Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention provide for the efficient distillation of ethanol in an ethanol plant including a beer column. Heat is captured in the distillation process and utilized to drive operations in the ethanol plant.

Treatment of radioactive waste comprising organic compounds and sulfur-containing compounds and/or halogen-containing compounds. An apparatus comprises a reaction vessel comprising a filter for carrying out thermal treatment of the waste and a thermal oxidizer. Utilizing co-reactants to reduce gas phase sulfur and halogen from treatment of wastes.

To provide a transfer chamber capable of replacing a chemical filter without affecting an internal atmosphere, and shortening or eliminating stop time of a transfer process of a wafer (W) associated with replacement of the chemical filter. The transfer chamber transfers the wafer (W) to or from a processing device (6) by using a transfer robot (2) provided thereinside, and includes a circulation path (CL1) formed inside of a transfer chamber (1) to circulate gas, a chemical filter unit (7) provided in the midstream of the circulation path (CL1), and a connecting and disconnecting means (8) which switches connection and disconnection of the chemical filter unit (7) to and from the circulation path (CL1).

Contaminant treatment methods and systems are described. Methods utilize biodegradable, non-toxic materials that can carry one or more functionalities useful for the remediation of fluids such as liquid or gaseous waste streams, chemical spills, etc. The carrier materials carry one or more functional groups that can target particular contaminants of a fluid for removal and/or modification to a more benign form. Targeted contaminants can include components of gaseous and/or liquids such as, and without limitation, gaseous discharges including VOCs and potentially hazardous contaminants such as organophosphorous compounds.

A method for treating the waste stream from a purified terephthalic acid (PTA) process is provided. The method comprises contacting a waste stream containing carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and methyl bromide with a catalyst comprising a first base metal catalyst supported on an oxygen donating support that is substantially free of alumina, and at least one second base metal catalyst.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of sequestering carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a metal silicate with a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide to produce a hydroxide of the metal formerly contained in the silicate; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with at least one of a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide and an alkali-metal silicate to produce at least one of an alkali-metal carbonate and an alkali-metal bicarbonate; and (c) reacting the metal hydroxide product of step (a) with at least one of the alkali-metal carbonate and the alkali-metal bicarbonate produced in step (b) to produce a carbonate of the metal formerly contained in the metal silicate of step (a).

Calcium hydroxide-containing compositions can be manufactured by slaking quicklime, and subsequently drying and milling the slaked product. The resulting calcium hydroxide-containing composition can have a size, steepness, pore volume, and/or other features that render the compositions suitable for treatment of exhaust gases and/or removal of contaminants. In some embodiments, the calcium hydroxide-containing compositions can include a D.sub.10 from about 0.5 microns to about 4 microns, a D.sub.90 less than about 30 microns, and a ratio of D.sub.90 to D.sub.10 from about 8 to about 20, wherein individual particles include a surface area greater than or equal to about 25 m.sup.2/g.

An apparatus for cleaning exhaust gas. The apparatus includes a housing having an upstream end configured to receive exhaust gas and a downstream end configured to release the exhaust gas. At least one coalescing filter layer and a catalyst filter layer are disposed within the housing. The catalyst filter layer includes molded sintered pellets formed from a porous material and a non-precious metal catalyst. The molded sintered pellets create a porous area for coalescing oil mist, and the catalyst hydrogen peroxide.

Axial-radial flow reactor comprising a catalytic bed (1) of a hollow cylindrical shape, having a vertical axis (2), a base (5), a radial gas inlet section (3b), an axial gas inlet section (6) and a radial gas outlet section (4b), wherein the catalytic bed (1) comprises: a first cylindrical annular region (10) containing a layer of a first catalyst (A) and a layer of a second catalyst (B), the layer of the first catalyst being above the layer of the second catalyst; a second cylindrical annular region (9) coaxial to the first annular region and containing only the first catalyst (A).

Treatment of radioactive waste comprising organic compounds, and sulfur-containing compounds and/or halogen-containing compounds. An apparatus comprises a reaction vessel comprising a filter for carrying out thermal treatment of the waste and a thermal oxidizer. Utilizing co-reactants to reduce gas phase sulfur and halogen from treatment of wastes.