US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Other

Veera M Boddu

Kent James Hay

Dabir S Viswanath

Tushar K Ghosh

Reddy Damavarapu

Krishnaiah Abburi

Edgar Dean Smith

Perlite, particularly, perlite in powdered form, is employed to adsorb metals and metal compounds from fluids, in particular gases at elevated temperature. Treatment of perlite by boiling with sulfuric acid or suspending in a suspension of sulfur in carbon disulfide has been shown to significantly expand the surface area of perlite, thus increasing the efficiency of the process. In select embodiments, powdered perlite is treated to expand its surface area and injected into a fluid stream, such as flue gas, held for a specific retention period, and removed for subsequent disposal. In other embodiments powdered perlite is provided in an adsorption bed. Fluids containing metals or metal compounds in vapor form are permitted to pass through the adsorption bed until the expanded perlite powder is saturated (exhausted) with the metal and metal compounds adsorbed thereon. The perlite is then replaced, disposing of the exhausted perlite.

Method of treating fluid containing vapor phase metals, vapor phase metal compounds, or both

A method of adjusting the yield of a manufactured compound comprising primarily two energetic materials to yield a product comprising primarily one of the two energetic materials. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a method of purifying a compound primarily comprising RDX and HMX to achieve a desired purity of RDX with an acceptable yield percentage. By adding sufficient acetonitrile (ACN) to the manufactured compound to dissolve it and form a solution; adding a pre-specified volume of water to the resultant solution and stirring sufficiently to precipitate at least the RDX; separating and drying the precipitate, a pre-specified purity and yield percentage of RDX may be obtained by varying the volume of water added. The process uses relatively environmentally benign recyclable solvents at ambient temperature and pressure reducing both environmental impact and energy costs.

Adjusting yield of a manufacturing process for energetic compounds through solubility modification

A system and associated method for removing metal, including metal in vapor form, from high temperature fluid emissions such as may occur at the exhaust of furnaces or thermal treatment equipment. One embodiment is the Integrated Metal Emissions Control System (IMECS&#x2122;) incorporating both a Steel Screen Particulate (SSP) Filter System and a Perlite Based Sorbent (PBS) System. IMECS&#x2122; uses the SSP Filter System, with pore sizes down to one micron, to capture toxic metal particulate materials and the PBS System to capture vapor phase metals using surface-modified perlite. Using the IMECS&#x2122;, EPA-listed heavy metals have been removed from representative high-temperature emissions in field tests to easily meet the NESHAP standards.

Method and system for treating metal-containing fluid emissions

Perlite, particularly, perlite in powdered form, is employed to adsorb metals and metal compounds from a fluid flow. In select embodiments, the perlite is treated to expand its surface area and injected into a fluid stream, such as flue gas, held for a specific retention period, and removed for subsequent disposal. In other embodiments the perlite is provided in a fixed adsorption bed and the fluid flow permitted to pass through the bed until the perlite surface is exhausted. The perlite in the fixed bed is then replaced, with the exhausted perlite disposed of as appropriate. Treatment of perlite by boiling with sulfuric acid or suspending in a suspension of sulfur in carbon disulfide has been shown to significantly expand the surface area of perlite.

Method for surface treating perlite sorbents for improved adsorbing of vapor phase metals and metal compounds at elevated temperatures

A biosorbent composition, process of preparing and use thereof wherein the biosorbent composition comprises a chitosan-coated substrate. Useful substrates include support materials such as a ceramic support material. The biosorbent composition of the instant invention is useful in treating aqueous systems, including wastewater and aqueous waste streams, by removing undesired heavy metals.

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Champaign, IL, United States of America

Veera M Boddu