Abstract: A mining apparatus for excavating material from an earth formation having a miner which is removably connectable to a carrier by a coupling assembly, the mining apparatus including other carriers which are interconnected by the coupling assembly of the present invention. The coupling assembly includes a male connector and a female connector, the male connector being disposable in a portion of the female connector in an insert position and the male connector being movable from the insert position to a connected position for interconnecting the male and the female connectors.

Abstract: A continuous process for recovering substantially pure aluminum chloride from chlorination products of aluminum ore. The chlorination products are contacted with a first selective solvent to dissolve a substantial portion of the aluminum chloride and some ferric chloride. The solvent is separated from the chlorides which then are treated to produce a ferric chloride-rich stream and an aluminum chloride-rich stream in which the aluminum chloride to ferric chloride ratio is higher than the ratio prior to solvent separation. The aluminum chloride-rich stream is contacted with a second solvent to dissolve any ferric chloride present and saturate the solution with aluminum chloride. Aluminum chloride in excess of that soluble in the second solvent separates as a substantially pure solid phase. The solution is separated from solid phase and recycled in process to recover additional aluminum chloride.

Abstract: A process for recovering concentrated, purified tungsten values, such as ammonium paratungstate, from a brine containing minor amounts of soluble tungsten and a substantial concentration of impurities, the brine having a pH in the range of from about 7.0 to about 8.5. In general, the process comprises: contacting the brine with a substantially water-insoluble ion exchange resin to adsorb the soluble tungsten; eluting the adsorbed tungsten values from the ion exchange resin; treating the eluate to convert the tungsten values to an extractable species; recovering the extractable species of tungsten values from the eluate to substantially concentrate the tungsten values; contacting the concentrated tungsten values with an extractant to substantially load the extractant with the concentrated tungsten values; and recovering from the extractant a product having concentrated, purified tungsten values.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing a metal of variable valence to a higher valence state by electrochemical means. More particularly, a process for oxidizing a metal of variable valence, such as, for example, uranium or vanadium contained in wet process phosphoric acid to a higher valence state for extraction by subsequent contact with complex organic extractants. The wet process phosphoric acid is oxidized in an electrolytic cell operated at a constant current density. The cell comprises a tank having at least one anode having a surface coating containing manganese dioxide and at least one cathode, said anode and cathode having a ratio of surface areas exposed to the electrolyte in said cell of from at least about 100:1.

Abstract: A process for beneficiating ilmenite ore using electrolytic reduction. The ilmenite ore is admixed with an acidic solution to form a mixture. The mixture is electrolytically reduced to convert at least a portion of any ferric iron that is present to ferrous iron. The acidic solution dissolves the ferrous iron in the ilmenite ore and yields beneficiated ilmenite having a relatively high titanium dioxide content.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a system for detecting an interface between a mineral seam and the surrounding earth formation utilizing a radiation source and a radiation receiver mounted on a miner having a positionable cutter assembly. As the miner is moved into the coal seam, a first distance is continuously sensed between one surface formed in the mineral seam by the miner cutter assembly and the surrounding earth formation and the miner cutter assembly is positioned in response to the sensed first distance. As the miner is withdrawn from the coal seam, a second distance is continuously sensed between one surface formed in the mineral seam by the miner cutter assembly and the surrounding earth formation and the miner cutter assembly is positioned in response to the sensed second distance.

Abstract: An improved mining apparatus for excavating material, such as coal, for example, from an earth formation, such as a coal seam, for example, wherein a miner, having a forward and a rearward cutter, is guided through the coal seam and excavates a borehole therein, the borehole being filled with a working fluid during the operation of the miner, the working fluid facilitating the operation of the miner and providing a vehicle for removing the mined material. Substantially all of the operations of the miner are controlled from the earth's surface thereby eliminating the necessity and accompanying hazards and costs involved in utilizing personnel underground during the mining operations.

Abstract: A process for utilizing mineral-containing residue from coal liquefaction processes to produce a hydraulic cement. The residue is mixed with siliceous and calcareous matereals and compacted. The compacted solids are introduced into a kiln and fired to produce hydraulic cement clinker. The primary fuel for the clinker production is contained in the residue. The clinker is removed from the kiln and ground to produce cement.

Abstract: An improved system for deashing coal liquefaction products wherein a feed mixture (including a deashing solvent, soluble coal products and insoluble coal products) is separated in a first separation zone into a first light fraction and a first heavy fraction (including insoluble coal products and some deashing solvent). The first heavy fraction is withdrawn from the first separation zone and the pressure level of the first heavy fraction is reduced at least 100 psig for vaporizing the deashing solvent and for yielding a composition substantially comprising coal products. The composition is essentially a powdery, solid material and is capable of being transferred via a slurry or mechanical means.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing a metal of variable valence to a higher valence state by electrochemical means. More particularly, a process for oxidizing a metal of variable valence, such as, for example, uranium or vanadium contained in wet process phosphoric acid to a higher valence state for extraction by subsequent contact with complex organic extractants. The wet process phosphoric acid is oxidized in an electrolytic cell operated at a controlled potential via use of a reference electrode. The cell comprises a tank having at least one anode and at least one cathode, said anode and cathode having a ratio of surface areas exposed to the electrolyte in said cell of from at least about 100:1.

Abstract: A process for the reductive stripping of an organic phase containing either or both uranium and vanadium. Said process comprising contacting said organic phase containing either or both uranium in the hexavalent state and vanadium in the pentavalent state with an aqueous solution containing a predetermined quantity of trivalent vanadium to reduce either or both the uranium and vanadium to a lower valence state which is not soluble in said organic phase. The reduced uranium and vanadium separate from the organic phase and collect in the aqueous solution from which it may be subsequently recovered. The process of this invention yields an aqueous strip solution containing fewer contaminates comprising undesirable alkali metals such as sodium and the like than other known chemical stripping processes. Further, the process limits the quantity of ferrous ions present in the system to alleviate the problem of sludge formation in subsequent treatment of the wet process acid to produce phosphate fertilizer.

Abstract: In a process for the removal and pressure reduction of a high pressure, high temperature slurry from a process vessel, the slurry is mixed with a make-up liquid in a temperature treatment vessel to form a diluted slurry, which is passed through a cooling apparatus, and a recycle portion of the diluted slurry is recycled to the temperature treatment vessel. Another portion of the cooled diluted slurry solution is flashed to a preselected reduced pressure through a pressure reducing valve, and this portion is passed to a stripping vessel for concentrating and producing a slurry product. In operation, plural slurry gravity settling vessels may be connected to a single heat treatment vessel, thereby effectuating slurry pressure reduction across a single pressure reducing valve.

Abstract: A process for maintaining the fluid-like properties of separate phases formed within a continuous coal deashing process during periods in which the flow of feed to the apparatus is interrupted. In operation, when the flow of feed is interrupted, the flow of solvent to the separation apparatus of the coal deashing process is diverted about said apparatus in such a manner as to maintain the system operating pressure. More specifically, solvent maintained at elevated temperature and pressure is diverted about the mixing and separation apparatus and introduced into a conduit downstream of the separation zone, in advance of a pressure regulating valve, said conduit also connecting to the separation apparatus. The new flow path maintains the pressure within the separation zone through establishment of fluid communication between the elevated pressure solvent and the phases within the separation apparatus.

Abstract: Coal liquefaction products are contacted with a deashing solvent and introduced into a first separation zone. The first separation zone is maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure, determined to maximize the recovery of soluble coal products, to cause said coal liquefaction products to separate into a first light phase and a first heavy phase. Under these conditions the heavy phase while still fluid-like in character is substantially non-flowable. Flowability is returned to the fluid-like heavy phase by the introduction of an additional quantity of deashing solvent into the first separation zone at a location below the interface between the first light and heavy phases or into the heavy phase withdrawal conduit during withdrawal of the first heavy phase and prior to any substantial pressure reduction. The first heavy phase then is withdrawn from the first separation zone for additional downstream processing without plugging either the withdrawal conduit or the downstream apparatus.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for oxidizing vanadium and uranium in wet process phosphoric acid to a higher valence state for extraction by subsequent contact with complex organic extractants. The wet process phosphoric acid is oxidized in an electrolytic cell operated at a controlled potential via use of a reference electrode. The cell comprises a tank having at least one high surface area anode and at least one high surface area cathode separated by an ion exchange membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for rapidly and efficiently oxidizing either or both vanadium and uranium from the trivalent and guadrivalent oxidation states, respectively, to the pentavelent and hexavalent oxidation states, respectively, through the use of a special electrode. The electrode is produced by anodically treating a substrate material selected from the group of titanium, zirconium, niobium, hafnium and alloys thereof in an aqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises an aqueous solution of manganous ion in a concentration of from about 15 to 50 gm/l and from about 10 to 40 gm/l sulfuric acid. Manganese dioxide is electrodeposited on the substrate to form the electrode. The manganese dioxide coated electrode then is placed in an oxidation cell as an anode wherein it is potentiostaticly controlled to oxidize either or both vanadium and uranium without significant anode deterioration and without oxygen generation at the anode.

Abstract: A process for the simultaneous coextraction of uranium and vanadium from an aqueous acidic solution containing the same comprising contacting said aqueous acidic solution with an organic phase comprising a mixture of (a) an alkyl substituted diaryl phosphoric acid, (b) a trialkylphosphine oxide compound, and (c) an organic diluent whereby the uranium and vanadium are coextracted into the organic phase and thereafter recovering the uranium and vanadium from the organic phase.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of synthetic rutile from ore containing titanium and iron, such as ilmenite ore, by a multi-step procedure employing controlled reduction, controlled oxidation and acid leaching. More specifically, the ilmenite ore first is reduced thermally such that substantially all of the iron (III) present has been converted to iron (II) and some metallic iron. The reduced ore then is oxidized with an oxidizing gas substantially free of elemental oxygen to convert the metallic iron to iron (II) without the substantial formation of iron (III). The oxidized ore then is leached to remove the iron (II) and calcined to produce synthetic rutile. The synthetic rutile so produced contains in excess of 92 percent titanium dioxide and less than 2 percent iron (III), by weight. Often, the synthetic rutile contains less than 1 percent total iron by weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of treating a substrate material selected from the group consisting of titanium, tantalum, zirconium, niobium, hafnium and their alloys to form an electrode. Broadly, the improved method comprises anodically treating the substrate material in an electrolyte containing fluoride ions under controlled potential conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing coal derived, hydrogen-rich donor fractions from fractions of coal liquefaction products for use in the hydroconversion of coal. Coal liquefaction products are subjected to a critical solvent deashing process to produce various deashed coal fractions which can only be obtained by practicing that process. Thereafter, the various deashed coal fractions are subjected to hydrogen addition to produce heretofore unavailable hydrogen-rich donor fractions. These hydrogen-rich donor fractions may be recycled to supplant a portion of the liquefaction process solvent or blended with other fractions produced by the deashing process to provide improved fuel products.