Abstract: Hydrofluoric acid is recovered from fluosilicic acid by reacting fluosilicic acid with sodium hydroxide to form a first slurry having a pH of from about 11 to about 14, the first slurry containing sodium metasilicate and precipitated sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride is recovered from the first slurry leaving a first solution which is reacted with sodium fluosilicate or fluosilicic acid or both to form a second slurry comprising silica and dissolved sodium fluoride. The reaction occurs under such conditions that the second slurry contains precipitated amorphous silica. The precipitated amorphous silica is separated from the second slurry leaving a second solution of sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride is recovered from the second solution. Recovered sodium fluoride is reacted with sulfuric acid to produce hydrogen fluoride.

Abstract: Phosphate rock and sulfuric acid are reacted under conditions which result in the formation of calcium sulfate hemihydrate and phosphoric acid of about 35% to about 55% P.sub.2 O.sub.5. A two vessel reaction system is used in which the reaction slurry undergoes intra- and inter- vessel circulation (preferably through a draft tube). The solution portion of the slurry in the first vessel (the "dissolver") is preferably maintained at a negative sulfate concentration (i.e. excess Ca.sup.+2) and the solution in the second vessel (the "crystallizer") is preferably maintained at a positive sulfate ion concentration. Also preferred is that the second vessel be maintained at a reduced pressure, (e.g. to provide evaporation cooling). Better filtration rates can thus be obtained due to the favorable shape, dominant size and size distribution of the hemihydrate crystals. Most preferred is that a crystal modifier (e.g.

Abstract: The invention defines a technique for assemblying all the parts of an electronic unit, for example a hand held calculator, directly on a plastic chassis without using individual printed circuit boards for various circuits of the calculator. Such parts of the calculator as the calculator chip, the display and the keyboard are all mounted on or formed on the plastic chassis in such a manner that only a cover has to be put over the plastic chassis to complete the calculator.

Abstract: Phosphate rock and sulfuric acid are reacted under conditions which result in the formation calcium sulfate hemihydrate and phosphoric acid of about 30% to about 55% P.sub.2 O.sub.5. A two vessel reaction system is used in which the reaction slurry undergoes inter- and intra- vessel circulation. This results in excellent dispersion of reactants and minimization of temperature and concentration gradients throughout the slurry.