A continuous process for heat treating and cleaning and tempering martensitic stainless steel surgical needles is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the surgical needles to a partial vacuum at a temperature less than the heat treating temperature to remove volatile surface contaminant. Then the needles are heat treated in an argon gas environment at a pressure equal to or greater than 1.0 Torr. Next the temperature of the oven is lowered to temper the needles.

A method of mechanically treating alloy metal surgical needles to improve bending strength is disclosed. The needles are curved and reverse-curved in this method to improve bending strength.

Provided herein are methods of treating a proliferative disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of AC220 and a nucleoside analog, a topoisomerase inhibitor or an anthracycline, or a combination thereof.

A method and system are presented for enhancing one or more images of an object, so as to increase the visibility within the images of one or more structures within the object. The object may be an anatomical region of a patient, and may include one or more reference structures, for example skeletal structures or vertebral structures, and one or more treatment targets, for example tumors or lesions. An operator, for example a top-hat filter operator, selects at least a first neighborhood and a second neighborhood within the images. The operator selects within each neighborhood one or more pixels having an optimal pixel value, and eliminates the remaining pixels in these neighborhoods. When the operator is applied to the selected neighborhoods, only the pixels having the greatest pixel values remain in the selected neighborhoods, and the remaining pixels are eliminated in the selected neighborhoods. As a result, desired features can be located and enhanced in the images.

An apparatus for treating a flow of fluid with microwave radiation, the apparatus comprising: a vessel having a sidewall and opposed first and second end walls defining a substantially cylindrical chamber, the first end wall being disposed a predetermined distance d1 from the second end wall; a pipeline for flowing fluid through, the pipeline passing through the first end wall towards the second end wall of the vessel, the chamber and the pipeline being substantially co-axial and the pipeline being substantially transparent to microwave radiation; and a microwave radiation inlet in the side wall of the vessel for admitting microwave radiation of wavelength λ into the chamber, wherein the distance d1 is substantially equal to an integral multiple of λ/2 so that the chamber is a microwave resonator.

A patient wearable, continuously operating extracorporeal pump apparatus which accesses the patient's arterial venous pressure differential by applying external pressure to a subcutaneous graft that has been cannualized to modulate blood flow through an extracorporeal circuit and to drive the pump for delivering a medicament, such as an anticoagulant, to the site of an intravenous cannula to prevent clogging thereof and also to move a dialysate through a circuit, including a dialyzer and a dialysate rejuvenating cartridge, whereby kidney failure can be treated without recourse to prior art hemodialysis machines found in most treatment facilities. With slight modification, the present invention can be used to remove excess fluids from CHF patients, to remove toxins from the blood in those suffering from liver failure and to facilitate administration of insulin to diabetics and/or glucose to those having hypoglycemia.

The present invention describes a method of optimizing CO2 concentration to increase the specific growth rate of Anammox bacteria and methanogens in wastewater and sludge treatment, as well as novel systems and methods of treating wastewater and sludge. The specific growth rate or doubling time of the Anammox bacteria and methanogens were determined to be sensitive to dissolved CO2 concentration. Optimizing dissolved CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the Anammox bacteria, which may be used as an alternative biological nitrogen removal process for the treatment of domestic wastewater. In the method and system of treating sludge, the CO2 stripper returns biogas with low CO2 concentration to the headspace of an anaerobic digester in order to lower the headspace CO2 concentration and therefore, the soluble CO2 concentration. The lower soluble CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the methanogens for a more efficient anaerobic digestion process.

A water treatment system is disclosed having electrolytic cell for liberating hydrogen from a base solution. The base solution may be a solution of brine for generating sodium hypochlorite, or potable water to be oxidized. The cell has first and second opposing electrode endplates held apart from each other by a pair of supports such that the supports enclose opposing sides of the endplates to form a cell chamber. One or more inner electrode plates are spaced apart from each other in the cell chamber in between the first and second electrode plates. The supports are configured to electrically isolate the first and second electrode plates and the inner electrode plates from each other. The first and second electrode plates are configured to receive opposite polarity charges that passively charge the inner electrode plates via conduction from the base solution to form a chemical reaction in the base solution as the base solution passes through the cell chamber.

The invention relates to a method for treating wastewater containing nitroaromatics and nitrohydroxyaromatics, as for example arises in the production of nitroaromatics or in the production of nitrohydroxyaromatics, by a two-stage method consisting of pre-reduction and wet oxidation.

Systems for treating biomass for the production of ethanol are disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product. The systems comprise a filter configured to remove particulate matter to provide a filtered component and an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. Methods for treating for treating biomass useful in the production of a fermentation product are also disclosed. The methods include the steps of filtering a liquid component to remove particulate matter thereby yielding a filtered liquid component, and treating the filtered liquid component to remove inhibitors thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.

A device, system and/or method for dispensing a fuel additive to a fuel tank that employs a fuel additive delivery device secured to an opening of the fuel tank. The delivery device is fluidly coupled to a fuel additive reservoir. The delivery device includes a cap that automatically opens or closes fluid communication with the fuel additive reservoir. The delivery device also includes a bore defined through the delivery device configured to receive a fuel filler spout with a fuel passageway outlet positioned in the bore such that, as fuel passes through the bore and into the fuel tank, the bore is configured to create a suction at the fuel additive outlet to pull fuel additive from the reservoir, through the delivery device, and into the fuel tank with the fuel.

Fluid treatment systems and compositions are provided including (a) at least one material including (1) at least one carboxylic acid functional group and (2) at least one sulfur-containing group selected from the group consisting of sulfonyl functional groups, sulfonate functional groups and mixtures thereof; and (b) at least one friction reducing agent selected from the group consisting of guar gums, polyacrylamides, hydratable cellulosic materials, viscoelastic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. The fluid treatment systems and compositions can be used to treat aqueous systems, for example as fracturing fluids for use in fracturing subterranean formations. Methods for inhibiting formation and/or precipitation of metal oxides in an aqueous composition using the fluid treatment systems or compositions also are provided.

Fluid treatment systems and compositions are provided including (a) at least one material including (1) at least one carboxylic acid functional group and (2) at least one sulfur-containing group selected from the group consisting of sulfonyl functional groups, sulfonate functional groups and mixtures thereof; and (b) at least one scale control agent. The fluid treatment systems and compositions can be used to treat aqueous systems, for example as fracturing fluids for treating aqueous compositions found in subterranean formations. Methods for inhibiting formation and/or precipitation of calcium salts in an aqueous composition using the fluid treatment systems or compositions also are provided.

The invention describes a method for treating near-wellbore zones involving the steps of injecting a magnesium metal with a catalyst into the desired area of the formation to be treated. Subsequently, combustive-oxidizing solution (COS) is injected into the zone of the formation to be treated. The COS initially reacts with the magnesium, which in turn initiates a vigorous oxidation reaction of the COS. The reaction gases and heat produced by the COS oxidation reaction are harnessed to enhance the productivity of the well by creating fractures in the treatment zone and by melting of paraffin and resin deposits in the treatment zone. As a final step, acid is injected into the formation to react with the formation thereby further enhancing the porosity of the fractures. In one embodiment, the COS uses ammonium nitrate as the oxidizer, and in another, urea or ethylene glycol may be added as a reaction fuel.

A method of treating sludge using solar energy is provided. The present invention utilizes a Fresnel panel frame that includes at least one Fresnel panel. The Fresnel panel may cover at least a portion of a bed cavity. An amount of waste may be placed within the bed cavity. When placed in sunlight, the heat enhanced by the Fresnel panels may heat the waste sufficiently for safe easy disposal, recycling, or for the creation of fertilizer.

A tank or bed has a plurality of sidewalls that create a bed cavity and a Fresnel panel frame that includes at least one Fresnel panel. The Fresnel panel frame may be adjacent to the bed cavity and may cover at least a portion of the bed cavity. An amount of sludge may be contained within the bed cavity. When placed in sunlight, the heat enhanced by the Fresnel panels may heat the sludge sufficiently for the sludge to be used as fertilizer.

Disclosed herein is a system comprising an evaporation unit comprising a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with a second heat exchanger; where the first heat exchanger is operative to heat an effluent stream comprising an amine solvent and/or amine byproducts and water and to discharge the effluent stream to the second heat exchanger; where the second heat exchanger is operative to convert the effluent stream into a distillate stream and a concentrate stream; and a reverse osmosis unit in fluid communication with the evaporation unit; where the reverse osmosis unit comprises a first reverse osmosis unit that is operative to receive the distillate stream and to separate water from byproducts of the amine solvent such that the water has a purity of greater than 95%, based on the weight of the distillate stream.

The invention provides a composition for topical treatment of hair loss/alopecia including three natural, active ingredients, caffeine, saw palmetto berry extract, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). The invention also provides methods for using this composition to treat hair loss.

The present invention describes a hair treatment application system, comprising at least one or more hair treatment compositions (15) having a viscosity of from 3,000 cPs to 150,000 cPs and a hair treatment application device (1) comprising a first plate (10) and a second plate (20) positionable in a juxtaposed relationship when said hair treatment application device (1) is in a closed state. The hair treatment application device (1) is characterized by having a first zone comprising at least one absorbent substrate (40) on the internal surface (101) of said at least said first plates (10) and a second zone (50) on said internal surface (101) which is free of said absorbent substrate (40). Said at least one absorbent substrate (40) has a median pore radius of from 300 microns to 3,000 micron. The present invention describes also methods of treating the hair with said hair treatment application system (10) and kit comprising said hair treatment application system.

In order to treat human or animal hair fixedly arranged on a sopport, hair is divided into strands. The divided strands are subjected to a dielectric plasma treatment by drawing an apparatus connected to a high voltage source (8) through the strands. The apparatus can be in the form of tongs or have a comb-like structure.

A surface treatment composition for inkjet media includes: at least one surface sizing agent selected from the group consisting of starch, starch derivatives, polymeric materials, and combinations thereof; and an ink fixative selected from the group consisting of at least one high valence metallic salt, at least one high valence complex poly-salt, and combinations thereof. The ink fixative is present in the surface treatment composition from about 10 weight% to about 50 weight% of the surface treatment composition. The at least one high valence metallic salt and the at least one high valence complex poly-salt have a valence greater than divalent. Additionally included are a method of making and a system for printing the surface treated media; and an inkjet printable paper.

An end treatment portion 1a which treats ends Wa and Wb of an electric wire W and a transfer portion 7 which transfers the electric wire W are provided; a discharge portion 6, which discharges the electric wire W which is subjected to an end treatment by the end treatment portion 1a and transferred by the transfer portion 7, is also provided; the discharge portion 6 includes a discharge beam 11 for securing the electric wire W in a predetermined arrangement pattern; a calculation portion 20, which controls a securing treatment for securing the electric wire W to the discharge beam 11 in the discharge portion 6, is provided; and the predetermined arrangement pattern is set by the calculation portion 20 based on a content of processing the electric wire W at a subsequent process.

A vascular device is provided that includes a tubular structure and an occluding structure. The tubular structure has inner and outer layers, with the occluding structure located between the inner and outer layers. Each of the inner and outer layers may define a different pick count, and the tubular structure may include a leading edge at a transition between the pick counts. The leading edge may be disposed at the distal end of the vascular device when the device is deployed from a delivery device. Furthermore, the occluding structure may have first and second layers formed by the inversion or eversion of the occluding structure and the subsequent coupling of its free ends to form a continuous structure. Thus, any loose ends may be sealed to minimize unraveling and/or shifting of the occluding structure within the tubular structure. A method of making the vascular device is also provided.

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measurable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

Compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts, as well as compositions containing these compounds, have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV:

The present invention provides treatment apparatus, a fluid application device and methods of removing and applying fluid and relates particularly but not exclusively to an apparatus and method suitable for applying fluid to an elongate object such as a bovine teat or the like and to removing excess fluid. The device includes a holder (28) having a first end (58) and a second end (62) and an interior edge (54) defining a first opening, the first end having a second opening (56); a lower portion (70); and a cassette (30) for insertion into the second opening (56) and including a wiping device (32) having a wiping material (82, 84, 86) extending radially inwardly and extending at least partially across the first opening.

A biomass pyrolysis process is provided in which biomass feedstock is mixed with a heat carrier. The heat carrier at least partly comprises char. The ratio by weight of biomass to char is in the range 1:1 to 1:20. The process may be carried out by in a screw/auger pyrolysis reactor in which the solid feedstock components are conveyed along the reactor by a first screw. A second screw conveys at least a portion of the solid products of the biomass pyrolysis back to a heat transfer medium input port. Thus, the heat transfer medium includes char from the biomass pyrolysis.

A process for heat treatment of a solid, with a coolant solid, in which a stage for mixing the solid with the pre-heated coolant solid is carried out, with the coolant solid being a solid hydrocarbon. The solid hydrocarbon is ground, before the mixing stage with the solid, to obtain a solid hydrocarbon powder with a grain size of between 20 μm and 300 μm. The solid is ground, before the mixing stage with the coolant solid, to obtain solid pellets with a thickness of between 1 mm and 30 mm, a width of between 1 mm and 40 mm, and a length of between 1 mm and 100 mm. The mixing is carried out at a temperature of between 80° C. and 700° C.

The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for preparing a printing form from a precursor, particularly a method and apparatus for preparing the printing form by thermally treating a photosensitive precursor having a photopolymerizable layer. The method and apparatus includes heating the photosensitive precursor to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy, contacting the precursor with a development medium to remove the liquefied material, and supporting a development medium with a core member adjacent an exterior surface of the photosensitive precursor, wherein a compressible collar of a closed-cell foam having a Poisson's ratio of less than 0.4 is disposed between the core member and the development medium.

The system is provided for continuously separating landfill gas in a raw multi-phase stream coming from a landfill gas collector. The system includes an atmospheric tank and an elongated separator vessel mounted substantially upright above the tank bottom. The elongated separator vessel includes a mid-level inlet that is configured and disposed to be in fluid communication with the landfill gas collector pipe, an upper gas outlet located vertically above the mid-level inlet, and a bottom-opened discharge end that is located vertically below the mid-level inlet. A method of pretreating a raw multi-phase stream captured from a landfill site is also disclosed. The proposed concept provides a relatively simple arrangement that can be made sufficiently rugged to perform a pretreatment of the raw multi-phase stream in a continuous manner and with a very minimal intervention from landfill operators under almost any weather and operating conditions.

A system and process for the recovery of at least one halogenated hydrocarbon from a gas stream. The recovery includes adsorption by exposing the gas stream to an adsorbent with a lattice structure having pore diameters with an average pore opening of between about 5 and about 50 angstroms. The adsorbent is then regenerated by exposing the adsorbent to a purge gas under conditions which efficiently desorb the at least one adsorbed halogenated hydrocarbon from the adsorbent. The at least one halogenated hydrocarbon (and impurities or reaction products) can be condensed from the purge gas and subjected to fractional distillation to provide a recovered halogenated hydrocarbon.

The exhaust gas treatment apparatus has a sealed vessel which is vertically partitioned into two spaces by a partition. A portion of the sealed vessel lower than the partition is an absorbing liquid storage portion, and a portion of the sealed vessel upper than the partition is an exhaust gas introducing portion. The partition is provided with a large number of sparger pipes so that the sparger pipes reach inside an absorbing liquid stored in the absorbing liquid storage portion. The partition is provided with a single gas riser in communication with a space upper than the absorbing liquid in the absorbing liquid storage portion. An upper end of the gas riser passes through a top plate portion of the sealed vessel and protrudes upward.

Disclosed is a water and oil resistant agent comprising a fluorine-containing copolymer obtained by copolymerizing a (meth)acrylate monomer having a polyfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, the agent being able to afford a superior water and oil resistance to a paper. The invention also discloses a composition comprising the water and oil resistant agent, a process for treating a paper thereby and a treated paper thereby.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite.

The invention relates to a method or methods of operating an apparatus for treating material by cutting, soaking and/or washing of the material, wherein the apparatus comprises a receptacle, a discharge element with a vortex generator and a pump arranged to pump fluid and material from the receptacle towards the vortex generator, wherein the vortex generator and the pump in combination are adapted to generate a vortex in the form of a conic helix in the fluid extending into the receptacle.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite.

The disclosure provides a dispersion for making décor paper having improved optical performance without negatively impacting mechanical strength comprising a TiO2 particle slurry comprising a treated TiO2 particle having a surface area of at least about 30 m2/g, and a cationic polymer; wherein the treatment comprises an oxide of silicon, aluminum, phosphorus or mixtures thereof; and the treatment is present in the amount of at least 15% based on the total weight of the treated titanium dioxide particle; paper pulp; and a cationic polymer; wherein the cationic polymer in the slurry and the cationic polymer in the dispersion are compatible; wherein for equal optical performance, the amount of treated TiO2 particle in the dispersion is reduced by about 10% when compared to a dispersion not comprising the treated TiO2 particle of (a). These dispersions are useful in making décor paper that may be used in paper laminates.

A blast treatment method capable of performing blast treatment of a treatment subject with a simple structure, with high efficiency, and at low cost, while inhibiting scattering of harmful substances or the like to the outside. The method includes: inside disposing an inside explosive for blasting a treatment subject around the treatment subject; disposing an outside explosive having a detonation velocity greater than that of the inside explosive at a position outside the inside explosive; and detonating the outside explosive using an initiation device, and initiating the inside explosive by detonation of the outside explosive, thereby performing blast treatment of the treatment subject by initiation of the inside explosive. The outside explosive disposing includes arranging a cord-like explosive member containing the outside explosive and having a shape extending in one direction so that a detonation propagation velocity in a specific direction of the inside explosive initiated by the outside explosive is greater than a detonation propagation velocity in the specific direction of the inside explosive.

A blast treatment method capable of more reliably treating an object to be treated which is accommodated in an outer container is provided. The blast treatment method includes: a step for spacing a plurality of blasting explosives (20) from one another at positions on the outer side surface of an outer container (60) in a direction surrounding a central axis (C2) of the outer container (60) and arranging the blasting explosives (20) in such a manner as to extend approximately parallel to the central axis (C2); a step for installing the outer container (60) within a chamber (90); and a step for detonating the blasting explosives (20) within the chamber to perform blast treatment of an object (10) to be treated with the detonation energy, wherein the blasting explosives (20) are detonated at the blast timing at which fragments of the outer container (60) or shock waves, which are generated in the vicinity of the blasting explosives (20) by the detonation energy of the blasting explosives (20), collide with or propagate to a bombshell (10) in less time difference than that in the case in which the plurality of blasting explosives (20) are detonated at the same time.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for treating air by using porous organic-inorganic hybrid materials as an absorbent, which comprises an inlet passage for receiving air from outside; a dehumidifying part comprising porous organic-inorganic hybrid materials as an adsorbent for removing moisture from the air receiving through the inlet passage; a regenerating unit for regenerating the adsorbent of the dehumidifying part; and an outlet passage for discharging the dehumidified air to outside. Said apparatus preferably comprises two dehumidifying parts of two-bed switching type and two switch valves, wherein said two dehumidifying parts are alternatively operated for dehumidification and for regeneration by switching said switch valves to convert direction of air flow.

A cored wire for introducing additive into a bath of liquid steel, of the type comprising a metal sheath surrounding said additive, characterized in that said additive predominantly comprises calcium silicate. A process for manufacturing a resulfurized steel, characterized in that it comprises a step of introducing, into the bath of liquid steel, such a cored wire.

A steel for heat treatment, which exhibits high strength and high toughness even when the heat treatment (such as quenching and tempering) of the steel is conducted under conventional conditions in an after stage. The steel for heat treatment contains C: 0.10 to 0.70 mass %, Mn: 0.1 to 3.0 mass %, Al: 0.005 to 2.0 mass %, P: 0.050 mass % or less, S: 0.50 mass % or less, O: 0.0030 mass or less, N: 0.0200 mass % or less, and one or more selected from the group consisting of Ti: 0.30 mass % or less and Nb: 0.30 mass or less with the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and has a TH value of 1.0 or above as calculated according to the formula: ({Ti}/48+{Nb}/93) 104 and grain diameters of 10 μm or below. {Ti} and {Nb} refer respectively to the contents of Ti and Nb in precipitates of 5 to 100 nm in size as determined about their respective extraction residues.

A metal material is contacted with a treatment solution containing zirconium and/or titanium compound, and a polyamine compound having a number average molecular weight from 150 to 500,000 and containing from 0.1 mmol to 17 mmol of primary and/or secondary amino group per 1 g of solid content and at least one siloxane unit. Concentration of zirconium and/or titanium compound in the metal surface treatment composition is from 10 ppm to 10,000 ppm with respect to the metal element, and mass ratio of the zirconium and/or titanium element is from 0.1 to 100 with respect to the polyamine compound. The metal material is washed with water after contacted by the treatment solution.

Aqueous compositions useful as pretreatments prior to painting and to prevent the formation of white rust in the uncoated condition include an organopolyphosphonic acid or salt thereof, an organosilane, and a trivalent chromium compound. A method for treating a surface of a zinc-containing metal includes contacting the surface with an aqueous composition including an organopolyphosphonic acid or salt thereof, an organosilane, and a trivalent chromium compound. The composition may also include an agent for reducing hydrophilicity, such as a polyacrylic acid. The aqueous composition has been found to be particularly well-suited for treating a zinc-containing metal to passivate the surface, improve paint adhesion, and/or improve corrosion resistance.

Substrate treatment systems are provided. The substrate treatment systems may include a treating device configured to treat a substrate with a supercritical fluid, and a supplying device configured to supply the supercritical fluid to the treating device. The treating device may include a supercritical process zone in which the substrate is treated with the supercritical fluid, and a pre-supercritical process zone in which the supercritical fluid is expanded and then provided into the supercritical process zone to create a supercritical state in the supercritical process zone.

Provided is a method for cleaning the inside of a pressure tight container for a blasting treatment, wherein the inside of a pressure tight container can be cleaned for a short period of time after a blasting treatment. The method is comprised of a setting process wherein a cleaning blast (1) capable of cracking a part of a residual substance remaining on the inside of a pressure tight container (10), and a solid separating material (2) which collides with a substance bonded to an inner wall surface (32a) of the pressure tight container (10), to separate the bonded substance from the inner wall surface (32a) of the pressure tight container (10), are set on the inside of the pressure tight container (10); and a separation process wherein the cleaning blast (1) blasts on the inside of the pressure tight container (10), to crack a part of the residual substance remaining on the inside of the pressure tight container (10), and the separating material (2) is divided into a plurality of granular elements by the blast, so that the granular elements are spread, and collide with the bonded substance to remove the bonded substance.

A surface treatment composition of the present invention contains a first surfactant, a second surfactant, a basic compound, and water. The surface treatment composition has a pH of 8 or more. The second surfactant has a weight-average molecular weight one-half or less that of the first surfactant. The sum of the content of the first surfactant and the content of the second surfactant is 0.00001 to 0.1% by mass.

Oil sands ore containing bitumen is treated in a reactor chamber by ultrasonic oscillations impact such that cavitation of ore molecules occurs. The disintegration of the pulsating bubbles in the cavitation results in the separation of the oil, water, sand and air fractions of the oil sands. The oil fraction may be continuously extracted for subsequent refining processes.