Abstract: A wet oxidizing process for waste soda to attain stable cooling and complete gas-liquid separation of waste soda which is discharged from a wet oxidation reactor for alkali waste liquid, and which process comprises the steps of (1) and (2) and optionally any one of steps (3) to (5), wherein (1) a wet oxidation step in which the alkali waste liquid is brought into contact with excess molecular oxygen, said alkali waste liquid being obtained by bringing an aqueous alkali into contact with a hydrocarbon fluid containing acidic substances of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, (2) a reducing step to reduce the pressure of a mixture of the oxidized alkali waste liquid from said wet oxidation step and a surplus gas, (3) a separation step to separate said mixture into a gas phase and a liquid phase in a gas-liquid separation tank, (4) a cooling step to cool the separated liquid phase and (5) another cooling step to cool the separated gas phase.

Abstract: High temperature reactions are conducted within a high pressure reaction vessel. The interior surfaces of the high pressure containment vessel are protected from the high temperature and corrosive effects of the reaction by causing the reactants to converge in a vortex which contains the highest reaction temperature within the central portions of the reactor. A toroidal reaction vessel is disclosed in which the reactants are directed into a vortex at the axis of origin of the torus by flow guides.

Abstract: Carbonaceous material embedded within an explosive charge, is subjected to ressure and temperature conditions during detonation of the charge at a supervelocity modified to obtain a compaction pressure profile having a peak pressure that is of substantially constant prolonged duration.

Abstract: A method of carrying out a chemical reaction in a fluidized bed reactor is provided wherein the reactants include at least one finely sub-divided reactant having a particle size substantially smaller than that of the particles constituting the fluidized bed. The reactor includes a downcomer compartment and a riser compartment operated such that the fluidized bed particles circulate by moving down the downcomer compartment and up the riser compartment. The finely divided solid reactant is introduced, either as such, or in an agglomerated form, into the central or upper region of the fluidized bed in the downcomer compartment such that it becomes entrained in the downwardly moving fluidized bed in the downcomer compartment and moves countercurrent to the fluidizing gas towards the lower end of the riser compartment. The reaction products which may be, or include, fine divided solids are carried out of the top of the reactor from the riser compartment.

Abstract: Modifications are made to the standard process for the manufacture of ammonia and related compounds, resulting in lower operating costs through reduced total energy consumption. In one aspect of the invention, this is achieved by directing ammonia gas through one feed line, and carbon dioxide gas and steam through another feed line, into a closed reaction chamber to form ammonium carbonate. The formation of this solid compound results in a reduced pressure in the chamber. This reduced pressure can be used to drive heat engines in the reactant feed lines. In another aspect of the invention, the cost of running the potassium carbonate loop while the rest of the system is down is reduced by constructing an alternate pathway along part of the loop. The carbon dioxide gas and water vapor formed by the heating of the potassium bicarbonate flow through a heat engine and are cooled. The cooled water vapor and carbon dioxide gas are then recycled.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reacting on material by means of intense radiation employed to change the physical and, in certain instances, the chemical characteristics of such material. In one form, an intense radiation beam is directed into a cavity of a die or support for a small quantity of material to be reacted on and the intense heat of the beam as well as the shock wave generated in the material in the die cavity by the rapid heat of the beam react on such material to change its physical characteristics. In another form, two or more intense radiation beams, such as generated by one or more lasers or electron guns as intense pulses of radiation, are directed against a particle or pellet of material directed along a predetermined path into a reaction chamber, intensely heat and transmit shock wave energy thereto from opposite directions which shock waves collapse against the material transforming it into another form.

Abstract: Process of using supercritical fluid to selectively separate, purify and recover metal halides.

Abstract: A process is comprised of continuously producing a fine ceramic powder by drying at supercritical conditions. The feed is a sol of ceramic oxides or hydrous oxides which is continuously pressurized and heated to in excess of the critical temperature and pressure of the sol solvent. The solvent transforms to a gas and separates from the fine particulate ceramic oxide powder, which remains in a highly divided state.

Abstract: A host liquid, such as a liquid metal, which is "seeded" with small bubbles of an inert gas, is maintained in a sealed chamber at an ambient temperature of about 100.degree. K. above the melting point of the host liquid, and at a static pressure ranging from 1 to 100 bars. A substance (for example carbon) which is capable of being allotropically transformed from a first form thereof (for example graphite) to a second form (for example diamond), is placed in the host liquid, which is then subjected to a time-varying acoustical pressure applied, for example, by a plurality of solid acoustical horns, which cause at least certain of the bubbles of inert gas to expand and then suddenly to collapse in a cavitation zone located substantially centrally of the chamber.

Abstract: A method for applying electrical energy within a reactant chamber to enhance a process being carried out in said chamber. The chamber is filled solely or in part with an electrical energy-producing material which will produce electrical energy when excited. In one embodiment the electrical energy-producing material is a piezoelectric material, e.g. Rochelle salt, which is excited by a stress exerted by a piston within the chamber. In another embodiment, the electrical energy-producing material is a ferroelectric material, e.g. barium titanate, which is excited by an external electrical field applied through an electrode within the chamber. In certain processes, e.g. adsorption, catalysis, etc., the electrical energy-producing material may be mixed with an appropriate process material, e.g. adsorbent, catalyst, etc., to form the bed of material in the chamber.

Abstract: Nitric oxide is prepared by the oxidation of ammonia produced by the Haber-Bosch synthesis technique by (a) vaporizing and heating water to superheated steam; (b) electrolyzing the superheated steam in a high temperature electrolysis cell to oxygen and hydrogen; (c) reacting said hydrogen with atmospheric nitrogen thereby forming ammonia by the Haber-Bosch process; and (d) oxidizing said ammonia to nitric oxide and water vapor in the anode of said electrolytic cell with the oxygen produced by said electrolysis.