Abstract: A method of extracting oil from a byproduct stream of a bio-based ethanol production process and a organic composition resulting from the method is provided. The method includes applying an oil concentrator to a byproduct stream, mixing the oil concentrator with the byproduct stream, and separating the oil from the byproduct stream. An organic composition comprising oil derived from a byproduct stream of a bio-based ethanol production process and an oil concentrator is also provided.

Abstract: A method of leaching of metal sulphide-containing material is disclosed. The metal sulphides can be iron, copper, lead, silver, mercury and/or zinc. The leaching is effected by means of chloride-containing solutions through red-ox reaction. The metal sulphide-containing material is reacted with a solution which consists chiefly of cupric chloride and ferric chloride.

Abstract: A beneficiation process for increasing the oil content of clay-bearing oil shale ore wherein the oil shale ore is subjected to an aqueous medium, agitated to disintegrate at least a portion of the clay, and the disintegrated clay is separated from the remaining oil shale to yield an oil shale having a greater amount of recoverable hydrocarbon values per ton than the unprocessed oil shale ore.

Abstract: Nahcolite-containing ore particles are separated from oil shale particles in a mixture of particles of nahcolite-bearing oil shale ore by irradiating the mixture of ore particles with electromagnetic energy in the infrared region of the spectrum and sorting the particles according to energy reflected at one or more selected wavelengths within that region to separate the nahcolite-containing ore particles from the oil shale particles.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of products from nahcolite-bearing oil shale ore deposits which comprises, in pertinent part, in situ retorting of oil shale ore from which a major portion of the nahcolite has been separated.

Abstract: A plurality of hydrocarbon fractions are recovered from hydrocarbon-bearing material such as oil shale in a continuous retort wherein a bed of the material is moved through a heating chamber, the heating being for a time and at a temperature effective to strip increasingly heavier hydrocarbon fractions from the material as it moves through the heating chamber. The hydrocarbon fractions are collected by a plurality of collection means disposed along the path of movement of the bed for recovery of a corresponding plurality of hydrocarbon fractions.

Abstract: In the process for recovering energy values from oil shale by the cross-flow retort technique, an improvement is disclosed wherein controlled oxidation of non-vaporizable carbonaceous residue not only provides additional heat for the continuation of the oil educing process without application of external heat but also enables the continuation of a temperature profile which is below that at which adverse chemical and physical changes occur in the shale. According to the invention the moving bed is removed from exposure to external heat as soon as oil eduction has been completed in the upper bed regions. It is thereafter immediately exposed to unheated gases containing measured amounts of oxygen. Oxidation is initiated in those regions of the bed which are above about 800.degree. F. The heat generated by such oxidation may be utilized, in place of externally heated gases, to transfer heat to the lower regions of the bed for oil eduction from those lower regions.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is removed from a gas stream, such as that generated by the combustion of a sulfur-containing fuel or ore processing, by introducing particulate nahcolite into the gas stream in a high temperature zone. The high temperature zone provides an environment for the size reduction of the particulate nahcolite and an effective environment for the removal of the sulfur dioxide. The size reduction of particulate nahcolite is accomplished by a thermal crushing process.

Abstract: A method for improved operation of a cross-flow device for heating and/or cooling a moving bed of solids by reducing residence time and eliminating gas leakage between adjacent heating and cooling zones. A bed of solid particles is formed on a grate for movement through heating and cooling zones or chambers. As the bed of particles is moved through the heating and cooling zones, cross flows of hot or cool gas are passed through the bed normal to the direction of bed movement. The use of downdraft gas flow in each zone of the cross-flow device permits the same pressure profile to be produced in each zone, and a zero pressure differential between zones from top to bottom of the bed. Thus active grate space between adjacent zones is reduced, and greater efficiency obtained.

Abstract: A photochemical cell is disclosed which includes an anode of titanium, a cathode of platinum, and a suitable electrolyte. The anode has a thin film of titanium dioxide formed on it, and the anode and cathode are suitably configured in the electrolyte which is normally a very basic potassium hydroxide solution. When the anode is exposed to light of wavelength shorter than 415 nm, an emf of about 1 volt is found between the anode and the cathode so that an external current will flow from the cathode to the anode when they are connected. The cell also extracts O.sub.2 from a mixture of O.sub.2 and any other gases present.

Abstract: Alkali metal and alkaline earth metal carbonate compounds (in a variety of forms), including sodium ores of nahcolite and calcium ores of limestone, can be thermally comminuted or crushed. Size reduction is accomplished by a thermal treatment process called thermal crushing. The solids are subjected to a high temperature environment which causes a rapid temperature rise within the solid particles. This rapid temperature rise apparently results in a rapid generation of gases within the particle that exceeds the rate at which the gases can escape, thus resulting in a pressure buildup inside the solid particles. This causes the particles to explode or disintegrate into many smaller particles or powder.The resulting generation of small particles or powder by thermal crushing of thermally crushable carbonate compounds improves their application for removing reactive gaseous impurities, such as sulfur dioxide, NO.sub.x, etc., from a flue gas.

Abstract: Nahcolite-bearing oil shale ore is heated to produce a distinct color change in the nahcolite, differentiating the nahcolite from the host oil shale for optical sorting, and such sorting is then accomplished by optical sorting means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for seismic geophysical exploration including a seismic energy source, a control means, a plurality of geophones, and a plurality of geophone monitoring means, all located in a selected survey area. Each geophone monitoring means is positioned in relatively close physical proximity and electrically coupled to one or more of the geophones forming a set of geophones. The control means is utilized to generate electrical signals containing data initiating the operation of the seismic energy source and the plurality of geophone monitoring means. The electrical signals generated by the various geophones in a set responsive to a particular shot of the seismic energy source are received by the associated geophone monitoring means. Apparatus contained within the associated geophone monitoring means samples such geophone signals and produces representative data in digital form. The digitized data is stored in a memory device contained within the geophone monitoring means.

Abstract: A method of reducing the sulfur and nitrogen content of a hydrocarbon, specifically, a liquid or gaseous phase hydrocarbon which comprises contacting the hydrocarbon with nahcolite in an amount effective to remove sulfur and nitrogen compounds from the hydrocarbon. The nahcolite containing combined sulfur and nitrogen can be removed from the hydrocarbon, producing a hydrocarbon having a reduced sulfur and nitrogen content.The method is particularly applicable to the reduction of the sulfur and nitrogen content in shale oil by contacting shale oil and nahcolite in a shale oil retort or process.