Control of the flow of granular polysilicon granules is effected by employing an elastomeric pinch sleeve valve. The flow control by this method is especially useful for controlling the flow of silicon seed particles and granular polysilicon product in the fluidized bed method for producing polysilicon. The flow may be stopped without gas leakage, and is suitable for use over long operating campaigns.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for heating alane etherate compositions for producing microcrystalline alpha alane. An exemplary heating method comprises introducing a preheated solvent into the alane etherate composition and rapidly stirring to effectuate rapid heating of the composition without the need to heat the reactor walls. In this way, the alane etherate composition can be heated while also reducing the risk of decomposition. In further embodiments, a two-stage reactor can be employed for producing alpha alane, wherein the heating occurs in the second stage.

A cementitious blend composition and a concrete mix composition preferable for making concrete resistant to high temperatures and alkaline conditions, particularly for making durable concrete for constructing an alumina digester tank in an aluminum smelter. The cementitious blend composition includes at least one hydraulic cement, silica fume (SF), and natural pozzolan (NP), wherein a weight percent ratio of at least one hydraulic cement:SF:NP in the cementitious blend composition lies in the range of (24-63):(5-44):(32-40) with the sum of the weight percentages of the at least one hydraulic cement, the SF, and the NP not exceeding 100%. The concrete mix composition comprises water and the cementitious blend composition, wherein a weight ratio of the water to the cementitious blend composition is 0.2-0.5, and wherein the concrete mix composition has a content of the cementitious blend composition of 400-550 kg/m.sup.3.

A cementitious blend composition and a concrete mix composition preferable for making concrete resistant to high temperatures and alkaline conditions, particularly for making durable concrete for constructing an alumina digester tank in an aluminum smelter. The cementitious blend composition includes at least one hydraulic cement, silica fume (SF), and natural pozzolan (NP), wherein a weight percent ratio of at least one hydraulic cement: SF:NP in the cementitious blend composition lies in the range of (24-63):(5-44):(32-40) with the sum of the weight percentages of the at least one hydraulic cement, the SF, and the NP not exceeding 100%. The concrete mix composition comprises water and the cementitious blend composition, wherein a weight ratio of the water to the cementitious blend composition is 0.2-0.5, and wherein the concrete mix composition has a content of the cementitious blend composition of 400-550 kg/m.sup.3.

Systems and methods for monitoring a particle/fluid mixture are provided. The method can include flowing a mixture comprising charged particles and a fluid past a particle accumulation probe. The method can also include measuring electrical signals detected by the probe as some charged particles pass the probe without contacting the probe while other charged particles contact the probe. The measured electrical signals can be manipulated to provide an output. The method can also include determining from the output if the charged particles contacting the probe have, on average, a different charge than the charged particles that pass the probe without contacting the probe.

A cementitious blend composition and a concrete mix composition preferable for making concrete resistant to high temperatures and alkaline conditions, particularly for making durable concrete for constructing an alumina digester tank in an aluminum smelter. The cementitious blend composition includes at least one hydraulic cement, silica fume (SF), and natural pozzolan (NP), wherein a weight percent ratio of at least one hydraulic cement: SF:NP in the cementitious blend composition lies in the range of (24-63): (5-44): (32-40) with the sum of the weight percentages of the at least one hydraulic cement, the SF, and the NP not exceeding 100%. The concrete mix composition comprises water and the cementitious blend composition, wherein a weight ratio of the water the cementitious blend composition is 0.2-0.5, and wherein the concrete mix composition has a content of the cementitious blend composition of 400-550 kg/m.sup.3.

The disclosure concerns methods comprising forming a phenol and acetone mixture from decomposition of a cumene hydroperoxide or a phenol, acetone, and AMS from the decomposition of a mixture containing dicumyl peroxide in a system comprising one or more reactors where at least a portion of an inner surface of the one or more reactors has a polymer coating and wherein the coating inhibits build-up of a fouling precipitate on the coated inner surface of the one or more reactors as compared to such build-up in the absence of the coating.

Methods and apparatuses for regenerating catalysts and methods of inhibiting corrosion in catalyst regenerating apparatuses are provided. An exemplary apparatus includes: a metal vessel configured to receive a spent catalyst stream and contact at least a portion of the spent catalyst stream with an oxygen containing environment at a sufficiently high temperature to burn coke present in the spent catalyst stream; a refractory material overlying at least a portion of an inner surface of the metal vessel; and a corrosion inhibiting material in contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the metal vessel and disposed between the inner surface and at least a portion of the refractory material, wherein the corrosion inhibiting material is heat stable at a temperature of at least up to about 400 F. (about 204 C.) and inhibits contact of an acid environment with the inner surface of the metal vessel.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for heating alane etherate compositions for producing microcrystalline alpha alane. An exemplary heating method comprises introducing a preheated solvent into the alane etherate composition and rapidly stirring to effectuate rapid heating of the composition without the need to heat the reactor walls. In this way, the alane etherate composition can be heated while also reducing the risk of decomposition. In further embodiments, a two-stage reactor can be employed for producing alpha alane, wherein the heating occurs in the second stage.

A process for increasing alcohol yield from biomass (the form or agro- or forest residue, grains, hops, etc.), involving multiple hydrodynamic cavitation treatments of biomass filtrateboth before and after fermentation. Carbohydrates extracted from biomass are subjected to a first cavitation treatment to promote additional conversion into carbohydrates. The carbohydrates are then combined with bacterial species and nutrients, and allowed to ferment. The fermentation product is subjected to a second hydrodynamic cavitation treatment to promote further conversion of carbohydrates into bioalcohol. After distillation, the bioalcohol is subjected to a second hydrodynamic cavitation treatment to increase its purity.