In a system and process, organic waste is treated in a reactor to volatilize contaminants such as Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds and/or Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) from the organic waste. Biochar may have reduced or undetectable PFAS compounds or CECs. Most or all of the gas may be thermally oxidized to convert PFAS compounds and/or CECs into less harmful and/or less toxic products or elemental compounds, which may be further removed. Energy may be recovered from one or more parts of the herein described system and process.

In a system and process, organic waste is treated in a reactor to volatilize contaminants such as Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds and/or Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) from the organic waste. Biochar may have reduced or undetectable PFAS compounds or CECs. Most or all of the gas may be thermally oxidized to convert PFAS compounds and/or CECs into less harmful and/or less toxic products or elemental compounds, which may be further removed. Energy may be recovered from one or more parts of the herein described system and process.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing ash. For example, in certain embodiments, the method comprises dissolving at least a portion of ash in acid. In some embodiments, the acid is produced in a reactor. In some embodiments, dissolving at least a portion of ash in acid produces refined silica (SiO.sub.2) (e.g., amorphous silica, substantially pure silica, and/or a substantial amount of silica). According to certain embodiments, the ash can be further processed (e.g., using electro winning, pH-based precipitation, and/or electrorefining) to obtain other components instead of or in addition to refined silica.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing ash. For example, in certain embodiments, the method comprises dissolving at least a portion of ash in acid. In some embodiments, the acid is produced in a reactor. In some embodiments, dissolving at least a portion of ash in acid produces refined silica (SiO.sub.2) (e.g., amorphous silica, substantially pure silica, and/or a substantial amount of silica). According to certain embodiments, the ash can be further processed (e.g., using electro winning, pH-based precipitation, and/or electrorefining) to obtain other components instead of or in addition to refined silica.

A process for recycling contaminated solid material is provided. The process comprises heating the material yielding a solid phase, an oil phase, and a gas phase. Prior to being heated, the material is subjected to a pre-treatment involving a dehalogenation agent (DHA). The gas phase obtained is further subjected to a purification treatment. The DHA agent used is regenerated using a regeneration agent (RGA) and further re-used in the process.

A process for recycling contaminated solid material is provided. The process comprises heating the material yielding a solid phase, an oil phase, and a gas phase. Prior to being heated, the material is subjected to a pre-treatment involving a dehalogenation agent (DHA). The gas phase obtained is further subjected to a purification treatment. The DHA agent used is regenerated using a regeneration agent (RGA) and further re-used in the process.

An apparatus, system and redox membrane for efficient lithium-ion extraction from natural salt waters or geothermal brines or manmade sources such as from lithium battery recycling are provided. The redox membrane is selective for lithium ions over other spectator ions making the system capable of selectively extracting lithium-ions from multiple-ion source solutions. The system uses the redox membrane as an electrochemically active material acting as a Li-selective membrane for direct lithium extraction from a lithium-ion source. The redox membrane is also not porous to solvents and is stable in caustic and high temperature environments. The features of the redox membrane and system allow the recovery of lithium from low purity sources and the production of higher purity products at reduced costs and process steps over conventional processes.

Provided is a processing method for an object, including the steps of: arranging an object in a first portion that is a portion having a space and configured to process the object; and decomposing an organic substance in the object by covering the object with catalysts formed of granules made of a metal oxide containing titanium and bringing the catalysts into contact with the organic substance, and simultaneously maintaining the catalysts in the first portion at a temperature of 480° C. or more and 550° C. or less. The step of decomposing the organic substance in the object includes causing gas containing oxygen to flow into the first portion so that a decomposition reaction of the organic substance occurs, and the catalysts are slightly moved in at least a part of a surface of the object.

Provided is a processing method for an object, including the steps of: arranging an object in a first portion that is a portion having a space and configured to process the object; and decomposing an organic substance in the object by covering the object with catalysts formed of granules made of a metal oxide containing titanium and bringing the catalysts into contact with the organic substance, and simultaneously maintaining the catalysts in the first portion at a temperature of 480° C. or more and 550° C. or less. The step of decomposing the organic substance in the object includes causing gas containing oxygen to flow into the first portion so that a decomposition reaction of the organic substance occurs, and the catalysts are slightly moved in at least a part of a surface of the object.

A process for preparing whitened fly ash includes the steps of: (a) subjecting fly ash to a size classification step to obtain size classified fly ash having a particle size such that at least 90 wt % has a particle size of from 44 μm to 250 μm; (b) optionally, contacting the size classified fly ash from step (a) with water to form a slurry, wherein the slurry has a solid content of less than 40 wt %; (c) subjecting the slurry obtained in step (b) to an exhaustive magnetic separation step to form magnetically treated fly ash, wherein the exhaustive magnetic separation step includes a first magnetic extraction step and a second magnetic extraction step, wherein the second magnetic extraction step is carried out at a higher magnetic field strength than the first magnetic extraction step; and (d) subjecting the magnetically treated fly ash obtained in step (c) to milling to form whitened fly ash.