Apparatuses and systems are provided which include one or more receptacles for receiving drugs and further include one or more stored supplies of one or more absorbent materials comprising crosslinkers, wherein the apparatus and systems are adapted to release the absorbent materials comprising crosslinkers into the one or more receptacles. A method is provided which includes depositing a drug into a predetermined amount of fluid and adding to the drug containing fluid a absorbent material comprising crosslinkers which is capable of encapsulating the drug containing fluid and possibly killing infectious materials within the fluid and/or denaturing the drug within the fluid.

Apparatuses and systems are provided which include one or more receptacles for receiving drugs and further include one or more stored supplies of one or more absorbent materials comprising crosslinkers, wherein the apparatus and systems are adapted to release the absorbent materials comprising crosslinkers into the one or more receptacles. A method is provided which includes depositing a drug into a predetermined amount of fluid and adding to the drug containing fluid a absorbent material comprising crosslinkers which is capable of encapsulating the drug containing fluid and possibly killing infectious materials within the fluid and/or denaturing the drug within the fluid.

A method for precipitating metal waste is characterized in that the waste which contains one or more dissolved metal salts, is mixed with a boron compound, and the pH is adjusted to a value at which precipitation takes place in the presence of precipitation nuclei necessary for the formation of metal borates.

A method for precipitating metal waste is characterized in that the waste which contains one or more dissolved metal salts, is mixed with a boron compound, and the pH is adjusted to a value at which precipitation takes place in the presence of precipitation nuclei necessary for the formation of metal borates.

Provided are astexin-1, astexin-2 and astexin-3 lasso peptides, which are based on sequences identified in Asticcacaulis excentricus, and methods of making and using same.

Astexin-1 is highly polar, in contrast to many lasso peptides that are primarily hydrophobic, and has modest antimicrobial activity against Caulobacter crescentus, a bacterium related to Asticcacaulis excentricus. The solution structure of astexin-1 was determined, revealing a unique topology that is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between segments of the peptide. Astexins-2 and -3 are intracellular lasso peptides.

Provided are astexin-1, astexin-2 and astexin-3 lasso peptides, which are based on sequences identified in Asticcacaulis excentricus, and methods of making and using same.

Astexin-1 is highly polar, in contrast to many lasso peptides that are primarily hydrophobic, and has modest antimicrobial activity against Caulobacter crescentus, a bacterium related to Asticcacaulis excentricus. The solution structure of astexin-1 was determined, revealing a unique topology that is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between segments of the peptide. Astexins-2 and -3 are intracellular lasso peptides.

Provided is a practically valuable and economically excellent insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance: that is useful for insolubilizing treatment for a heavy metal or the like conducted by applying the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance to soil or on the surface of the soil; that is capable of effectively insolubilizing and immobilizing the heavy metal or the like; that is capable of making treated matter neutral so as to be reusable and environment-friendly; and moreover that is capable of imparting strength to the treated matter as necessary; and with which the heavy metal or the like is not re-eluted even when the treated matter is exposed to an environment under a neutral condition or an acidic condition. An insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance to be used so that soil does not reach a strongly alkaline region of a pH of 11 or more, wherein the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance comprises an amorphous aluminum compound or a derivative thereof as a main component, or an insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance to be used so that soil containing a heavy metal or the like does not reach a strongly alkaline region of a pH of 11 or more, the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance functioning also as a solidifying material, wherein the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance comprises gypsum obtained by adding and mixing, to the gypsum, the amorphous aluminum compound and the derivative thereof in a range of 0.5 to 60 mass parts relative to 100 mass parts of the gypsum, and a method for improving soil using the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance.

Provided is a practically valuable and economically excellent insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance: that is useful for insolubilizing treatment for a heavy metal or the like conducted by applying the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance to soil or on the surface of the soil; that is capable of effectively insolubilizing and immobilizing the heavy metal or the like; that is capable of making treated matter neutral so as to be reusable and environment-friendly; and moreover that is capable of imparting strength to the treated matter as necessary; and with which the heavy metal or the like is not re-eluted even when the treated matter is exposed to an environment under a neutral condition or an acidic condition. An insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance to be used so that soil does not reach a strongly alkaline region of a pH of 11 or more, wherein the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance comprises an amorphous aluminum compound or a derivative thereof as a main component, or an insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance to be used so that soil containing a heavy metal or the like does not reach a strongly alkaline region of a pH of 11 or more, the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance functioning also as a solidifying material, wherein the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance comprises gypsum obtained by adding and mixing, to the gypsum, the amorphous aluminum compound and the derivative thereof in a range of 0.5 to 60 mass parts relative to 100 mass parts of the gypsum, and a method for improving soil using the insolubilizing material for a specific toxic substance.

A solvent extraction process for removing poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a PFAS laden adsorbent is disclosed. The process comprises introducing a substantially pure solvent at an elevated temperature to a bed of the PFAS laden adsorbent and continuously removing PFAS laden solvent from the adsorbent, wherein the introducing and removing are carried out simultaneously and continuously until a desired amount of PFAS is removed from the adsorbent. Also disclosed is a process for degrading poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to environmentally benign products. The process comprises providing an aqueous solution containing PFAS at a concentration of greater than 50 ppm; and subjecting the aqueous solution to ultrasound using at least one ultrasonic transducer at a frequency and power and for a time sufficient to degrade substantially all of the PFAS in the solution to carbon dioxide and fluoride.

Apparatuses and systems are provided which include one or more receptacles for receiving drugs and further include one or more stored supplies of one or more absorbent materials comprising crosslinkers, wherein the apparatus and systems are adapted to release the absorbent materials comprising crosslinkers into the one or more receptacles. A method is provided which includes depositing a drug into a predetermined amount of fluid and adding to the drug containing fluid a absorbent material comprising crosslinkers which is capable of encapsulating the drug containing fluid and possibly killing infectious materials within the fluid and/or denaturing the drug within the fluid.