Abstract: Amorphous boric oxide-containing product having about 85 to 92% B.sub.2 O.sub.3 is produced by heating boric acid at an elevated temperature of up to about 275.degree. C. to dehydrate the boric acid and form a molten glass which is cooled to a solid glassy product. This solid glass can be comminuted to produce a particulate product. Preferably the boric acid is heated at 220.degree. to 275.degree. C., with about 250.degree. to 270.degree. C. being most preferred. The process is readily adapted to a continuous process in which the boric acid is placed on a moving continuous steel belt and conveyed through a heating zone. The molten glassy product is cooled to form a solid glassy product which is removed from the belt and comminuted to a desirable particle size range.

Abstract: Zinc borate compositions having a ZnO:B.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio of 4:1. The hydrated zinc borate 4ZnO.B.sub.2 O.sub.3.H.sub.2 O and anhydrous zinc borate 4ZnO.B.sub.2 O.sub.3 are especially useful as fire-retardants and smoke-suppressant additives for polymeric compositions.

Abstract: Stable, concentrated aqueous persalt solutions are provided in which the stabilizing agent is an arylazo compound, such as tartrazine, having an ortho-hydroxy substituent on the aryl group. Preferred compositions contain sodium perborate and a solubilizing agent as well as the azo stabilizer.

Abstract: A process for preparing granular water soluble alkali metal borate compositions by agitating a finely divided feedstock comprising a water soluble alkali metal borate and optionally boric acid, the molar ratio of alkali metal oxide to boric oxide in the feedstock being from about 0.1 to 0.5:1, optionally heating the agitated feedstock particles, contacting the agitated feedstock particles with an aqueous granulating agent to agglomerate feedstock particles, and recovering a granular borate composition having an average particle size of at least 250 micro meters. The resultant granulated product has a higher bulk density and better water dissolution rate than the feedstock particles.

Abstract: Particles of a calcium borate mineral, such as colemanite or ulexite, are recovered from an ore by a froth flotation process using a dialkyl sulfosuccinate as collector. Suitable dialkyl sulfosuccinates include sodium or ammonium dinonyl sulfosuccinate, sodium or ammonium di-isodecyl sulfosuccinate, and sodium or ammonium dialauryl sulfosuccinate. The dialkyl sulfosuccinates may be used as aqueous solutions or as solutions in solvents consisting of water and methylated spirit, a dihydric alcohol such as ethylene glycol or hexylene glycol or a monohydric alcohol containing more than 5 carbons. Preferred collectors are the dinonyl sulfosuccinate salts, such as a compound of the formula, ##STR1## wherein X.sup.+ is a counterion.