Abstract: A pumpable stable aqueous suspension of ash, slag, and char particulate matter produced by the partial oxidation of a carbonaceous charge fuel comprises 1.0-50.0 wt. % particulate matter selected from the group consisting of ash, slag, and char and mixtures thereof, water, and about 0.1-10.0 wt % of an alkyl substituted amino based surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl-substituted aminobutyric acid, alkyl-substituted polyethoxylated amide and alkyl-substituted polyethoxylated quarternary ammonium salt.

Abstract: A pumpable aqueous suspension of slag, fly-ash, char, and mixtures thereof which contains a surfactant and has a reduced viscosity and increased resistance to sedimentation. The aqueous suspension is produced by quench cooling and/or scrubbing a raw effluent gas stream from the partial oxidation of solid carbonaceous fuel. It may have a solids content of about 1.0 to 50.0 weight percent. The surfactant comprises an anionic or nonionic adduct of an alkyl phenol and polyoxyethylene or polyoxypropylene. In one embodiment, a solid carbonaceous fuel is wet ground with the aforesaid aqueous suspension and make-up water, if any, to produce a stable aqueous slurry feed to the partial oxidation gas generator.

Abstract: Separation of clarified water and rapid settling of the particulate solids e.g. ash, slag, char and mixtures thereof from aqueous dispersions of quench cooling and/or scrubbing water as produced in the partial oxidation process for ash-containing solid carbonaceous fuels is effected by mixing with said dispersion a sulfonated product of humic acids and their salts and adjusting the pH of the mixture to a value in the range of about 2 to 6.