TL2 (FERM P-14642) or Ralstonia eutropa TB64 (FERM P-16980) at a rate of 96 and 4%, 93 and 7%, and 94 and 6%, respectively, with decomposition rate of 95% or over in 96 hrs.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - The adsorbers are numbered in the order of their passage into production phases ; the couples are Ai-AN+1, A2-AN+2.......Ai-AN+i....AN-A2N. At least two of the intermediate points, Bi, are connected by a linking line (7) provided with a second valve(i7). The two primary valves, i3 and (N+i)3, are control valves whilst valves i2 and i7 are on-off valves. The intermediate point Bi, may be linked to the line 2 by a supplementary connecting line provided with a control valve i21. The unit also comprises an additional transversal link line (4,6) individually connected to the outlet of each adsorber via a control valve (i4, (N+i)4, i6, (N+i)6).The additional line may be subdivided by insertion of an additional valve(V0) into two half-lines(4A, 4B) linked to each adsorber. A direct line(Li, N+i) is provided for each pair of adsorbers. The unit is preferably one for which N is greater or equal to 3. EXAMPLE - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Bio-organism: The organism used in the process is selected from Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus Thiooxidans, Leptospirillum Ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus Organoparus, Thiobacillus Acidophilus, Sulfobacillus Thermosufidooxidans, Sulfolubus Acidocaldarius, Sulfolubus BC, Sulfolubus Solitaries, Acidanus Brierley and their mixtures.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The fluid distribution system further comprises an air compressor and a steam generating system. The transport system comprises a nylon net (56). A vapor treatment system including an intake and a steam tube treats air that collects in the bay.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The transport system comprises a nylon net (56). The fluid injection system comprises a rubber tube. EXAMPLE - No suitable example is given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalyst: The modification catalyst layer is a copper-zinc group catalyst. Preferred Process: Raw material supply to the modifier is detected based on the pressure value of the pressure indicator and temperature value of the thermometer provided in the modifier close to the raw material supply system.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The fuel supply system has a fuel pre-heat path passing through the inside of modifier and fuel vaporization path which moves via a start combustor (25) which forms combustion gas, provided in the front part of modifier.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The fish residue and fermentation microbe are mixed in a low-temperature fermenter and fermentation is performed at 60 degrees Celsius or less. Leaf charcoal 10-20 weight percent (wt.%) is supplied to the fish residue and stirred. Water regulator (20-25 wt.%) for fish residue, is supplied and the temperature is maintained at 60 degrees Celsius or less.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: Composition of liquid is ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - AGRICULTURE - Preferred Process: An aqueous solution containing the microorganism is supplied to the soil by continuous irrigation. The liquid fertilizer is supplied such that, an excess of microorganisms exists in the soil than the fixed quantity.Preferred Properties: The amount of microorganisms supplied for one strain of plant is 1.0 x 10 power 2-1.0 x 10 power 13 colony forming unit/day. EXAMPLE - Three cabbage plant seedlings were cultivated in soil containing pathogens (0.5% w/w) for 25 days. Each strain of cabbage seedling was supplied with aqueous solution containing Pseudomonas fluorescens strain SB0212 by continuous infusion during irrigation at 5.0 x 10 power 10 colony/forming units for 20 days. The plant fixing and supply of microorganisms was repeated five times, and the degree of disease onset was evaluated. The results showed a 0.1 degree of disease onset.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Process: Calcium oxide in added to the waste in a mixer/grinder to give a homogeneous mixture. Reaction is carried out in the absence of light and oxygen in a closed vessel, while controlling waste gas formation. After the reaction the product is milled to give a stabilized hydrophobic product and remove all pollutants before usage. EXAMPLE - No suitable example is given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Water Permeability Adjusting Layer: The layer is formed of a conductive, porous material including a water repellent present in a higher concentration nearer the oxidiser entrance than elsewhere, preferably 1.05-2.0 times (15-90, preferably no more than 60 wt.%) the amount of that found on the side of the oxidiser exit. The percentage of the fixed area starting from the end of the water permeability adjusting layer on the side of the oxidiser entrance to the entire area of the water permeability adjusting layer is 10-90%. The layer is constructed of a gas diffusion layer formed of the water-repellent, conductive, porous material, and a mixed layer between the diffusion layer and the cathode catalyst layer formed of a carbon material to which the water repellent material has been added.Preferred Cathode Catalyst Layer: The layer is formed from a carbon catalyst support supporting the catalyst.Preferred Device: A number of fuel cells are s tacked in layers to form a stack with coolant channels between the cells. The coolant and oxidiser travel in the same direction.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Water Repellent: The repellent is a fluororesin.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Support: Zirconium dioxide with a specific surface of 50-500 (preferably 80-500) m2/g and a pore volume of 0.2-0.9 (preferably 0.3-0.9) cm3/g.Preferred Catalyst: Catalysts with a heteropolyanion content of 10-55 wt%, possibly also containing at least one Group VIII metal, preferably platinum, palladium, rhodium, nickel or ruthenium in amounts of 0.05-10 wt%.Preferred Process: Preparation of the catalyst involves deposition of the heteropolyanions and a precursor of a Group VIII metal on the support. EXAMPLE - A zirconium dioxide support (49.85 g) was impregnated with a solution obtained by adding 49.85 g phosphotungstic acid (H3PW12O40) to 9.5 g chloroplatinic acid solution (containing 3.5 wt.% Pt) and diluting to 30 ml. The catalyst obtained was dried for 12 hours at 120 degrees C, calcined for 2 hours at 200degreesC and activated with hydrogen for 4 hours at 220 degrees C. When tested in the isomerization of n-hexane at 200 degrees C and 0.4 MPa with an H2/HC mole ratio of 10 and a space velocity of 2 h-1, this catalyst gave a conversion of 68.3 (71.1) %, with selectivities of 98.85 (94.7), 28.3 (21.9) and 1.15 (5.3) % for total isomerization, di-branched isomers and cracking products respectively. Values in brackets were obtained with a similar catalyst containing no platinum.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Features: The conveyability of the in the first step is achieved by using a cone mixer and the charging material is introduced through the lower narrow mixer opening.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Assemblage: The heat transfer fin population fin density gradient is operable to maintain a peak burner gas passage wall temperature of not more than 927degreesC (1700degreesF), especially no greater than about 38degreesC (100degreesF) above a peak process gas temperature in the assemblage. The inlet section of the burner gas passage is devoid of heat transfer fins. The inlet section of the burner gas passage is about 40% of the length of the burner gas passage .The intermediate section of the burner gas passage is about 10% of the length of the burner gas passage. The outlet section of the burner gas passage is about 50% of the length of the burner gas passage.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Method: The change in AN is measured over 24 hours, and additionally the pH is also measured after 14 hours. Strains are selected which are able to reduce the pH to less than 4. Measurement of AN is by standard spectrophotometric or chromatographic methods, or by using an ion-selective electrode. Good conditions for LAB activity are ensured, using a mini-silo scale sample, by estimating quality parameters of the fodder, determining competitiveness of (A) and/or by measuring gas formation.Preferred Bacteria: (A) are:(1) Lactobacillus plantarum VTT E-78076 or E-79098;(2) Pediococcus parvulus VTT E-88315; and/or(3) P. pentosaceus VTT E-90390, most especially E-78076.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - AGRICULTURE - Preferred Process: To preserve green fodder, (A) is added at 105-107, preferably 106, colony-forming units/g of grass, particularly at the time of harvesting. Optionally (A) is used with one or more preservatives, especially formic acid or its salts, at 0.2-1.6, preferably about 0.4 l/tonne. EXAMPLE - An autoclaved aqueous extract of chopped grass (timothy and meadow fescue) was diluted to 10% concentration and treated with 1% glucose to from a substrate. This was inoculated with various strains of lactic acid bacteria and the amount of ammonium nitrogen in the substrate measured after 24 hours, using an ion-selective electrode. The most effective strain, Lactobacillus plantarum VTT E-78076, reduced the ammonium nitrogen content by 8.46 mg/l and after 14 hours had reduced the pH of the extract from 5.37 to 3.92.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The trivalent Fe is produced by oxidative dissolution of iron source such as pyrite (FeS2), pyrrhotite (FeS) or its oxidation product using oxidizing bacteria, by separately oxidizing iron scrap. Oxidation of As is carried out in an air-lift reactor. 1 mole of trivalent iron is used per mole of arsenic, to produce insoluble Fe/As compound which is scorodite (FeAsO4.2H2O).Preferred Catalyst: The mineral catalyst is a sulfur-containing catalyst such as pyrite (FeS2), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) or molybdenite (MoS2).Preferred Condition: Arsenic is oxidized at 30-45 degreesC, 45-55 degreesC or at 65-90 degreesC.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microorganisms: The oxidizing bacteria comprises mesophilic bacteria of species Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, T.thioxidans and/or Leptospirillum ferrooxidans), or thermophilic bacteria of genera Acidomicrobium, Sulfobacillus, Thiobacillus, Sulpholobus and/or Acidianus, especially of species S. acidocaldarius.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Process: The recycling process also includes compressing the heterogeneous waste to a fraction of its original volume prior to pyrolysis step, and recovering the commercial grade chemical from a distillation column to separate the commercial grade chemical from water or condensing the commercial chemical from a gas exiting from a liquid phase reactor while recycling back to the reactor the unreacted synthesis gas components.The heterogeneous waste having net heating value of at least 3000 BTU/lb is pyrolyzed in a gasifier while maintaining an excess carbon.The commercial grade chemical is produced by reacting the synthesis stream with a methanol synthesis catalyst to produce methanol, or methanol synthesis and methanol dehydration catalysts to produce dimethyl ether in a liquid phase reactor.The synthesis gas stream also includes carbon dioxide (CO2) and the process further includes the removal of CO2.The molten pyrolysis product (BB) conversion step includes allowing the pyrolysis stream to gravitationally segregate to metallic and mineral portions, separating the metallic portion from the mineral portion, quenching the metallic portion to form a molten ferric alloy, and quenching the mineral portion to form a vitreous material.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: The process is performed under super-critical conditions or near-critical conditions. Reaction occurs in the presence of a noble gas, a reducing agent, elemental hydrogen, borohydride or at least one reduced metal, particularly reduced copper.Preferred Biomass: The biomass is selected from cellulose, chitin, starches, lipids, proteins, lignin, whole cells, seed oils, food processing wastes, seafood industry wastes, paper manufacturing by-products, wood industry manufacturing by-products, leaves, grass clippings, rice hulls, bagasse, seaweed, milling waste, cotton waste or animal waste. A hydrocarbon mixture is produced.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Microorganism: The bacterial cell biomass comprises a bacterial strain possessing an enzyme or enzymatic system, or oxygenase or monooxygenase system. The enzyme is methane monooxygenase and the bacteria are methanotrophic (preferably Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b rosette cluster forming isolate). Preferred Process: The biofilter is placed in the aquifer by suspending the cell biomass in injection medium substituted with magnesium salts, ferrous salts and with agar.
EXAMPLE - Bacterial strain isolated from soil polluted by petroleum derivatives is cultured for 72 h in liquid nutrient medium containing mineral salts, soya been flour, and molasses at 28 C under aerobic conditions. Deep culture of microorganism (10%) is placed into sterile peat with mineral additives and additionally grown for 120 h at 3 C. Destructive activity of preparation containing thus grown strain with regard to petroleum hydrocarbons and derivatives at working concentration of bacteria 0.1% ranges between 91.5 and 94% within a wide pH range: from 3.0 to 8.5.
EXAMPLE - Bacterial strain isolated from soil polluted by petroleum derivatives is cultured for 72 h in liquid nutrient medium containing mineral salts, soya been flour, and molasses at pH 6.8-7.2 and 28 C under aerobic conditions. Destructive activity of preparation containing thus grown strain with regard to bicyclic and polycyclic mazut aromatics ranges between 84.9 and 93.6% (bicyclic) and between 90.1 and 93.1% (polycyclic) within a wide temperature range 15-25 C and a wide pH range: from 5.0 to 8.0.
EXAMPLE - Bacterial strain isolated from soil polluted by petroleum derivatives is cultured for 72 h in liquid nutrient medium containing mineral salts and molasses at 28 C under aerobic conditions. Deep culture of microorganism (10%) is placed into sterile peat with mineral additives and additionally grown for 120 h at 3 C. Destructive activity of preparation containing thus grown strain with regard to petroleum hydrocarbons and derivatives at working concentration of bacteria 0.1% ranges between 87 and 97% within a wide temperature range: from 3 to 45 C, in particular between 87 and 92% at low temperature (3 C) within a wide pH range: from 4.5 to 8.0.
EXAMPLE - Bacterial strain isolated from soil polluted by petroleum derivatives is cultured for 72 h in liquid nutrient medium containing mineral salts, soya been flour, and molasses at pH 6.8-7.2 and 28 C under aerobic conditions. Destructive activity of strain ranges between 90.3 and 94.5 for paraffin fractions of mazut and between 88.7 and 93.0% for olefin fractions, efficiency of strain being high at temperatures between 15 and 25 C within a wide pH range: from 5.0 to 8.0.
EXAMPLE - Vibrio rumoiensis S-1 catalase was purified by using a DEA-Sepharose CL-6B column and a Sephacryl S-300 gel fractionation column, and was further purified by PAGE. It was blotted on a polyvinylidene fluoride membrane and stained by 3 % trichloroacetic acid containing 0.1 % Ponceau S. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of S-1 strain catalase was determined from the catalase band. The purified S-1 catalase was cleaved by lysyl-endopeptidase at 37 degrees C overnight. The peptidase was inactivated by guanidine-HCl and the peptide was eluted by a reversed phase HPLC and freeze-dried. It was diluted by TFA and the sequence was determined. 4 oligonucleotides P-N, P-1, P-3 and P-4.1 were synthesized from the N-terminal sequence thus determined and each amino acid sequences of PF-1, PF-3 and PF-4.1. A PCR was carried out by using these oligonucleotides as the primers and using the genomic DNA of S-1 as the template.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The shift reaction device is a thermal insulated structure, which is filled with a shift reaction catalyst.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: Hydrogen sulfide is removed to a concentration of 100-200 ppm in the process. Preferred Absorbent: The absorbent is a carbonaceous absorbent, metallic oxide and zeolite.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Structure: The device has header (12) on the upper portion which controls air supply to catalyst layer. The air pipe (13) has vent (14). The catalyst layer has lower portion which increases quantity of reformed gas supplied to each catalyst layer. The reaction container is equipped with cooler to maintain constant catalyst temperature. Preferred Process: The temperature difference between catalyst layers is reduced and catalyst layers are maintained at uniform temperature.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: Air is heated by supplying air to heat recovery wall (72) through suction side of an air blower which is provided to the burner. Water is supplied to a heated recovery wall, where the water is heated. The heated water is then supplied to a water vapor generator (22).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: The CO2 is removed from the feed by contacting the feed with hot potassium carbonate and absorbing CO2 from the feed into the hot potassium carbonate or by passing the feed through a membrane separator and permitting CO2 from the feed through the membrane of the membrane separator.The feed comprises at least one additional hydrocarbon having at least two carbon atoms.(B) undergoes rectification for removal of at least 2C hydrocarbon prior to passage into the (a).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Apparatus: The apparatus also comprises an upstream rectification column for passing (B) from the CO2 removal system to the heat exchanger, and a dryer.Fuel recovering device includes a passage for passing a portion of the fuel through the dryer. (a) has a bottom reboiler and a top condenser.The heat exchanger includes the bottom reboiler and the device for recovering the hydrocarbon product includes the top condenser. EXAMPLE - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Protein: (I) has a molecular weight of 15-20 kD produced by high-performance liquid chromatography at the optimum temperature of 37 degrees C and the optimum pH 9-10.Preferred Bacterium: The bacteria is DSM 12887. It is a strictly aerobic, gram-negative, oxidase-positive, rod-shaped organism, probably a subtype of Lysobacter enzymogenes. It produces an enzyme with greater lytic activity than those from L. enzymogenes strains 495 or AL1. The bacterium is particularly grown at pH 5.75-10, especially 7.7, and 25-30, particularly 30 degrees C, and under these conditions also produces the two other lytic enzymes described in (a).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Nucleic Acid: (II) is:(i) a sequence that encodes (S1), (S5)-(S7), or its complement;(ii) a 117 bp sequence (S2) or its complement;(iii) able to hybridize with (i) or (ii), or their complements; or(iv) equivalent to (i)-(iii) within the degeneracy of the genetic code.Preferred Vectors: These also contain regulatory elements functional in prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic cells.Preparation: Sequences of fragments of (I) and (S3) are used to design oligonucleotide probes for screening to identify the complete gene (not exemplified). Once isolated, (II) can be expressed in usual vector/host systems. EXAMPLE - The bacteria DSM 12887 was isolated from a sheep pasture and selected for its ability to lyse autoclaved or live bacteria and yeast and (non) autoclaved activated sludge. Purified protein with lytic enzyme activity (I) was isolated from a crude extract of the bacterium by:    (1) ion-exchange chromatography on a MonoQ column, eluted with a gradient of sodium chloride in Tris-hydrochloride pH 9; and    (2) high-performance liquid chromatography on Superose 12, eluted with pH 12 diammonium hydrogencarbonate buffer.    Fragments of the purified protein were then sequenced.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Device: The polarization reversal period in the periodic polarization reversal structure of MgO-doped LiNbO3 crystals is the polarization reversal period obtained by generating light of absorption wavelength of gas to be detected at up to 100degreesC crystallization temperature. The gas to be detected is methane gas, and the polarization reversal period of the periodic polarization reversal structure is 30.0-32.0 micron. The wavelength conversion unit is an optical parametric oscillator. The MgO-doped LiNbO3 crystals are rectangles which are long in the optical path direction of the oscillator. The length in the optical path direction is 5-75 mm, and the dimensions of the square of the vertical cross-section in the optical path are 0.5mm x 0.5mm - 1mm x 75mm.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preparation: The strain of Bacillus bacteria is isolated from soil using a method adapted from Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Vol. 2, pages 1104-1139.Preferred Microorganism: (I) is determined to be B. amyloliquefaciens by the fatty acid methyl ester analysis method using Trypticase Soy Broth Agar version 3.9 at 28.0 C of the database of Microcheck, Inc. of Northfield, Vt. SPECIFIC MICROORGANISMS - The isolated microorganism is Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.    EXAMPLE - Soil (1 g) from the vicinity of Seattle, Washington was added to 300 ml of (TSA) Tryptic Soy Broth (Difco). This mixture was pasteurized by heating to 70 degrees centigrade for 10 minutes, then incubated for 48 hours at 30 degrees centigrade. The culture was struck onto Difco plates at the beginning of the incubation period, following 24 hours of incubation, and at the end of the 48 hours incubation. The plates were incubated aerobically at 30 degrees centigrade and examined for bacterial growth. Bacterial colonies were picked and serially transferred to TSA plates every 24-48 hours until stable bacterial colonies could be isolated. Taxonomic determination was done via colonial morphology, cellular morphology, Gram stain, biochemical tests, and Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Analysis performed by Microcheck, Inc., of Northfields, Vt. using Trypticase Soy Broth Agar version 3.9 at 28.0 C of Microcheck's database. Eight strains were isolated including Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preparation: The strain of Bacillus bacteria is isolated from soil using a method adapted from Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Vol. 2, pages 1104-1139.Preferred Microorganism: (I) is determined to be B. amyloliquefaciens by the fatty acid methyl ester analysis method using Trypticase Soy Broth Agar version 3.9 at 28.0 C of the database of Microcheck, Inc. of Northfield, Vt. SPECIFIC MICROORGANISMS - The isolated microorganism is Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.    EXAMPLE - Soil (1 g) from the vicinity of Seattle, Washington was added to 300 ml of (TSA) Tryptic Soy Agar (Difco). This mixture was pasteurized by heating to 70 degrees centigrade for 10 minutes, then incubated for 48 hours at 30 degrees centigrade. The culture was struck onto Difco plates at the beginning of the incubation period, following 24 hours of incubation, and at the end of the 48 hours incubation. The plates were incubated aerobically at 30 degrees centigrade and examined for bacterial growth. Bacterial colonies were picked and serially transferred to TSA plates every 24-48 hours until stable bacterial colonies could be isolated. Taxonomic determination was done via colonial morphology, cellular morphology, Gram stain, biochemical tests, and Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Analysis performed by Microcheck, Inc., of Northfields, Vt. using Trypticase Soy Broth Agar version 3.9 at 28.0 C of Microcheck's database. Eight strains were isolated including Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: The steam generated in heat boiler is supplied to steam turbine as drive fluid. The electric power generated in energy regenerating system is used to drive generator (27).
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Equipment: A sludge feeder (2) supplies dry sludge to a vaporization unit where the sludge is heat treated to obtain a gaseous product (12). The gaseous product is condensed and vaporized to which waste oil is added to obtain a gaseous product (15), after heating by a heater (6). The residue produced is heat treated and the gaseous product is introduced into a condensation isolation unit (9) to obtain production oil (19). A gas classification unit (7) comprises a condenser (4) and a gas-liquid separator (5). A valve is provided between the vaporization unit and reaction unit (8) to control the back flow of processed material from the gas classification unit or reaction unit to the vaporization unit. The waste oil is waste edible oil or lubricating oil.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Amount: The amount of purified microbe sprayed is 5 kg/1000 m2, preferably 20 kg/200 m2 of golf course pond.Preferred Method: In water purification, eutrophication prevention microbes are wetted with water and allowed to stand for 30-60 minutes. The obtained solution is dispersed uniformly on water surface. Preferably BioS30 (RTM) is dissolved in water as above, poured into a pipe and the water supply layer is purified. In garbage disposal a predetermined amount (8 kg) of garbage disposal microbes are added to a container filled with organic refuses or and agitated for a predetermined period. Alternately 8 kg of microbes are added to a container filled with waste oil and allowed to stand for 3-4 days.Preferred Microorganism: The golf course pond purification microbe is micromonospora of a single genus, preferably it is a eutrophication prevention microbe, BioS30 (RTM), garbage disposal microbe, waste oil treatment microbe formed by providing resistant mutation using high temperature or chemical.Preferred Conditions: The high temperature resistant mutation operation is performed at 100degreesC for 30 minutes or more. The chemical resistant mutation operation is performed in presence of a microbicide such as phenol, preferably 1% aqueous cresol solution for 30 minutes or more at a predetermined density.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: Methane fermentation is carried out using a formic acid conversion type methanation microbe at 60degreesC or more.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: Alternatively. the apparatus comprises hydrogen generation unit for generating hydrogen and carbon dioxide from organic waste, by fermentation. Methane decomposition, hydrogen generation and carbondioxide fixation occurs in a single reaction vessel (4) of the fixation apparatus. Preferred Process: After fixation of carbondixoide, unreacted methane, hydrogen and, carbon dioxide generated by the methane decomposition or hydrogen generation units, are circulated. After carbondixoide fixation, hydrogen and carbondioxide generated by the hydrogen generation unit are circulated. The carbondioxide and methane in the reaction gas are converted into carbon, water vapor and, carbon, hydrogen, respectively, during circulation. Ejection of carbondioxide is prevented. The unreacted hydrogen from the carbon dioxide fixation unit is separated by a hydrogen separator (8). The unreactor hydrogen is used as regenerating catalyst (6) in methane decomposition, hydrogen generation and carbondioxide fixation units. The fixation apparatus has a condenser for cooling the hot water vapor and which carries out heating of gas at normal temperature.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The catalyst layers are connected via by-pass pipes. The number of catalyst layers will depend on the quantity of gas mixture supplied.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Process: The gaseous effluent stream leaving the heat exchanger contains particulate matter which stream is passed to a solids/gas separation zone where at least a portion of the particulate matter is removed from the gaseous effluent stream. Incineration is conducted at 1000-1500 degreesC. The gaseous effluent stream leaving the heat exchanger is passed to a scrubbing zone where it is passed countercurrent to an aqueous alkaline solution to remove at least a portion of any acid components in the effluent stream. The aqueous alkaline solution exiting the scrubbing zone contains salts of the acids. The salt-containing alkaline solution is passed to a separation zone to remove the salts. The heat exchanger is used to produce steam for downstream use. The steam is used to drive a turbine to produce electrical energy. The material is coal or petroleum coke, and where a) air is sent to an air separation plant where a stream of oxygen and nitrogen are produced ; b) the oxygen stream is conducted to a syngas generation plant where a stream of carbon dioxide and hydrogen are produced; and c) a portion of the hydrogen produced is conducted to a methanol plant where it combines with gaseous effluent containing reduced levels of pollutants to produce methanol. A portion of the hydrogen stream is conducted to an ammonia plant along with a stream of nitrogen from the air separation plant. The stream of ammonia is conducted to a urea plant along with a portion of the gaseous effluent containing reduced levels of pollutants to produce urea. The pollutant containing reactivation stream is conducted to the incinerator to decompose the pollutants.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The adsorbent bed is alumina, silica, molecular sieves, or preferably activated carbon. The reactivation reagent is oxygen or air.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred process: The method comprises sheathing the feed admixture by indirect exchange with at least a portion of the fuel exhaust stream. The effective stream reforming conditions comprise a reforming temperature of about 650 to 900 degree C and reforming pressure of about 80 to 5000 kpa.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred process: The feedstream is selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon, an alcohol and mixtures.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred process: The steam reforming catalyst comprises nickel supported on a refractor carrier selected from magnesia, magnesium aluminate, alumina, silica, zirconia, and mixtures.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The melter unit has an inlet for introducing secondary waste and has a secondary reaction chamber. A primary power supply source is provided between the arc plasma electrode and pool, along with a secondary power supply source (AC power supply) to provide joule heat. The AC power supply comprises a transformer with at least one primary winding and one secondary winding, a capacitor connected in series with the secondary winding, a counter electrode and at least one saturable reactor. The joule electrodes are at least partially immersed in the molten oxide pool.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The primary waste contains non-glass forming waste including tires and metals like iron and steel and/or low-ash producing organics including plastics, solvents and/or oils. The melt modifier contains glass forming constituents including lime, dolomite, sand, anhydrous sodium carbonate, glass frits and/or glass forming chemicals.Preferred Properties: The modified molten oxide pool has a metal oxide layer disposed above a metal layer which is denser than the oxide layer. The oxide pool has an electrical resistivity of 1-200 Ohm-cm, preferably at least 1 Ohm-cm.
EXAMPLE - Ralstonia KNI-200A was derived from Ralstonia KWI-9. Ralstonia KNI-200A was washed with and suspended in phosphate buffer. River sand with a particle size of 0.35 mm was used to fill purification equipment, and dechlorinated tap water containing 500 micrograms/l trichloroethylene (TCE) was passed through the equipment at 40 ml/d for about 10 days. After a preliminary feed for 30 days, the flow rate of the dechlorinated tap water was decreased to 36 ml/d and the 25 mg/l microbe suspension was passed through the equipment continuously at a rate of 4 ml/d. In parallel, 1.2 ml of 250 mg/l microbe suspension was injected intermittently to another column set to a flow rate of dechlorinated tap water of 40 ml/d every three days, in this example TCE was hardly decomposed compared with a decomposition of 500 micrograms/l TCE to 250 micrograms/l in the initial experiment.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Agent: The de-icing agent melts the snow and degrades soil quickly.
SPECIFIC MICROORGANISMS - (I) is especially Pseudomonas SP 46 strain (FERM P-17213) (claimed).    EXAMPLE - A new microorganism belonging to Pseudomonas genus capable of producing menthanol was cultured for 7 days at 30 degrees C in SCDA (not defined) medium containing bactotrypton (0.15%), bactosoyton (0.05%), sodium chloride (0.05%) and agar (1.5%). The aroma emitted from the culture of the microorganism was analyzed by gas chromatography and the presence of menthanol and various esters was detected. The microorganism was applied to sludge and the presence of offensive odor components such as sulfur, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur-dioxide was analyzed. The results showed the absence of ammonia and other offensive odorous components.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Raw Material: Lees obtained after potato spirit distillation is used as organic waste. Sugar is added to the organic waste as required. Preferred Concentration: 10 times or more of LLA bacteria is added to indigenous microbe in the waste material. Preferred Microorganisms: The lactic acid bacteria are/is Streptococcus agilis, S.amylophilus, S.animalis, S.avialius, S.bavalicus, S.casel, S.dextrinicus, S.maltalomicus, S.mulinus, S.paracasel, S.rhamunosus, S.ruminus, S.salivarius, S.sharpeae and/or Lactobacillus genus. Preferred Concentration: The product contains 85 % or more of highly pure L lactic acid, and D lactic acid.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: The primary separation involves a screening followed by a sorting, in which the large sorted fraction (4) is milled then mixed with the lesser fraction (3). A bacterial aerobic or anaerobic degradation is included followed by a worm digestion stage. The third, mechanical sorting comprises a screening stage followed by a densiometric separation with a separation of dusts (20). The solid fuel obtainable has a mean particle size 0.5 - 10 mm, preferably 1 - 3 mm, plastic material content of 20 - 80%, cellulosic material content (paper, cartons, wood) of 20 - 80% and mineral material content of less than 10%. EXAMPLE - None given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - The fuel cell system uses electrochemical energy conversion for providing the electrical operating energy for electrical auxiliaries onboard an automobile.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Method: Oxygen is injected as air. The stream ejected from water-gas shift reactor is shunted around fuel cell until CO concentration of the inlet is at an acceptable level by the fuel cell. The stream is recycled to the fuel cell when the CO concentration is at acceptable range. Preferred Amount: The amount of oxygen injected is 0.1 mols/min for each mol of carbon monoxide flowing into the catalyst.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Device: The casting installation has a suction device (3) for the waste gas stream (4) containing the odorous substances. The suction device is arranged in the region of the molding machine (5), the core molding machine, the melting furnace, the region in which the converter is tipped, the casting path (19), the cooling path, the emptying path, the sand preparation and/or the casting transporting device.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Material: The ceramic material consists of LiAlO2, Li2ZrO3, Li2TiO3, CeO2, Al2O3 with an in-situ synthesized LiAlO2 layer, MO2 (M = a group IVb element, preferably Zr or Ti) with an in-situ synthesized Li2MO3 layer or a multi-phase ceramic selected from Al2O3-LiAlO2-Li2ZrO3 mixed ceramic, Al2O3-ZrO2-Li2ZrO3 mixed ceramic and/or ZrO2-Li2ZrO3-CeO2-Li2TiO3 mixed ceramic.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The amount of steam present during reforming is shown by the mol ratio of steam to dimethyl ether of 10/1 to 0.5/1. The temperature during reforming is 200-600degrees C.The reforming is carried out in the presence of steam in a multi-stage heat-insulation-type, fixed bed-type reactor.Dimethyl ether is supplied sequentially and flowed sequentially through a cooler between each stage, or a part of the dimethyl ether is supplied sequentially and the remainder is supplied in parallel to the previous stage.The reforming is done in a fluid bed reactor or a multi-stage reactor.Carbon dioxide removal is performed by absorption in alkanolamine aqueous solution or potassium carbonate aqueous solution, adsorption by a pressure swing method or selective separation with a separation membrane.Before or after the removal of carbon dioxide, methanation of by-produced water, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is performed.A part of the dimethyl ether of the raw material is added as a calorific value-enhancing agent.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Microorganism: The microorganism is a Bacillus subtilis species which is determined by Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Analysis method using Trypticase Soy Broth Agar version 3.9 at 28.0 degrees centigrade of the database of Microcheck, Inc. of North field, Vt.. WIDER DISCLOSURE - 8 isolated novel strains of Bacillus are B.pumilus RLM-002 (ATCC 202136), B.subtilis RLM-007Aa (ATCC 202138), B.amyloliquefaciens RLM-007Ab (ATCC 202134), B.macerans RLM-007C (ATCC 202132), B.subtilis RLM-011 (ATCC 202137), B.subtilis RLM-012A (ATCC 202139), B.amyloliquefaciens RLM-012B (ATCC 202133) and B.macerans RLM-013C (ATCC 202135).    EXAMPLE - The strains are isolated by the method Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Vol.2, pages 1104 -1139. 1 g of soil from the vicinity of Seattle, Wash., is added to 300 ml of Tryptic Soy Broth (Difco). The obtained mixture is pasteurized at 70 degrees centigrade for 10 minutes, and then is incubated for 48 hours at 30 degrees centigrade. The culture is streaked on Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) (Difco) plates at the beginning of incubation, after 24 hours of incubation and at the end of 48 hours of incubation. The obtained plates are incubated aerobically at 30 degrees centigrade and is examined for bacterial growth. Bacterial colonies are picked and serially transferred onto TSA plates every 24-48 hours until stable bacterial colonies are isolated.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: The degradation of hydrocarbon fuel present in soil is accelerated by including an additional amount of water-borne bacteria in the composition.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Materials: The organic waste material is food waste, grass, wood waste, dried rice plant, or paper waste.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: An alloy containing iron as essential component and a small amount of carbon and manganese, is subjected to wet oxidation to produced the catalyst. The thermolysis of PET in a molded product waste material is performed at normal pressure. The non-aqueous organic solvent is ethylene glycol. The powdered PET is decomposed into ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. The decomposed product is powdered and ethylene glycol is evaporated, separated and recycled as an organic solvent.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred process: The tank optionally has a stirrer, and/or heating equipment with a heating medium inlet and cooled medium outlet above the tank bottom. EXAMPLE - Sugar beet remains were mixed with water in a discontinuous multistage mode, forming a substrate whose true dry matter content was 1vol% with a 1 day postponing period. The substrate was then hydrolyzed at 20degreesC with simultaneous acidification at pH 4.5, with subsequent methanizing bacteria that release biogas. Specific biogas production was 0.3 m3 of 1 kg. sugar beet remains with 50vol% of methane.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: The pellets are dried to a residual moisture content of not more than 5%. Lacquer sludge may be added to the mixture before pelleting. Drying is carried out in a drying shaft having horizontal drying air channels, the pellets being continuously poured vertically under gravity through the shaft. The drying air may comprise external air or scrubbed flue gases which have been adjusted to the desired drying temperature by mixing with external air. The preparation, pelleting, drying and waste air cleaning steps may be carried out using a stationary or mobile plant. The dried pellets may be briquetted.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - TEXTILES AND PAPER - Preferred Materials: The dry material may comprises shredded waste paper or ground paper sludge, straw, coconut fibers or shredded dry leaves.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The particles comprise unsupported catalyst, catalyst support, supported catalyst, unsupported catalyst precursor or supported catalyst precursor. The coating is applied to the interior and penetrates into the interior of the product to a depth of at least 5 microns. The fibers have a thickness of less than 500 microns. The particles have an average particle size of less than 100 microns. The coated product has an average void opening of at least 25 microns. The thickness or diameter of the fibers is 8-25 microns. The product prior to coating has a void volume of 90-98%. EXAMPLE - A highly porous stainless steel fiber paper sample weighing 3.4034 g was coated with a slurry containing 5 wt.% solids of a 2 wt.% Pd catalyst on alumina by dipping in free flowing slurry having a kinematic viscosity in the order of 1 centistoke and removing excess slurry by blotting on a paper towel. After drying the sample in air for 5 minutes and at 120degreesC for 0.75 hours the sheet plus dry catalyst weighed 3.6123 g or 5.78 wt.%. This sample was calcined at 350degreesC for 1 hour at a ramp rate of 30degrees/min. from ambient temperature. Propylene then was hydrogenated to propane in the presence of the supported catalyst at 50degreesC and 400 psi. The propylene conversion was 56% at a space velocity of 62.5 min-1.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalyst: The catalyst comprises a noble metal and calcium oxide. The foam core catalyst bed comprises at least two catalyzed regions, each having a different catalyst composition. The first region of the foam core catalyst bed contains a noble metal catalyst in combination with calcium oxide. The second region of the foam core catalyst bed contains a base metal catalyst in combination with calcium oxide. The first region of the foam core catalyst bed contains a platinum catalyst, and the second region contains a copper or copper/zinc catalyst. Alternatively, the first region contains an iron oxide/calcium oxide catalyst and the second region contains a copper or copper/zinc catalyst. The first region of the foam core catalyst bed is further promoted with a noble metal catalyst. The noble metal catalyst is selected from platinum, palladium and rhodium, or mixtures of these. The foam core catalyst bed comprises a first region containing a noble metal and calcium oxide catalyst and a subsequent region which does not contain calcium oxide and does contain the noble metal catalyst. The noble metal catalyst is selected from platinum, palladium and rhodium. The foam core catalyst bed includes at least one ceramic foam support body, and a high temperature-compatible metal support selected from stainless steel, nickel alloys and iron-aluminum alloys. The metal support is connected to a source of electrical current so as to serve as a resistance heating element during start-up of the reformer assembly. The metal support is electrically heated to operating temperatures within about twenty seconds after applying electrical current to it. The catalyst bed is cylindrical in shape. The fuel gas inlet passage contains a fuel gas/steam mixture. The air inlet passage contains an air/steam mixture. The fuel gas is methanol.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred System: The source is a container which is capable of supplying the emulsion to the reformer. The system further comprises a water gas shift reactor between the reformer and the fuel cell, or between the reformer and a carbon monoxide clean-up processor. A pre-heater heats the emulsion before it enters the reformer. The fuel is selected from alcohols which form emulsions with water, jet fuel, naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, Fischer-Tropsch derived liquids and mixtures of these. The fuel and water emulsion further comprises a freezing point depressant, preferably an alcohol. The emulsion is a fuel in water emulsion or a water in fuel emulsion. The emulsion further comprises a surfactant, preferably non-ionic and only including carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The system further comprises a water recovery device from the fuel cell.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Generator: The generator comprises a vertical burner in the upper part of the combustion chamber and an orifice for exiting combustion gases. The vertical axis of the burner is offset to the median axis of the chamber. Two tubes each supply a combustion supporting gas surround the main injector. The main installation comprises the generator, which also includes a heat exchanger in which the combustion gases circulate and an ash box, a storage silo for solid waste particles, two tubes for supplying hot combustion supporting gas, a tube for supply of gas mixed with the solid particles, heaters for the supply gases, and a device for the production of electricity from the combustion gases. The process is carried out by initiation of combustion at a temperature of a least 1000 degrees C to induce fusion of the ashes. The fuel comprises particles obtained from sorted wastes, the PCI being at least 4000 kcal/kg. Three flows of combustion supporting gases are supplied to the combustion chamber at different temperatures, directed from the top to the bottom of the chamber. The combustion gases are maintained at a temperature of at least 850 degrees C for at least two seconds in an exhaust zone in which the combustion supporter and/or fuel are heated by exchange and/or mixing with the combustion gases. Before starting the process, the combustion chamber is preheated to 700-900 degrees C. The particles used as the fuel have the following characteristics: a mean particle size of 0.5-10 mm, preferably 1-5 mm; a plastic material content of 20-80 wt.%; a content of cellulosic materials (paper, cartons or wood) of 20-80 wt.%; and a mineral material content of less than 10%. EXAMPLE - A typical particle composition, obtained by milling of sifted waste, comprised 20% paper, 15% cartons, 5% wood and 60% plastics.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Apparatus: The fermenter is divided into two compartments that can operate under aerobic or anaerobic conditions and a third compartment that operates under anaerobic conditions and serves as a decanter. The decanted solids are passed to the centrifuge before being partially recycled to the fermenter together with bacteria recovered in the membrane separator. Biogas from the third compartment is collected in a tank and carbon dioxide from the first two compartments is passed to a biological filter.
EXAMPLE - The plastics fractions which have been separated by color are extracted with ethyl acetate in a centrifugal extractor. Preferably the degree of material degradation in the plastics is determined and only those whose degree of degradation is below a predetermined level are retained for sorting. The plastics (LDPE, PP) in a color fraction which are of different melting point are separated using a thermoscanner. they are heated on a perforated transporter which converts one plastic to a flowable aggregate and the other to a solid aggregate. The flowable aggregate (LDPE) is fed into a cooling bath for further processing.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred System: The redox catalyst contains pure copper, copper oxide and/or mixed oxides of copper.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Process: (A) and (B) are produced by recycling biological waste. Particularly the waste is, or includes, sewage and animal offal, and the soil on which the process is performed becomes enriched by the recycling process. Where intended to induce immune responses against a specific pathogen, the substrate on which the insects are grown is inoculated with this pathogen. Growing insects on a substrate containing mixed bacteria gives a product with a generalized immunity-inducing action.Preferred Insects: These are particularly species that feed or carrion or detritus, especially larvae (maggots) of houseflies, blowflies, fruit flies and beetles. WIDER DISCLOSURE - Also disclosed as new are a similar method for recycling man-made fibers and 'carbon polymers' and use of molluscs rather than insects in marine environments.    ACTIVITY - Antibacterial; antiviral; antiallergic; cytostatic.    No biological data is given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - Induction of specific immunity by transfer of acquired immunity up a food chain.    ADMINISTRATION - (A) is administered by ingestion or injection, or by transcutaneous absorption.    EXAMPLE - No examples are given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Mixture: The preferred mixture is 15 - 30 % acetylene ; 14 - 43 % butane ; and 27 - 71 % propane ; and more preferably 20 - 30% acetylene ; 14 - 40 % butane ; and 30 - 66 % propane. The butane component is iso-butane, n-butane or a mixture of both. The proportion of butane to propane is at least 0.25, preferably 0.25 - 0.66 and/or the proportion of butane is less than or equal to the proportion of acetylene. The proportion of acetylene is 20 - 30%. The mixture is contained in a gas bottle. EXAMPLE - A gaseous mixture was prepared containing 30 % acetylene, 28 % butane and 42 % propane. The ratio of butane to propane was 0.66. Test results showed that the use of the mixture led to a preheating time gain of 60 % relative to butane and 43 % relative to propane.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Component: The hole (65) has an inlet and an outlet which is impinged against a wicking layer. The wicking layer distributes the hydration fluid to the membrane. The fuel cell (44) is located in a fuel stack comprising fuel cells. The land has a groove that is connected to the hole.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Fluid: The hydration fluid is deionized water.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred System: The oxidant flow field is a double-pass oxidant reactant flow field. The first-pass directs the oxidant in a downward direction and the second-pass directs the oxidant in an upward direction. The system further includes an air valve at the output of the oxidant reactant flow field and a coolant accumulator communicating with the coolant flow field and positioned above the MEA of the fuel cell system. The air valve is coupled to the controller. It is closed during power plant shutdown to prevent coolant from draining out of the oxidant reactant flow field. Preferred Components: The fine pore plates include plate members that include pattern of projections (28, 40) and grooves (32, 44), which are abutting each other. The projection and grooves cooperate to form reactant (38) and coolant flow field (36) channels.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Surfactant: The surfactant which is decomposed by the microorganisms is polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether. EXAMPLE - (In millimoles) Pseudomonas putida SD-21 strain was cultivated in a medium containing potassium dihydrogen phosphate (30), ammonium sulfate (10), calcium carbonate (0.125), zinc oxide (0.031), ferric chloride (0.125), manganese chloride (0.031), cupric chloride (0.006), cobalt chloride (0.006), boric acid (0.006), magnesium sulfate (3.125), sodium molybdate (0.006) and sodium chloride (3.125) at pH 7.5. The diluted culture solution was cultivated on a flat plate medium at 27degreesC for 1 week. The colony grown on the plate medium was mixed with Dragendorff reagent and tested for the decomposition of polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether (NPE). The hollow region surrounding the colony was judged positive for degrading NPE. The turbidity of the microbial culture was measured and a shaking culture was performed by inoculating the strain in the test medium. The total organic concentration of the culture in a timely basis was measured. The result showed that the reduction of the total organic concentration of NPE by the microbe was 70%.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: The methanation reaction device is divided into more than two compartments. The inlet temperature of the device is 160-200degreesC. The methanation reaction device is cooled by supplying air to burner (2a) of water vapor modifier (2), burner of vaporizer and cathode (1a) of fuel battery (1). Preferred Catalyst: The methanation of CO is carried out using ruthenium, rhodium and nickel catalyst.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - AGRICULTURE - Preferred Materials The residues comprise tree bark and the wood fibers are filaments of diameter 0.01-0.1 mm and length 1-10 mm and are present at 10-30 (5-15) vol.%. The support includes organic and mineral fertilizers and also oligoelements.Preferred Process: The residues contain microorganisms causing fermentation and the fermentation takes 2-8 (1-4) months. EXAMPLE - Pine chips were autoclaved, defibrillated and composted with earth, bark and marle for 10 weeks to give a brown fibrous mass that could be used alone or with earth for young shoots.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Device: The device has an apparatus for periodically cleaning and regenerating the honeycomb body by blowing in a pure gas or gas mixture made of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or water vapor through the honeycomb channels. The gasifier is a fluidized bed gasifier. Gas filtering is carried out by a hot gas filter having a filter medium made of heat-resistant ceramic or metallic material, the gas filter being positioned between the gasifier and the tar splitter.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Waste Treatment: The same temperatures are used in hydrolysis and methanization. In hydrolysis, the mass is stirred continuously, the gas space in the hydrolysis vessel is exhausted continuously and the exhaust gas is discharged into the atmosphere through a compost filter. Hydrolysis is ended when the pH reached 4.2-4.5. The mass from hydrolysis is passed to the methanization stage at a rate of 200 l per 24 hours and the slurry from the settling tank is partly recycled to the methanization stage. The biogas from this stage is (partly) used for supplying gas to the reactor. After crushing and before hydrolysis, the waste may be subjected to thermal, chemical, enzymatic or biological degradation.Preferred Equipment: The disk reactor comprises a horizontal cylindrical tube with a rotary shaft along its axis. The disks are perforated and a fleece, preferably of PE (polyethylene), between two adjacent disks is used as stationary bed for microorganisms. The space inside this reactor can be supplied with gas by a tubular membrane aerator.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Equipment: (3) can be switched on and off manually using a control unit positioned outside the container. Alternatively (3) is switched on automatically when there is contact between the container and the cover in the closed position. The duration of irradiation from (3) is adjusted using a timer and (3) is surrounded by a ultra violet (UV)-transparent cover, preferably made of quartz glass. A UV-reflective mirror may be placed between (3) and the inside of the container or cover, to direct light into the waste material, and (3) may be driven by solar energy.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Equipment: The fuel tank has a reservoir from which the engine fuel is pumped through a pipe to a system forming the mixture and excess fuel is removed, with pressure control, through a recycling pipe. Up-stream from the pressure-retaining valve, the fuel is supplied with heat of vaporization by passing it from the recycling pipe through a heat exchanger. The heated fuel then flows through a regulating valve into a vapor separator, from which the vapor of low-boiling fuel components is removed by suction of a compressor connected with a tank supplying condensate. The condensate tank is connected to the fuel tank by a blow off pipe fitted with a pressure valve. It is also connected from a high point with the suction side of the compressor through a valve-controlled pipe. The hardly volatile or high-boiling constituents of the fuel collecting in the vapor separator are returned to the fuel tank through a fuel-cooling heat exchanger, with valve control. The engine is used in a vehicle, in which the condensate is produced by waste heat from the vehicle and stored in a tank for the reformer, which is connected to an ancillary fuel as current/voltage source for the power supply.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Device: The filler is suitable for growing biofilms. The filler is made of broken glass and can be heated.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - The liquid microbial formulation contains aerobic bacteria (e.g. Bacillus subtilis), anaerobic bacteria (e.g. Rumenococcus albus) and facultative anaerobic bacteria (e.g. Lactobacillus acidophil). It can produce an oil-decomposing enzyme of lipase, protein-decomposing enzyme of proteinase, starch-decomposing enzyme of amylase, plant fiber-decomposing enzyme of pectinase, cellulose-decomposing enzyme of cellulase, sugar-decomposing enzyme of beta-glucanase and polysaccharide-decomposing enzyme of hemicellulase. The enzyme water has a neutral pH. EXAMPLE - Waste water from a fast-food store was treated by using the apparatus to remove the oils, proteins, fibers and detergents to produce an effluent with little smell.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Structure: The process unit is treatment tank (2) comprising multistoried chambers (4a-4g). The waste is fermented, step wise at arbitrary fixed temperature conditions. Each chamber has stirring unit (3) to mix waste and microorganism. Stirring unit consists of revolving arm (7) which is rotated by rotation shaft (6) provided at center of treatment tank. The revolving arm is provided with stirring blade (8). Each chamber, has temperature, humidity, indoor atmosphere adjusting units and exhaust outlet (12). The outlet supplies treated waste to lower chamber. The treatment tank is insulated by thermal insulating material.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Structure: The microorganism material is provided as a ball-like foam ceramic having diameter greater than, aperture diameter of exhaust outlet. The structure enables the microorganism to be placed arbitrary fixed temperature areas.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The apparatus has lightweight construction and recesses (6, 7) for reducing the heat capacity. The end plate has a honeycomb structure, a through-hole (5) for supplying media and a base surface (4) on which rods (2) and/or sleeves (3) are arranged.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - COMPUTING AND CONTROL - Preferred Apparatus: A hood covers a part or all the upper parts of the fermenter. The hood is located between the inner side and flow surface of fermenter. Exhaust gas is carried out through a vent line and is released through exhaust holes positioned longitudinally from a lower part of the raw material. The hood covers a predetermined range longitudinally from insertion opening side of the fermenter. The exhaust holes are arranged by the side of exhaust outlet. The exhaust gas is absorbed by a compost layer for performing fermentation. A feed pipe for feeding waste water from waste water tank to the fermenter is provided at the fermenter floor surface. A pouring hole (23) is provided on the waste water feed pipe near exhaust outlet floor surface of the fermenter. A sewage disposable apparatus for injecting waste water from feed pipe at the lowest part of fermenter may also be included.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The sulfur in the raw material gas is optionally hydrated, while the hydrocarbon gas is hydrated. The fuel battery uses the water formed by decomposing hydrate, as water vapor for reforming process. During decomposition of hydrate, cooling takes place and is used for cooling an air-conditioning unit in car. Preferred Apparatus: The motor vehicle comprises a fuel tank for storing heating gas in hydrated state, an engine which uses the heating gas (obtained by decomposing hydrate) as an engine fuel, and fuel battery which is operated by using the heating gas as a source of hydrogen.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: Fibrous carbon compound is formed as a substrate, particle or as a porous object. Heating of carbyne group carbon material is carried out in inert atmosphere, reducing atmosphere and under reduced pressure. Energy irradiated is an electron beam, X-ray, light, plasma, ultrasonic wave or an ion beam. Infrared rays is used as the source of heat or irradiation. EXAMPLE - 30 ml of tetrahydrofuran, 0.8 g of lithium chloride and 0.48 g of ferrous chloride were added to the flask containing carbyne group carbon material produced by electrolytic reduction. 40 V was impressed and argon gas was supplied. Reduction reaction was carried out for 10 hours at 0degreesC and subjected to vacuum drying. The obtained carbon film was heated under reduced pressure of 0.1-0.5 torr to 800degreesC. A fibrous carbon compound having a diameter of 70-240 nm was formed on the surface.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: Controls (7, 4) adjust the feedstock mixture ratio. Steam/methane ratio is adjusted in accordance with the temperature (T) of reformate gas leaving the reactor. The reformate temperature is held constant, by adjusting the mixture ratio.
EXAMPLE - 11 g of samarium nitrate aqueous solution was added to 10 g of zirconia sol aqueous solution, heated and evaporated to dryness. The obtained powder was baked for 5 hours at 500degreesC to obtain ZrO2 catalyst with tetragonal structure having BET surface area of 75.9 m2/g. 2 g of support obtained was added to 8 g of nickel nitrate aqueous solution, evaporated to dryness and powder obtained was heated to 5 hours at 500degreesC and reduced in hydrogen atmosphere for 5 hours at 300degreesC. The catalyst containing 30 atom% of nickel was obtained. The catalyst was packed on glass wool and installed in a electric furnace and carbon dioxide and hydrogen mixed in the molar ratio or 1-4 was passed into the catalyst and maintained at 225degreesC. Gas chromatographic analysis of the gas passed through a catalyst revealed that the conversion rate of carbon dioxide to methane when 5.4 l of reactive gas was passed, was 77.2%. Methane was generated at selectivity of 100%.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - The regulatory material may comprise a hydrocarbon-rich fluid, preferably a fuel or natural gas, and is introduced in the high temperature reactor. If a solid material is added, such as carbon, wood etc., it is added with the waste supply. The added material represents more than 15%, and more preferably 15 - 30% of the total calorific power. The syngas obtained comprises 34 - 41% of H2, 35 - 41% of CO, 23 - 41% of CO2 and 2 - 6% of N2. A typical composition comprises 35% of H2, 35% of CO, 27% of CO2 and 35 of N2.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Container: The container is demountable from a truck. It has angular stops, secured to the side walls of the container and arranged to limit the upward movement of the plates. The plates are bent to an L-shape and comprise triangular reinforcing member(s) (14) welded under the plates. They rest on each other through spacers (28) providing slots for air passage. They are pivoted at their opposite ends, on the side walls of the container and rest upon an air feeding collector which is secured to the bottom of the container. The air feeding collector is arranged perpendicular to the plates, provided with openings arranged to distribute the air below the support plane.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: Waste disposal involves forming a number of primary water ponds inside the outer pond containing aerobic or semi-aerobic waste. The semisolid material in the primary waste pond (3-5 m deep) is in a highly reduced state which facilitates the conversion to methane. The primary waste pond is deflected with oxygen which prevents the inclusion of dissolved oxygen from the outer pond. A stable microbial methane fermentation zone containing facultative heterotrophic microbe and methane microbe is introduced into a gaseous emission zone containing 70% methane. The emitted gas from the fermentation zone is collected in a submerged gas collector, transported through a central mast pipe and subsequently collected in a gas cap. The collected gas is used for power generation. Preferred Area: The primary waste pond has a top surface area of not greater than 0.1 hectare. The fermentation zone in the primary waste pond is approximately 6-8 m deep and has a top surface area of not greater than 0.09 hectare.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Process (B): The coal is lignite. The termites are Nasutitermes costalis, Marginitermes hubbardi, Paraneotermes simplicicornis, Reticulitermes tibialis, Heterotermes aureus, Pterotermes occidentis, or preferably Zootermopsis laticeps or N. nigriceps. Acid-forming and/or methanogenic microorganisms are added to the incubation medium, the methanogens being added at the same time as or before the termite-derived microflora. EXAMPLE - No relevant examples are given.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - The ventilation elements can be made as polyvinylchloride tubes.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Process:The waste water which flows in, is processed continuously via the isolation process, microbe injection process, filtration process, measurement process, aeration process, precipitation, water drainage process and sludge concentration process.Preferred bacteria:The useful microbe habituation state is improved or waste water treatment apparatus is extended depending on the need, until it supplies the activated microorganism preferably lactic acid bacteria, yeast, fungus, photosynthesis microbe, or Actinomyces, in the plant of existing waste water treatment apparatus.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Process: Fermentation additives are crushed, dried and intermittently mixed by stirring with at least one type of herb under pressure. The debris are fermentated and decomposed. The water absorption is increased by the addition of fermentation additives. FT containing the mixture is ventilated forcedly. Preferred Amount: 5-80 weight parts (wt.pts) of fermentation additive are mixed for 100 wt.pts of organic waste. Preferred Ratio: The ratio between intermittent stirring time and finishing time is 1:10-1:180. Preferred Apparatus: Raw material injecting opening is deviated from center of FT. The jacket is connected to raw material injecting hopper (2) via inlet opening. An openable cover covers raw material injecting hopper. The inlet and outlet opening is adjusted to a deviated position from the center of FT. The fermented residue is eliminated by inverting FT. Forced ventilating unit on the jacket has an inlet (7) on top of fermentation residue eliminating duct (3), for connecting to the FT in the jacket. The jet pipe (9) has a ventilating fan (10). An exhaust port (8) is present on the top of raw material injecting hopper. A heater (19) is arranged in the vicinity of inlet port, formed on the jacket. The heated air is allowed to flow through fermentation tank, along the inner part of the jacket. A deodorant (11) is arranged in the jet pipes. Stirring unit which rotates axially is arranged by penetrating through FT. Stirring blades (16) are arranged on the rotating axis.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: A grinder (5) liquefies the process material. The liquefied material is temporarily stored in a condensation tank (6) and is removed by a flexible conveyance pipe (8,9). The rate of flow of process material is adjusted to suit the limits of the porous medium.
SPECIFIC MICROORGANISMS - (I) is especially Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain KR9-4 (claimed).    EXAMPLE - Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain KR9-4 was tested for its ability to decompose ferrocyanide compounds. The microbe was inoculated in a liquid culture medium containing 10 ml of ferrocyanide and shaking culture was carried out at 30 degrees C. After the culture period, the total cyanide content of the culture solution was measured. The results showed that the microorganism decomposed ferrocyanide at the rate of 12.2%, 27.2% and 30.8% in 2, 4 and 7 weeks respectively.
SPECIFIC MICROORGANISMS - (I) is especially Onchrobactrum anthropi strain 14SA3-2-5B (claimed).    EXAMPLE - Onchrobactrum anthropi strain 14SA3-2-5B was tested for its ability to decompose ferrocyan compounds. The microbe was inoculated into 10 ml ferrocyan liquid culture medium (pH 7.2) comprising Fe(CN)6.3H2O (1mM), glucose (0.25% (w/v)), Na2HPO4 (0.35% (w/v))), KH2PO4 (0.15% (w/v))), MgSO4.7H2O (0.001% (w/v))), FeCl3.6H2O (0.001% (w/v)) and MEM vitamin mix (Gibco) (0.1% (w/v)). Shaking culture was carried out at 30 degrees C. After the culture period, the total cyanide content of the culture solution was measured. Microorganism mediated decomposition of ferrocyan in the liquid medium was 3% in 2 weeks and 30.1% in 4 weeks.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Container: The cylindrical net container is made of stainless steel, inconel, incoloy or steel. Preferred Reaction Chamber: The reaction chamber is formed between cylinder (I) (11) and cylinder (II) (12). The outer circumferential surface of cylinder (I) is in curved shape. The reaction chamber is loaded with two or more catalyst cartridge which is circularly or spirally wound along the periphery line surrounding the cylindrical axle of reaction chamber.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The amount of alkaline earth metal compound and pulp is preferably 2-30 weight percent of the classified waste plastics (100%). The slurry contains preferably 0.5-5 wt.% entangled pulp and 5-30 wt.% metal compound. Preferred Process: To the waste plastics, a basic alkaline earth metal is first added and then a slurry containing water, pulp and alkaline earth metal is added and made to adhere. The excess water is removed. Then dehydrated alkaline earth metal compound is mixed. More used paper, or timber wastes are mixed in and the mixture is compression molded. The compression molded products are dried in a drier and finely ground with a pulverizer. The waste plastic slurry mixture is stirred using a rotary mixer.
EXAMPLE - Bacillus species Q2-1 (FERM P-16922) exhibited relative protease activity of 39.5 at 280 nm/ml/second in a sludge medium and 0.0 in a casein medium. Corresponding rate of Bacillus species Q3 (FERM P-16923) was 0.9 and 2.4, respectively.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Culture: (I) is an aerobic, gram positive culture, belonging to Rhodococcus. (I) has a specific activity of 0.1-100 mg MTBE/g cells/hour at 9 degrees Centigrade and is capable of aerobically degrading at least 10% of the MTBE and/or t-butyl alcohol (TBA) added to the culture at a concentration in the range 0.01-500 ppm (parts per million), to carbon dioxide within 70 hours.Preferred Method: (II) further comprises growing the isolated pure culture in a sugar-containing mineral solution and inducing enhanced MTBE and/or TBA degradation activity by adding MTBE and/or TBA to the resulting culture. EXAMPLE - Mixed culture ATCC No. 202057 was prepared from an activated sludge retrieved from the biotreater of the South Effluent treater for treating waste water from a Chemical Plant. A pure culture was prepared by adding 10 ml of the mixed culture ATCC No. 202057 to 10 ml sterile Difco Bushnell-Haas mineral medium containing (in mg/L) magnesium sulfate (200), calcium chloride (20), potassium phosphate (monobasic) (1000), potassium phosphate (dibasic) (1000), ammonium nitrate (1000), iron (III) chloride (50), pH 7.0. The pure culture isolate was grown in R2A broth medium containing (in g/L) yeast extract (0.5), peptone (0.5), casein acid hydrolyzate (0.5), soluble starch (0.5), glucose (0.5), potassium phosphate (monobasic) (0.3), magnesium sulfate (0.024), sodium pyruvate (0.3), pH 7.0 for 24-48 hours at 25 degrees Centigrade. The culture was then centrifuged and transferred to a 30 ml serum vial. Methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) was added to a concentration of 5 mg/L and degradation of MTBE was followed at 25 degrees Centigrade over several days. MTBE was degraded 95% (0.24 mg/L) in 27 hours.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The gas composition further comprises hydrogen.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Apparatus: The bioreactor is a continuously stirred tank reactor, an immobilized microbial cell bioreactor, a trickle bed bioreactor, a bubble column bioreactor, or a gas lift bioreactor.Preferred Parameter: The bioreactor is maintained at greater than 1 atm. The pH is 4-5.5.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Microorganism: An additional strain comprises C. ljungdahlii ERI-2, Acetobacterium kivui, A. woodii, Butyribacterium methylotrophicum, C. aceticum, C. acetobutylicum, C. formoaceticum, C. kluyveri, C. thermoaceticum, C. thermocellum, C. thermohydrosulfuricum, C. thermosaccharolyticum, Eubacterium limosum, Peptostreptococcus productus, Rhodospirillum rubrum, or Rhodopseudomonas gelatinosa. EXAMPLE - A mixture of oil refinery waste gases containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen gas (50%), and methane (5%) was sparged into a 1 L reactor without cell recycle containing Clostridium ljungdahlii isolate O-52. The operating pressure inside the reactor was a few inches of water at 37degreesC. The gas retention time was 12 minutes and the liquid dilution rate was 0.042/hour. The pH in the reactor was 5.05 and the agitation rate was 1000 rpm. The ethanol concentration in the product stream from the reactor was 21 g/L. The acetic acid by-product concentration was 3 g/L.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - AGRICULTURE - Preferred Composition: The controller also incorporates urea hydrolysis inhibitors, fertilizers and bio-stimulation agents, to give urease-enzyme-actuated control.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred process: The polymer film is formed uniformly over the substrate by spinning this at 1000-8000 rpm, typically for 2-15 min, and a symmetrical carbon membrane is produced by one cycle of spreading and carbonization. Curing is carried out at 100-200degreesC for 1-3 hr, then carbonization is by slow heating (particularly at 0.5degreesC per min), in vacuo or in inert gas, to 450-1000degreesC. The carbonized product is then cooled at less than 10degreesC/min under high vacuum.Preferred materials: The carbon membrane is 2-3 micron thick and is deposited on a flat carbon (compacted graphite) or tubular ceramic (alumina) substrate.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - (I) is particularly a phenolic resin, used as a 20-60wt.% solution in one or more of dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide or particularly methanol or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. EXAMPLE - A solution comprising (by weight) 35% phenolic resin of novolak type, 25% methanol and 40% N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone was applied over 10 min to a flat graphite substrate being spun at 5000 rpm. The product was cured for 3 hr in air at 150degreesC, then heated to 350degreesC at 2degreesC/min, maintained at this temperature for 1 hr, then heated to 700degreesC at 0.5degreesC/min. This temperature was maintained for 1 hr, then the product cooled at 10 degreesC/min to produce a dense carbon layer 2 micron thick on the substrate. The measured permeation rates for the product, in mole/m2.sec.Pa, 10-10, at 25degreesC were: helium, 80.7; carbon dioxide, 22.6; oxygen, 11.8; nitrogen, 1.2 and methane, 0.26, i.e. selectivity factors oxygen/nitrogen 9.5; helium/nitrogen 65; carbon dioxide/methane 87 and carbon dioxide/nitrogen 18.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Genus: The Streptomyces genus is Streptomyces gannmycicus having metal, preferably iron cyano complex decomposability. Preferred Strain: The strain of bacteria having compound decomposability is Streptomyces gannmycicus KR21-2B.
SPECIFIC MICROORGANISMS - (I) is especially Pseudomonas sp. strain 14SA3-2-5B2 (claimed).    EXAMPLE - Pseudomonas strain 14SA3-2-5B2 was tested for its ability to decompose ferrocyan compounds. The microbe was inoculated in a liquid culture medium containing 10ml of ferrocyan. The composition of the ferrocyan liquid medium included (Fe(CN)6).3H2O (1mM), Glucose (0.25% (W/V)), Na2HPO4 (0.35% (W/V)), KH2PO4 (0.15% (W/V)), MgSO4.7H2O (0.001% (W/V)), FeCl3.6H2O (0.001% (W/V) and vitamin (0.1% (W/V)). Shaking culture was carried out at 30degreesC. After the culture period, the total cyanide content of the culture solution was measured. The results showed that the microorganism decomposed ferrocyan in the liquid medium by 12.2% in 2 weeks and 35.2% in 4 weeks.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: Titanium oxide-biomass is heated in the absence and then in the presence of oxygen for carbonization.Preferred Properties: The titanium oxide content is 0.1-90 weight% in the biomass.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The chemical compositions for decomposition are aldehydes, mercaptans, alcohols, carboxylic acids, (halogenated, aliphatic, and/or aromatic) hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and/or ozone. EXAMPLE - Wood meal of bay Japanese cedar sapwood was extracted for titanium compounding. 90 ml water dissolved in 10 ml of diethylamine was added with tetra isopropyl titanate 20 g, heated and stirred to form a transparent solution. The solution was heated to form titanium oxide sol solution to which 1.0 g of dried wood meal was added, mixed, centrifuged and the supernatant liquid was removed. The obtained wood meal contained titanium oxide sol inside the intracellular cavity, and the cell surface. The titanium oxide sol was gelled, the powder compounded wood meal-titanium oxide gel was carbonized and crystallized. Oxidation was performed to obtain titanium oxide composing biomass carbonized material (TOBC) whose thermogravimetric measurement showed that biomass content was 18.8% and the titanium oxide gel content was 81.2%. Formaldehyde decomposition test was performed with TOBC (3 mg). The result obtained showed that TOBC decomposed organic compounds under ultraviolet irradiation and decomposed formaldehyde into carbon dioxide and
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microorganism: The microorganism is Rhodococcus strain T09 or Corynebacterium strain T14. Preferred Process: The microorganism is cultivated in a medium containing SCHC. SCHC is contacted with the microorganism microbial cell.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compound: SCHC is a benzothiophene, or an alkylated benzothiophene like ((2, 3 or 5) -methyl or 2-ethyl) benzothiophene. EXAMPLE - Benzothiophene (BTP) (2 ml) IzumiY et al., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, and 223-226, 1994 was inoculated in Rhodococcus strain T09 and cultivated for 120 hours at 30degreesC. The obtained culture solution was centrifuged and precipitated, washed twice and suspended in phosphoric acid buffer, to form the microbial cell for reaction. A decomposition was performed and measurement of the amount of residual BTP was determined. BTP decomposition ratio after 10 hours was 90%. BTP decomposition activity of the microbial cell for the reaction was confirmed, as the amount of BTP remained 100% when reacted with microbial cell at 121degreesC. The decomposition ratio by adding 5 methyl BTP was measured. The microbial cell decomposition ratio by using strain T14 instead of T09 was also measured. The results showed strain T09 at a reaction time of 10 hours showed the decomposition ratio to be 90% for BTP and 60% for 5-methyl BTP, and strain T14 at 90 hours showed 100% of decomposition ratio for both BTP and 5-methyl BTP.