Abstract: Separation of materials is achieved using affinity binding and acoustophoretic techniques. A column provided with a fluid mixture of materials for separation and support structures may be used with acoustic waves to block flow of the support structures. The support structures can have an affinity for one or more materials in the fluid mixture. By blocking flow of the support structures, materials bound or adhered to the support structure are also blocked.

Abstract: Separation of materials is achieved using affinity binding and acoustophoretic techniques. A column provided with a fluid mixture of materials for separation and support structures may be used with acoustic waves to block flow of the support structures. The support structures can have an affinity for one or more materials in the fluid mixture. By blocking flow of the support structures, materials bound or adhered to the support structure are also blocked.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices for the treatment of fecal matter. A column reactor is used to smolder fecal matter to produce and a volatile components stream and smoldered media. The volatile components stream may be subject to catalysis to reduce the emission of noxious substances and/or generate heat energy. Also described is the use of a turntable for removing smoldered media from the column reactor.

Abstract: A boundary layer carbonation process for producing sodium bicarbonate crystals having specific surface area in the range 0.4 m2/g to 2.5 m2/g from Trona, wherein in one embodiment the process comprises the steps of: providing Trona particles having a particle size range of ?4+120 mesh; pre-wetting the Trona particles with water to provide a plurality of pre-wetted Trona particles each having a liquid water solution boundary layer deposited thereon; and carbonating the pre-wetted Trona particles across the water boundary layer to provide a product comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals.

Abstract: A boundary layer carbonation process for producing sodium bicarbonate crystals having specific surface area in the range 0.4 m2/g to 2.5 m2/g from Trona, wherein in one embodiment the process comprises the steps of: providing Trona particles having a particle size range of ?4 +120 mesh; pre-wetting the Trona particles with water to provide a plurality of pre-wetted Trona particles each having a liquid water solution boundary layer deposited thereon; and carbonating the pre-wetted Trona particles across the water boundary layer to provide a product comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals.

Abstract: A process designed to obtain potassium sulfate from vinasse where such vinasse is mainly obtained as a by-product of ethyl alcohol and the like production distilleries. Such process consists in concentrating vinasse dry solids for their subsequent combustion in a recovery boiler and to obtain electric power by activating a vapor turbine and at the same time recover the melted minerals from the boiler floor to obtain a chemical conversion reaction from carbonates to sulfates. Such reactions produce mainly Potassium sulfate in economic and technically sustainable production rates. Moreover, this process neutralizes the harmful effects of the vinasse polluting residue.

Abstract: A method for the controllable dissolution of one or more alkali metals from a vessel containing a one or more alkali metals and/or one or more partially passivated alkali metals. The vessel preferably comprising a sodium, NaK or other alkali metal-cooled nuclear reactor that has been used. The alkali metal, preferably sodium, potassium or a combination thereof, in the vessel is exposed to a treatment liquid, preferably an acidic liquid, more preferably citric acid. Preferably, the treatment liquid is maintained in continuous motion relative to any surface of unreacted alkali metal with which the treatment liquid is in contact. The treatment liquid is preferably pumped into the vessel containing the one or more alkali metals and the resulting fluid is extracted and optionally further processed. Preferably, the resulting off-gases are processed by an off-gas treatment system and the resulting liquids are processed by a liquid disposal system.

Abstract: A potassium titanate, method for manufacturing the potassium titanate, a friction material using the potassium titanate and a resin composition using the potassium titanate are disclosed. The potassium titanate is represented by K2TinO(2n+1) (n=4.0-11.0) and has the highest X-ray diffraction intensity peak (2?) in the range of 11.0°-13.5° with its half width being not less than 0.5°.

Abstract: A system and method for conversion of alkali metals, heavy metals, halogens, and sulfur into mineral products. The system includes a single reaction vessel. To begin the process, co-reactants such as lime and clay are mixed with waste feeds containing alkali metals, heavy metals, halogens, and sulfur. This mixture is then introduced into the reaction vessel. The reaction vessel is operated under reducing conditions. After the mineral products are allowed to form, they are collected from the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one metallic element from ore or other material is described and includes reacting ore or other material with a salt capable of recovering the metallic element from the ore or other material to form a reaction product that includes the metallic element. The method also includes recovering the metallic element from the reaction product. To remove the metallic element from the reaction product, the method can involve crushing the reaction product to form a crushed material and dissolving the crushed material in a solvent to remove the precipitates, thereby leaving a sulfate solution containing the metallic element.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the pyrolysis and gasification of waste materials, in particular of special and/or hazardous waste materials, comprising a gasification and melting step, a step of treatment of the mixture of the obtained gases, and a vitrification step, wherein said steps provide for the following passages: a) the material to be treated, at a temperature comprised between 1300 and 1500° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to aqueous boron-containing compositions and their preparation. In particular the invention provides self-structured aqueous sodium pentaborate gels. The gels according to the invention may be prepared by reacting boric acid or boric oxide and sodium tetraborate or metaborate in suspension in water and under mixing such that a self-structured sodium pentaborate gel is formed. The gels according to the invention are physically stable and are easily handled.

Abstract: Resonant tubes of a pulse combustor are immersed in a bed of solid particles in a reaction zone to provide indirect heat from the pulsating combustion gases to the solid particles of the bed. The bed is maintained in an agitated state by a gas or vapor flowing through the bed. Reactant materials are introduced into the agitated bed and undergo reaction at enhanced rates resulting from heat transfer coefficients at least about twice as high as those of steady flow combustors and an intense acoustic pressure level propagated from the pulsating combustor into the reaction zone. The apparatus is useful, for example, to steam reform heavy hydrocarbons and to gasify carbonaceous material, including biomass and black liquor to produce combustible gas at relatively low temperatures, with steam being utilized as the bed fluidizing medium. Black liquor gasification, utilizing sodium carbonate as bed solids, results in liquor energy and chemical content recovery without smelt production.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin containing a flame-retarding magnesium hydroxide has its workability enhanced by a sorbitan ester in admixture with the resin and flame retardant. An admixture of the resin, magnesium hydroxide, and ester may be either a mixture of discrete particles of each of said components of the composition or a mixture of the resin and a magnesium hydroxide powder whose particles have a coating of the ester.

Abstract: Resonant tubes of a pulse combustor are immersed in a bed of solid particles in a reaction zone to provide indirect heat from the pulsating combustion gases to the solid particles of the bed. The bed is maintained in an agitated state by a gas or vapor flowing through the bed. Reactant materials are introduced into the agitated bed and undergo reaction at enhanced rates resulting from heat transfer coefficients at least about twice as high as those of steady flow combustors and an intense acoustic pressure level propagated from the pulsating combustor into the reaction zone. The apparatus is useful, for example, to steam reform heavy hydrocarbons and to gasify carbonaceous material, including biomass and black liquor to produce combustible gas at relatively low temperatures, with steam being usilized as the bed fluidizing medium. Black liquor gasification, utilizing sodium carbonate as bed solids, results in liquor energy and chemical content recovery without smelt production.

Abstract: A process for producing particles of a non-friable eutectic mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate for solar power station use is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the particles are produced by shock chilling a molten stream of mixed nitrate material and crushing the resulting flakes to a size range of between about -5 mesh and about +30 mesh. In a second embodiment, particles of this size are produced by spray granulation of a concentrated solution of mixed nitrate salts onto a fluidized bed to produce dry, free-flowing, solid spheres. In both embodiments, the particles are extremely hard, resistant to moisture pickup and adaptable to being readily shipped by bulk containers.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing food-grade caustic such as sodium hydroxide wherein hydrazine or a derivative or salt thereof is used as a corrosion inhibitor, residual hydrazine is removed from the concentrated caustic product solution by oxidation. The oxidation of residual hydrazine is accomplished by adding to the hydrazine-containing concentrated caustic solution, which is characterized by a pH of 14 or higher, a 5- to 10-fold stoichiometric excess of hydrogen peroxide or an equivalent peroxy compound or hypochlorite.

Abstract: Radioactive alkali metal is mixed with particulate silica in a rotary drum reactor in which the alkali metal is converted to the monoxide during rotation of the reactor to produce particulate silica coated with the alkali metal monoxide suitable as a feed material to make a glass for storing radioactive material. Silica particles, the majority of which pass through a 95 mesh screen or preferably through a 200 mesh screen, are employed in this process, and the preferred weight ratio of silica to alkali metal is 7 to 1 in order to produce a feed material for the final glass product having a silica to alkali metal monoxide ratio of about 5 to 1.