Abstract: An electrode is provided comprising a metal base and, on at least a portion of the metal base, a conductive material comprising a metallic mixture of antimony and lithium. This electrode may be utilized in an apparatus for electrochemical treatment of radioactive waste.

Abstract: A carbonaceous material is subjected to a hydrotreating process in which it is desulfurized, deasphalted and demetallized by reaction with hydrogen in a molten medium in the presence of potassium hydroxide and water. The water is present in an amount sufficient to minimize the formation of gaseous hydrocarbonaceous products but insufficient to significantly reduce the effectiveness of potassium hydroxide as the hydrotreating agent. The process is characterized by producing a very small amount of gaseous hydrocarbonaceous products, desulfurizing the carbonaceous feed to the extent of at least about 80%, deasphalting the feed to the extent of at least about 60%, and demetallizing the feed to the extent of at least about 90%. In a preferred embodiment, spent potassium hydroxide is regenerated and recycled to the molten medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for upgrading a hydrocarbon material in the presence of a molten salt in a manner which reduces the requirements for expensive ceramic materials to withstand the corrosive nature of the salt. A molten salt containing carbon is introduced into a heat generation zone which is located in a lower portion of an upwardly extending elongated reactor. Oxygen is introduced into the heat generation zone in an amount sufficient to react with substantially all of the carbon and to heat the molten salt to a desired temperature. The heated molten salt together with the gaseous reaction products of the carbon-oxygen reaction flows upwardly through the reactor to a hydrocarbon material reaction zone which is located within the reactor and above the heat generation zone. The hydrocarbon material to be treated is introduced into the reaction zone and into the molten salt where it produces gaseous reaction products and unreacted carbon entrained in the flowing molten salt.

Abstract: The rechargeable electrical energy storage device including spaced-apart negative electrode and positive electrode structures immersed in an electrolyte which is molten at the operating temperature of the device wherein the positive electrode structure comprises a housing for containing a body of electropositive active material, said housing having at least one open face, an electrolyte permeable member affixed to the housing and covering said open face for retaining said active material in said housing and said housing and electrolyte permeable member comprising material selected from the group consisting of steel, nickel, copper and alloys thereof having at least an 8 .mu.m thick electroless nickel coating thereon. In accordance with the present invention it has been found that such an electroless nickel coating permits the use of relatively inexpensive conductive materials such as steel, nickel, copper and alloys thereof and provides the corrosion resistance required in the molten electrolyte.

Abstract: Hydrocarbonaceous materials such as petroleum residuums, coal, lignite or the like are introduced into a molten salt bath maintained in a reaction zone at elevated temperature and pressure. Hydrogen also is introduced into the reaction zone in an amount sufficient to provide a pressure in the reaction zone within the range of from about 30 to 400 atmospheres. The hydrocarbonaceous material is reacted for a time sufficient to produce cracked products including a major amount of liquid and a minor amount of gaseous and solid products of enriched hydrogen content. The molten salt bath comprises at least one alkali metal hydroxide which preferably is sodium hydroxide. Substantially all of the sulfur and ash constituents of the hydrocarbonaceous material are retained in the molten salt. When the hydrocarbonaceous material is a normally solid material such as coal, it advantageously is crushed and slurried in an organic hydrogen donor solvent prior to its introduction into the molten salt bath.