Abstract: Carbonaceous components are separated from particulate coal containing inorganic solids by agitating and aerating the coal, agglomerating oil and water to form agglomerates of carbonaceous components of the coal and oil with air trapped in the agglomerates. The air trapped in the agglomerates makes them buoyant so that they collect at the surface of the water, for easy removal, while inorganic residual solids collect at the bottom of the water. The inorganic solids containing coal comprise previously formed agglomerates which are broken down by the agitation to form a slurry. In the latter case the process is for removal of inorganic solids which were not removed during the initial agglomeration. The agitation may be accomplished by a stirrer, impeller or a pump.

Abstract: In a method of agglomerating carbonaceous coal comprising first agglomerating impurity liberated carbonaceous coal, from an impurity liberated coal slurry, with agglomerating oil to form open structured, chain-like, micro-agglomerates and then forming relatively larger, less open structured more robust agglomerates from a portion of the slurry to provide a mixture of micro-agglomerates, relatively larger, more robust agglomerates, water and any inorganic impurities that may be present. The relatively larger, more robust agglomerates are screened and then the micro-agglomerates are separated using an aerating, skimmer tank leaving an inorganic impurity laden waste water. The micro-agglomerates are rendered buoyant by the aeration and are thus rendered separable from the inorganic laden waste water which may be further treated to remove the inorganic waste to provide water for recirculation.

Abstract: An atomizing nozzle assembly is provided having an outwardly diverging frustrum of a cone shaped, deflector core of wear resistant ceramic, a nozzle rim of wear resistant ceramic encircling the core and coextensive with a downstream portion thereof to form a mixing zone therewith for receiving liquid-to-be-atomized therein from an unobstructed passage and atomizing fluid directing the liquid-to-be-atomized away from the core. The mixing zone leads to a nozzle orifice outlet. The core is mounted in a core holder and is adjustable by a screw thread, in close proximity to the mixing zone, to adjust the width of the mixing zone. The liquid-to-be-atomized (e.g. a coal slurry fuel) and the atomizing fluid (e.g. air) are fed along coaxial tubes which are slidably mounted by glands to accommodate differential expansions.

Abstract: Persistent chemisorption bonds of clay solids in clay-containing heavy oil and water emulsions, from oil sands, heavy oil or conventional oil wells, are broken down by mixing the emulsion with an aqueous mixture of coal particles so that the mixture has a suspension density in the range 1 to 50 weight % solids. The coal particles have a particle size in the range 5 to 100 .mu.m so that occluded hydrophilic, inorganic solids are separable from a substantial portion of the hydrophobic, carbonaceous substances of the coal. The mixing of the emulsion with the aqueous suspension of coal particles is continued until agglomerates are formed comprising essentially carbonaceous components of the coal and the heavy oil thereby breaking down the chemisorption bonds by interdependantly dissociating carbonaceous components of the coal and heavy oil from the clay solids and other hydrophilic, inorganic solids and water from the coal and heavy oil.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispersing particulate material in a liquid, for example, particulate coal and agglomerating oil in water, comprising an upwardly extending, cylindrical container for the flow of the coal, oil and water upwardly therethrough passed a lower, flat blade type turbine rotor, an intermediate knife blade type turbine rotor and an upper pitched blade type turbine rotor. An annular shaped portion is around the intermediate rotor and houses the intermediate rotor in a cylindrical duct, longitudinally extending baffles extend upwardly along the container inner surface and are spaced therefrom. The lower rotor causes radially outward flow of the coal-water-oil mixture, the intermediate rotor causes fine break down and homogenization of the coal-water-oil mixture, while the pitched blade type turbine rotor causes reverse flow of the homogenized coal-water-oil mixture producing seed agglomerates of carbonaceous coal particles and oil leaving any ash particles dispersed in the water.

Abstract: An aqueous phase continuous, fuel slurry is claimed, and its method of production from agglomerates consisting essentially of carbonaceous particles, agglomerating oil and residual water. The slurry may be formed by thoroughly mixing with agglomerates an agglomerate dispersing and coal/oil/water system interfacial tension reducing agent with the agglomerates so that the agglomerates are broken down and an aqueous phase continuous fuel slurry is formed containing residual, oil produced flocs from the agglomerates and having an oil content of the fuel slurry no greater than 10 weight % of the solids content of the fuel slurry. The solids content of the fuel slurry is in the range of the order of 50 weight % and of the order of 80 weight % of the total weight of the fuel slurry, and is preferably in the range of the order of 65 weight % to of the order of 70 weight %.

Abstract: A wear resistant atomizing nozzle assembly is provided having an outwardly diverging, frustum of a cone-shaped deflector core of wear resistant ceramic and a nozzle rim of wear resistant ceramic and having an outwardly flared inner surface encircling the core to form a flared, atomizing nozzle orifice therewith. The core is mounted in a flared socket of a deflector core holder and inner and outer sleeves feed, say, atomizing air to the deflector core surface and, say, a coal liquid mixture fuel inwardly around the nozzle rim so that the fuel is held by the air as a film against the nozzle rim inner surface and then atomized as it emerges from the nozzle rim.

Abstract: A gelation shrinkable, polymer casting solution, that has been cast on the internal surface of a tubular support is gelled using pressure gelation by supporting the tubular support with one end higher than the other and pumping gelation liquid upwardly along the tube at a velocity in the range of the order of 10 to 100 cm/second and at a pressure of at least 10 kPa gauge at all points of contact between the gelation liquid and polymer casting solution. This achieves asymmetricity of the pore structure and ensures that the cast polymer solution is continuously in contact with the tubular support as a gelled membrane. If the tubular support is a porous, tubular support, then preferably the pressure gelation is continued until gelation liquid has passed through the cast polymer solution and the porous support removing solvent and any additives from the cast polymer solution.

Abstract: An ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis module comprising a tubular casing having a plurality of tubular membrane assemblies spaced therein by spacing plates, in stepped end portions of the casing bore, and held therein by sealing plates clamped to flanges on the ends of the casing. The tubular membrane assemblies are sealed around bores in the spacing plates and boxes in the sealing plates by "O"-rings and are held against collapse by sleeves in the ends of the tubular membrane assemblies.

Abstract: Polysulfone cast films, including polyethersulfone cast films, are partially gelled with mineral acid prior to or during the conventional water gelation to control the porosity of and improve the productivity of reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration membranes thus produced. The partial gelation may be carried out prior to the water gelation by contacting the cast film with the mineral acid in a gaseous or aqueous form and the gaseous form may be diluted with air. The partial gelation may, in different embodiments, be carried out simultaneously with the conventional gelation by dissolving the mineral acid in the gelation liquid.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of casting a reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration polymeric membrane on a wall of porous support having a first, high pressure side under service conditions, and a second, low pressure side under service conditions, wherein the first side is coated wih a cellulose ester casting solution to at least partially impregnate the support, solvent carrier of the casting solution is partially evaporated to leave a residue, and then residues adjacent the first and second sides are gelled with a gelation liquid comprising a monohydric alcohol. The improvement comprises gelling the residue adjacent the first side with a gelation liquid which is separate from that used to gel the residue adjacent the second side, and the monohydric alcohol mole fractions of the separate gelation liquid, and their temperatures during gelation, are chosen so that relatively larger pores are formed towards the second side of the porous support.

Abstract: An in-line method for the beneficiation of coal and the formation of a coal-in-oil combustible fuel wherein the coal is wet pulverized, micro-agglomerated with light oil to dissociate a large amount of inorganic impurities and some water, agglomerated with heavy oil to form relatively larger agglomerates and dissociate mainly water with some inorganic impurities, and then mixed with further heavy oil to form the coal-in-oil combustible fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting tubular polymeric membranes for reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration which includes a plurality of upwardly extending casting tubes, a manifold with branch outlets for mounting the casting tubes to extend upwardly therefrom, a casting bob assembly comprising a centering sleeve with a screw threaded bore and cylindrical extension, a casting bob screwed into the centering sleeve and having casting solution outlet ports to an annular gap between the casting bob and the casting sleeve, the annular gap being adjustable by screwing the casting bob into and out of the centering sleeve, and a transport sleeve which is pressed on to the casting bob and the cylindrical extension of the centering sleeve for transporting the assembly from one casting tube to another between casting operations and a flexible sleeve and a hose clamp for releasably securing the transport sleeve in a lower end of each casting and sealing the lower ends of each casting tube to a branch outlet.

Abstract: A process for preparing ultra-filtration membranes and the product thereof, in which a selected cellulosic-ester polymer solution is cast into a thin film, at about ambient temperature, partially dried and immersed in a gelation bath at -20 .degree. to +30.degree. C. The gelation bath contains a sufficient percentage by volume of ethyl alcohol or other organic polar compound to ensure that a flux rate in excess of the initial minimum is achieved. In this way, ultra-filtration membranes having water flux rates selected from within the approximate range 14-10,000 gals./sq.ft./day at 100 psig and a molecular weight cut off above about 15,000, can be produced.