In some variations, the disclosed technology provides a biocarbon composition comprising a low-fixed-carbon material with a fixed-carbon concentration from 20 wt % to 55 wt %; a high-fixed-carbon material with a fixed-carbon concentration from 50 wt % to 100 wt % (and higher than the fixed-carbon concentration of the low-fixed-carbon material); from 0 to 30 wt % moisture; from 0 to 15 wt % ash; and from 0 to 20 wt % of one or more additives (such as a binder). Some variations provide a process for producing a biocarbon composition, the process comprising: pyrolyzing a first biomass-containing feedstock to generate a low-fixed-carbon material; separately pyrolyzing a second biomass-containing feedstock to generate a high-fixed-carbon material; blending the low-fixed-carbon material with the high-fixed-carbon material, thereby generating an intermediate material; optionally, blending additives into the intermediate material; optionally, drying the intermediate material; and recovering a biocarbon composition containing the intermediate material or a thermally treated form thereof.

A metallurgical vessel structure and method is provided for producing low-impurity Magnesia-Carbon reclaimed aggregate suitable for reuse in the production of high purity Magnesia-Carbon refractory. A metallurgical vessel is assembled with a non-reactive or chemically similar backup lining. The entire height of the working lining wall is Magnesia-Carbon brick suitable for reuse. The working lining is exposed to a metal making high temperature process, and the working lining is sequentially demolished. Due to the assembly of vessel, metallurgical practice, and ease of demolishing the vessel, there is little to no need for sorting, such that the used Magnesia-Carbon brick are easily converted into low impurity Magnesia-Carbon reclaimed aggregate. A refractory composed of low-impurity Magnesia aggregate reclaimed from the method is also contemplated.

A blasting abrasive and a method of use are provided. The blasting abrasive includes a ferrochrome slag having a composition of SiO.sub.2 in a range of from about 30 to 40 wt % (weight percent); Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in a range of from about 25 to 35 wt %; of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, Cr.sub.2O.sub.3, or a combination thereof in a range of from about 10-20 wt %; MgO in a range of from about 15 to 25 wt %, by weight of the ferrochrome slag. The ferrochrome slag has a particle size in a range of from about 100 to 850 m (micrometers) with a particular size distribution.

A method for producing an article and a system associated with the method are provided. The method includes providing a green part, cooling the green part to a temperature below the freezing point of the ink to form a hardened mass and loosely-attached powder particles, and removing the loosely-attached powder particles. The green part includes powder particles, an ink, and optionally a binder. The loosely-attached powder particles removed from the green part may be recycled and reused.

A method of preparing a glass-ceramic material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) admixing a crystallisation promoter and a glass; wherein the glass has a median particle distribution (D.sub.50) of from 50 to 70 m; and (b) sintering the admixture obtained in step (a).

A glass-ceramic material and the use of such a glass-ceramic material are also described.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for preparing silicon carbide membrane supports using activated coke fly ash. Using activated coke fly ash as a pore-forming agent, micro-sized silicon carbide powder as the primary aggregate, nano-zirconia, alumina, and/or magnesia as sintering aids, and polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution as a binder. The components are uniformly mixed to obtain a premixed material. The premixed material is extruded via mechanical extrusion to form support green bodies, which are then dried at a constant temperature in a drying oven. Finally, the dried green bodies undergo programmed sintering in a muffle furnace to produce the silicon carbide membrane supports.

Ceramic particles for use in a solar power tower and methods for making and using the ceramic particles are disclosed. The ceramic particle can include a sintered ceramic material formed from a mixture of a ceramic raw material and a darkening component comprising MnO as Mn.sup.2+. The ceramic particle can have a size from about 8 mesh to about 170 mesh and a density of less than 4 g/cc.

A method of separating a mixture of used refractory components of different chemistry types obtained from a demolished refractory includes hydrating the mixture of refractory components to destructively hydrate at least some components of the mixture of refractory components, and separating, based on size, the at least some components from other components of the mixture of refractory components.

A method of using a coal-derived carbon nanomaterial to enhance the physical properties of cement, featuring: mixing an amount of the coal-derived carbon nanomaterial and a cement formulation, forming a cement suspension, where the carbon nanomaterial includes carbon dots, non-oxidized carbon nanoflakes, oxidized nanoflakes, and combinations of the above; and curing the cement suspension, forming an enhanced cement. An enhanced cement featuring a coal-derived carbon nanomaterial and a cement formulation, where the coal-derived nanomaterial includes carbon dots, non-oxidized carbon nanoflakes, oxidized nanoflakes, and combinations of the above.