Abstract: A method of precipitating copper sulphide from an incoming feed stream comprising copper liberated from within battery materials can includes the steps of: a) receiving an incoming feed stream comprising copper entrained in a carrier liquid in a precipitation apparatus; b) introducing a sulphide reductant to the feed stream to precipitate copper sulphide solids out of the feed stream during a precipitation residence time that is less than 24 hours to produce a copper sulphide slurry; and processing the copper sulphide slurry to separate the precipitated copper sulphide solids and provide a copper-depleted stream.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for plugging a bore includes pumping a slurry composition comprising a swellable phyllosilicate clay in an amount of 70 wt % or less into the bore, and permitting compaction of the phyllosilicate clay in the slurry to plug the bore.

Abstract: A foldable hang tab has a body that includes a hook extending from a base. The hook includes first and second hook portions disposed against one another and joined at a fold. The base includes first and second base portions that partially overlap one another or interlock. The disclosure provides a configuration wherein the base of the foldable hang tab body is configured to be adhered to merchandise or to a merchandise storage container. The disclosure also provides a configuration wherein the base is placed inside a merchandise storage container with the hook protruding through a slot defined by the container.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for plugging a bore includes pumping a slurry composition comprising a swellable phyllosilicate clay in an amount of 70 wt % or less into the bore, and permitting compaction of the phyllosilicate clay in the slurry to plug the bore.

Abstract: A foldable hang tab has a body that includes a hook extending from a base. The hook includes first and second hook portions disposed against one another and joined at a fold. The base includes first and second base portions that partially overlap one another or interlock. The disclosure provides a configuration wherein the base of the foldable hang tab body is configured to be adhered to merchandise or to a merchandise storage container. The disclosure also provides a configuration wherein the base is placed inside a merchandise storage container with the hook protruding through a slot defined by the container.

Abstract: A pressure leaching system for use in a leaching operation including: at least one reaction zone for receiving a slurry of material to be leached from a slurry source, the reaction zone being disposed relative to the slurry source such that slurry is resident in the reaction zone under gravity thereby providing at least part of the pressurisation required for the leaching operation.

Abstract: A reactor system comprising two or more subterranean reactors for high pressure treatment of materials. The reactors each comprise an inlet tube, a reaction region and an outlet tube and are deep enough for material in the inlet and outlet tubes to produce significant hydrostatic pressure. The reactors are adapted to exchange heat which may occur through a shared heat transferring wall or a heat exchanger including circulating liquid. The invention also extends to a method of simultaneously running two processes in the reactor system. The preferred processes are hydrothermal dewatering of coal, especially brown coal, and coal liquefaction wherein exothermic heat product of one process contributes to the heating requirements of the other process. The invention also extends to a method of hydrothermal dewatering of coal when conducted in a subterranean reactor in conditions of decreasing pressure.

Abstract: A pressure leaching system for use in a leaching operation including: at least one reaction zone for receiving a slurry of material to be leached from a slurry source, the reaction zone being disposed relative to the slurry source such that slurry is resident in the reaction zone under gravity thereby providing at least part of the pressurisation required for the leaching operation.

Abstract: A reactor system comprising two or more subterranean reactors for high pressure treatment of materials. The reactors each comprise an inlet tube, a reaction region and an out let tube and are deep enough for material in the inlet and outlet tubes to produce signifecant hydrostatic pressure. The reactors are adapted to exchange heat which may occur through a shared heat transferring wall or a heat exchanger including circulating liquid. The invention also extends to a method of simultaneously running two processes in the reactor system. The preferred processes are hydrothermal dewatering of coal, especially brown coal, and coal liquefaction wherein exothermic heat product of one process contributes to the heating requirements of the other process. The invention also extends to a method of hydrothermal dewatering of coal when conducted in a subterranean reactor in conditions of decreasing pressure.

Abstract: Ammonia can be stored and recovered by a process which includes the steps of:

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for calcining a material comprises a calcination vessel (10) which houses a heat exchanger (12). The heat exchanger (12) is arranged to transfer heat to the material from a liquid metal heat exchange fluid arranged to flow through the heat exchanger (12).

Abstract: A subsea Christmas tree coupling having a radially outer connection, for example a tree surface and a conductor housing, adapted to make a rigid joint with a conductor casing. A radially inner connection, for example a depending skirt of the subsea Christmas tree, is adapted to make a sealed joint directly with a casing hanger assembly of a mudline suspension system. The invention thus substantially eliminates the use of additional hangers besides those of the mudline suspension system, simplifying the coupling assembly, and providing the possibility of reduced stackup heights. The relatively compact and simple coupling results in shorter installation times and lower costs. The rigid joint between the coupling and the conductor casing ensures that any external loading is transferred to the conductor casing.

Abstract: A multi-grit manual finishing tool and method for making the tool. In a preferred embodiment, the tool comprises an ordered, linear sequence of pieces of coated abrasive connected by fully pliable hinges. The hinges allow virtually 360° rotation of the planes of adjacent pieces about each other, and permit the tool to accordion-fold together tightly, so that the tool becomes very compact for storage, transit and special uses. The grit sizes progressively increase from one abrasive piece to the next, thereby facilitating a choice of grit sizes within a single tool. On the non-grit surface of each piece is a distinctive labeling addition that includes indicia characterizing the grit size and abrasive nature of its corresponding grit surface. The distinctive labeling addition includes mechanical reinforcement, such as plastic, thin metal or cardboard. Each piece may abrade a work piece individually and without necessarily using any tool other than hand or fingers.

Abstract: Centrifugation separations apparatus including centrifugation means having an inlet, a liquids discharge and a solids discharge, a deflector operatively associated with the solids discharge, wherein the solids discharge is adapted to operatively discharge solids being discharged from the centrifugation means at a trajectory and the deflector is adapted to interrupt the trajectory to decelerate and change the direction of travel of the solids, or wherein the deflector is operatively associated with the solids discharge and cooperable with solids being discharged from the solids discharge whereby buildup of solids on the deflector is substantially prevented, or wherein the solids discharge includes a lip configuration which causes the trajectories of the discharging crystals to be relatively independent of their size and/or their residual syrup/moisture content, or including support means, such as a spider like construction having one or more webs substantially parallel to the angular motion of the solids being

Abstract: A method for concentrating a clay slurry by subjecting the slurry to indirect heat exchange within a heat exchanger to elevate the temperature of the slurry while specifically suppressing boiling of the liquid within the heat exchanger. The heated slurry is subsequently subjected to a rapid pressure reduction which causes flash evaporation of part of the liquid. The rapid pressure reduction can occur in a separation vessel.

Abstract: A subsea system comprises a central template that is piled into the seabed and carried wing modules that are connected to the template by hinges. This allows the template to be deployed and the wing modules attached subsequently or for the wing modules to be folded upwardly into a collapsed disposition as the template is deployed. In either case, the template can be deployed through the moonpool of a vessel and does not require a heavy lifting barge. An example of a module usable with the template is a hinge-over guidebase which can allow the commencement of drilling of a well while a manifold and christmas tree are being constructed for subsequent attachment. Thus, installation of the system is easy and drilling of the well can commence quickly.