Abstract: The present invention provides a novel hydrothermal process for producing zirconia sol comprising the following steps: mixing zirconium acetate with diluted glacial acetic acid to form a zirconium acetate/glacial acetic acid solution, wherein the molar ratio of glacial acetic acid to zirconium acetate as zirconia is in the range between about 7-20; and heating the zirconium acetate/glacial acetic acid solution to a temperature of at least 160.degree. C., thereby forming a zirconia sol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing the turbidity of an aqueous solution of chromic acid which is formed by dissolving melted chromic anhydride in water. The chromic anhydride is contacted with water in an amount in excess of 0.02 wt %, but insufficient to form a solution, at a temperature above ambient but below about 196.degree. C. The water may be in the form of a liquid, water vapor, or steam. When the chromic anhydride is subsequently dissolved in water, the solution is much less turbid than it otherwise would be.

Abstract: Natural gas, particularly gas to be processed in liquefied natural gas plants, is treated to remove residual mercury by scrubbing with an aqueous solution containing alkali metal polysulfide and sufficient pH adjusting compound to maintain the pH above 8.4.

Abstract: A continuous process for the recovery of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride gas by contacting an aqueous solution of an alkali metal fluoride in hydrofluoric acid with a sulfur-containing dehydrating stream. The dehydrating stream preferably consists of sulfur trioxide dissolved in sulfuric acid. The desired product is obtained in high yield and purity.

Abstract: Zirconium-doped pseudoboehmite with the following properties: zirconium content of 0.5 to 10 mol % relative to Al water content of 20 to 35 weight percent total of the anionic impurities less than 0.5 weight percent. It is synthesized by a process wherein zirconium salt is added in calculated quantity to an aqueous aluminum sulfate solution, the resulting mixture is fed simultaneously with a sodium aluminate liquor into a water pool having a temperature of 50.degree. to 100.degree. C., thereby precipitating zirconium-doped alumina gel while a pH of 3.5 to 8 is maintained, the pH of the suspension is adjusted after addition of the aluminum sulfate solution to 8.5 to 10.5 by further addition of sodium aluminate liquor, the suspension is digested if necessary at the pH of 8.5 to 10.5 and the temperature of 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. for a period of up to 24 hours, the formed pseudoboehmite crystals are filtered off, the filter cake is redispersed with water and the suspension is sprayed-dried.

Abstract: An improved method for producing aluminum titanate powder material for making aluminum titanate ceramics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high temperature process (e.g.>60.degree. C.) for leaching selected metal compounds e.g. gallium or germanium from ore containing those compounds. The method includes placing the ore into a culture medium containing bacteria. Bacteria capable of leaching the metal compounds from the ore leach the metals from the ore. The bacteria preferably used will be bacteria ATCC 53921 and mutations and recombinants thereof. The ore is generally crushed to between 20 and -400 mesh before placement into the culture medium cThis invention was made with Government support under Contract No. F33615-87-C-5303 awarded by the United Stated Air Force. The Government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for leaching selected metal compounds (e.g. gallium arsenide) from integrated circuits containing those compounds. The method includes placing the integrated circuits into a culture medium containing bacteria. Bacteria capable of leaching the metal compounds from the integrated circuits leach the metals from the integrated circuits. The bacteria preferably used will be ATCC 53921 and mutations and recombinants thereof. The integrated circuits are generally crushed to between 20 and -400 mesh before placement into theThis invention was made with Government support under Contract No. F33615-87-C-5303 awarded by the United States Air Force. The Government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: A process for producing lithium hypochlorite comprises admixing an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution having a concentration of 35 percent of greater by weight of HOCl with an aqueous slurry of lithium hydroxide at a temperature in the range of from about 0.degree. to about 20.degree. C. to produce a solution of lithium hypochlorite. The solution is concentrated by evaporation at temperatures in the range of from about 30.degree. to about 60.degree. C. and at subatmospheric pressures to form a paste of lithium hypochlorite. After separating the paste into a cake of lithium hypochlorite and a mother liquor, a potassium compound is admixed with the mother liquor. The process produces a highly pure solid lithium hypochlorite product having a concentration of at least 80 percent available chlorine.

Abstract: A silver controller comprising a container, a core member fitted within the container, a filler material around the core member, and a fluid deflector extending around the filler material. The container has an inlet and an outlet and a base. The inlet is located at a higher level than the outlet. The core member has an aperture that is distal the base. The core member has a flange that extends outwardly above the aperture of the core member. The filler material is a metal above silver in the electromotive force series. The fluid deflector is connected to the flange and extends downwardly therefrom so as to be below the aperture in the core member. A plating shield is placed exterior of the fluid deflector. The plating shield is connected to the flange member at one end and generally abuts the bottom of the container at the other end. The plating shield is of a perforated metal suitable for allowing the passage of fluids therethrough.

Abstract: A new form of titanium dioxide has been developed in which the particles have a substantially rectangular cross-section with a width to length ratio of at least 0.8:1.0. A most desirable cubic form of anatase titanium dioxide is included. The products are formed by hydrolyzing a solution containing TiOCl.sub.2 species under autothermal pressure.

Abstract: A method for purifying a gaseous hydride, which comprises bringing a crude gaseous hydride into contact with at least one material selected from copper arsenides, copper phosphides, copper silicides, copper selenides, copper borides or copper sulfides to remove oxygen contained in the crude gaseous hydride.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying scandium from an acid solution containing scandium and various impurities. The process involves mixing the acid solution with a chelating resin in the hydrogen form to from a slurry and packing the slurry in a short ion exchange column. The ion exchange column is rinsed with a mineral acid and the scandium is removed by passing diglycolic acid through the column. The diglycolic acid containing scandium is then passed through a chelating resin in the H form. When the scandium concentration in the effluent from the chelating resin reaches a preselected level the effluent of digylcolic acid and scandium is collected. Collection is stopped when the scandium concentration in the eluent falls below a preselected level. This collected eluent is passed through a strong cation exchange column where the scandium is collected.

Abstract: This invention relates to the metallurgy of iron and particularly to the separation and recovery of metals from electric arc furnace (EAF) dusts. While the invention discloses a process for the separation and recovery applicable to zinc, lead, cadmium and antimony contained in such EAF dusts, the invention is particularly applicable to the separation and recovery of zinc. This invention describes a method for reducing the zinc contained in an EAF dust, volatilizing the metallic zinc so produced from the mass of the dust, and reoxidizing the metallic zinc to zinc oxide along with the simultaneous regeneration of hydrogen which can be recycled to treat additional EAF dust.

Abstract: A process for recovering gold from a refractory sulfidic ore which has been suspended in an aqueous slurry and oxidized using nitric acid so that substantially all of the gold in the ore is made available for recovery and at least a portion of the sulfidic components present during the oxidation are oxidized to elemental sulfur, comprises bubbling air as a discontinuous phase upwardly through the oxidized slurry, thereby creating a froth containing elemental gold and sulfur. The froth is separated from the slurry to provide a concentrate, and the gold is recovered from the concentrate.

Abstract: Morphologically improved, aggregated, monodispersed rare earth trifluoride particulates having a controlled and narrow grain size distribution, and a mean diameter of less than 1 .mu.m, are prepared by (i) reacting an aqueous solution of a rare earth salt with a solution of ammonium fluoride, (ii) separating the precipitate thus formed, and (iii) heat treating the separated precipitate.

Abstract: Crystalline zirconium oxide powder with a BET surface of less than 30 m.sup.2 /g, preferably 10 to 20 m.sup.2 /g, a primary particle size of 0.1 to 0.5 .mu.m, a monoclinic crystal structure and, optionally, a content of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 of 1 to 10% by weight and/or of 1 to 10 % by wt. MgO.It is produced by adding an aqueous zirconium salt solution optionally containing yttrium ions and/or magnesium ions under agitation into a vessel which contains an aqueous base solution such as e.g. sodium hydroxide solution with a content of NaOH which corresponds to an excess of at least 0.5 mole/1 NaOH. The mixture obtained in this manner is then treated hydrothermally at a temperature of 200.degree. to 400.degree. C., the product obtained is separated by filtration, washed chloride-free with water and dried at 100.degree. to 200.degree. C.The zirconium oxide power can be used to produce sintered ceramics.

Abstract: Separation of hafnium tetrachloride from zirconium tetrachloride by introducing zirconium tetrachloride containing about 2-4 wt percent of hafnium tetrachloride into an electrolytic cell filled with a molten salt and dissolving it to make an electrolytic bath. Running first phase electrolysis which produces zirconium trichloride containing a lower hafnium content than the dissolved zirconium tetrachloride at the cathode. Running second phase electrolysis using the first cathode, but switching the first cathode to become an anode and using a second cathode. Producing zirconium trichloride of a lower hafnium content than the dissolved zirconium tetrachloride at the second cathode. Evolving a gaseous zirconium trichloride at the anode by electrolytic oxidation of the zirconium trichloride produced in the first phase electrolysis. Recovering this evolved zirconium tetrachloride which has a lower hafnium content than the dissolved zirconium tetrachloride and the zirconium trichloride produced at the cathodes.

Abstract: Continuous production of zirconium and/or hafnium metal from a fused salt bath in which one of the salts is zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachloride is carried out by feeding additional, make-up zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachloride powder into a zirconium and/or hafnium dissolution area of the bath maintained at a dissolution temperature below which the tetrachloride will vaporize, by circulating portions of the bath into and through a separate but contiguous area maintained at a temperature at which the tetrachloride will vaporize, and by recovering the vaporized tetrachloride. It is preferred that the vaporization area of the bath be wholly surrounded by and insulated from the dissolution area of the bath.

Abstract: A method for enhancing generation of chlorine dioxide from an aqueous medium containing a chlorine dioxide precursor which comprises contacting the aqueous medium with a catalytic amount of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a transition metal, a transition metal oxide and mixtures thereof for a period of time effective to generate chlorine dioxide. The transition metals and transition metal oxides which may be employed as the catalyst to enhance the generation of chlorine dioxide are the transition metals of Group 5B, 6B, 7B and 8 of the Periodic Table of Elements.