The present disclosure is related to systems and methods for the biological processing of hydrocarbon-containing substances. In particular embodiments, the systems and methods herein relate to pre-digestion of hydrocarbon containing substances and further processing of the same to produce hydrocarbon fuels, fertilizer, and other products.

Disclosed is a process for regenerating a hybrid solvent used to remove contaminants from a fluid stream and to provide an improved yield of purified fluid. Said process comprises a purification unit (12) and at least one regeneration unit (40) wherein make-up water (72) is added to the regenerated lean hybrid solvent (55) prior to reuse in the first purification unit and no water is recycled into the regeneration unit.

Disclosed is a process for regenerating a hybrid solvent used to remove contaminants from a fluid stream and to provide an improved yield of purified fluid. Said process comprises at least one purification unit (12) and at least one regeneration unit (40) wherein condensed water 62 from the regeneration unit is recycled back into the purification unit and none of the condensed water is reintroduced into the regeneration unit.

Processes for removing arsenic compounds from a feed stream using an adsorbent in disclosed. The process includes contacting a feed stream comprising at least arsenic and sulfur compounds with an adsorbent comprising an low-crystallinity manganese oxide, at least one halide and a binder, to provide a treated effluent substantially free of the arsenic and sulfur compounds.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to extraction of target materials using a CZTS sorbent. A method of extracting a target material from a medium includes contacting a copper zinc tin sulfur (CZTS) sorbent with the target material in the medium including the target material to form a used CZTS sorbent that includes the target material.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to extraction of target materials using a CZTS sorbent. A method of extracting a target material from a medium includes contacting a copper zinc tin sulfur (CZTS) sorbent with the target material in the medium including the target material to form a used CZTS sorbent that includes the target material.

New formulation for pyrite scale removal from oil and gas wells and a method of pyrite scale removal are disclosed. The chemical formulation is composed of K.sub.2B.sub.4O.sub.7-4H.sub.2O, in a concentration of about 9-20 wt. % of the composition, preferably about 14 wt. % of the composition. The new formulation has the ability to dissolve pyrite without generation of the toxic H.sub.2S. Furthermore, the new formulation is cheaper and has very low corrosion rate compare to 15 wt. % HCl with corrosion inhibitor. The disclose method uses the disclosed new formulation to dissolve iron sulphide scale, performed at about 100-150 C. and about 500-2000 psi.

An improvement in a wet scrubbing process for treating gaseous industrial process streams which contain one or more of SO.sub.2, SO.sub.3, H.sub.2SO.sub.4 which comprises contacting the stream of gas with a countercurrent flow of liquid derived from a circulating liquid stream which includes (i) a purge stream configured to remove a portion of the circulating liquid having a concentration of H.sub.2SO.sub.4 from the process, and (ii) a liquid make-up stream configured to replace the portion of the circulating liquid that is removed from the circulating liquid stream, the improvement comprising controlling the flow of liquid make-up whereby the concentration of H.sub.2SO.sub.4 in the purge stream is increased to a useful value; and filtering the purge stream to remove unwanted contaminants to yield a clarified purge stream.

Sorbent compositions containing calcium and iodine are added to coal to mitigate the release of mercury and/or other harmful elements into the environment during combustion of coal containing natural levels of mercury.

The invention concerns particles which may include a catalytically active component, in the form of a three-dimensional ellipsoidal shape having three major axes at least two of which axes are of different lengths. Beds of such particles are useful for forming particle beds through which a fluid may flow.