Abstract: A process for producing a slurry of a pulverized carbonaceous material having a predetermined particle size distribution with a certain average particle size and a certain maximum particle size is described.

Abstract: The surfaces of solid fuel particles, in a solid fuel particle slurry in water, are oxidized by exposure to the action of an oxidizing agent, representatively potassium permanganate, to alter the characteristics thereof and permit the employment of reduced amounts of surface-active agent for purposes of attaining desired characteristics of the slurry, which slurry also comprises a part of the invention as disclosed.

Abstract: A system for providing thermal and chemical energies for the production of pelletized iron ore concentrates while allowing a reduction of a portion of the material in process. The material in process is introduced as ore fines, pelletized and fired in an indurator to produce feedstock for reduction by further processing. A portion of the material in process is diverted to a reduction plant. The reduction plant provides thermal and chemical energies for the indurator. In a preferred embodiment, a low temperature plasma generator is employed, either as the reduction plant or to provide thermal and chemical energies for reduction. When a distinct reduction plant is employed, top gases from such plant may be supplied to the indurator to provide thermal and chemical energies therefor and to the plasma generator for recarburization thereof. The material in process may be diverted as ore fines or as fired or unfired pelletized ore concentrates.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry of a solid fuel and a process for producing said slurry are described. The aqueous slurry consists of a highly concentrated slurry of a pulverized, carbonaceous material having a particle size of at most 0.5 mm, and 0.02-2% by weight of at least one additive. The solids content of the slurry is 65-90% by weight, preferably 70-80% by weight. The slurry is characterized in that the additive includes a water-soluble surface active compound which is an ethylene oxide adduct having the following formula:RO(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n Hwherein R is an aliphatic or acyl group with 10 to 24 carbon atoms or a substituted aryl group with 12-54 carbon atoms; and n is at least 40 but less than 100; or n is 40-200 in which latter case the ratio of ethylene oxide units to the number of carbon atoms in the group R is 3.5-6.0 when R is an aliphatic or acyl group and 3.0-5.5 when R is a substituted aryl group.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry of a solid fuel and a process and a means for producing said slurry are described. The aqueous slurry comprises a highly concentrated slurry of a pulverized, carbonaceous material having a particle size of at most 0.5 mm, and 0.02-2% by weight of at least two surface active additives. The solids content of the slurry is 65-90% by weight, preferably 70-80% by weight. The slurry is characterized in that the surface active additives include, as a major part, a water-soluble nonionic surface active agent which is an alkylene oxide adduct with a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, said hydrophilic part consisting of at least one polyalkylene oxide chain with a length of at least 40, preferably 50-150 ethylene oxide units; and, as a minor part, an ionic surface active agent.The ionic surface active agent preferably has the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1-22 carbon atoms, provided that the sum of the number of carbon atoms of R.sub.

Abstract: A pumpable aqueous slurry of a solid fuel in the form of a pulverized, carbonaceous material and a process for the production of such slurry are described. The aqueous slurry comprises a component which consists of coarse grains of carbonaceous material having a particle size of up to 25 mm, and a further component which consists of a carrier liquid in which the coarse-grained carbonaceous material is suspended. The carrier liquid proper has a solids content of 65-90% by weight and consists of water and pulverized, carbonaceous material having a particle size of at most 0.5 mm, preferably at most 350 .mu.m, and 0.02-2% by weight of at least one additive including a water-soluble surface active compound which consists of an alkylene oxide adduct having a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, said hydrophilic part consisting of a polyalkylene oxide chain, preferably a polyethylene oxide chain, having a length of 40-200 alkylene oxide units.