Abstract: A method of making a building block from clay-containing compounds, which includes employing a major amount of such clay-containing material in combination with a calciferous additive and water to cure the shape the same under the influence of controlled pressure and temperature for a pre-determined time to create building block which is characterized by a mineralogical crystalline phase. The clay-containing compound includes a mixture of fine particulate material and coarser particulate material. The product produced by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of producing magnetite with a high purity of greater than 90% magnetite, more typically greater than 98% magnetite, by reducing powdered hematite into magnetite under maximum temperatures of about 700 to 1300° C. against a counter-current of or concurrent with methane or natural gas in a heating device. The amount of methane used to reduce the hematite may be about 0.18 and 1.8 standard cubic feet of methane per pound of hematite. A product of high purity methane produced from the process is also provided, where the magnetite is below 1 ?M in diameter and has a magnetic saturation greater than 90.0 emu/g. Corresponding apparatus using an improved feeder system for powdered hematite is provided.

Abstract: A process of producing magnetite with a high purity of greater than 90% magnetite, more typically greater than 98% magnetite, by reducing powdered hematite into magnetite under maximum temperatures of about 700 to 1300° C. against a counter-current of or concurrent with methane or natural gas in a heating device. The amount of methane used to reduce the hematite may be about 0.18 and 1.8 standard cubic feet of methane per pound of hematite. A product of high purity methane produced from the process is also provided, where the magnetite is below 1 ?M in diameter and has a magnetic saturation greater than 90.0 emu/g. Corresponding apparatus using an improved feeder system for powdered hematite is provided.

Abstract: A process of producing magnetite with a high purity of greater than 90% magnetite, more typically greater than 98% magnetite, by reducing powdered hematite into magnetite under maximum temperatures of about 700 to 1300° C. against a counter-current of or concurrent with methane or natural gas in a heating device. The amount of methane used to reduce the hematite may be about 0.18 and 1.8 standard cubic feet of methane per pound of hematite. A product of high purity methane produced from the process is also provided, where the magnetite is below 1 ?M in diameter and has a magnetic saturation greater than 90.0 emu/g. Corresponding apparatus using an improved feeder system for powdered hematite is provided.

Abstract: A method of making a building block from clay-containing compounds, which includes employing a major amount of such clay-containing material in combination with a calciferous additive and water to cure the shape the same under the influence of controlled pressure and temperature for a pre-determined time to create building block which is characterized by a mineralogical crystalline phase. The clay-containing compound includes a mixture of fine particulate material and coarser particulate material. The product produced by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the production of a hydrogen-containing gas composition, such as a synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2:CO) in the synthesis gas can be well-controlled to yield a ratio that is adequate for the synthesis of useful products such as methane or methanol, without the need to remove carbon oxides from the gas stream to adjust the ratio.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of coal to form a product gas such as methane (CH4), and a high purity carbon product. The method includes contacting a coal-containing feedstock with a treatment gas that includes hydrogen. The coal feedstock can advantageously be a low-grade coal that contains high levels of impurities. The methane product gas can be augmented with hydrogen (H2) gas. Reactants and by-products are advantageously recycled within the process system to enhance the economics of the process.

Abstract: A method for the production of a hydrogen-containing gas composition, such as a synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2:CO) in the synthesis gas can be well-controlled to yield a ratio that is adequate for the synthesis of useful products such as methane or methanol, without the need to remove carbon oxides from the gas stream to adjust the ratio.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of hydrogen gas. The method includes the reduction of steam utilizing a metal species, such as iron or tin, to form pure hydrogen gas. At least two reactors are preferably utilized to continuously form additional metal for the reduction of the steam by reducing a metal oxide. No substantial transport of the non-gaseous reactants (e.g., the metal and metal oxide) is required, thereby simplifying the apparatus and reducing the overall cost of the hydrogen production.

Abstract: A method for the production of hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is formed by steam reduction using a metal/metal oxide couple to remove oxygen from water. Steam is contacted with a molten metal mixture including a first reactive metal such as iron dissolved in a diluent metal such as tin. The reactive metal oxidizes to a metal oxide, forming a hydrogen gas and the metal oxide can then be reduced back to the metal for further production of hydrogen without substantial movement of the metal or metal oxide to a second reactor.

Abstract: A method for the production of ammonia. The method includes the reduction of steam using a metal species such as iron or tin to form pure hydrogen gas and the reaction of hydrogen gas with nitrogen gas to form ammonia. The nitrogen gas can be formed by extracting the oxygen from air through the oxidation of a metal, yielding nitrogen gas.

Abstract: A method for the production of a hydrogen-containing gas composition, such as a synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2:CO) in the synthesis gas can be well-controlled to yield a ratio that is adequate for the synthesis of useful products such as methane or methanol, without the need to remove carbon oxides from the gas stream to adjust the ratio.

Abstract: A method for the production of hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is formed by steam reduction using a metal/metal oxide couple to remove oxygen from water. Steam is contacted with a molten metal mixture including a first reactive metal such as iron dissolved in a diluent metal such as tin. The reactive metal oxidizes to a metal oxide, forming a hydrogen gas and the metal oxide can then be reduced back to the metal for further production of hydrogen without substantial movement of the metal or metal oxide to a second reactor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the conversion of a hydrocarbon-bearing feedstock to a valuable product gas such as methane (CH4). The feedstock can advantageously be a low-cost or negative net cost feedstock such as municipal waste or low-grade coal. The method advantageously includes the step of forming large volumes of hydrogen gas and contacting the hydrogen gas with the feedstock to produce methane. The methane can be combusted to produce electricity, such as in a combined cycle generator.

Abstract: A method for the production of ammonia. The method includes the reduction of steam using a metal species such as iron or tin to form pure hydrogen gas and the reaction of hydrogen gas with nitrogen gas to form ammonia. The nitrogen gas can be formed by extracting the oxygen from air through the oxidation of a metal, yielding nitrogen gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of hydrogen gas. The method includes the reduction of steam utilizing a metal species, such as iron or tin, to form pure hydrogen gas. At least two reactors are preferably utilized to continuously form additional metal for the reduction of the steam by reducing a metal oxide. No substantial transport of the non-gaseous reactants (e.g., the metal and metal oxide) is required, thereby simplifying the apparatus and reducing the overall cost of the hydrogen production.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of coal to form a valuable product gas such as methane (CH4), that may be augmented with hydrogen gas, and a high purity carbon product. The coal feedstock can advantageously be a low-grade coal that contains high levels of impurities. Reactants and by-products are advantageously recycled within the process system to enhance the economics of the process.

Abstract: A method of making a building block from waste particulate siliceous materials, such as fly ash, bottom ash, and rock mineral fines, includes employing a major amount of such waste particulate materials in combination with a calciferous additive and water to cure and shape the same under the influence of controlled pressure and temperature for a predetermined time to create building block which is characterized by a mineralogical crystalline phase. Preferred ratios of fine waste particulate material and coarser waste particulate materials are disclosed. The product produced by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of reducing the carbon content of a dry bi-modal fly ash includes subjecting the bi-modal fly ash to dry vibrating screen separation into a carbon rich component and a carbon depleted fly ash component with the carbon depleted fly ash component being created with a carbon content less than about 4 percent by weight and at least 50 weight percent of the fly ash component of the bi-modal fly ash. The dry vibrating screen separation is preferably a single step process with no prior substantial concentration of the carbon component of the bi-modal fly ash. It is preferred to employ bi-modal fly ash produced as a result of combustion of coal. A method of making a concrete mixture employing the carbon depleted component is also provided.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for removing mercury from contaminated soils and industrial wastes are provided. The removed mercury may be recovered. A furnace vaporizes the mercury containing portion and the vapors are condensed. In one embodiment, an individual heating stage volatilizes water vapor and other volatile contaminants, such as hydrocarbons, with substantial vaporization of the mercury-containing portion, subsequently, a second temperature higher than the first is employed to vaporize the mercury containing portion. In one embodiment, a metallic salt reacts with sulfur in the material to form a stable solid sulfur compound to reduce sulfur content in the gaseous effluent. The addition of a metallic salt may also be employed to react with mercury halides to release elemental mercury therefrom. The contaminated material is thereby converted from one which is hazardous due to mercury contamination to one which is non-hazardous. The effluent is treated to reduce environmental hazards in the same.