Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a hydrocarbon-containing material includes the steps of providing a first liquid comprising a turpentine liquid; contacting the hydrocarbon-containing material with the turpentine liquid to form an extraction mixture; extracting the hydrocarbon material into the turpentine liquid; and separating the extracted hydrocarbon material from a residual material not extracted.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon-containing organic matter is extracted from a hydrocarbon-containing material that is a viscous liquid, liquid or gaseous fossil fuel material. A turpentine liquid is contacted with a hydrocarbon-containing material in-situ in an underground formation containing the fossil fuel material to form an extraction mixture so as to extract hydrocarbon-containing organic matter into the turpentine liquid and form an extraction liquid. The extraction liquid is removed from the formation, the extraction liquid including the turpentine liquid containing the extracted hydrocarbon-containing organic matter. The extracted hydrocarbon-containing organic matter is separated from a residual material not extracted.

Abstract: Solvents and methods are provided for extracting a hydrocarbon fraction from a solid, semi-solid, liquid or viscous liquid hydrocarbon-containing material.

Abstract: Vulcanized rubber is devulcanized by contacting the vulcanized rubber with a terpentine liquid in a reaction mixture in the absence of an alkali metal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a coal product having reduced sulfur emissions including the steps of grinding coal into a powder form having a desired particle size; blending the ground coal with hydrated lime; adding water to the blend so as to have a moisture content of between 10 and 30 weight percent and drying the water-added blend so as to have a desired reduced moisture content. The desired reduced moisture content is less than 1% of the total weight of the coal powder and the hydrated lime. The step of drying includes heating the water-added blend to a temperature of between 300 and 400° F. in an externally heated oven. Waste heat form a power plant can be used so as to head the blend.

Abstract: A method of preparing a high heating value fuel product having the steps of blending a hydrocarbon-containing material with a dried sewage sludge, mixing a monomeric polyalcohol to the blend of the hydrocarbon-containing material and the dried sewage sludge, introducing a pozzolanic agent to the mixture, and forming the mixture into a form suitable for handling. The hydrocarbon-containing material is a waste material having a heating value of greater than 7,000 BTU. The monomeric polyalcohol is a chemical selected from the group of triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and glycerine propylene glycol. The pozzolantc agent is either lime fly ash, kiln dust, or other lime-containing product.

Abstract: A process for treating waste by mixing the waste with a chemical reagent and a pozzolanic material. The chemical reagent includes a retarder that is a viscosity-altering reagent, and an accelerator.

Abstract: The process for immobilizing a hazardous waste containing heavy metals comprises the steps of pretreating the waste by adding a sulfide to the hazardous waste so as to generate the sulfides of the heavy metals from the hazardous waste, mixing a chemical reagent with the pretreated waste, and blending the mixture of the chemical reagent and the pretreated waste with a pozzolanic material. The chemical reagent contains a mixture of a retarder and an accelerator. This process further comprises the step of mixing a neutralizing reagent with the hazardous waste so as to cause the hazardous waste to have a pH of between 5 and 14. The neutralizing reagent is an alkaline material, preferably lime, hydrated lime, or calcium hydroxide. The sulfide is either sodium hydrosulfide or sodium sulfide.

Abstract: A method of preparing a high heating value fuel product that comprises the steps of blending a high heating value sludge material with a cellulosic material, adding a microencapsulation reagent to the blended mixture of the sludge and the cellulosic material, introducing a pozzolanic agent to the blended mixture for controlling the rate of solidification, and forming the blended mixture into a form suitable for handling. The sludge is a material having a heating value of greater than 7,000 BTU. This sludge may be a complex mixture of organic hazardous waste streams. The cellulosic material is a silica-containing particulate material having a high heating value. The microencapsulating reagent is a mixture having a 4-15 weight percent of a chemical selected from the group of triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and glycerin propylene glycol. The microencapsulation reagent further may include a 20-32 weight percent calcium chloride solution. The pozzolanic agent is added to the mixture at a constant rate.

Abstract: A low cost process for producing concentrated fructose is described which involves selective, preferential biological utilization of glucose in mixtures of glucose and fructose, in order to thereby yield concentrated fructose. Broadly speaking, the method involves contacting a mixture containing respective amounts of glucose and fructose with a microorganism which preferentially utilizes glucose as compared with fructose, incubating the mixture until the relative concentration of fructose is substantially in excess of that of glucose, and recovering concentrated fructose. In preferred forms, the microorganism is Pullularia pullulans, and the starting material may be a mixture of gluctose and fructose, sucrose, a carbohydrate such as inulin or starch; in the latter instances, the P. pullulans, by virtue of excretion of invertase, acts to degrade the starting material to give the desired glucose-fructose mixture.

Abstract: Mass transfer of components from gases or liquids into porous absorbent granular media is carried out by a method using a semifluidized bed in stratified condition. The absorbent medium is composed of both small and large granules. In the stratified bed, at least part of the small size granules are captivated in a packed upper section. The larger granules are primarily in a fluidized section below the packed section. The fluid being treated flows upwardly through the bed first contacting the larger granules in the fluidized section and then exiting through the smaller packed granules. With this arrangement, increased fluid volumes can be processed before breakthrough of the component being absorbed.

Abstract: Particulate carbonaceous solids are pyrolytically converted to fuel gas in a fluidized bed containing quartz sand as the primary inert heat-transfer medium. In addition to the quartz sand, the fluidized bed contains an anti-agglomerating composition consisting of a carbonate or oxide of calcium, magnesium, or barium, or mixtures thereof. The formation of sand agglomerates (viz. clinkers) interferring with fluidized bed operation is prevented. Coarsely ground limestone is the preferred additive.

Abstract: A methfd of filtering fine solids from a fluid (gas or liquid) flowing upwardly through a chamber containing a semifluidized bed of discrete filter particles. During a filtering operation, the upper or packed section of the bed is immobilized by a porous retainer at the top of the chamber and, as the operation proceeds, the packed bed section gradually expands downwardly, and the fluidized bed section below it progressively decreases in size, thereby extending the duration of the filtration run and yielding a more uniform distribution of solids throughout the filter medium.

Abstract: Wastewater is subjected to biological reaction in a bed containing the biological reaction bacteria on a particulate carrier wherein the lower portion of the bed is fluidized while the upper portion is maintained as a fixed bed. When the fixed bed portion becomes clogged with cellular material, the entire bed is fluidized and wash water is passed through the bed to remove excess cellular material. The method is applicable to advanced wastewater treatment, both secondary treatment for BOD removal, and tertiary treatment for nitrification and/or denitrification. The method is particularly advantageous for treatment of wastewater supplied at varying flow rates.

Abstract: Wastewater is subjected to biological reaction in a bed containing the biological reaction bacteria on a particulate carrier wherein the lower portion of the bed is fluidized while the upper portion is maintained as a fixed bed. When the fixed bed portion becomes clogged with cellular material, the entire bed is fluidized and wash water is passed through the bed to remove excess cellular material. The method is applicable to advanced wastewater treatment, both secondary treatment for BOD removal, and tertiary treatment for nitrification and/or denitrification. The method is particularly advantageous for treatment of wastewater supplied at varying flow rates.

Abstract: In a method of making concrete of the Portland Cement type wherein a quantity of cementitious material, such as Portland Cement, is mixed with a quantity of aggregate, generally sand and rock in varying proportions and water; and, wherein, the resulting mixture is stirred or mixed for an appropriate length of time consistent with acceptable practices in the concrete industry after which the mix is poured and allowed to set, the improvement which is characterized by the employment of fly ash as the major ingredient in the cementitious material. The improvement also includes the adding of gypsum to the initial mix in an amount equal to about 2% by weight of the fly ash and, thereafter, adding in and mixing a quantity of calcium chloride equal to about 3% by weight of the fly ash.

Abstract: Fine particulates are removed from fluids (gases or liquids) by beds of filter media operated as convertible (semifluidized) beds, wherein the fluidized portion of the bed progressively increases in size during the filtrations. The method has particular application to filtrations which are difficult to carry out by conventional filtrations methods.