Abstract: Improved production of alkali metal silicate glass is achieved by vigorous steam bubbling through the molten glass bed during the preparation of glass by fusion. Such practice results in higher production using less fuel and the product glass is easier to dissolve and results in solutions of greater clarity.

Abstract: An acidic solution of silico-formic acid is obtained by adding a solution of silico-formic acid in a dilute alkali metal hydroxide solution or an alkali metal silico-formate solution slowly into an acid solution. The pH must remain below 5.

Abstract: Spheroidal aggregates of highly absorbent, low bulk density, readily soluble, high surface area, hydrated, amorphous alkali metal silicate are provided by contacting discrete alkali metal silicate particles with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, absorbing the peroxide into the alkali metal silicate hydrated structure and heating the silicate to destroy substantially all of the hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: An improved method for producing alkalimetal polysilicates is disclosed. The polysilicates are produced by hydrothermally reacting an aqueous dispersion of finely-divided silica and an alkali metal hydroxide. The synthesized reaction mixture is then spray dried with the solid product then being fractured and pulverized. The fractured particles are thereafter pelletized and dried in a fluidized bed to produce a product having predetermined characteristics or properties. The product can be used in adhesives, in the production of silica gel, in textiles and the like. However, their use as builders in detergents and in combination with known anionic, nonionic and amphoteric surface active compounds (surfactants) is disclosed as being particularly advantageous.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for subjecting a finely divided solid to a series of processing steps on a single horizontal vacuum belt filter wherein the processing includes a liquid-solid mass transfer function, such as ion-exchange, carried out by percolation, and this step is followed by at least one step, such as washing, in which rapid passage of a large volume of liquid through the solid takes place. The method is used to ion-exchange zeolitic microspheres in the production of a fluid cracking catalyst.

Abstract: A crystalline metal organosilicate having the composition, in its anhydrous state, as follows:0.9 .+-. 0.2 [xR.sub.2 O + (1-x) M.sub.2/n O]: <.005 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 :>1SiO.sub.2where M is a metal, other than a metal of Group IIIA, n is the valence of said metal, R is an alkyl ammonium radical and x is a number greater than 0 but not exceeding 1, said organosilicate being characterized by a specified X-ray diffraction pattern. Said organosilicate is prepared by digesting a reaction mixture comprising (R.sub.4 N).sub.2 O, sodium oxide, an oxide of a metal other than a metal of group IIIA, an oxide of silicon and water. The crystalline organosilicates are useful as adsorbents and in their catalytically active form as catalysts for organic compound conversion.