Abstract: Controlled release fertilizers containing water-soluble nutrients such as potassium nitrate which are easily leached from the fertilizer by moisture in the soil have a coating which more efficiently retards the release of the nutrients and also provides citric acid soluble silicon to the soil. Nutrient particles are first coated wtih a colloid formed by the acidification of preconditioned calcium metasilicate with citric acid and then mixed with cement. The calcium metasilicate is preconditioned by heating to a temperature of at least 1300.degree. C. to sinter at least a portion of the silicate. The nutrient particles are then pelletized and cured to form a silica gel matrix containing acicular calcium metasilicate and a cement coating on the pellets.

Abstract: A process for the removal of SO.sub.2 from a gaseous mixture containing SO.sub.2 which comprises contacting said gaseous mixture containing SO.sub.2 with a mixture containing a sugar and at least one alkaline earth compound selected from the group consisting of calcium and magnesium carbonates, oxides and hydroxides.

Abstract: Micronized coal is removed from coal-bearing steam by spraying stabilized petroleum oil into the steam and directing the resultant stream at a separation surface on which a coal-oil slurry is deposited and collected. Apparatus includes conduits which direct the resultant stream downward into a housing and normal to a surface on which the slurry is deposited by impact forces. In additional apparatus disclosed, the resultant stream is directed from a horizontal conduit circumferentially along the interior wall of a horizontally disposed cylindrical chamber at the top of the chamber and the coal-oil slurry deposited on the wall by centrifugal force is collected in a trough situated below a longitudinal slot at the bottom of the chamber. In both types of apparatus, after separation of the slurry the velocity of the steam is reduced to settle out remaining oil droplets and is then discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for micronizing solid carbonaceous material and preparing carbon oil mixtures. Micronization is accomplished by projecting particles of a carbonaceous material into the point where a number of fluid streams intersect and by then impacting the particles against a rotating cone. The resulting micronized particles are then separated from the fluid in which they are entrained and are mixed with fuel oil. A preferred fluid for use in this process is a gaseous mixture consisting of about fifty percent steam and fifty percent flue gas.

Abstract: Micronized coal is removed from coal-bearing steam by spraying stabilized petroleum oil into the steam and directing the resultant stream at a separation surface on which a coal-oil slurry is deposited and collected. Apparatus includes conduits which direct the resultant stream downward into a housing and normal to a surface on which the slurry is deposited by impact forces. In additional apparatus disclosed, the resultant stream is directed from a horizontal conduit circumferentially along the interior wall of a horizontally disposed cylindrical chamber at the top of the chamber and the coal-oil slurry deposited on the wall by centrifugal force is collected in a trough situated below a longitudinal slot at the bottom of the chamber. In both types of apparatus, after separation of the slurry the velocity of the steam is reduced to settle out remaining oil droplets and is then discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: In the continuous carbonizing and desulfurizing of formcoke produced from coal of relatively high sulfur content, a shaft type reactor receives both formed green compacts and a particulate sulfur acceptor at the top and these descend together through definite preheating, calcining and cooling zones. Highly heated non-oxidizing hydrogen-containing gas is introduced into the reactor at the level between the calcining and cooling zones to flow upward through the reactor and provide the principal, if not the only source of heat for the reactor. At an intermediate level between the calcining zone and preheating zone, a portion of the rising current of gas, comprising both original gas and additional evolved gases is withdrawn from the reactor and part of the gases so withdrawn is burned in a heat exchanger to heat another part to the high temperature required to thus provide the highly-heated hydrogen-containing gas that is introduced into the reactor as described.