Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for transfer of particulate material, such as biomass feedstocks, into and out of pressurized reactors. Improved sluice devices have an L-shaped sluice chamber having an upper, vertical component in communication with a horizontal loading chamber and a lower component in communication with a vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Piston valves seal the sluice inlet and outlet by axial displacement across the vertical component of the sluice chamber and across the vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Relative to other methods for reactor unloading, these devices consume less steam and significantly reduce furfural content of unloaded, pretreated biomass. An optional hybrid plug/sluice method of biomass feeding using the devices permits biomass loading at sluice pressures intermediate between atmospheric and reactor pressure, thereby reducing “pump cycle” time and increasing biomass throughput capacity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic device for the implementation of a reaction in a gaseous medium at high temperature, such as, for example, the synthesis of HCN or the oxidation of ammonia, comprising: at least one textured material (1) which is effective as catalyst for the said reaction, a support (2) comprising at least one ceramic part (3), the structure of which makes possible the passage of the gases, the said part (3) of the said support (2) having a corrugated face (6), so that the increase in surface area (&bgr;) produced by the corrugations with respect to a flat surface is at least equal to that (&agr;) calculated for sawtooth corrugations and of between approximately 1.1 and approximately 3, the said textured material (1) being positioned so that it is held against the corrugated face (6) of the said part (3) of the said support (2) and follows the form thereof.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of calcium cyanamide by nitrification of calcium carbide composition in a rotary furnace. Ground carbide composition, composed of calcium carbide to which, if appropriate, calcium cyanamide and/or calcium fluoride have been added, is compacted to a density of from about 1.3 to 2.0 g/cm.sup.3 before introduction to the rotary furnace. In this manner the severe caking on the rotary furnace wall which normally takes place in the course of nitrification is prevented and the nitrification yield is unexpectedly increased.