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: A process for reducing the sodium chloride content of crystalline potassium salts without the use of successive recrystallization. The crystalline potassium salts having a sodium chloride content greater than about 0.8 percent by weight are subjected to compacting and crushing to provide a crystalline product having an average particle diameter less than 1.6 millimeters. The crystalline product is leached with a brine at least about 80 percent saturated with said potassium salt and less than 50 percent saturated with sodium chloride to produce a crystalline potassium salt product containing less than about 0.35 percent by weight of sodiumchloride.

Abstract: A process for removing an agglomerate of accumulated materials including ash concentrate which collects within the first heavy phase withdrawal conduit of a coal deashing system employing solvent at elevated temperatures and pressures near the critical temperature of the solvent. A carrier fluid is introduced into the first heavy phase withdrawal conduit simultaneously with or after pressure reduction of the heavy phase under conditions such that a turbulent flow profile is developed within the withdrawal conduit which results in the removal of at least a substantial portion of any accumulated materials within the withdrawal conduit.

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: A process for effecting a deep cut in a heavy hydrocarbon material without a decrease in the quality of the extracted oil caused by the presence of undesirable entrained resinous bodies. The heavy hydrocarbon material is admixed with a solvent and introduced into a first separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure to effect a separation of the feed into a first light phase and a first heavy phase comprising asphaltenes and some solvent. The first light phase is introduced into a second separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure to effect a separation of the first light phase into a second light phase comprising oils and solvent and a second heavy phase comprising resins and some solvent. A portion of the first heavy phase is withdrawn and introduced into an upper portion of the second separation zone to contact the second light phase after which it separates therefrom.

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: A gate latch is described comprising a tubular support, a latch member having a shaft portion mounted within said tubular support for rotation therein and a latch portion extending axially outwardly from said shaft portion having at least two peripherally, substantially equispaced, projections extending axially outwardly from said shaft portion, said spacing being such as to permit entry between adjacent projections of a complemental gate locking bar extending from a complemental gate, said locking bar having locking means at its free end to engage one or other of said adjacent projections to lock the gate relative to said tubular support.A combination of the above gate latch and the complemental gate locking bar and gate described above is also disclosed.

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.

Abstract: Loading apparatus having vehicle body, inclined conveyor assembly extending upwardly and rearwardly from front of vehicle body, and hopper adjacent front of vehicle to direct material onto conveyor. Apparatus has extendable excavating assembly including a guide mounting a carrier which carries a hoeing assembly. The guide is mounted on vehicle body, and the carrier means cooperates with the guide for movement parallel to movement of conveyor when viewed from above. The hoeing assembly is carried on carrier means to be generally adjacent the hopper to draw material onto hopper for feeding onto conveyor. Carrier and guide can be carriage mounted on rails, or telescoping ram arrangement to provide extendable mount for hoeing assembly which increases reach thereof without requiring excessively long arms, and also facilitates operation of hoeing assembly for drawing material onto the hopper. Operator is positioned at front of vehicle for good visibility during operation of hoeing assembly.

Abstract: A copper mold release material comprising titanium dioxide slurried in a liquid medium. The titanium dioxide is easily removed from a casting, if any adhers thereto, by washing with, for example, water and does not contaminate electrolytes utilized in electrolytic refining processes.