Abstract: A liquid membrane process for removing ions from solution which comprises contacting a solution containing a first ion and a second ion with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an external phase which is immiscible with said solution and contains a first complexing agent, and a second complexing agent, said first complexing agent being capable of forming a first complex with said first ion, and said second complexing agent being capable of forming a second complex with said second ion, both of said complexes being soluble in said external phase, and an internal phase, which comprises a (1) decomplexing agent, said decomplexing agent being capable of converting said first complex into said first complexing agent and said first ion and (2) an inhibiting agent which is capable of inhibiting the formation of said first complex, whereby the first ion diffuses from said solution into said internal phase, and said second ion diffuses from said solution into said external phase.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for concentrating an ore to recover valuable minerals from the ore is disclosed. The apparatus is based upon flotation separation techniques and comprises a trough into which is fed a slurry of ore particles which have been conditioned with a flotation reagent. The trough has a side extending outwardly forming a downwardly sloping flat table. The slurry of conditioned ore particles flows out of the trough and downwardly along the sloping table. Positioned along the sloping table is a disperser for dispersing larger particles up and into the slurry, which larger particles are generally along the surface of the sloping table. The sloping table is equipped with at least one aerator positioned along the flow path of the slurry, downstream of the disperser which aerates the conditioned ore slurry. The particles coated with the flotation reagent form agglomerates with gas bubbles produced by the aerator.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pyrolyzing agglomerative coals which comprises introducing a fluidized bed of hot char particles into a pyrolysis chamber or reactor, and injecting upwardly into the chamber a high velocity jet of agglomerative coal particles in a carrier gas, the fluidized hot char particles surrounding the high velocity coal jet and heating the coal particles to yield gaseous products and char. The hot char particles in the fluidized state and disposed around the coal jet are entrained in the upwardly expanding coal jet and mixed with the coal particles, so that by the time the coal particles contact the pyrolysis chamber wall, such coal particles being heated by the char have passed through the tacky state and are no longer tacky and do not adhere to the chamber wall. The gaseous product and char formed during pyrolysis are rapidly removed from the pyrolysis chamber, and such char can be separated, e.g.

Abstract: Process and system for recovery of energy from geothermal brines and other hot water sources by direct contact heat exchange between the brine or hot water, and a working fluid exiting the top of the heat transfer column is expanded through an expander to produce work. The discharge from the expander is cooled to condense working fluid which is separated in an accumulator from condensed water vapor present in the working fluid, and the condensed working fluid is pressurized and fed back to the heat transfer column. Uncondensible gas together with working fluid losses are vented from the accumulator. In order to decrease the amount of uncondensible vent gas from the accumulator, and the loss of working fluid therein, the hot water or brine feed to the heat transfer column is initially degassed as by flashing, the extent of degassing being controlled based on the concentration of uncondensibles in such hot water or brine feed.

Abstract: Cyano-organophosphorus compounds react by a metathesis reaction in a liquid medium with tetravalent metal ions yielding layered crystalline to amorphous inorganic polymers having the empirical formula M(O.sub.3 PRCN).sub.2 or M(O.sub.3 PORCN).sub.2 where M is a tetravalent metal and R is a an organic group covalently bonded to phosphorus and the terminal cyano group. One use for the compounds is as ion complexers.

Abstract: Solid inorganic polymers which are derivatives of acyclic organo group-containing phosphonic or phosphoric acids are characterized by the structural linkage of three oxygens bonded to phosphorus to one or more tetravalent metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, cerium, hafnium, lead, thorium and uranium. The molar ratio of phosphorus to tetravalent metal is about 2 to 1. One use for the polymers is as stationary phases or supports in chromatography.

Abstract: Sulfur-containing organophosphorus acid compounds react by a metathesis reaction in a liquid medium with tetravalent metal ions yielding layered crystalline to amorphous inorganic polymers having the empirical formula M(O.sub.3 PRSH).sub.2, or M(O.sub.3 PRSR').sub.2 where M is a tetravalent metal and R and R' are organic groups covalently bonded to phosphorus and the sulfur-containing group. One use for the compounds is as ion complexers.

Abstract: In a multi-stage, multi-vessel phosphoric acid production system where a first reaction vessel contains a first slurry comprising calcium sulfate hemihydrate, monocalcium phosphate and phosphoric acid and a second reaction vessel contains a second slurry comprising calcium sulfate hemihydrate, sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, in which the reaction slurry undergoes intra- and inter-vessel circulation, preferably through a draft tube, an improved start-up procedure involves filling the system with heated phosphoric acid having a P.sub.2 O.sub.5 analysis in the range of about 28 to about 38% (e.g. 31%), then feeding phosphate rock to the system, preferably in a separate reaction vessel, while phosphoric acid is recycled from a fourth, filter feed vessel, until the solids content in said slurry is in the range of 25-35% (e.g. about 30%) while the sulfate content in the first vessel is maintained at a negative level (e.g. excess calcium ion) and at a positive level in the second, crystallizer vessel.

Abstract: A process for transfer by extraction, of at least one species from a fluid phase to a first liquid phase receptive to such species, comprises intimately contacting the fluid phase with an emulsion of the first liquid phase in a second liquid phase which is permeable with respect to such species and substantially immiscible in the first liquid phase. The emulsion is stabilized by the second liquid phase containing at least one substantially insoluble particulate solid which is substantially non-reactive to constituents contained in each of such phases in an amount sufficient to form a stable emulsion. Transfer of the species is from the fluid phase through the second solids--containing liquid phase to the first liquid phase.In one embodiment, the first liquid phase is lean with respect to the species to be extracted. In another embodiment, mass action is utilized to maintain a driving force by counter-transport of a different ion.

Abstract: A process for reducing the nitrogen content of shale oil by polymerizing the pyrrole compounds present in the shale oil by conditioning the shale oil with at least one of the following steps of acidifying the shale oil with a strong acid, heating the shale oil to at least about 85.degree. C., oxygenating the shale oil with an oxygen-supplying gas, and irradiating the shale oil with actinic radiation. The resulting pyrrole polymers are insoluble in the shale oil and are separated by liquid/solid separation techniques.

Abstract: In a process for purifying an aqueous phosphoric acid containing up to about 55% P.sub.2 O.sub.5 by weight and dissolved magnesium, iron and aluminum ions, wherein (a) said phosphoric acid is contacted with an organic extractant containing a water immiscible organic sulfonic acid to form: a loaded organic extractant phase containing the organic sulfonic acid, extracted ionic metallic impurities and extracted P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values, and a purified aqueous phosphoric acid; (b) the purified aqueous phosphoric acid phase is separated from the loaded organic extractant phase; (c) the separated loaded organic extractant phase is contacted with a solution phase containing calcium ions (e.g., calcium nitrate), under conditions whereby at least some of said extracted ionic metallic impurities (e.g., Mg.sup.+2, Al.sup.+3, Fe.sup.

Abstract: A process and system for recovery of energy from geothermal brines or other hot aqueous solutions of a non-volatile solute, by direct contact heat transfer using staged evaporator-condenser units operating with a low boiling water-immiscible liquid hydrocarbon. Each stage comprises a closed vessel divided into two compartments, an evaporator and a condenser, by a bubble cap tray similar in construction to those used in distillation. Hot geothermal brine or other hot aqueous liuqid is introduced into the liquid hydrocarbon contained in the lower compartment of each stage, causing boiling of the hydrocarbon at a temperature difference of 2.degree.-4.degree. F. Hydrocarbon vapors pass from the evaporator compartment through the bubble caps to the upper condenser compartment where they are condensed in contact with a cooler water stream, and the condensed hydrocarbon is returned to the lower compartment.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the nitrogen content of shale oil by removing nitrogen-containing compounds from the shale oil. The shale oil containing nitrogen-containing compounds is extracted with a sufficient amount of selective solvent which is selective toward the nitrogen-containing compounds present in the shale oil. The selective solvent comprises an active solvent for nitrogen-containing compounds and water in an amount sufficient to provide phase separation. The active solvent component of the selective solvent is selected from the group consisting of organic acids, and substituted organic acids, particularly acetic, formic and trichloroacetic acids and mixtures thereof. The selective solvent containing the nitrogen-containing compounds is separated from the reduced nitrogen content shale oil raffinate by phase disengagement.

Abstract: Solid carbonaceous material, especially coal or coal char, is desulfurized by sequential treatment with steam, hydrogen, and steam. The partially desulfurized char from the first steam treatment zone is used to remove hydrogen sulfide from the effluent gas from the hydrogen treatment zone. Both the treated effluent gas and the spent char are recycled, thereby providing an efficient process for desulfurization.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for reducing the nitrogen content of shale oil by selectively removing therefrom nitrogen-containing compounds. The nitrogen content of shale oil is reduced by a process comprising lowering the viscosity of the shale oil and then 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 selective solvent is selected from the group consisting of organic acids, and substituted organic acids, particularly acetic, formic and trichloroacetic acids and mixtures thereof. The selective solvent system containing the nitrogen-containing compounds is separated from the reduced nitrogen content shale oil raffinate.

Abstract: Particulate glass values contained in the final inorganic fraction from comminuted municipal solid wastes and having the particle size between 10 mesh and 325 mesh are recovered by froth flotation depressing the glass and causing flotation of the gangue using as the beneficiation reagent a water compatible sulfonated hydrocarbon. Glass depression occurs by use of a mineral acid or fluoride ion and maintaining pH of the media less than about 4.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the nitrogen content of shale oil using mild hydrogenation followed by liquid sulfur dioxide extraction of the hydrogenated shale oil. The mild hydrogenation is effective for increasing the fraction of shale oil that is insoluble in the liquid sulfur dioxide. The mild hydrogenation is sufficient for saturating unsaturated compounds present in the shale oil to the substantial exclusion of adding hydrogen to the nitrogen of the nitrogen-containing compounds. Following hydrogenation of the shale oil, it is extracted with liquid sulfur dioxide at a temperature from about 14.degree. F. to about 60.degree. F. forming two fractions, a liquid sulfur dioxide insoluble fraction containing a relatively low nitrogen content and a liquid sulfur dioxide soluble fraction containing a relatively high nitrogen content. The liquid sulfur dioxide fraction is separated from the insoluble shale oil fraction. The liquid sulfur dioxide can be recovered for recycling to another extraction step.

Abstract: A flow of an alkali hydroxide solution such as chloralkali cell liquor containing NaOH and NaCl is introduced into the anode compartment of a hybrid cell which also includes a cathode compartment and a central compartment. The anode compartment is defined by a first surface of a gas diffusion type, electrode and a first surface of a gas diffusion type, electrode and a first surface of a cation permeable membrane. The central compartment is defined by a second surface of the cation permeable membrane, which membrane is opposite such first membrane surface and a first surface of a diaphragm. The cathode compartment is defined by a second surface of such diaphragm opposite such first diaphragm surface and a first surface of a gas diffusion type cathode. Gaseous hydrogen is supplied to the anode; air is supplied to the cathode, in each case at the surface opposite the aforementioned first surfaces, and water is supplied to the central compartment which is a flow communication with the cathode compartment.

Abstract: Phenylphosphonic acid reacts by a metathesis reaction in a liquid medium with tetravalent zirconium ions, yielding layered crystalline to amorphous inorganic polymers having the empirical formula Zr(O.sub.3 PC.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2. One use for the compound is as a sorbent for small quantities of organic materials in aqueous solutions.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a method of converting the solid organic fraction of solid waste into a powdered fuel which comprises heating said solid organic fraction in the presence of formaldehyde for a time and at a temperature sufficient to embrittle said solid organic fraction, comminuting said embrittled solid organic fraction to a powder which is less than a predetermined particle size, and recovering said powder.The solid organic fraction may be separated from the solid waste prior to treatment by the process of this invention or alternatively the solid waste can be treated by the method of this invention and the embrittled organic fraction separated therefrom. Formaldehyde may be added to the solid organic fraction as an aqueous solution, a gas, or solid, e.g. as paraformaldehyde. The embrittling process takes place at a temperature of at least 125.degree. C., preferably from 150.degree. C. to 250.degree. C.