Abstract: A method of removing both Sr and Cs from an alkaline solution having a pH between about 9 to 14 includes providing a keratin protein from essentially a fiber portion separated from a quill portion of a poultry feather. A slurry is made of the keratin protein and the alkaline solution and is treated ultrasonically. The Sr and Cs may each be present in the alkaline solution at least at about 5 ppb. The keratin protein is contacted with the Sr and Cs by mechanical agitation at a temperature between about 20 to 90° C. and at a pressure not greater than about 10 psi. A supernatant produced in the step of contacting is then filtered.

Abstract: A process for removing or stabilizing arsenic and/or selenium from aqueous streams or slurries is provided that includes contacting the streams or slurry with a composition containing lanthanum chloride. The lanthanum chloride composition can optionally contain various lanthanides. The composition can optionally contain ferric or ferrous sulfate. The process is preferably conducted by adjusting the pH of solution to between about 8 or 10, adding 2 moles of lanthanum chloride for every mole of arsenic or selenium ions present in solution, adding 5 to 6 moles ferric or ferrous ions for every mole of arsenic or selenium ions present in solution and adjusting the oxidation potential of the solution to between 200-400 mV for removal of selenium ions and between 100-200 mV for removal of arsenic ions.

Abstract: A process for removing selenium and/or arsenic from aqueous streams including industrial process waters and drinking water is provided comprising contacting the stream with a composition comprising lanthanum oxide whereby selenium and/or arsenic are adsorbed. Preferred compositions comprise lanthanum oxide and alumina.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing mercury from solutions, preferably solutions containing gold, such as gold cyanidation solutions, is provided comprising treating the solutions with dialkyldithiocarbamates, preferably potassium dimethyldithiocarbamate, to form stable mercury carbamate precipitates.

Abstract: Metals contained in various wastewaters are selectively recovered as metal precipitates and/or as spinel ferrite and water suitable for discharge into the environment is obtained. High grade magnetic spinel ferrite is recovered from wastewaters having aluminum and arsenic if present in the wastewater, removed from the wastewater. There are three process stages for the treatment of wastewater. In the first process stage which is optional, at least a portion of at least one non-ferrous or non-ferric metal is precipitated from the wastewater by subjecting the wastewater to an oxidizing agent to increase the oxidation-reduction potential of the water, by adjusting the pH of the wastewater to a pH at which the metal precipitates from the water and by adding an organic or inorganic sulfur compound, capable of causing the metal to form a precipitate, to the water in a quantity sufficient to precipitate the metal.

Abstract: A process for froth flotation of coal using gaseous carbon dioxide includes a preconditioning treatment of the coal with gaseous carbon dioxide followed by froth flotation, preferably also using gaseous carbon dioxide. The pretreatment causes the coal to show improved results in that less reagent promoter and frother are required, and the flotation time is reduced. The process is particularly useful for producing "super" clean coal.

Abstract: A novel process for separating high viscosity bitumen from tar sand. The process includes grinding the tar sand to obtain phase disengagement of the bitumen phase from the sand phase and thereafter using flotation techniques to obtain phase separation of the bitumen phase from the sand phase. Phase disengagement is assisted by using a suitable wetting agent such as sodium carbonate or sodium silicate during the grinding step, while the phase separation step is assisted by the inclusion of a promoter oil for the flotation step.

Abstract: A novel process for separating high viscosity bitumen from tar sand. The process includes grinding the tar sand to obtain phase disengagement of the bitumen phase from the sand phase and thereafter using flotation techniques to obtain phase separation of the bitumen phase from the sand phase. Phase disengagement is assisted by using a suitable wetting agent during the crushing step while the phase separation step is assisted by the inclusion of a promoter oil for the flotation step.