Shell Oil Comapny

Eric J Clayfield

Peter Sant

Arnold G Dixon

Kenneth J Wilbraham

Clive Pinnington

Ernest C Lumb

Michael J Cannon

Richard J Miller

The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a method for separating coal particles from an aqueous slurry in which a multiple emulsion of oil in water is added to the aqueous slurry, the mixture is agitated to form agglomerates of coal particles, and the coal particles are separated from the remaining aqueous slurry. By the use of a multiple emulsion of oil in water, the amount of coal recovered per unit weight of oil is increased.

Method for separating coal particles from an aqueous slurry

In a process for the separation of oil from an oil-in-water dispersion by coalescence followed by separation of coalesced drops, coalescence is carried out at the surface of a solid material manufactured by contacting a solid material having active H atoms in surface groups or a polyolefin in the presence of water with a compound Si(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4), in which R.sup.1 is a (cyclo)aliphatic group containing one or more amino groups, R.sup.2 a hydrolyzable group and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 a hydrolyzable or non-hydrolyzable organic group or a hydrolyzable atom.

Process for the removal of oil from an oil-in-water dispersion

Process for the agglomeration of coal fines characterized by the staged addition of an aqueous emulsion of an oil fraction to an aqueous slurry of the fines.

Agglomeration of coal fines

A novel coal and liquid hydrocarbon fuel product, and a method for making the product, are disclosed.

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Mickle Trafford, near Chester, United Kingdom

Eric J Clayfield