Abstract: A plant for refining raw materials containing organic constituents includes a reactor configured to receive raw materials; a furnace configured to receive solids and fuel from the reactor; a return conduit configured to recirculate hot solids generated in the furnace to the reactor; and a sealing device configured to separate an oxidizing atmosphere of the furnace from an atmosphere of the reactor. The sealing device includes: a downpipe disposed between the furnace and the reactor, the downpipe being configured to withdraw a stream of solids from the furnace; a rising pipe disposed near a bottom of the downpipe and branching off there from to a top, the rising pipe being configured to transport a fluidized stream of solids to the reactor; and a conveying gas supply disposed below the rising pipe, the conveying gas supply being configured to fluidize a stream of solids withdrawn from the furnace.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing metal oxide(s) by sulfatizing a sulfide-free ore and/or concentrate comprising the steps of providing a sulfide-free ore and/or concentrate comprising sulfide-free mineral(s); and contacting the sulfide-free ore and/or concentrate with gaseous SO3 for sulfatizing the sulfide-free mineral(s) thereby forming metal sulfate(s) and metal oxide(s).

Abstract: A process for dedusting a dust laden vapor gas mixture (VGM) obtained by pyrolysis of a material containing hydrocarbons includes treating the dust laden VGM in a dry electrostatic precipitator at a temperature in a range from 380 to 480° C. so as to separate dust from the VGM. Then, the VGM is cooled to a temperature in a range from 310 to 360° C.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen for use in a subsequent methanation process includes electrochemically converting water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is depleted with electrolyte aerosols. Then, the electrolyte aerosols are separated from the depleted hydrogen in a wet electrostatic precipitator in a hydrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A process for winning oil from a vapor gas mixture (VGM) containing a plurality of oil fractions obtained by the pyrolysis of a hydrocarbon containing material includes dedusting and cooling the VGM. The dedusted and cooled VGM are fractionated in at least two electrostatic precipitator stages at respective temperatures corresponding to respective boiling points of the oil fractions so as to separate the oil fractions.

Abstract: A plant for refining raw materials containing organic constituents includes a reactor configured to receive raw materials; a furnace configured to receive solids and fuel from the reactor; a return conduit configured to recirculate hot solids generated in the furnace to the reactor; and a sealing device configured to separate an oxidizing atmosphere of the furnace from an atmosphere of the reactor. The sealing device includes: a downpipe disposed between the furnace and the reactor, the downpipe being configured to withdraw a stream of solids from the furnace; a rising pipe disposed near a bottom of the downpipe and branching off there from to a top, the rising pipe being configured to transport a fluidized stream of solids to the reactor; and a conveying gas supply disposed below the rising pipe, the conveying gas supply being configured to fluidize a stream of solids withdrawn from the furnace.

Abstract: A process for refining raw materials containing at least one of oil and bitumen includes supplying the raw materials to a reactor and volatilizing fuel gas in the reactor at a temperature of from 300 to 1000° C. and a pressure of from 0.001 to 1 bar. Solids remaining in the reactor, including non-evaporated fractions of heavy hydrocarbons, are introduced into a furnace. A staged combustion of the non-evaporated fractions of heavy hydrocarbons is performed in a substoichiometric stage and in a superstoichiometric stage in the furnace at a furnace temperature of from 600 to 1500° C. as to obtain hot solids in the furnace. The hot solids are recirculated from the furnace into the reactor. A sealing device separates an oxidizing atmosphere of the furnace from an atmosphere of the reactor.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen for use in a subsequent methanation process includes electrochemically converting water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is depleted with electrolyte aerosols. Then, the electrolyte aerosols are separated from the depleted hydrogen in a wet electrostatic precipitator in a hydrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A process for lowering the carbon content in ash includes introducing the ash having a carbon content of 1 to 20 wt-% into a reactor where the ash is burnt at a temperature between 700 and 1100° C. Fuel is also introduced into the reactor. During combustion, microwave radiation is fed into the reactor. At least part of the energy released during the combustion is recovered.

Abstract: A process for dedusting a dust laden vapor gas mixture (VGM) obtained by pyrolysis of a material containing hydrocarbons includes treating the dust laden VGM in a dry electrostatic precipitator at a temperature in a range from 380 to 480° C. so as to separate dust from the VGM. Then, the VGM is cooled to a temperature in a range from 310 to 360° C.

Abstract: A process for winning oil from a vapor gas mixture (VGM) containing a plurality of oil fractions obtained by the pyrolysis of a hydrocarbon containing material includes dedusting and cooling the VGM. The dedusted and cooled VGM are fractionated in at least two electrostatic precipitator stages at respective temperatures corresponding to respective boiling points of the oil fractions so as to separate the oil fractions.

Abstract: A process for refining oil-containing includes introducing the oil-containing solids to a reactor so as to expel an oil-containing vapor from the solids at a temperature of 300 to 1000° C. The oil-containing vapor expelled from the reactor is supplied to a cracker so as to crack heavy oil components of the oil-containing vapor. The cracked heavy oil components obtained in the cracker are separated and withdrawn from the cracker. The solids left in the reactor and an unevaporated fraction of heavy hydrocarbons are introduced into a furnace. The unevaporated fraction of heavy hydrocarbons in the furnace are burned at a temperature of 600 to 1500° C. The solids from the furnace are recirculated into the reactor. A conveying gas is supplied into a rising pipe, wherein the stream of solids withdrawn from the furnace is fluidized by the conveying gas and transported to the reactor through the rising pipe.

Abstract: A process for lowering the carbon content in ash includes introducing the ash having a carbon content of 1 to 20 wt.-% into a reactor where the ash is burnt at a temperature between 700 and 1100° C. Fuel is also introduced into the reactor. During combustion, microwave radiation is fed into the reactor. At least part of the energy released during the combustion is recovered.

Abstract: A process for refining raw materials containing oil and/or bitumen includes supplying the raw materials to a reactor. The reactor is operated under a pressure of from 0.001 to 1 bar and at a reactor temperature of from 300 to 1000° C. so as to volatize fuel gases and obtain solids and non-evaporated fractions of heavy hydrocarbons. The solids and non-evaporated fractions of heavy hydrocarbons are introduced into a furnace. The non-evaporated fractions of heavy hydrocarbons are burned in the furnace at a furnace temperature of from 600 to 1500° C. so as to obtain hot solids in the furnace. The hot solids are recirculated from the furnace into the reactor. An oxidizing atmosphere of the furnace is separated from an atmosphere of the reactor by a sealing device.

Abstract: For refining oil-containing solids, in particular oil sand or oil shale, there is proposed a process with the following steps: supplying the oil-containing solids to a reactor and expelling an oil-containing vapor at a temperature of 300 to 1000° C., supplying the oil-containing vapor expelled in the reactor to a cracker, in which the heavy oil components are broken down, separating the products obtained in the cracker and withdrawing the product streams, introducing the solids left in the reactor including the unevaporated fraction of heavy hydrocarbons into a furnace, burning the heavy hydrocarbons left in the solids in the furnace at a temperature of 600 to 1500° C., preferably 1050 to 1200° C., recirculating hot solids from the furnace into the reactor, wherein the oxidizing atmosphere of the furnace is separated from the atmosphere of the reactor by a blocking device.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process and a plant for the production of sulphuric acid wherein a sulphur dioxide-containing feed gas is converted, at least in part, with oxygen in at least two contact stages of main contacts arranged in series, to generate sulphur trioxide, and wherein generated sulphur trioxide-containing gas is conducted to an absorber and converted therein to sulphuric acid. In order to be able to economically process feed gases of a sulphur dioxide content of between 13 and 66% by volume to sulphuric acid, using conventional catalysts, it is suggested to withdraw from a contact stage connected upstream of the last main contact stage, a partial stream of the sulphur dioxide- and sulphur trioxide-containing gas, to mix the said partial stream with the feed gas to generate a contact gas of a sulphur dioxide content of more than 13% by volume, and to return the same to the first contact stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for electrochemically winning or refining copper by electrodepositing copper from an electrolyte solution containing the metal in ionogenic form, in which the electrolyte is passed through an electrolysis plant comprising at least one electrolytic cell, which in an electrolyte tank for receiving the electrolyte has at least two electrodes serving as anode and cathode, which are alternately arranged at a distance from each other, and to a corresponding plant. To increase the economic efficiency of such processes and plants, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to immerse the at least one cathode during operation of the electrolysis into the electrolyte over a length of at least 1.2 meters.

Abstract: To protect a plate-type heat exchanger (1) against corrosion due to the attack of sulfuric acid, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the region through which flows sulfuric acid has at least one metal cathode (16, 17) and one reference electrode (27), that at least half the metal plates (7) have an electric contact (23) which is connected with the anode (21) of an electric d.c. voltage source of variable electric voltage, that the metal cathode (16, 17) likewise is electrically connected with the d.c. voltage source, and that the d.c. voltage source belongs to a potentiostat (20) which is electrically connected with the reference electrode (27).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the thermal treatment of granular solids in a reactor (1) with swirl chamber (4), which in particular constitutes an flash reactor or suspension reactor, wherein the microwave radiation from a microwave source (2) is fed into the reactor (1) through a wave guide, and to a corresponding plant. To avoid deposits in the wave guide, the same constitutes a gas supply tube (3), a gas stream being additionally fed through the gas supply tube (3) into the swirl chamber (4).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the thermal treatment of granular solids in a fluidized-bed reactor (1), in which microwave radiation from a microwave source (2) is fed into the reactor (1), and to a corresponding plant. To improve the utilization of energy and the introduction of the microwave radiation, a first gas or gas mixture is introduced from below through a preferably central gas supply tube (3) into a mixing chamber (7) of the reactor, the gas supply tube (3) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (8) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas. The microwave radiation is supplied to the mixing chamber (7) through the same gas supply tube (3).