Abstract: The instant invention is concerned with the post-treatment of ?-hemihydrate plasters for the purpose of stabilization. The invention relies in the addition of a retardant to the calcined ?-hemihydrate. It is also the purpose of the invention to provide stabilized ?-hemihydrate plasters which exhibit advantageous properties.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of a storage-stable barium sulphate, the barium sulphate produced thereby and the use thereof as an additive.

Abstract: An object is to provide an exhaust-gas treatment apparatus capable of realizing a dissolved-salt spray method easily and at low cost. An exhaust-gas treatment apparatus that removes SO2and SO3contained in combustion exhaust gas includes a desulfurization apparatus based on the lime-gypsum method. Desulfurizing effluent, containing dissolved salt, from the desulfurization apparatus is sprayed to an upstream side of the desulfurization apparatus to remove SO3. A wet electrical dust precipitator may be provided downstream of the desulfurization apparatus. Furthermore, effluent from the wet electrical dust precipitator may be made to merge with the desulfurizing effluent from the desulfurization apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a magnesium sulphate product, and a crystalline product comprising magnesium sulphate in the form of crystal or granules. The method comprises the steps of: providing a sulphuric acid product that has been obtained as a by-product during the sulphate process for manufacturing titanium dioxide; concentrating the sulphuric acid product to obtain a concentrated product that has a higher sulphuric acid concentration; combining a magnesium-based neutralising agent with the concentrated product and allowing the magnesium-based neutralising agent and the sulphuric acid to react, to generate magnesium sulphate in solution; and crystallising magnesium sulphate out of the solution, to obtain a crystalline magnesium sulphate product together with a remaining liquor. The crystalline magnesium sulfate may be mixed with an agriculturally acceptable carrier of diluent and/or with other fertiliser materials to produce a fertilizer.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed use of lactam as a solvent in the preparation of nanomaterials by precipitation method, sol-gel method or high temperature pyrolysis. These methods are able to recycle lactam solvent, which meet requirements of environmental protection.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for producing a naturally purified salt product such as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, wherein the salt mixture is treated with a solution comprising magnesium chloride; the first slurry is separated to provide a second slurry, which is further separated to yield a first liquid stream; the first liquid stream is crystallized to provide the naturally purified salt product. In another embodiment, a high purity salt product is produced. In another embodiment, other products that are produced include naturally purified sodium chloride and magnesium chloride.

Abstract: Increasing the density of barium sulphate from 3.5 g/m3 density to 4.40 g/m3 density transforms it into a product of high qualities due to the reaction process to which it is subjected, additionally this invention helps to recycle elements that are intended for confinement, making the process highly environmentally friendly. Applications and use of barium sulfate include in the oil industry and the pharmaceutical industry. In the paint industry, barium sulfate is used as as a pigment with acid resistance. In the automotive industry, it is used to replace asbestos as frictional product in the manufacture of brake pads and in the glass industry as a flux and brightener. As protection in X-ray rooms due to its high density it can be used to absorb radiation. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used as a contrast medium in digestive system imaging.

Abstract: A micro-mixer and use thereof for synthesis of barium sulfate particles is disclosed. The micro-mixer includes feeding tubes, reservoirs, a mixing channel, a buffer reservoir and a sampling tube. The mixing channel is made of hydrophobic materials and processed into a spiral structure, in which baffles are set in interval arrangement at both sides of the channel wall. The types of the baffles include leaning-forward baffles, vertical baffles and leaning-backward baffles. Setting the baffles helps produce local secondary flow in the mixer, which enhances fluids mixing process. The micro-mixer is suitable to rapid reactions or precipitation processes, whose reaction time is much less than mixing time, and has broad application prospects in many fields involving mixing reaction such as pharmaceutical and chemistry industry.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the manufacture of a magnesium sulphate product, and a crystalline product, which comprises magnesium sulphate in the form of crystals or granules, as obtainable by carrying out this method. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a sulphuric acid product that has been obtained as a by-product during the sulphate process for manufacturing titanium dioxide; (b) concentrating the sulphuric acid product to obtain a concentrated product that has a higher sulphuric acid concentration; (c) combining a magnesium-based neutralising agent with the concentrated product and allowing the magnesium-based neutralising agent and the sulphuric acid to react, to generate magnesium sulphate in solution; and (d) crystallising magnesium sulphate out of the solution, to obtain a crystalline magnesium sulphate product together with a remaining liquor.

Abstract: Acidic viscoelastic cleaning compositions are disclosed which use non polymer thickening agents. According to the invention, cleaning compositions have been developed using viscoelastic surfactants in acidic cleaning formulations. These provide the dual benefit of thickening as well as an additional cleaning, thereby improving performance. Applicants have also identified several pseudo linking agents which when, used with viscoelastic surfactants provide enhanced viscoelasticity and cleaning.

Abstract: Alkaline or neutral viscoelastic cleaning compositions are disclosed which use non polymer thickening agents. According to the invention, cleaning compositions have been developed using viscoelastic surfactants in a neutral, acidic or alkaline cleaning formulations. These provide the dual benefit of thickening as well as an additional cleaning, thereby improving performance. Applicants have also identified several pseudo linking agents which when, used with viscoelastic surfactants provide viscoelasticity in alkaline cleaning compositions.

Abstract: A micro-mixer and use thereof for synthesis of barium sulfate particles is disclosed. The micro-mixer includes feeding tubes, reservoirs, a mixing channel, a buffer reservoir and a sampling tube. The mixing channel is made of hydrophobic materials and processed into a spiral structure, in which baffles are set in interval arrangement at both sides of the channel wall. The types of the baffles include leaning-forward baffles, vertical baffles and leaning-backward baffles. Setting the baffles helps produce local secondary flow in the mixer, which enhances fluids mixing process. The micro-mixer is suitable to rapid reactions or precipitation processes, whose reaction time is much less than mixing time, and has broad application prospects in many fields involving mixing reaction such as pharmaceutical and chemistry industry.

Abstract: A color insensitive scattering pigment is disclosed. In an embodiment, the scattering pigment is composed of particles of a range of sizes. In at least one subrange of the range of sizes, the particles are present in such relative proportions that the v/v concentration (volumetric concentration) of a particular size of particles is proportional to the size itself. In an embodiment, such a scattering pigment is included in light guides to scatter light from a primary light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making pure salt comprises recapturing post-drilling flowback water from hydro-fracturing; removing oil from the flowback water; filtering the flowback water using an ultra filter with a pore size of about 0.1 microns or less to remove solid particulates and large organic molecules, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene, from the water; concentrating the flowback water to produce a brine that contains from about 15 wt % to about 40 wt % of salt relative to the total weight of the flowback brine; performing one or more chemical precipitation process using an effective amount of reagents to precipitate out the desired high quality commercial products, such as, barium sulfate, strontium carbonate, calcium carbonate; and crystallizing the chemically treated and concentrated flowback brine to produce greater than 99.5% pure salt products, such as sodium and calcium chloride.

Abstract: Salts of mineral nutrients stabilized with amino acids and/or ammonium salt, product and food supplement in which they are included and procedures of obtention, where the salts are obtained with anions of organic acids or inorganic anions and metallic cations associated with amino acids and/or ammonium salt, in which the invention introduces its general structure: {[Ac]n?·Men+?n[Amino acid and/or ammonium salt]}·xH2O Where ? represents a covalent dative bond, These new compounds have better taste and more solubility in water, making them more bioavailable.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for managing sulfur are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprise the following: obtaining material containing sulfur; refining the material to develop a high sulfur content heavy fraction fuel oil and a low sulfur content light fraction fuel oil; burning the low sulfur content light fraction fuel oil in apparatus that emit to the atmosphere; burning the high sulfur content heavy fraction fuel oil to produce energy thereby generating flue gas containing sulfur oxide; and removing and disposing of sulfur in the flue gas using a sulfur sequestration system that includes utilizing sulfur removed from the flue gas to form a brine material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of nanoparticles or nanostructured particles with the help of a 2-emulsion method, particles being produced through targeted coalescence of miniemulsions in a high-pressure homogenized.

Abstract: A cyclic process for the preparation of barium sulphate and lithium-iron phosphate comprising (i) preparing an aqueous solution containing lithium and sulphate ions and (ii) adding solid barium hydroxide at a temperature of more than 50° C., wherein the barium hydroxide is added over a period of less than 15 minutes. Also, barium sulphate obtainable by the process according to the invention.

Abstract: A method for producing basic magnesium sulfate granules, by heating a water-containing granular composition to a temperature of 50-250° C. to dryness. The granular composition has a water content of 10-60 wt. % and comprises fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles, magnesium hydroxide in an amount of 5-300 weight parts per 100 weight parts of the fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles, magnesium sulfate in an amount of 0.1-200 weight parts per 100 weight parts of a total amount of the fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles and magnesium hydroxide. This method can give basic magnesium sulfate granules having a low bulk density and a high crushing strength.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is marked inorganic additives, a method for their production and also their use.

Abstract: A composition for blocking blood-containing fluids is provided. The composition contains one or more hydratable non-deliquescent inorganic salts. In one embodiment, for example, the composition contains magnesium sulfate (MgSO4). The composition may be placed in an absorbent core in an absorbent article to help block blood-containing fluids (e.g., menses exuded from the body).

Abstract: The use of metal-accumulating plants for implementing chemical reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making pure salt comprises recapturing post-drilling flowback water from hydro-fracturing; removing oil from the flowback water; filtering the flowback water using an ultra filter with a pore size of about 0.1 microns or less to remove solid particulates and large organic molecules, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene, from the water; concentrating the flowback water to produce a brine that contains from about 15 wt % to about 40 wt % of salt relative to the total weight of the flowback brine; performing one or more chemical precipitation process using an effective amount of reagents to precipitate out the desired high quality commercial products, such as, barium sulfate, strontium carbonate, calcium carbonate; and crystallizing the chemically treated and concentrated flowback brine to produce greater than 99.5% pure salt products, such as sodium and calcium chloride.

Abstract: Basic magnesium sulfate granules having a bulk density of 0.5-1.0 g/cm3, a mean crushing strength of 700-900 g and a water content of 3 wt. % or less which comprises agglomerated particles of fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles and fibrous xonotolite particles in a weight ratio of 95:5 to 70:30, wherein the fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles have a mean length of 5-200 ?m and a mean thickness of 0.2-1.0 ?m and the fibrous xonotolite particles have a mean length less than that of the fibrous magnesium sulfate particles. The basic magnesium sulfate granules can be produced by drying a water-containing granular composition comprising agglomerated particles of fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles and fibrous xonotolite particles which have a water content of 40 to 60 wt. % for 36 hours or more, thereby obtaining a granular composition having a water content of 3 wt. % or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of nanoparticles or nanostructured particles with the help of a 2-emulsion method, particles being produced through targeted coalescence of miniemulsions in a high-pressure homogenized.

Abstract: A process of producing silicon tetrafluoride from fluoride containing feedstocks. The process calcines the fluoride containing feedstock and a silica containing feedstock before reacting the mixture with sulfuric acid to produce silicon tetrafluoride. The silicon tetrafluoride is scrubbed with sulfuric acid. Excess sulfuric acid is recycled to the process. The process demonstrates an economic and environmentally friendly way to produce high quality silicon tetrafluoride.

Abstract: Fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles are continuously produced by the process comprising the following steps: (1) placing in a reaction vessel a seed particle-containing aqueous dispersion comprising fibrous basic magnesium sulfate seed particles dispersed in an aqueous medium; (2) supplying magnesium hydroxide and magnesium sulfate continuously into the reaction vessel under heating and stirring the seed particle-containing aqueous dispersion, whereby depositing basic magnesium sulfate produced by the reaction between the magnesium sulfate and magnesium hydroxide in the presence of water on the surfaces of the fibrous basic magnesium sulfate seed particles, to give an aqueous dispersion containing an increased amount of fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles; (3) taking the aqueous dispersion obtained in the step (2) continuously out of the reaction vessel; and (4) recovering fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles from the aqueous dispersion taken out of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clean method for preparing layered double hydroxides (LDHs), in which hydroxides of different metals are used as starting materials for production of LDHs by atom-economical reactions. The atom efficiency of the reaction is 100% in each case because all the atoms of the reactants are converted into the target product since only M2+(OH)2, M3+(OH)3, and CO2 or HnAn? are used, without any NaOH or other materials. Since there is no by-product, filtration or washing process is unnecessary. The consequent reduction in water consumption is also beneficial to the environment.

Abstract: Provided is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus including a supply mechanism, a deposition area, a variable mechanism, a discharge mechanism, and a control means. The supply mechanism supplies a powder material. In the deposition area,, the supplied powder material is deposited. The variable mechanism varies a volume of the deposition area per a predetermined layer thickness, and thus the powder material is deposited per the predetermined layer thickness in the deposition area. The discharge mechanism discharges liquid for forming a three-dimensional object to the deposited powder material, the liquid being capable of hardening the powder material. The control means causes the discharge mechanism to discharge the liquid to the powder material, to thereby form a main body being an object being as a target to be modeled and a frame body being an object to be formed in a periphery of the main body, of the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making pure salt comprises recapturing post-drilling flowback water from hydro-fracturing; removing oil from the flowback water; filtering the flowback water using an ultra filter with a pore size of about 0.1 microns or less to remove solid particulates and large organic molecules, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene, from the water; concentrating the flowback water to produce a brine that contains from about 15 wt % to about 40 wt % of salt relative to the total weight of the flowback brine; performing one or more chemical precipitation process using an effective amount of reagents to precipitate out the desired high quality commercial products, such as, barium sulfate, strontium carbonate, calcium carbonate; and crystallizing the chemically treated and concentrated flowback brine to produce greater than 99.5% pure salt products, such as sodium and calcium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for reducing mercury, which comprises a reagent comprising any of the sulfites of potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium, or any of the phosphates thereof, or a combination of them, as a main reagent of a catalyst component. And the present invention relates to the catalyst for reducing mercury, wherein the catalyst component is mixed with a different salt as an agent for inhibiting crystallization of the catalyst component.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for production of a sulfate-containing chlorine free salt and anhydrous gaseous HCl from a metal chloride (MClx), oleum and water. MClx and oleum are mixed together with a water-containing liquid, forming gaseous HCl and a solution of a sulfate-containing salt. The salt is precipitated from the solution, and in a preferred embodiment, the supernatant liquid from the precipitation is recycled to the reaction mixture as the water-containing liquid in subsequent reaction cycles. The exothermicity of the reaction between the water-containing liquid and the oleum is sufficient to remove chlorine in the form of substantially pure useful HCl and enables the process to proceed without additional heating of the reaction mixture. When the metal is potassium, this method produces high-purity novel sulfate salts with high potassium content K3(NH4)(SO4)2, 3K2SO4.MgSO4 and 3K2SO4.CanMg1-nSO4.

Abstract: Fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles are continuously produced by the process comprising the following steps: (1) placing in a reaction vessel a seed particle-containing aqueous dispersion comprising fibrous basic magnesium sulfate seed particles dispersed in an aqueous medium; (2) supplying magnesium hydroxide and magnesium sulfate continuously into the reaction vessel under heating and stirring the seed particle-containing aqueous dispersion, whereby depositing basic magnesium sulfate produced by the reaction between the magnesium sulfate and magnesium hydroxide in the presence of water on the surfaces of the fibrous basic magnesium sulfate seed particles, to give an aqueous dispersion containing an increased amount of fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles; (3) taking the aqueous dispersion obtained in the step (2) continuously out of the reaction vessel; and (4) recovering fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles from the aqueous dispersion taken out of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A method for producing basic magnesium sulfate granules, by heating a water-containing granular composition to a temperature of 50-250° C. to dryness. The granular composition has a water content of 10-60 wt. % and comprises fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles, magnesium hydroxide in an amount of 5-300 weight parts per 100 weight parts of the fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles, magnesium sulfate in an amount of 0.1-200 weight parts per 100 weight parts of a total amount of the fibrous basic magnesium sulfate particles and magnesium hydroxide. This method can give basic magnesium sulfate granules having a low bulk density and a high crushing strength.

Abstract: A process for producing potassium magnesium sulfate, comprising reacting sulfuric acid with potassium chloride and magnesium chloride at a temperature in a range comprised between about 100 and about 160° C., thereby producing potassium magnesium sulfate and hydrochloric acid, the sulfuric acid being reacted with potassium chloride and magnesium chloride simultaneously or sequentially.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for making and using micro-porous particulates at least partially composed of metal sulfides, particularly alkaline earth metal and transition metal sulfides, as sorbents for removal of mercury from flue gas. Calcium sulfide micro-porous powders derived from the high temperature reduction of calcium sulfate and calcium sulfite are disclosed to be reactive substrates for a group of sorbents for adsorption of mercury from coal combustion flue gases produced by the utilities industry, as well as from natural gas and gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons. The sorbents are useful for cost-effectively adsorbing elemental mercury and oxidized mercury species such as mercuric chloride from flue gases, including those containing acid gases (e.g., SO.sub.2, NO and NO.sub.2, and HCl), over a wide range of temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a flaky particulate material giving skin an excellent smoothness, which is free from whitening problem upon use thereof owing to its high transparency. The present invention also has another object to provide a cosmetic composition containing the flaky particulate material. The present invention relates to flaky particulate material, which has an average coefficient of friction is not more than 0.50, and a total light transmittance is not less than 85%. A particle in the flaky particulate material comprises a substrate particle made of one material selected from the group consisting of mica, a synthetic mica, sericite, talc, barium sulfate and aluminum oxide. The present invention provides a flaky particulate material that gives skin excellent smoothness, a natural tone, and a matt appearance. The flaky particulate material of the present invention gives a cosmetic composition which provides great comfort of use, and an excellent appearance.

Abstract: In one aspect, ozone is quenched from a water stream, such as a drinking water or wastewater stream being treated with ozone, by contacting the stream with magnesium thiosulfate. In another aspect, a method of scrubbing ozone from a gaseous stream comprises contacting the gaseous stream with magnesium thiosulfate. In an alternative embodiment, chlorine is quenched from a water stream by contacting the stream with magnesium thiosulfate or potassium thiosulfate. In yet another aspect, a method of scrubbing chlorine from a gaseous stream comprises contacting the stream with magnesium thiosulfate or potassium thiosulfate. In another embodiment, a thiosulfate, such as magnesium thiosulfate, calcium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, or sodium thiosulfate, is provided on an air filter for scrubbing ozone or chlorine from gaseous streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing (semi)metal oxides and hydroxides, such as Si02, Ti02, Zr02, Zn0 and other (semi)metal salts such as BaSO4, which can be produced by emulsion precipitation in the form of nanoparticles from an aqueous solution. The invention also relates to the use of the same.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating sulfuric acid (102) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes combusting a sulfur-containing material (114) with a gas including oxygen (116) to produce a first stream of sulfur dioxide (118), mixing water with the first stream of sulfur dioxide to produce a mixed stream, using an energy, electrolytically converting (108) the mixed stream of sulfur dioxide and water into sulfuric acid (102) and hydrogen (122), generating a source of energy (126) from the hydrogen, and providing the source of energy as at least a portion of the energy for electrolytically converting the first stream of sulfur dioxide and water into sulfuric acid and hydrogen. In some embodiments, the system includes a first chamber for combusting a sulfur-containing material to produce a first stream of sulfur dioxide, an electrolytic cell (108) for converting the first stream into sulfuric acid and hydrogen, and a fuel cell (112) for generating an energy source from the hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of optionally doped nanoparticulate metal sulfate wherein the metal is selected from polyvalent metals or monovalent transition metals, said process comprising the step of heating a reaction mixture comprising a) a polar organic solvent comprising at least two hydroxy groups or a polar organic solvent comprising at least one sulfoxide group, b) a source of a polyvalent metal or monovalent transition metal, a sulfate source, and optionally a dopant metal source, and c) a base selected from i) bases having an aromatic N-containing heterocycle with the exception of imidazole, ii) bases having an aliphatic N-containing heterocycle, iii) aliphatic hydroxy-substituted amines, iv) aliphatic polyamines, v) aromatic amines, vi) ammonia and ammonia-releasing compounds, and vii) metal hydroxides. The invention is also directed to the resulting metal sulfate nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention includes pure single-crystalline metal oxide and metal fluoride nanostructures, and methods of making same. These nanostructures include nanorods and nanoarrays.

Abstract: A pretreatment agent for a sample to be subjected to Limulus assay comprising an alkali metal sulfate and/or an alkaline earth metal sulfate wherein the sulfate(s) has a final concentration of 20 mM or more when the sulfate(s) is allowed to contact with the sample, or an alkali metal halide and/or an alkaline earth metal halide wherein the halide(s) has a final concentration of from 0.4 M to 1.2 M or less when the halide(s) is allowed to contact with the sample, or a kit for Limulus assay reagent comprising thereof as a composing article.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods for making micron/nano meter sized particles of various inorganic materials such as minerals/oxides/sulphides/metals/ceramics at a steadily expanding liquid-liquid interface populated by suitable surfactant molecules that spontaneously organize themselves into superstructures varying over large length-scales. This experiment is realized in a radial Hele-Shaw cell where the liquid-liquid interfacial growth rate and consequently time scales such as arrival of surfactant molecules to the interface, the hydrodynamic flow effect to modulate the material organization into super structures at the dynamic charged interface.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods for making micron/nano meter sized particles of various inorganic materials such as minerals/oxides/sulphides/metals/ceramics at a steadily expanding liquid-liquid interface populated by suitable surfactant molecules that spontaneously organize themselves into superstructures varying over large length-scales. This experiment is realized in a radial Hele-Shaw cell where the liquid-liquid interfacial growth rate and consequently time scales such as arrival of surfactant molecules to the interface, the hydrodynamic flow effect to modulate the material organization into super structures at the dynamic charged interface.

Abstract: A process for the removal of pollutants from a combustion process and, more particularly, a process for removing pollutants such as carbon dioxide, mercury, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen compounds and oxygen compounds from a combustion process. The process includes the removal of pollutants from a combustion process that produces an emission comprising: cooling the emission to a temperature of about 200° C.; removing nitrogen, water and oxygen from the emission to produce a gas containing a concentration of pollutants; contacting the gas with an aqueous magnesium chloride solution, wherein a slurry mixture is formed; and cooling the gas and the slurry mixture, wherein hydrochloric acid vapour and a sludge are formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to synthesis of nanoparticles, in particular to methods for producing nanoparticles with networks consisting of Z sulphate (Z=magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) or the binary mixtures thereof). The inventive method consists in synthesising the nanoparticles by crystal growth from an ion Z source and a sulphate ion source in a liquid phase mixture. The invention produces Z sulphate nanoparticles having a small diameter and uniformly dispersible in water or other solvents in a simple way. Co-ordinating solvents like glycerine, glycol ethylene and other polyethylene glycols, polyalcohols or dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) are used for the synthesis mixture.

Abstract: Method of synthesis for a material made of particles having a core and a coating and/or being connected to each other by carbon cross-linking, the core of these particles containing at least one compound of formula LixM1?yM?y(XO4)n, in which x,y and n are numbers such as 0?x?2, 0?y?0.6 and 1?n?1.5, M is a transition metal, M? is an element with fixed valency, and the synthesis is carried out by reaction and bringing into equilibrium the mixture of precursors, with a reducing gaseous atmosphere, in such a way as to bring the transition metal or metals to the desired valency level, the synthesis being carried out in the presence of a source of carbon called carbon conductor, which is subjected to pyrolysis. The materials obtained have excellent electrical conductivity as well as very improved chemical activity.

Abstract: A method is described for the manufacture of hydrotalcites by using at least one compound of a bivalent metal (Component A) and at least one compound of a trivalent metal (Component B), wherein at least one of these components is not used in the form of a solution, characterized in that a) at least one of the Components A and/or B which is not used in the form of a solution, shortly before or during mixing of the components, and/or b) the mixture containing the Components A and B is subjected to intensive grinding until an average particle size (D50) in the range of approx. 0.1 to 5 ?m is obtained, and optionally, after aging treatment or hydrothermal treatment, the resulting hydrotalcite product is separated, dried, and optionally calcinated.

Abstract: A method is provided for passivating sulfidic iron-containing rock comprising contacting sulfidic iron-containing rock with one or more members of the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium chloride, magnesium nitrate and magnesium carbonate, thereby reducing the acid generation potential of rock.