Abstract: In a process for the reduction of titanium salt comprising a halide of titanium to titanium metal by contacting said titanium salt in the molten state with a molten alloy and zinc to form a solution of titanium metal in zinc the improvement which comprises the step of:(a) contacting said titanium salt in the molten state with said molten alloy at an elevated pressure to thereby increase the solubility of said titanium metal in said solution.For example, an ore comprising titanium oxides may be fluorinated to convert the titanium oxides to titanium fluorides and the titanium fluorides may be reduced to titanium metal by contacting a molten titanium fluoride salt with a molten zinc-aluminum alloy at an elevated pressure to provide a titanium-zinc alloy having a greater concentration of titanium than is obtained at ambient pressure. The titanium-zinc alloy may be separated from the resulting fluorides of aluminum and the zinc distilled from the alloy to leave behind titanium sponge.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the separation of a mixture of particles containing differing concentrations of a selected component into three fractions of similar concentration of the selected component. The process comprises conditioning the mixture of particles with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic surface-active agent to selectively coat each of the particles relative to the concentration of the selected component in each particle. In combination with the surface-active agent there is provided a fluorescent dye which either adheres to the coated or non-coated particles. The mixture of conditioned particles is then irradiated to excite and induce fluorescence of the fluorescent dye to a degree sufficient to distinguish among the intensities of fluorescence of the fluorescent dye on the various particles. The particles are separated into concentrate, middling and tailing fractions based upon distinguishing among the intensities of fluorescence.

Abstract: A method for recovering liquid and gaseous products from an in situ oil shale retort containing a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale is provided. A hot ignition gas comprising oxygen at a first selected concentration is introduced into the fragmented mass for heating the fragmented mass top surface. The percentage of the fragmented mass surface that is at a temperature no less than the ignition temperature of oil shale is determined. Thereafter, the concentration of oxygen in the ignition gas is increased by an amount proportional to the determined percentage. Such heating of the fragmented mass top surface establishes a combustion zone in the retort. After the combustion zone has spread horizontally across the retort, introduction of the hot ignition gas is discontinued. Thereafter, an oxygen-supplying gas is introduced into the retort for advancing the combustion zone downwardly through the fragmented mass.

Abstract: A method for igniting an in situ oil shale retort containing a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale is provided. A void space is in the retort between the top surface of the fragmented mass and the top boundary of overlying unfragmented formation. A hot ignition gas comprising oxygen is introduced into the void space to form a combustion zone across the surface of the fragmented mass. An oxygen-supplying gas is then introduced into the void space for sustaining the combustion zone and for advancing the combustion zone downwardly through the retort. The combustion zone is then extinguished and a cool inert gas is introduced into the retort to cool carbonaceous materials comprising the surface of the fragmented mass to a temperature below the self-ignition temperature of such carbonaceous materials, while leaving carbonaceous materials below the fragmented mass surface at temperatures greater than the self-ignition temperature of such materials.

Abstract: In an acidic in situ leaching system, a short circuit passage through a subterranean formation between a fracture associated with an injection well and a fracture associated with a production well can be plugged by introducing a non-acidic liquid for displacing acidic leach liquid from the short circuit passage, introducing into the injection well a basic composition including a sealing material that gels under acidic conditions, and introducing sufficient liquid into the injection well to displace at least a portion of the basic composition containing sealing material from the injection well into the short circuit passage. Liquid flow between the injection well and the production well is then discontinued for a sufficient time for residual acid in the subterranean formation surrounding the short circuit passage to contact the sealing material and cause gelation of the sealing material in the short circuit passage. The introduction of acidic leach liquid to the formation can then continue.

Abstract: A process for the production of phosphorus-containing organo substituted inorganic polymers comprises reacting at least one organophosphorous or organophosphoric acid compound of the formula[(HO).sub.2 OP].sub.n R or [(HO).sub.2 OPO].sub.n Rwherein n is 1 or 2 and R is an organo group covalently coupled to phosphorus with at least one tetravalent metal ion to precipitate a solid inorganic polymer in which the molar ratio of phosphorus to tetravalent metal is about 2 to 1 and in which the organo group is covalently bonded to phosphorus and phosphorus is linked to the tetravalent metal through oxygen.

Abstract: Layered solid inorganic polymers having at least one organo group anchored to a surface of the polymer, and which can be useful in catalysis, lubrication, ion-exchange, chromatography and absorption processes, can be made by reacting at least one tetravalent metal (e.g., zirconium, cerium, thorium, uranium, lead, hafnium, titanium, etc.) and two or more acids selected from phosphoric acid, phosphonic acid and organophosphorus acids of the formula ((HO).sub.2 OP).sub.n R wherein n is 1 or 2 and R is an organo group covalently bonded to the phosphorus atom. Preferably the reaction is conducted with a stoichiometric excess of phosphorus acids in a liquid medium in which a compound of the metal is soluble. The covalent bonding can be through oxygen to produce phosphates, or through carbon to produce phosphonates.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the nitrogen content of hydrocarbon liquids. The method comprises contacting the hydrocarbon liquid with a solid metal salt capable of selectively extracting nitrogen-containing compounds from the hydrocarbon liquid to thereby form a nitrogen-rich solid extract. Nitrogen-lean hydrocarbon liquid is then separated from the solid extract. The solid extract is washed with a solvent capable of selectively dissolving non-nitrogen-containing compounds entrained in the solid extract. The solid extract is then treated with a release agent for selectively dissolving nitrogen-containing compounds to thereby recover the metal salt. The presently preferred metal salt is cupric chloride.

Abstract: A method for the separation of magnesium-bearing ore particles containing an exposed magnesian-rich mineral on the surface from the lean ore particles containing a lesser surface area of the exposed magnesian mineral which comprises conditioning the ore with a coupling agent of hydroxyquinoline; irradiating the conditioned ore to excite and induce fluorescence; and separating the magnesian-rich mineral from the lean ore particles by detecting the difference of the fluorescence intensity.

Abstract: A process for producing phosphorus pentoxide from phosphate ore includes the mixing and formulation of a feed mixture of phosphate ore with lime and solid carbonaceous material in amounts to produce a feed mixture having a CaO/SiO.sub.2 mole ratio greater than about 8.0. This mixture is formed into pellets which are then exposed to radiation eminating from an oxidation zone, preferably within a rotary type kiln, in order to heat the pellets to a temperature sufficient to reduce the phosphate by reaction with the solid carbonaceous material to form elemental phosphorus vapor without substantial melting of the pellets. Sufficient oxygen-containing gas is provided to cause oxidation of the elemental phosphorus vapor within the oxidation zone to produce phosphorus pentoxide.

Abstract: Process for the simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxide and electricl energy. A plurality of hybrid cells (1) are operated in series with an aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide introduced as anolyte into an anode compartment of a first hybrid cell (6) at one end of the series and an aqueous fluid medium receptive to alkali metal ions introduced as catholyte into a cathode of a last hybrid cell (7) at an opposite end of the series of cells (1). The anolyte is caused to flow through the anode compartments (3) of the cells (1) in sequence from the first cell (6) to the last cell (7) of the series of cells (1). The catholyte is caused to flow through the cathode compartments (4) in sequence from the last cell (7) to the first cell (6) countercurrently to the flow of anolyte from hybrid cell to hybrid cell of the series of cells (1).

Abstract: A nuclear fusion process for igniting a nuclear fusion pellet in a manner similar to that proposed for laser beams uses, an array of pulsed high energy combined particle beams focused to bombard the pellet for isentropically compressing it to a Fermi-degenerate state by thermal blow-off and balanced beam momentum transfer. Each combined particle beam is arranged to produce electric charge neutrality in a volume around the target so that space charge induced expansion is avoided. Each high energy combined beam is produced by merging in neutralizing proportion a convergently focused stream of positive particles and at least one convergently focused stream of negative particles to form an electrically neutralized combined beam having a deBroglie wavelength focal pattern at the region of pellet collision. The momentum and fusible mass of the particle beams reduce the ablation loss and result in a larger fraction of the pellet being available for fusion reaction.

Abstract: An in situ leaching or solution mining process is conducted in a subterranean cavity in communication with a well bore. The subterranean cavity is gradually enlarged by inducing spallation of formation particles and/or collapse of the roof into the cavity by repeatedly cycling the hydraulic pressure in the subterranean cavity. The hydraulic pressure is preferably increased during a period of at least about two hours. The hydraulic pressure can be gradually decreased during a period of at least about two hours or can be suddenly decreased. Rapid pressure pulses can be applied to liquid in the subterranean cavity by detonation of shaped charges of explosive with the axis of force of the charge being directed along the axis of the well.

Abstract: A process for producing phosphorus pentoxide from phosphate ore includes the steps of mixing phosphate ore containing silica with solid carbonaceous material and a silica fluxing agent to form a feed mixture and thereafter forming the feed mixture into pellets. Alternatively, pellets may be formed using phosphate ore containing silica and carbonaceous material which are then coated with a silica fluxing agent. The pellets are heated by exposure to radiation eminating from an oxidation zone within a kiln to a temperature enabling the silica fluxing agent to promote melting of the silica proximate to surface areas of the pellet in order to seal internal portions of the pellet from the oxidizing zone and thereby reduce premature oxidation of the carbonaceous material in the pellet. Thereafter the pellets are heated to a temperature sufficient to reduce the phosphate in the pellets by reaction with the solid carbonaceous material to form elemental phosphorus vapor.

Abstract: Novel organic tertiary phoshine oxides and organic phoshonic acid esters, for example, bidentate organophosphorus actinide extractants, such as the carbamoylmethylphosphonates (CMP's) can be prepared (for example, in 90% or better yield and purity) by a process involving phase transfer catalysis, under conditions where degradive hydrolysis of the products or reactants is substantially avoided. For example, carbamoylmethylphosphonates can be prepared by reaction of the corresponding secondary phosphites with 2-substituted acetamides (wherever the substituent is a good leaving group, e.g. chlorine) in a two-phase system containing a high concentration of an aqueous base (preferably sodium hydroxide) and a suitable phase transfer catalyst, e.g., tetralkylammonium chlorides. Similarly, secondary phosphine oxides can be converted to novel tertiary carbamoylmethylphoshine oxides which are useful as extractants for transplutonium elements.

Abstract: A source for a high density electrically neutral beam of combined positive and negative particles suitable for bombardment and heating of a pellet of nuclear fusion material to fusion temperature. A source mounted in a housing with a spherical substrate having positive ion emitter material thereon, first, second and third grids spaced from each other along the beam path, and electron emitters, for providing positive ion beams and electron beams at the same velocity for mixing to provide an overall electrically neutral beam. A source utilizing a zeolite type compound, such as B-eucryptite or sodium mordenite, which on heating emits positive ions of an element in the compound, such as lithium or sodium.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for the preparation of titanium metal from an ore comprising titanium oxides which process comprises the steps of fluorinating the ore to convert the titanium oxides to titanium fluorides and then reducing the titanium fluorides to the metal. Such reduction may be carried out by contacting the titanium fluorides as a molten salt mixture with a molten alloy of zinc and aluminum at conditions whereby titanium is converted into a titanium-zinc alloy and the aluminum is converted into fluorides of aluminum. The titanium zinc alloy is separated from the fluorides of aluminum and the zinc is distilled from the alloy to leave behind titanium sponge. The ore may be an ilmenite ore and the fluorination may be carried out by contacting said ilmenite ore with a fluosilicate salt such as sodium fluosilicate.

Abstract: A process for producing phosphorus pentoxide from phosphorus ore includes formation of a feed with a phosphate ore, silica and solid carbonaceous material in amounts to produce a feed mixture having a CaO/SiO.sub.2 mole ratio of less than about 0.5. The feed mixture is formed into agglomerated feed particles and the particles are heated by exposure to radiation eminating from an oxidation zone to a temperature sufficient to reduce the phosphate by reaction from the solid carbonaceous material to form elemental phosphorus vapor without substantial melting of the agglomerated feed particles. Sufficient oxygen-containing gas is provided to cause oxidation of the elemental phosphorus vapor within the oxidation zone to produce phosphorus pentoxide.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a novel hydroformylation catalyst comprising a composite of rhodium metal or a rhodium metal compound and a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the general formulaM(O.sub.3 ZO.sub.x R).sub.nwherein M comprises a tetravalent metal, Z comprises a pentavalent atom, R is selected from the group consisting of organo radicals comprising a moiety selected from the group consisting of phosphine radicals; x is 0 or 1, and n is 2, provided that n is 1 when R is terminated with a tri- or tetra-oxy pentavalent atom. This catalyst is useful in hydroformylation processes which comprise contacting said catalyst with an olefin, at conditions sufficient to convert said olefin into an aldehyde or an alcohol. For example, 1-hexene may be hydroformylated to a mixture comprising heptylaldehyde isomers and propylene may be hydroformylated to n-butyraldehyde by means of a hydroformylation catalyst comprising a composite RhCl(CO)(PC.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 and Zr(O.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the nitrogen content of shale oil by selectivity removing therefrom nitrogen-containing compounds. The nitrogen content of shale oil is reduced by contacting the shale oil with a sufficient amount of a solvent which is selective toward the nitrogen-containing compounds present in the shale oil. The solvent is a mixture comprised of an organic acid and a mineral acid. The organic acid is selected from the group consisting of organic acids, and substituted organic acids, particularly acetic, formic and trichloroacetic acids and mixtures thereof; the mineral acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, nitrous acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof.