A system and method for charging a chromium-based catalyst to a mix vessel; introducing a reducing agent through an entrance arrangement into the mix vessel, and agitating a mixture of the chromium-based catalyst, the reducing agent, and a solvent in the mix vessel to promote contact of the reducing agent with the chromium-based catalyst to give a reduced chromium-based catalyst.

A method of manufacture of high-solids hydroxide slurries from caustic calcined carbonate powder is described, whereby the properties of the slurry are its low resistance to shear thinning to facilitate transport, a high stability for transport and storage, ease of reconstitution after long periods of storage, and, as required, a high concentration of chemically reactive species at the particle surface. The method achieves these specifications by mixing caustic calcined carbonate or hydroxide powder with water in an insulated reactor vessel, and agitating the slurry sufficiently such that the hydration reaction causes the water to spontaneously boil, such that the remaining hydration proceeds spontaneously under the fixed conditions of boiling through the water loss. The mixing process is preferably carried out by a shear pump. A viscosity modifier, such as acetic acid, is used to thin the slurry to enable the mixing system to maintain uniform mixing. The reaction is terminated when the boiling has spontaneously ceased and the temperature has spontaneously dropped to a set point though the reactor heat losses, where the processing time is sufficiently long that the slurry meets the desired specifications.

A method of manufacture of high-solids hydroxide slurries from caustic calcined carbonate powder is described, whereby the properties of the slurry are its low resistance to shear thinning to facilitate transport, a high stability for transport and storage, ease of reconstitution after long periods of storage, and, as required, a high concentration of chemically reactive species at the particle surface. The method achieves these specifications by mixing caustic calcined carbonate or hydroxide powder with water in an insulated reactor vessel, and agitating the slurry sufficiently such that the hydration reaction causes the water to spontaneously boil, such that the remaining hydration proceeds spontaneously under the fixed conditions of boiling through the water loss. The mixing process is preferably carried out by a shear pump. A viscosity modifier, such as acetic acid, is used to thin the slurry to enable the mixing system to maintain uniform mixing. The reaction is terminated when the boiling has spontaneously ceased and the temperature has spontaneously dropped to a set point though the reactor heat losses, where the processing time is sufficiently long that the slurry meets the desired specifications.

Method and associated apparatus (1) for bringing together one or more first bodies comprising a first substance with one or more second bodies comprising a second substance for the purpose of the first and second bodies, or the first and second substances contained therein, chemically and/or physically reacting together. the apparatus (1) comprising: a container (48) containing a dielectric medium (50) comprising one or more dielectric materials. especially one or more dielectric fluids or pseudo-fluids: first means (10N; 30, 36, 14, 10T) for forming the said one or more first bodies comprising the first substance and applying thereto an electric charge of a first polarity. and second means (20N; 30, 38, 24, 20T) for forming the said one or more second bodies comprising the second substance and applying thereto an electric charge of a second polarity. the first polarity being opposite to the second polarity: wherein the first and second forming means (10N, 30, 36, 14, 10T; 20N, 30, 38, 24, 20T) are each arranged for forming the respective said one or more charged first bodies and one or more charged second bodies such that each thereof is located in the said dielectric fluid medium (50) contained in the container (48), and such that the one or more charged first bodies and the one or more oppositely charged second bodies each have a size or width of at least about 0.01 mm or greater. especially of at least about 0.02 or 0.03 or 0.04 or 0.05 mm or greater;: whereby, once formed in the said dielectric medium (50), the oppositely polarised electric charges on the said first and second bodies causes or promotes electrostatic attraction between one or more respective pairs of the one or more first bodies and the one or more second bodies.

A device and method are disclosed to mix two or more liquids to reduce their viscosity, specific gravity or density. The device can also take a heavy fuel oil and following treatment, produce a lighter fuel oil. The invention also comprises a method and procedure for mixing two or more liquids as well as producing a lighter fuel oil from a heavy fuel oil.

In an embodiment, a reactor for carrying out a melt transesterification reaction at a reactor temperature of 160 to 300 C. and a reactor pressure of 5 to 200 mbar, comprises a cylindrical tank comprising a top, a side, and a bottom, wherein the bottom is convex, extending away from the top; a stirring shaft disposed within the cylindrical tank along an axis thereof so that it is rotatable from outside of the cylindrical tank; a stirring blade extending from the stirring shaft in the cylindrical tank; a reactant solution inlet located on the bottom; and a reaction solution outlet located on the bottom. The reactor can be used for the polymerization of a polycarbonate oligomer.

Devices and methods for controlling the properties of chemical species during time-dependent processes. A device includes a reactor for containing one or more chemical species of a time-dependent process, an extraction pump for automatically and continuously extracting an amount of the one or more chemical species from the reactor, one or more detectors for measuring property changes of the one or more extracted chemical species and generating a continuous stream of data related to the one or more property changes to the one or more chemical species during a time interval, and a process controller configured to fit the continuous stream of data to a mathematical function to predict one or more properties of the one or more chemical species at a future time point and make one or more process decisions based on the prediction of one or more properties at the future time point.

A system and method for charging a chromium-based catalyst to a mix vessel; introducing a reducing agent through an entrance arrangement into the mix vessel, and agitating a mixture of the chromium-based catalyst, the reducing agent, and a solvent in the mix vessel to promote contact of the reducing agent with the chromium-based catalyst to give a reduced chromium-based catalyst.

Apparatuses for polymerizing or devolatilizing a composition, especially one of high melt viscosity, are disclosed. Methods of polymerizing and devolatilizing a composition, especially one of high melt viscosity, are also disclosed.

A method for breaking down synthetic polymers, in particular polyolefins, is provided. In addition a system for carrying out said method and a product according to said method is provided.