Abstract: An economic route to transport fuels from low grade feedstocks containing organic polycyclic components and mineral and/or metallic components comprises separating the feedstock into (a) a residue containing fuel values and substantially all of the mineral and metallic components and (b) a liquid hydrocarbon fraction; hydrogenating the liquid hydrocarbon fraction; providing hydrogen for the hydrogenation by steam reforming methane-containing gas recovered from the hydrogenated material; and providing the heat for the steam reforming by immersing the reformer reactor tubes in a fluidized bed heated by combustion of residue from the separation step. If the fluidized bed is pressurized, the process can be made substantially self-contained with all the heat and power requirements for steam generation and feedstock compression for hydrogenation and steam reforming being recovered from the flue gas.

Abstract: A process for electrolysing at least a proportion of a liquid comprising an electrolyte which process comprises passing the liquid between electrodes, at least one of which is an anode and at least one of which is a cathode, the liquid being in a state of laminar flow substantially parallel to the electrodes, the electrodes being disposed substantially horizontally above each other and each electrode being permeable to the product(s) or solutions thereof produced at or adjacent the electrode and, where a density difference is generated on production of the products, the relative disposition of the electrodes is such that the density difference reduces the possibility of the product(s) produced at or adjacent the anode mixing with the product(s) produced at or adjacent the cathode. The process is especially applicable to the electrolysis of brine.

Abstract: Metal tubing, preferably of square cross section, is employed as a cathode in an electrolytic cell. A layer of electrically nonconductive boron carbide particles is deposited on the surface of the tubing facing the anode and copper is electroplated through the layer of particles, following which the tubing is rotated to expose another face. In another system, tubes are arranged about the inner surface of a rotatable drum with a coaxial copper anode. The drum is filled with electrolyte and spun so that centrifugal force holds the boron carbide particles on the surfaces of the tubes and aids electrodeposition. Alternatively, a rotating cylindrical copper anode can be used with the tubing at the center.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for delivering predetermined metered quantities of molten metal having a holding vessel and pressure means for forcing molten metal out of the vessel through an outlet pipe, means for controlling the pressure means and sensing means for sensing when the molten metal has reached a discharge location in the outlet pipe from which it can be discharged, the sensing means being movably mounted above the discharge location.The sensing means are preferably mounted on a motorized carrier so as to be capable of and are advanced towards the discharge location and withdrawn therefrom being guided so as to be in contact with the metal surface but not dipping into it.