An integrated utility system, comprising: at least one heat pump which includes a compressor for processing water mist from an evaporator and providing the water mist to a condenser; a thermal reservoir configured to contain water and operatively connected to the condenser; a heat management system configured to receive and process excess heat generated between the thermal reservoir and condenser. The heat management system comprises: a plurality of sensors for measuring water pressure, temperature and flow; at least one control valve for controlling movement of a thermal energy from thermal sources; at least one thermal sink; a thermal storage; a plurality of heat exchangers fluidly connected to the thermal sources, to the at least one thermal sinks, to the thermal reservoir and to a plurality of pumps configured to circulate a heat exchange fluid between the thermal sources, thermal reservoir and the at least one thermal sink.

The invention relates to body processing apparatus including a first water tank and a body processing chamber, in fluid connection, and adapted to receive a dead body. An additive treatment means is included to add to the body processing chamber or to the water used, during the process. At least one second water tank is included for receiving water from 5 the body processing chamber, through a fluid connection therewith, and also a water cleaning system, in fluid connection with the second water tank. The body is placed within the body treatment chamber, additives are added, water enters from the first water tank and processing occurs until the body breaks down, after which the water is drained to the second water tank and enters the water cleaning system for cleaning. The invention also 10 relates to variants thereon and methods of use.

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 atomizer for use in a water treatment system includes an influent inlet, to receive a flow of fluid containing contaminants a gas flow inlet, to receive a flow of gas to be mixed with the fluid in a mixing zone, an airflow controlling component, including an array of vanes disposed between the gas flow inlet and the mixing zone to impart a rotational component to a direction of flow of the gas. A channel receives the flow of fluid containing contaminants, and conducts the flow of fluid containing contaminants to the mixing zone, wherein radially outwardly flowing fluid containing contaminants is mixed with radially inwardly flowing gas to atomize the fluid containing contaminants, and an outlet.

A process for removing iodine using gold particles includes contacting a solution including iodine, with gold particles. The iodine is adsorbed onto the gold particles and then removed. A device for removing iodine using gold particles includes gold particles in a stationary phase and is configured to contact a solution including iodine, with gold particles, to thus adsorb the iodine onto the gold particles and remove the iodine.

A batch process for the treatment of an aqueous solution so that the treated product is more desirable for disposal includes obtaining an influent batch of aqueous solution for treatment, treating the batch of solution by an advanced oxidation process. The advanced oxidation process including causing ozone to be mixed with the solution, maintaining the mixture of solution and ozone at a pressure above atmospheric for a time of at least two seconds. An embodiment of the process includes continuously recirculating the fluid to be treated, through a recirculation conduit, the recirculation conduit including an ozone injector and the ozone injector is adapted to inject ozone into the aqueous solution as the aqueous solution circulates through an ozone injector. Influent to be treated may be selected from the group including sewage, septage, leachate, ballast or other aqueous solutions where it is desirable to treat the fluid prior to disposal, further treatment, or reuse. The process is carried out to improve a level of disinfection and/or denutrification of the effluent. The process may include back-to-back processing of batches one after the other, more or less continuously. The process may include overlapping processing, in which part of a treated previous batch is retained to mix with an incoming untreated batch. The process may include off-gassing between stages of adding ozone, and the process may involve repetitive high pressure and low pressure cycles. The process may include post processing steps, such as permitting at least a portion of a treated batch to be retained without the addition of ozone for a period of time to permit floculates longer to form. The process may include post process filtering, which may be single or multi-stage filtering, such as may allow for the removal of floculates. The process may include simultaneous post-processing of part or all of one batch while another batch is being processed. The process may include the treatment of solutions containing pharmaceuticals to break down the pharmaceuticals.

A disinfection device for a trapped-liquid comprising of a drain trap for a liquid flow having an inner surface to trap a volume of the trapped-liquid and a helical coil capable of generating metal ions to eliminate biological cells attached to said drain trap. An electric valve is connected to a tap water and the helical coil and a power supply provides a current and a voltage to the helical coil for a period of ionization and a sensor system installed in the drain trap to sense flow of a liquid through the drain trap. A timer system to determine the length of a stagnant-time that the trapped-liquid is stagnant in the drain trap; and to determine the length of an ionization-time for the period of ionization.

An air fed mycoplasma device includes an array of elongate microchannels formed in a plastic or ceramic having tolerance to ozone and other radicals formed when plasma is generated from air in the microchannels. The microchannels include inlets configured to accept an air feed, and outlets configured to direct plasma jets toward a surface (which may be flat or internal to a pipe, for example) or object. An array of electrodes within the plastic/ceramic housing is configured to ignite and maintain plasma in the microchannels and is isolated by the dielectric from the microchannels. A supply intake for is configured to providing a plasma medium into the microchannels.

A disinfection apparatus for drainage piping of sanitary equipment includes a cleansing tank, a toilet bowl, and a drainage pipe connected to the toilet bowl. When the sanitary equipment is used, a fixed amount of cleansing water is supplied to the toilet bowl from the cleansing tank, and the cleansing water after cleansing the toilet bowl is drained from the drainage pipe. A sensor senses a supply of water to the cleansing tank. A chemical liquid pump supplies a fixed amount of chemical liquid from a chemical liquid tank to the cleansing tank. A control unit is configured to operate the chemical liquid pump by means of a water supply sensing signal from the sensor to supply a fixed amount of chlorine dioxide to the cleansing tank, thereby maintaining the concentration of chlorine dioxide in the cleansing water within the cleansing tank at a fixed concentration.

An atomizer for use in a water treatment system includes an influent inlet, to receive a flow of fluid containing contaminants a gas flow inlet, to receive a flow of gas to be mixed with the fluid in a mixing zone, an airflow controlling component, including an array of vanes disposed between the gas flow inlet and the mixing zone to impart a rotational component to a direction of flow of the gas. A channel receives the flow of fluid containing contaminants, and conducts the flow of fluid containing contaminants to the mixing zone, wherein radially outwardly flowing fluid containing contaminants is mixed with radially inwardly flowing gas to atomize the fluid containing contaminants, and an outlet.