Methods and systems are described for providing improved food processing systems by treating wash water in a wash stage of the food processing system with a biocide. Sufficient biocide may be added to significantly reduce the levels of bacteria in the wash stage, which can prevent problems associated with bacteria in downstream processes.

A method of operating a plant having a furnace including at least two vertical shafts connected by an overflow duct, wherein at least one burner is arranged above the overflow duct in each case such that the burner gases therefrom flow downward in burning operation of the respective shaft. A cooling gas supply is provided beneath the overflow duct in each case such that, in combination with the operation of a burner in the burner-operated shaft, the burner gas flowing downward is deflected in the direction of the overflow duct by the cooling gas ascending in the burner-operated shaft, and a supply of cooling gas is adjusted such that the temperature of the burner charge through which the burner gas flows at least in the burner-operated shaft is kept above the deacidification temperature thereof.

Techniques for growing crystalline calcium carbonate solids such that the crystalline calcium carbonate solids include a volume of 0.0005 mm.sup.3 to 5 mm.sup.3, include a slaker to react quicklime (CaO) and a low carbonate content fluid to yield a slurry of primarily slaked lime (Ca(OH).sub.2); a fluidized-bed reactive crystallizer that encloses a solid bed mass and includes an input for a slurry of primarily slaked lime, an input for an alkaline solution and carbonate, and an output for crystalline calcium carbonate solids that include particles and an alkaline carbonate solution; a dewatering apparatus that includes an input coupled to the crystallizer and an output to discharge a plurality of separate streams that each include a portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate solids and alkaline carbonate solution; and a seed transfer apparatus to deliver seed material into the crystallizer to maintain a consistent mass of seed material.

Disclosed are a method for separately preparing light magnesium oxide and calcium oxide by using dolomite and an application thereof in preparation of a calcium-magnesium composite expanding agent. In the method for preparing light magnesium oxide and calcium oxide, based on the difference in decomposition temperature between magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate during the calcination and decomposition of dolomite and the difference in the weight of the materials after decomposition, the effective separation of magnesium oxide and calcium oxide is realized by a one-step method, thus separately preparing light magnesium oxide and light calcium oxide. The calcium-magnesium composite expanding agent is prepared by using the foregoing light magnesium oxide and calcium oxide. On the one hand, the present invention solves the problem of the limited origin of the light magnesium oxide raw material of the magnesium expanding component in the calcium-magnesium composite expanding agent.

The present invention pertains to the discovery that short chain aliphatic fatty acids, such as potassium sorbate, can be used in liquid-additive grinding compositions in the amount of at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, and most preferably at least 30%, to mill carbonate materials into smaller particle size. The carbonate material can optionally be combined with another inorganic material in the grinding operation, such as limestone, lime, dolomites, talc, titanium dioxide, alumina, and kaolin, ceramics, and cement clinker. The use of the particularly described grinding additive composition are food-grade or food-contact approved, and are believed by the present inventors to resist the humectant behavior of the resultant ground particles which could in herently otherwise decrease efficiency of the particulate grinding process.

This application discloses exemplary processes and systems for reducing mineral ring accumulation in calcination kiln. The processes and systems comprise inserting non-condensable gases (“NCGs”) in a preheating zone of a calcination kiln, upstream of the burner end. The pre-heating zone may be characterized by temperatures ranging from 1,300° F. to 1,750° F. The system may desirably comprise a plenum for inserting the NCGs into the rotating calcination kiln at the pre-heating zone.

A furnace may include at least two vertical shafts, each of which may have at an upper end thereof an inlet for material to be burnt and at a lower end thereof a burnt material outlet. The inlet and the outlet may be connected by a transfer channel. In each case, at least one main burner may be positioned above the transfer channel, and a cooling gas inlet may be positioned below the transfer channel. At least one additional burner may be positioned below the transfer channel in each of the shafts. Such a furnace can be operated such that the material to be burnt in the currently fired shaft is at least partially calcined in a main burning zone above the transfer channel, and then thermally aftertreated in an additional burning zone positioned between the transfer channel and the additional burner.

Disclosed is a system for producing electricity, the system comprising a chemical recovery boiler adapted to supply superheated steam to a steam turbine driving a generator, the chemical recovery boiler comprising a first flue discharge channel with a first heat exchanger arrangement; and a lime kiln comprising a second flue discharge channel with a second heat exchanger arrangement; and a circulation for heat transfer medium between the said heat exchanger arrangements. Also disclosed is a method for producing electricity, wherein said heat transfer medium is circulated between said heat exchanger arrangements such that thermal energy may be transferred from the flue gases in the first flue charge channel and/or the second flue discharge channel into the feed water of the chemical recovery boiler and/or into a heat-consuming process.

Aspects of the invention include a method of producing a cement material comprising step of: first reacting a calcium-bearing starting material with a first acid to produce an aqueous first calcium salt; second reacting the aqueous first calcium salt with a second acid to produce a solid second calcium salt; wherein the second acid is different from the first acid and the second calcium salt is different from the first calcium salt; and thermally treating the second calcium salt to produce a first cement material. Preferably, but not necessarily, during the second reacting step, reaction between the first calcium salt and the second acid regenerates the first acid.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with surprisingly low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the nanocellulose to form completely renewable composites.