Abstract: A process for the recovery of sulfur from sulfur-bearing ores employing an aqueous leaching solution containing calcium monosulfide, calcium hydrosulfide or mixtures of such calcium sulfide species. The sulfur ore is contacted in an extraction zone with the aqueous leaching solution under conditions to solubilize sulfur from the ore in the form of calcium polysulfide. Preferably, the extraction step is carried out at an elevated temperature. The loaded leaching solution is recovered from the extraction zone and applied to a sulfur-production zone. Here the loaded solution is contacted with hydrogen sulfide under conditions to react the hydrogen sulfide with the calcium polysulfide to produce calcium hydrosulfide and elemental sulfur. The calcium hydrosulfide solution is recycled for use as leaching solution in the sulfur extraction zone.

Abstract: Method of preparing alkali metal or ammonium thioantimonate and use of the thioantimonate in the preparation of SbSbS.sub.4, having a low level of free sulfur, and lubricants incorporating the SbSbS.sub.4 as an additive.

Abstract: There is described a process for the production of pure sodium polysulfides directly from the elements sodium and sulfur. For this purpose, the sodium and the sulfur under a protective gas and in a stoichiometrical ratio corresponding to the desired polysulfide are alternatingly dosed into a previously present melt of a polysulfide with vigorous stirring, the dosing being in portions such that upon introduction of the sodium the reaction mixture remains in the condition of a stirrable suspension and upon introduction of the sulfur this is completely reacted to a polysulfide of the desired or higher sulfur content.

Abstract: Flue gas having a content of sulfur dioxide is passed upwardly through a scrubbing tower against a descending flow of recycled aqueous sodium aluminate-sodium hydroxide liquor. The sulfur dioxide in the gas is converted to sodium and aluminum sulfates and sulfites and the liquor removes any fly ash present in the gas. Underflow is continuously discharged from the tower and is sent to an evaporator for removal of excess water. Make-up solutions of sodium sulfate and aluminum sulfate are added, as necessary. Carbonaceous reducing agent is added to the discharge from the evaporator. The mixture is continuously fed into a reducing furnace where the sulfates and sulfites are reduced to sulfides. The product of the furnace (molten sodium and aluminum sulfides) is charged into a continuous hydrolyzer. Hydrogen sulfide is evolved and collected, and, if desired, its sulfur content is converted to elementary sulfur. The underflow from the hydrolyzer is filtered.

Abstract: Substantially dry iron oxide particles having a high surface area, a high kinetic "K" value and composed of a crystalline phase of Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 together with an amorphous Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 moiety or portion and having a surface area of at least 4 m.sup.2 /.sub.g are useful for scavenging hydrogen sulfide from other gases containing it. A cartridge type device is provided containing such particles intermixed with inert particulate matter, e.g. sand, useful as a means for scavenging hydrogen sulfide from such other gases.

Abstract: Iron rich dusts created during steelmaking, as in the basic oxygen and open hearth processes, are useful for scavenging hydrogen sulfide. For example, basic oxygen furnace dusts, which are in more abundant supply, are found to consist of fine, nearly spherical particles of iron oxide whose crystalline composition comprises Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 (major portion) and Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 (minor portion) as seen by X-ray diffraction. Their great surface area makes them highly reactive to hydrogen sulfide gas. Their reaction yields unexpected products, namely, free sulfur and iron hydroxides. According to the present invention such iron rich dusts are used in water slurries through which sour hydrocarbon gas is bubbled, and in water based drilling muds to scavenge hydrogen sulfide encountered in well drilling.

Abstract: A process for scavenging hydrogen sulfide from hydrocarbon gases utilizes iron oxide particles of unique chemical and physical properties. These particles have large surface area, and are comprised substantially of amorphous Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 containing a crystalline phase of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 and combinations thereof. In scavenging hydrogen sulfide, the iron oxide particles are suspended in a liquid which enters into intimate mixing contact with hydrocarbon gases; the hydrogen sulfide is reacted at an exceptional rate and only acid-stable reaction products are formed. Thereafter, the sweetened hydrocarbon gases are collected.

Abstract: Hydrated alkali metal sulfides used to remove sulfur from fossil fuels to form alkali metal polysulfides which are recycled to alkali metal sulfides and elemental sulfur by thermal or thermal reduced pressure decomposition of the alkali metal polysulfides or by conversion of the hydrolysis products entirely by H.sub.2 S.

Abstract: Titanium disulphide particles comprising orthogonally intersecting plates, and having a relatively high surface area, e.g. above 4 m.sup.2 /g, in relation to its size, e.g. average largest diameter 2-16 microns, and a method for its preparation by the vapor phase reaction between titanium tetrachloride and hydrogen sulphide is provided. This material is susceptible to intercalation by, for example, lithium and may be used as an active cathodic material in electrochemical cells such as secondary batteries.

Abstract: In methods for combusting carbonaceous sulfur-containing fuels in a fluidized bed wherein the fluidized bed contains at least one calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and calcium bicarbonate to absorb sulfur oxides formed during the combustion of the carbonaceous fuel thereby producing calcium sulfoxy compounds having the formula CaSO.sub.x wherein x is 3 or 4, an improvement comprising (a) withdrawing a stream of fluidized bed solids containing said calcium sulfoxy compounds and mixing the fluidized bed solids and said calcium sulfoxy compounds with water to produce a slurry; (b) reacting the CaSO.sub.x compounds with NH.sub.3, H.sub.2 O and CO.sub.2 to produce water-soluble ammonium sulfoxy compounds such as NH.sub.4 (HSO.sub.x) where x is 3 or 4 and CaCO.sub.3 ; and (c) separating the ammonium sulfoxy compounds from the fluidized bed solids and CaCO.sub.3.

Abstract: Hydrosulfides of sodium, potassium, calcium, barium and strontium are prepared by reaction of the oxide or hydroxide of the metal with sulfur in aqueous medium at elevated temperature and pressure.

Abstract: A technique for removing substantially all the elemental mercury from a mercury containing aqueous media by adjusting the pH of the liquid to the range of 7-13, adding a polysulfide in an amount sufficient to combine with the elemental mercury to form a mercury sulfide which is precipitated and preventing the mercury from being resolublized.

Abstract: An improvement in the recovery of mercury from aqueous streams is achieved by the use of polytetrafluoroethylene filters.

Abstract: Carbon particles non-uniformly and non-continuously coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are produced by adding a PTFE emulsion to the carbon particles at a rate of less than approximately 100 ml/100 grams. The result is a mixture of PTFE coated carbon particles, some having a higher weight percent PTFE resin thereon and others having a lower weight percent PTFE resin thereon. Such a mixture of non-uniformly coated particles gives improved reaction efficiency when used as a solid catalyst in a packed bed tower reactor through which fluid reactants are flowed.

Abstract: Sodium polysulfide is prepared by the oxidation of sodium sulfide or sodium hydrosulfide, and by using new procedures and systems described, the production of thiosulfate can be markedly reduced and, in some cases, eliminated. The oxidant is air, oxygen or oxygen in mixture with other gases, the reductant is aqueous sodium sulfide or sodium hydrosulfide and the reaction is carried out with both reactants in non-flooded contact with a solid catalyst material, of which a typical example is a particulate carbon treated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The reaction is typically conducted at atmospheric pressure and without the application of heat, with the oxidant and the reductant being in interfacial contact with each other, but only, insofar as possible, at sites where both are simultaneously in contact with a catalyst which is prevented from being flooded by either the oxidant or reductant. Sodium polysulfide and sodium hydroxide are produced, and are useable in treatment of lignocellulose materials.

Abstract: Stoichiometric titanium disulfide having a high degree of crystalline perfection and particularly suited for use as an active cathode material is prepared by heating particulate metallic titanium to a reaction temperature between about 475.degree. and 600.degree. C., contacting the heated titanium with an atmosphere having a sulfur partial pressure substantially equal to the equilibrium sulfur partial pressure at the reaction temperature to form titanium disulfide, and maintaining the reactants at the reaction temperature sufficiently to insure complete reaction. The reaction is advantageously conducted in an evacuated tube which is differentially heated to establish a hot zone where the reaction occurs and a cooler zone which controls the sulfur partial pressure within the tube so that the rate of reaction can in turn be controlled to minimize overheating, and also prevents the formation of titanium trisulfide.

Abstract: Chalcopyrite is decomposed by treatment with aqueous acid solution and a metallic reductant to form either metallic copper or copper sulfide, ferrous iron and hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: A method for selectively recovering metals from generally sulphidic particulate materials containing metals selected from nickel, copper and precious metals in which the particulate material is preferentially leached in an agitated chloride solution containing cuprous ions by the action of chlorine. The redox potential of the solution increases upon feeding chlorine thereto and decreases upon feeding particulate material thereto, and the rate of feeding of chlorine is controlled relative to the rate of feeding of material to control the redox potential substantially at or below a selected potential at which the metal is leached preferentially with respect to other metals in the material. Nickel is leached preferentially with respect to copper and precious metals in a matte, for example, to produce a nickel-rich solution and to concentrate the precious metals in a nickel-depleted residue.

Abstract: Sulfidic ores of lead or zinc such as galena or sphalerite are smelted under vacuum in the absence of CO.sub.2 and oxygen with a flux consisting of solid NaOH or KOH to free the lead or zinc as free metal and to form sodium or potassium disulfides which are used as flux in smelting additional sulfidic ores to liberate more metal and form still higher polysulfides of sodium or potassium also usable as flux up to the pentasulfide form. By the process of the invention, substantially complete use is made of the sulfur atoms initially combined with the lead or zinc to remove the sulfur combined with said metals. Potassium hydroxide, its lower sulfur content polysulfides can be reconstituted by exposing to air a leach solution of potassium pentasulfide.