t Method and system for in-place updating content stored in a storage device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and systems for in-place updating original content stored in a non-volatile storage device and for yielding updated content. Some of the described embodiments illustrate the possibilities for reduction in storage operations, storage blocks, and/or update package size. Some of the described embodiments include the writing of error recovery result(s) such as XOR result(s) which enable the recovery of data in case of an interruption of the update process. In some of the described embodiments, there is re-usage of a protection buffer containing content which is required in the update process. Full Article
t Reconstructing codewords using a side channel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present disclosure describe device, methods, computer-readable media and system configurations for decoding codewords using a side channel. In various embodiments, a memory controller may be configured to determine that m of n die of non-volatile memory (“NVM”) have failed iterative decoding. In various embodiments, the memory controller may be further configured to generate a side channel from n-m non-failed die and the m failed die other than a first failed die. In various embodiments, the memory controller may be further configured to reconstruct, using iterative decoding, a codeword stored on the first failed die of the m failed die based on the generated side channel and on soft input to an attempt to iteratively decode data stored on the first failed die. In various embodiments, the iterative decoding may include low-density parity-check decoding. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. Full Article
t Packet transmission/reception apparatus and method using forward error correction scheme By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A packet transmission/reception apparatus and method is provided. The packet transmission method of the present invention includes acquiring a source payload including partial source symbols from a source block, generating a source packet including the source payload and an identifier (ID) of the source payload, generating a repair packet including a repair payload corresponding to the source payload and an ID of the repair payload, generating a Forward Error Correction (FEC) packet block including the source and repair packets, and transmitting the FEC packet block. The source payload ID includes a source payload sequence number incrementing by 1 per source packet. The packet transmission/reception method of the present invention is advantageous in improving error correction capability and network resource utilization efficiency. Full Article
t Error protection for integrated circuits By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for providing error detection and/or correction to an array of storage cells includes determining a sensitive direction and an insensitive direction of the storage cells and adding a first error control mechanism to the array of storage cells in the insensitive direction. The method also includes adding a second error control mechanism to the array of storage cells in the sensitive direction. The second error control mechanism has a higher Hamming distance than the first error control mechanism. Full Article
t Systems and methods for variable redundancy data protection By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for variable rate coding in a data processing system. Full Article
t Method and apparatus for error-correction in and processing of GFP-T superblocks By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for processing and error correction of a GFP-T superblock, where the 64 bytes of payload data of a first superblock are buffered in the first page of a two-page buffer. The flag byte is buffered in a separate buffer, and a CRC operation is performed in a separate logic element. The result of the CRC operation is checked against a single syndrome table which may indicate single- or multi-bit errors. As the payload data of the first superblock is processed and read out of the first page of the two-page buffer, the payload data of a second superblock is written into the second page of the two-page buffer to be processed and corrected. Full Article
t Method and apparatus for decoding and checking tail-biting convolutional code By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for decoding and checking a tail-biting convolutional code is provided. The method fully utilizes structural features of the tail-biting convolutional code to re-sort Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) values input into a decoder, and by reconstructing a derivative generator polynomial of a convolutional code, allows the decoder to output in serial according to a normal ordering of information bits during backtracking, that is, a first bit of an information sequence is first decoded successfully. Thus, CRC checking may be activated as soon as possible, so that part of the backtracking process and the CRC checking may be performed in parallel, thereby achieving the objective of reducing a processing time delay in decoding and checking the tail-biting convolutional code. Full Article
t Apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal and method of transmitting and receiving a signal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is provided for receiving a signal. The method includes receiving a signal transmitted in a radio frequency (RF) band including at least one RF channel, demodulating the received signal, parsing a preamble of a signal frame including layer-1 information from the demodulated signal, deinterleaving bits of the layer-1 information, decoding the deinterleaved bits using an error correction decoding scheme including a shortening scheme and a puncturing scheme and obtaining physical layer pipes (PLPs) from the signal frame using the error-correction-decoded layer-1 information. Full Article
t Error data generation and application for disk drive applications By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Generating error data associated with decoding data is disclosed, including: processing an input sequence of samples associated with data stored on media using a detector and a decoder during a global iteration; and generating one or more error values based at least in part on one or more decision bits output by the detector or the decoder and the input sequence of samples. Full Article
t Identifying a storage error of a data slice By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method begins by a processing module obtaining common storage name information regarding data that is stored in storage units of a distributed storage network (DSN) as a set of data slices. Each data slice of the set of data slices has a unique storage name, where each of the unique storage names for the set of data slices has common naming information regarding the data. The method continues where the processing module interprets the common storage name information to determine whether a difference exists between the common naming information of a data slice of the set of data slices and the common naming information of other data slices of the set of data slices. When the difference exists, the method continues where the processing module indicates a potential storage error of the data slice and implements a storage error process regarding the potential storage error of the data slice. Full Article
t Method and apparatus for detecting a parity error in a sequence of DQPSK symbols of a digital transmission system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a parity error in a sequence of DQPSK symbols of a digital transmission system, comprising determining a first demodulated symbol r1; determining a second demodulated symbol r2; determining a first parity symbol p1; determining a second parity symbol p2; determining a super-parity symbol q1; and detecting a parity error in the sequence of DQPSK symbols by comparing a combination of the first parity symbol p1 and the second parity symbol p2 against the super-parity symbol q1, wherein a parity between two DQPSK symbols describes a phase difference between the two DQPSK symbols. Full Article
t Systems, methods and devices for multi-tiered error correction By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT An error control encoding system produces a codeword from a data word, where the resulting codeword includes the data word and three or more parity segments produced using the data word. The system includes a first encoder to encode the data word in two or more first data segments in order to produce two or more first parity segments, where each of the two or more first data segments includes a respective sequential portion of the data word. The system includes a second encoder to encode the data word in one or more second data segments in order to produce a corresponding one or more second parity segments, where each of the one or more second data segments includes a respective sequential portion of the data word, and each of the one or more second data segments also includes a sequential portion of the data included in a plurality of the two or more first data segments. Further, the system includes a controller configured to provide the two or more first data segments of the data word to the first encoder for encoding and to provide the one or more second data segments of the data word to the second encoder for encoding. Full Article
t Transmission controlling method, sender apparatus and receiver apparatus for wireless communication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wireless communication system including a sender apparatus having a plurality of transmitting antennas that performs MIMO transmission of a plurality of data blocks; and a receiver apparatus that receives the plurality of data blocks. The sender apparatus transmits a process number via a control channel different from a data channel to the receiver apparatus, and wherein when the MIMO diversity transmission is performed, the receiver apparatus performs HARQ processing in the received data blocks based on not a process number which prevents the data blocks from competing but the received process number from the sender apparatus. Full Article
t Computer and data saving method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT It is provided a computer comprising a nonvolatile memory for storing data, a control processor for controlling the saving of data into the nonvolatile memory, and a battery for supplying power to the computer in case of a failure of an external power supply, wherein the control processor checks a charge amount stored in the battery, calculates an amount of data which can be saved in the nonvolatile memory by the battery in case of a failure of the external power supply based on the checked charge amount, and saves data excluding the amount of data that can be saved, out of data which should be saved into the nonvolatile memory, into the nonvolatile memory in advance. Full Article
t Nonvolatile memory device and bad area managing method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT Example embodiments relate to a bad area managing method of a nonvolatile memory device. The nonvolatile memory device may include a plurality of memory blocks and each block may contain memory layers stacked on a substrate. According to example embodiments, a method includes accessing one of the memory blocks, judging whether the accessed memory block includes at least one memory layer containing a bad memory cell. If a bad memory cell is detected, the method may further include configuring the memory device to treat the at least one memory layer of the accessed memory block as a bad area. Full Article
t Apparatus and methods for providing data integrity By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure includes apparatus (e.g., computing systems, memory systems, controllers, etc.) and methods for providing data integrity. One or more methods can include, for example: receiving a number of sectors of data to be written to a number of memory devices; appending first metadata corresponding to the number of sectors and including first integrity data to the number of sectors, the first metadata has a particular format; generating second integrity data to be provided in second metadata, the second integrity data corresponding to at least one of the number of sectors (wherein the second metadata has a second format); and generating third integrity data to be provided in the second metadata, the third integrity data including error data corresponding to the second integrity data and the at least one of the number of sectors. Full Article
t Polymeric composition for the neutralization of noxious agents By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The present application is directed to a novel composition which acts as a barrier to noxious agents while adding self-detoxifying catalytic treatments to neutralize the noxious and harmful warfare agents when applied for example on a fabric, or other solid support. Full Article
t Method for the degradation of pollutants in water and/or soil By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The present invention relates to a method for the degradation of pollutants in water and/or soil. More specific, the present invention relates to a method for the on-site decontamination or re-mediation of water and/or soil which are contaminated with organic compounds. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for forming a barrier against the spreading of a contamination with pollutants within the water and/or soil, especially within groundwater (aquifer). Further, the invention relates to means for use in these methods, and to the production of such means. Full Article
t Cationically hardenable dental composition, process of production and use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to a hardenable dental composition comprising component (A) comprising a cationically hardenable compound, component (B) comprising an initiator being able to initiate the hardening reaction of the cationically hardenable compound, and component (C) comprising a filler, wherein the filler comprises a filler body and a filler surface, the filler surface comprising side groups with polar moieties. The invention also relates to a process of producing the dental composition, to the use of the dental composition as dental impression material and to a method of taking an impression of dental tissue. Full Article
t Method and facility for treating carbonaceous radioactive waste By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to the treatment of carbonaceous radioactive waste, comprising the delivery of waste to one or more radioactive isotope separation stations isotopes, said isotopes being among at least carbon 14, chlorine 36, and tritium. Advantageously, the delivery to each of the stations occurs in wet form, with water being a common medium for conveying the waste to each of the separation stations. Full Article
t Thermal treatment of carbonaceous waste By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A method is provided for the decontamination of radioactive carbonaceous material, such as graphite, in which an injection of steam is planned into the material, concurrent with a first roasting thermal treatment of the material at a temperature between 1200° C. and 1500° C. Advantageously, the first treatment may be followed by a second treatment at a lower temperature with an injection of carbon oxide for oxidation according to the Boudouard reaction. Full Article
t Hypodermic needle containment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Containment systems and methods safely and permanently encapsulate a sharp portion of a sharp medical instrument (e.g. a hypodermic needle). The containment system includes a cap or other container formed of a durable and flexible material having a rim defining an open end configured to receive a sharp portion therein, an interior surface, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface comprises a puncturing element, and a bladder contained within the cap proximate the puncturing element, the bladder containing a first component of a liquid hardenable solution. Opposing sides of the cap can be deformed under external pressure to cause the puncturing element to puncture the bladder so as to release the first component of the liquid hardenable solution from the bladder such that the first component contacts the sharp portion and the sharp portion is substantially permanently retained inside the cap by the liquid hardenable solution. Full Article
t Hypodermic needle containment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Containment systems and methods safely and permanently encapsulate a sharp portion of a sharp medical instrument (e.g. a hypodermic needle). The containment system includes a cap or other container formed of a durable and flexible material and having a rim defining an open end configured to receive the sharp portion therein and an adhesive disposed on an interior surface of the container. The method of use includes inserting the sharp medical instrument into the container, and compressing the sides of the container to permanently encapsulate the sharp portion of the medical instrument within the adhesive. The adhesive may be an adhesive tape and may be protected before use by a covering, which may be removed at the time of use by pulling a pull tab extending from an opening in the container. Full Article
t Method for temporary or permanent disposal of nuclear waste By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A method of disposing nuclear waste in underground rock formations is presented. The method includes the steps of selecting a land area having a rock formation positioned there-below of a depth able to prevent radioactive material placed therein from reaching the surface and drilling a vertical wellbore from the surface, to a depth ranging between 5,000 feet and 25,000 feet, into the underground rock formation or repository. A plurality of horizontal laterals or horizontal wellbores, ranging in length from 500 feet to 40,000 feet, are drilled from the vertical wellbore into the underground rock formation or repository. Nuclear waste to be stored within these laterals is encapsulated in a special waste canister and these nuclear waste canisters are positioned within the horizontal laterals wherein they are sealed to prevent loss and leakage. Means are also provided by which these canisters are adapted to allow retrievability of the canisters from the wellbore at a later date and to return the waste to the surface for use after retrieval. Full Article
t Method for managing sulfide in wastewater systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, in a treatment zone, reacting an oxygen-comprising gas, one or more selected ferric/ferrous chelates, one or more selected nitrates and/or nitrites, and/or anaerobic wastewater. Full Article
t Hydrothermal conversion of biomass to hydrocarbon products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A process for the conversion of biomass to hydrocarbon products such as transportation fuels, kerosene, diesel oil, fuel oil, chemical and refinery plant feeds. The instant process uses a hydrocarbon or synthesis gas co-feed and hot pressurized water to convert the biomass in a manner commonly referred to as hydrothermal liquefaction. Full Article
t Reduced fossil fuel in an oxidizer downstream of a biomass furnace By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Method of extracting syngas between the zone in a furnace where oxygen-starved combustion of biomass occurs and the zone in the furnace where secondary air is added to complete combustion, conditioning and cleaning the extracted syngas, and delivering it in a metered amount to the oxidizer or upstream of the oxidizer to reduce or eliminate the need for additional fossil fuels once the oxidizer has achieved its operating temperature. The gasifier or furnace burns solid waste and produces a syngas containing relatively high levels of CO, which is extracted from the furnace, conditioned, and introduced into an RTO as a fuel source. In certain embodiments, no extraction of syngas from the furnace takes place; the furnace conditions are manipulated so that normally undesirable levels of CO and other VOC's remain in the process stream. The heat from the furnace is used as intended (e.g., to heat a dryer), the stream is conditioned, and ultimately proceeds to a downstream RTO. Since the gas stream remains rich in CO and VOC's, its fuel value in the RTO is substantially higher than otherwise would be the case. Full Article
t Process for utilising waste drill cuttings in plastics By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST An environmentally beneficial process for utilizing waste drill cuttings from oil and gas exploration. The waste drill cuttings (20) are used as a filler and combined with plastic to provide a plastic based product (26) in the plastics industry. In an embodiment the cuttings are thermally treated and formed into pellets. In a further embodiment the cuttings are treated and mixed with recycled plastic to be formed into pellets. The pellets are then used in the manufacture of rigid plastic products such as bollards, planters, benches and decking. Full Article
t Apparatus and method for the granulation of radioactive waste, and vitrification method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST An apparatus and method for the granulation of radioactive waste in which a preprocessing method for the vitrification of radioactive waste is simplified to conform to onsite conditions of a nuclear power plant, additives are improved, and pellets suitable for vitrification are manufactured. The apparatus for the granulation of radioactive waste includes: a body frame having an inlet and an outlet; a hopper supplying the radioactive waste to be transferred and fed through the inlet; a feeder transferring/supplying the radioactive waste supplied to a specific position and in a certain quantity; a stirrer pulverizing/mixing lumps of the radioactive waste supplied; an additive supply part supplying a lubricant to the radioactive waste fed into the stirrer; and a pellet press pressing the radioactive waste fed through the feeder into a pellet shape and discharging the pellet through the outlet. Full Article
t Mitigation of secondary phase formation during waste vitrification By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A method for vitrification of waste to reduce the formation of persistent secondary phases comprising separating at least one glass frit constituent from an initial glass frit to form a modified glass frit. The waste, modified glass frit, and the at least one glass frit constituent are mixed together with the modified glass frit and the at least one glass frit constituent being added as separate components. The resulting mixture is vitrified. Full Article
t Method for processing radioactively-contaminated water By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention provides an efficient and low cost method for processing radioactively-contaminated water. The method for processing radioactively-contaminated water comprising a freeze concentration step of generating ice having lowered concentration of radioactive substance from radioactive substance containing contaminated water and concentrating the radioactive substances in the residual contaminated water by the interface progressive freeze concentration process. Preferably, the method further comprises a nitrogen substitution step of reducing dissolved oxygen in the contaminated water and adding nitrogen gas to the contaminated water, as a previous step of the freeze concentration step. Preferably, the radioactive substance is radioactive cesium. Full Article
t Waste treatment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of hazardous waste, the process comprising: (i) providing a hazardous waste; (ii) providing a further waste; (iii) plasma treating the hazardous waste in a first plasma treatment unit, (iv) gasifying the further waste in a gasification unit to produce an offgas and a char material; and (v) plasma treating the offgas, and optionally the char material, in a second plasma treatment unit to produce a syngas, (vi) optionally treating the syngas in a gas cleaning plant, wherein the first plasma treatment unit is arranged to plasma treat at least some of the solid by-products from the gasification unit and/or the second plasma treatment unit and/or the gas cleaning plant. Full Article
t Steam plasma arc hydrolysis of ozone depleting substances By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A two step process for the destruction of a precursor material using a steam plasma in a three zone reactor wherein the precursor material is hydrolyzed as a first step in the high temperature zone of the reactor, followed by a second step of medium temperature oxidation of the reactant stream in the combustion zone of the reactor where combustion oxygen or air is injected and immediate quenching of the resulting gas stream to avoid the formation of unwanted by-products. A related apparatus includes a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, an externally cooled three zone steam plasma reactor means for introducing the precursor material into the plasma plume of the plasma torch, means for introducing the combustion air or oxygen into the combustion zone, means for exiting the reactant mixture from the reactor and means for quenching the reactant mixture located at the exit end of the reactor. Full Article
t Method for removing radioactive cesium, hydrophilic resin composition for removing radioactive cesium, method for removing radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium, and hydrophilic resin composition for removing radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention intends to provide a method for removing radioactive cesium, or radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium that is simple and low-cost, further does not require an energy source such as electricity, moreover can take in and stably immobilize the removed radioactive substances within a solid, and can reduce the volume of radioactive waste as necessary, and to provide a hydrophilic resin composition using for the method for removing radioactive cesium, or radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium, and the object of the present invention is achieved by using a hydrophilic resin composition containing: at least one hydrophilic resin selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic polyurethane resin, a hydrophilic polyurea resin, and a hydrophilic polyurethane-polyurea resin each having at least a hydrophilic segment; and a zeolite dispersed therein in a ratio of at least 1 to 200 mass parts relative to 100 mass parts of the hydrophilic resin. Full Article
t Ceramic ingot of spent filter having trapped radioactive cesium and method of preparing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A method of preparing a simple ceramic ingot of a spent filter having radioactive cesium trapped therein, and a ceramic ingot of a spent filter having improved properties such as leach resistance, thermal stability, and cesium content are provided. The method includes grinding and mixing a spent filter having cesium trapped therein, adding a solidifying agent, and sintering the spent filter. The method of preparing a ceramic ingot of a spent filter can be useful in preparing the ceramic ingot of the spent filter from only the spent filter by means of simple grinding and sintering, and in preparing the ceramic ingot of the spent filter by adding a small amount of a solidifying agent. The ceramic ingot of the spent filter has a high density and improved thermal stability, and shows improved leach resistance since a leach rate of a radioactive material is remarkably low. Therefore, the spent filter having radioactive cesium trapped therein can be effectively used to prepare a stable ceramic ingot. Full Article
t Process and apparatus for the thermal treatment of refinery sludge By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A continuous process for the thermal treatment of a refinery sludge, comprising the following operations: a. drying of the refinery sludge, possibly mixed with pet-coke, at a temperature ranging from 110 to 120° C.; b. gasification of the dried sludge, at a temperature ranging from 750 to 950° C., for a time of 30 to 60 minutes, in the presence of a gas containing oxygen and water vapour, with the associated production of synthesis gas (CO+H2) and a solid residue; c. combustion of the synthesis gas at a temperature ranging from 850 to 1,200° C. and recycling of the combustion products for the drying and gasification phases; and d. inertization of the solid residue, at a temperature ranging from 1,300 to 1,500° C., by vitrification with plasma torches. Full Article
t Synthesis of sequestration resins for water treatment in light water reactors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An organic synthesis of materials to achieve removal of low molecular weight ionic species, such as transition metal ions including cobalt, iron, nickel, and zinc, from aqueous solutions. The synthesis includes the steps of providing a cation exchange resin, functionalizing the cation exchange resin using a chloride intermediate to form a sulfonyl chloride resin, and reacting a multi-amine based ligand with the sulfonyl chloride resin to form a sequestration resin. The synthesis further includes the steps of cooling the sequestration resin, and washing and drying the sequestration resin. Full Article
t General medication disposal system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT General medication disposal systems are provided. Aspects of the systems include devices having a sealable container dimensioned to accommodate a pharmaceutical composition; and an amount of an inactivating substance, e.g., granulated or pelletized activated carbon, present inside of the sealable container. Aspects of the invention further include methods of making and using the systems, as well as kits comprising the devices of the system. Full Article
t Method for treatment and disposal of pharmaceutical waste By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An exemplary system for treatment and disposal of pharmaceutical waste comprises a sealable pail, a stirring device, a sealable bag, a container, an acidic substance, and a denaturant. The sealable pail receives the pharmaceutical waste and the acidic substance. The acidic substance dissolves the pharmaceutical waste, and the stirring device stirs the acidic substance to ensure that the pharmaceutical waste is completely dissolved. The denaturant is added to the dissolved pharmaceutical waste and renders the dissolved pharmaceutical waste safe for transport. The treated pharmaceutical waste is sealed within the sealable pail, and the sealable bag receives the sealed pail and is sealed. The sealed bag is then placed in the container for transport to a disposal facility. Full Article
t Apparatus for recovering valuable elements By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for recovering valuable elements is provided herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus having a conveyor; a container configured to be moved on the conveyor, wherein the container has an open surface; a paper package which contains a mixture containing valuable elements, the paper package being configured to be disposed in the container and to be combusted; a cover that covers the open surface of the container, the cover having an opening for discharging valuable elements vaporized from the mixture; a microwave oven through which the container having the cover and the paper package passes, wherein the microwave oven having a microwave generator and a discharging opening for discharging the valuable elements vaporized from the mixture; and a condenser coupled to the discharge opening, wherein the condenser recovers the valuable elements vaporized from the mixture. Full Article
t Coal waste treatment processes and products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Techniques for disposing of one or more toxic materials, such as coal waste (e.g., fly ash, sludge, etc.), include incorporating the toxic materials into artificial feldspar or forming artificial feldspar from the toxic material(s). The artificial feldspar may be used to form an artificial aggregate, which may be used in a construction material, as road base, as a fill material or for any other suitable purpose. Artificial aggregates that are formed from toxic materials are also disclosed, as are construction materials that include such artificial aggregates. Full Article
t Decontamination method and apparatus for solid-state material contaminated by radiocesium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A decontamination method of solid-state material contaminated by radiocesium comprising bringing the solid-state material containing radiocesium in contact with a first processing solution and preferably eluting cesium ion from the solid-state material to the liquid phase under the presence of potassium ion or ammonium ion. Full Article
t Nano flex HLW/spent fuel rods recycling and permanent disposal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods for converting toxic waste, including nuclear waste, to quasi-natural or artificial feldspar minerals are disclosed. The disclosed methods may include converting, chemically binding, sequestering and incorporating the toxic waste into quasi-natural or artificial Feldspar minerals. The quasi-natural or artificial feldspar minerals may be configured to match naturally occurring materials at a selected disposal site. Methods for the immediate, long term, quasi-permanent disposal or storage of quasi natural or artificial feldspar materials are also disclosed. Full Article
t Method for stabilization and removal of radioactive waste and non hazardous waste contained in buried objects By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for the stabilization and safe removal of buried waste that is tested and classified as being transuranic or not transuranic waste and disposed accordingly. The buried waste (usually in vertical pipe units) is enclosed in a casing and ground and mixed with the surrounding soil. This process allows for chemical reactions to occur that stabilizes the mixture. The entire process is contained within the casing to avoid contamination. In situ or external testing is done for radio isotopes to classify the waste. If it is classified as transuranic the waste is removed in a controlled way into a retrieval enclosure and disposed off in drums. If the waste is not transuranic then grout is introduced into the mixture, allowed to set and the resulting monolith is removed and buried in trenches. Full Article
t Method of radium stabilizing in solid effluent or effluent containing substances in suspension By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Method of stabilizing radium present in radium-containing effluent, in which the effluent and a metal chloride are mixed, then the previously obtained mixture is reacted with a sulfate ion to obtain effluent containing stabilized radium. The chloride can be a barium, strontium or lead chloride. The sulfate ion can be supplied by the addition of sulfuric acid, sulfuric anhydride, soluable sulfate or soluble sulfate salt. The method applies in particular to the treatment of solid radium-containing effluents or effluents containing substances in suspension coming from chemistry or metallurgy of zirconium or treatment of uranium-containing minerals. Full Article
t Method and composition for sequestration of arsenic By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for sequestrating arsenic oxides, comprising forming an insoluble and stable glass incorporating a fully oxidized form of arsenic generated by oxidation of an initial lower oxide of arsenic and stabilization by calcium salt formation. The glass composition for sequestration of arsenic comprises from 50 to 75% silica; from 0.5 to 3% Al2O3; from 1 to 15% MnO; from 5 to 15% CaO; from 1 to 20% As2O5 and from 8 to 14% Na2O, less than four percent of iron oxides, magnesium oxide and other oxides. Full Article
t Cadaver disposal systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and a method for decomposing a body of a deceased person, as an alternative to traditional cremation. The apparatus includes a primary vessel where the body is treated with a highly basic solvent to render the body into skeletal remains and liquid remains. A clamp is applied to the skull during processing for solvent access to the skull. A secondary vessel is used to receive the liquid remains from the primary vessel and further treat them. During this further treatment, the skeletal remains left in the primary vessel after the liquefied portion has been transferred to the secondary vessel, can be treated to be decolorized and deodorized, and then returned to the decedent's next of kin as ash-like material. Full Article
t Methods of capturing and immobilizing radioactive nuclei with metal fluorite-based inorganic materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods of capturing and immobilizing radioactive nuclei with metal fluorite-based inorganic materials are described. For example, a method of capturing and immobilizing radioactive nuclei includes flowing a gas stream through an exhaust apparatus. The exhaust apparatus includes a metal fluorite-based inorganic material. The gas stream includes a radioactive species. The radioactive species is removed from the gas stream by adsorbing the radioactive species to the metal fluorite-based inorganic material of the exhaust apparatus. Full Article
t Container and method for facilitating disposal of unused pharmaceutical product By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Containers and methods for disposing unused pharmaceutical product are disclosed. Each container (100, 200, 300) may include a container body (104, 204, 304) with an internal chamber (116, 216, 316) for storing pharmaceutical product, along with a cover (124, 224, 324) for selectively limiting access to the chamber (116, 216, 316). An encapsulation component (128, 228, 328) may be selectively disposable within the chamber (116, 216, 316), and may be operable to encapsulate the pharmaceutical product within the container (100, 200, 300). For instance, the encapsulation component (128, 228, 328) may melt and/or flow into contact with the pharmaceutical product and thereafter solidify to encapsulate the pharmaceutical product. The encapsulation component (128, 228, 328) may melt and thereafter solidify between the cover (124, 224, 324) and shell (104, 204, 304) to limit removal of the cover (124, 224, 324) from the shell (104, 204, 304). Full Article
t Treatment system for removing halogenated compounds from contaminated sources By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A treatment system and a method for removal of at least one halogenated compound, such as PCBs, found in contaminated systems are provided. The treatment system includes a polymer blanket for receiving at least one non-polar solvent. The halogenated compound permeates into or through a wall of the polymer blanket where it is solubilized with at least one non-polar solvent received by said polymer blanket forming a halogenated solvent mixture. This treatment system and method provides for the in situ removal of halogenated compounds from the contaminated system. In one embodiment, the halogenated solvent mixture is subjected to subsequent processes which destroy and/or degrade the halogenated compound. Full Article