Abstract: A process for treating a Bayer liquor by wet oxidation to oxidise organic contaminants in the Bayer liquor in which the wet oxidation process is conducted in the presence of a mixed Ce/Mn oxide. The catalyst may have nano-sized grains, and be supported on a mesoporous oxide support. The catalyst may also contain a platinum group metal.

Abstract: A method for producing metal oxide particles having nano-sized grains is disclosed. A solution of metal cations is mixed with surfactant under conditions such that surfactant micelles are formed. This mixture is then heated to form the metal oxide particles; this heating step removing the surfactant, forming the metal oxide and creating the pore structure of the particles. The pore structures are disordered. This method is particularly advantageous for production of complex (multi-component) metal oxides in which the different atomic species are homogeneously dispersed.