Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of acetylene and synthesis gas by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen, wherein the gaseous reactants are separately preheated, intimately mixed in a mixing zone, reacted after passing a burner block and rapidly quenched with an aqueous quench medium after reaction, further characterized in that the aqueous quench medium is recirculated in a closed system. Preferably the ratio of the gaseous reactants is selected in such a way that acetylene and soot produced in the reaction are obtained in a weight ratio of 50 to 500.

Abstract: Process for sorting coarse to fine materials according to their chemical composition, in which samples are taken and analyzed, and in which the transporting and/or further processing of the materials is controlled according to the results of the analysis. The samples are taken in the form of an air swirled mixture of coarse dust and fine dust (i.e., particles with grain sizes of less than 200 .mu.m) which is obtained as a by-product or is produced artificially. The coarser dust is separated from the mixture. All of the fine dust or a fraction thereof is analyzed.