A decontamination gel is provided consisting of a colloidal solution comprising 0.1% to 30% by mass, preferably 0.1% to 25% by mass, still more preferably from 5% to 25% by mass, even more preferably 8% to 20% by mass, based on the mass of the gel, of at least one inorganic viscosifying agent; 0.1 to 10 mol/L of gel, preferably 0.5 to 10 mol/L of gel, still more preferably 1 to 10 mol/L of gel of at least one active decontamination agent; 0.01% to 10% by mass, preferably 0.1% to 5% by mass based on the mass of the gel of at least one mineral pigment; optionally, 0.1% to 2% by mass based on the mass of the gel, of at least one surfactant; optionally, 0.05% to 5% by mass, preferably 0.05% to 2% by mass, based on the mass of the gel, of at least one super-absorbent polymer; and the balance of solvent.

A decontamination gel is provided consisting of a colloidal solution comprising 0.1% to 30% by mass, preferably 0.1% to 25% by mass, still more preferably from 5% to 25% by mass, even more preferably 8% to 20% by mass, based on the mass of the gel, of at least one inorganic viscosifying agent; 0.1 to 10 mol/L of gel, preferably 0.5 to 10 mol/L of gel, still more preferably 1 to 10 mol/L of gel of at least one active decontamination agent; 0.01% to 10% by mass, preferably 0.1% to 5% by mass based on the mass of the gel of at least one mineral pigment; optionally, 0.1% to 2% by mass based on the mass of the gel, of at least one surfactant; optionally, 0.05% to 5% by mass, preferably 0.05% to 2% by mass, based on the mass of the gel, of at least one super-absorbent polymer; and the balance of solvent.

Methods of disposing of pharmaceuticals including liquid pharmaceuticals and dissolved solid pharmaceuticals are disclosed. Pharmaceutical disposal kits are also disclosed.

Methods of disposing of pharmaceuticals including liquid pharmaceuticals and dissolved solid pharmaceuticals are disclosed. Pharmaceutical disposal kits are also disclosed.

A method of treating, stabilizing, precipitating, or otherwise removing heavy metal ions contained in a contaminated media, which method includes: providing a sodium-iron-sulfide mineral or crystalline phase, either alone or in combination with a pH adjusting substance; contacting said contaminated media containing heavy metal ions with the sodium-iron-sulfide mineral or crystalline phase, either alone or in combination with a pH adjusting substance; and allowing the contaminated media containing the heavy metal ions to react with said sodium-iron-sulfide mineral or crystalline phase, either alone or in combination with a pH adjusting substance, such that the contaminated media containing heavy metal ions form single or mixed metal-sulfide precipitates or co-precipitates.

Described herein are cementitious composite materials incorporating carbon nanostructures (e.g., nanotubes, nanoplatelets, nanoribbons) that are employed as amendments (i.e., admixtures or additives) to cementitious waste forms as a means to enhance radionuclide and hazardous waste (e.g., heavy metals, toxic organics) retention wherein the incorporation of well-dispersed carbon nanostructures yields more effective waste forms through the resulting modification of the cementitious composite nano-, micro-, and meso-structure (e.g., hindering the infiltration of oxygen and the leaching of waste), and the chemical interactions between chemically-affine waste molecules and the amended cementitious composite.

Described herein are cementitious composite materials incorporating carbon nanostructures (e.g., nanotubes, nanoplatelets, nanoribbons) that are employed as amendments (i.e., admixtures or additives) to cementitious waste forms as a means to enhance radionuclide and hazardous waste (e.g., heavy metals, toxic organics) retention wherein the incorporation of well-dispersed carbon nanostructures yields more effective waste forms through the resulting modification of the cementitious composite nano-, micro-, and meso-structure (e.g., hindering the infiltration of oxygen and the leaching of waste), and the chemical interactions between chemically-affine waste molecules and the amended cementitious composite.

The method for detoxifying asbestos disclosed here includes: preparing an asbestos-containing substance that contains at least one type of asbestos; preparing an asbestos treatment agent that contains a mineral acid and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; and bringing the asbestos-containing substance into contact with the asbestos treatment agent so as to detoxify asbestos in the asbestos-containing substance. Due to this configuration, asbestos in the asbestos-containing substance can be favorably detoxified.

A process is disclosed for treating a Bayer process waste comprising a slurry containing bauxite residue and dissolved aluminum. The process comprises supplying the waste to a settling area to cause the bauxite residue to settle out of the slurry, thereby producing a supernatant liquor. The process further comprises neutralizing the supernatant liquor with a solution containing magnesium and calcium to produce a neutralized slurry containing precipitated hydrotalcites and thickening the neutralized slurry to produce a clarified effluent and a compacted slurry containing the precipitated hydrotalcites, part of said compacted slurry being recirculated to the supernatant liquor to be neutralized and/or directly to the neutralizing step. The clarified effluent and the compacted slurry are disposed of separately. Also disclosed is a plant for treating a Bayer process waste.

A process is disclosed for treating a Bayer process waste comprising a slurry containing bauxite residue and dissolved aluminum. The process comprises supplying the waste to a settling area to cause the bauxite residue to settle out of the slurry, thereby producing a supernatant liquor. The process further comprises neutralizing the supernatant liquor with a solution containing magnesium and calcium to produce a neutralized slurry containing precipitated hydrotalcites and thickening the neutralized slurry to produce a clarified effluent and a compacted slurry containing the precipitated hydrotalcites, part of said compacted slurry being recirculated to the supernatant liquor to be neutralized and/or directly to the neutralizing step. The clarified effluent and the compacted slurry are disposed of separately. Also disclosed is a plant for treating a Bayer process waste.