Abstract: In the fluidized bed chlorination of materials containing, for example, magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron or chromium oxides which tend to accumulate as chlorides in the bed leading to bed agglomeration, the hot partially chlorinated bed is treated with oxygen containing gas to strip out such chlorides as such or to convert them to oxides after which the chlorination may be continued. The invention may be applied, for example, to the production of titanium tetrachloride from titanium dioxide slag or the production of chromium chloride, from a chromite beneficiate.

Abstract: In a process for the production of titanium dioxide by the vapour phase oxidation of titanium tetrachloride in which process entrained inert particulate material is passed through equipment used to reduce or prevent the deposition of solids thereon, the quantity of inert particulate material entrained may be affected by the varying back pressure normally obtaining in the equipment. The control of this quantity may be improved by reducing pressure differences (by means of conduit 39) between the inlet (40) and outlet (36) of a mechanical feeding device (29, 30) for the solids. This entails the transmission of the pressure (from the conduit 26) into the solids delivery system 25(17) and this may be alleviated, optionally, by maintaining a head of solids in the system and/or by using a system of pressurized hoppers. The invention enables the quantity of inert particulate material used to be reduced.

Abstract: Stable high concentration aqueous slurries of pigmentary metal oxide particles having a hydrous oxide surface-treatment comprising alumina, for example alumina surface-treated pigmentary titanium dioxide, may be formed by the use of a specified combination of anionic and amine dispersants and a milling in the presence of grinding elements, for example in a sand mill, to develop suitable viscosity and gloss characteristics. The slurries may show thixotropic properties and are suitable for incorporation in vinyl silk aqueous emulsion paints.

Abstract: The present invention provides the following:(a) An aluminophosphorus compound wherein the atomic ratio of P to Al exceeds 1:1 and having anion exchange properties.(b) A process for preparing such an aluminophosphorus compound comprising treating an aluminous compound, for example a zeolite, a clay, or alumina with a melt comprising a phosphate, for example ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate, and removing excess phosphate from the compound thereby formed.(c) A process for at least partially removing anions from an aqueous solution which comprises contacting the aqueous solution containing the anions with the aluminophosphorus compound.(d) A process for the chromatographic separation of two anions in aqueous solution wherein the chromatographic stationary phase comprises the aluminophosphorus compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides the following:(a) A fluoride-treated zeolite in which the number of equivalents of fluoride exceeds the sum of the numbers of equivalents of all cations except for hydrogen, aluminium and silicon cations in the zeolite.(b) A process for fluoride-treating a zeolite wherein the zeolite is treated with a concentrated aqueous solution of a salt of hydrofluoric acid.(c) A process for at least partially removing metal ions from an aqueous solution, which comprises contacting the aqueous solution, containing the metal ions, with the fluoride-treated zeolite specified in (a) above or produced as specified in (b) above.(d) A process for the chromatographic separation of two or more metal ions in aqueous solution wherein the chromatographic stationary phase comprises the fluoride-treated zeolite specified in (a) above or produced as specified in (b) above.

Abstract: It has already been suggested that chronic exposure of humans to nitrous oxide is a potential health hazard. There is especial concern for those working in the vicinity of a patient to whom nitrous oxide is administered as an anaesthetic. The present invention provides a disposable surgical mask characterized in that a layer comprising particles of a molecular sieve based on silicon dioxide and having an affinity for nitrous oxide is disposed between adjacent layers of the mask. Wearing such a mask reduces personal exposure to nitrous oxide.

Abstract: Electrical insulation may be provided between two parts of a structure intended for exposure to high temperature radiation from a heat source, e.g. the interior wall of an electrical discharge furnace, by providing slot in the structure positioned so that the base of the slot cannot view the heat source directly. The slot may have flared lips, sides generally angled away from each other in the direction of increasing temperature, provision for a flow of gas in the same direction and provision for cooling the material bridging the base of the slot to a temperature at which it may be electrically insulating.

Abstract: Fluid permeable wall members through which an auxiliary fluid is passed against pressure exerted by a fluid to be contained, which wall member is composed of inorganic fibres, may be used to contain hot fluids or fluids otherwise having a deleterious effect on the wall members. Vacuum formed shapes composed of refractory inorganic fibres may be used to contain fluids having temperatures of over 2500.degree. C. such as gases which have been heated by electrical discharge means for use in the vapor phase manufacture of oxides of titanium, iron, aluminium, silicon or zirconium and offer low capital costs combined with resistance to thermal shock.

Abstract: Material containing iron in combination with chromium, such as chromite ore or sand, may be upgraded by removing at least some iron by a fluidized bed process in which iron is chlorinated to ferrous chloride in the presence of carbon and the ferrous chloride vapor removed. Selectivity of the process in reducing or avoiding the chlorination of the chromiUm content of the ore and in reducing or avoiding the formation of ferric chloride, with resulting increased chlorine usage efficiency, may be achieved by control of process parameters such as bed depth, chlorine concentration, and temperature. The invention may be used to produce a suitable raw material for the production of ferrochrome, which generally requires a chromium to iron ratio of at least 3:1, from an initial material in which the said ratio is below 2:1, either by upgrading the bulk of the material to the desired level or a portion to above the required level and blending the product with untreated material.

Abstract: The present invention provides washing compositions in which all or part of the detergent builder salt is provided by a mixture of zeolites 13X and 4A. Preferably the weight ratio of 13X to 4A is in the range of 50:50 to 85:15 and especially from 65:35 to 85:15. Especially in the preferred ranges of weight ratios the mixtures are generally more effective at total hardness removal from the wash water than would be expected from the hardness removing capabilities of the zeolites 13X and 4A by themselves, leading to improved washing performance of the composition. In some particularly desirable embodiments part of the builder salt comprises STPP, and in others a minor part of the builder salt comprises a glassy phosphate, preferably together with an ethyleneamine (methylenephosphonic acid) complexing builder salt.The compositions of the present invention are suitable for cleaning, in particular, fabrics or hard surfaces.

Abstract: Metal may be recovered from metal chlorides, for example a mixed metal chloride residue from the fluidized bed chlorination of a titaniferous ore in the presence of carbon to produce titanium tetrachloride by heating, in the presence of a scavenging agent, which may comprise a combination of titanium dioxide and carbon inherently present in a residue from the aforesaid fluidized bed chlorination process, to at least 1500.degree. C. and preferably to a temperature at which iron present is liquid. If the temperature is maintained at below 2200.degree. C. iron, vanadium and niobium may be recovered preferentially to certain lower value metals which remain in the form of chlorides giving the possibility for the recovery of a high value mixed metal product. Titanium trichloride may be formed and this may be chlorinated to titanium tetrachloride thereby increasing the efficiency of the original chlorination process.

Abstract: A heating device for heating corrosive vapours includes a casing defining a vapour flow path having an inlet and an outlet. A tubular metallic electric resistance heating element is disposed in the flow path and arranged such that the vapours being heated successively pass in opposite directions along the interior and exterior of the element in flowing from the inlet to the outlet of the casing. To accomodate thermal expansion and contraction, one end of the element is connected to the casing by means of a flexible coupling there being provision to maintain at least a part of the flexible coupling immersed in a body of an electrically non-conductive liquid capable of shielding the coupling from the corrosive vapours during operation of the device. The non-conductive liquid may be maintained in the liquid state by circulation through a heat exchanger.

Abstract: Titanium disulphide particles comprising orthogonally intersecting plates, and having a relatively high surface area, e.g. above 4 m.sup.2 /g, in relation to its size, e.g. average largest diameter 2-16 microns, and a method for its preparation by the vapor phase reaction between titanium tetrachloride and hydrogen sulphide is provided. This material is susceptible to intercalation by, for example, lithium and may be used as an active cathodic material in electrochemical cells such as secondary batteries.

Abstract: Titanium disulphide having a stoichiometry very near to the theoretical value may be produced by reacting titanium tetrachloride and hydrogen sulphide in the vapor phase under controlled temperature conditions, the product particles being entrained in a gas stream and thereby removed from the reaction zone. The partial pressure of the reactants is preferably also controlled. Product particles substantially consisting of particles having diameters in the range 1 to 50 microns may be produced. The product may be used as a cathode material in batteries.

Abstract: Phosphate containing basic aluminum solutions are provided by reaction aluminum sulphate solution with phosphoric acid, adding chloride, basifying by precipitation of calcium sulphate from solution and cooling the resultant solution in a controlled manner. Preferably addition of chloride and basification occurs at a temperature of 80.degree.-90.degree. C and the solution is cooled to below 60.degree. C soon after the basifying salts have been introduced. The solutions, preferably diluted to an aluminum content of 1 to 2% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 are useful for clarifying water and dewatering sewage sludge.

Abstract: A high solids metal oxides coated titanium dioxide aqueous slurry requires a negative charge and a high pH for use in aqueous paint media. A hot ageing of the coated titanium dioxide can alter the isoelectric point of the slurry and make practicable the avoidance of mixtures of metal oxide coating agents which give rise to processing difficulties and the use of mixtures of metal oxides which would not without the hot ageing step give suitable charge and pH characteristics. An example of a suitable mixture of metal oxide coating agents is a 1:1 molar Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 : TiO.sub.2 mixture. An example of hot ageing conditions is the use of a temperature of 98.degree. C - 100.degree. C for 1 hour while avoiding loss of water and under alkaline conditions.

Abstract: Granular active carbon having satisfactory adsorbency and hardness characteristics and having a high proportion of its porosity in the below 2000 A range is produced from granules prepared from coal fluid energy milled until not more than 1% of the particles have diameters above 38 microns. The coal has a low ash and high carbon content and may have a British Standard Swelling number from 2 to 7 although it is preferred for the volatile matter content of the coal to be not more than 40% on a dry ash free basis. The granules may be produced by compacting milled particles having a temperature of from 50.degree. C to 250.degree. C between unheated pressure rolls.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions for treating cellulosic materials, and in particular for sizing paper or waterproofing textiles containing as active ingredient a cyclic imide N-substituted by an hydrophobic acyl group and at least 10% by weight based on the cyclic imide of an aliphatic acid. Preferred acids contain from 14 to 26 carbon atoms and are preferably saturated monobasic acids. Preferably the compositions contain from 25 to 125% by weight of aliphatic acid based on the cyclic imide. The compositions are suitable for sizing aqueous paper pulp, and especially bleached sulphate pulp.

Abstract: The volumes of hot gas required for use in certain large scale chemical processes may be heated to e.g. above 2500.degree. C by means of a distributed electrical discharge in an apparatus in which the supply of gas to a heating zone is through a plurality of adjacently positioned conduits arranged to constrain the gas at its point of entry thereto into a plurality of parallel streams and in which a plurality of electrodes are positioned respectively in the plurality of gas streams. If the dimensions of the conduit and of the electrodes are suitably controlled relative to the quantity of gas the distributed discharge may be maintained in the absence of seed or of a flame thus avoiding a source of contamination of the heated gas.

Abstract: A polymeric composition comprising main chains, side chains attached thereto and crosslinking units between side chains. The main chains comprise a copolymer of two or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers at least one of which contains hydroxyl groups, the side chains comprise lactone chains attached to said hydroxyl groups and the crosslinking units comprise amino resins. The copolymers may be prepared and subsequently modified or the side chain may be attached to an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and the modified copolymer prepared directly by polymerization with other unsaturated monomers. The modified copolymers are crosslinked and cured with an amino resin.