Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing methane gas from organic solid materials in existence in industrial and living wastes, in which the oganic materials are finely ground by milling while water or organic suspension is added by injection in order to prepare a slurry, in which the slurry is deaerated to obtain raw liquid for generating methane gas in high concentration, and in which the digestive tank receives the raw liquid with treating by anaerobic bacteria to generate the methane gas.

Abstract: A method for collecting from a surface area crude oil or a similar highly viscous, tough and tacky material which covers the surface area as a layer, is characterized by consecutively separating volumes of the layer by means of a curtain of a fluid which under pressure is driven into the layer and has been heated to a temperature capable of lowering the high viscosity of the material in the volume, and applying suction to the material in the volume thus made low-viscous, for removing this volume of material from the area.A suction nozzle for carrying out this method has a suction channel which is connectible to a suction conduit, a pressure fluid chamber which has pressure fluid inlets and a first pressure fluid outlet surrounding the intake end of the suction channel.

Abstract: A ceramic filter for filtering molten iron is disclosed. The ceramic filter is made from a high-melting ceramic material having an open-celled foam structure, a variable bulk density in different portions of the filter, and at least one afflux surface. In order to filter molten iron efficiently, the ratio of filter surface to filter volume should be in the range of about 0.0003 to 9 m.sup.2 /cm.sup.3, the specific filter resistance should be in the range of about 0.1 to 0.9 bar-cm at a flow rate of 5 m.sup.3 /hour, and the pressure loss .DELTA.p across the filter should depend on the specific resistance .rho., the filter length, and the surface area of the afflux plane F in accordance with the relationship: ##EQU1## A method for filtering molten iron using this ceramic filter is also disclosed. In this method, the ceramic filter is located near the point in the casting system where the molten iron has its greatest kinetic energy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the recovery of a wood preservative chemical from aqueous waste sludges containing said wood preservative chemical in both its liquid and solid phases. The method comprises treating said aqueous waste sludges to effect an initial separation and recovery of the liquid and solid phases, individually. The recovered liquid phase comprises the first liquid phase product stream. The recovered solid phase then is subjected to elevated temperatures sufficient to liquefy the solid phase, said liquefied solid phase comprising the second liquid phase product stream. During the liquefaction of the recovered solid phase, it may be contacted with a quantity of a fresh wood preservative chemical, a portion of a dehydrated first liquid phase product stream or a portion of a dehydrated second liquid phase product stream to prevent the precipitation of any normally solid constituents therein and to enhance the liquefaction of said recovered solid phase.

Abstract: In a method for separating solid reaction products from silicon produced in an arc furnace, molten silicon produced in the arc furnace in a reduction of SiO.sub.2 and carbon is filtered through a heated layer composed of SiC/Si after a so-called holding phase at a temperature in a region above a melting point of the silicon. The layer is preferably fashioned as a bottom plate of a crucible. The melt has eliminated from it SiO.sub.2 and SiC particles contained therein. The method serves for the production of silicon for solar cells. Due to the separation of SiO.sub.2 and SiC out of the molten silicon, an efficiency of above 10% is achieved in the solar cells fabricated from this material.

Abstract: Improved filtration apparatus including a filter chamber having a metal inlet and a metal outlet defining a molten metal flow path therebetween and a filtration assembly engageable therewith disposed between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: High purity alumina filters suitable for relatively high temperature molten metal filtering applications are prepared by providing a composition comprising fine grain reactive alumina and a burn out material in amounts sufficient to increase the porosity of the resulting filter structure, the composition being free of grain growth inhibitors in amounts sufficient to inhibit growth of the alumina grains during firing; forming the composition into a honeycomb structure by suitable means; and firing the structure beyond the temperature providing maximum densification of the reactive alumina employed whereby grain growth is fostered. The honeycomb structure is fired sufficiently long for significant growth of the particles (from sizes less than about 5 microns to sizes between 10 and 20 microns) and for the creation of wide grain boundaries between the resulting grains which further act as crack arrestors. A preferred composition includes 19 parts by weight reactive alumina, at least 99.5% pure Al.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for the recovery of liquid aluminium by compression of hot dross.The process comprises placing the dross in a die up to a height which depends on the diameter of said die and which is lower at the center than at the periphery of the die, and then applying to the dross a punch which is moved downwardly at a speed which is lower in proportion to a lower level of concentration of liquid aluminium in the dross.The apparatus comprises a cylindrical die (10) provided with an insert member at each of its ends. The die rests on a base (3) which has an annular groove (4) on its upper face; the lower insert member (7) is of a diameter that is at least equal to the inside diameter of the groove and in any case less than the outside diameter and has a continuous upper face of conical shape; the space (16) between the wall surface of said insert member and the internal wall surface of the die is of a constant width and is disposed facing the groove.

Abstract: The slag portion can easily be removed from molten mixtures of slag and silicon by subjecting such mixtures to a hydrostatic pressure difference with respect to a space separated from them by one or more separating walls of graphite or silicon carbide, preferably provided with circular to slot-shaped apertures. Such separating walls are permeable to both the slag and silicon when present alone, but permeable only to the slag when a molten mixture of slag and silicon is present.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for intersecting and filtering a molten metal stream. The apparatus includes a filtering vessel, which is fitted with a filter element. Means are provided for dampening the momentum of the molten metal stream so that the filter element is not damaged by impact with the molten metal stream. When not in use the filtering vessel can be placed within a molten metal bath for preheating. The present invention can be used to filter molten metal that is being intermittently transferred.

Abstract: Plastics recycling apparatus in which an elongated tubular body has a core member therein and in which the core member has leading and trailing conical heads for directing the flow of molten material through the elongated tubular body. Inner and outer annular chambers are provided for the flow of material through a wall between the chambers while the material is being heated by energized coils about one of the chambers. The material flows to the discharge under pressure and passes through discharge orifices to form plastic ribbons which are cooled and then cut into pellets for reuse.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved filter element for use in an apparatus for filtering molten metal, and to the method of making such filter element. The apparatus consists of a filtering vessel fitted with a filter element. In one embodiment of the present invention the improved filter element is pre-wet with metal prior to the filtering apparatus being introduced into service. In a second embodiment of the present invention the improved filter element is reinforced with one or more reinforcing members. The improved filter element can be used in filtering vessels having a variety of designs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal is disclosed. The apparatus includes a crucible, a portion of which is a porous filter material. Attached to the rim of the crucible is a shock resistant ring. The crucible is positioned such that the porous filter material is submerged in the molten metal, and the rim is held above the surface of the molten metal by a brace which is attached to a fixed bracket.The molten metal is filtered by seeping through the porous filter material into the crucible. The filtered molten metal is extracted from the crucible.

Abstract: A method for separating out carbon particles from a composition comprising a plastic and carbon particles of submicron dimensions comprising the steps of adding the composition to an organic solvent for the plastic which does not dissolve the carbon particles at a concentration sufficiently dilute to allow the carbon particles to be free from the plastic and filtering the resulting mixture in a calcium carbonate column which traps essentially all of the carbon particles.

Abstract: A disposable bed filter for removing particulate matter and/or reducing oxygen in a poured metal melt is located within a trough. The bed filter preferably comprises discrete layers of bed media located in a trough between entry and exit baffle plates. The layers of bed media include a layer of coarse media and a layer of fine media. The trough is preferably provided with a closeable lid to permit removal of the bed media and to compensate for buoyancy of the bed media if present. In its preferred use, the bed filter forms part of a process for making a metal alloy wherein the bed filter simultaneously reduces the oxygen content of the melt and filters particulate matter from the melt.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a copper metal or alloy wherein a first material is added to a molten metal, consisting essentially of copper preferably in a furnace. After the first material is added, the molten metal is passed through a filtration device to remove particulate matter from the molten metal and/or reduce the oxygen content of the molten metal. After filtration, a second material is added to the molten metal.

Abstract: A suspension of sulfur in a scrubbing liquid is preheated with steam to a temperature above the melting point of the sulfur so that the latter spontaneously melts in the suspension which is introduced into a separating chamber in a sealed vessel. The scrubbing liquid is decanted over a weir into a second chamber while the molten sulfur is drawn out at the bottom into a third chamber. The separating chamber is maintained at a pressure and temperature, by a vapor cushion above the liquid, such that evaporation of the incoming liquid does not occur, i.e. the separation pressure is the saturation pressure of the cushion. To prevent vapor condensation on the molten sulfur, the latter is maintained at a temperature higher than that of the liquid in the adjacent separating chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly efficient, ceramic foam material for filtering molten metal which is characterized by improved strength reliability. The filter of the present invention is prepared by impregnating an organic foam material with an aqueous ceramic slurry containing ceramic fibers. In accordance with the present invention it has been found that it is possible to prepare a low cost, porous ceramic filtration medium having improved strength reliability.

Abstract: A ceramic porous body useful as a filtering material for molten metal is disclosed. The ceramic porous body, consisting essentially of cordierite, alumina and silica, is formed by covering surfaces of cell strands of a ceramic porous body skeleton having a bulk specific gravity of 0.25-0.55 with 3-40% by weight per the weight of the skeleton of an activated alumina layer and has an average diameter of interconnected voids of 0.3-5.0 mm, a pressure loss of 0.3-30.0 mm as a water-gauge pressure when passing air through the body of 1 cm thick at a rate of 1 m/sec., a microsurface area of not less than 10 m.sup.2 /g and a porosity of 75-95%.