Liquefaction

In materials science, liquefaction^[1] is a process that generates a liquid from a solid or a gas^[2] or that generates a non-liquid phase which behaves in accordance with fluid dynamics.^[3] It occurs both naturally and artificially. As an example of the latter, a "major commercial application of liquefaction is the liquefaction of air to allow separation of the constituents, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and the noble gases."^[4] Another is the conversion of solid coal into a liquid form usable as a substitute for liquid fuels.^[5]

In geology, soil liquefaction refers to the process by which water-saturated, unconsolidated sediments are transformed into a substance that acts like a liquid, often in an earthquake.^[6] Soil liquefaction was blamed for building collapses in the city of Palu, Indonesia in October 2018.^[7]

In a related phenomenon, liquefaction of bulk materials in cargo ships may cause a dangerous shift in the load.^[8]^[9]

In physics and chemistry, the phase transitions from solid and [gas to liquid (melting and condensation, respectively) may be referred to as liquefaction. The melting point (sometimes called liquefaction point) is the temperature and pressure at which a solid becomes a liquid. In commercial and industrial situations, the process of condensing a gas to liquid is sometimes referred to as liquefaction of gases. Coal liquefaction is the production of liquid fuels from coal using a variety of industrial processes.

Liquefaction is also used in commercial and industrial settings to refer to mechanical dissolution of a solid by mixing, grinding or blending with a liquid. In kitchen or laboratory settings, solids may be chopped into smaller parts sometimes in combination with a liquid, for example in food preparation or laboratory use. This may be done with a blender.

In biology, liquefaction often involves organic tissue turning into a more liquid-like state. For example, liquefactive necrosis in pathology,^[10] or liquefaction as a parameter in semen analysis.^[11]

^ Some authors contend that there is a distinction between liquefaction and liquification (which is more commonly considered a misspelling), with the latter term applying only to processes involving heat. Knox, Ray; Stewart, David (1995). "3. Recognizing Seismic Landforms". The New Madrid Fault Finders Guide. Marble Hill, MO: Gutenberg-Richter Publications. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-934426-42-8. LCCN 91-91374.
^ "Pharmaceutical Processes: Processes of Liquefaction". The Pharmaceutical Era. No. 21. 20 April 1899. p. 503. [by] a process of liquefaction is meant any process the effect of which is to cause a solid or gaseous body to assume or pass into the liquid state.
^ Pickett, Joseph P., ed. (2005). "Liquefaction". The American Heritage Science Dictionary. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 363. ISBN 978-0-618-45504-1. LCCN 2004019696.
^ Mavrikis, Peter; Horobin, Wendy, eds. (2003). "Liquefaction". How It Works: Science and Technology. Vol. 20 (3rd ed.). Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish. p. 64. ISBN 0-7614-7314-9. LCCN 2001028771.
^ Speight, James G. (2013). The Chemistry and Technology of Coal. Chemical Industries. Vol. 132 (3rd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. pp. 545–607. ISBN 9781138199224.
^ USGS. "About Liquefaction". Archived from the original on 2013-04-12.
^ Davis, Nicola. "Indonesia earthquake: soil liquefaction blamed for building collapses". The Guardian.
^ Gourvenec, Susan (2 September 2018). "Mystery of the cargo ships that sink when their cargo suddenly liquefies". Ars Technica. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
^ Marcolini, Barbara; Koettl, Christoph (2 October 2018). "How the Indonesia Earthquake Made Soil Flow Like Water". NYT. No. International.
^ Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease, 8th Ed. 2010. Pg. 15
^ Gardner, Kavid (2001). Textbook of Assisted Reproductive Technology Laboratory and Clinical Perspectives. Taylor and Francis. p. 63. ISBN 9780415448949. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2013-11-03.

[1] Some authors contend that there is a distinction between liquefaction and liquification (which is more commonly considered a misspelling), with the latter term applying only to processes involving heat. Knox, Ray; Stewart, David (1995). "3. Recognizing Seismic Landforms". The New Madrid Fault Finders Guide. Marble Hill, MO: Gutenberg-Richter Publications. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-934426-42-8. LCCN 91-91374.

[2] "Pharmaceutical Processes: Processes of Liquefaction". The Pharmaceutical Era. No. 21. 20 April 1899. p. 503. [by] a process of liquefaction is meant any process the effect of which is to cause a solid or gaseous body to assume or pass into the liquid state.

[3] Pickett, Joseph P., ed. (2005). "Liquefaction". The American Heritage Science Dictionary. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 363. ISBN 978-0-618-45504-1. LCCN 2004019696.

[4] Mavrikis, Peter; Horobin, Wendy, eds. (2003). "Liquefaction". How It Works: Science and Technology. Vol. 20 (3rd ed.). Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish. p. 64. ISBN 0-7614-7314-9. LCCN 2001028771.

[5] Speight, James G. (2013). The Chemistry and Technology of Coal. Chemical Industries. Vol. 132 (3rd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. pp. 545–607. ISBN 9781138199224.

[definition-6] USGS. "About Liquefaction". Archived from the original on 2013-04-12.

[The_Guardian-7] Davis, Nicola. "Indonesia earthquake: soil liquefaction blamed for building collapses". The Guardian.

[8] Gourvenec, Susan (2 September 2018). "Mystery of the cargo ships that sink when their cargo suddenly liquefies". Ars Technica. Retrieved 6 September 2018.

[NYT_Indonesia_2018-9] Marcolini, Barbara; Koettl, Christoph (2 October 2018). "How the Indonesia Earthquake Made Soil Flow Like Water". NYT. No. International.

[RobbinsCotran-10] Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease, 8th Ed. 2010. Pg. 15

[11] Gardner, Kavid (2001). Textbook of Assisted Reproductive Technology Laboratory and Clinical Perspectives. Taylor and Francis. p. 63. ISBN 9780415448949. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2013-11-03.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]