The present invention relates to a method for removing hexavalent chromium from water bodies by sodium oxalate-modified zero-valent iron. The method comprising the steps: soaking zero-valent iron in a sodium oxalate solution for a period of time; and washing and drying to obtain the sodium oxalate-modified zero-valent iron; and then treating water bodies with the sodium oxalate-modified zero-valent iron to remove the heavy metal pollutant hexavalent chromium from the water bodies. Compared with other chemical or physical methods for treating the zero-valent iron, the processing technology of the sodium oxalate-modified zero-valent iron is simple and easy to implement, and also has advantages of high efficiency, no pollution and environmental friendliness.

Water purification particles have porous particles and photocatalyst particles formed of titanium-based compound particles that are supported on the porous particles, have absorption at a wavelength of 500 nm in a visible absorption spectrum, and have an absorption peak at 2,700 cm.sup.1 to 3,000 cm.sup.1 in an infrared absorption spectrum, and a metal compound having a metal atom and a hydrocarbon group is bonded to the surface of each of the titanium-based compound particles through an oxygen atom.

A process for the treatment of wastewater (S1) formed during the production of starches, in particular of chemically modified starches, and which contains dissolved salts and organic compounds, in which process it is proposed that the wastewater (S1) or pretreated wastewater (S1) containing substantially the dissolved salts and the organic compounds of the wastewater (S1) is subjected to a membrane separation process in which a separation of the wastewater (S1) supplied to the membrane separation process into a first volume flow (S3) with a higher concentration of dissolved salts in relation to the supplied wastewater (S1) and a second volume flow (S2) with a reduced concentration of dissolved salts in relation to the supplied wastewater (S1) is performed, wherein the first volume flow (S3) is subjected to thermal treatment for the separation of the dissolved salts and of a third volume flow (S9) which contains a fraction of the organic compounds of the wastewater (S1). By means of the invention, a process for the treatment of the wastewater (S1) from the production of modified starches with recovery of utilizable contents is provided.

A liquid cleaning system for living plants rests on a surface covered by a non-porous material. A plate layer covering the non-porous layer has two or more layers, each layer having runners arranged in a grid. The grid of each successive layer is offset at an angle with respect to the grid of a previous layer. An upper layer covers the plate layer and has a plurality of holes for the passage of liquids into the liquid cleaning system. As the living plants are watered or cleaned, excess liquids containing water and oils that were excreted by the living plants enter the liquid cleaning system through the holes, the liquid traverses the grid layers, flowing towards a drain. Contaminants within the liquid collect within the grid of the layers of the plate layer for later disposal.

In a method for disintegrating organic substrates, an alkaline solution is added as pH-altering solution to the substrate and said substrate is then treated with steam, or steam is added, for heating to a temperature below 100 C. Under pressureless conditions, the heated substrate admixed with alkaline solution is subjected to a residence time. Preferably, the organic substrates are sludges from wastewater treatment plants.

Fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member are provided. Recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins are also provided. Genetically inactivated Bacillus cereus family members and recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that overexpress exosporium proteins are also provided. Seeds coated with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members and methods for using the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided. Various modifications of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that express the fusion proteins are further provided. Fusion proteins comprising a spore coat protein and a protein or peptide of interest, recombinant bacteria that express such fusion proteins, seeds coated with such recombinant bacteria, and methods for using such recombinant bacteria (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided.

Drainage water that includes anions and cations dissolved in water and that is received from an agricultural or industrial facility is treated by applying a voltage to an anode and a cathode on opposite sides of an electrically driven separation apparatus that further includes at least one monovalent-selective ion exchange membrane between the anode and the cathode. The drainage water is passed through the electrically driven separation apparatus, wherein monovalent ions are selected from the drainage water through the monovalent-selective ion exchange membrane. The drainage water is then recirculated as treated water through the facility after the monovalent ions are removed.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for biogas production. The idea is to use the upper section of recovered percolation fluid for moistening the biomass and return the percolation fluid deliberated from the biomass to the bottom section of the fluid reactor.

The present invention may provide a granular filtration system for filtering effluent water for agricultural operations. The system may comprise a granular media for filtering the effluent water, a vessel for holding the granular media, a filtration inlet, a filtration outlet, a backflush inlet, a backflush outlet, a plurality of filtration members, and a plurality of conduits, the conduits being in fluid communication with the plurality of filtration members, the filtration outlet, and the backflush inlet. The vessel may further comprise a plurality of access ports for accessing the interior of the vessel. The present system provides filtration members with sufficient size, shape, number, and placement to efficiently and evenly backflush the granular media, and a higher quality, hydrodynamically shaped tank which can be backflushed at a lower pressure, reducing water and energy use, leaks, and inconsistencies in the granular media.

An efficient, cost-effective, and efficacious technique for removing coal ash and other pollutants from waterways, ponds, marshes, holding tanks and other water sources and supplies. An apparatus comprising an open cage including electromagnets and/or permanent magnets and/or electrodes is supplied with electrical power to extract materials such as rare earth elements and/or heavy metals. The materials levitate to the surface, forming a slurry while leaving water substantially free of such materials.