Abstract: A system for treatment of a biomass material and a method for transporting biomass material, said system comprising: —a first vessel (3) in which said biomass material is treated at a first pressure;—a second vessel (5) in which said biomass material is collected at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure; and—a transporting pipe (7) connecting an outlet (9) of the first vessel (3) with an inlet (11) of the second vessel (5) for transporting the biomass material from the first vessel to the second vessel, wherein said transporting pipe (7) comprises at least one restriction (13) for control of the flow in the transporting pipe and hereby providing a pressure drop to the transported biomass material, wherein at least one of said at least one restriction (13) is provided somewhere in the second half of the length of the transporting pipe (7) starting from the first vessel (3) and ending at the second vessel (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of silicate comprising: reacting rice husk ash with a silicate precursor P1 to obtain a silicate S2 having a SiO2/MxO molar ratio MR2, in which the precursor P1 is either a silicate S1 having a SiO2/MxO molar ratio MR1 such that MR2>MR1, or a mixture of sand with metal hydroxide.

Abstract: Process for the joint production of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate crystals, according to which: a solid powder derived from sodium sesquicarbonate, having a mean particle diameter comprised between 0.1 and 10 mm is dissolved in water; the resulting water solution is introduced into a crystallizer, wherein a first water suspension comprising sodium carbonate crystals is produced; the first water suspension is subjected to a separation, in order to produce crystals comprising sodium carbonate on the one hand, which are valorized, and a mother liquor on the other hand; and a part of the mother liquor is taken out of the crystallizer and put into contact in, a gas liquid contactor, with a gas comprising carbon dioxide, in order to produce a second water suspension comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals, which are separated and valorized. A reagent powder comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals made by such process.

Abstract: A method of determining sulfur content in an aqueous fluid containing spent hydrogen sulfide scavenger from a scrubber or contactor tower is described as is a method of optimizing the hydrogen sulfide scavenger treatment rate in a scrubber or contactor tower. The method includes the steps of providing a sample of an aqueous fluid from the scrubbing tower where the aqueous fluid contains spent hydrogen sulfide scavenger; and using x-ray fluorescence to determine the amount of total sulfur in the sample. The method may also use the total sulfur content in the sample to determine the spent hydrogen sulfide scavenger in the sample and/or determine scavenger uptake. The method may also include the step of adjusting the amount of scavenger introduced into the aqueous fluid in the tower in response to the scavenger uptake, to optimize the scavenger treatment in the scrubber or contactor tower.

Abstract: A method identifying a wellbore volume change while drilling a subterranean wellbore includes acquiring first and second axially spaced pressure measurements in the wellbore. The wellbore volume change may include, for example, a borehole washout or a borehole pack-off. The pressure measurements may then be processed to obtain an interval density of drilling fluid between the measurement locations. A tool string including a large number of axially spaced pressure sensors (e.g., four or more or even six or more) electronically coupled with a surface processor via wired drill pipe may be used to obtain a plurality of interval densities corresponding to various wellbore intervals. The interval densities may be measured while drilling and may be further evaluated as an indicator of a wellbore volume change.

Abstract: A method of producing trona suitable for flue gas desulfurization comprising mechanically mining a trona ore deposit containing insoluble impurities; crushing the mined trona ore to create a mixture of uncalcined trona-rich particles and impurities-rich particles; beneficiating the crushed uncalcined trona ore to obtain a trona-rich, impurities-depleted ore fraction; and drying the trona-rich ore fraction under non-calcining conditions to yield a dry uncalcined trona ore. A preferred embodiment includes concurrently milling and drying the trona-rich, impurities-depleted ore fraction to recover a low moisture content trona product having a high NaHCO3:Na2CO3 ratio, useful for the efficient dry injection desulfurization of flue gas streams.

Abstract: The catalyst for electrochemical dechlorination of hydrocarbons, such as chlorobenzenes, is a d-block transition metal supported by rice husk ash (RHA), preferably rice husk ash-supported platinum or titanium. The catalysts are prepared from rice husk ash by the sol-gel method. In order to dechlorinate chlorinated organic compounds, such as 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, a capillary microreactor is at least partially filled with the d-block transition metal supported by rice husk ash catalyst, a buffer solution having a pH preferably between 7 and 10, and the chlorinated organic compound. An electrical potential of approximately 3 kV is then applied across the capillary microreactor to initiate the dechlorination reaction.

Abstract: A method of treating waste liquors which comprise organic compounds, in order to recover chemical compounds or to recycle chemicals. In the present method, the sodium-based waste liquor, which comprises organic compounds that are sourced from lignocellulose, is subjected to partial wet oxidation, in order to produce organic sodium salts, in which case the partial wet oxidation is carried out in conditions where at least part of the lignin is simultaneously precipitated. The precipitated filtrate or lignin is subjected to further processing. Most suitably, the organic sodium salts, such as Na acetate, which are generated in the partial oxidation of the waste liquor, are also subjected to further processing, in which case it is possible, from the lignin and the organic sodium salts, to efficiently produce compounds which as such are already of sufficient quality as chemicals, or which as gases are suitable for further processing, for instance for production of fuels.

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 process comprising receiving production saltwater comprising water, salt, and hydrocarbons, separating substantially all of the hydrocarbons from the production saltwater, evaporating at least some of the water in the production saltwater to obtain the salt, and collecting the salt. Also disclosed is a facility comprising a settling pit, an evaporator in fluid communication with the settling pit and comprising a nozzle configured to emit a stream along a path, and a collection pit positioned under the path.

Abstract: A method for producing an alkali metal iodide salt solution including combusting a liquid for combustion so as to combust a combustible component of the liquid for combustion; and subsequently cooling a resultant gas containing a decomposition product. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a liquid containing (i) an alkali metal iodide salt, (ii) an inorganic-salt-forming substance capable of forming, at combustion, an inorganic salt containing an alkali metal and (iii) an organic compound; (b) adding to the liquid a precipitation solvent capable of depositing the inorganic-salt-forming substance; (c) removing from the liquid the inorganic-salt-forming substance precipitated in the step (b) so as to obtain the liquid for combustion; and (d) combusting the liquid for combustion and subsequently cooling the resultant gas containing a decomposition product.

Abstract: A method for removing impurities from a waste solid to provide at least a portion of a suitable crystallizer feed to a process for making crystalline sodium carbonate, bicarbonate, and/or other derivatives. The method comprises: contacting the waste solid with a leach solution to dissolve at least one impurity and dissolving the resulting leached residue. Leaching may include heap percolation. The leach solution may comprise a crystallizer purge liquor, a process waste effluent, a mine water, or mixtures thereof. The method may further comprise adding a magnesium compound to the resulting leached residue during or after its dissolution to remove another impurity. The waste solid preferably comprises a pond solid containing such impurities. The pond solid may be recovered from a pond receiving crystallizer purge liquor(s) and/or other process waste effluent(s). The pond solid may contain sodium carbonate, any hydrate thereof, sodium bicarbonate, and/or sodium sesquicarbonate.

Abstract: A process for the production and recovery of crystalline sodium sesquicarbonate and of crystalline sodium carbonate monohydrate from aqueous liquors containing sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. The crystalline products may optionally be heated or calcined to produce soda ash. The process is particularly suited for the recovery of soda ash from aqueous minewater streams obtained from solution mining of subterranean trona ore deposits.

Abstract: A method for treating a spent caustic solution having a pH greater than about 10.5 includes the steps of (a) lowering the pH of the caustic solution into the range of between about 10 to 10.5 to produce a pH-modified caustic solution; (b) oxidizing the pH-modified caustic solution until the solution to produce a non-sulfide reactive oxidized solution; and (c) lowering the pH of the oxidized solution to a pH less than 9. Methods for oxidizing inorganic substrates in aqueous solutions using an oxidizing agent such as pure oxygen, oxygen-enriched air or ozone are improved by including in the headspace above the aqueous solution a diluent gas and by recycling the oxygen with diluent gas into the reactor.

Abstract: Processes are described for the extraction and recovery of alkali metal from the char that results from catalytic gasification of a carbonaceous material. Among other steps, the processes of the invention include a hydrothermal leaching step in which a slurry of insoluble particulate comprising insoluble alkali metal compounds is treated with carbon dioxide and steam at elevated temperatures and pressures to effect the conversion of insoluble alkali metal compounds to soluble alkali metal compounds. Further, processes are described for the catalytic gasification of a carbonaceous material where a substantial portion of alkali metal is extracted and recovered from the char that results from the catalytic gasification process.

Abstract: A process related to sodium chemicals production, including the processing of bicarbonate containing solutions obtained by solution mining of trona, nahcolite or wegscheiderite reserves and the lake waters containing bicarbonates, includes the steps of purification, evaporation-decarbonation, crystallization, centrifuging, and drying.

Abstract: A process for the beneficiation of trona includes supplying a trona feedstream that is crushed and dried. The trona is then separated into a first size fraction and a second size fraction. Impurities are removed from the first size fraction using at least one magnetic separator. The magnetic separator includes a plurality of stages. Each stage includes a conveyor system comprising a first end, a second end, and a conveyor belt. Each stage also includes a magnetic roller disposed at the second end of the conveyor system and a splitter disposed adjacent the second end of the system for separating a fraction of magnetic impurities from the trona to create a beneficiated fraction. At least one conveyor belt is deionized. Airborne dust particles are removed from an area surrounding at least one conveyor system.

Abstract: A method of producing sodium bicarbonate having a high degree of purity and obtaining a net reduction in effluent waste water, as compared to prior processes, when starting from trona ore is disclosed. The process entails utilizing the waste-water effluent stream from the conversion of trona ore to sodium carbonate as the feed for the conversion of sodium carbonate to sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: A method for treating a spent caustic solution having a pH greater than about 10.5 includes the steps of (a) lowering the pH of the caustic solution into the range of between about 10 to 10.5 to produce a pH-modified caustic solution; (b) oxidizing the pH-modified caustic solution until the solution to produce a non-sulfide reactive oxidized solution; and (c) lowering the pH of the oxidized solution to a pH less than 9.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel method for separating alkaline salts from industrial byproduct mixtures of solid containing a source of the alkaline salt and a free carbonaceous material. In one embodiment, the industrial byproduct may be a mixture of solid materials that comprises: sodium carbonate, hydrate phases of sodium carbonates, free carbon particulates, water and minor amounts of insoluble materials as impurities. An external source of heat is initially applied to the byproduct mixture to raise the temperature of the free carbon particulates to the ignition point at which time a source of oxygen, introduced into the byproduct mixture, reacts with the heated carbon particulates and combine exothermally to form carbon dioxide gas and autogenously release thermal energy.

Abstract: A method for converting sodium bicarbonate in a sodium carbonate monohydrate crystallization process to maintain a mother liquor composition in a sodium carbonate monohydrate crystallizer below the invariant point for the crystallizer for reducing or eliminating the cocrystallization of sodium sesquicarbonate crystals in the process. The mother liquor composition may be maintained below the invariant point by stripping carbon dioxide from a feed solution or from mother liquor recycled to the crystallizer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for formulating food grade sodium bicarbonate by purification of a sodium bicarbonate liquor where an initial saturated feedstock of sodium bicarbonate which contains sodium sulfate as an impurity is filtered to remove the impurities and a first filtrate liquor formed. The filtrate liquor is then subjected to ion exchange with a cationic resin to reduce the calcium and magnesium ion concentration present in the filtrate liquor with subsequent cooling of the liquor. The cooled liquor is also treated with a source of ammonia or ammonium ions to shift the solubility of the compounds to retain sodium sulfate in solution while precipitating sodium bicarbonate with reduced sulfate occlusions. The precipitated sodium bicarbonate is then filtered to result in a food grade sodium bicarbonate product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering alkali metal fluorides and/or difluorides from waste mixtures containing alkali metal chlorides and/or alkali metal fluorides and/or difluorides and, optionally, organic compounds, by (a) subjecting a waste mixture comprising one or more alkali metal chlorides and/or one or more alkali metal fluorides and/or difluorides and, optionally, one or more organic compounds, to a thermal/oxidative pre-treatment and/or an extractive pre-treatment, and (b) bringing the pre-treated mixture into contact with hydrogen fluoride.

Abstract: A process is presented in which anhydrous soda is crystallized and worked up to produce anhydrous soda crystals with a bulk density from 1300 to 1600 kg/m3. The process is characterized in that a solvent is used that allows the crystals to be formed and handled at atmospheric pressure in the presence of water without the monohydrate of soda being formed.