Abstract: A first electrode arrangement and a transport element are movable relative to a support. A working space is disposed between the movable elements for advancing moist material along a processing path. As the moist material advances, electrical current is passed through the material between the first electrode arrangement and a second electrode arrangement adjacent the transport element. An acoustic transducer arrangement disposed adjacent the working space simultaneously subjects the moist material to an acoustic field as the material moves along the processing path. The acoustic field is generated by an array of acoustic transducers spaced along part of the processing path.

Abstract: A first electrode arrangement and a transport element are movable relative to a support. A working space is disposed between the movable elements for advancing moist material along a processing path. As the moist material advances, electrical current is passed through the material between the first electrode arrangement and a second electrode arrangement adjacent the transport element. An acoustic transducer arrangement disposed adjacent the working space simultaneously subjects the moist material to an acoustic field as the material moves along the processing path. The acoustic field is generated by an array of acoustic transducers spaced along part of the processing path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the in-situ removal of soil contaminants by the concurrent application of a D.C. electrical field and an acoustic field.

Abstract: A process for treating solid particles (66) of a raw carbonaceous fuel (62) such as coal having an original sulfur content comprises producing (at 68) a slurry (74) of a quantity of the raw fuel particles and a liquid medium (70) comprising water, at least one alkali metal compound including a substantial amount of sodium or potassium sulfide or polysulfide or a combination thereof, and a catalytic agent (72) comprising calcium or magnesium oxide or carbonate, or dolomite. The slurry is subjected (in 78) for an effective period of time to elevated temperature and pressure effective with the alkali metal compounds and water to cause the medium to penetrate the microscopic structure of the particles and to chemically and physically incorporate a substantial amount of the catalytic agent into the structure. The readily separable medium is separated (at 84) from the fuel particles and the particles are washed (at 84,106) to produce a particulate fuel product (88,110) containing the incorporated catalytic agent.

Abstract: Fine particles of a solid carbonaceous fuel of the coal or coke type are treated to reduce their content of undesired constituents at least including sulfur or ash or both. The treatment comprises forming a mixture of the fuel particles with a liquid aqueous leaching solution, containing one or more cations selected from Groups IA and IIA of the periodic table, which is effective to dissolve the undesired constituents. The mixture is exposed to temperatures in the range of about 150.degree. to 375.degree. C under a pressure of at least the autogeneous steam pressure until the solution has dissolved the undesired constituents of the fuel to such an extent that the undesired constituent content of the fuel particles has been reduced to less than a desired limit.

Abstract: A method of treating fine particles of solid carbonaceous fuel of the coal or coke type that comprises mixing the fuel particles with a liquid aqueous solution comprising essentially (a) sodium, potassium, or lithium hydroxide together with (b) calcium, magnesium, or barium hydroxide or carbonate, or a plurality thereof, with a ratio of (a) to the fuel of about 0.04 to 0.70 (typically 0.10 to 0.35) by weight, a ratio of (b) to the fuel of about 0.02 to 0.30 (typically 0.08 to 0.20) by weight, and a ratio of water to the fuel of about 1 to 10 (typically 2 to 5) by weight; heating the resulting mixture, at an elevated pressure, to a temperature of about 150.degree. to 375.degree. C (typically 175.degree. to 300.degree. C) in such a manner as to improve the usefulness of the fuel particles; and cooling to below about 100.degree. C. The cooled mixture either is dried or filtered to separate the fuel particles from the solution, the particles then being washed and dried.