Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an alkali metal borohydride.According to this process, a mixture of an alkali metal hydride, boric anhydride and a hydrogenation catalyst such as Raney nickel is raised to a temperature of 250.degree. to 300.degree. C. under a hydrogen atmosphere. This gives an alkali metal borohydride, such as lithium-n borohydride, in accordance with the following reaction:4LiH+B.sub.2 O.sub.3 .fwdarw.LiBH.sub.4 +Li.sub.3 BO.sub.3,with a yield which can reach 93.3% at a temperature of 300.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention provides metal-phosphorus-nitrogen polymer compounds and methods for their preparation at low temperatures using readily available starting materials. One group of compounds, metal-phosphazene polymers, are comprised of repeating units of [PN].sub.3 rings linked to form polymers through P--X--M--X--P bonds. The linking atoms X are either NH.sub.2 or O, and M is a metal cation. Another group of the compounds have the generic formula M.sub.a (P.sub.2 O.sub.5).sub.b (NH.sub.3).sub.c O.sub.d.eH.sub.2 O. If the metal-phosphorus-nitrogen polymers are heated to a sufficiently high temperature to reduce the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio, additional novel solid metal phosphorus compounds of the invention are formed, many of which have a foamed, porous structure. The properties of the compounds of the invention can be varied by choice of metal and reaction conditions to create materials having useful conductive, magnetic, optical, catalytic, or ion-exchange properties.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound of the formula[NH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 ].sub.a [C.sub.6 H.sub.3 (COOH) (SO.sub.3 H) (OH)].sub.bwhereina is 1 andb is from 1 to 2.The compound is useful for stabilizing tin (II) compounds against oxidation, in particular in the electrolytic coloring of aluminum or aluminum alloys.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing and recovering metal nitrides from their ferrometal alloys and nickel metal alloys. Exemplary steps of the process involve niobium nitride prepared from ferroniobium alloys (FeNb) which are first hydrided to provide a friable, comminutable product which is then nitrided under conditions which form distinct phases of iron nitride and niobium nitride respectively.

Abstract: A process for the stabilization of heavy metals in the ash produced by the combustion of a heavy metals containing fuel, such as municipal solid waste, by introducing into the combustion system a phosphorous oxide specie or elemental yellow phosphorus. The additive can be introduced at any point in the system upstream of the particulate removal device employed in the system. If elemental phosphorus is used, it must be introduced at a point in the system where it will be exposed to an elevated temperature and oxygen, so as to be converted to a phosphorus oxide specie. When elemental phosphorus is introduced into the system downstream of the combustion zone, it is also effective to reduce the NO content of the flue gas.

Abstract: A process has been developed to effectively separate and recover essentially pure amounts of both C.sub.60 and C.sub.70 from carbon soot and higher molecular weight fullerenes. This process first extracts the fullerenes from carbon soot and then sequentially separates the C.sub.60 and C.sub.70 molecules using high performance or low pressure adsorption chromatography packed column containing a gel polymer having aromaticity and a pore size ranging from 10 to 500 .ANG..In this process, a first stage of fractionation of the fullerenes is preferably accomplished by selective supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of C.sub.60. Unrecovered C.sub.60 and C.sub.70 molecules are then extracted by supercritical fluid extraction at a higher pressure and/or higher temperature.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing sludge containing flyash and calcium sulfate formed by a lime or limestone scrubber increases the sludge particles to a size at which leaching of toxic metals from the particles no longer occurs at toxic levels. The sludge is dewatered and injected into the furnace in a manner to cause the flyash to soften and stick together. The agglomerated particles then fall into a bottom ash pit for removal as a common waste.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for making fullerenes having greater than seventy carbon atoms. The process involves electrical heating of a low density carbon rod in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: Production of sodium bicarbonate from natural soda deposits that may occur as natural brines or solid soda salts is disclosed. The alkalinity in these natural soda deposits consists of carbonates and bicarbonates. The carbonates are converted to bicarbonates by reacting sodium carbonate with ammonium bicarbonate which acts as a carbon dioxide carrier until all the sodium carbonate is exhausted. The solubility of the sodium bicarbonate is lowered by the presence of non-alkaline sodium salts, e.g., sodium chloride. The regeneration of the cyclic reagent (NH.sub.3) is done using the sodium bicarbonate formed by the double decomposition of sodium chloride and ammonium bicarbonate giving a final soda free brine exempt of contaminants foreign to its original components.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing fullerenes in flames is provided. Fullerenes are prepared by burning carbon-containing compounds in a flame and collecting the condensibles. The condensibles contain the desired fullerenes. Fullerene yields can be optimized and fullerene composition can be selectively varied. Fullerene yields and compositions are determined by selectively controlling flame conditions and parameters such as C/O ratio, pressure, temperature, residence time, diluent concentration and gas velocity.

Abstract: A process for the thermal decomposition of metal sulphate mixtures at temperatures from 800.degree. to 1100.degree. C. under oxidizing conditions, in which the metal sulphate mixtures are mixed with roasting residue and reacted together with fuels in the decomposition reactor to form roasting residue and SO.sub.2 -containing gases from roasting wherein the roasting residue admixed with the sulphate mixture is the finely divided fraction of the resulting roasting residue which is separated from the stream of gas in an electrostatic gas purification apparatus and returned to the decomposition reactor.This procedure has an advantageous influence on the formation of coarse roasting residue and also significantly reduces the proportion of undecomposed, water soluble sulphates in the roasting residue.

Abstract: Carbon-containing compositions comprising graphite sheets which contain various buckminsterfullerene species hosted in their interstices are provided, as well as methods for preparation of said compositions.

Abstract: A liquid oxidizing system has a closed circuit in which a liquid containing matter to be oxidized is circulated. The circuit is provided with an ejector for forming a jet stream of the liquid into which oxygen, or both oxygen and an oxidizing catalyst are supplied. The oxygen (and the catalyst) rapidly contacts the matter to be oxidized in the jet stream and oxidizes it. The system is not only applicable to the treatment of waste water, such as from factories, but also useful for making a product by oxidizing a liquid, e.g. iron polysulfate which is a good coagulant.

Abstract: An apparatus for growing silicon single-crystals comprising a crucible containing a silicon melt, a furnace for housing the crucible and having an opening located above the crucible, a pulling mechanism for pulling a seed crystal from the melt to grow a silicon single-crystal, a cooling shell having a lower end spaced apart and located above the melt and disposed around said silicon single-crystal for cooling the silicon single crystal from a temperature of 1,050.degree. to 850.degree. C. in no more than 140 minutes as it is being pulled, and, a secondary heater for heating the silicon single crystal as it is being pulled, such that the dwelling time of the single crystal in a temperature zone of 800.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. is at least two hours. The secondary heater is disposed above the cooling shell and coaxial therewith and is arranged so as to define a space between the secondary heater and the cooling shell.

Abstract: A method for producing carbon black by means of a horizontal carbon black production furnace having a first reaction zone in which a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and a fuel is burned to form a high temperature gas stream, a second reaction zone in which a hydrocarbon feedstock is supplied and reacted with the high temperature gas stream formed in the first reaction zone, and a third reaction zone in which quenching water is sprayed into the gas mixture from the second reaction zone to terminate the reaction, wherein the second reaction zone is constructed to have a hollow cylindrical structure with at least two cylindrical sections having different inner diameters connected to one another and the hydrocarbon feedstock is divided for supply so that it is supplied to at least two locations including an upstream cylindrical section to which the hydrocarbon feedstock is first supplied and a cylindrical section located downstream thereof and so that the flow velocities of gases passing through the respectiv

Abstract: An improved method for the production of synthetic hydrotalcites having high purity (99+%) and small particle size (<2 microns) is disclosed. This method used inexpensive and available reactants and is suitable for commercial scale production. A source of magnesium, such as magnesium hydroxide; a source of aluminum from a mixture of alumina trihydrate and an alkali metal aluminate; and a source of carbonate, such as sodium bicarbonate, are reacted under hydrothermal conditions at a temperature of between 160.degree.-200.degree. C. to produce synthetic hydrotalcite.

Abstract: Carbides of Group VIB metals, such as tungsten and molybdenum, can be formed by the pyrolysis of a salicylate of such metal. The salicylate can be formed by reaction of a Group VIB metal halide with salicylic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel basic magnesium carbonate represented by the following general formula:nMgCO.sub.3.Mg(OH).sub.2.mH.sub.2 Owherein n is a number of from 3 to 5 and m is a number of from 3 to 5,which consists of porous particles composed of an aggregate of plate crystals having an average particle size of 1 to 50 .mu.m and a specific surface area of 10 to 70 m.sup.2 /g, wherein in the fine pore size distribution of the particles, the volume of fine pores having a radius smaller than 100 .ANG. is at least 0.02 cc/g and the volume of fine pores having a radius smaller than 75,000 .ANG. is at least 0.8 cc/g.This novel basic magnesium carbonate is highly improved over conventional basic magnesium carbonate in such properties as filling property, dispersibility and flowability.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of metal carbides from ferroalloys and nickel alloys of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and hydrides thereof is disclosed. The selected ferroalloy or nickel alloy is contacted with a hydrogen containing gas, subdivided, and carbided by contact with a hydrocarbon containing gas at a temperature above 500.degree. C. The carbided reaction product is then leached with an aqueous acid solution for recovery.

Abstract: Coal is heated between about 95.degree. and 250.degree. C. to evaporate moisture, but not volatile hydrocarbons. The dried coal is heated to a temperature between about 400.degree. and 700.degree. C. to recover volatile hydrocarbons and to form char, the char is treated with hydrogen at a temperature between about 700.degree. and 1000.degree. C. to form methane, and the methane is decomposed to form pure carbon and hydrogen, which is recycled to treat the char.