Abstract: There is disclosed, in one aspect, a process for preparing an activated silicon aluminum complex capable of releasing oxygen and hydrogen in the presence of a halogen compound, such as salt in human perspiration, when added to a fluid which contains oxygen and hydrogen.

Abstract: There is disclosed, in one aspect, a process for preparing an activated silicon aluminum complex capable of releasing oxygen and hydrogen in the presence of a halogen compound, such as salt in human perspiration, when added to a fluid which contains oxygen and hydrogen. The process comprises (a) contacting aluminum metal which contains at least trace amounts of silicon with an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, at such concentration that the acid both removes and inhibits formation of oxide on the metal, (b) contacting the thus treated metal with a source of mercury in an oxygen-containing atmosphere such as air, (c) immersing the mercury contacted aluminum in hydrogen halide acid solution at a temperature of from about 5.degree. to about 40.degree. C.

Abstract: An activated silicon-containing aluminum complex containing minor amounts of halogen, silicon, oxygen and hydrogen, the silicon being present in amounts of at least trace and having a hexagonal structure; the ratio of oxygen to hydrogen in the complex usually being 16:18. A process for making such complex comprises the steps of treating substantially pure aluminum with acid, then with mercury, then with a halogen acid again to form a slurry therein; said slurry is then applied under heat and low humidity to an aluminum material containing trace to about 2% by weight silicon to form a growth of powder thereon; this powder is then treated with a flow of hydrogen to form the complex which is capable of releasing oxygen and hydrogen from an oxygen and hydrogen-containing fluid.