Abstract: A process for increasing the bulk density of an aerated powder is provided. The powder is placed in a container. The container is then closed and the gas pressure within the container is increased to a level above atmospheric pressure and at a rate sufficient to cause the powder to compact before a substantial portion of said pressurization gas diffuses into said powder. In one embodiment, the process is utilized to increase the bulk density of an aerated, free-flowing titanium dioxide pigment. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Abstract: Inorganic pigments, having deposited on the pigment surface at least one alkenyl- or alkyl-substituted succinic anhydride and at least one organic polyol, possess improved processibility and dispersibility in thermoplastic materials, and impart improved properties to thermoplastic compositions containing said surface-treated pigments.

Abstract: Liners useful as piping elbow liners comprising a body liner, a tangential inlet liner, and a tangential outlet liner. The tangential inlet liner and the tangential outlet liner can be removably inserted into a cavity in the body liner. The body liner can comprise two substantially-identical body section liners.

Abstract: Improved methods for producing titanium dioxide slurries. The output from a micronizer is passed through a condenser to condense the steam and form an aqueous slurry of titanium dioxide, which can in most cases then be further concentrated as desired or which can be sold or used without further concentration, instead of passing the micronizer output to apparatus for separating the TiO2 from the steam, as is currently practiced in the art. The resultant slurry from the condenser is in a further refinement preferably sent to an agitated storage tank together with dispersant and anti-settling compounds to aid in preventing settling of the titanium dioxide solids out of the slurry. To help facilitate condensation of the steam/pigment mixture sent to the condenser, a portion of the condensed slurry is in yet a further refinement pumped from the slurry storage tank to a heat exchanger. The output from the heat exchanger is then fed to the condenser to facilitate the condensing of the steam in the condenser.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting wear in a liner. In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrically conductive wire is placed on or near the outside surface of the liner and the electrical resistance in the electrically conductive wire is measured to determine whether the wire has worn through. In another embodiment of the present invention, the temperature measured by a temperature measuring device, such as a thermocouple, is monitored over time to estimate wear in the liner.

Abstract: Inorganic pigments treated with at least one amide of a fatty acid and an aliphatic amine possess improved processibility and dispersibility in thermoplastic materials, and impart improved properties to thermoplastic compositions containing said surface-treated pigments.

Abstract: Inorganic pigments treated with one or more of the ?,?-dialkyl substituted linear or branched carboxylic acids and the salts thereof possess improved processibility and dispersibility in thermoplastic materials, and impart improved properties to thermoplastic compositions containing said surface-treated pigments.

Abstract: A fluid barrier along the inside surface of ductwork between a reactor and subsequent product separation and recovery apparatus to reduce the buildup of solids on the ductwork from a gaseous product mixture conveyed through the ductwork. Barrier fluid is sprayed along the internal surface of the ductwork to form a fluid barrier and cool the gaseous mixture. The barrier fluid can be comprised of a component of the gaseous mixture. The barrier fluid can be a liquid at the second temperature and converted to a gaseous state in the ductwork, using the heat of vaporization of the barrier fluid to help cool the gaseous mixture.

Abstract: A process for increasing the bulk density of an aerated powder is provided. The powder is placed in a container. The container is then closed and the gas pressure within the container is increased to a level above atmospheric pressure and at a rate sufficient to cause the powder to compact before a substantial portion of said pressurization gas diffuses into said powder. In one embodiment, the process is utilized to increase the bulk density of an aerated, free-flowing titanium dioxide pigment. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved processes and apparatus for reacting high flow rates of one or more gaseous reactants in tubular reactors. The improved processes and apparatus allow such reactions to be carried out with a low pressure drop across the reactor and without excessive erosion due to solid particles carried with or picked up by the gaseous reactants. A process of this invention is basically comprised of the steps of swirling a gaseous reactant which may contain or pick up solid particles in a first annular plenum chamber followed by a second larger diameter annular plenum chamber and then introducing the gaseous reactant and solid particles into a reactor by way of two or more radial slots whereby said gaseous reactant and solid particles are caused to flow into said reactor and are uniformly distributed therein.

Abstract: A novel air knife. The novel air knife is circumferential. That is, the novel air knife injects a gas stream along the inside walls of the air knife. The air knife can be advantageously placed at or near the entrance to a suspension vessel to reduce buildup of solid materials transported to the suspension vessel. The gas stream is injected at a rate sufficient to reduce the buildup of solid materials on the walls of the air knife (and thus at the entrance to the suspension vessel). The air circumferential air knife is particularly useful in a TiCl4 production process for reducing buildup of hygroscopic cyclone dust at the entrance to a suspension vessel.

Abstract: Improved methods for producing titanium dioxide slurries. The output from a micronizer is passed through a condenser to condense the steam and form an aqueous slurry of titanium dioxide, which can in most cases then be further concentrated as desired or which can be sold or used without further concentration, instead of passing the micronizer output to apparatus for separating the TiO2 from the steam, as is currently practiced in the art. The resultant slurry from the condenser is in a further refinement preferably sent to an agitated storage tank together with dispersant and anti-settling compounds to aid in preventing settling of the titanium dioxide solids out of the slurry. To help facilitate condensation of the steam/pigment mixture sent to the condenser, a portion of the condensed slurry is in yet a further refinement pumped from the slurry storage tank to a heat exchanger. The output from the heat exchanger is then fed to the condenser to facilitate the condensing of the steam in the condenser.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved cathode material comprised of electrolytic manganese dioxide having high discharge capacity at high discharge rates and methods of producing such electrolytic manganese dioxide by electrolysis in an electrolytic cell. The methods are basically comprised of maintaining a heated high purity aqueous electrolyte solution comprising sulfuric acid and manganese sulfate in the electrolytic cell, the manganese sulfate being present in the solution whereby it contains in the range of from about 5 to about 50 grams of manganese per liter of solution. An electric current is applied to the electrodes of the electrolytic cell whereby the anodic electrode current density is in the range of from about 2.5 to about 6 amperes per square foot.

Abstract: A process for preparing an improved pigment which is readily dispersible in paints and plastics concentrates is provided. In accordance with the process, a particulate pigment is mixed with water to form a slurry thereof, and a surface active agent is mixed with the slurry so that the pigment therein is coated therewith. A preferred surface active agent is a mixture of ethoxylated sorbitan derivatives, non-ethoxylated mono and diglycerides and ethoxylated mono and diglycerides. After the pigment has been coated with the surface active agent, the coated pigment is dried.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved cathode material comprised of electrolytic manganese dioxide having high discharge capacity at high discharge rates and methods of producing such electrolytic manganese dioxide by electrolysis in an electrolytic cell. The methods are basically comprised of maintaining a heated high purity aqueous electrolyte solution comprising specific amounts of sulfuric acid and manganese sulfate in the electrolytic cell and maintaining the amounts of the sulfuric acid and manganese ion in the solution at a ratio of sulfuric acid to manganese ion greater than 2. An electric current is applied to the electrodes of the electrolytic cell whereby the anodic electrode current density is in the range of from about 2.5 to about 6 amperes per square foot and the high discharge capacity EMD produced is deposited on the anodic electrode.

Abstract: An improved process for producing titanium dioxide wherein gaseous titanium tetrachloride and oxygen are reacted at a high temperature to produce particulate solid titanium dioxide and gaseous reaction products is provided. The titanium dioxide and gaseous reaction products are cooled by passing them through a tubular heat exchanger along with a scouring medium for removing deposits from the inside surfaces of the tubular heat exchanger. By this invention, the particulate scouring medium, the particulate titanium dioxide and the gaseous reaction products are caused to follow a spiral path as they flow through the tubular heat exchanger whereby the scouring medium more thoroughly removes the deposits and the titanium dioxide and gaseous reaction products are cooled more efficiently.

Abstract: A process for removing dissolved uranium from water is provided. The process basically comprises (a) mixing phosphoric acid or particulate bone ash with the water, (b) mixing calcium hydroxide with the mixture produced in step (a) to thereby form calcium hydroxy phosphate or calcium hydroxy apatite which reacts with and complexes at least a portion of the uranium in the water to form a precipitate thereof, and (c) separating the precipitate from the water.

Abstract: Processes for reacting high flow rates of one or more gaseous reactants in tubular reactors. The improved processes allow such reactions to be carried out with a low pressure drop across the reactor and without excessive erosion due to solid particles carried with or picked up by the gaseous reactants. A process of this invention is basically comprised of the steps of swirling a gaseous reactant which may contain or pick up solid particles in a first annular plenum chamber followed by a second larger diameter annular plenum chamber and then introducing the gaseous reactant and solid particles into a reactor by way of two or more radial slots whereby the gaseous reactant and solid particles are caused to flow into the reactor and are uniformly distributed therein.

Abstract: Intercalation compositions having spinel structures with crystallites of metal oxides (M2O3) dispersed throughout the structure are provided having the general formula Li1+xMyMn2−x−yO4. Methods of producing the intercalation compositions and rechargeable lithium batteries containing the compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved cathode material comprised of electrolytic manganese dioxide having high discharge capacity at high discharge rates and methods of producing such electrolytic manganese dioxide by electrolysis in an electrolytic cell. The methods are basically comprised of maintaining a heated high purity aqueous electrolyte solution comprising sulfuric acid and manganese sulfate in the electrolytic cell, the manganese sulfate being present in the solution whereby it contains in the range of from about 5 to about 50 grams of manganese per liter of solution. An electric current is applied to the electrodes of the electrolytic cell whereby the anodic electrode current density is in the range of from about 2.5 to about 6 amperes per square foot.