Abstract: Process for the preparation of an additive comprising TiO2 particles dispersed on a support of pseudo-layered phyllosilicate-type, comprising the dispersion in water of the support, the acid activation of the support and the high-shear dispersion of the support with the TiO2 particles Use of the particles obtained by this process as additives with photocatalytic activity for water purification and disinfection, for purification of polluted gas streams and to provide materials, in particular construction materials, with self-cleaning, biocide, deodorization and/or pollution reduction properties in the presence of air and ultraviolet light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing hierarchically ordered structures of inorganic phosphate particles, homogeneously deposited on the surface of a phyllosilicate, which is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) obtaining an acid solution of precursor compounds of an inorganic phosphate; b) preparing a dispersion of particles of a phyllosilicate in aqueous medium and acidifying the phyllosilicate dispersion by adding at least one acid, thereby obtaining an acid dispersion; c) mixing the acid solution obtained in step a) with the dispersion obtained in step b); and d), with stirring, adding a base to the mixture obtained in step c) until the required pH value for precipitating the corresponding inorganic phosphate on the phyllosilicate particles has been achieved, resulting in a hierarchically ordered structure of homogeneously distributed submicrometric or nanometric inorganic phosphate particles supported on the phyllosilicate surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a compound that comprises a pseudolaminar silicate of natural origin, which is at least one clay of the paligorskite-sepiolite group, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: defibrillating the microfiber bundles of the at least one clay in water; dispersing the defibrillated clay in an organic or inorganic liquid solvent until a stable gel is formed; adding to the dispersion at least one clay-surface-modifying agent; removing the solvent from the dispersion by means of a solid-liquid separation process and/or drying process; and deagglomerating the final compound until a powdered product is obtained. A further object of the present invention is the compound that can be obtained using said method, as well as the use of the compound as an additive or filler in composite polymeric materials in order to enhance the properties thereof, the composite polymeric material likewise being encompassed within the present invention.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an additive comprising TiO2 particles dispersed on a support of pseudo-layered phyllosilicate-type, comprising the dispersion in water of the support, the acid activation of the support and the high-shear dispersion of the support with the TiO2 particles Use of the particles obtained by this process as additives with photocatalytic activity for water purification and disinfection, for purification of polluted gas streams and to provide materials, in particular construction materials, with self-cleaning, biocide, deodorization and/or pollution reduction properties in the presence of air and ultraviolet light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing hierarchically ordered structures of inorganic phosphate particles, homogeneously deposited on the surface of a phyllosilicate, which is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) obtaining an acid solution of precursor compounds of an inorganic phosphate; b) preparing a dispersion of particles of a phyllosilicate in aqueous medium and acidifying the phyllosilicate dispersion by adding at least one acid, thereby obtaining an acid dispersion; c) mixing the acid solution obtained in step a) with the dispersion obtained in step b); and d), with stirring, adding a base to the mixture obtained in step c) until the required pH value for precipitating the corresponding inorganic phosphate on the phyllosilicate particles has been achieved, resulting in a hierarchically ordered structure of homogeneously distributed submicrometric or nanometric inorganic phosphate particles supported on the phyllosilicate surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a rheology product from a pseudomlaminar silicate comprising microfiber bundles. The inventive method comprises the following steps consisting in: grinding the pseudolaminar silicate mineral which is selected from sepiolite mineral, attapulgite mineral and combinations of same, with a pseudolaminar silicate concentration of at least 50%, moisture of less than 40% and a particle size of less than 1 mm; mixing the ground pseudolaminar silicate mineral with an aqueous solution of a dispersing component comprising at least one dispersing agent, in order to obtain a first mixture comprising between 35% and 85% water and between 0.1% and 7% dispersant in relation to the weight of the pseudolaminar silicate mineral; and intensively mixing the first mixture obtained in the second step until the dispersion of the pseudolaminar silicate microfibre bundles in order to obtain the rheology product in a dispersion homogeneously mixed with the dispersant and the water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing metallic nanoparticles and to the materials thus obtained. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of preparing metallic nanoparticles consisting in: selecting a precursor from the salts, hydroxides and oxides of metallic elements that can be reduced at temperatures below the clay silicate network destruction temperature; and depositing said precursor on a support selected from pseudolaminar phyllosilicate clays. According to the invention the method comprises: (i) a deposition step in which the precursor is deposited on the support: (ii) when the precursor is selected from among salts and hydroxides, a thermal decomposition step in a controlled atmosphere, in which the precursor is subjected to a decomposition process and is transformed into an oxide of the metallic element: and (iii) a reduction step in which the oxide of the metallic element is subjected to a reduction process in a controlled atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing metallic nanoparticles and to the materials thus obtained. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of preparing metallic nanoparticles consisting in: selecting a precursor from the salts, hydroxides and oxides of metallic elements that can be reduced at temperatures below the clay silicate network destruction temperature; and depositing said precursor on a support selected from pseudolaminar phyllosilicate clays. According to the invention the method comprises: (i) a deposition step in which the precursor is deposited on the support: (ii) when the precursor is selected from among salts and hydroxides, a thermal decomposition step in a controlled atmosphere, in which the precursor is subjected to a decomposition process and is transformed into an oxide of the metallic element: and (iii) a reduction step in which the oxide of the metallic element is subjected to a reduction process in a controlled atmosphere.

Abstract: A water retaining additive for conglomerate building materials, free of cellulose-like derivatives, that comprises at least a rheological grade clay, preferably sepiolite, and a modified natural gum such as guar gum, as well as conglomerate compositions that contain the additive, as well as the use of the additive for different constructions materials comprised of gypsum and special mortars are described.

Abstract: New additive for projectable agglomerating materials in the building industry, said additive comprising at least one clay of rheologic grade, preferably sepiolite, a water reducer/fluidifier and an aeration agent, as well as the utilization of said additive as component of projectable agglomerating materials such as mortars and concretes.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a process for bleaching and increasing the ion-exchange capability of the sepiolite mineral, basically consisting of treating, at high pH and temperature, the sepiolite with a basic salt solution, which results in bleaching the starting material by dissolution of the organic material present in it, and in increasing the ion-exchange capability by a structural transformation of sepiolite. The bleaching can be optionally completed with a reduction treatment with sodium dithionite or with other reducing agents capable of reducing Fe.sup.3+ to Fe.sup.2+.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for obtaining dilane derivatives of sepiolite by reaction with alkoxy-silanes to improve their reinforcing capacity in polymers, the reaction being carried out by placing the finely divided sepiolite and the alkoxy-silane in close contact, either by vaporization of the latter by the action of heat or by the spraying thereof with nitrogen, the contact taking place in countercurrent in a column of suitable dimensions, the reaction temperature ranging between room temperature and the vaporization temperature of the alkoxy-silane, further characterized in that the silane derivative of the sepiolite is subsequently dried to 110.degree. C. to remove the reaction byproducts.