A method in which a parent hydrocarbon-rich material is processed so as to produce both a carbon-rich solid material that has a higher carbon to hydrogen ratio than that of the parent material and a carbon-deficient combustible gas that has a lower carbon to hydrogen ratio than the parent material. In the process, the material is activated by exposing it to a hot gas stream having elevated levels of one or both of carbon dioxide and water vapor. The combustible gas is combusted to produce heat. At least about 80% of the heat is used in one ore more endothermic steps that include drying coal or biomass.

A method in which a parent hydrocarbon-rich material is processed so as to produce both a carbon-rich solid material that has a higher carbon to hydrogen ratio than that of the parent material and a carbon-deficient combustible gas that has a lower carbon to hydrogen ratio than the parent material. In the process, the material is activated by exposing it to a hot gas stream having elevated levels of one or both of carbon dioxide and water vapor. The combustible gas is combusted to produce heat. At least about 80% of the heat is used in one ore more endothermic steps that include drying coal or biomass.

The Invention is related to increasing of early strength and final strengths of cements classified under EN and ASTM as Portland or CEM cements and also related to all clinker employing cements and to any kinds which employ calcium sulphates for set optimization and is for composing of new cements by only assessing new methods for production and is for composing of new cements by only assessing new methods to formation and inclusion of calcium sulphate resources which are used for set optimization. A new calcium sulphate resource is obtained by employing lower heats and this input is arranged to different dehydration levels at which they can be most efficient for the selected use. These different dehydration levels are called intermediate phases of dehydrate or hemihydrates or called as monohydrate.

The Invention is related to increasing of early strength and final strengths of cements classified under EN and ASTM as Portland or CEM cements and also related to all clinker employing cements and to any kinds which employ calcium sulphates for set optimization and is for composing of new cements by only assessing new methods for production and is for composing of new cements by only assessing new methods to formation and inclusion of calcium sulphate resources which are used for set optimization. A new calcium sulphate resource is obtained by employing lower heats and this input is arranged to different dehydration levels at which they can be most efficient for the selected use. These different dehydration levels are called intermediate phases of dehydrate or hemihydrates or called as monohydrate.

A drying-type joint compound and related methods, the drying-type joint compound having a lowered friction coefficient and formulated with chloride-containing flue-gas-desulfurization (FGD) gypsum powder having the median particle size (D50) of at least about 20 m, preferably the chloride-containing FGD gypsum powder having a D10 greater than 5 m, wherein the drying-type joint compound further comprises a binder; one or more clays; a cellulosic thickener; and an additive.

A drying-type joint compound and related methods, the drying-type joint compound having a lowered friction coefficient and formulated with chloride-containing flue-gas-desulfurization (FGD) gypsum powder having the median particle size (D50) of at least about 20 m, preferably the chloride-containing FGD gypsum powder having a D10 greater than 5 m, wherein the drying-type joint compound further comprises a binder; one or more clays; a cellulosic thickener; and an additive.

A method for measuring the weights of phase components in a calcium sulphate material, e.g., gypsum or stucco, in particular for measuring the weights of DH, HH and AIII phases. The method includes (a) weighing a given amount of calcium sulphate material at ambient temperature; (b) placing the weighed calcium sulphate material in a moisture balance at ambient temperature; (c) drying the calcium sulphate material at temperature between 40 C. and 50 C.; (d) waiting until the weight is constant; (e) weighing the dried calcium sulphate material; (f) calculating the weight gain between (a) and (e), the weight gain being related to the amount of AIII phases in the calcium sulphate material.

A method for measuring the weights of phase components in a calcium sulphate material, e.g., gypsum or stucco, in particular for measuring the weights of DH, HH and AIII phases. The method includes (a) weighing a given amount of calcium sulphate material at ambient temperature; (b) placing the weighed calcium sulphate material in a moisture balance at ambient temperature; (c) drying the calcium sulphate material at temperature between 40 C. and 50 C.; (d) waiting until the weight is constant; (e) weighing the dried calcium sulphate material; (f) calculating the weight gain between (a) and (e), the weight gain being related to the amount of AIII phases in the calcium sulphate material.

A method of recovering desalinated activated alumina (AA) beads from a composition including salt laden (high salt absorbed) activated alumna (AA) beads and free anions and free cations, comprising the step of electrodialysis of the composition to reduce salt content of the activated alumina (AA) beads to produce a stream comprising the desalinated activated alumina (AA) beads.

A method of recovering desalinated activated alumina (AA) beads from a composition including salt laden (high salt absorbed) activated alumna (AA) beads and free anions and free cations, comprising the step of electrodialysis of the composition to reduce salt content of the activated alumina (AA) beads to produce a stream comprising the desalinated activated alumina (AA) beads.