Abstract: In aluminum smelting by electrolysis, a double salt of KAlSO.sub.4, as a feedstock, is heated with a eutectic electrolyte, such as K.sub.2 SO.sub.4, at 800.degree. C. for twenty minutes to produce an out-gas of SO.sub.3 and a liquid electrolyte of K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 with fine-particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 in suspension having a mean size of six to eight microns. This is pumped into a cell with an electrolyte comprised of K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 with fine-particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 in suspension, an anode and a porous cathode of open-cell ceramic foam material. The cell is maintained at 750.degree. C. and four volts of electricity applied between the anode and the cathode causes oxygen to bubble at the anode and liquid aluminum to form in the porous cathode.

Abstract: A method of removal of valuable minerals of oil sand tailings including continuous operation of mixing said tailings with acid, curing the agglomeration and leaching of the cured agglomeration for removal of valuable minerals.

Abstract: A method for the extraction of valuable minerals and precious metals from oil sands ore bodies or other related ore bodies that is synergistically unique in the arrangement of processes for production of valuable minerals and precious metals in an economically and environmentally acceptable manner. The oil sands ores from oil sands ore bodies and other related ores from other related ore bodies including overburden and interburden mineral ores are crushed, the hydrocarbons, if any exists in worthwhile quantities, are recovered and the resulting coarse sands, other related ores and fines streams are processed in a definite sequence using known processes to recover the valuable minerals and precious metals values. All reactants and reagents, including water, are recycled in the method and tailings ponds are not required. Heat recovery is used extensively to cogenerate almost all of the process steam and process electrical requirements for the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a combined solvent and hot water extraction of bitumen oils from tar-sands ore. The crushed tar-sands ore is conditioned in hot water while excluding air, after which oversized and inert rocks are removed by screening. The bitumen content of the resulting slurry is then extracted with a water immisible hydrocarbon solvent of low density to form a solution of bitumen oils in solvent or bitumen extract phase, a middle water phase and a lower spent wet solids phase. Each of these phases is thereafter processed to produce product bitumen oils and to recover solvent and water for reuse within the process. The product bitumen oils are further processed to separate the fines, and may be refined and separated into synthetic crude oil and asphaltenes residue components. The asphaltenes residue component may be burned in a fluidized bed boiler to provide process heat and electrical power for the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the recovery of bitumen oils from oil shale. The method comprises crushing the oil shale to a predetermined particle size and mixing with an organic solvent to form a slurry. The slurry is then subjected to supercritical temperatures and pressures whereby the kerogen materials break down into bitumen oils which solubilize in the solvent. The liquid and solids are separated and the solid components are further treated under supercritical temperatures and pressures to yield further bitumen oils. The extracted bitumen oils are separated from solvent by fractionation, and upgraded by removing an asphaltenes residue. Off-gases and asphaltenes residue from the system are burned in a limestone fluidized bed combustor, which results in environmentally acceptable emissions and supplies process heat and power. The apparatus includes a high pressure autoclave-type vessel with an internal venturi draft tube, and a plurality of high pressure decantation vessels with internal lamellae thickeners.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for solvent extraction of bitumen oils from tar-sands and their separation into synthetic crude oil and synthetic fuel oil comprising the operations of mixing the tar-sands with hot water so as to form a slurry in conjunction with solvent, separating that slurry into the solvent and dissolved bitumen oils and the solid materials of the tar-sands, separating the bitumen oils from the solvent, contacting the bitumen oils thus obtained with an extractant in order to separating them into synthetic crude oil and synthetic fuel oil, recovering an reusing again within the process the solvent, the water and the extractant.

Abstract: A process is described for extracting phosphoric acid and metal values, such as uranium, from phosphate rock using hydrochloric acid and independently extracting the phosphoric acid and metal values from a slurry of the acidulated rock.

Abstract: The invention describes the extraction of values, especially metal values such as copper and uranium, from minerals by passing the mineral in admixture with a leaching agent for the values through a contactor and extracting the values with an extractant stream immiscible with the mixture and of lesser density so that the values are captured by the extractant and can be withdrawn with the extractant and, if desired, isolated by any suitable means.

Abstract: A continuous solvent extraction process for tar-sand uses a closed rotary contactor. A tar-sand/water slurry stream and a solvent stream are passed countercurrent through the contactor and three phases are formed: tar-sand solids at the bottom of the contactor, a barrier layer of water in which the solids are contained and an uppermost solvent phase. The solids during their travel through the contactor are repeatedly lifted off the bottom of the contactor and tumbled through the solvent phase so that the bitumen oils content of the tar-sand is progressively dissolved in the solvent. A solvent stream containing the dissolved bitumen oils is removed from one end of the contactor and discard stream consisting essentially of sand and water is removed from the other end.