Abstract: A steam lance, which is useful to melt solid sulfur in the outlet underneath a sulfur tank car containing molten sulfur, comprises (in operative relationship) tip means for contacting a material to be heated (e.g., solid sulfur); conduit means for conducting heat exchanging fluid to, or to and from, said tip means; and pivot means disposed in an operative relationship therewith for pivotally supporting said conduit means to enable the application of force to said conduit means to urge said tip means against or into said material to be heated.

Abstract: Alkali metal phosphates and HF can be produced from a substantially calcium-free fluoroaluminum phosphate precipitate (which also contains iron) made by the aging of wet process phosphoric acid containing iron, fluorine and aluminum, preferably phosphoric acid analyzing in the range of about 15%-45 weight percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5, 2-4% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 1-2% fluorine. One process involves digestion of phosphate ore matrix in recycled phosphoric acid, filtration to remove the insoluble residue, precipitation and filtration to remove gypsum, and aging of the product acid to precipitate the aluminum impurity as a fluoroaluminum phosphate compound. The fluoroaluminum phosphate can be decomposed (as by heating at above 195.degree. C.) to produce HF and aluminum phosphate. The aluminum phosphate can be contacted with alkali metal hydroxide under conditions which produce an alkali metal phosphate.

Abstract: Phosphoric acids of significantly different content of soluble impurities, especially magnesium compounds, can be blended to produce a phosphoric acid with a decreased tendency for forming detrimental solids when converted to a liquid fertilizer or on storage, or during transportation as when the acid is transported by ocean vessel or rail road tank car. The blending can be effected either before or after a concentration step or steps (e.g., evaporation to "merchant grade" or to superphosphoric acid). For example, wet process phosphoric acid produced by a dihydrate or gypsum process can be blended with a phosphoric acid produced by a hemihydrate process.

Abstract: A "non-pressure" liquid fertilizer containing nitrogen and sulfur can be prepared by a process comprising (a) mixing sulfuric acid in water, (b) dissolving urea into the resulting solution, and (c) adding anhydrous ammonia in an amount sufficient to bring the pH of the solution to between about 6 and 8. The resulting liquid fertilizers can typically contain in the range of about 19 to about 25% nitrogen and in the range of about 3 to 6% sulfur and remain substantially free from crystals when stored at temperatures above about 40.degree. F. A 19-0-0 liquid fertilizer containing about 3% S (as sulfate) remained crystal free when stored for about a month at about 32.degree. F. The "non-pressure" liquid can be blended with dispersion-type fertilizers. Dispersion-type fertilizers of low phosphate content can be made by substituting phosphoric acid for some or all of the sulfuric acid.