Abstract: A process for the continuous copper drossing of molten lead bullion is provided, the process comprising, establishing a column of molten lead having a hot top portion at a temperature of about 800.degree. C. to 1150.degree. C. and a bottom portion of substantially lower temperature of about 340.degree. C. to 425.degree. C. Approximately the middle portion of the molten lead is controlled at a temperature of about 750.degree. C. to 900.degree. C. to thereby provide a predetermined temperature gradient extending from the middle portion to the bottom portion controlled at about 340.degree. C. to 425.degree. C. The temperature of the top portion is controlled by induction heating and the temperature of the bottom portion by cooling coils containing a fluid coolant. The molten lead is fed continuously to the middle portion of the column while maintaining the temperature thereof at about 750.degree. C. to 900.degree. C.

Abstract: Reinforced composite aluminum-matrix articles containing up to 20%, by volume, silicon carbide fibers or particles, are produced by a casting process wherein about 4% to about 7%, by weight, of magnesium is included in the aluminum matrix alloy to facilitate wetting of the reinforcing material and ready dispersal thereof with the matrix alloy while the alloy is completely molten and thereafter hot working the composite at a temperature between the liquidus and solidus temperatures of the aluminum alloy matrix. The matrix is characterized by a microstructure wherein fine precipitates appear in the vicinity of SiC particles or fibers, and by high hardness and strength without further heat treatment.

Abstract: A molybdenum article is disclosed in which the substrate thereof has adherently bonded thereto a thermally self-healing plasma-sprayed coating consisting essentially of a composite of molybdenum and a refractory oxide material capable of reacting with molybdenum oxide under oxidizing conditions to form a substantially thermally stable refractory compound of molybdenum. The plasma-sprayed coating is formed of a plurality of interbonded plasma-sprayed layers of a composite of molybdenum/refractory oxide material produced from a particulate mixture thereof. The coating comprises a first layer of molybdenum plasma-sprayed bonded to the substrate of said molybdenum element and a second layer of plasma-sprayed mixture of particulate molybdenum/refractory oxide consisting essentially of predominantly molybdenum bonded to the first layer.

Abstract: Durable, porous sulfur sorbents useful in removing hydrogen sulfide from hot coal gas are prepared by water pelletizing a mixture of fine zinc oxide and fine iron oxide with inorganic and organic binders and small amounts of activators such as sodium carbonate and molybdenite; the pellets are dried and then indurated at a high temperature, e.g., 1800.degree. C., for a time sufficient to produce crush-resistant pellets.

Abstract: Low-grade refractory gold ores, which may also contain silver and other metal values are treated by partial roasting of concentrate to remove controlled amounts of sulfur and carbon, then oxygen pressure leached to oxidize further amounts of sulfur and carbon and to dissolve base metals and a portion of any silver present, and the residue is then cyanided to dissolve gold and remaining silver which are then recovered.

Abstract: Reinforced composite aluminum-matrix articles containing silicon carbide fibers or particles, are produced by a casting process wherein the silicon carbide fibers or particles are mixed with dehydrated sodium tetraborate and mixed with molten aluminum or aluminum alloy whereby wetting of the reinforcing material and ready dispersal thereof in the aluminum matrix alloy is facilitated.

Abstract: A method is provided for inhibiting an increase in viscosity of coal/water slurries when such slurries are caused to contact petroleum oil during fuel changeover in power generation systems, the method comprising maintaining in the coal/water slurry during transitional contact with petroleum oil an effective amount of an agglomeration-inhibiting agent selected from the group consisting of nonionic and anionic dispersing agents sufficient to inhibit the formation of coal/oil agglomerates and provide a flowable mixture during transitional contact having a Brookfield viscosity of below about 50,000 cP.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating contaminated wastewater of pH ranging from about 1.5 to 3 containing phosphate ions and fluoride ions. The method comprises treating the said wastewater with an amount of alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of limestone (CaCO.sub.3) and lime [CaO or Ca(OH).sub.2 ] sufficient to raise and maintain the pH at a level of about 3.5 to 6.5 following uniform mixing thereof in a first stage precipitation step to effect substantial precipitation of the contaminants. The treated wastewater is passed to a first stage settler to effect solid/liquid separation and provide a sludge of the precipitated contaminants which is removed and separated to provide an effluent substantially impoverished in the aforementioned contaminants, following which the contaminant-impoverished effluent is treated in a second stage precipitation step with lime in an amount sufficient to raise and maintain the pH of the effluent at a level of at least about 10.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing ammonia from wastewater containing in excess of about 15 ppm NH.sub.3 (N)-T. The method comprises treating the wastewater with an alkaline reagent selected from the group consisting of lime and caustic sufficient to raise the pH to provide a free ammonia equivalence (FAE) to a value of at least about 12.4, the free ammonia equivalence being determined as follows:FAE=pH+(.theta./15).sup.0.5wherein pH is the pH value of the treated wastewater and .theta. is the temperature of the wastewater in degrees Fahrenheit. The treated wastewater is gas-stripped to lower the total ammonia content of the treated wastewater to a value of less than about 10 ppm NH.sub.3 (N)-T, the gas stripping being controlled to maintain the free ammonia equivalence of the wastewater phase being stripped to a value of at least about 12.4, following which the stripped wastewater is acidified to lower the un-ionized ammonia content to less than about 0.05 ppm NH.sub.3 (N).

Abstract: Metal values and alumina are recovered from spent, usually oily, catalysts by oxygen pressure leaching with sodium hydroxide and/or sodium aluminate to dissolve molybdenum, vanadium and/or tungsten and provide a solid, filterable residue containing alumina and cobalt and/or nickel, the residue is digested with sodium hydroxide to give a sodium aluminate solution and a residue enriched in nickel and/or cobalt, alumina is recovered from the sodium aluminate solution as a solid and the remaining supernatant solution is recycled to the oxygen pressure leaching step wherein the alumina content of the aluminate solution is precipitated and a bleed for metals in the aluminate solution is provided.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator is provided comprising a plurality of spaced apart vertically extending collector plates with an array of vertically extending ionizer wire rods disposed in a space between each of the collector plates. The improvement resides in an ionizer wire rod construction made of a heat resistant alloy, one end portion of which terminates into a plurality of closely packed helically formed loops. The size of the loops as a unit is sufficient to hook onto and freely hang from a connecting portion of an ionizer frame, the other end portion of the rod being also helically formed into a plurality of closely packed loops which are coupled as a unit to an end loop of a helically and tightly wound coil spring of a heat-resistant alloy.

Abstract: Spent hydrodesulfurization catalysts containing alumina, at least one metal from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten and vanadium and at least one metal from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt, sulfur, and, usually, residual oil are oxygen pressure leached at a temperature of at least about 400.degree. F. with a base from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and sodium aluminte in at least stoichimetric amount to yield a solution having a pH between about 7 and 9 containing dissolved molybdenum, vanadium and any tungsten which may be recovered and a readily filterable residue containing aluminum, nickel and cobalt which may be worked up to recover the valuable constituents, with overall processing being accomplished in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Abstract: Reinforced composite aluminum-matrix articles containing a non-oxide reinforcing material, such as silicon carbide fibers or particles, are produced by a casting process wherein a small amount of lithium less than about 1%, by weight, is included in a melt of aluminum matrix alloy to facilitate wetting of the reinforcing material and ready dispersal thereof in the aluminum matrix alloy.

Abstract: Molybdenum trioxide in granular or powder form is reduced to molybdenum metal by stagewise fluid bed reduction wherein molybdenum trioxide is reduced to molybdenum dioxide using ammonia as the fluidizing-reducing gas at 400.degree. C. to 650.degree. C. and molybdenum dioxide is reduced to metal using hydrogen as the fluidizing-reducing gas at 700.degree. C. to 1400.degree. C. The content of impurities such as lead, zinc, bismuth and copper is reduced during the process.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a thermomechanical process applicable to beryllium copper alloys consisting essentially of about 0.2 wt % to about 0.7 wt % beryllium; from about 1.0 wt % to about 3.5 wt % nickel and cobalt in the aggregate, where nickel comprises at least about 1.0 wt %; up to about 1.0 wt % zirconium; up to about 0.005 wt % lead; up to about 0.1 wt % magnesium; up to about 1.5 wt % silver; up to about 0.5 wt % incidental impurities including lead; and the balance essentially copper; which process comprises solution annealing said alloy at a temperature of at least about 90% of the incipient melting point of the alloy expressed in degrees Fahrenheit, cold working the solution treated alloy to reduce the section thickness thereof at least about 60% or much more, and then aging the alloy to produce therein an improved combination of properties including strength, ductility, formability and conductivity.

Abstract: Reinforced composite magnesium-matrix articles, containing silicon carbide fibers or particles, are produced by a casting process wherein a small amount of lithium, less than about 0.7% by weight, is included in a melt of magnesium matrix alloy to facilitate wetting of the reinforcing material and ready dispersal thereof in the magnesium matrix alloy.

Abstract: A molybdenum-hafnium-carbon alloy is provided consisting essentially by weight of about 0.6% to about 1% Hf, about 0.045% to about 0.08% C, and the balance essentially molybdenum, the alloy being characterized such that during casting of an ingot and hot forging of a billet thereof, it has a substantially less tendency to crack compared to alloys containing Hf in excess of about 1% by weight and carbon in excess of 0.08% by weight, without substantial diminution in strength properties of said alloy at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A method is provided for the treatment of wastewater of pH ranging from about 1.5 to 3 containing at least about 100 ppm phosphorus as phosphate ions, at least about 50 ppm fluorine as fluoride ions and ammonia in excess of about 15 ppm NH.sub.3 (N)--T, the method comprising removing the phosphate and fluoride ions from the wastewater in a two-stage precipitation step; the first stage precipitation being conducted at a pH ranging from about 3.5 to 6.5 using an alkaline material selected from the group consisting of limestone (CaCO.sub.3) and lime [CaO or Ca(OH).sub.2 ] sufficient to form a precipitate which is removed to provide a filtrate of the wastewater which is treated in a second stage precipitation at a pH of at least about 10.5 using lime as the alkaline material sufficient to form a precipitate which is removed to provide substantially a clear effluent containing ammonia.

Abstract: A method for electrochemically minimizing sulfide scale buildup on a metal surface by connecting the surface as an anode and periodically reversing the current flow at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the hydrometallurgical treatment of finely divided iron-containing steel plant dusts containing zinc, lead and such other metal values as calcium, manganese, silicon, magnesium, aluminum, cadmium, copper, and the like. The process is carried out by forming an aqueous slurry of the flue dust with a mixed lixiviant comprising HCl and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, the amount of sulfate ion concentration being in excess of the chloride ion concentration and in stoichiometric excess of that required to sulfate substantially all of the lead and calcium present. The amount of chloride ion present as HCl should be sufficient to maintain the pH at about 1 to 4. The leaching is conducted at a temperature ranging from ambient to below the boiling point for a time at least sufficient to effect dissolution of at least zinc and other metal values and form a residue containing iron oxide, calcium sulfate and lead sulfate.