Abstract: A hot resistance wire is used to react with the water vapor and soot produced in the diesel engine forming carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas. These are further oxidized or burned with oxygen from air to form carbon dioxide and water vapor. In this manner the soot is eliminated.

Abstract: A sewage sludge fire suppressant consisting of a wet cake solids is used to extinguish fires in building structures or on forest lands.

Abstract: A fire suppressant composition consisting of a slurry of clay slime or sewage sludge is used to extinguish fires in building structures or forest fires.

Abstract: A method for increasing the bulk density of silica. Acid is added to an aqueous silica wet cake slurry to bring the pH to about 1.8 to 4.0, and dry fine particle silica is added with an agitator rpm of at least 2000 rpm. The acid and silica are alternately added until a homogeneous consistency is obtained with a solids concentration of above 30%.

Abstract: A coating composition such as nitrocellulose lacquer or varnish incorporates a flatting pigment having non-settling properties obtained by grinding a dried precipitated hydrated silica and calcining it at a temperature between 400.degree. C. and 600.degree. C. so that the pigment consists of particles smaller than 10 microns in size having a bound water content below 2%. The calcination may be effected before or after the grinding. Advantageously, a wet precipitated hydrated silica is spray-dried to about 12% or less total moisture; the dried hydrated silica is milled and air classified to obtain material consisting entirely of particles smaller than 10 microns in size; and these particles are calcined at a temperature between 450.degree. C. and 550.degree. C. The pigment product so obtained exhibits outstanding non-settling flatting characteristics in nitrocellulose lacquer.

Abstract: Finely divided inorganic pigments having improved wetting characteristics and which may be rapidly dispersed in an aqueous medium, and methods for preparing same, are disclosed. The improved pigments comprise blends or mixtures of inorganic pigment particulates, such as calcium silicate, hydrated silica, aluminum hydrates and sodium alumino silicates, etc. and a soluble deliquescent salt, such as the sulfates, nitrates and chlorides of aluminum and other metals. The pigments are produced by dry blending mixtures of the inorganic pigment and the soluble deliquescent salt. Conventional soaking periods on the order of 12 to 24 hours are reduced to less than 2 hours by the use of the improved pigments of the invention.

Abstract: A method for producing alkali metal polysilicates is disclosed. Polysilicates, produced by hydrothermally reacting an aqueous dispersion of finely-divided silica and an alkali metal hydroxide are spray dried and the solid product is fractured and pulverized. The fractured mass is then pelletized employing the solubility of the polysilicates to form a free-flowing product having a continuous, even surface. Pelletization may be effected with or without the use of water and/or binders.