The invention relates to a process for the extractive removal of phenols, alcohols, amines, phoshines, hydroxylamines, hydrazines, oximes, imines, water, carboxylic acids, amino acids, hydroxamic acids, sulfinic acids, sulfonic acids, peroxycarboxylic acids, phosphonous acids, phosphinous acids, phosphonic acids, phosphinic acids or phosphoric acids from aprotic solvents by means of ionic liquids of the formula [K].sub.n+[A].sup.n-, where n, [K].sup.+ and A.sup.n- are defined as in the descripti...

A method for decontaminating and neutralizing solid residue remaining in a munition shell of an abandoned chemical weapon includes the steps of dissolving the solid residue using an organic solvent to obtain a solid residue solution, and neutralizing the solid residue solution with an alkaline solution and an oxidant.

A system and method is provided for producing a safely disposable end product from waste matter containing undesirable materials, such as infectious, biohazardous, hazardous, or radioactive elements. The method comprises the steps of providing a highly basic solvent, immersing the waste matter containing the undesirable materials within the highly basic solvent, and heating the solvent. The waste matter containing the undesirable materials is allowed to remain within the solvent until digested, ...

A method of treating contaminants in soil and/or groundwater including adding a source of a peroxide and ozone to the in situ environment in amounts capable of producing reactive species sufficient to oxidize at least one of the contaminants without acidification of the environment.

A method and apparatus for neutralizing biological and/or chemical warfare agents using an ozone-containing solution. The ozone-containing solution is produced by combining ozone-containing gas with an ozone vehicle, such as an organic solution. The ozone-vehicle prolongs the shelf life of the ozone to allow for extended periods of storage. A storage container is used to store the ozone-containing solution and facilitate its transportation to an environment contaminated by the biological and/or ...

Methods are provided for remediating contaminated soil. The methods may include collecting contaminated soil at a plurality of treatment sites. The contaminated soil at one or more of the plurality of treatment sites may be at least partially contained. Vapors produced from heating soil at one site may be used to heat contaminated soil at another site. A fluid directed to a portion of heated contaminated soil may accelerate heat transfer through the site of contaminated soil or through another s...

Organic compounds are removed from contaminated soil, ground water and the like by treatment with a combination of a water soluble peroxygen compound, such as sodium persulfate, and a pH modifier capable of maintaining a pH greater than about 10, such as a metal hydroxide.

In a process for the disposal of low, mediun, and high-boiling secondary components formed during the preparation of (meth)acrylic acid the gaseous low-boiling secondary components are burned, whilst low-boiling and medium-boiling secondary components that are dissolved in water optionally together with high-boiling secondary components treated with solvent are added.

A method of oxidizing organic pollutants in a solution comprises chelating a catalytic metal with cyclodextrins (CD) and/or derivatized cyclodextrins (dCD), and simultaneously complexing an organic pollutant with cyclodextrins (CD) and/or derivatized cyclodextrins (dCD). The CD or dCD is capable of removing the pollutant from sorption sites (either in solution, in soil/sediment, or on surfaces). Furthermore, the CD/dCD is also capable of competing with other metal chelators that may be present i...

A process for the low temperature, non-incineration decontamination of contaminated materials, such as chemical weapon components containing residual quantities of chemical warfare agents. The process includes the steps of (a) contacting the contaminated materials with steam at substantially ambient pressure in a substantially dry first heated vessel for a period of at least about 15 minutes, the steam being at a temperature of at least about 560.degree. C., (b) removing condensible and non-cond...