Search Documents

By Thomas A. Phillips

This publication is an economic evaluation of the Bureau of Mines electrolytic process for recovering lead from scrap lead-acid batteries. In this process, scrap batteries are crushed and separated into metal and sludge fractions. The metal fraction is cast as anodes and electro- refined. Lead in the sludge fraction is converted to lead carbonate by reaction with an ammonium carbonate-ammonium bisulfite solution. The lead carbonate is then dissolved in a fluosilicic acid electrolyte from which pure lead metal is electrowon. A cost estimate is presented for a plant capable of processing 10,000 scrap batteries per day. The fixed capital cost for this plant is estimated to he $14 million on a fourth quarter 1984 basis. Operating costs are estimated to be $0.15/lb Pb recovered. Assuming a lead selling price of $0.17/lb, the interest rate of return on investment after taxes is 11 pct. A lead selling price of about $0.21/lb is needed to obtain a 20-pct-interest rate of return.

Jan 1, 1986

By F. E. Block, Robert R. Brown, A. W. Henderson

The chlorination of Cr₂ 03 (chromic oxide ) in the presence of carbon with CC14 (carbon tetrachloride ) and COCl2 (phosgene ) chlorinating agents was investigated by employing the radioactive tracer carbon By tagging carbon mixed with Cr₂ 0з , the chlorination reaction was evaluated in terms of the competitive reaction of the elemental carbon and the carbon contained by the chlorinating agent . A unique gas - analysis train was used to separate the chlorination product gases ; CO , CO₂ , and COC12 . The C¹ activity of the gases was determined and used to calculate the reactivity of each source of carbon . Reactivities were determined for the temperature range from 600 ° to 900 ° C. The results of the investigation show that each source of carbon reacts significantly with the Cr2 03 and that the reactivity of each form of carbon depends on the reaction temperature , and each form is independent of the other . Radioisotope and gas - analysis techniques are discussed and a description of the experimental apparatus is given .

Jan 1, 1964

By J. W. Griflith, P. A. Mack, C. M. Lang, S. Riling

"N-acetyl-beta(B)-D-glucosaminidase is a N-acetyl-beta((B)-D-glucosaminidase enzyme se¬creted by alveolar macrophages in response to phagocytosis of particulate material. Alveolar macrophages participate in the degradation and fibrosis of pulmonary tissue that results in pneumoconiosis. Known quantities of four characterized respirable dusts were bronchoscopically placed into the right caudal lung lobe of macaque monkeys. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were collected from dust-exposed right lung and unexposed left lung of the same individuals at 2-week intervals for 12 weeks after dust instillation. The samples were tested for N-acetyl-B-D-glucosaminidase activity to determine if the enzyme levels could serve as an indicator of pulmonary injury induced by generic coal dusts when compared to known fibrogenic and nuisance dusts. Installation of generic quartz, anthracite, or TiO2 dusts produced significant elevations of enzyme activity and increased numbers of macrophages in the dust-exposed lobes. Elevations in enzymatic activity and macrophage numbers were greatest in response to generic quartz dust. These results suggest that quantitative levels of N-acetyl-B-D-glucosaminidase activity may be a useful indicator of acute and chronic lung injury following exposure to fibrogenic and nonfibrogenic dusts.IntroductionCoal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP) is an occupational pulmonary disease associated with the inhalation of coal mine dust. An important external factor in the development of CWP is the composition of the respirable coal mine dust. A cause-and-effect relationship exists between coal mine dust and CWP, but it has not been shown that exposure to generic coal dusts will cause CWP [12]. Numerous immunological, biochemical, and cellular changes occur in CWP; however, in this study, only N-acetyl-beta(B)-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase), protein, and alveolar macrophages (AM) will be examined [7, 32, 33]."

Dec 1, 1996

By Walter Kawa

Bureau of Mines research on the hydrogenation of coal has been concerned with developing processes that could be used to supplement the Nation's petroleum and natural gas resources. Motor fuel was produced in a subsidized coal hydrogenation industry in Europe prior to 1945, but the process used is still not economical and other methods of producing liquid and gaseous fuels from coal are being investigated. As an aid to the planning of coal hydrogenation research, a literature survey was made of processes or methods of hydrogenating coal that differ from the subsidized or conventional process. This report contains a bibliography of unconventional methods of hydrogenating coal and a brief discussion of the economics of the conventional method. A general discussion of unconventional methods is included, and the advantages and disadvantages are pointed out where possible. The survey supplements a previous Bureau of Mines survey3 and a comprehensive review published in 1930.4

Jan 1, 1964

By W. D. Musgrove, B. W. Gandrud, A. C. Richardson

"INTRODUCTION The Cahaba coal field is the second largest coal—producing area in Alabama. This field underlies parts of Shelby, Jefferson, St. Clair, and Bibb Counties and has an area of about 270 square miles. The Cahaba formations contain a number of coal beds, about 8 of which are mined at present. Although the area contains many folds and faults, samples from various mines and beds indicate that, except for the variation in ash content, the coal from this field is very uniform in character and quality. It is a high-volatile bituminous coal used chiefly for steam-raising purposes and domestic fuel. The coal as mined usually contains too high a percentage of impurities to be marketed without some preparation. The majority of the mines have washing plants in which jigs are the favorite type of equipment, although at some mines tables are used for cleaning the slack sizes. The washing characteristics of the coal from the Cahaba field are very uniform and differ from those of the near-by Warrior field, in that the coarser sizes contain a much lower percentage of bony material than the finer sizes. In general, the bone increases with decrease in size. It breaks into thin flakes, making difficult its elimination in the cleaning process, and gives rise to what is known among the washery operators of the Cahaba field as the ""rash problem.""A previous publication 5 referred to rash from the standpoint of jig operation and suggested some means of handling it with jigs. This report presents the results of table tests on two samples of fine coal from the Thompson and Woodstock beds, respectively, of the Cahaba field to determine the influence of rash on table efficiency.This investigation has been made in connection with the study of coal-washing problems now being conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the University of Alabama, with the cooperation of the different coal operators of Alabama."

May 1, 1934

By D. S. Colby

Statistics on the volume of natural gas produced in the United States were first collected for 1906. A summary of those statistics covering 1906-35 was incorporated in the 1937 Minerals Yearbook. This summary, covering 1936-50 presents, by States, a number of the more important statistics that have appeared in the natural-gas chapter of the Minerals Yearbooks. The period covered has been one of rapid expansion, especially of long-distance transmission lines. Natural gas was made available to some States for the first time; in other States the degree of dependence upon supplies transported from outside their boundaries changed rapidly. Thus, an isolated series of statistics cannot be studied without considering other regional influences that reflect in the overall operations of the industry. These tables accordingly have been designed to show for each State the simultaneous changes taking place in the various sectors surveyed. The tables show production data in the upper portion and consumption data in the lower portion. They are arranged alphabetically, by States. A copy of the 1906-35 production summary from the 1937 Minerals Yearbook has been included.

Jan 1, 1952

By A. C. Rice

Investigation of a variety of mines to determine efficiency for rare- earth extraction has resulted in a solvent extraction technique wherein Primene 81-R,4 N-benzylheptadeeylamine (BHDA), and Primene JM-T give favorable extraction from sulfate solutions. Extraction from chloride, nitrate, and perchlorate solutions is negligible. Distribution coefficients for 10 rare-earth elements with Primene 81-R establish an extraction sequence beginning with lanthanum and proceeding through lutetium according to atomic number. Yttrium and ytterbium are exceptions in the extract ion sequence.

Jan 1, 1962

By David L. Veith

Caustic scrubbing followed by silica flotation with cationic ether primary amine proved effective in upgrading commercial magnetic concentrates to supergrade products containing 2 percent SiO2, or less. Samples representing 41 million long tons per year of commercial magnetic concentrates from the Lake Superior region were tested by the Bureau of Mines. Bench-scale and pilot plant research indicated an estimated potential of 32 million long tons per year of superconcentrates to be available. Two pilot plant investigations yielded superconcentrates containing 1.1 and 1.9 percent SiO2 that were derived from commercial concentrates containing 7.0 and 4.2 percent SiO2, respectively. Corresponding iron recoveries were 90 and 93 percent at reagent costs of just over 33 cents per long ton of superconcentrates produced. Additional sources evaluated on a bench scale resulted in iron recoveries of 72 to 95 percent in products containing 1.7 to 2.0 percent Si02. Although reagent cost ranged up to 60 cents per long ton of superconcentrate, it is probable that these costs would be reduced in plant applications where benefits are derived from material and reagent recycle.

Jan 1, 1974

By H. S. Caldwell

A magnesium-base incendiary alloy, containing about 20 percent cadmium, 4 percent aluminum, and 0.5 percent zinc, was investigated in a series of vacuum-distillation experiments to determine the feasibility of recovering magnesium and cadmium as refined metals. Alloys prepared in the laboratory and actual bomb-casing alloy were studied at temperatures of 550° to 750° C. and pressures of 100 to 150 microns. Simple distillation and fractional distillation methods were only partly effective in separating the cadmium and magnesium. They were separated satisfactorily, however, with a special vapor baffle designed to condense the metals selectively. Magnesium and cadmium products were 99 percent pure and together comprised 82 percent of the total condensate. About 17 percent of the condensate was intermediate-grade alloy that could be recycled with new charge and contained about 70 percent magnesium and 30 percent cadmium.

Jan 1, 1959

By Charles D. Litton

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report describes the results of two large-scale tests conducted to evaluate a prototype nitric oxide (NO)-compensated carbon monoxide (CO) fire sensor, developed by Carnegie Mellon Research Institute (CMRI). In the tests, small coal fires were allowed to develop in the presence of diesel exhaust at relatively low ventilation airflows. These tests compared the response of the CMRI fire sensor with that of other fire sensors, including the Bureau's diesel-discriminating smoke detector. During the tests, CO, NO, and smoke levels were continuously monitored in order to determine the sensor alarm times and gas levels as the fire developed. The data indicated that the NO-compensated CO fire sensor was capable of suppressing the CO produced by a diesel engine and that the sensor responded reliably to the CO produced from the test fires. The tests also showed that the Bureau's diesel-discriminating smoke detector alarmed earlier than the prototype NO-compensated CO fire sensor.

Jan 1, 1993

By G. H. Gronhovd

This report describes the design and initial operation of a slagging gasification pilot plant installed by the Bureau of Mines at the Lignite Research Laboratory, Grand Forks, N. Dak., in 1958-59. The tests covered in this report were conducted over a period of about 2 years, beginning in April 1959. The pilot plant was designed for eventual operation at pressures ranging from 400 to 600 p.s.i.g. (pounds per square inch gage); however, for the preliminary test reported here, the gasifier was fitted with a low-pressure slagging section and operated at atmospheric pressure and at 80 p.s.i.g. The reason for using a low-pressure slagging section for initial operation was to facilitate modifications in design during the development of a reliable slagging procedure.

Jan 1, 1962

By Elizabeth A. Johnson

The vaporization thermodynamics of the aluminum-silicon carbides Al4SiC4 and Al8SiC7 were studied by the Bureau of Mines over the temperature range of approximately 1,500 to 1,700 K. Vapor pressures were measured by a Knudsen effusion-mass spectrometry technique in which powdered samples were effused from graphite crucibles through small orifices. For each compound, a total of six orifice diameters was tested to verify equilibrium within the cell. Aluminum, mass number 27, was the only vapor species detected over the range 4 to 200 amu. Experimental results are based on the following equations for incongruent decomposition: A14SiC4(cr) - 4A1(g) + SiC(a,hex) + 3C(gr); Al8SiC7(cr) - 8A1(g) + SiC(a,hex) + 6C(gr). The observed vapor pressure-temperature relationships determined with a cell orifice area of 2.0 x 10-3 cm2 for Al4SiC4 and 1.81 x 10-3 cm2 for A18SiC7 are the following: Log P - (-18,682/T) + 12.476, for Al4SiC4 (1,550 to 1,643 K) and Log P = (-19,308/T) + 12.421, for Al8SiC7 (1,526 to 1,784 K), with P in pascals and T in kelvins. Third-law analysis of the data provided the following heats of formation: A14SiC4 ?H at 298.15 K - -50.0 kcal/mol and A18SiC7 ?H at 298.15 K - -92.1 kcal/mol.

Jan 1, 2011

By Richard N. Spencer

This report describes investigations of the economic merits of multiple zone mining and beneficiation versus selective mining of altered Western phosphate rock. The same deposit was considered in both instances and it was assumed that the grade of selectively mined ore was comparable to the grade of the concentrate from beneficiation. The beneficiating scheme used for the investigation was one proved by small continuous circuit operation. All economic factors were found to favor multiple zone mining plus beneficiation. Capital requirements and production costs were lower, and production life of the deposit was extended 4.5 times. The concentrate from beneficiation would be a uniform high-quality feed for acidulation and would be low in stable metallic oxide (R203) content. Such a feed would permit improved plant operating control, and the low R203 would promote more rapid filtration and minimize sludge formation in the phosphoric acid. With the proposed treatment, the concentrate produced by flotation from this deposit would cost about 1.5 times as much per ton as the concentrate produced by classification sizing. Therefore, inclusion of a flotation step in treatment schemes requires an economic analysis for each ore deposit.

Jan 1, 1971

By A. J. Kraemer

This report on the physical and chemical properties of crude oils of California is one of a series on the producing districts of the United States. It includes a short discussion of results, tabulated data, and individual analyses of California crudes. Analyses of crude oils from the fields of Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties have been published in Serials 25952 and 26083. The analyses reported in this paper corer samples that were obtained subsequent to the publication of Serials 2535 and 2608. The samples were obtained by members of the San Francisco office of the Bureau of Mines. The collecting of samples was facilitated by the courtesy of representatives of oil companies in California.

Jan 1, 1927

By Milton H. Fies

The dedication of thin building, establishing a station of the U.S. Bureau of vines at the University of Alabama, bristles with significance and challenges the wisdom and courage of the people of this State. Here is united, in common aim, the Engineering School of our State University, recognized for its competency and usefulness, and the Federal Bureau of Mines. The Bureau is one of the most effective arms of our National Government. It outranks in accomplishment, measured by practical scientific contribution, any like governmental organization in all the other nations. It possesses none of the characteristics of many other bureaus of government which have created popular bias. Here is one Bureau devoid of political suggestion or aim with a personnel zealously devoted to labor in scientific re¬search - an organization marked by practical accomplishment, alleviating many of life's burdens, raking easier life's pathway, and unerringly pointing to life's possibilities.

Jan 1, 1936

By C. F. Jackson

This paper has been prepared as a progress report in connection with the series of articles on mining methods and costs which are being published by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in the form of information circulars. When enough circulars have boon completed it is planned to publish a more complete and comprehensive paper in bulletin form dealing with the subject of underground transportation. Progress reports, followed b., bulletins, will be prepared from time to time dealing with other subjects included in the general study of mining methods at individual nines, such as mine development, drilling, and blasting; stoping methods (each principal stoping method to be summarized in a separate paper); Ventilation; wage, contract and bonus systems, etc.

Jan 1, 1931

By Berger

A detailed description is given of radio apparatus for controlling a coincidence outfit for relative gravity measurements. This is probably of little interest, since many types of apparatus could be used. The general method employed is the interesting thing about this paper. As long ago as 1883 von Sterneck made a proposal to control two coincidence boxes with the, seine, clock, and many persons have suggested the use of radio for this purpose. In accomplishing this it would appear to the reviewer that this method is probably inferior to that used by the Marland Oil Co., but Berger and Brückner must be given the credit for important advances in the coincidence method. In their apparatus a clock at a central station actuates a relay, which operates a short-wave transmitter (40 m.). At the receiving station the amplification is accomplished at low frequencies... The signal operates a relay which moves a slitted screen in a coincidence apparatus. This screen has been improved considerably, to decrease the mean error in observing a coincidence. As usual, a telescope is used to observe the flashes of light. It has a scale in its focal plane and positions of successive flashes are easily read off and recorded by a second observer. This makes possible' a: higher accuracy in determining the exact instant at which coincidence would have occurred at the zero point on this scale. This method obviously depends on the constance of the mechanical and electrical lag inn both sending and receiving apparatus, and may be adversely criticized from this standpoint. -- A. E. Ruark.

Jan 1, 1929

By Edmund Shaw

This paper is one of a series being prepared by the United states Bureau of Mines describing mining and milling methods and costs at industrial mineral plants throughout the United states. These papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding the methods and equipment used. The cost tabulations represent operating expenditures only and not total production costs. It is recognized that publication of total production costs might, in many instances, cause embarrassment to individual producers as well as to the industry as a whole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to the technical discussion and study of the methods employed. The attention' of the reader? is specifically called to this differentiation in order that no misunderstanding of the scope of the cost tabulations shall ensue. P. J. Weisel, Inc., with office at La Habra and plant at Corona, Calif., is the only local company that produces sand for the Los Angeles glass factories, although silica sand for other purposes is produced in other parts of southern California and the adjacent portions of Nevada. The deposit at Corona consists of coarse sand imbedded in a whitish clay and differs greatly from the other deposits, which are fine-grained sandstone that must be crushed before it can be screened and washed. The preparation of Corona sand has to be thorough and includes grinding in tube mills, repeated washing and rinsing, removal of dust by air separation, and magnetic separation of iron and other minerals. This requires a plant with a complicated flow sheet. The first plant built did not make a. satisfactory glass sand, and many additions and changes were necessary. It is thought that the present flow sheet will remain substantially unchanged until a new plant is built. The design of a new plant would be simpler, but the process would be the same.

Jan 1, 1937

By J. E. Chilton

The Bureau of Mines has developed a portable flammable gas detecting system for estimating the flammable gas concentrations in a mine containing one or more combustible gases at concentrations up to 100 vol pct. With this portable detecting system, mine rescue or recovery personnel can quickly determine if they are working in a potentially explosive gas atmosphere and either leave the area or make appropriate changes in the fresh air ventilation of the mine to render the area safe. The detecting system uses a commercial, intrinsically safe, flammable gas detector with a range from 0 to 5 vol pct methane (CH4). The flammable gas detector has a catalytic heat-of-combustion sensor that can detect all flammable gases that would be encountered in a mine including methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H2). To determine the mine gas concentration, the rescue worker dilutes a sample with fresh air carried within the detecting system. The concentration of the diluted sample is then measured with the permissable flammable gas detector. The actual mine gas concentration is calculated from the product of the indicated diluted gas concentration and the system dilution ratio using a pocket calculator or the nomograph on the side of the unit.

Jan 1, 1987

By John E. Trombly

System objectives and design criteria for an in-mine visual personnel paging system are discussed. Display technologies are evaluated and tradeoffs leading to display selection are described. The prototype dispatcher's console, battery/receiver box and visual display assemblies are functionally described. The report includes circuit descriptions, schematics, parts lists and equipment cabinet drawings for the three assemblies. The report concludes with an estimate of the manufacturing cost for each assembly.

Jan 1, 1975