Abstract: A system and method for treating unmarketable fly ash and improve its properties as an additive for concrete is disclosed. The method includes the steps of creating a gas stream containing ionized air through a plasma reactor and exposing an amount of fly ash containing carbon to the ionized air while in the reactor. The exposure of the carbon to the ionized air promotes the attachment of the ions to the carbon to reduce the adsorption capacity of the carbon.

Abstract: A system and method for treating unmarketable fly ash and improve its properties as an additive for concrete is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a gas stream containing ionized air (34), and an amount of fly ash (10) containing carbon having an adsorption capacity. The fly ash (10) is then exposed to the gas stream (34) to expose the carbon to the ionized air to promote the attachment of the ions to the carbon to reduce the adsorption capacity of the carbon.

Abstract: Treated carbon-containing fly ash with reduced surfactant-adsorbing capacity is prepared by processing involving contacting the fly ash with ionized gas prepared from a humid gas feed, such as humid air. Treated fly ash with reduced ammonia content is prepared by processing involving contacting the fly ash with ionized gas prepared from a humid gas feed, such as humid air, or exposing the fly ash to microwave radiation or ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A system and method for treating unmarketable fly ash and improve its properties as an additive for concrete is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a gas stream containing ionized air, and an amount of fly ash containing carbon having all adsorption capacity. The fly ash is then exposed to the gas stream to expose the carbon to the ionized air to promote the attachment of the ions to the carbon to reduce the adsorption capacity of the carbon.

Abstract: A system and method for treating unmarketable fly ash and improve its properties as an additive for concrete is disclosed. The method includes the steps of creating a gas stream containing ionized air through a plasma reactor and exposing an amount of fly ash containing carbon to the ionized air while in the reactor. The exposure of the carbon to the ionized air promotes the attachment of the ions to the carbon to reduce the adsorption capacity of the carbon.

Abstract: A method for refining a titanium metal containing ore such as rutile or ilmenite or mixtures to produce titanium ingots or titanium alloys and compounds of titanium involves production of titanium tetrachloride by processing the ore with a chlorinating procedure and removing various impurities by a distillation or similar procedures to form a relatively pure titanium tetrachloride. Thereafter, the titanium tetrachloride is introduced continuously into a reactor at the focal point of a plasma under atmospheric pressures of inert gas along with molten metallic reductant for the initial reduction of gas phase titanium tetrachloride into molten titanium drops which are collected in a set of skulled crucibles. Thereafter, further processing is carried out at atmospheric pressures in under inert gas where the titanium is heated by plasma guns to maximize titanium purity and, in a final optional stage, alloying compounds are added under the same controlled environment and high temperature conditions.

Abstract: A method for refining a titanium metal containing ore such as rutile or ilmenite or mixtures to produce titanium ingots or titanium alloys and compounds of titanium involves production of titanium tetrachloride as a molten slag, by processing the ore in a chlorination procedure and removing various impurities by a distillation or other procedure to form a relatively pure titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). Thereafter, the titanium tetrachloride is introduced continuously into the focal point of a plasma reactor in a molten magnesium, sodium, hydrogen, lithium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, francium, beryllium, calcium, strontium, barium or radium environment for the initial reduction of gas phase titanium into molten titanium drops which are collected by a set of skulls.

Abstract: A process suitable for the extraction or recovery of metal values from arsenic containing feeds and including the steps of: a) treating the feed with a nitric acid-containing leachant solution in order to dissolve the desired metals; b) adding a source of iron (III) to the leachant solution whereby to oxidise arsenic (III) in solution to arsenic (V); c) adding a neutralising agent to the leachant solution whereby to precipitate arsenic as arsenic (V); d) separating the arsenic (V) precipitate from the leachant solution; and e) recording metal values from the leachant solution.

Abstract: A process for treatment of zinc sulfide or other zinc bearing feed materials in conjunction with an iron sulfide containing mineral or compound to effect a separation of zinc from iron by fuming on either zinc and sulphur vapor or zinc sulphide vapor. The vapor is stripped and transported by a carrier gas from the mineral or a molten matte formed from the mineral. The process is operated at a temperature in the region of 1250.degree. to 1400.degree. C. and at a partial pressure of oxygen in the region of 10-.sup.7 to 10-.sup.11 bar. The process is conducted in the presence of a liquid matte phase which contains at least iron sulphide and which is intimately mixed in a bath with a slag phase.

Abstract: A metallurgical lance incorporates an indirect cooling system, separate from and independent of the reactants which are fed through a center passageway (12) to a melt, bath or the like. An outer passageway (10) extends around the center passageway (12) and its outer wall (14) is exposed to heat flux. A coolant flows through the outer passageway (10). Auxiliary means (22) are positioned within the outer passageway (10) to enhance the take-up of heat from the outer wall (14). The coolant is a two-phase mixture, preferably gas and water. The auxiliary means may be a helical fin (22) or a wire packing within the coolant flow path. Enhanced cooling is achieved by (a) the extended metal surface area provided by the auxiliary means, and/or (b) surface evaporation of a film of liquid deposited on the auxiliary means and/or on the inside of the outer wall (14).

Abstract: A bioreaction is affected by oxygenating a liquid/solids mixture containing a micro-organism to enable the bioreaction to proceed, wherein the said mixture is confined in a reaction vessel and circulated around a loop, the loop including a column in which gas transfer is effected, at least the liquid being introduced into the top of the column in the form of at least one stream, the velocity of which stream is sufficient to generate and maintain, at least in an upper region of the column, a substantially continuous foam formed of close-packed bubbles of the gas in the liquid extending across the entire cross-section of the column, driven to violent agitation and backmixing by the incoming stream of liquid, and of relatively uniform bubble size, the velocity of the inlet stream of liquid and the rate of introduction of the gas being sufficient to prevent gas accumulating at the top of the column.