Abstract: The reactor forms a chamber which contains the reaction process. There are accesses to the chamber for receiving shredded tires and oil. There are egresses from the chamber for discharging the tire oil and for discharging unreacted elements. Apparatus is located within the chamber which separates the unreacted components of the shredded tires from the tire oil. The apparatus also provides for the removal of the unreacted elements from the chamber means. The reactor also includes a heater which heats the inside of the chamber to a temperature sufficient to cause a reaction between the shredded tires and the oil.

Abstract: This invention comprises a method and apparatus for removing oil and tar based wood preservatives from sawdust. A pole treated with oil or tar basee wood preservative is shaved to remove the treated outer wood layer, leaving the interior preservative free. The sawdust is subjected to rapid heating in a turbulent oxygen-free gas stream and the oil and tar are rapidly distilled from the sawdust. The sawdust and gas are separated in a mechanical separator and the hot gas is rapidly cooled, condensed and recovered.

Abstract: A process for disposing of filter media is provided, which process comprises (a) mixing a filter media with a hydrocarbonaceous mixing stream to form a media-hydrocarbon mixture and (b) feeding said media-hydrocarbon mixture to a coking vessel. Preferred coking vessels include delayed cokers, fluidized cokers, and coke calciners. An apparatus for disposing of filter media is provided, which apparatus comprises (a) a coking vessel; (b) a mixer to mix the filter media with a hydrocarbonaeous mixing fluid to form a media- hydrocarbonaeous fluid mixture; and, (c) a feed means to feed the media-hydrocarbonaeous fluid mixture to the coking vessel. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a size reduction means to reduce the size of the filter media to form a media staple comprising fiber clusters having a desired shape and size.

Abstract: A process for producing enhanced quality adsorbent carbons and environmentally acceptable materials for energy production from coal includes an initial step of physically cleaning the coal to remove organic sulfur and mineral tailings. Next, a coal slurry of feedstock and water is prepared. Phosphoric acid is then mixed into the water of the coal slurry to provide by volume 15-85% and more preferably 50-85% phosphoric acid. The slurry is then heated and held in a temperature range between 85.degree. and 230.degree. C. for a period of at least five minutes to allow the phosphoric acid to penetrate deeply into the coal. Then the coal slurry is carbonized at a temperature of between 200.degree.-700.degree. C. for at least five to sixty minutes. The processing produces unique products including a low ash content, low sulfur content carbon solid, a tar with a sulfur content of less than 0.05% of the original feedstock and a gas product having a hydrogen to methane ratio of at least 4:1.

Abstract: Apparatus for the production of charcoal by the comingling of a source of wood and ground sludge where the sludge is received from a paper making plant as wet sludge, grinding the wet sludge to a desired reduction, feeding the ground sludge into a furnace where it is comingled with wood, and circulating the furnace hot gas exhaust back through the grinding of the wet sludge to initiate the drying thereof.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the refinement of organic material is disclosed. Converting and processing organic material is achieved with or without organic and inorganic additions. The base material uses waste material, i.e. forest industry waste and slaughter-house waste. The method and apparatus produce a packeted end product, specifically carbon powder/granulate as full and charcoal for grilling/smoking, as well as active coal and additives for steel production.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for converting coal into useful motor fuels and metallurgical coke using a self-cleaning coal pyrolyzer wherein coal is heated in the absence of air at temperatures greater than 800.degree. F. to remove volatile hydrocarbon gases therefrom. Char remaining after such pyrolyzation is cooled and pulverized and mixed with selected binders at temperatures ranging from 125.degree. to 200.degree. F. to form briquettes. The briquettes are calcined at temperatures ranging from 1800.degree. to 2000.degree. F. to form metallurgical coke. The gaseous hydrocarbons are separated into liquid coal fuels, non-condensable gases and water vapor. The liquid coal fuels are further separated into various motor fuels while the non-condensable gases are used to fuel the coal pyrolyzer.

Abstract: A method for mild gasification of crushed coal in a single vertical elongated reaction vessel providing a fluidized bed reaction zone, a freeboard reaction zone, and an entrained reaction zone within the single vessel. Feed coal and gas may be fed separately to each of these reaction zones to provide different reaction temperatures and conditions in each reaction zone. The reactor and process of this invention provides for the complete utilization of a coal supply for gasification including utilization of caking and non-caking or agglomerating feeds in the same reactor. The products may be adjusted to provide significantly greater product economic value, especially with respect to desired production of char having high surface area.

Abstract: A method for the pyrolytic production of synthetic gas from components of solid materials, including selected segregated post-consumed waste materials, within a pyrolytic gasifier operably heated by an associated furnace, which includes the steps of: preparing the materials for use as furnace fuel; preparing the materials for use as pyrolytically decomposable gassifier fuel by material proparation means; conveying the materials from the material preparation means to material segregation means by material conveying means operably associated therebetween; segregating the materials into selected segregated components of the gassifier fuel by the material segregation means; delivering the components of gasifier fuel into a desired gasifier fuel formula component ratio by gasifier fuel delivery means so as to comprise a gasifier fuel formula mixture; and compacting the gasifier fuel mixture by compacting means operably connected to gasifier fuel delivery means, so as to substantially eliminate entrapped oxygen and

Abstract: Entrained pyrolysis of lignocellulosic material proceeds from a controlled pyrolysis-initiating temperature to completion of an oxygen free environment at atmospheric pressure and controlled residence time to provide a high yield recovery of pyrolysis oil together with char and non-condensable, combustible gases. The residence time is a function of gas flow rate and the initiating temperature is likewise a function of the gas flow rate, varying therewith. A controlled initiating temperature range of about 400.degree. C. to 550.degree. C. with corresponding gas flow rates to maximize oil yield is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting hydrocarbons from tar sands. Stationary heater plates have a central opening therethrough through which a horizontal axle extends. Rotors having a central hub and a number of arms are splined on the axle, one closely sandwiched between every two heater plates. A ring is provided between the heater plates closely outward of the rotor arms. Sand retaining pockets are defined between adjacent arms of each rotor, the rotor hub, the ring and adjacent heater plates. Sand is retained in the sand retaining pockets for about one revolution about the axis between feed and removal positions. While retained in the pockets, the sand is heated and hydrocarbons driven off are collected.

Abstract: Briquettes made from bituminous or sub-bituminous coal or peat are produced by grinding the coal, mixing it with a binder and compacting the mixture. They are then carbonized in a continuous process in a shaft oven. The coal may be predried and the finished briquettes may be preheated, with a subsequent drying and hardening. The carbonization is effected in two stages in an indirectly heated shaft oven, with the evolved gas being taken off about at the mid-height of the oven shaft, processed, and used for heating in the second, high-temperature stage. The flue gases from this high-temperature stage are used for heating in the first stage and for preheating. The second or high-temperature stage is followed by a cooling stage where the gases evolved in the second stage, and mainly comprising hydrogen are used and circulated. The evolved gas in excess is continuously removed from the cooling circuit.

Abstract: A two-step process for producing microspherical pitch or green coke particles having an average diameter of 30-200 .mu.m from finely divided petroleum or coal pitch having a softening point of 60.degree.-220.degree. C. and a fixed carbon content of 40-75 wt %. In the first step the material pitch is fluidized in the stream of a gas substantially inert to the pitch at a temperature of 100.degree.-800.degree. C., the mixed stream is rapidly cooled to 30.degree.-400.degree. C., and microspherical pitch particles are recovered with or without separate recovery of an oily product. In the second step the pitch spheres are further subjected to thermal cracking and polycondensation by use of a fluidized bed at a temperature of 350.degree.-520.degree. C. for a retention time of 1 min. to 3 hours, and microspherical green coke particles and a light cracked oil are recovered. In both steps a pressure between the ordinary level and 10 kg/cm.sup.2 is used.

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: Green coal is charred in pre- and post- treatment carbonizers, then crushed, mixed with pitch, briquetted, tempered in a tempering oven, recirculated with succeeding green coal to char in a reducing atmosphere through only the latter part of the pre-treatment carbonizer and through the post-treatment carbonizer, cooled, and separated from the as yet unbriquetted char. The pre-treatment carbonization is characterized by having air updrafted through all the airbox zones under the travelling grate.

Abstract: An improved process for making metallurgical coke is provided which enables the use of coals that ordinarily do not yield coke of expected stability based on the rank of the coal. The comminuted coal is pretreated by contacting and reacting the coal with a halogenated hydrocarbon liquid, particularly perchloroethylene, and the pretreated coal is thereafter subjected to high temperature carbonization.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying pellets of particulate material such as carbon black is characterized by a columnar drying vessel containing inclined trays or screens positioned so that the pellets or particulates roll from screen to screen down the column. Preferably, the pellets are subjected to countercurrent flow of drying gases while flowing down the screens. In other aspects, carbon black is pelleted with a nonaqueous liquid pelleting fluid and dried with vapors of the same pelleting fluid.

Abstract: Coal fines developed from the processing of coal through a preheating system are accumulated in a secondary cyclone system. The coal fines, at an elevated temperature, are mixed with a hydrocarbon organic binder and compressed into larger particles of sufficient structural integrity and mass to be fed directly through pneumatic pressure coke oven coal charging lines without significant size reduction, resulting in the elimination of fine coal build-up in one coke oven standpipes and charging mains as well as overloading of the charging liquor system.

Abstract: Process for production and recovery of fuel gases and organic liquids from biomass by use of an upflow furnace, wherein said biomass is preheated at a temperature of from 100.degree. C. to 1500.degree. C. and thermally converted at a temperature of from 200.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of pyrolyzing and desulfurizing coal in a transport reactor to recover volatile fuel values and hydrogen by heating particulate coal entrained in a carrier gas substantially free of oxygen to a pyrolysis temperature in a zone within three seconds.

Abstract: Blast furnace coke containing low grade coal in a high blending ratio is manufactured by a method which comprises blending not less than 60% of a blended coal having an adjusted total moisture content of not more than 4% with not more than 40% of briquettes and carbonizing the resultant mixture.The blended coal consists essentially of not less than 80% of coking coal and not more than 20% of low grade coal. When coking coal of a kind which has its coking property segregated according to its grain size distribution is pulverized and classified by sifting and the portion of fine particles is used as mixed with the coking coal, the blending ratio of the low grade coal in the blended coal can be increased to up to 35%. The briquettes consist essentially of not less than 10% of coking coal and not more than 90% of low grade coal.

Abstract: A process for production and recovery of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing whole plants in a form suitable for use as chemical feedstocks or as hydrocarbon energy sources which process comprises: (a) pulverizing by grinding or chopping hydrocarbon-containing whole plants selected from the group consisting of Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Compositae, Cactaceae and Pinaceae families to a suitable particle size, (b) drying and preheating said particles in a reducing atmosphere under positive pressure (c) passing said particles through a thermal conversion zone containing a reducing atmosphere and with a residence time of 1 second to about 30 minutes at a temperature within the range of from about 200.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C., (d) separately recovering the condensable vapors as liquids and the noncondensable gases in a condition suitable for use as chemical feedstocks or as hydrocarbon fuels.

Abstract: A liquid smoke with superior toning (meat coloring) properties is produced from hardwoods by an automated process in which the raw materials, temperatures and other process variables are carefully controlled within narrow limits to yield a uniformly high quality product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the separation of bitumen crude petroleum from oil bearing solid materials and the collection of all the vapors produced, as multiple fractionated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: In a continuous process for recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from a solid carbonaceous material by pyrolysis of the carbonaceous material in the presence of a particulate source of heat, particulate contamination of the liquid hydrocarbons is minimized. This is accomplished by removing fines from the solid carbonaceous material feed stream before pyrolysis, removing fines from the particulate source of heat before combining it with the carbonaceous material to effect pyrolysis of the carbonaceous material, and providing a coarse fraction of reduced fines content of the carbon containing solid residue resulting from the pyrolysis of the carbonaceous material before oxidizing carbon in the carbon containing solid residue to form the particulate source of heat.

Abstract: Latex-rich plants such as Guayule or extracts thereof pyrolyzed in an inert nitrogen atmosphere in inorganic salt melts such as a LiCl/KCl eutectic at a temperature of about 500.degree. C. yield over 60% of a highly aromatic, combustible hydrocarbon oil suitable for use as a synthetic liquid fuel.

Abstract: A process is described for producing metallurgical coke from poor coking coals in which there is combined with the poor coking coals a small amount of an additive consisting of a bitumen residue obtained from hydrocracking of bitumen from tar sands. The residue used is that from vacuum distillation of a heavy hydrocarbon bottoms material obtained from hydrocracking of the bitumen. A high boiling organic residue from vacuum distillation to an equivalent atmospheric boiling temperature of 524.degree. C. is preferred. The novel additive is superior in its ability to penetrate into cavities and provide excellent bonding of the components of the coal.

Abstract: A method for separating a metallic mineral from an ore containing same. An aqueous dispersed slurry of the ore is formed, and the slurry is mixed with a system of transiently suspended ferrimagnetic particles of predominantly colloidal size. The particles are further characterized by an isoelectric point in relation to the slurried mineral sought to be separated, such that the particles spontaneously co-flocculate with the mineral to seed same. The resultant seeded slurry is passed through a porous ferromagnetic matrix in the presence of a magnetic field, which separates the seeded mineral at the matrix.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a moulded coke according to which agglomerates are heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, this process being characterized in that the agglomerates are prepared by compression from a paste containing:from 60 to 85% by weight of non-cokable coals,from 10 to 30% by weight of agglutinating coalshaving a swelling index greater than 2, andfrom 5 to 13% by weight of binder,which paste, when heated at 6.degree. C. per minute in the ARNU dilatometer gives a contraction of between 3 and 15%, preferably between 5 and 10% and a swelling of zero or near 0, and in that the agglomerates are heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere from a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to a temperature of at least about 700.degree. C., with a rate of heating of between 7 and 14.degree. C. per minute.

Abstract: The method of producing blast furnace coke by (1) compacting a finely divided coal wherein at least about 60% by weight of the coal has a diameter of less than about 1/8 inch to form a coal compact, which compact immediately after removal from the compacting means comprises at least about 20% by weight of particles having a particle size of less than 1/4 inch in diameter; (2) breaking the thus formed compact such that the bulk density is sufficiently increased to be capable of conversion into coke suitable for use in large blast furnaces upon carbonization thereof; and (3) carbonizing the broken compact to thereby produce blast furnace coke having a minimum hardness of about 68 and a minimum stability of about 55. The compacting is preferably performed at a pressure equivalent to that achieved by passing the finely divided coal between rolls at a pressure applied to the coal of between about 20 and about 60 tons per lineal inch.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of chemical values from waste solids, wherein shredded waste solids are intermixed with hot char and a carrier gas in turbulent flow and passed through a pyrolysis zone under turbulent conditions at a temperature ranging from about 300.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F., with zone residence time of under 10 seconds, with subsequent segregation and recovery of volatilized organic chemical values, char and inorganic chemical values therefrom.

Abstract: In a continuous process for recovery of values contained in a solid carbonaceous material, the carbonaceous material is comminuted and then subjected to flash pyrolysis in the presence of a particulate heat source fed over an overflow weir to form a pyrolysis product stream containing a carbon containing solid residue and volatilized hydrocarbons. After the carbon containing solid residue is separated from the pyrolysis product stream, values are obtained by condensing volatilized hydrocarbons. The particulate source of heat is formed by oxidizing carbon in the solid residue.

Abstract: A method of producing blast furnace coke from bituminous coals, particularly coals having poor coking capacities in which the coal to be carbonized is ground, predried or preheated, mixed with binders, compressed or formed into briquets having small mechanical resistances and charged into oven chambers, is characterized by fine coals or fine coal mixtures having a swelling index in mixture according to DIN 51741, smaller than 7, and preferably, below 6, and comprising more than 50% of poorly or non-baking coal having a content of volatile matter in excess of 30% or less than 20% which coals or coal mixtures are ground up to attain asurface per unit mass, according to DIN 66145, of from 400 cm.sup.2 to 1200 cm.sup.2 per gram, and with from 3% to 8% by weight of organic binders, compressing the mixture to form it into a briquet at a temperature range of from 70.degree. C. to 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A carbonaceous material with high characteristics of surface area and activity is produced in a continuous process by heating and drying ground pit coal at 200 to 300.degree. C. for 15 to 120 minutes in air, and then heating in two further stages in fluidized bed reactors. The first of these further stages is 400 to 600.degree. C. for 10 to 60 minutes while the second is 800 to 1100.degree. C. for 10 to 60 minutes. Tar is condensed from the offgases of the first further stage and the residual gas is divided and 10 to 95% recycled to the first further stage. Similarly, 10 to 95% of the off-gases from the second further stage are recycled.

Abstract: Solid trash is comminuted and classified into an organic fraction and a metals-inorganic fraction. The organic fraction is processed for recovery of paper pulp and the residue pyrolysed. The metals-inorganic fraction is processed for recovery of each major metal and inorganic constituent.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing an isotropic carbonaceous material having a high density and a high crushing strength which comprises the steps of (a) extracting a reformed coal from at least one component selected from the group consisting of brown coal, lignite and grass peat in the presence of hydrogen gas; (b) heating the reformed coal to produce a green coke; and (c) coking the green coke.

Abstract: A fixed sulfur fuel is produced by proportioning sulfur-bearing coal and limestone in amounts which will cause the calcium in the limestone to react with a large amount of sulfur in the coal. The proportioned mixture is ground and blended and then balled or compacted to form pellets. By means of either a carbonizing or pyrolyzing technique conducted in a traveling grate machine, where the pellets are heated to at least 800.degree. F., the coal is pyrolyzed or carbonized, the limestone is calcined, and the sulfur is fixed in a calcium compound which remains stable in the ash after the pellets are burned as a fuel.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing reformed coal which comprises the steps of (a) dispersing coal into a mixed oil which is comprised of a coal oil having a boiling point between about 150.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. and a petroleum oil having a boiling point higher than that of kerosene; (b) subjecting the coal and oil dispersion to hydrogenation conditions sufficient to depolymerize the coal; (c) separating a substantially liquified coal solution from the product of hydrogenation, and (d) distilling the liquified coal solution to recover a reformed coal. Preferably, a portion of the coal oil is recycled from the distillation stage and a portion of the hydrogen needed for hydrogenation is produced from light fractions from the distillation stage.

Abstract: A plurality of different types of raw material coal fines are sieved to a size not exceeding 1.5 mm; said sieved raw material coal fines are blended so as to satisfy the following conditions:(a) AP index: 75 at the minimum,(b) Mean maximum reflectance: 1.20% at the minimum, and(c) A [dilatation] - [contraction] value of from -2 to +5% when carbonized under conventional conditions in a horizontal type coke oven battery at a heating rate of 5.degree. C/min. (350.degree. - 600.degree. C);said blended raw material coal fines thus obtained are mixed with a binder and formed to produce a formed coal; and then, said formed coal thus obtained is charged into a horizontal type coke oven battery and carbonized, whereby a high-strength formed coke for blast furnace is a slight mutual agglomeration is manufactured.

Abstract: Coke is produced with high yield and low sulfur by heating and drying ground coking coal at 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. for 15 to 120 minutes in air, and then heating in two semicoking stages in nitrogen in fluidized bed reactors. The first semicoking stage is 400.degree. to 600.degree. C. for 10 to 60 minutes while the second is 800.degree. to 1,100.degree. C. for 10 to 60 minutes. Tar is condensed from the offgases of the first semicoking stage and the residual gas is divided and 15 to 95% recycled to the first semicoking reactor. Similarly, 15 to 95% of the offgases from the second semicoking reactor is recycled. The condensed tar is fed to the final coke-forming operation.

Abstract: A process for converting relatively ash-free solid polymeric wastes to more valuable liquid, solid, and gaseous products which comprises mixing rubber and/or plastic wastes at high temperatures in a refractory petroleum stream and catalytically cracking the mixture.

Abstract: A method of improving the mechanical resistance of coke comprises forming a liquor of fine grained coal and oil with the oil being of from 5% to 30% of the total weight, forming coal pellets of the liquor at an increased temperature of from approximately 80.degree. to 100.degree. C, and heating the pellets to transform them into coke in a known coking process. Prior to being carbonized, the pellets are advantageously coated with a separating layer of a substance preventing agglomeration, such as hematite ore, lime, fine coke, etc.

Abstract: With the use of low-fluidity blended raw material coal fines having a maximum fluidity of up to 20 d.d.p.m. as an inner core material, and coal fines having a maximum fluidity of at least 30 d.d.p.m. or a bituminous material having a C/H ratio of from 0.7 to 1.9 as an outer envelope material, green composite briquettes are formed by covering said inner core material with said outer envelope material. Said green composite briquettes thus formed are charged into a conventional coke oven battery and carbonized by an ordinary process, whereby a high-strength metallurgical formed coke in a slight mutual agglomeration is produced.

Abstract: In a continuous process for recovery of values contained in a solid carbonaceous material, the carbonaceous material is comminuted and then subjected to flash pyrolysis in the presence of a particulate heat source over an overflow weir to form a pyrolysis product stream containing a carbon containing solid residue and volatilized hydrocarbons. After the carbon containing solid residue is separated from the pyrolysis product stream, values are obtained by condensing volatilized hydrocarbons. The particulate source of heat is formed by oxidizing carbon in the solid residue and separating out the fines.

Abstract: A process for preparing blast furnace cokes which contain large amounts of low-grade coal which comprises the steps of adding a binder to a coal for making briquettes which comprises a substantially low-grade coal such as non- and/or poorly-coking coal; either alone or when blended in an amount of up to about 40% or more with a charging coal; mixing the binder and the coal briquetting the mixture in a roll press to form briquettes of two or more types; blending the resulting briquettes of different types with a charging coal in a total amount of about 35% or more of the briquettes based on the charging coal and, to prepare a blended charging coal; and carbonizing the blended charging coal in a coke oven.

Abstract: Apparatus and the method of converting organic material such as that separated from municipal and industrial waste into useful products by using a form of an extruder in a continuous destructive distillation process and in which the material being processes is compressed in the extruder in the absence of air and is heated to carefully controlled temperatures in separate zones to extract different products from each of the zones.

Abstract: In a continuous process for recovery of values contained in a solid carbonaceous material, the carbonaceous material is comminuted and then subjected to flash pyrolysis in the presence of a particulate heat source to form a pyrolysis product stream containing a carbon containing solid residue and volatilized hydrocarbons. After the carbon containing solid residue is separated from the pyrolysis product stream, values are obtained by condensing volatilized hydrocarbons. The particulate source of heat is formed by oxidizing carbon in the solid residue. Apparatus useful for practicing this process are disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a system for segregating through comminution and classification solid waste into ferrous metal, inorganic, and organic fractions. The inorganic fraction is further classified into aluminum and glass fractions. The organic fraction is further comminuted, dried and fed to a pyrolysis system where it is converted to gas for use in drying the organic material for feed to the pyrolysis system, pyrolytic oils and char. The principal saleable products recovered are char, pyrolytic oils, glass, aluminum, and ferrous metal.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method of comminuting coal to about 1 to 10 microns size comprising introducing the coal particles into a plurality of vessels, each of which is subjected to high pressure, superheated steam which infuses into the pores of said particles equalizing the pressure therein with that surrounding the particles in the vessel. By opening a discharge valve of each vessel connected to a nozzle leading into a housing, in which a paddle wheel is located, the particles will burst in each vessel to smaller size because of the reduction of the pressure therein surrounding the particles. Opening of said valve will effect acceleration, turbulence and collision of the particles to cause further breakage particularly as the particles are further expanded through the nozzle and against the blades of the paddle wheel driven in a direction opposite that of the nozzle jets. The vessel may be operated under partial vacuum by connection to a steam condenser through which cooling water flows.

Abstract: A process for obtaining oil, gas, sulfur and other products from shale whereby there is effected drying, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion and cooling of pyrobituminous shale or similar rocks in a single passage of said shale continuously in a moving bed, the charge and discharge of the shale being intermittent and wherein the maximum temperature of the bed is maintained in the range of about 1050.degree. C to 1200.degree. C (1900.degree. F to 2200.degree. F) or higher. The shale is essentially completely freed from the organic matter, fixed carbon and sulfur, resulting in a clean solid residue which can be disposed of without harming the ecology.