Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the treatment of a substance contained in a solution of a slurry.The solution or slurry is treated in a fluidized bed to give a fusible dried product by use of microwave radiation.The fusible dried product can be heated and fused by use of microwave radiation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the treatment of a substance contained in a solution or a slurry.The solution or slurry can be treated to give a fusible dried product by use of microwave radiation.The fusible dried product can be heated and fused by use of microwave radiation.

Abstract: A process for producing balls of cobalt containing tungsten carbide, the process comprising forming droplets of a liquid mixture comprising: particles of tungsten carbide; guar gum; a dissolved cobalt salt; and a non-ionic wetting agent; contacting the droplets for not more than 1 hour with a base to precipitate a cobalt species, thereby forming droplets of a gel precipitate, placing the droplets of the gel precipitate in a vessel having a thermal conductivity not exceeding 100 cal/sec/cm.sup.2, and heating the vessel in a reducing atmosphere to remove the guar gum and to sinter the tungsten carbide and cobalt, thereby forming sintered balls of cobalt containing tungsten carbide.