Abstract: A fluorescent lighting fixture adapted for low temperature conditions which is fitted with a relatively high wattage fluorescent lamp and a lower wattage fluorescent lamp whereby said lower wattage lamp is lighted at lower temperature and provides heat to raise the temperature of the higher wattage lamp to a lighting condition.

Abstract: Certain yam starches hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ are surprisingly effective flocculants for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and are particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Cassava starch hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ is a surprisingly effective flocculant for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and is particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Dasheen starch hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ is a surprisingly effective flocculant for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and is particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: The thermodynamic efficiency of a tar sands conditioning drum is improved by continuously and simultaneously discharging steam from all the nozzles of an array of a few relatively large nozzles distributed circumferentially around the inner drum periphery rather than selectively sparging the steam only from those nozzles beneath the tar sands pulp surface. As a result, the drum shell and components above the pulp are heated and thus heat the pulp by radiation and, after entering the pulp, by convection as well as by sparging. Hot water droplets formed continuously in the steam cloud rain onto the pulp surface to provide another highly important heat transfer mechanism. Coincidentally, mechanical reliability and economics are achieved by eliminating the sparge valve and multiplicity of smaller nozzles which characterize the prior art tar sands conditioning drums.

Abstract: A process for making an improved starch flocculant by heating an aqueous dispersion comprising about 4 to about 12% starch solids, lime and alum until maximum vicosity is obtained, adding a metal salt and finally effecting hydrolysis by additional heating.

Abstract: Certain yam starches hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ are surprisingly effective flocculants for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and are particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Cassava starch hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ is a surprisingly effective flocculant for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and is particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Dasheen starch hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ is a surprisingly effective flocculant for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and is particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Bitumen recovery from a tar sands emulsion or other bituminous oil-in-water emulsion is increased by milling the emulsion for a time sufficient to cause a bitumen-rich liquid fraction to rise to the surface, and separating such fraction. Addition of water to the starting emulsion or during milling further enhances the recovery of bitumen.

Abstract: A method for estimating the content of clay or clay minerals in the tailings or sludge resulting from the extraction of bitumen from tar sands and similar materials by titrating the tailings or sludge with methylene blue.

Abstract: Tailings from an oil sands hot water process extraction plant are mixed with hydrolyzed starch flocculant and transferred to a settling pond. After a residence period on the order of one year, sludge from the lower region of the settling pond is withdrawn, mixed with a hydrolyzed starch dewatering agent and transferred to a collecting pond. After a residence period on the order of one week, partially dewatered sludge is withdrawn, mixed with sand, and deposited in a terminal disposal area, the sand in the mixture there effecting an internal surcharge to obtain further dewatering. The hydrolyzed starch additives are obtained by the aqueous hydrolysis of a starch in the presence of one or more metal salts.

Abstract: In order to assist ice chunks along preferred discharge paths in a large scale ice disaggregation system employing counter-rotating twin cutters, water is pumped tangentially across the trailing edges of the counter-rotating cutters against the direction of rotation to overcome the centrifugal action which tends to cause ice jamming. Secondary hydro-jets may be employed to further urge the ice chunks away from the vessel into the open region previously cut.

Abstract: Carbonates and bicarbonates are removed from the sludge of tar sands tailings ponds whereby solids settle from the sludge more rapidly than in the presence of the carbonates and/or bicarbonates. Hydrolyzed starch is used as a flocculant in the process and alcohol may also be used to assist in the settling and/or to improve the characteristics of the settled sludge for subsequent dewatering.

Abstract: Bitumen content of tailings or sludge obtained from processing of tar sands is quickly determined by a two step process wherein (1) clay mineral content is determined by adsorption of methylene blue and this value correlated to adsorbed organic material, (2) the content of total organic material is determined by a chromic acid oxidation, and the difference in these values gives the bitumen content.

Abstract: In order to compress the sludge layer of an industrial process tailings pond, in a naturally occurring fines-containing body of water, beyond the density which it will naturally reach after treatment by the addition of a specific hydrolyzed starch additive, sand is distibuted over the sludge layer as a water permeable surcharge which, by weight, further compacts the sludge to obtain additional dewatering. The hydrolyzed starch additive is selected from a specific family and provides improved shear strength and permeability characteristics to the sludge layer such that it can support the sand surcharge.

Abstract: A weight for stabilizing laboratory ware and the like comprising a lead disc having a plurality of pliable extensions which are essentially symmetrically spaced, said weight being coated with a flexible cushioning material such as polyvinylchloride.

Abstract: A tailings pond sludge layer of high density and strength is obtained by treating the sludge with an additive selected from a specific family of hydrolized starch additives which impart improved permeability and shear strength characteristics to the sludge. Thereafter, the sludge is mixed with sand which adds self-weight whereby further dewatering of the sludge sand mixture is accomplished. Unlike untreated sludges or sludges treated with other known additives or flocculants, sludge treated with the aforementioned hydrolyzed starch additives is able to support the sand.