A continuous process for producing crystalline ammonium sulfate, said process comprising a start-up operation followed by a steady-state operation, wherein the start-up operation comprises: i) in a crystallizer, evaporating solvent from an approximately saturated ammonium sulfate solution; ii) replacing evaporated solvent with further approximately proximately saturated ammonium sulfate solution; iii) introducing to the crystallizer seed crystals of ammonium sulfate; iv) continuing to evaporate solvent, until a desired degree of supersaturation is reached; and v) recovering crystalline ammonium sulfate from ammonium sulfate solution in a recovery unit, and the steady-state operation comprises: vi) continuously feeding approximately saturated ammonium sulfate solution into the crystallizer and continuously withdrawing ammonium sulfate crystals from the crystallizer, such that the total combined volume of ammonium sulfate solution and ammonium sulfate crystals within the crystallizer remains constant; and vii) recovering crystalline ammonium sulfate from ammonium sulfate solution in a recovery unit, characterized in that the degree of supersaturation in the crystallizer during the start-up operation is maintained between 1.2% and the point at which primary nucleation occurs; and apparatus suitable for carrying out the process.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods from processing flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum feedstock and ash feedstocks, either separately or together. FGD gypsum conversion comprises reacting FGD gypsum (calcium sulfate) feedstock or phosphogypsum, in either batch or continuous mode, with ammonium carbonate reagent to produce commercial products comprising ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate. A process to separate the impurities and convert the calcium carbonate to a pure precipitated calcium carbonate is disclosed. These impurities include a concentrate of valuable Rare Earth Elements, and radioactive thorium and uranium. A process to convert calcium sulfite to calcium sulfate using oxygen and a catalyst is also disclosed. Ash conversion comprises a leach process followed by a sequential precipitation process to selectively precipitate products at predetermined pHs resulting in metal hydroxides which may be converted to oxides or carbonates. The processes may be controlled by use of one or more processors.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for determining RNA in blood or other fluids. In certain embodiments, blood or other fluids may be treated to isolate or separate RNA, for example, from DNA, cells, and other material. In some cases, the RNA may arise from bacteria or other pathogens or foreign organisms that may be found within the blood or other fluid. In some cases, RNA stabilizing reagents, such as ammonium sulfate, may be added to stabilize RNA, then cells within the blood may be lysed to release the RNA (and other materials) from the cells, thereby producing a lysate. The lysate may be treated, e.g., to separate nucleic acids from other components within the lysate, and in some cases, DNA may be degraded, e.g., using DNAses or other suitable enzymes, leaving behind the RNA. The RNA can then be studied, purified, analyzed, amplified, stored, or the like.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for determining RNA in blood or other fluids. In certain embodiments, blood or other fluids may be treated to isolate or separate RNA, for example, from DNA, cells, and other material. In some cases, the RNA may arise from bacteria or other pathogens or foreign organisms that may be found within the blood or other fluid. In some cases, RNA stabilizing reagents, such as ammonium sulfate, may be added to stabilize RNA, then cells within the blood may be lysed to release the RNA (and other materials) from the cells, thereby producing a lysate. The lysate may be treated, e.g., to separate nucleic acids from other components within the lysate, and in some cases, DNA may be degraded, e.g., using DNAses or other suitable enzymes, leaving behind the RNA. The RNA can then be studied, purified, analyzed, amplified, stored, or the like.

Methods, apparatus, and compositions for cleaning gas. The use of segmented multistage ammonia-based liquid spray with different oxidation potentials to remove sulfur compounds from gas. The use of different oxidation potentials may reduce unwanted ammonia slip.

Methods, apparatus, and compositions for cleaning gas. The use of segmented multistage ammonia-based liquid spray with different oxidation potentials to remove sulfur compounds from gas. The use of different oxidation potentials may reduce unwanted ammonia slip.

Compositions for removing air pollutants from the air are provided. These compositions can be sprayed on a variety of surfaces to remove air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the environment, and are suitable for use in human dwellings.

Compositions for removing air pollutants from the air are provided. These compositions can be sprayed on a variety of surfaces to remove air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the environment, and are suitable for use in human dwellings.

Provided herein is a process for producing one or more products from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process comprises treating the lignocellulosic feedstock by contacting the feedstock at least sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid, or a combination thereof to produce a pretreated feedstock comprising one or more sulfonic acids. A process stream comprising one or more sulfonic acids is subsequently treated in a wet oxidation step to produce a stream comprising at least soluble oxidized phenolic compounds. The soluble oxidized phenolic compounds are then fed to an anaerobic digestion to produce methane. Optionally, hydrogen sulfide is produced during the anaerobic digestion. The hydrogen sulfide may then be converted to an acid selected from sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid or a combination thereof in one or more steps. The acid may then be re-used in treatment as desired.

Conversion methods and equipment for converting a calcium-based flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system to an ammonia-based FGD systems, including modifying a reagent system and absorber system of the calcium-based FGD system to be capable of, respectively, delivering an ammonia-based reagent to the absorber system rather than the calcium-based reagent, and modifying the absorber system to increase capacity of a reaction tank thereof.