Abstract: A process for the preparation of manganese sulfate solutions having reduced levels of potassium impurity comprising blending a reduced manganese ore, an added source of water soluble aluminum ions and an aqueous acid solution to form a digestion mixture, digesting said mixture, preferably in the presence of crystals of a complex potassium-aluminum salt to form a mixed reaction product containing a liquid phase of manganese sulfate solution and recovering the liquid phase of manganese sulfate solution from said mixed reaction product.

Abstract: A production monitoring system wherein the velocity of fluid flowing through a monitored flowline is plotted with respect to time for a period of time sufficient to establish a repeatable pattern (production flow characteristics profile) and wherein an alarm value and an alarm delay time are determined from the production flow characteristics profile. In one aspect, the velocity of the fluid flowing through the monitored flowline is detected and an output indication indicating a problem production condition is provided in response to a detected velocity below the alarm value for a period of time in excess of the alarm delay time.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting in a fluid separation zone for improving the separation of fluids of different densities. The apparatus includes a distributor mounted within the separation zone provided with fluid openings having packing means disposed thereabout.

Abstract: A method for electrodepositing metallic manganese in an electrolytic cell wherein a water soluble natural guargum and a polyacrylamide based polymer additive, natural or synthetic, is added to the electrolyte feed solution.

Abstract: A method for continuously controlling the formation of crystal fines in a continuous crystallizing process in which product crystals are produced in a crystallizing zone from crystallizable material in a mother liquor, and in which product crystals are thereafter recovered. The invention is practiced by adding a flocculant, specific to the crystallizable material, to the mother liquor at a rate effective to cause flocculation of particles of crystallizable material in the mother liquor. One embodiment of the invention is practiced in a process for producing sodium bicarbonate crystals by adding anionic polyacrylate and/or polyacrylamide polymers to a sodium carbonate-containing feed brine received in a carbonator.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of electrolytic manganese dioxide is provided employing improved cathodes, said cathodes being characterized by their reduced tendency to corrode and undergo buildup of current inhibiting scale under electrolytic conditions. The improved cathodes are fabricated from copper comprised of at least about 99.95 weight percent of copper, from about 0.001 to about 0.085 weight percent of silver and up to about 0.003 weight percent of phosphorous. The weight ratio of phosphorous to silver in said copper cathode will be no greater than about 2.0 to 1.0.

Abstract: A system for loading coal or other particles into railroad cars wherein every other railroad car is designated an EVEN railroad car and the remaining every other railroad cars are designated ODD railroad cars. Each EVEN railroad car is weighed after being filled with coal and before the initiation of the loading of coal into the next EVEN railroad car to determine a filled weight. The filled weight of each EVEN railroad car is compared to a predetermined control weight and, in response to this determination, the termination of the loading of coal into the next EVEN railroad car controllably is varied to bring the filled weight closer to control weight. In a like manner, each ODD railroad car is weighed after being filled with coal and before the initiation of the loading of coal into the next ODD railroad car to determine a filled weight.

Abstract: Titanium tetrachloride is produced from titanium ore and reductant suspended in molten salt by the passage of chlorine therethrough. The titanium tetrachloride is scrubbed by passage through at least one scrubber of molten salt and oxidized to produce titanium oxide and chlorine. Chlorine is recaptured as a solute in cold titanium tetrachloride and then liberated and recycled.

Abstract: A process for separating inorganic substances involving their abstraction from a mixture with near-supercritical inorganic fluids. One or more inorganic substances are abstracted and then separatively recovered by retrograde condensations. The process particularly is applicable with mixtures obtained from the chlorination of metalliferous ores and may be conjoined to many ancillary metal abstraction processes such as volatilizations, distillations or electrolyses.

Abstract: A system for protecting glass structures in a combustion zone wherein heat refractory material is applied to the glass structure. The applied heat refractory material substantially is opaque and non-reflective to visible light and also is resistant to degradation at temperatures of up to about 2500 degrees farenheit. The heat refractory material acting to absorb radiant energy and to inhibit the devitrification of glass structures maintained at temperatures elevated to about 1000 degrees centigrade for extended periods of time.

Abstract: A process of chlorinating titanium ore suspended with carbonaceous reductant in molten salt by passage of chlorine therethrough. Titanium tetrachloride produced is purified of by-product metal chlorides by their absorption in the salt as non-volatile double salts.

Abstract: A process for producing titanium tetrachloride in which iron-titanium ore is leached in hydrochloric acid to produce a solid phase comprising upgraded titanium-containing material, and a spent liquid phase. Dissolved metal chlorides in the spent liquid phase are regenerated to produce hydrochloric acid in an acid regeneration zone. The titanium-containing material is chlorinated to produce a product stream containing titanium tetrachloride and entrained solids, including metal chloride. The entrained solids are recovered from the product stream and the metal chloride portion thereof is recycled to the acid regeneration zone.

Abstract: A process for preferentially extracting and recovering vanadium and uranium from wet process acids. The wet process acid first is contacted with a neutral organo-phosphorus compound to extract the vanadium values. The resulting loaded organic phase is separated from the wet process acid due to immiscibility of the acid and organic phases. The vanadium values then are separated from the organic phase by stripping. The raffinate separated from the first organic extractant then is contacted with a second organic extractant comprising a dialkylphosphoric acid and a neutral organo-phosphorus compound to extract the uranium values. The resulting loaded organic phase is separated from the wet process acid due to immiscibility of the acid and organic phases. The organic phase is stripped with a reductive stripping solution and the stripping solution then is oxidized to convert the uranium values to the hexavalent oxidation state.

Abstract: An improved particulate material loading system for transferring particulate material from a storage assembly to a vehicle having a storage bin wherein the material is protected from the outside environment during the transfer. The storage assembly includes a temporary cover which is operatively engagable with the vehicle to protect the storage bin of the vehicle when a hatch door of the vehicle is moved from a closed position to an open position to enable transfer of the material thereto. The vehicle is constructed to slidably receive the temporary cover of the storage assembly.

Abstract: A process for the prevention of the deposition of entrained soluble coal products from vaporous solvent recovered from a heavy fraction comprising insoluble coal products and some solvent and soluble coal products. The heavy fraction is produced in a coal deashing system employing solvent at elevated temperatures and pressures near the critical conditions of the solvent. The heavy fraction is reduced in pressure to form a mixture of ash concentrate and vaporous solvent together with entrained soluble coal products. This mixture then is turbulently admixed for at least 0.05 seconds to coalesce or condense the entrained soluble coal products upon the ash concentrate particles. The coalescence or condensation of at least a portion of the soluble coal products substantially prevents or minimizes deposition of the same in the solvent withdrawal conduit of subsequent vapor-solid separation apparatus. Alternatively, the mixture is introduced into a fluidized bed of ash concentrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing an improved electrode comprised of titanium and platinum joined to one another in such manner as to resist separation by corrosion when utilized in a cathodic protection system in a corrosive environment such as in a shell and tube heat exchanger.

Abstract: A process for producing a flowable concentrated aqueous slurry of insoluble coal products from a dilute slurry of insoluble coal products. The dilute slurry is concentrated to form a nonflowable concentrate having a solids level in excess of 65 weight percent. The nonflowable concentrate is introduced into a mixing zone together with an alkaline agent, surfactant and diluent wherein they are admixed to form a flowable concentrated aqueous slurry having a solids level in excess of 60 weight percent. Sufficient alkaline agent is present to provide a pH level of the slurry above about 9.0. The surfactant comprises at least about 0.01 percent by weight of the solids present. The diluent can comprise any suitable aqueous stream that does not adversely react with the insoluble coal products, alkaline agent or surfactant. The concentrated aqueous slurry is easily flowable from the mixing zone.

Abstract: A process for reducing the concentration of selenium ions in the Se(VI) oxidation state in an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is admixed with a quantity of metallic iron. The iron reduces the selenium ions from the Se(VI) oxidation state to a lower oxidation state and then dissolves in the aqueous solution. If the pH level of the aqueous solution is above about 2.3, the selenium ions are reduced to at least the Se(IV) oxidation state and the dissolved metallic iron hydrolyses to form an iron hydroxide that precipitates. The precipitated material is separated from the aqueous solution to provide a solution having a lower concentration of selenium ions. If the pH level of the aqueous solution is below about 2.3, no iron hydrolysis is observed to occur. At least a portion of the selenium in the Se(VI) oxidation state is believed to be reduced to the elemental state. The elemental selenium then is separated from the aqueous solution to provide a solution having a lower concentration of selenium ions.

Abstract: A process for solubilizing uranium and other values in an ore containing the same together with aluminum and phosphorus and effecting regeneration of a mineral acid employed to solubilize the ore. The regeneration is effected by heating the spent acid solution resulting from solubilization of the ore in a reaction zone to a temperature above 100.degree. C. while maintaining at least the autogenic pressure of the heated solution within the reaction zone. The treatment causes aluminum phosphate to precipitate from the solution while simultaneously causing regeneration of at least a portion of the mineral acid in the solution that was consumed to originally solubilize the ore. The dissolved uranium and other elements of value can be recovered from the solution, either before or after acid regeneration, by any known technique. The regenerated mineral acid then can be used to solubilize fresh ore.

Abstract: An improved particulate material loading system for transferring particulate material from a storage assembly to a vehicle having a storage bin wherein the material is protected from the outside environment during the transfer. The storage assembly includes a temporary cover which is operatively engagable with the vehicle to protect the storage bin of the vehicle when a hatch door of the vehicle is moved from a closed position to an open position to enable transfer of the material thereto. The vehicle is constructed to slidably receive the temporary cover of the storage assembly.