Abstract: A method of processing waste is disclosed wherein the municipal solid waste is segregated and processed to recover reusable rubber, metal, plastic, glass and the remaining organic portion of the waste stream is used to make ethanol and other chemicals. One process utilizes a pretreatment step with dilute sulfuric acid to reduce the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste which can inhibit the fermentation of the sugars obtained from such waste. In another, the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of municipal solid waste is removed via an ionic exchange process, after hydrolysis with sulfuric acid. A process for an economical, energy efficient production of ethanol from municipal solid waste is also disclosed.

Abstract: Sedimentary mica flakes are produced having a bulk density of between about five and one-half pounds per cubic feet and eight pounds per cubic feet (5.5-11 lbs/ft.sup.3), a high aspect ratio, and a G.E. brightness between about seventy-five and ninety (75-90). Operations include applying shear forces to delaminate the mica into flakes. Shear forces are applied by rotating a plurality of arcuate blades within a confined chamber containing the mica, such that the mica is forced between an outer portion of each blade and said chamber. The resulting delaminated mica flakes may be dried and classified.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a hydrogen-storage-alloy powder for batteries, which is a useful material for a negative electrode of a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery whose internal pressure in an overcharged state is low, the method comprising a process for crushing a hydrogen-storage-alloy ingot into a coarse alloy powder in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and a process for mechanically grinding the coarse alloy powder in contact with an aqueous solution in which any one of salts including a sulfite, hydrogen phosphate, and dihydrogen phosphate is dissolved or with an aqueous alkali solution containing cobalt.

Abstract: A mixer circuit, in the form of a vertically oriented stack of components, functions to slurry oil sand with water in preparation for pumping through a pipeline. The oil sand is initially dropped from the end of a conveyor. It is contacted in mid-air with a stream of water to distribute the water through the oil sand and to wet the latter. The mixture drops into a downwardly slanted trough. The water and oil sand mix as they move turbulently through the open-ended trough. The slurry is deflected as it leaves the trough and is spread in the form of a thin sheet on an apron. It is then fed over screens to reject oversize lumps. The screened slurry drops into a pump box. The screened slurry drops into a box. The rejected lumps are comminuted in an impactor positioned at the end of the screens. The comminuted oil sand is screened to remove remaining oversize lumps and the screened comminuted oil sands are delivered into the pump box. The structure is compact and the oversize reject loss is relatively low.

Abstract: According to the method for controlling the grinding of mineral raw materials, at a predetermined value i* of the impregnation level to which the fines of the specimen are impregnated by the impregnating agent, the effective spin-lattice relaxation time of the impregnating agent protons is measured. Each time the parameters of the grinding process are set so that the approximation s'.sub.NMR for the specific surface area of the fines will attain a prescribed value s.sup.o.sub.NMR. Each time the residue percentage of the fines retained on a sieve is determined and at the onset of an increase of the residue percentage the grinding is controlled so that a subsequent agglomeration of fines particles is suppressed. The fines are impregnated by a liquid impregnanting agent comprising hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recycling diaphragms, in particular a process for recycling used asbestos-free diaphragms from alkali metal chloride electrolysis, the diaphragm material being comminuted, the diaphragm material being washed with a wash substrate and a reusable material being obtained.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recycling office waste paper and the like of the type having ink and laser print particles coated thereon. The waste paper is simultaneously pulped and ink particles dispersed by kneading the waste paper in the form of a high solids content aqueous mixture or sludge. After the simultaneous pulping and dispersing, no additional dispersion step is needed to form deinked paper stock The high solids content aqueous mixture or sludge is diluted and forwarded to wet deinking separation devices such as a froth flotation unit or the like. The thus treated pulp is washed and results in the formation of a high quality pulp stock ready for bleaching and/or paper making procedures.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the decontamination of infectious waste produces a flowable influent slurry from a solid waste and aqueous liquid. The influent slurry is caused to flow through a conduit which includes a heat exchanger, a heater which brings the temperature of the slurry to at least 125 degrees C., and a convoluted holding zone which provides a residence time of at least 15 minutes for the heated slurry. In-line agitation of the slurry is accomplished by injection of pressurized gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting crude oil tank bottoms to a liquid fuel, which uses a powered cutting tool to break up crude oil sludge contained in an oil storage tank bottom, with injection of cutter stock to facilitate break up of the sludge, an extraction pump to extract the sludge mixture comminution chamber and optional added cutter stock to reduce the particle size of solids to a uniform size range, to form a blend stock, which can be used to dilute a liquid fuel in an amount that will not adversely affect its product specification, whereby substantially all of the fuel value of the sludge is recovered.

Abstract: Method for separating paper fibers and contaminants for mixtures containing water, fibers, contaminants, paper or cardboard pellets, wherein the mixture is subjected firstly to a screening, secondly to a mashing and then thirdly to a further screening with addition of water, subsequent to which the pulp retained by the screen is evacuated.

Abstract: A process for enhancing the flowability of a powder is disclosed. In this process, a powder of metal, ceramic, or mixtures thereof is mixed with polyvinyl alcohol. A paste of the powder-polyvinyl alcohol mixture is formed and dried. The dry paste is particulated and a flowable powder having a particle size the range of about 50 .mu.m to about 300 .mu.m is formed.

Abstract: A mobile self-contained apparatus and process for grinding, grating, macerating, chemically disinfecting, and drying infectious waste material on-site. A trailer contains a hopper and a system of grinder/graters, enclosed conveyors, drying and filter apparatus, and sources of power, chemical disinfectant, and fresh water. Bagged infectious waste material in a cart is lifted and dumped into a hopper, fed to a first grinder/grater, ground and grated into particles, immersed in a sodium hypochlorite (hypochlorous acid) chemical disinfectant solution, and conveyed by an enclosed upwardly inclined screw conveyor to a second grinder/grater.

Abstract: A method for the production of granules by the use of a high speed agitated granulating machine provided with agitating means for rolling and agitating a substance for granulation, spray means for spraying a binding liquid on the substance, disintegrating means for disintegrating particles arising from granulation, and drying means for drying the particles, characterized by effecting the production by causing the means to act on the substance for granulation simultaneously thereby performing the agitating, granulating, disintegrating, and drying operations simultaneously. An apparatus for automatically implementing the method is also disclosed. The method for high speed agitating sterilization according to this invention is capable of producing granules which are extremely homogeneous in contents of components and excellent in flowability and compression moldability. The granules in process of formation do not easily form coarse lumps as by cohesion and the produced granules possess stable quality.

Abstract: A continuous method of preparing submicron particles of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent comprises the steps of continuously introducing the agent and rigid grinding media into a milling chamber, contacting the agent with the grinding media while in the chamber to reduce the particle size of the agent, continuously removing the agent and the grinding media from the milling chamber, and thereafter separating the agent from the grinding media. In a preferred embodiment, the grinding media is a polymeric resin having a mean particle size of less than 300 .mu.m. In another preferred embodiment, the agent, grinding media and a liquid dispersion medium are continuously introduced into the milling chamber. In a further embodiment, the agent and grinding media are recirculated through the milling chamber. The method enables the use of fine grinding media, e.g., of a particle size of less than about 300 .mu.m, in a continuous grinding process which provides extremely fine particles of the agent, e.g.

Abstract: A poultry and swine pulverizing or grinding apparatus comprises an enclosed housing having an inlet end and an outlet end. A grinding drum is rotatably mounted within the enclosed housing and provided with raised cutting teeth extending in a helical orientation along the longitudinal length of the grinding drum. A carcass retention element is positioned adjacent the length of the grinding drum and cooperates therewith to facilitate pulverizing or grinding of animal carcasses by the grinding drum into small size particles which exit the housing through the outlet end. The grinding drum of the apparatus is motivated by an operatively connected motor. Also described is an automated system for preparing animal carcasses for lactic acid fermentation and/or further processing utilizing the aforesaid grinding apparatus.

Abstract: A high energy shock-insensitive explosive composition for use in deformable warheads. This high energy shock-insensitive explosive composition is comprised of a shock-insensitive explosive and hexa-nitro-hexa-aza-isowurtzitane constituting about 35-45 wt. % and a having an average particle size of about 3 .mu.m. The high performance explosive consists of ammonium nitrate, nitroguanidine, 3-nitro-1,2, 4-triazol-5-one, or mixtures of the three and constitutes about 30-40 wt. %.The CL-20 explosive is wet ground in aqueous alcohol to reduce the size thereof, prior to incorporation in the explosive.

Abstract: A fine powder heat treating apparatus which includes a container rotated by an electric motor, a quantity of rolling media disposed in the container and a heater provided for heating the container and the rolling media, wherein the rolling media are mixed with each other as the container is rotated and a finely powdered raw material in a fluid state containing fine powder and a liquid component is supplied from a raw material discharge pipe.

Abstract: In a process for rapidly producing colloidal particles a feedstock of particles less than a micron in size is provided to a stirred media mill, along with ceramic beads less than 100 microns in size. The mill is filled to a volume in excess of 90%, and operated at tip speeds in excess of 20 meters/second with a residence time less than about two minutes; thereby producing particles having an average particle size less than about 0.1 micron from the feedstock.

Abstract: A propolis piece is comminuted into fine grains or further into colloid to produce a propolis food which is easy to eat. The comminution is achieved using one of a rolling ball mill, a vibrating mill, a tower mill, a medium agitating mill, a roller mill, a high-speed tumbling mill, a jet mill, a planetary mill and an attrition mill.

Abstract: A refiner-apparatus and method for producing refined pulp by exerting mechanical forces on pulp fibres. The apparatus includes a member having a pulp side and a drainage side, the pulp side having a plurality of spaced apart raised bar portions thereon. A plurality of drainage conduits are formed in the member, the conduits extending between the pulp side and the drainage side of the member, each drainage conduit having inlet and outlet openings respectively. The inlet openings are disposed on the pulp side of the member and the outlet openings are disposed on the drainage side of the member such that water expelled from pulp fibres forced against the pulp side is received in the inlet openings and is conducted through the drainage conduits to the drainage side of the member. Generally, the method involves draining water from pulp fibres squeezed between facing refiner members, through at least one drainage conduit in at least one of the refiner members.

Abstract: A continuous pulp digester having an elongate horizontally aligned pressure vessel through which the wood chips and digesting fluid flow in a forward direction. In a first and second embodiments within the pressure vessel there is an inner container defining an elongate chamber or passageway having a square cross sectional configuration. In a third embodiment the digesting chamber is cylindrical. At locations along the digester, there are several pair of liquid flow inlets and liquid flow outlets which enable filtrate from a pulp washer and a digesting agent to be moved into and across the digesting chamber to flow out the flow outlets. These are recirculated in a net upstream flow pattern toward the outlet end of the digester, and discharged as black liquor at different locations in the digester.

Abstract: A device for use in a pulping process comprises first and second pulping units for processing feed material. A flow path connects the first pulping unit to the second pulping unit for transporting material between the units. The second pulping unit has devices for separating pulped material into a first material component comprising waste matter collected at the bottom of the second pulping unit, a second material component comprising sieved pulped material and third material component comprising unsieved pulped material. The second and third material component are separated from the first material component and are transported as a unitary flow to a primary space. Mixing and sieving devices are located in the primary space for separating the second material component from the first material component. The second material component comprises material which passes the sieving device and the third material component comprises material which does not pass the sieving device.

Abstract: The invention relates to the comminution of moist mineral material in the comminution zone of a material comminuting machine followed by breaking up of agglomerates which have formed and subsequent wet classification of the broken-up material. A good disagglomerating effect and reliable operation is achieved with relatively compact construction of the apparatus if the comminuted product is subjected to at least an injection of fluid with at least partial disagglomerating effect whilst still within the material bed comminuting machine and immediately after leaving the comminution zone, and afterwards is passed on to the wet classification.

Abstract: A method of preparing milled solid particles of a compound comprises the steps of forming a slurry of a liquid medium, the compound and rigid milling media in a milling chamber, contacting the compound with the milling media while in the chamber to reduce the particle size of the compound, and thereafter separating the compound from the milling media by vacuum filtration through a removable filter probe immersed in the slurry. In a preferred embodiment, the milling media is a polymeric resin having a mean particle size of less than 300 .mu.m. The method enables the use of fine milling media which provides extremely fine particles of the compound while avoiding problems, e.g., decrease yields due to separator screen plugging, associated with prior art processes.

Abstract: A fine solid particle aqueous dispersion comprises dispersed particles of a substantially water insoluble nonpolymeric organic compound useful in imaging and a polymeric dispersant having an HLB number of at least 8. The dispersion can be prepared by(a) forming a coarse aqueous slurry of solid particles of said compound and a polymeric dispersant having an HLB number of at least 8; and(b) milling said slurry for a period of time sufficient to provide particles of the desired particle size of less than 0.5 micron.

Abstract: A method of continued grinding of cement is disclosed in order to obtain cement with a high specific surface and/or a steep grain size distribution curve. The grinding is performed in a mill with agitated grinding medium from a specific surface of 300-400 m.sup.2 /kg (Blaine) to a specific surface of up to 1,200 m.sup.2 /kg (Blaine) and with a particle size distribution such that about 80% of the particles pass a sieve opening with a size up to about 25 microns, using grinding bodies with an average size within the interval of 2 to 15 mm.

Abstract: Method of pulping of waste papers is disclosed in this invention which includes a water supply and twin tube cylinder tanks mounted horizontally, and a shaft extending inside of the tanks, and flinger arms attached to the shafts, and the shafts rotate, being driven by electric motors, to pulp the waste paper in a water suspension, and the pulp slurry screened through a bank or plurality of perforated troughs and a perforated screw conveyor mounted in the perforated trough.

Abstract: Organic wastes such as raw refuses discharged from general households are easily liquefied at every home so as to decrease the amounts of refuses and to be able to utilize these refuses as liquefied fertilizer and the like. With these purposes, an inner vessel, in the bottom of which through-holes of the desirable shape are formed, is housed in a bottomed outer vessel in such a manner that the bottom of the inner vessel is spaced apart from the bottom of the outer vessel, a quefied matter take-out valve Is provided on the outer surface of the outer vessel, and raw refuses are placed in the inner vessel, and liquefield, so that solid matters are reduced in amount and the substance is taken out as liquefied fertilizer and the like for use.

Abstract: Two pill crushing/dispensing cups are provided, with a base cup and a nesting cup being snap-fit together top-to-top which defines a cavity for storing a dosage of pills. By decoupling the cups with the base cup facing upward and inserting the nesting cup therein the pills are crushed/ground between a pair of opposing abraded surfaces. A flange on the exterior of the nesting cup limits the advance of nesting cups such that the opposing abraded surfaces do not mesh. The nesting cup is removed and a liquid is added to the base cup. The cups are again snap-fit together and shaken to facilitate complete suspension of the pill crushings. The cups are decoupled and the suspension is administered directly from either cup.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided in which direct ohmic connection is made to a comminution device (e.g., a wood chip or pulp refiner) to obtain transient voltages, existing on the refining elements, that are directly related to fiber impacts. These voltages are characterized by severity (S) (i.e., magnitude), rate (N), rise time (RT) and polarity (.+-.P). The characteristics of these voltages taken separately and/or in mathematical combinations predict the properties of refined wood chips and pulps, i.e., freeness, tensile strength, tear, burst, breaking length and fiber length. Signal characteristics further track refiner plate wear and detect the occurrence of "critical gap" as well as the onset of plate clash.

Abstract: Process for separating preshredded carpet materials into as many as three main components of different densities which comprises finely comminuting the carpet materials in the liquid phase. The density of the liquid phase is adjusted to a level between two adjacent densities of the components. Separation of one component from the other components and from the liquid phase in the suspension is effected in a double-cone full-jacketed screw centrifuge. The process is repeated if there are two materials of different densities in the other components fraction. The process is useful for recovering nylon, polyester, or polypropylene from carpet scraps which nylon or polyester can be depolymerized to reusable monomers and which polypropylene can be reprocessed into pellets, non-wovens or fibers.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for grinding comprising a generally cylindrical vessel containing grinding media, extending into said cylindrical vessel an agitator rotatable about its shaft and having pegs extending generally perpendicular to said shaft wherein said pegs extend within about 1 to about 3 mm of said vessel and wherein the diameter of said vessel is between about 10 and about 20 mm.

Abstract: A system for producing a suitable fuel from waste material including a dispersion tank in which is located a rotary dispersion and agitation system comprising external vanes, rotary and stationary plates having opposing faces fitted with intermeshing shear blocks, forming an attrition zone therebetween for grinding and dispersing solids in a liquid blend stock. A method is provided for varying the displacement between the shear blocks to control the fineness of the grinding of the waste material. A method is provided for discharging metal from the dispersion tank and a pump is provided for circulating liquid from the dispersion tank to an accumulation tank and for recirculating the liquid from the accumulation tank to the dispersion tank. Feeding systems are provided for delivering solid waste material to the dispersion tank and include systems for grinding drums containing waste material, expressing waste material from the drums and auguring waste material from the drums.

Abstract: A high aspartame content product having round particles which are about twice as dense as aspartame powder but are surprisingly fast dissolving. The aspartame product is made by intense mechanical mixing a powder mix of aspartame and a binder with an critical amount of water and mixing time.

Abstract: A method of producing chemimechanical pulp, comprises the steps of grinding wood in a grinding mill housed in a grinding chamber, maintaining the chamber at an overpressure, spraying water onto the wood, and supplying oxygen and/or hydrogen peroxide via the spray water to the grinding chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a slurry with ultrasound to improve separation based upon specific gravity comprises a plurality of modular conduit units having substantially vertical walls defining a flow space through which a slurry may be pumped. Each modular conduit unit has mounted thereon ultrasound transducers for transmitting ultrasound energy into the slurry being pumped through the modular conduit unit and means for exciting the ultrasound transducers in a frequency range of 60 to 100 kHz.

Abstract: An extrudable composition formed of a blend of a polymer and a finely divided filler is prepared by combining the materials under conditions of high shear forces resulting in a composition which when diluted to a selected level has an application rate which is relatively higher than a composition having the same relative proportions of polymer and filler combined under conditions of low shear, the high shear forces reducing the aggregate size. The invention is also directed to a method for reducing the initial average aggregate size of a filler dispersed in a polymer by subjecting the mixture to high shear forces in a high intensity mixer.

Abstract: For the continuous autogenous grinding of a free-flowing stock containing insoluble particles of varying diameter, the stock is set rotating concentrically of an axis in a grinding chamber, insoluble particles of greater diameter being concentrated superproportionally in the grinding chamber. There is no need of an auxiliary-grinding-body retaining device.

Abstract: Containerized medical waste is treated by a process in which the materials are carried by a conveyor under a negative pressure to a multiple-stage shredder. Sodium hypochlorite is added at several points in the shredder section of the apparatus. The output of the shredder is compressed and the liquid component which is separated out is recirculated. The compressed solid is conveyed through a conveyor in which the temperature is maintained at a level just under 212.degree. F. by the introduction of steam. The pressure is maintained at or below atmospheric pressure at all points in the system to prevent release of contaminated materials into the atmosphere. By using the combination of sodium hypochlorite and steam, it is possible to eliminate live microorganisms entirely while still taking advantage of low pressure to avoid accidental release of contaminated materials.

Abstract: Organic wastes are made suitable for disposal by sequential treatment with an oxidizing solution and an alkaline earth oxide or hydroxide. The treated waste is then mixed with an absorbent material to absorb excess liquid, and optionally with a binding material. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a feed hopper, a shredder, mixer and appropriate metering means.

Abstract: Methods for grinding hot coke including feeding the hot coke into a system while maintaining the system under less than atmospheric pressure, wetting the coke during the feeding step to assure constant flow of the coke into a grinding mill where the coke is reduced to a slurry and forwarded to a holding tank. Recovering and treating vapors derived from the grinding of the coke and finally feeding the slurry to a gasifier means.

Abstract: A method for producing ultra fine particles is disclosed, wherein the method includes wet grinding particles with a media agitation mill, wherein ceramic particles having an average diameter of about 300 .mu.m or smaller are used as grinding media in the media agitation mill. Desirably, the media has an average particle diameter standard deviation of 15 or smaller, a sphericity of 1.07 or smaller, and a density of 6.0 g/cm.sup.3 or more.

Abstract: A method for concentrating a fine coal slurry having an average particle diameter of 250 microns or less is provided in which the slurry is fed to a liquid-permeable membrane separator which provides a high rate of shear flow horizontal to the membrane. The feed may be heated to increase the flow rate, and crossflow across the membrane may be pulsed to prevent clogging of the membrane. Dispersant may also be added to improve the flow.

Abstract: A method for milling a powder in a high energy mill which includes steps of forming a milling slurry including a naturally occurring zirconium silicate sand grinding medium having a density in the range of from about 4 g/cc absolute to about 6 g/cc absolute. Also provided is a grinding medium including naturally occurring zirconium silicate sand characterized by a density in the range of from about 4 g/cc absolute to about 6 g/cc absolute.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for chemically and physically stabilizing contaminated soil is disclosed. The soil is homogenized in a homogenizer; dropped into a mixer below the homogenizer and mixed with an additive; then dropped to a processing terminus located below the mixer. The apparatus and method are useful for processing highly clumped and/or acidic soil, e.g., soil contaminated with mining waste.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for facilitating the crushing of particles which have a low weight and are in suspension, wherein at least one portion of the suspension is accelerated to form a fluid jet with high energy content which reenters the stored suspension to cause impact between particles in the fluid jet and particles stored in the container.

Abstract: A method for treating process material can include introducing process material into two different vessels, raising the temperature within one of the vessels through the introduction of steam to heat the material in the vessel, and reducing the temperature in the one vessel while also increasing the temperature in the other vessel by venting the interior of the one vessel to the interior of the other vessel.

Abstract: High-shear treated materials are passed through a high-shear treatment zone which allows the coexistence of free supra-Kolmogoroff eddies larger than the smallest possible Kolmogoroff eddy diameter and forced sub-Kolmogoroff eddies smaller than this diameter. This zone includes a subsidiary higher-shear zone for suppressing these free eddies. The passage walls (40, 44, 102, 108) move relative to one another transverse to the flow to force the simultaneous development of supra-Kolmogoroff and sub-Kolmogoroff eddies while maintaining liquid films adherent to the passage surfaces. The movement produces only forced sub-Kolmogoroff eddies in the subsidiary zone while maintaining a non-turbulent flow. Ultrasonic oscillations (52) may be applied to cause elastohydrodynamic pressure and viscosity increases and/or production of smaller sub-Kolmogoroff eddies.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a finely ground alkaline earth metal pigment. The process comprises the steps of:(a) preparing an aqueous suspension comprising from 40 to 70% by weight of a particulate alkaline earth metal compound, such as calcium carbonate;(b) subjecting the suspension formed in step (a) to attrition grinding with a particulate grinding medium under conditions such as to yield a product having a particle size distribution such that at least 90% by weight of the particles have an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than 2 .mu.m, and preferably at least 80% by weight of the particles have an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than 1 .mu.m; and(c) allowing water to evaporate from the suspension under the action of heat contained in the suspension until the percentage by weight of dry alkaline earth metal compound in the suspension is at least 70% by weight.

Abstract: Wet grinding apparatus including a grinding unit having first and second outer plates forming a housing with an inner chamber. A rotatable disc is housed in the inner chamber. A drive shaft is attached to the rotatable disc and extends centrally through one side of the housing. The other side of the housing includes a central inlet port for allowing introduction of slurry solution. A peripheral edge surface of the housing includes one or more outlet ports. Inner surfaces of the first and second outer plates and both surfaces of the rotatable disc have a series of outwardly extending grooves which taper in depth from a central location of each disc to a peripheral portion of each disc. The rotatable disc further includes a plurality of central feed ports or openings in communication with grooves on each side of the rotatable disc.