Catalyst regeneration processes that include measures for controlling emissions generated during the regeneration are described. The present invention further relates to catalytic processes for producing various chlorinated aromatic compounds that include provisions for controlling emissions during catalyst regeneration.

A metal oxide impregnated activated carbon and a method of making the metal oxide impregnated carbon wherein the application of metal oxide impregnants are chemisorbed to active sites in a pore structure using atomic layer deposition to enable targeted impregnant compositions and configurations on activated carbons used for air purification devices.

Gaseous pollution control devices and methods of removing pollutants from air are described herein. The devices include a body having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an upper wall and a lower wall opposed to the upper wall that all co-operate to define a cavity of the body. The device also includes one or more barriers within the body that form one or more channels within the body. At least one barrier has a flow disruptor to disrupt the flow of gas through the one or more channels. The device also includes a light source arranged within the body to direct light into the one or more channels. At least a portion of an inner surface of the device is at least partially coated with a photocatalytic composite material and the light source is configured to illuminate the coated inner surface to activate the photocatalytic composite material to remove the gaseous pollutants.

A method for upgrading used or rejected electric battery cells, which include upgradable compounds, such as iron, zinc, manganese, copper, and fixed and volatile carbon, and heavy metals and dangerous compounds. The used or rejected battery cells are introduced as a load into a furnace for melting metal, such as a cupola furnace, a free arc furnace, or an induction furnace. A device for purifying gases produced by the furnace and for capturing and removing noxious elements, such as mercury, chlorides, and fluorides, and heavy molecules such as dioxins, furans, and aromatic substances, is provided in a discharge route of the hot gases, downstream from the melting furnace.

Methods for purification of a fluorocarbon or hydrofluorocarbon containing at least one undesired halocarbon impurities comprise flowing the fluorocarbon or hydrofluorocarbon through at least one adsorbent beds to selectively adsorb the at least one undesired halocarbon impurities through physical adsorption and/or chemical adsorption, wherein the at least one adsorbent beds contain a metal oxide supported on an adsorbent in an inert atmosphere.

A metal organic framework (MOF)-polymer composite for detoxifying a chemical warfare agent (CWA) comprises MOF nanoparticles having catalytically active Lewis acid sites and at least one polymer having catalytically active basic sites. The composite is configured such that the at least one polymer is in surrounding relation to the MOF nanoparticles such that at least a portion of the Lewis acid sites of the MOF nanoparticles are in proximal relation to at least a portion of the basic sites of the at least one polymer thereby forming a plurality of proximal acid-base interfaces thus enabling a bifunctional catalytic mechanism for detoxifying the CWA. The MOF-polymer composite can provide CWA detoxification without the presence of a basic compound.

Provided is a process for separating an organic isocyanate prepared by reacting an organic amine with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene in the gas phase from the gaseous crude product obtained in the reaction, the process comprising the steps of (i) at least partially condensing the crude product stream containing at least the isocyanate, hydrogen chloride and unconverted phosgene by contacting with at least one liquid stream containing at least one quench liquid in a first separation apparatus to obtain a liquid stream containing at least some of the quench liquid and some of the isocyanate and a gas stream containing at least hydrogen chloride, evaporated quench liquid and phosgene, (ii) discharging the liquid stream obtained in step (i) via a first liquid outlet and of the gas stream obtained in (i) via a first gas conduit and (iii) at least partially condensing and/or absorbing the gas stream discharged in step (ii) through the first gas conduit, wherein that the at least partial condensation and/or absorption is effected in step (iii) by direct introduction of at least one cooling fluid, wherein the cooling fluid is introduced directly into the first gas conduit via at least one addition unit assigned to the first gas conduit.

A method for removing solvent from a solvent containing sweep gas stream obtained from a fertilizer coating process is disclosed. The method can include directly contacting the solvent containing sweep gas stream with an aqueous composition comprising 50% wt/wt to 100% wt/wt of water, condensing at least a portion of the solvent out of the solvent containing sweep gas stream into the aqueous composition to produce a solvent-enriched aqueous composition and a recovered sweep gas stream, and removing the recovered sweep gas stream from the solvent-enriched aqueous composition.

A genetically modified houseplant capable of reducing levels of volatile organic carcinogenic compounds, such as formaldehyde, benzene, and chloroform, in the indoor air in urban homes of developed countries is disclosed. The plant expresses a detoxifying transgene, mammalian cytochrome P450 2e, and has shown sufficient detoxifying activity against benzene and chloroform. Air purifying biofilters utilizing the plants and methods of their use are also disclosed.

Described is related to nano-structured composite materials for removing harmful chemical air pollutants and odors from the air to prevent people from breathing in disease-causing chemicals and provide them with clean indoor air. The nano-structured composite materials comprise nano-catalysts embedded in the pores of nano-structured substrate materials selected from the group consisting of nano-porous carbon, nano-porous rare earth oxide, nano-porous zeolite, nano-porous alumina and nano-porous silica. The nano-scale synergy of nano-catalysts and nano-structured substrate materials provides effective air filtration materials for the complete trapping and elimination of the full spectrum of chemical air pollutants including both organic and inorganic compounds and odors for indoor spaces, which HEPA or activated carbon filters cannot achieve.