Abstract: A method for recovering gold from gold-loaded fine carbon residue from a coarse carbon gold recovery process is disclosed. The gold-loaded fine carbon residue is mixed with activated coarse carbon and an aqueous solution of a transfer reagent to form a slurry. In the slurry the reagent promotes transfer of gold from the fine carbon to the coarse carbon. After allowing time for the transfer, gold-loaded coarse carbon is separated from the slurry. Gold can then be recovered from the separated coarse carbon, for example by cyanide leaching followed by electrowinning. More gold can be recovered by adding further coarse carbon and repeating the transfer of gold to that coarse carbon. In one example 66% of gold was transferred from the fine carbon to the coarse carbon in one transfer cycle. About 89% and 96% of gold can be recovered after respectively second and third transfer cycles.

Abstract: A gas chromatograph includes a heating enclosure, an injection port extending through a wall of the enclosure, a capillary column within the heating enclosure and connected at a distal end thereof to a detector. The injection port is arranged to accept a carrier gas for gaseous components an analyte solution through the capillary column to the detector. An expansion chamber is located within the heating enclosure between the injection port and the capillary column. The expansion chamber is arranged such that it provides fluid communication between the injection port and the capillary column. First and second conduits are attached to the expansion chamber in fluid communication therewith. The first conduit is arranged to accept the carrier gas from outside the heating enclosure and the second conduit is arranged to vent excess vapor from the chamber to a point outside the heating enclosure.

Abstract: A method for treating a quantity of soil contaminated with lead, copper or mercury includes mixing the contaminated soil with an acid, chloride solution, to dissolve the contaminants in the chloride solution. Soil, essentially free of the contaminants, is separated from contaminant-containing chloride solution. Contaminants are precipitated from the contaminant-containing chloride solution by addition of one or more sulfides. Precipitated contaminants are separated from the remaining solution. The remaining solution may treated by adding chloride, acid, ORP adjusting agents and used to treat an additional quantity of soil.

Abstract: A method of remediating water or soil contaminated with contaminants including one or more halogenated, phenyl related biphenyl related, triazine related, and petroleum related compounds includes reacting the contaminated water or soil with an oxidant, and one or more metals in elemental or alloy form until essentially all of the contaminants has been decomposed and the water or soil is essentially free of the contaminants.

Abstract: A waste-oil cleaning apparatus includes a processing tank for holding waste-oil, and arranged such that non-oil liquids in the waste-oil settle in the base of the tank. A conduit and valve arrangement is provided for withdrawing the settled non-oil liquids from the base of the tank. The apparatus also incorporates an oil cleaning unit including a pump, a mesh filter and a centrifuge. Waste oil in the tank is cleaned by pumping oil out of the tank and passing the oil sequentially through the mesh filter and the centrifuge after the settled non-oil liquids are withdrawn from the base of the tank.

Abstract: A coated substrate is covered with a barrier or base coating having spaced apart transparent electrodes deposited thereon. The base coating and electrodes are arranged such that the electrodes and the base coating together and the base coating alone have at least matching photopic reflectivity in a selected liquid, and preferably have matching spectral response in the selected liquid, over a wavelength range between about 470 and 650 nm.

Abstract: A power supply for driving two magnetron sputtering devices in a bipolar mode includes current pulse circuits one for driving each of the two magnetrons. Each of the current pulse circuits converts positive and negative voltage outputs of a DC electrical power source to a train of regulated current pulses of independently adjustable duration. Each of the current pulse circuits includes a circuit block for converting the DC output voltage to a source of regulated current and delivering that regulated current to an input end of an inductor. Each of the current pulse circuits also includes an output switching circuit block which periodically and alternatively switches an output terminal between an output end of the inductor and the positive voltage output of the DC power source. The power supply may be configured to drive one magnetron in a unipolar mode alone or as an alternative to driving two magnetrons in a bipolar mode.

Abstract: A display device includes a plurality of modulatable light sources providing a one-dimensional array of display-elements, and a scanning unit, carried or worn by the user, which causes the user to perceive the array as a two-dimensional image. The scanning unit is movable with respect to the array while still allowing the user to view the array as a two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A system (30) for providing electrical-power to remote communities (34) widely distributed over an extended geographical area (38) includes a generating station (32) located proximate each of the communities, each generating station supplying only that community to which it is proximate. The generating stations are in electronic communication with a central computer (40). Each generating station includes a plurality of generators (54-56). Each of the generators is controlled by a microprocessor based controller (64). Each controller is arranged to operate the generating station cooperatively with the other controllers associated with other generators in the station, and to assume a supervisory role in doing so by a mutual arbitration procedure among the controllers. Each controller is also arranged to monitor important generator operating parameters and to communicate these parameters to the central computer.

Abstract: A system (30) for providing electrical-power to remote communities (34) widely distributed over an extended geographical area (38) includes a generating station (32) located proximate each of the communities, each generating station supplying only that community to which it is proximate. The generating stations are in electronic communication with a central computer (40). Each generating station includes a plurality of generators (54-56). Each of the generators is controlled by a microprocessor based controller (64). Each controller is arranged to operate the generating station cooperatively with the other controllers associated with other generators in the station, and to assume a supervisory role in doing so by a mutual arbitration procedure among the controllers. Each controller is also arranged to monitor important generator operating parameters and to communicate these parameters to the central computer.

Abstract: A system (30) for providing electrical-power to remote communities (34) widely distributed over an extended geographical area (38) includes a generating station (32) located proximate each of the communities, each generating station supplying only that community to which it is proximate. The generating stations are in electronic communication with a central computer (40). Each generating station includes a plurality of generators (54-56). Each of the generators is controlled by a microprocessor based controller (64). Each controller is arranged to operate the generating station cooperatively with the other controllers associated with other generators in the station, and to assume a supervisory role in doing so by a mutual arbitration procedure among the controllers. Each controller is also arranged to monitor important generator operating parameters and to communicate these parameters to the central computer.

Abstract: An RF diode reactive ion etching (RIE) method and apparatus (20) include an evacuable reaction chamber (22) in which an anode electrode (76) and cathode electrode (30)are spaced-apart facing each other and defining a gap (78) between the electrodes. A substrate (40) to be etched is placed in thermal contact with the cathode. A magnet (70) behind the anode provides a magnetic field which is characterized by lines-of-force (80) extending continuously through the gap from one of the electrodes to the other. To etch the substrate the reaction chamber is evacuated, an etchant-gas is admitted into the gap at a predetermined low pressure, a plasma (79) including ions of the etchant gas is generated by applying RF power to the electrodes. The substrate is etched by etchant gas ions attracted from the plasma toward the substrate by a negative self-bias potential established on the cathode.

Abstract: A method for producing titanium dioxide from an iron-containing titanium ore concentrate includes heating the ore concentrate in the presence of a reducing agent to provide a sintered reaction product including a titanium salt of the alkali metal and metallic iron. The titanium salt of the alkali metal is decomposed by addition of water to provide titanium dioxide. For ilmenite (FeTiO.sub.3), preferred alkali metal salts include carbonates, and formates of sodium and potassium. The titanium metal salt so formed is sodium or potassium meta titanate (K.sub.2 TiO.sub.3 or Na.sub.2 TiO.sub.3) depending on the alkali metal used. Suitable reducing agents include hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, or solid carbon. Metallic iron may be magnetically separated from ground reaction product or from a slurry formed by addition of water to the reaction product, the slurry including the titanium dioxide.

Abstract: A waste-oil cleaning method includes filling a processing tank with waste oil, allowing non-oil liquids in the waste-oil to settle to the base of the tank, then withdrawing the settled non-oil liquids from the base of the tank. After these non-oil liquids are withdrawn, the remaining partially cleaned oil is cleaned by pumping oil out of the tank and passing the oil sequentially through a mesh filter and a centrifuge.

Abstract: A lens element (40) is formed from a monolithic unit (46) having two sections (46A and 46B) aligned on an optical axis. A selected one of the sections has an axial gradient refractive index, and the other has a homogeneous refractive index. A first surface 42 is generated one section and a second surface is generated on the other. The axial gradient index material may be selected such that third order spherical aberration of the element is zero. The axial gradient index material may be selected such that similarly constructed elements having shape factors between about 0 and 2.0 also have zero third order spherical aberration. Another element (20) may be formed entirely from an axially graded refractive index material. The refractive index preferably varies as a non-linear function of at least distance along the optical axis. The refractive index function and index change may be selected such that a selected third order aberration is zero or some constant value over a wide range of shape factor.

Abstract: A negative stage comprises a lower platform and an upper platform. Each of the platforms includes an aperture for allowing passage of light through the platform from a light source in the enlarger. The platforms are aligned in a face-to-face relationship with the apertures generally in alignment. The platforms are spaced-apart by a fixed pivot-member and two adjustable support-members extendable in a direction generally perpendicular to the platforms for adjusting spacing and alignment of the platforms. In one embodiment the upper platform is retained in contact with the pivot-member and adjusting screws by spring loaded plungers. The spring loaded retaining arrangement allows relative movement between the platforms for alignment while still retaining the platforms firmly in contact with the pivot-member and adjusting screws.

Abstract: A combined hairband and hair-retainer includes an elastic, absorbent headband having a hair retainer attached thereto. The hair retainer is an elongated member which is sufficiently flexible to be deformed by hand from one shape to another sufficiently rigid to retain any shape into which it is formed. Hair is retained by gathering hair into a pony-tail form and twisting the hair-retainer around the pony-tail to retain the hair in this form.

Abstract: A faceplate for a touch-sensitive display includes, on an outermost surface, a pattern of electrode-regions separated by spaces. A base-coating is deposited on the surface and extends continuously over the surface. The electrode-regions are formed from a layer of a conductive transparent metal-oxide deposited on the base-coating. The electrode-regions and spaces are overcoated by a protective-layer of an insulating material. For light incident on the faceplate at about normal incidence photopic reflectivity in the protective-layer-overcoated electrode-regions is within plus or minus ten percent of photopic reflectivity in the protective-layer-overcoated spaces.

Abstract: An anti-reflection coating includes a first layer of a transparent material having a low refractive index a second layer of an absorbing metal, a third layer of a material which may have a high or a low refractive index and a fourth layer of titanium nitride.

Abstract: A privacy filter (20) for a display device includes at least two spaced-apart, generally parallel grids (22 and 24). Each grid includes an array of strips (26 and 30) or blocking members having transparent space (28 and 32) therebetween. The strips or blocking members are formed aligned such that an image (37) displayed on the display device may be viewed through the filter at an angle of incidence within a predetermined range of angles but is not discernable at angles outside of the predetermined range.