Improvements in or relating to a process for the production of solid soot aggregatesfrom an aqueous soot suspension

摘要

PICT:0962342/C1/1 Solid soot aggregates are continuously produced from an aqueous soot suspension by stirring with at least a calculated minimum proportion of a water-immiscible hydrocarbon gas oil or residual fuel oil, in proportions of not more than 7 parts oil to 1 part soot, in a first space and transferring a part of the mixture to a second space where, after further stirring, the soot aggregates with oil are separated. The soot suspension may be obtained from the gaseous products of incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons or their mixtures and may contain not more than 40 g. soot/1. The average total residence time of water in the two spaces may be 1-25 min. The apparatus of Fig. 1 comprises two mixers 1 and 2, the propeller blades of which may be 1/6 -a3/5 the diameter of the mixer and which are connected in series. Supply lines 3 for the soot suspension and 4 for the oil open into line 5 which is connected to the bottom of mixer 1 which is provided with overflow 6 opening into mixer 2 through a centrally arranged pipe section 7. Discharge 8 for the water and the soot aggregates has a filtering element 9 which separates the soot. The water is collected in tank 10 and the aggregates pass to a collecting space (not shown) via funnel 11. Agitators 12 and 13, arranged in mixers 1 and 2, are equal in size, may also have the same speed and may be driven by a common electric motor. The soot obtained may be used as a fuel, e.g. in cyclone burners, or may be purified by evaporation of the oil. Specification 741,135 is referred to.