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Process for producing highly pure terephthalic acid
Waste Management 18 (1998) 65-75
5698759 TREATMENT OF POLYVINYLCHLORIDE Fray Derek Kirk Deighton, Nr Wetherby, UNITED KINGDOM PCT No. PCT/GB93/01485 See. 371 Date Jan. 13,1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 13, 1995 PCT Filed Jul. 14, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO94/02210 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 3, 1994. A method is described which allows two hazardous waste products, namely PVC and electric arc furnace dust, both of which have negative commercial value, to be combined to produce an iron oxide suitable for steel making and making pure cadmium lead and zinc and chlorine, all of which can be sold. The heat generated during the exothennic reaction may be used to generate electricity which may be sold or used in plants where the reaction is carded out. The method can also be used for metal scraps. 5698762 MICROWAVE-ASSISTED PYROLYSIS OF WASTE POLYAROMATIC HYDROCARBONS Dauerman Leonard Fort Lee, NJ, UNI’I’BD STATES Polyaromatic hydrocarbons are highly carcinogenic ubiquitous industrial wastes. In this Invention, concentrations of said wastes are diminished by microwave-assisted pyrolysis. Prior to exposure to microwave radiation, said wastes are covered with a non-combustible material consisting of loose, discrete particles like sand. Susceptors may be added to the waste prior to radiation. Volatiles from the process can be absorbed in a susceptor like granulated activated charcoal. When saturated, this granulated activated charcoal is added to the said wastes in a subsequent treatment. 5702608 PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR THE DECONTAMINATION OF RADIOACTIVE NITRIC EFFLUENTS CONTAINING STRONTIUM AND SODIUM Foos Jacques; Guy Alain; Lemaire Marc; Leclere Brun; Le Buzit Gacu erard; Doutreluingne Pierr Orsay, FRANCE assigned to Compagnie Generales Des Matieres Nucleaires PCT No. PCT/FR94/00840 Sec. 371 Date Feb. $1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 5, 1996 PCT Filed Jul. 7, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO95/02250 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 19, 1995. The invention relates to a process and an installation for the decontamination of radioactive nitric effluents containing strontium and sodium. According to this process, contacting takes place in 1 of the aqueous effluent with an organic phase incorporating a crown ether such as DCH18C6 and a diluent such as CHC13, in order to selectively extract the strontium with respect to the sodium, followed by the reextraction of the strontium in an aqueous solution in 3, followed by fixing in 5 on a cation exchange resin. This leads to a high strontium decontamination level with a very high concentration factor.
5705050 ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROLLED OXIDATION AND REDUCTION OF INORGANIC AND ORGANIC SPECIES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS Sampson Richard L; Sampson Allison Hawkins San Antonio, TX, UNITED STATES Improvements on the electrolytic reactor and process of U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,816 and copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/400,950, filed Mar. 9,1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5609,742, are disclosed for the controlled oxidation and reduction of inorganic and organic species in dilute aqueous solutions. More specifically, other physical forms and additives for the modified ion exchange material can be used in the packed bed electrolytic reactor, including powdered ion exchange materials and solid membranes containing the modified ion exchange materials. Direct contact with only one electrode, the anode for oxidation, and the cathode for reduction, is required for the modified ion exchange resin, instead of with both electrodes. Superior performance is also demonstrated for bipolar operation of the electrolytic reactor in comparison to monopolar operation. Preferably, the polarity of the electrodes is reversed every 1 to 60 minutes. Finally, other point of use applications are disclosed for the electrolytic reactor and process, including sanitization and sterilization, such as useful in the medical, dental and veterinary industries, food and animal disinfection, bacteria control and waste treatment. 5705682 PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HIGHLY PURE TEREPHTHALIC ACID Ohkoshi Fumio; Inary Masato; Zaima Fumiya Kurashiki, JAPAN assigned to Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Inc; Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Company KaishaMizushima Aroma Company Ltd A process for producing highly pure terephthalic acid comprising: (a) oxidizing a p-phenylene compound in the liquid phase in the presence of acetic acid, to produce a liquid-phase oxidation product, (b) separating the liquid-phase oxidation product into the following: (i) a first mother liquid containing acetic acid and (ii) a crude terephthalic acid, (c) evaporating, in whole or in part, the first mother liquid, to produce a vapor, (d) feeding the vapor, or a condensate thereof, to an intermediate stage of a distillation tower, carrying out an azeotropic distillation and withdrawing through a bottom of the distillation tower a concentrated acetic acid, (e) subjecting the crude terephthalic acid to a refining treatment, which is a catalytic hydrotreatment, a catalytic treatment or a recrystallization, which is carried out in the presence of is water, (f) cooling and crystallizing the resultant liquid from step (e), to produce a pure terephthalic acid and a second mother liquor, (g) subjecting the second mother liquor to an extraction in the presence of an azeotrope-forming agent to extract aromatic carboxylic acids contained in second
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Waste Management 18 (1998)
mother liquor, to produce a liquid extract, and (h) recycling the liquid extract to the distillation tower in step (d). The process can greatly reduce the effluent water treatment load and enhance the yield of the objective terephthalic acid, in addition to providing recycling of useful reactants.
5705690 UREA-SURFACTANT CLATIIRATES AND THEIR USE IN BIOREMEDIATION OF HYDROCARBON CONTAMINATED SOILS AND WATER Varadaraj Ramesh; Brons Cornelius Hendrick Flemington, NJ, UNITED STATES assigned to Exxon Research and Engineering Company One embodiment of the present invention provides compounds comprising an adduct of urea with a non-ionic surfactant. Another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a composition suitable for enhancing the bioremediation of contaminated soils and water which comprises at least one adduct of urea with a non-ionic surfactant, preferably in combination with a phosphorous source.
5707596 METHOD TO MINIMIZE CHEMICALLY BOUND NOX IN A COMBUSTION PROCESS Lewandowski David A; Nutcher Peter; Waldern Peter Belle Vernon, PA, UNITED STATES assigned to Process Combustion Corporation The present invention is directed to a method which significantly improves the efficiency of reducing nitrogen oxide formation and emission during incineration of a waste gas in an air-staged thermal oxidizer. In accordance with the present invention, a natural gas stream is mixed with combustion air in a burner and the mixture is ignited with the immediate introduction of liquid water. Thus, the resulting mixture is then injected into a first reducing zone which is fuel rich in order to begin the combustion process, but retard the formation of nitrogen oxides. The waste gas exiting the reducing zone is deficient in oxygen due to the fuel rich atmosphere in the first reducing zone and cooler due to the water cooling as it enters the second oxidizing zone. In the second oxidizing zone, additional oxygen in the form of air is injected to complete the combustion process. Due to the fact that the waste gas is cooler in the oxidizing zone, the peak temperature resulting from completion of combustion reactions is lower and thermal nitrogen oxide formation is minimized in the second oxidizing zone. In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further includes the step of mixing chemical reagents with the cooling water prior to injection into either the reducing zone, the oxidizing zone, or both, to chemically reduce nitrogen oxides present in gases emanating from the reducing zone and
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to reduce formation of nitrogen oxides in the oxidizing zone.
5707922 ADSORBENT FOR ADSORPTION OF RADIOACTIVE NUCLIDES AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, AND PROCESS FOR VOLUME-REDUCTION TREATMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Mimori Takeo; Miyajima Kazutoshi; Takahashi Hideki; Mori Tadahiro; Iwaya Hiroki Hitachinaka, JAPAN assigned to Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute; Unitika L An adsorbent for radioactive nuclides incorporating fibrous activated carbon. The adsorbent includes fibrous activated carbon having good adsorption performance, inorganic fiber and inorganic binder. Therefore, the adsorbent exhibits good shape stability when it is formed into a molded piece, has good combustion performance, and is not liable to scattering of radioactive nuclides adsorbed thereon when it is incinerated.
5709800 ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE WASTE DISPOSAL BY HYDROTHERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF LABILE COMPOUNDS WITH NITRITE Ross David S; Jayaweera Indir Palo Alto, CA, UNITED STATES assigned to SRI International The present invention relates to a process for the disposal of waste or the conversion of hydrothermally labile chemical groups and compounds to species which are environmentally acceptable, or are amendable to further degradation by conventional disposal systems to produce environmentally acceptable products, which process comprises: (a) conveying an aqueous solution or slurry of the waste material into a reaction zone capable of withstanding the temperatures and pressures of hydrothermal decomposition; (b) reacting the waste material in the reaction zone with an aqueous composition comprising catalyst selected from silica or one or more alkali metal silicates, borates, phosphates, biphosphates, or trisubstituted-phosphates, or comprising as promoting reagent independently selected from one or more alkali metal nitrites, alkaline earth metal nitrites or combinations thereof at between 200°C and 500°C and at a pressure between 10 and 400 atmospheres for between about 0.01 and 10 minutes; (c) producing compounds which are environmentally acceptable or are amenable to further degradation by conventional disposal systems; and (d) optionally degrading further the compounds of step (c) by reaction in a conventional disposal system such as biological sewage treatment. The waste includes dairy process waste, military waste, ordnance waste, chemical process waste, agricultural waste and the like.
5698759 TREATMENT OF POLYVINYLCHLORIDE Fray Derek Kirk Deighton, Nr Wetherby, UNITED KINGDOM PCT No. PCT/GB93/01485 See. 371 Date Jan. 13,1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 13, 1995 PCT Filed Jul. 14, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO94/02210 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 3, 1994. A method is described which allows two hazardous waste products, namely PVC and electric arc furnace dust, both of which have negative commercial value, to be combined to produce an iron oxide suitable for steel making and making pure cadmium lead and zinc and chlorine, all of which can be sold. The heat generated during the exothennic reaction may be used to generate electricity which may be sold or used in plants where the reaction is carded out. The method can also be used for metal scraps. 5698762 MICROWAVE-ASSISTED PYROLYSIS OF WASTE POLYAROMATIC HYDROCARBONS Dauerman Leonard Fort Lee, NJ, UNI’I’BD STATES Polyaromatic hydrocarbons are highly carcinogenic ubiquitous industrial wastes. In this Invention, concentrations of said wastes are diminished by microwave-assisted pyrolysis. Prior to exposure to microwave radiation, said wastes are covered with a non-combustible material consisting of loose, discrete particles like sand. Susceptors may be added to the waste prior to radiation. Volatiles from the process can be absorbed in a susceptor like granulated activated charcoal. When saturated, this granulated activated charcoal is added to the said wastes in a subsequent treatment. 5702608 PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR THE DECONTAMINATION OF RADIOACTIVE NITRIC EFFLUENTS CONTAINING STRONTIUM AND SODIUM Foos Jacques; Guy Alain; Lemaire Marc; Leclere Brun; Le Buzit Gacu erard; Doutreluingne Pierr Orsay, FRANCE assigned to Compagnie Generales Des Matieres Nucleaires PCT No. PCT/FR94/00840 Sec. 371 Date Feb. $1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 5, 1996 PCT Filed Jul. 7, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO95/02250 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 19, 1995. The invention relates to a process and an installation for the decontamination of radioactive nitric effluents containing strontium and sodium. According to this process, contacting takes place in 1 of the aqueous effluent with an organic phase incorporating a crown ether such as DCH18C6 and a diluent such as CHC13, in order to selectively extract the strontium with respect to the sodium, followed by the reextraction of the strontium in an aqueous solution in 3, followed by fixing in 5 on a cation exchange resin. This leads to a high strontium decontamination level with a very high concentration factor.
5705050 ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROLLED OXIDATION AND REDUCTION OF INORGANIC AND ORGANIC SPECIES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS Sampson Richard L; Sampson Allison Hawkins San Antonio, TX, UNITED STATES Improvements on the electrolytic reactor and process of U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,816 and copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/400,950, filed Mar. 9,1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5609,742, are disclosed for the controlled oxidation and reduction of inorganic and organic species in dilute aqueous solutions. More specifically, other physical forms and additives for the modified ion exchange material can be used in the packed bed electrolytic reactor, including powdered ion exchange materials and solid membranes containing the modified ion exchange materials. Direct contact with only one electrode, the anode for oxidation, and the cathode for reduction, is required for the modified ion exchange resin, instead of with both electrodes. Superior performance is also demonstrated for bipolar operation of the electrolytic reactor in comparison to monopolar operation. Preferably, the polarity of the electrodes is reversed every 1 to 60 minutes. Finally, other point of use applications are disclosed for the electrolytic reactor and process, including sanitization and sterilization, such as useful in the medical, dental and veterinary industries, food and animal disinfection, bacteria control and waste treatment. 5705682 PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HIGHLY PURE TEREPHTHALIC ACID Ohkoshi Fumio; Inary Masato; Zaima Fumiya Kurashiki, JAPAN assigned to Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Inc; Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Company KaishaMizushima Aroma Company Ltd A process for producing highly pure terephthalic acid comprising: (a) oxidizing a p-phenylene compound in the liquid phase in the presence of acetic acid, to produce a liquid-phase oxidation product, (b) separating the liquid-phase oxidation product into the following: (i) a first mother liquid containing acetic acid and (ii) a crude terephthalic acid, (c) evaporating, in whole or in part, the first mother liquid, to produce a vapor, (d) feeding the vapor, or a condensate thereof, to an intermediate stage of a distillation tower, carrying out an azeotropic distillation and withdrawing through a bottom of the distillation tower a concentrated acetic acid, (e) subjecting the crude terephthalic acid to a refining treatment, which is a catalytic hydrotreatment, a catalytic treatment or a recrystallization, which is carried out in the presence of is water, (f) cooling and crystallizing the resultant liquid from step (e), to produce a pure terephthalic acid and a second mother liquor, (g) subjecting the second mother liquor to an extraction in the presence of an azeotrope-forming agent to extract aromatic carboxylic acids contained in second
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Waste Management 18 (1998)
mother liquor, to produce a liquid extract, and (h) recycling the liquid extract to the distillation tower in step (d). The process can greatly reduce the effluent water treatment load and enhance the yield of the objective terephthalic acid, in addition to providing recycling of useful reactants.
5705690 UREA-SURFACTANT CLATIIRATES AND THEIR USE IN BIOREMEDIATION OF HYDROCARBON CONTAMINATED SOILS AND WATER Varadaraj Ramesh; Brons Cornelius Hendrick Flemington, NJ, UNITED STATES assigned to Exxon Research and Engineering Company One embodiment of the present invention provides compounds comprising an adduct of urea with a non-ionic surfactant. Another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a composition suitable for enhancing the bioremediation of contaminated soils and water which comprises at least one adduct of urea with a non-ionic surfactant, preferably in combination with a phosphorous source.
5707596 METHOD TO MINIMIZE CHEMICALLY BOUND NOX IN A COMBUSTION PROCESS Lewandowski David A; Nutcher Peter; Waldern Peter Belle Vernon, PA, UNITED STATES assigned to Process Combustion Corporation The present invention is directed to a method which significantly improves the efficiency of reducing nitrogen oxide formation and emission during incineration of a waste gas in an air-staged thermal oxidizer. In accordance with the present invention, a natural gas stream is mixed with combustion air in a burner and the mixture is ignited with the immediate introduction of liquid water. Thus, the resulting mixture is then injected into a first reducing zone which is fuel rich in order to begin the combustion process, but retard the formation of nitrogen oxides. The waste gas exiting the reducing zone is deficient in oxygen due to the fuel rich atmosphere in the first reducing zone and cooler due to the water cooling as it enters the second oxidizing zone. In the second oxidizing zone, additional oxygen in the form of air is injected to complete the combustion process. Due to the fact that the waste gas is cooler in the oxidizing zone, the peak temperature resulting from completion of combustion reactions is lower and thermal nitrogen oxide formation is minimized in the second oxidizing zone. In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further includes the step of mixing chemical reagents with the cooling water prior to injection into either the reducing zone, the oxidizing zone, or both, to chemically reduce nitrogen oxides present in gases emanating from the reducing zone and
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to reduce formation of nitrogen oxides in the oxidizing zone.
5707922 ADSORBENT FOR ADSORPTION OF RADIOACTIVE NUCLIDES AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, AND PROCESS FOR VOLUME-REDUCTION TREATMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Mimori Takeo; Miyajima Kazutoshi; Takahashi Hideki; Mori Tadahiro; Iwaya Hiroki Hitachinaka, JAPAN assigned to Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute; Unitika L An adsorbent for radioactive nuclides incorporating fibrous activated carbon. The adsorbent includes fibrous activated carbon having good adsorption performance, inorganic fiber and inorganic binder. Therefore, the adsorbent exhibits good shape stability when it is formed into a molded piece, has good combustion performance, and is not liable to scattering of radioactive nuclides adsorbed thereon when it is incinerated.
5709800 ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE WASTE DISPOSAL BY HYDROTHERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF LABILE COMPOUNDS WITH NITRITE Ross David S; Jayaweera Indir Palo Alto, CA, UNITED STATES assigned to SRI International The present invention relates to a process for the disposal of waste or the conversion of hydrothermally labile chemical groups and compounds to species which are environmentally acceptable, or are amendable to further degradation by conventional disposal systems to produce environmentally acceptable products, which process comprises: (a) conveying an aqueous solution or slurry of the waste material into a reaction zone capable of withstanding the temperatures and pressures of hydrothermal decomposition; (b) reacting the waste material in the reaction zone with an aqueous composition comprising catalyst selected from silica or one or more alkali metal silicates, borates, phosphates, biphosphates, or trisubstituted-phosphates, or comprising as promoting reagent independently selected from one or more alkali metal nitrites, alkaline earth metal nitrites or combinations thereof at between 200°C and 500°C and at a pressure between 10 and 400 atmospheres for between about 0.01 and 10 minutes; (c) producing compounds which are environmentally acceptable or are amenable to further degradation by conventional disposal systems; and (d) optionally degrading further the compounds of step (c) by reaction in a conventional disposal system such as biological sewage treatment. The waste includes dairy process waste, military waste, ordnance waste, chemical process waste, agricultural waste and the like.