Abstract: A machine is disclosed for use building a road. The machine may include a vehicle, and a distribution arrangement mounted to the vehicle and configured to distribute a material on to a surface as the vehicle moves over the surface. The machine may also include at least one sensor mounted to the vehicle and configured to generate a signal indicative of a texture of the surface during movement of the vehicle over the surface, a locating device configured to detect a location of the texture, and a controller. The controller may be specially programmed to determine an amount of the material to be applied to the location of the texture based on the signal, and to automatically cause the distribution arrangement to distribute the amount of the material on to the surface at the location of the texture as the vehicle moves over the surface.

Abstract: A method of building a road is disclosed. The method may include moving a machine over a surface on which the road is to be built, and generating a signal indicative of a texture of the surface during movement of the machine over the surface. The method may also include detecting a location of the texture on the surface, and determining, using a specially programmed processor, an amount of a material to be applied to the location of the texture on the surface based on the signal. The method may further include automatically applying the amount of material to the location of the texture on the surface to build the road.

Abstract: A system and method of economically converting a spent first pickling acid solution that contains hydrochloric acid, water and ferrous chloride into a suitable second pickling solution. Sulfuric acid is added to the first pickling acid solution. This produces a regeneration solution. In the regeneration solution, the sulfuric acid reacts with said ferrous chloride and water to produce ferrous sulfate heptahydrate and hydrochloric acid. The regeneration solution is cooled to promote precipitation of the ferrous sulfate heptahydrate from the regeneration solution, therein creating ferrous sulfate heptahydrate crystals and a second pickling acid solution. The second pickling acid solution contains both hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. The ferrous sulfate heptahydrate crystals are separated from second pickling solution. The ferrous sulfate heptahydrate is sold commercially and the second pickling acid solution is used to directly pickle ferrous metal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for regenerating spent pickling liquor from the acid pickling of a metal are disclosed. Acid pickling of a metal uses a first acid and forms a spent pickling liquor (SPL). A second acid added to the spent pickling liquor, under specific low temperatures produces a metal salt of the second acid. The metal salt of the second acid is crystallized and removed from a regenerated first acid. In one aspect, hydrochloric acid is regenerated from a pickling process for iron or steel, using sulfuric acid as the second acid, and ferrous sulfate heptahydrate crystals are produced. Regenerated hydrochloric acid is recycled to the acid pickling process.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for regenerating spent pickling liquor from the acid pickling of a metal are disclosed. Acid pickling of a metal uses a first acid and forms a spent pickling liquor (SPL). A second acid added to the spent pickling liquor, under specific low temperatures produces a metal salt of the second acid. The metal salt of the second acid is crystallized and removed from a regenerated first acid. In one aspect, hydrochloric acid is regenerated from a pickling process for iron or steel, using sulfuric acid as the second acid, and ferrous sulfate heptahydrate crystals are produced. Regenerated hydrochloric acid is recycled to the acid pickling process.

Abstract: Spent acid contaminated with metal salts in a hot solution removed from a metal pickling bath is directed to one side of an anionic membrane to separate acid ions from the metal salt solution by diffusion dialysis through the membrane. Most of the metal salts in the remaining low acidity mother liquor are crystallized by refrigerating the mother liquor. The crystals are dewatered (in a centrifuge, for example) to produce a commercially viable noncorrosive byproduct, and the substantially decontaminated mother liquor is directed to the opposite side of the diffusion membrane, where it receives the acid ions diffusing through the membrane, and is then recycled to the pickling bath. Heat interchange between the hot spent acid solution and the recycled acid lowers the temperature of the spent acid to an optimum value for dialysis while raising the temperature of the recycled acid to close to the bath temperature.