Abstract: A method is disclosed for inhibiting silica dissolution during steam injection into a formation. In the method, there is added to the steam, or to feedwater used to generate the steam, a mixture comprising:(a) a compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts of inorganic acids, ammonium salts of carboxylic acids, quaternary ammonium halides, amine or substituted amine hydrochlorides, and mixtures thereof; and(b) a compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, salts which decompose in steam to form acid neutralizers or buffers having alkaline pH values, amides of carbamic acid or thiocarbamic acid and derivatives of such amides, tertiary carboxylic acid amides and their substituted and alkylated derivatives, and mixtures thereof.In steam, the compound of (a) decomposes to form a proton, which neutralizes hydroxide generated by ions in the steam generator feedwater.

Abstract: The permeability of high-temperature subterranean hydrocarbon-producing reservoirs is increased by introducing therein a mixture containing a tertiary carboxylic acid alkylated amide, an aqueous solution of an acid or acids, and a water-soluble polymer, preferably a nitrogen-containing polymer.

Abstract: Metal oxides are applied to the surface of urea particles and chemically bonded to the urea by a heat-induced reaction. The product of this reaction is a free-flowing, relatively non-hygroscopic nitrogenous chemical fertilizer. By selecting metal oxides corresponding to a particular soil deficiency, beneficial micronutrients can be supplied simultaneously with nitrogen. Other materials, such as elemental sulfur, can be incorporated into the metal oxides prior to coating or can be liquefied and applied as a separate additional coating to the metal oxide-urea particles. In another embodiment, fertilizer particles are coated with metal oxides, covered with molten urea, and heated to induce a reaction. The formed reaction product remains as a layer on the exterior of the particle.

Abstract: Metal oxides are applied to the surface of urea particles and chemically bonded to the urea by a heat-induced reaction. The product of this reaction is a free-flowing, relatively non-hygroscopic nitrogenous chemical fertilizer. By selecting metal oxides corresponding to a particular soil deficiency, beneficial micronutrients can be supplied simultaneously with nitrogen. Other materials, such as elemental sulfur, can be incorporated into the metal oxides prior to coating or can be liquefied and applied as a separate additional coating to the metal oxide-urea particles. In another embodiment, fertilizer particles are coated with metal oxides, covered with molten urea, and heated to induce a reaction. The formed reaction product remains as a layer on the exterior of the particle.

Abstract: Plant nutrient losses from soils due to ammonia volatilization are reduced by the simultaneous application of nitrogen and an additive material which is adsorbed at soil ion exchange sites more readily than is ammonium ion. Useful materials for this purpose include soluble salts of the alkali metals and/or alkaline earth metals.

Abstract: Shale oil produced from arsenic-containing oil shale is treated with an aqueous solution of one or more sulfide materials and separated therefrom, yielding an oil fraction of reduced arsenic content. Preferred sulfide materials include ammonium sulfide and ammonium polysulfide.

Abstract: A stabilized fumigant composition comprises an aqueous solution containing up to about fifty percent by weight of a solute which comprises ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide. Elemental sulfur can also be a component of the solute. One preferred composition comprises a solution wherein the molarity of hydrogen sulfide is about 1.5 times the molarity of carbon disulfide, and is about one-half the molarity of ammonia, and wherein the molarity of sulfur is about 1.6 times the molarity of carbon disulfide.The composition decomposes in a soil environment to form sources of available plant nutrients, including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur, and carbon disulfide which inhibits nitrification and decreases the nematode population. Nutrient content can be enhanced by the addition of, for example, ammonia, ammonium nitrate, urea and mixtures thereof to the formed composition.

Abstract: Method for treating earthen formations which contain water-sensitive, finely divided particulate matter wherein there is injected into the formation steam or a mixture of steam and hot water containing an effective fines-stabilizing amount of a compound containing ammoniacal nitrogen selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide, an ammonium salt of an inorganic acid, an ammonium salt of a carboxylic acid, ammonium cyanate, derivatives of ammonium cyanate, ammonium thiocyanate, and a water-soluble ammonia or ammonium ion precursor selected from the group consisting of amides of carbamic acid and thiocarbamic acid, derivatives of such amides, tertiary carboxylic acid amides and their substituted and akylated derivatives. Preferred additives include ammonium carbonate and urea. If the formation is a subsurface oil-containing formation, the treatment can be part of a method for enhanced oil recovery.

Abstract: Aqueous and organic fluids which contain arsenic are contacted with spent oil shale from an oil shale retorting operation and separated therefrom, yielding a fluid of reduced arsenic content. In one embodiment, shale oil is placed in contact with spent oil shale under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure to reduce the arsenic content of the oil.

Abstract: A method for desulfurizing fluid materials, comprising reacting sulfur to be removed with a rare earth compound, thereby forming rare earth sulfides, oxysulfides or mixtures thereof. The reaction is conducted under conditions of low oxygen potential. Rare earth sulfides and oxysulfides can be reacted with oxygen to restore a capacity for desulfurization.

Abstract: A liquid formulation containing furfural, para toluene sulfonic acid and tetraethylene glycol is impregnated into fine grained, isotropic graphite bodies and then polymerized and pyrolyzed. That increases the density of the impregnated body and improves its surface finish.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the precipitation of a scale, such as an iron silicate scale, from a hot aqueous brine solution, such as a geothermal brine, during production and handling of the brine wherein there is injected into the brine a brine-soluble acid in an amount sufficient to lower the pH of the brine from 0.1 to 0.3 pH units.

Abstract: A method for preparing high-density particles of rare earth carbonate comprises precipitating rare earth ions with aqueous carbonate or bicarbonate ions, in the presence of rare earth carbonate crystals, and separating the resulting precipitate. The method can be conducted to prepare individual batches or, alternatively, a continuous precipitation method can be used, wherein rare earth and carbonate or bicarbonate ions are mixed at a controlled rate to maintain an optimum pH condition. High-density rare earth oxide is obtained by calcining the precipitate.

Abstract: Metal oxides are applied to the surface of urea particles and chemically bonded to the urea by a heat-induced reaction. The product of this reaction is a free-flowing, relatively nonhygroscopic nitrogenous chemical fertilizer. By selecting metal oxides corresponding to a particular soil deficiency, beneficial micronutrients can be supplied simultaneously with nitrogen. Other materials, such as elemental sulfur, can be incorporated into the metal oxides prior to coating or can be liquefied and applied as a separate additional coating to the metal oxide-urea particles. In another embodiment, fertilizer particles are coated with metal oxides, covered with molten urea, and heated to induce a reaction. The formed reaction product remains as a layer on the exterior of the particle.

Abstract: A stabilized fumigant composition comprises an aqueous solution containing up to about fifty percent by weight of a solute which comprises ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide. Elemental sulfur can also be a component of the solute. One preferred composition comprises a solution wherein the molarity of hydrogen sulfide is about 1.5 times the molarity of carbon disulfide, and is about one-half the molarity of ammonia, and wherein the molarity of sulfur is about 1.6 times the molarity of carbon disulfide.The composition decomposes in a soil environment to form sources of available plant nutrients, including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur, and carbon disulfide which inhibits nitrification and decreases the nematode population. Nutrient content can be enhanced by the addition of, for example, ammonia, ammonium nitrate, urea and mixtures thereof to the formed composition.

Abstract: Aqueous and organic fluids which contain arsenic are contacted with spent oil shale from an oil shale retorting operation and separated therefrom, yielding a fluid of reduced arsenic content. In one embodiment, shale oil is placed in contact with spent oil shale under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure to reduce the arsenic content of the oil.

Abstract: In a method for the production of samarium metal byreducing samarium oxide in a container with rare earth metal, vaporizing reduced samarium, and condensing a metal product, the container for the samarium oxide and rare earth metal is lined on its inner surface with a disposable resistant metal foil having a thickness from about 0.001 inches to about 0.02 inches.

Abstract: Metal sulfide ores which contain organic matter are oxidized by roasting in a multiple hearth furnace, wherein at least a portion of gases formed during the oxidation is recycled from a higher-temperature, upper portion of the furnace to a lower-temperature, lower portion of the furnace. The control of air pollution from the furnace is facilitated by making some volatile organics, otherwise vented from the furnace, available for combustion, and by increasing the sulfur oxide concentration in the furnace gases.

Abstract: The growth of microorganisms in stored crops, and especially in animal feedstuffs, is inhibited by the application, in the presence of urease, of a preservative composition which comprises ammonia, urea and urea polymers in a fluid medium. Urea polymers which are useful include biuret, triuret, cyanuric acid, urea cyanurate and other compounds which decompose to form ammonia. The effect of treatment with the preservative composition is to provide an immediate microorganism-inhibiting ammonia level, which, due to delayed decomposition of the urea and urea polymers, is sustained to some significant degree during prolonged storage of the treated material.

Abstract: A liquid formulation containing furfural, para toluene sulfonic acid and tetraethylene glycol is impregnated into fine grained, isotropic graphite bodies and then polymerized and pyrolyzed. That increases the density of the impregnated body and improves its surface finish.