In one embodiment, a hydrogel-enzyme construct for performing high temperature enzymatic reaction on paraoxon, and/or for performing enzymatic reaction on paraoxon following exposure to high temperature, includes a hydrogel having multiple layers of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and a plurality of dPTE2 enzyme molecules. Individual dPTE2 enzyme molecules are embedded between adjacent PMAA layers and are covalently bonded with respective individual PMAA layers. The hydrogel-enzyme construct is capable of performing enzymatic reaction on the paraoxon when the paraoxon is exposed to the hydrogel-enzyme construct under a temperature condition of up to above 99? C. and below 100? C. or when the paraoxon is exposed to the hydrogel-enzyme construct after the hydrogel-enzyme construct has been heated to a temperature condition of up to 550? C., where the enzymatic reaction on the paraoxon by individual dPTE2 molecules embedded within the hydrogel occurs at a residual activity of between 20% and 100%.

An accelerated process for the complete neutralization of acid wastes, the destruction of concrete and/or the denaturation of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) includes forming a slurry or suspension by submerging in the acid solution the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs); the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) cause the acid wastes neutralizing chemical reactions in the slurry or suspension and, at the same time, the destruction of concrete and/or the denaturation of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Simultaneously to the chemical reactions, the slurry or suspension is subjected to hydrodynamic cavitation, preferably using an apparatus capable of producing and managing three types of simultaneous controlled cavitation acting in the same space volume, accelerating the chemical reactions taking place in the slurry due also to the simultaneous presence of acid, concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are preferably ground and polarized prior to be submerged in the acid solution to form the slurry. The polarization take place, for the really first time, with a cold plasma torch. In addition the slurry or suspension is preferably subjected to hydrothermal treatment, preferably using a reactor which ensures the preservation of the constancy of the ideal physical parameters for the reaction in the physical chemical environment. In this reactor are additivated chemicals, hydroxyapatite and biological substances that have binder/chelating power especially on metals contained in asbestos, especially on magnesium, in order to prevent its reformation. Recovering, at the end of the process, inert secondary raw materials (SRMs) that are non-hazardous to the environment and human health. In addition, this process could be used to produce molecules that are important intermediates of the subsequent reactions/processes, leading to the formation of salts/compounds used as dietary supplements and also in important environmental remedies such as polluted water reclamation and the treatment of heavily polluted soils.

A two step process for the destruction of a precursor material using a steam plasma in a three zone reactor wherein the precursor material is hydrolyzed as a first step in the high temperature zone of the reactor, followed by a second step of medium temperature oxidation of the reactant stream in the combustion zone of the reactor where combustion oxygen or air is injected and immediate quenching of the resulting gas stream to avoid the formation of unwanted by-products. A related apparatus includes a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, an externally cooled three zone steam plasma reactor means for introducing the precursor material into the plasma plume of the plasma torch, means for introducing the combustion air or oxygen into the combustion zone, means for exiting the reactant mixture from the reactor and means for quenching the reactant mixture located at the exit end of the reactor.

The invention relates to a process for treating an asbestos-containing material, which enables the asbestos to be transformed into inert products (i.e. not hazardous to human health) that can possibly be reused as raw materials for subsequent industrial processing or as directly marketable industrial products. The process comprising the steps of preparing an acidic solution/suspension by subjecting a food industry waste material to mixed bacterial and fungal growth and/or fermentation, and treating an asbestos-containing material with the acidic solution/suspension obtained from the mixed fermentation at a temperature of 120-170 C. and pressure of 2-10 bar.

Disclosed herein are compositions, methods, and articles of personal protective equipment for use in detoxifying an organophosphate-based agent, wherein the compositions, methods, and articles comprise contacting the organophosphate-based agent with a cocaine esterase, wherein the contacting detoxifies the organophosphate-based agent.

A two step process for the destruction of a precursor material using a steam plasma in a three zone reactor wherein the precursor material is hydrolyzed as a first step in the high temperature zone of the reactor, followed by a second step of medium temperature oxidation of the reactant stream in the combustion zone of the reactor where combustion oxygen or air is injected and immediate quenching of the resulting gas stream to avoid the formation of unwanted by-products. A related apparatus includes a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, an externally cooled three zone steam plasma reactor means for introducing the precursor material into the plasma plume of the plasma torch, means for introducing the combustion air or oxygen into the combustion zone, means for exiting the reactant mixture from the reactor and means for quenching the reactant mixture located at the exit end of the reactor.

A system and method for destroying and disposing a fluorinated material, such as PFAS, with reduced emissions of gaseous PFC is provided. The method can be applied to soil or other environmental media containing the PFAS, for example at the site of the soil, either in a batch reactor or in situ. The method can include mixing PFAS, a hydroxide base, and optionally a solvent in the batch reactor to form a suspension. The reaction mixture can be heated to a temperature of 25 C. to 400 C. for about 0.5 hours to 240 hours to defluorinate the corresponding PFAS fluorocarbons and produce a defluorinated waste product. Alternatively, the suspension can be maintained for a sufficient time at room temperature. The hydroxide base and optional solvent can also be sprayed on the PFAS and optionally heated. The method converts organic fluorine present in the PFAS contaminated soil to inorganic fluoride.

Compositions and process, along with systems using those compositions and processes are described herein for remediation of environmental contamination, including organic compound contamination of soil and ground water, including polyfluoroalkyl substances.

An apparatus and method for applying a concentrated formulation of sensitizers having oxidative activation properties that can be applied to an environment that may include objects, surfaces, structures and atmospheric air. In response to radiated energy, the sensitizers activate and oxidatively decontaminate harmful agents within the environment. The agents may include pathogens, toxins, poisons, microbial particles and radiation particles that exhibit hazardous properties to users.

Germanium-doped titania semiconductors, which are capable of photocatalyzed electron transfer are coated with electronic deficient fluorinated phthalocyanines capable of energy transfer. The combination of these pathways results in a broad spectrum photocatalyst useful for deactivating harmful chemical and biological agents.