Abstract: A process for the preparation of high purity manganous-manganic oxide (Mn.sub.3 O.sub.4) is provided, wherein particulate manganese metal suspended in an aqueous solution containing a water soluble ammonium salt is oxidized in the presence of an oxidizing agent at a temperature of at least 30.degree. C.

Abstract: The beneficiation or upgrading of an iron-containing titaniferous ore to a synthetic rutile by subjecting the ore to reduction followed by acid leaching of the reduced ore is improved by forming a mixture of the ore and an aqueous sulfuric acid solution, adding a reducing agent to this mixture and then subjecting this mixture containing the reducing agent to reduction at elevated temperatures. The resulting reduced ore, which is characterized by an increase in the ferrous iron content thereof and an increase in its specific surface area, exhibits an enhanced response to subsequent acid leaching to provide a synthetic rutile of improved purity.

Abstract: The present invention provides for boron-containing wood preserving solutions and a method for their preparation. The wood preserving solutions of the invention are noncrystallizable at ambient temperatures and are prepared from a dispersion of a particulated sodium tetraborate, phosphoric acid and water by heating the dispersion at elevated temperatures and for a period of time sufficient to provide a clear solution. The particulated sodium tetraborate and phosphoric are present in the dispersion in a specific molar ratio of 5:3, said ratio being critical to achieving the noncrystallizable characteristic of the wood preserving solutions of the invention.

Abstract: A method for producing carbonaceous-derived solid fuel products comprising subjecting a carbonaceous material to a temperature sufficient to remove a substantial portion of water inherent in said carbonaceous material, pyrolyzing at least a portion of the dried carbonaceous material to form a carbonaceous-based char material and simultaneously recover carbonaceous-based tar by-products and contacting at least one material selected from the group consisting of the dried carbonaceous material and the carbonaceous-based char material with a water-in-tar emulsion, said emulsion being prepared from said recovered carbonaceous-based tar by-products.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention provides for improvements in the manufacture of compacted or molded articles of blended mixtures of additive metals for use in the preparation of alloys of base metals. The improvements comprise the addition to blended mixtures of additive metals of at least one processing aid comprising at least one polyglycol or a derivative thereof to the blended mixture of metals in a stabilizing and lubricating amount.

Abstract: This invention sets forth a molecular sieve comprising silicalite in a silica matrix the precursor of said molecular sieve comprising silicalite powder dispersed in colloidal amorphous silica, said precursor having been gelled and then treated in a manner effecting substantially complete elimination of hydroxyl groups on said molecular sieve along with a method of manufacturing the sieve.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the concentration of water soluble ionic heavy metal species and sulfate ions in aqueous waste solutions containing the same. The process comprises passing said waste solution through a treatment zone containing a porous matrix on which are retained populations of at least one bacteria of the genera Desulfovibrio and Desulfotomaculum. The passing of said aqueous solution through said treatment zone is carried out at predetermined rates of flow, and contact between said solution and said bacteria is conducted under anaerobic conditions and at predetermined pH and temperature levels. The process provides for the conversion of the water soluble sulfate ions to hydrogen sulfide and reaction between said hydrogen sulfide and water soluble ionic heavy metal species to water insoluble heavy metal species which are substantially retained on the porous matrix and which are recoverable therefrom.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the concentration of water soluble ionic selenium species in aqueous waste solutions containing the same. The process comprises passing said waste solution through a treatment zone containing a porous matrix on which are retained populations of at least one bacteria of the genus Clostridium. The passing of said aqueous solution through said treatment zone is carried out at predetermined rates of flow, and contact between said solution and said bacteria is conducted under anaerobic conditions and at predetermined pH and temperature levels. The process provides for the conversion of the water soluble ionic selenium species to water insoluble selenium metal, which metal is retained on the porous matrix and can be recovered therefrom.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the concentrations of water soluble ionic selenium species, sulfate ion and ionic heavy metal species in aqueous waste solutions containing the same. The process comprises passing said waste solution through a treatment zone containing a porous matrix on which are retained populations of at least one anaerobic bacteria of the genus Clostridium and at least one anaerobic bacteria selected from the group consisting of bacteria of the genera Desulfovibrio and Desulfotomaculum. The passing of said aqueous solution through said treatment zone is carried out at predetermined rates of flow and contacts between said solution and said bacteria is conducted under anaerobic conditions and at predetermined pH and temperature levels.

Abstract: This invention comprises a process for separating a fatty acid from a mixture comprising a fatty acid and a rosin acid, which process comprises contacting the mixture at separation conditions with a molecular sieve comprising silicalite in a silica matrix the precursor of the molecular sieve comprising silicalite powder dispersed in colloidal amorphous silica, the precursor having been gelled and then treated in a manner to substantially eliminate hydroxyl groups from the molecular sieve, thereby selectively retaining the fatty acid. The fatty acid is recovered from the molecular sieve by displacement with a displacement material comprising an organic acid.

Abstract: Manganese sulfate solutions of improved purity are prepared by digesting a combination of a reduced manganese ore with an aqueous acid solution in the presence of a particulate potassium-iron salt byproduct. The salt byproduct is the salt byproduct formed, in situ, by reaction of potassium impurity with ferric ion during digestion of a combination of a reduced manganese ore and an aqueous acid solution.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of manganese sulfate solutions having reduced levels of potassium impurity comprising blending a reduced manganese ore, an added source of water soluble aluminum ions and an aqueous acid solution to form a digestion mixture, digesting said mixture, preferably in the presence of crystals of a complex potassium-aluminum salt to form a mixed reaction product containing a liquid phase of manganese sulfate solution and recovering the liquid phase of manganese sulfate solution from said mixed reaction product.

Abstract: The recovery of metal values such as cobalt may be improved in a hydrometallurgical recovery of metal values from metal-bearing sources such as ores and the like. The hydrometallurgical recovery process involves subjecting a metal-bearing source to a reductive roast in a reducing atmosphere after having treated said source with at least one additive. Thereafter, the reduced metal-bearing source is cooled and extracted by a leaching operation such as treatment with an ammoniacal ammonium salt solution. The leaching step is followed by a separation of various metal values by adding a solid adsorbent to the leach solution whereby selective metal ions are adsorbed thereon. The improvement of the process involves subjecting the solid adsorbent to a stripping operation with a stripping agent such as steam or a gas at an elevated temperature prior to recovery of the adsorbed metal ions from the solid adsorbent by conventional means such as acid-stripping.

Abstract: Desired metal values are recovered from metal-bearing sources by subjecting said metal-bearing sources to a reduction step which is effected in an aqueous solution of an ammoniacal ammonium salt containing a reducing reagent such as hydrazine, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, etc., or by treatment with carbon monoxide in the presence of a metal chelate such as that formed from cobalt sulfate and dimethyl glyoxime, and thereafter subjecting the reduced source to an oxidative leach by treatment wth an oxygen-containing gas such as air or oxygen. The reducing step is effected at ambient temperatures and pressures and the oxidative step is effected at ambient temperatures and pressures ranging from about 5 to about 500 psig. Desired metal values such as nickel and cobalt may be recovered in commercially attractive yields.

Abstract: Metal values may be recovered from metal bearing sources which contain at least two metals, at least one of which is in the form of a sulfide, by treating the aforesaid source with an oxidant at an elevated temperature in the range of from about 600.degree. to about 1500.degree. C. and in the presence of an added promoter comprising a sulfur-containing compound. The treatment will convert at least one metal value to an oxide and at least one metal value is converted to the elemental state which contains a relatively minor amount of a subsulfide. The addition of the sulfur-containing compound will result in an increase in the particle size of the elemental metal, thus permitting the recovery of said metal more readily.

Abstract: Metal values may be recovered from metal bearing sources which contain at least two metals, at least one of which is in the form of a sulfide, by treating the aforesaid source with a mild oxidant at an elevated temperature in the range of from about 600.degree. to about 1500.degree. C. whereby at least one metal value is converted to an oxide and at least one metal value is converted to the elemental state which contains a relatively minor amount of sulfur. Thereafter the metal compounds may be separated and recovered by conventional means.

Abstract: Titanium metal values may be recovered from a titanium bearing source such as an ilmenite ore by subjecting the source to a reductive roast and leaching the reduced source with a halogen containing compound such as hydrochloric acid. The soluble titanium halide is then extracted from the leach liquor by utilizing an organophosphoric acid such as mono-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid. The extracted titanium may then be stripped from the loaded organic acid solution by treating the solution with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and an inorganic acid. Thereafter the desired titanium metal value may be recovered from the acid solution by any means known in the art such as hydrolysis.