Abstract: The present invention contemplates a process for reducing the gaseous sulfur dioxide content of flue gases by either or both preheating coal prior to burning the preheated coal and controlling the combustion temperature level to control the amount of sulfur being converted to sulfates and remaining in the ash residue.

Abstract: A method for substantially removing both alkaline earth metal cations and dissolved acidic gases from a water source contaminated therewith to produce a substantially nonscaling and noncorroding water supply therefrom. The method includes contacting the contaminated water source with an ion exchange resin to substantially remove the metal cation contaminants contained therein and produce a demineralized intermediate effluent having a pH of less than about 3.5. The demineralized intermediate effluent then is stripped of the acidic gas contaminants dissolved therein and the pH of the stripped effluent adjusted to a value in the range of from about 9.0 to about 10.0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to titanium base alloy compositions having substantially improved resistance to corrosion in mineral acid environments and to structures fabricated therefrom. More particularly, the present invention relates to titanium base alloy compositions containing iron and copper in certain specified amounts, the remainder being substantially all titanium apart from incidental impurities therein and to anode structures fabricated therefrom for use in the electrolytic manufacture of battery grade manganese dioxide.

Abstract: A method for sequentially co-processing heavy hydrocarbon materials and carbonaceous materials comprising first subjecting the heavy hydrocarbon material in the presence of a disposable metal catalyst to produce and separate therefrom a first distillate stream and a first non-distillable effluent stream containing the disposable metal catalyst. The first non-distillable effluent stream then is mixed with the carbonaceous material and the mixture subjected to liquefaction conditions in the presence of said disposable metal catalyst. The liquefaction product then is subjected through the use of sequential fractionation and critical solvent extraction processing steps to separate and recover various heavy hydrocarbon and carbonaceous-derived light hydrocarbon liquid products therefrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for substantially reducing the concentration of coal tar based contaminants in waste water streams. The method comprises first forming an intimate mixture of the waste water stream to be treated with at least one coal tar based extractant. The intimate mixture then is subjected to an extraction temperature sufficient to reduce the concentration of the contaminant in the waste water stream to its equilibrium concentration as the extraction temperature employed. Finally, the mixture is separated and a treated waste water stream recovered which is characterized by a substantially reduced and constant concentration of the contaminants and a substantially reduced biological demand.

Abstract: The present invention provides for boron-containing wood preserving solutions and a method for their preparation. The wood preserving solutions of the invention are noncrystallizable at ambient temperatures and are prepared from a dispersion of a particulated sodium tetraborate, phosphoric acid and water by heating the dispersion at elevated temperatures and for a period of time sufficient to provide a clear solution. The particulated sodium tetraborate and phosphoric are present in the dispersion in a specific molar ratio of 5:3, said ratio being critical to achieving the noncrystallizable characteristic of the wood preserving solutions of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for drying and preserving wood products. The improved process comprises the steps of first drying the wood products by submerging them in a naphthalene poor, coal tar based heat transfer medium under conditions of elevated temperature and reduced pressure. The dried wood products then are impregnated with a naphthalene rich, coal tar based wood preservative agent by submerging said dried wood products in said agent under conditions of both elevated temperature and pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in impregnated wood preserving processes utilizing naphthalene containing preservative agents comprising recovering that portion of the naphthalene stripped from the preservative agent during a drying phase in the process and returning said recovered naphthalene portion to the impregnation phase of said process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the recovery of a wood preservative chemical from aqueous waste sludges containing said wood preservative chemical in both its liquid and solid phases. The method comprises treating said aqueous waste sludges to effect an initial separation and recovery of the liquid and solid phases, individually. The recovered liquid phase comprises the first liquid phase product stream. The recovered solid phase then is subjected to elevated temperatures sufficient to liquefy the solid phase, said liquefied solid phase comprising the second liquid phase product stream. During the liquefaction of the recovered solid phase, it may be contacted with a quantity of a fresh wood preservative chemical, a portion of a dehydrated first liquid phase product stream or a portion of a dehydrated second liquid phase product stream to prevent the precipitation of any normally solid constituents therein and to enhance the liquefaction of said recovered solid phase.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing caustic soda solutions from naturally occurring alkaline minerals comprising double salts of sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate. The process comprises heating said naturally occurring alkaline minerals to temperatures sufficient to dehydrate and partially decarbonate said alkaline minerals and provide an intermediate product of a mixture of sodium carbonate and calcium oxide. This intermediate then is contacted with water to effect causticization of the sodium carbonate and provide a recoverable phase comprising an aqueous solution of caustic soda.

Abstract: An electrode assembly, having improved dimensional stability, for use in the electrolytic production of manganese dioxide and comprising a hanger bar member, at least one corrugated panel member having oppositely opposed upper and lower ends, said at least one panel member being fixedly attached to said hanger bar member at the upper end of said at least one panel member and a stiffening bar member fixedly attached to said lower end of said at least one corrugated panel member.

Abstract: A method for producing carbonaceous-derived solid fuel products comprising subjecting a carbonaceous material to a temperature sufficient to remove a substantial portion of water inherent in said carbonaceous material, pyrolyzing at least a portion of the dried carbonaceous material to form a carbonaceous-based char material and simultaneously recover carbonaceous-based tar by-products and contacting at least one material selected from the group consisting of the dried carbonaceous material and the carbonaceous-based char material with a water-in-tar emulsion, said emulsion being prepared from said recovered carbonaceous-based tar by-products.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention provides for improvements in the manufacture of compacted or molded articles of blended mixtures of additive metals for use in the preparation of alloys of base metals. The improvements comprise the addition to blended mixtures of additive metals of at least one processing aid comprising at least one polyglycol or a derivative thereof to the blended mixture of metals in a stabilizing and lubricating amount.

Abstract: Boric acid is crystallized from saturated aqueous solutions thereof by adding to the solutions small proportions of water soluble polymers which control the particle size distribution of the boric acid during crystallization.

Abstract: In the manufacture of particulated metal oxides by the vapor phase oxidation of volatile metal halides, hot gaseous effluent streams are produced which, after separation of the desired particulated metal oxide therefrom, contain residual amounts of the particulated metal oxide as well as unreacted, volatile metal halide and halogen gas. The method of this invention provides for the recovery of these materials, individually, through a succession of contacting and separating steps utilizing a recycle stream of previously recovered, unreacted, liquid metal halide. Utilization of the recycle stream of metal halide provides for both evaporative cooling of the hot gaseous effluent stream to permit recovery of the residual particulated metal oxide therein and scrubbing of the resulting off-gas to recover the unreacted volatile metal halide therein as a liquid and provide a gas phase containing the by-product halogen gas.

Abstract: In the hydrometallurgical treatment of metal-bearing ores and particularly the beneficiation of iron-containing titaniferous ores wherein the ore is subjected to leaching with a dilute aqueous acid solution in a digestion zone, there is provided an improvement which comprises initiating and maintaining the mixture of ore and acid in a state of boiling. Initiation and maintenance of the mixture in a state of boiling is accomplished through the venting of the digestion zone to remove process vapors substantially in the form of water vapor. Initiation of the boiling of the mixture of ore and acid solution in the digestion zone is commenced when the temperature of the mixture and consumption of the free acid solution in said mixture have reached predetermined values. The initiation and maintenance of the mixture in a state of boiling results in an increased rate of dissolution of the contaminant values in the metal-bearing ore.

Abstract: A method for reducing the amount of particles which become airborne during either or both the dismantling and moving of structures wherein a foam is sprayed on the structures prior to either or both the dismantling and moving of such structures.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the concentration of water soluble ionic heavy metal species and sulfate ions in aqueous waste solutions containing the same. The process comprises passing said waste solution through a treatment zone containing a porous matrix on which are retained populations of at least one bacteria of the genera Desulfovibrio and Desulfotomaculum. The passing of said aqueous solution through said treatment zone is carried out at predetermined rates of flow, and contact between said solution and said bacteria is conducted under anaerobic conditions and at predetermined pH and temperature levels. The process provides for the conversion of the water soluble sulfate ions to hydrogen sulfide and reaction between said hydrogen sulfide and water soluble ionic heavy metal species to water insoluble heavy metal species which are substantially retained on the porous matrix and which are recoverable therefrom.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the concentration of water soluble ionic selenium species in aqueous waste solutions containing the same. The process comprises passing said waste solution through a treatment zone containing a porous matrix on which are retained populations of at least one bacteria of the genus Clostridium. The passing of said aqueous solution through said treatment zone is carried out at predetermined rates of flow, and contact between said solution and said bacteria is conducted under anaerobic conditions and at predetermined pH and temperature levels. The process provides for the conversion of the water soluble ionic selenium species to water insoluble selenium metal, which metal is retained on the porous matrix and can be recovered therefrom.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the concentrations of water soluble ionic selenium species, sulfate ion and ionic heavy metal species in aqueous waste solutions containing the same. The process comprises passing said waste solution through a treatment zone containing a porous matrix on which are retained populations of at least one anaerobic bacteria of the genus Clostridium and at least one anaerobic bacteria selected from the group consisting of bacteria of the genera Desulfovibrio and Desulfotomaculum. The passing of said aqueous solution through said treatment zone is carried out at predetermined rates of flow and contacts between said solution and said bacteria is conducted under anaerobic conditions and at predetermined pH and temperature levels.