Integration of Software Specification Techniques for Applications in Engineering

Solid carbonaceous fossil fuels such as coal, lignite and peat are treated with an aqueous medium containing a novel catalyst to remove undesirable constituents and produce valuable products. The catalyst is prepared by steps including admixing a water soluble alkali metal silicate with an aqueous medium containing carefully controlled amounts of dissolved water soluble substances which are sources of calcium ion and magnesium ion, reacting the same to produce an aqueous colloidal suspension of the reaction product, admixing a micelle-forming surfactant with the aqueous medium, and agitating the aqueous medium containing the colloidal particles and surfactant to form catalyst-containing micelles. Particles of the fossil fuel, or components thereof, are treated and solubilized in the aqueous catalyst suspension to produce a novel aqueous solution which has highly unusual and unexpected properties. The resultant solution has important applications in agriculture and animal husbandry.