Abstract: Silicate/silica composite particulates, well adapted for detergency applications, e.g., in detergent formulations for automatic dishwashers, comprise granules having an average molar ratio SiO.sub.2 /Na.sub.2 O of from 1.2 to 2.6, a metasilicate core and an enveloping silica outer sheath therefor.

Abstract: Highly alkaline detergent compositions are prepared by mixing together, in a mixing device, a melt of alkaline material with a heat-alkaline sensitive material, such as, an alkali metal complex phosphate sequestrant and/or an active-chlorine source. The resulting mixture is, then, pelletized on a chill belt. Because of the short contact time between the molten alkaline material and the sequestrant and the rapid solidification, reversion of the sequestrant, particularly, a phosphate sequestrant, is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of agglomerates containing diperoxydodecanedioic acid and a water-impermeable material, e.g. lauric acid, which process comprises the successive steps of agitating an aqueous suspension of the peroxy acid in the presence of the water-impermeable material and above the melting point thereof, cooling the suspension of the agglomerated particles thus obtained to a temperature at which the water-impermeable material turns solid, and isolating the resulting agglomerates. The agglomerates obtained are suitable for use as bleaching agent.

Abstract: Toxic furnace dust having a low bulk density is densified into pellets by mixing the dust with ice, preferably by tumbling in a rotating drum. A six to eight-fold increase in bulk density may be realized, greatly facilitating the disposal of the toxic waste.

Abstract: There is provided a method for increasing the bulk density of low bulk density materials by intimately admixing a low bulk density material and an organic or organopolysiloxane liquid and thereafter removing substantially all of said organic or organopolysiloxane liquid, for example, by evaporation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of potassium nitrate by means of the reaction of nitric acid with potassium carbonate, wherein potassium carbonate is obtained by means of an electrochemical process.

Abstract: Bentonite agglomerates are made which are suitable for use as a particulate fabric softener for softening washed laundry, especially when incorporated in detergent compositions by mixing with spray dried beads containing essential detergent composition components. Such agglomerates are in the Nos. 10-100 sieve range and are agglomerates of finely divided bentonite. The agglomerates are of a bulk density in the range of 7.0 to 0.9 g./ml., a moisture content of 8 to 13% and a frangibility less than 30, and includes 1 to 5% of a binder (sodium silicate). Also disclosed is a method for making the bentonite agglomerates by spraying an aqueous solution of the binder onto moving surfaces of finely divided bentonite until the moisture content thereof is elevated and the amount of binder for the agglomerate is sufficient, and drying the agglomerated particles to their "equilibrium moisture range".

Abstract: Novel carriers for liquid component antifoaming agents, e.g., polysiloxane based, and well adapted for detergency applications, are comprised of a preferably hydrated sodium tripolyphosphate fraction, and a fraction comprised of sodium hydrogen pyrophosphate, sodium hydrogen orthophosphate, or admixture thereof.

Abstract: A process for producing agglomerated substantially completely hydrated detergent products is disclosed. The process includes forming an admixture containing, in combination, a hydratable condensed phosphate component, a hydratable detergent builder salt component, an alkali metal silicate and water, said water being present in an amount sufficient to effect agglomeration of the admixture and induce hydration of the hydratable components therein. A hardness sequestering agent then is added to the agglomerated and hydrated admixture and the resulting intermediate product subjected to aging to provide the finished agglomerated, substantially completely hydrated detergent product.

Abstract: This invention is directed to dry, free-flowing, stable readily soluble, non-caking, particulate solid products which are readily soluble in water and which are useful for preparing solutions for use in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis and to the preparation of these granular products.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of small spheroidal solid agglomerates. More particularly, the process produces strong solid spheroidal agglomerates containing alumina or a mixture of alumina and at least one other inorganic material, which process comprises:(a) mixing at high speed a portion of alumina or a mixture of alumina and at least one other inorganic material in the form of hydrophilic micron-sized particles in a water-immiscible liquid thereby forming a dispersion;(b) gradually adding to the dispersion an aqueous acidic phase while continuing the high-speed mixing until substantially spherical micro-agglomerates form within the water-immiscible liquid;(c) subjecting the micro-agglomerates to agitation in a vessel having a hydrophobic inner surface at a speed low enough to achieve substantially uniformly sized spheroidal agglomerates;(d) drying the agglomerates to produce hardened spheroidal uniformly sized agglomerates; and(e) optionally further separating the agglomerates by size.

Abstract: The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a method for separating coal particles from an aqueous slurry in which a multiple emulsion of oil in water is added to the aqueous slurry, the mixture is agitated to form agglomerates of coal particles, and the coal particles are separated from the remaining aqueous slurry. By the use of a multiple emulsion of oil in water, the amount of coal recovered per unit weight of oil is increased.

Abstract: A free-flowing granulate of a powder-form or fine-grained component and a liquid component; the granulate containing at least 20% by weight of the liquid component, is prepared by moving the powder-form or fine-grained component in a mixer-granulator, adding the liquid component while mixing until a moist granulate having a particle size of at most 1.5 mm is obtained, subsequently coarsening the granulate thus obtained with an increase in temperature to a particle size of from 0.4 to 4 mm and optionally coating this coarse granulate with another powder-form and/or fine-grained component at 60.degree. to 90.degree. C. The optionally coated granulate is converted by lowering the treatment temperature into a dry-looking, free-flowing, coarse-grained product, which if desired, may be coated with another powder-form and/or fine-grained material. Despite the high percentage of a liquid component, the granulate thus obtained appears as a dry granulate and is free-flowing.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of bleach catalysts in aggregate form. The steps comprise adsorbing a manganese (II) salt onto an aluminosilicate support; granulating with a high disrupting force an aqueous slurry of the aluminosilicate bearing manganese (II), and drying the resultant aggregates. At least 70% of the dried aggregates resulting from the process must have a diameter size from at least 250 to about 2000 microns.

Abstract: A process for flocculating solid fines from a solution comprising said solid fine and an organic liquid which comprises the steps of:(a) adding with mixing about 5 to about 10,000 ppm of an unneutralized or neutralized sulfonated polystyrene to said solution; and(b) heating at about 25.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. for about 1 to abou 45 minutes the mixture of said solution and said neutralized or unneutralized polystyrene.

Abstract: A process for flocculating solid fines from a solution comprising said solid fines and an organic liquid which comprises the steps of: (a) adding with mixing about 100 to about 500 ppm of an unneutralized or neutralized sulfonated polystyrene to said solution of solid fines; and (b) adding with mixing about 5 to about 25 weight percent of an antisolvent to the mixture of the sulfonated polystyrene and said solution of said solid fines.

Abstract: The invention disclosed by this application relates to a novel method of processing sinterable powders into sintered ceramic products. This application also relates to novel forms of aluminum oxide, hydroxylapatite, and tricalcium phosphate ceramic products prepared in accordance with the method of this invention, as well as novel intermediate products useful to prepare the novel ceramic products of this invention.

Abstract: A method for the production of small, dustless, free-flowing pellets of powder chemical additives utilizing a high molecular weight polymeric binder, such as polyvinyl alcohol; a surfactant containing oxyethylene groups; and water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing granulated potassium sulphate or potassium magnesium sulphate, characterized by comprising the following steps:(a) grinding the potassium sulphate or potassium magnesium sulphate(b) mixing the ground product of step (a) with a corresponding unground sulphate until a predetermined particle size distribution curve is obtained(c) treating the mixture of step (b) with a hot, saturated solution of a corresponding sulphate until a wet paste is obtained, and the final further steps of granulating said paste and drying the granulate thus obtained. The invention also relates to the products obtained in this manner.

Abstract: In a process for making ferrous sulphate in granule form, ferrous sulphate heptahydrate is mixed with fine-grain brown coal or lignite having a low water content, in such an amount that the resulting mixture is pourable.

Abstract: A carpet cleaning preparation in the form of a dry cleaning preparation in powder form which contains surfactants, organic solvents and zeolite and which is characterized in that the zeolite is in the form of a porous granulate which is unaffected by the mechanical stresses normally encountered during dry cleaning. The zeolite is preferably in the form of a porous granulate containing less than 2% by weight of particles 0.05 mm and smaller in size and less than 5% by weight of particles larger than 2 mm in size.

Abstract: A sour gas obtained from an enhanced oil recovery is converted to sulfur slurry which is concentrated for easy filtration, or for direct disposal, by the addition of substantially small amounts of a solid flocculating agent e.g. clay, optionally in combination with selected suitable conventional liquid polymer flocculants. For this purpose, bentonite has been shown to be a particularly effective solid flocculating agent.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of disposing dust produced during a process for forming an amorphous silicon film, which method and apparatus, for the purpose of safely and quickly collecting the dust and of making it possible to form the collected dust to a solidified mass or pellet form to facilitate subsequent handling thereof, comprises: dust-capturing means for collecting the dust adhering to either the entire or partial portions of the film-forming unit without causing scattering of the dust to the outside of the apparatus; a dust hopper capable of receiving, through a pipeline, the dust collected by the dust-capturing means; a bucket filled with a trifluorotrichloro-ethane liquid to render to a slurry-form the dust supplied thereinto an appropriate rate from the dust hopper; and a heat-distilling means to distill the trifloro-trichloro-ethane liquid by heating the bucket to retain therein solidified mass or pellets of dust.

Abstract: Granular laundry detergent compositions containing swellable clays as fabric softener ingredients can clog dispensers in automatic washing machines. By the present invention, the softener clays are formed into agglomerates and coated with a dispensing aid to overcome this problem. Water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds are preferred dispensing aids; fully-formulated laundry detergents are disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the removal of sulfur from an aqueous sulfur-containing suspension through sulfur coalescence. Sulfur coalescence is initiated by passing the aqueous sulfur-containing suspension through a multi-passage filtering media. In one embodiment of the present invention, the aqueous sulfur-containing suspension is passed through a filtering media comprised of randomly oriented fibrous filter material. In another embodiment of the present invention, the aqueous sulfur containing suspension is passed through sintered metal filters. Optionally, downstream polishing, or filtration, steps using either the above enumerated filters or combinations of the above filters can also be used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a powdery substance to a particulate material contained within a rotary granulator. The powdery material is contained in a feeding hopper that is positioned above a nozzle that is in communication with a source of compressed air. The compressed air issues from the nozzle and draws from the supply funnel powdery material that is conveyed through a conduit that extends into the rotary granulator and is so oriented as to introduce the powdery material to the particulate material as it is being rotated. The compressed air can be introduced in the form of pulses by periodically interrupting the flow of air to thereby control the apportionment of the powdery substance.

Abstract: Agglomerated particles of finely divided fabric softening bentonite and sodium sulfate particles have been found to possess improved fabric softening properties, compared to agglomerated bentonite, especially when employed in the hand washing of laundry which is subsequently line dried. Such agglomerates are also of excellent particle strength and are readily dispersible in water. The described product may be made by agglomerating finely divided bentonite and sodium sulfate powders with the aid of excess moisture, after which the agglomerated particles resulting are dried and those of desired size, preferably in the No's. 30 to 100 sieve size range (U.S.), are obtained. The fabric softening agglomerate made may be mixed with spray dried synthetic organic anionic detergent composition beads of about the same or lower bulk density, preferably in the 0.3 to 0.5 g./cc.

Abstract: Catalysts and processes for the dimerization or co-dimerization of dimerizable olefins are provided. Catalysts consist essentially of at least one elemental alkali metal on one of several potassium carbonate-containing supports, optionally in the presence of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of elemental copper, elemetal cobalt and finely divided stainless steel.

Abstract: Agglomerated particles of finely divided fabric softening bentonite and sodium sulfate particles have been found to possess improved fabric softening properties, compared to agglomerated bentonite, especially when employed in the hand washing of laundry which is subsequently line dried. Such agglomerates are also of excellent particle strength and are readily dispersible in water. The described product may be made by agglomerating finely divided bentonite and sodium sulfate powders with the aid of excess moisture, after which the agglomerated particles resulting are dried and those of desired size, preferably in the No's. 30 to 100 sieve size range (U.S.), are obtained. The fabric softening agglomerate made may be mixed with spray dried synthetic organic anionic detergent composition beads of about the same or higher bulk density, preferably in the 0.3 to 0.5 g./cc.

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: Thermoplastic polymer solutions in organic solvents are converted to granules of relatively uniform sizes and a narrow distribution range by passing the polymer solution through a jet nozzle to form a high velocity stream, injecting super heated steam into the high velocity stream to form a suspension of fine polymer particulates in a gas stream, passing the particulates into a heated agglomeration tube having a series of adjoining circular turns of at least 180.degree. wherein the particulates are substantially completely agglomerated into granules and the granules are recovered from the gas stream.

Abstract: A method of producing globulous products of a subliming substance, which includes the steps of melting the subliming substance, discharging the subliming substance through a nozzle so as to form a plurality of droplets of 0.3 to 5 mm diameter, discharging a non-soluble inert coolant liquid having a boiling point lower than the subliming substance and atomized to a size of 10 to 2500.mu. so as to contact and cool the droplets, and forming the globulous products so as to have a diameter of 0.3 to 5 mm.

Abstract: Self-reducing agglomerates of an iron oxide-containing material, such as an iron ore concentrate, having a compressive strength of at least about 100 lbs. are produced by preparing a moistened mixture of the ore concentrate, a finely-divided natural pyrolyzed carbonaceous material having a volatile matter (on dry basis) content of about 20 weight % or less in an amount at least sufficient to reduce all the iron oxide to metallic iron, about 1 to about 30 weight % of a bonding agent, such as burned or hydrated lime, and 0 up to about 3 weight % of a siliceous material (as SiO.sub.2), such as silica; forming green agglomerates from this mixture; and hydrothermally hardening the green agglomerates by contacting them with steam under pressure.

Abstract: A mixture of low melting particles and high melting particles is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the low melting particles and below the melting point of the high melting particles thereby melting the low melting particles and forming a bond between the low melting particles and the high melting particles which bond is strengthened on cooling, the resulting agglomerate containing the low melting particles being separated from the unbonded high melting particles.

Abstract: A method of recovering fumed hydrophobic SiO.sub.2, produced by the flame hydrolysis of a ternary azeotrope of H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6, HF, and H.sub.2 O, is disclosed. The method involves passing the fumed hydrophobic silica, as it leaves the combustion chamber, through a nonclassifying agglomerator at a residence (travel) time of from about 0.5 to several seconds, preferably about 1.0 to about 5.0 seconds, then separating the fumed silica from the product stream in a cyclone separator or other means for collecting dispersoids.

Abstract: Coal particles are agglomerated in pulp water of coal particles by agitating the pulp water in the presence of a binder, which comprises conducting agglomeration in a plurality of zones, the zones being communicated one after another, and transferring the pulp water from one zone to another while agitating the pulp water in each zone and increasing a pulp concentration of the pulp water from one zone to another. Agitating power for the agglomeration is reduced with the successively increasing pulp concentration.

Abstract: Methods are described for using acoustic energy to agglomerate fine particles on the order of one micron diameter that are suspended in gas, to provide agglomerates large enough for efficient removal by other techniques. The gas with suspended particles, is passed through the length of a chamber (24) while acoustic energy at a resonant chamber mode is applied to set up one or more acoustic standing wave patterns (40,42,44) that vibrate the suspended particles to bring them together so they agglomerate. Several widely different frequencies can be applied to efficiently vibrate particles of widely differing sizes. The standing wave pattern can be applied along directions (R in FIG. 3) transversed to the flow of the gas. The particles can be made to move in circles by applying acoustic energy in perpendicular directions (P,Q in FIG. 6) with the energy in both directions being of the same wavelength but 90.degree. out of phase.

Abstract: The invention provides a granulate comprising particles having sizes substantially within the range 0.15 to 1.25 mm, the granulate consisting of:(a) about 1 to 99 weight % of partially or completely hydrated sodium tripolyphosphate containing water of hydration in a proportion of at least about 10 weight %, based on the theoretically possible water content, the anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate containing about 20 to 90 weight % of phase-I-material prior to its being hydrated, the balance being phase-II, and(b) about 99 to 1 weight % of a water-insoluble alumino silicate ion exchanger material of the general formula(Cat.sub.2/n O).sub.x.Me.sub.2 O.sub.3.(SiO.sub.2).sub.y.zH.sub.2 Oin which Cat stands for a calcium exchangeable cation with the valency n, x is 0.7 to 1.5, Me stands for boron or aluminum, y is 0.8 to 6, and z is 1.8 to 13.5.The invention also includes a spray process for making a granulate as just specified.

Abstract: In a discharge arrangement for green pellets a discharge chute and a conveying means arranged below the discharge chute are provided. In order to largely prevent the destruction of the green pellets, to keep the falling height of the green pellets as low as possible and to prevent conveying-belt transfers, a flap is provided between the discharge chute and a green-pellet collecting means. The flap is pivotable between two positions. In a first position it elongates the discharge chute to the green-pellet collecting means and in a second position it is directed transverse to the discharge chute towards a reconveying means.

Abstract: Non-caking, granular detergent compositions suitable for use in automatic laundry machines or in automatic dishwashing machines are prepared from hydratable particulate detergent salts or such salts in admixture with other detergent ingredients such as non-hydratable detergent salts, surfactants, fillers, corrosion inhibitors, chlorine releasing agents, coloring agents and perfumes under conditions insuring substantially complete hydration of the hydratable detergent salts and agglomeration of the hydrated particulates in the composition into storage stable, dry, pourable agglomerates.

Abstract: Agglomerates of water insoluble builder molecular sieve zeolites are made by tumbling or otherwise suitably mixing very finely divided ion exchanging zeolite powder and a water soluble binder, such as starch, preferably in the presence of a small amount of moisture sufficient to promote desirable agglomeration of the finely divided ion exchanging zeolite particles and the binder into essentially spherical particles, preferably in the 6 to 140 mesh range. The agglomerates are readily disintegrated when agitated in water and rapidly release the separated very finely divided insoluble builder particles to allow them to remove hardness ions from the water. The dispersible and disintegrable agglomerates are especially useful in heavy duty detergent compositions wherein the zeolite of the agglomerate provides all or a substantial proportion of the builder content.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the preparation of granulated perborate salts having improved utility in compressible compositions such as those formed into denture cleanser tablets. The method broadly comprises forming a mixture of one or more perborate salts such as sodium perborate monohydrate and anhydrous sodium perborate, with a polymeric fluorocarbon such as polytetrafluoroethylene, with the polytetrafluoroethylene present in an amount ranging from about 0.01% to about 0.70% by weight of the perborate salt. The particles thus prepared exhibit combination of improved hardness and specific weight that facilitates their participation in the compressible cleanser composition, together with enhanced disintegration characteristics that are favorably imparted to the cleanser tablets.The present invention also includes the granular salts prepared by the method, which have a broad range of utility in detergents, cleansers and the like.

Abstract: In a process for producing a refractory metal carbide grade powder, a metal carbide powder is heated above melting point of a wax prior to forming a blended mixture of metal carbide and wax which is subsequently milled with a metal binder in liquid milling medium incompatible with the wax and the mixture is dried to form a powder.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method for agglomerating finely-divided particulate material of the types found in flue dusts from electric steel-making furnaces and the like, comprising introducing the dry flue dust together with about 8 to 12 percent by weight of a suitable binder such as water into the inlet end of a screw conveying device so configured and operated as to provide for a retention time for the mixture of binder and particulate material in progressing from the inlet to the outlet of about 15 to 60 seconds.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry of a water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble metal hydroxide can be effectively filtrated and dehydrated by adding an anionic surfactant of the following formula (I):R--O--AO--.sub.n X (I)wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group of 8-24 carbon atoms, A represents an alkyene group of 2-4 carbon atoms, X represents SO.sub.3 M (M being H, K, Na or NH.sub.4), PO.sub.3 M (M being K or Na) or CH.sub.2 COOM (M being K or Na), and n represents an interger of 1-100,to the aqueous slurry of the metal hydroxide or to the washing water.

Abstract: A process and product of waste recovery at phosphorus furnaces is disclosed wherein small sized discrete particles of carbonaceous material or beneficiated phosphate ore are mixed with a mineral acid, an alkaline fluid and water, and the reacted mixture is tumbled in a horizontal cylinder at a temperature below that at which the carbonaceous material oxidizes to form agglomerates which are then indurated to discrete particulate size as desired for a charge component; the agglomerates are fed to a phosphorus smelting furnace together with other materials needed to make elemental phosphorus, furnace gases are cooled with recirculating water, a side stream of the water is taken off, treated, and used as feedstock in fluid fertilizers. Apparatus is disclosed for agglomerating coke and phosphate and; further, for measuring the abrasion and shatter resistance of agglomerates.

Abstract: In a granulator of the jet layer type, all the liquid jetting openings are located in a passage for a gas jetted from the gas jetting opening and each liquid jetting opening is located at a position higher than the gas jetting opening by a vertical distance smaller than the inner diameter of the gas jetting opening. The granulator may have an additional device such as an excess size-having particle-collecting means, a five particle treating means, a rectifying pipe member, a fuffer member and a hindrance and breakage member.

Abstract: A process for the oxidative dissociation of chrome-containing ores comprising agglomerating a mixture of a chrome-containing ore, an alkaline substance and a moist solid residue from a preceding operation as a leaning agent, dissociating the agglomerate and then leaching to form a solution of chromate and a solid residue, and separating said solution from said solid residue still wet with said solution. Advantageously the alkaline substance comprises sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate, the still wet residue is added in such a quantity that the agglomerates obtained have a moisture content of between about 10 and 15% by weight, and at least about 70% by weight of the agglomerates have a diameter from about 0.1 to 3 mm.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for treating particulate material. The said material is injected into a chamber. The material subsequently thereto is sprayed with a moistening material. At the same time gases are introduced at the top of the chamber and at the bottom thereof whereby the moisture on the particulate material is evaporated at a controlled rate. The parameters are such that the applied moisture has an opportunity to penetrate the particulate material for a short period of time to achieve some agglomeration before the moisture is evaporated. A fluidized bed is maintained at the bottom of the chamber and the treated particulate material is removed in this fashion.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing substantially spherical grain ferrite powder comprising a vertical cylindrical vessel in which a slurry of ferrite-forming powdered raw materials in alcohol is sprayed under applied pressure through a spray nozzle into a high temperature atmosphere of between 700.degree.-1500.degree. C. to allow the combustion of sprayed alcohol therein, thereby instantaneously producing spherical grain-ferrite powder. A hot air guide is provided along the inner surface of the wall of the vertical vessel extending upward in a spiral for providing a hot air current rising spirally upwardly within the vessel to provide a high temperature atmosphere above the spray nozzle.