Abstract: Method and apparatus for introducing finely divided gas bubbles into a lixiviant used for in-situ mining of minerals containing metal values, such as copper values. The lixiviant is supplied to a plurality of porous tubes formed of sintered powdered metal while a gas is supplied under pressure about the tubes to cause the gas to penetrate into the interior of the tubes in the form of fine bubbles which are wiped from the interior of the tubes by the lixiviant passing therethrough.The method and apparatus can be advantageously employed in situations where it is desirable to perform in-situ mining with an oxidizing lixiviant. In these cases oxygen is supplied under pressure about the tubes.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the permeability of a subterranean igneous rock formation penetrated by at least one well where a hydraulic fluid is injected into the formation at a pressure sufficient to cause diffusion into the natural fractures thereof and thus increase the cross-sectional area thereof, maintaining the pressure and injecting a second fluid which results, by the use thereof, in substantially maintaining the increased cross-sectional area after the pressure is reduced.

Abstract: Molten molybdenum-(copper)-iron-sulfur mattes or alloys, obtained for example, by reacting slags or other molybdenum containing oxide residues or waste materials with an iron and/or sulfide reductant, are enriched in molybdenum and copper (if present) by a pyrometallurgical process. The molten matte or alloy material is oxidized to remove sulfur, as sulfur oxides, while varying amounts of iron are converted to iron oxides which separate from the metallics. The oxidation thus enriches the molybdenum and copper content of the remaining alloy. Silica flux may be added during the reaction process to form a fluid slag with the iron oxide which separates from the remaining molybdenum-iron-(copper) material which constitutes the product.

Abstract: Molten molybdenum-copper-iron-sulfur mattes or alloys, obtained, for example, by reacting slags or other copper-molybdenum containing oxide residues or waste materials witn an iron and/or sulfide reductant, are enriched in molybdenum and copper by a pyrometallurgical process. The molten matte or alloy material is first carburized whereupon a copper-rich matte phase separates from the alloy phase and is removed. The molten alloy phase is next treated one or more times by the addition of sulfur or pyrite resulting in the formation of additional copper-rich matte as a separate phase which is separated after each treatment, leaving an alloy of molybdenum and iron of reduced Cu content. Finally the alloy is desulfurized to provide a commercial product.

Abstract: The invention relates to the sulfuric digestion of titaniferous slags and more specifically to a method to decrease the reduced titanium concentration in the resulting sulfate liquor. The process uses lignin products to assist in the oxidation of the Ti.sup.+3 content of the slag.

Abstract: Copper flake is treated to remove oxides and other contaminants from its surface and incorporated into an uncured water-insoluble polymer. When applied to a marine structure such as a boat hull, the coating exhibits outstanding anti-fouling properties. The cleaned copper flake is preferably incorporated into an uncured epoxy resin modified by reaction with a polyol. In one embodiment of the invention, the coating is applied and cured underwater using a strippable carrier.

Abstract: A stream containing chromium and other heavy metals is fed through an electrolytic cell having a flow-through anode of lead shot and a flow-through cathode. The stream passes through the lead shot, resulting in the formation of lead chromate at the anode that falls to a trap in the bottom of the cell. Heavy metals such as copper are plated out on the material forming the flow-through cathode.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a non-woven boron nitride (BN) fiber felt. Boron nitride fibers are blended with a lesser amount of boron oxide fibers and a nondissolving, anhydrous liquid medium to form a homogeneous slurry. The slurry is deposited on the moving screen of a Fourdrinier machine where the liquid content is gradually reduced until sufficient fiber to fiber contact is made to provide internal cohesiveness, to form a felt. The felt may be further treated by heating it in an anhydrous gas atmosphere at a sufficient temperature to soften the boron oxide binder to fuse the BN fibers together, and then converting the interstitial boron oxide into boron nitride. The resulting boron nitride-bonded boron nitride felt may be used as an electric cell separator in a lithium sulfide battery.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a non-woven, boron nitride-bonded boron nitride fiber mat, suitable for use as an electric cell separator in a lithium-sulfide battery. A web having a combination of structural boron nitride (BN) fibers and interstitial, thermally bondable boron oxide (B.sub.2 O.sub.3) fibers is passed through the nip of a pair of cooperating calender rolls at an appropriate temperature and pressure to soften the boron oxide binder throughout the web to fuse the BN fibers together. The interstitial boron oxide then is heated in an anhydrous ammonia atmosphere to convert it into boron nitride.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing non-woven, yet internally cohesive, boron nitride fiber batts, suitable for use as an electric cell separator in a lithium-sulfide battery. Molten boron oxide is centrifugally spun into strands and attenuated by an annular gas stream into fibers at a controlled relative humidity. The fibers are funnelled into a chamber and subjected to a turbulent air flow, which causes random orientation and intertwining of the fibers, resulting in multiple mechanical bonds thereamong. The compacted boron oxide fiber bundle thus produced is heated in an anhydrous ammonia atmosphere to convert boron oxide in the fibers into boron nitride (BN).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a non-woven, boron nitride-bonded boron nitride fiber mat, suitable for use as an electric cell separator in a lithium-sulfide battery. Molten boron oxide is centrifugally spun into strands and attenuated by an annular gas stream into fibers which are compacted at a controlled relative humidity into a bundle and heated in an anhydrous ammonia atmosphere to convert boron oxide in the fibers to boron nitride (BN). The BN fibers are blended with a lesser amount of boron oxide fibers and a nonaqueous liquid medium to form a slurry. The slurry is processed through a Fourdrinier machine to form a felt; and, the felt is calendered by passing it through the nip of a pair of calender rolls at an appropriate temperature and pressure to soften the boron oxide binder to fuse the BN fibers together. The interstitial boron oxide then is converted to boron nitride.

Abstract: An electric furnace electrode seal assembly includes a seal ring mounted on the furnace adjacent the electrode opening. The seal ring is stationary and supports a telescoping arrangement of a plurality of cylindrical water cooled sealing glands that extend upwardly along the electrode from the seal ring. The largest diameter gland can be located on top of the seal ring and the uppermost gland can be the smallest diameter and is supported by the electrode holder. Seals are interposed respectively between adjacent glands and these seals permit vertical telescopic movmeent as well as lateral movement of and slight tilting of the glands relative to each other. The bottom gland can slide on the seal ring to provide for additional lateral movement of the electrode and seal assembly. The assembly prevents leakage of gases and acts as a heat shield.

Abstract: Isostearic acid, a liquid isomer of stearic acid, is used as an agent in a froth flotation process to concentrate the iron oxide in iron ores. By use of this flotation agent, the iron oxide in the ground ore is directly floated away from the remainder of the ore. The process enables a high amount of iron oxide to be concentrated from low grade ores.

Abstract: Dioxime extractants having the following general formula: ##STR1## where R and R' may be any of a variety of organic hydrocarbon radicals such as aliphatic, alkyl and aryl radicals. R and R' may also be hydrogen. Preferably R is an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 3 to 20 carbon atoms and R' is hydrogen or an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Preferably, there is a difference of about 3 to 10 carbon atoms between R and R' resulting in dissymmetry of the resulting dioxime molecule. Preferably, the dioximes also contain a total of about 5 to 32 carbon atoms. Representative compounds are methyl octyl dioxime and methyl hexyl dioxime.Organic preparations containing such dioximes are useful for the extraction of copper, nickel and cobalt metal values from acid or basic aqueous solution.

Abstract: A stream containing chromium and other heavy metals is fed through an electrolytic cell having a flow-through anode of lead shot and a flow-through cathode. The stream passes through the lead shot, resulting in the formation of lead chromate at the anode that falls to a trap in the bottom of the cell. Heavy metals such as copper are plated out on the material forming the flow-through cathode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of economically exploiting deep set porphyry ore bodies of the type containing metal values such as sulfidic copper nickel or uranium minerals and minerals capable of absorbing copper, uranium and nickel ions. The method involves establishing communication with the ore body through access and recovery wells and passing fluids sequentially therethrough. If necessary, thief zones of as low as 25 to 50 md in igneous rock of 1 to 5 md are prevented from distorting flow, by the injection of a polymeric solution of macromolecules with molecular weights of the order of 5 million along the entire wellbore, the higher permeability zones initially accepting the majority of the flow and being impaired at a much faster rate than the less permeable zones.

Abstract: A process in which manganese is recovered from manganese nodules after the nodules have been treated to recover base metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum. The process includes the steps of reacting the manganese in the nodules to yield a carbonate and subjecting the manganese carbonate to flotation. The manganese carbonate froth is collected from the top of a flotation cell, is dried to produce a manganese concentrate, and is sintered to produce a synthetic manganese oxide. Sintering of such concentrates at 1000.degree. C. yields a product containing greater than 50% manganese.The effect of reagent dosage, pH control, and temperature control on the yield of the synthetic manganese oxide is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for providing a protective oxide layer on an alloy. The technique involves the preliminary cleaning of the alloy's surfaces to remove as much unwanted oxide as possible and the subsequent exposure of the alloy surface to an environment which produces an acid resistant oxide by selective oxidation of one of the constituents of the alloy and which acts as a reducing environment for other constituents of the alloy. For the production of a chromium oxide layer on a stainless steel comprising chromium, iron, and nickel, a suitable environment includes a 600.degree.-1200.degree. C. mixture of H.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O. If a major portion of the mixture is H.sub.2, the chromium is oxidized whereas the iron and nickel are not.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing nuclear radiation shields consisting of neutron-absorbing boron carbide particles embedded in a heat-dissipating copper matrix. Copper is electroplated through a layer of loose, electrically nonconductive boron carbide particles on a metal substrate. The carbide particles may be deposited on the substrate while electroplating, and heat exchanger ductwork may be incorporated. To make cylindrical shields, a cylindrical metal substrate is rotated about its axis giving rise to centrifugal forces which hold the carbide particles on the inner surface and aid electrodeposition. A thermomechanical process is described in which boron carbide particles pre-encapsulated with copper are consolidated into a unitary mass on the inner surface of a heated cylindrical substrate with or without the aid of a roller within the cylinder.

Abstract: A vertical electrolytic cell for producing a composite layer of boron carbide-filled copper by codeposition of copper and boron carbide particles. A metal substrate serving as a cathode is positioned below a copper anode in an electrolyte containing copper ions. Boron carbide particles are introduced beneath the copper anode, uniformly distributed in the electrolyte and allowed to settle onto the substrate surface while electroplating so that the particles become entrapped in a growing copper matrix. The preferred apparatus includes a plurality of stirrers. One feature of the preferred procedure is to introduce the total volume of boron carbide particles by adding a little at a time, shutting off the stirrers and plating through a settling layer of carbide particles before adding the next batch of particles.