Abstract: A method of heating reactant materials in a plasma chamber to achieve a reaction temperature by enveloping the materials in a microwave induced electric plasma. The plasma chamber positioned in the microwave waveguide is filled with a gas and predetermined quantities of the reactant materials are placed in the chamber or reactor. A microwave produced electric field is passed through the gas to ionize it and produce an electric plasma that envelopes the reactant materials. The process may be used in a variety of high temperature chemical processes such as the production of tungsten carbide.

Abstract: Efficient dewatering of slimes is achieved by admixing the slimes with a flocculating agent, followed by mechanical manipulation to effect rapid removal of water and consolidation of solids. The required mechanical manipulation may be accomplished, e.g., by tumbling the mixture through a rotating cylindrical screen or by passing it across a vibrating screen.