Abstract: Water containing dissolved compounds is preheated, and is then pressurized in stages of water pressure, while receiving a quantum of steam. Scale-forming compounds in the water are thermally precipitated, and clarified post-thermal water is formed. This is flash vaporized in stages corresponding to the stages of water pressure, and the flashed vapors are compressed to form each said quantum of steam. Alternately, the flashed vapors themselves comprise each said quantum of steam, by being induced into the water as it flows through an eductor means. Flash-cooled, post-thermal water, substantially devoid of scale-forming compounds, is employed as such, or more generally is evaporated to form fresh water and an end concentrate of dissolved compounds.

Abstract: A process for recovery of salts from a rinse liquid solution used to rinse salt flux from a metallurgical joining operation is disclosed in which process soluble flux salts are dissolved in the rinse liquid solution while other insoluble salts are dispersed therein. The process comprises collecting the rinse liquid solution; removing undissolved solids from the solution; concentrating the remaining solution by removal of liquid to provide a slurry; subjecting the slurry to a drying operation to remove the balance of the liquid; and recovering the residue. In a preferred embodiment, the residue is analyzed and sufficient metal salts are added to restore the residue to a desired salt flux composition for reuse.

Abstract: Minerals are recovered from warm geothermal brines by installing a brine eductor device such as a venturi at the end of a thermally insulated drill casing. The geothermal brine is recovered by flowing a warm, low saline carrier solution at high flow rate through the device to pick up a selected flow of brine. On entering the device the geothermal brine is diluted in an amount sufficient to preclude precipitation and scaling as the mixture flows to the surface. The flow velocity is adequate to entrain any non-dissolved solids without settlement. Thermal losses to the surrounding strata are minimized by the thermal insulation surrounding the casing. The mineral values are recovered from the mixture by flashing, evaporation, and filtration. Clarified solution, filter liquor and make-up water as necessary are combined to form the low salinity carrier solution which is heated in heat exchangers before recycling to the eductor device.

Abstract: A solvent-bearing sludge material is pumped by a variable speed positive displacement pump from a preparation mixing tank through a pressure responsive valve which distributes the material into the upper portion of an insulated distilling or processing vessel. Steam is introduced into the lower portion of the vessel and mixes with the material to volatize the solvents which are directed through a condenser and pump to a storage tank. Water and suspended solid particles are continuously pumped from the bottom of the vessel to an insulated settling tank where the solid particles settle and are continuously removed by a drag-out conveyor. The hot water in the upper portion of the settling tank is pumped back into the vessel, and may have sufficient velocity to increase agitation within the vessel, or a mechanical agitator may be installed within the bottom portion of the vessel.

Abstract: The thermal efficiency of an ammonia still is significantly increased by the use, in conjunction with the usual countercurrent steam stripping medium, of an auxiliary inert gas stripping medium initially heated and humidified by heat exchange with hot still bottoms derived from the still.

Abstract: A water purification process is described for the removal of ammonia and optionally one or more acid gases from waste waters such as coke-plant or coal conversion waste waters. The process involves adding lime to these waste waters in amounts sufficient to react with fixed ammonia salts present in the waste water and to enable substantially all of the ammonia to be evolved upon distillation, adding a threshold amount of a scale inhibitor compound chosen from the class of certain organic phosphonates and subjecting the thus treated waste water to distillation to remove substantially all of the ammonia and acid gases present from the waste water. Preferably, this process is achieved by two separate and successive distillations. In this preferred process, the first distillation substantially reduces the amount of the acid gases and free ammonia. In the second distillation, the amount of fixed ammonia is substantially reduced.

Abstract: The fouling of ammonia stills which results from the clogging, particularly of the lower plates of the stills, with sludge and precipitates is eliminated by use of a calcium compound precipitation step followed by a clarification step prior to initiation of actual distillation.

Abstract: A water purification process is described for the removal of ammonia and optionally one or more acid gases from waste waters such as coke-plant or coal conversion waste waters. The process involves adding lime to these waste waters in amounts sufficient to react with fixed ammonia salts present in the waste water and to enable substantial amounts of the ammonia to be evolved upon distillation, adding a threshold amount of a scale inhibitor compound chosen from the class of certain organic phosphonates and subjecting the thus treated waste water to distillation to remove substantial amounts of the ammonia and acid gases present from the waste water. Preferably, this process is achieved by two separate and successive distillations. In this preferred process, the first distillation substantially reduces the amount of the acid gases and free ammonia and is conducted at a pH of more than 9. In the second distillation, the amount of fixed ammonia is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A water-miscible organic solvent is recovered from a mixture containing the solvent and water by adding an inert compound which is immiscible with the water and has a vapor pressure of no more than 5 mm Hg (abs.) at 100.degree. C. to the mixture and thereafter distilling off the organic solvent.

Abstract: A two-stage evaporative method for recovering polymerizable 2-pyrrolidone from alkaline aqueous solutions such as those obtained by washing the catalyst from an incompletely reacted polypyrrolidone polymerizate, includes the steps of neutralizing the base with mineral acid, removing most of the water in an initial reduced pressure evaporation and recovering the pyrrolidone from a salt/pyrrolidone slurry by vaporization under reduced pressure.

Abstract: The constituents of an exhausted toluene-dimethylformamide solvent mixture used for removing polyvinyl chloride deposits from polymerization reactors, are separated by adding water to said mixture and distilling off toluene, thereby to obtain a distillation residue having a water content of at least 2 wt.% and a toluene content not exceeding 10 wt.%, precipitating the polymer by cooling the distillation residue, adding a further amount of water, distilling off any toluene present, recovering the precipitate and distilling the residual aqueous solution to recover the dimethylformamide.

Abstract: Apparatus and a proccess for the thermal decomposition of organic material is disclosed wherein the waste solids concentrates are first mixed in a fluidizing tank with a fluidizing oil to form an appropriate mixture which is then dehydrated to remove water from the waste and oil mixture. Subsequently, the waste solids and oil are separated. The resultant dehydrated, substantially oil free organic waste material is then pyrolized within a temperature range of approximately 700.degree. F. to 1800.degree. F. by which lower molecular weight organic compounds are distilled off as organic vapors and gases while a residue of char and ash remain.

Abstract: Vinyl halide polymers are removed from the internal surfaces of reaction equipment with a solvent and the solvent recovered by: (1) contacting the polymer-containing solvent with steam forming a slurry; (2) cooling the slurry to form a crumbly precipitate; (3) separating the resulting slurry into an aqueous solvent and a precipitate; (4) adding water to the precipitate to form a second slurry; and (5) separating the second slurry into a second aqueous solvent solution and vinyl halide polymers. The aqueous solvent solutions are dehydrated before being reused in solvent cleaning.

Abstract: Incrustations of vinyl chloride polymers and copolymers are removed from the polymerization reactors by dissolving said incrustations at a temperature above 60.degree. C in a solvent chosen from the substituted amides up to a polymeric compound content in the resulting solution not exceeding 7% by weight, concentrating the resulting solution to a 10-30 wt. % polymeric compound content by evaporating a mixture of solvent and water, extruding the concentrated solution into an aqueous coagulating bath and recovering the spun product. The solvent is recovered by fractional distillation of the vaporized mixture and of the solvent-enriched coagulating bath.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering residual oil from solids previously substantially dehydrated by a process wherein a slurry of water-wet solids in oil is subjected to a heat evaporation step to substantially remove the water. The oil is then largely expressed from the solids after which the solids still containing some oil as residual oil are extracted with a relatively low viscosity and relatively volatile water-immiscible light oil. The light oil-laden solids are then brought into direct contact with steam whereby the presence of the steam effectively reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Excess externally supplied steam and light oil vapor are used to supply heat to the overall process.

Abstract: A method for separating oil from water, wherein, in order to simplify the treatment processes, to improve separation efficiency, and to make possible the recycling of added solvents, in the course of separation treatment of oil from waste water containing fats and oils, paraffinic hydrocarbons of low specific gravities, as extractive solvents for fats and oils, and inorganic or organic coagulants are added to the waste water; the mixture is then stirred and allowed to stand; the oil-containing scum separating as an upper layer is then removed so as to separate the oil from water, and furthermore, the solvent previously added is recovered from the oil-containing scum so removed by means of distillation.