The present invention relates to methods for beneficiating a banded coal of the type wherein a substantial portion of the ash constituents is within the cleats. The method includes subjecting a comminuted coal feed, including coal and ash and having a particle size of about −13.5 mm, to a density separation process to separate the comminuted coal feed, using a separating gravity value of from about 1.35 up to about 1.9, into a beneficiated coal fraction and an ash containing gangue fraction. The method may include the initial steps of subjecting a coarse coal having a size of up to −150 mm to a density separation process to separate the coarse coal into an initial light coal-containing fraction and an initial heavy ash containing gangue fraction; and subjecting at least a portion of the initial light coal-containing fraction to a comminution process to form the comminuted coal feed. The invention extends to a coal product produced by said methods.

The present invention relates to methods for beneficiating a banded coal of the type wherein a substantial portion of the ash constituents is within the cleats. The method includes subjecting a comminuted coal feed, including coal and ash and having a particle size of about −13.5 mm, to a density separation process to separate the comminuted coal feed, using a separating gravity value of from about 1.35 up to about 1.9, into a beneficiated coal fraction and an ash containing gangue fraction. The method may include the initial steps of subjecting a coarse coal having a size of up to −150 mm to a density separation process to separate the coarse coal into an initial light coal-containing fraction and an initial heavy ash containing gangue fraction; and subjecting at least a portion of the initial light coal-containing fraction to a comminution process to form the comminuted coal feed. The invention extends to a coal product produced by said methods.

A system and method of scheduling tasks, comprising receiving activity and performance data from registers or storage locations maintained by hardware and an operating system; storing calibration coefficients associated with the activity and performance data; computing an energy dissipation rate based on at least the activity and performance data; and scheduling tasks under the operating system based on the computed energy dissipation rate.

Systems and methods for cryogenic separation of plant material are provided. A vessel is filled with cryogenic fluid having a temperature at or less than 150 degrees Celsius. Plant material is placed into the vessel via a basket and agitation is provided to the plant material in the vessel for a predetermined time period. Upon completion of the time period, the basket having at least a portion of the plant material is removed from the vessel. Plant particulates separated from the plant material during the agitation settle to the bottom of the vessel. The vessel is drained of the cryogenic fluid, including plant particulates separated from the plant material.

Systems and methods for cryogenic separation of plant material are provided. A vessel is filled with cryogenic fluid having a temperature at or less than 150 degrees Celsius. Plant material is placed into the vessel via a basket and agitation is provided to the plant material in the vessel for a predetermined time period. Upon completion of the time period, the basket having at least a portion of the plant material is removed from the vessel. Plant particulates separated from the plant material during the agitation settle to the bottom of the vessel. The vessel is drained of the cryogenic fluid, including plant particulates separated from the plant material.

System and method for cryogenic separation of plant material are provided. A vessel is filled with cryogenic fluid having a temperature at or less than 150 degrees Celsius. Plant material is placed into the vessel via a basket and agitation is provided to the plant material in the vessel for a predetermined time period. Upon completion of the time period, the basket having at least a portion of the plant material is removed from the vessel. Plant particulates separated from the plant material during the agitation settle to the bottom of the vessel. The vessel is drained of the cryogenic fluid, including plant particulates separated from the plant material.

System and method for cryogenic separation of plant material are provided. A vessel is filled with cryogenic fluid having a temperature at or less than 150 degrees Celsius. Plant material is placed into the vessel via a basket and agitation is provided to the plant material in the vessel for a predetermined time period. Upon completion of the time period, the basket having at least a portion of the plant material is removed from the vessel. Plant particulates separated from the plant material during the agitation settle to the bottom of the vessel. The vessel is drained of the cryogenic fluid, including plant particulates separated from the plant material.

A system and method of scheduling tasks, comprising receiving activity and performance data from registers or storage locations maintained by hardware and an operating system; storing calibration coefficients associated with the activity and performance data; computing an energy dissipation rate based on at least the activity and performance data; and scheduling tasks under the operating system based on the computed energy dissipation rate.

An apparatus, composition and method for recycling of a material, such as, for example, unhardened concrete. The apparatus includes a storage tank for storing a recycling composition to be applied to the material to be recycled and a control unit configured to control release of the recycling composition from the storage tank.

An apparatus, composition and method for recycling of a material, such as, for example, unhardened concrete. The apparatus includes a storage tank for storing a recycling composition to be applied to the material to be recycled and a control unit configured to control release of the recycling composition from the storage tank.