This invention is directed to a system and a process for protecting a gas purification system from damage comprising passing a stream of impure gas through a catalyst bed and measuring the temperature difference before and after the catalyzed bed reaction through a data analyzer to determine the impurity of the gas prior to controlling the feed of impure gas into or out of a reactor for producing a purified gas. In a preferred embodiment, the catalytic beds may be in parallel form, and the plurality of temperature measurements before and after the catalytic beds is considered by a data analyzer for controlling the impure gas for feeding into the purification reactor.

A mobile vapor recovery apparatus (10) efficiently removes materials from the vadose layer of earth soil. The apparatus (10) has a plurality of intake ports (14a-14d) each configured to releasably connect to a well pipe communicating gas having vaporized materials from a well in the soil. The intake ports (14a-14d) communicate the gas to a common manifold (24). A fluid collection tank (26) receives the gas from the manifold (24) and collects fluid entrained in the gas. A blower (32) draws the gas into the intake ports (14a-14d) by forcing the gas from the tank (26) and out of an exhaust port (34). A transportable support frame (12) is configured to support the plurality of intake ports (14a-14d), the fluid collection tank (26), and the blower (32) in a self-contained transportable unit. In addition, the mobile vapor recovery apparatus (10) may be mounted within a trailer unit (82) having a locking mechanism (102).

An oxidation or converter apparatus for cleansing air contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOC) in an exothermic reaction includes a first pipe connectible to a source of the VOC contaminated air and a combustion chamber with a burner, an inlet for the VOC contaminated air and an outlet to atmosphere for exhaust, the inlet being connected to the first pipe. A catalytic oxidizer having an inlet for the VOC contaminated air and an outlet to atmosphere for exhaust is also provided along with an air-to-air heat exchanger. The outlet of the catalytic oxidizer is connected to a first inlet of the heat exchanger in order to provide heated exhaust air to one side of the exchanger. A second inlet of the heat exchanger is connected by a suitable conduit to the first pipe. The contaminated air which is preheated in the heat exchanger is carried by a further conduit to the inlet of the combustion chamber. After being further heated in the combustion chamber, it passes along an additional conduit to the inlet of the oxidizer. By the selective use of bypass valves, the unit can operate in either a thermal mode or a catalytic mode.

A method of remediating water contaminated by dissolved gases and liquids and suspended particles wherein the contaminated water is collected into a closed container without filling the container and heated to a temperature below the boiling point of water. Negative pressure is then drawn on the closed container without causing the water in the container to boil, whereby the dissolved gases and liquids in the contaminated water, having a boiling point lower than water, will evaporate out of the water into the head space above the water in the container. Finally, atmospheric air and/or oxygen are allowed into the container to push the vapors out of the head space of the container.