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 shiny while leaving water substantially free of such materials.

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.

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.

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.

An apparatus for treating water in soil-less growing systems has a container having a cross-sectional area and a height, with a first access port for liquid at an upper end, and a second access port for liquid at a lower end, and a porous matrix filling the container, the matrix comprising a hydrophilic polymer mixed with rocks and natural minerals. Water drawn from a soil-less growing system, is urged into the container through one of the liquid access ports, causes the water to flow through the matrix in the container, the water in contact with the rocks and natural minerals in the matrix, leaching elements from the matrix, and causes the water to exit the container at the other of the liquid access ports, to flow back to the soil-less growing system.

A structure has a high-impact plastic polymer tile comprising interconnected individual cells, each having an outer wall of a vertical dimension forming a closed outer periphery, and a matrix filling the cells from a lowermost extremity of the walls of the cells, to level below an uppermost extremity of the internal walls of the cells, the matrix comprising material supporting plant growth. With the tile lying on a base surface, the individual cells of the tile constrain the matrix material from horizontal translation, and wherein the walls of the cells, extending above the level of the matrix in the cells, provide support for any wheeled vehicle without disturbing the matrix.

A salt separator separates salts and/or solid materials from a pumpable aqueous fluid mixture under process conditions, which lie in the range of the critical point for the fluid mixture. The salt separator contains a reaction zone in a cavity for transforming the pumpable aqueous fluid mixture into a raw mixture, e.g. a methanation reaction, and a feed opening for the pumpable aqueous fluid mixture to the cavity. The feed opening is realized in a rising pipe that protrudes into the cavity. A first extraction opening is provided for the raw mixture freed of salts and/or solid materials. The first extraction opening is arranged in the upper region of the cavity and a second extraction opening is provided for a brine containing the salt and/or the solid materials. The second extraction opening is arranged in the lower region of the cavity and is located lower down than the feed opening.

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. Rare earth magnets electrically connect electrolysis electrode structures and serve as electrolysis electrode segments.

The present invention relates to an anaerobic column reactor for biodegradation of wastes. Particularly the present invention relates to a process for conversion of biodegradable wastes to biogas and compost. More particularly, the present invention relates to an anaerobic reactor with unique arrangement of expanded and constricted portions alternatively placed vertically over each other which enhances the mixing pattern and thereby the mass transfer rates while controlling the biomass washout by regulating the upflow liquid velocity.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of removing pesticides from water. An electrolysis cell oxidizes pesticides and/or other organic components, optionally in conjunction with one or more filtration steps. Hydrogen peroxide may be added to the electrolysis process to aid oxidation.