Abstract: A process for removing ash from coal comprising the steps of pulverizing the coal to fine particles, admixing water with the finely divided coal to prepare an ash-containing slurry of finely divided coal, mixing with the slurry an oil and seeds in the form of oleophilic solid grains and serving as granulating nuclei to granulate the finely divided coal, separating the resulting granules from the mixture and washing the granules with water to remove the ash, and disintegrating the washed granules to obtain a deashed coal and recover the seeds for reuse.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the chemical-mechanical treatment and purification of ground and surface waters and effluents of various types employs adding materials for coagulation, flocculation, precipitation, sedimentation and altering the pH value. The process comprises separate process stages carried out successively as follows: (1) a first initial process stage wherein certain additives are admixed to the raw water by stirring; (2) a second initial process stage wherein contact sludge is admixed by stirring; (3) a third initial process stage wherein a flocculent aid and possibly also at least some of the other materials added in the first stage are admixed by stirring with high energy input; and alternatively (4) a fourth initial process stage for the formation of course flocs and completion of reaction of the previously added materials and formation of settleable particles and conglomerations of particles together with adsorbed and attached and occluded raw water components with moderate movement.

Abstract: A process for obtaining calcium fluoride from the pond water of phosphoric acid plants and recycling the high phosphate defluorinated water to the pond is disclosed. Sufficient calcium carbonate is added to a solution having a pH of about 0.8, containing about 1% fluoride, 1% phosphate and less than 0.4% sulfate, to raise the pH thereof to 2-3, whereby calcium fluoride is precipitated as a major component, calcium phosphates and calcium sulfates are precipitated as minor components. The calcium fluoride precipitate obtained is washed with raw pond water to reduce the phosphate content and with ammonium carbonate solution to reduce the sulfate content. In this manner an industrially useful fluorspar is obtained. The low fluoride supernatant liquid is then mixed with sufficient raw pond water to bring the pH into the range 1.5-2.0 and the resulting suspension is then held in a lagoon for 5-21 days to permit separation of silica.

Abstract: Method for neutralizing waste cooling pond waters of wet process phosphoric acid plants, and for neutralizing similar waste waters from phosphate complexes, wherein neutralization is performed in two stages and wherein the flocculent precipitate from the second neutralization stage is disposed of by dissolving it in incoming untreated waste water prior to the first neutralization stage. Neutralization in the first neutralization stage is accomplished by addition of limestone to the waste water, and neutralization in the second neutralization stage is accomplished by addition of limestone to the water phase from the first neutralization stage. The precipitate from the first neutralization stage is readily separable from the liquid phase, and is suitable for disposal in the gypsum stack of a wet process phosphoric acid plant. The fully neutralized water meets federal and state requirements for disposal in surface and underground water systems as to pH and as to fluoride and phosphate content.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of an aqueous effluent slime derived from a tar sand extraction process is disclosed. The effluent slime pH is adjusted to an acidic pH and treated with an anionic surface active agent to create flocculation of solid asphaltic material entrained within the slime. A solvent solution comprising chlorinated hydrocarbon and a solvent therefor is added so that upon centrifuging of the treated slime three physical layers of material comprising (1) water; (2) asphaltics in the solvent solution and (3) clay are formed.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for continuously removing dispersed particles which can be flocculated from a liquid containing said particles, such as wastewaters, wherein flocculation of said particles is caused to take place in a turbulent pipe flow by the injection and rapid mixing of a coagulant and/or coagulant aid in said turbulent pipe flow which simultaneously flocculates said particles and transports the mixture of flocculated particles and liquid into a settling tank for clarification. A controlled quantity of dispersed floc from said settling tank is continuously recirculated into said pipe flow at a station where mixing of the coagulant and/or coagulant aid is achieved, so as to reduce the length of said pipe to a desired size and the flow rate of said injected coagulant and/or coagulant aid.

Abstract: Ground water containing ferrous compounds is first treated with aluminum sulfate before aeration followed by lime addition after aeration to produce an iron-aluminum sludge possessing an oxidative capacity. Portions of the sludge are recycled back to utilize the oxidative capacity of the sludge. Chlorine is added after the oxidative capacity of the sludge has been utilized. An improved oxidation and removal of iron is obtained, yielding a treated water low in iron content with decreased requirements for chlorine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating in particular polluting materials such as hydrocarbons. Said materials are processed with at least one basic product such as hydraulic, natural organic or synthetic binder and in particular the calcium sulphate semi-hydrates showing qualities required for a quick setting, hardening, sequestration and retention. More particularly, the basic products used are calcium sulphate semi-hydrates in the form ALPHA. Said basic products may be also used for the processing of residual sludges or waste waters.

Abstract: A process for the removal of mercury and mercury compounds from aqueous solutions and, in particular, industrial waste liquors, by reduction and filtration, wherein after reduction, the liquors are cleared by letting the mercury particles and dirt particles flow into a settling basin. Subsequently, the supernatant aqueous solution from the settling basin is subjected to filtration in a deep filter with a filtering agent having a grain size of 0.02 mm to 2 mm and preferably 0.04 mm to 0.6 mm, whereupon the mercury is returned by reverse rinsing into the settling basin from the filter and is separated in the settling basin.