Abstract: Continuous production of aluminum hydroxycarbonate gel by continuous reaction of aluminum salt solution with mixed alkaline carbonate and bicarbonate solution under homogeneous conditions in a relatively small reaction vessel, and continuing the reaction in a subsequent reaction vessel under controlled pH. The product gel is separated from the non-aluminum cation containing reaction mixture within less than about 6 hours, whereby formation of poorly soluble addition reaction products such as dihydroxy aluminium sodium carbonate, which contribute undesired non-aluminum cations to the gel product, is reduced. The aluminum salt solution is adjusted in pH by adding to it a portion of the mixed carbonate and bicarbonate solution to obtain a clear solution of pH 3.5 to 4.0. This results in a smooth, creamy gel with less objectionable chalky mouth feel.

Abstract: The present invention includes metal oxide foam particles and a method of making the same. A decomposable metal salt feed solution is injected into a hot atomizing gas. The mixture of hot atomizing gas and feed solution is maintained in the reactor until the feed solution converts to metal oxide foam particles. The metal oxide foam particles have a high specific surface area.

Abstract: A synthetic rutile is prepared from a titaniferous slag, typically containing at least about 1.0 weight percent magnesium oxide and at least some portion of its titanium values as Ti.sub.2 O.sub.3, by a method comprising contacting the slag with chlorine gas at a temperature between about 400.degree. C.-800.degree. C., such that the magnesium oxide and chlorine gas react to form magnesium chloride, and then removing the magnesium chloride from the slag, typically by washing the slag with water. In one embodiment, the synthetic rutile can be further upgraded by subjecting it to either a caustic or acid leaching treatment.

Abstract: A ZrO.sub.2 powder of very fine particle size adapted especially for the making of high density ceramics is produced by chlorinating a zirconium source material, such as zircon sand, to produce crude ZrCl.sub.4 solids; the solids are dissolved to form a ZrOCl.sub.2 solution from which ZrOCl.sub.2 crystals are precipitated; the crystals are dried and milled to a desired particle size; and the crystal particles are subjected to direct oxidation under controlled conditions to produce a very fine ZrO.sub.2 powder especially adapted to the making of high density ceramics.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a powder of mixed metal oxides by cohydrolysis of metal alcoholates in the presence of an acidic organic compound and mixed metal oxide powders in which the molar relationships R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 of a metal oxide to the sum of the metal oxides in the powder and in a particle of the powder are such that ##EQU1## The process applies to powders of zirconia doped with yttrium oxide.

Abstract: A process for the production of a metal oxide or metal mixed oxide is described, in which an aqueous solution of at least one water-soluble salt-like compound of a polyvalent metal is finely divided in an inert gas atmosphere. The droplets which are obtained are brought into contact with a gas containing ammonia, until such time as the hydroxide (the hydroxides) of the polyvalent metal (metals) is (are) at least partially precipitated, and the small gel spherules, which contain metal hydroxide and water, are collected. In this process, the aqueous solution which is employed is finely divided by ultrasonic waves. An intergas laminar flow which is oriented parallel to the outlet direction of the solution, is generated radially symmetrically about the outlet aperture for the solution, and the solidified get spherules are dried and converted, by heating, into the metal oxide or metal mixed oxide.

Abstract: Metal values are extracted from aqueous solutions of metal salts containing halide or pseudo halide ions by pyridine derivatives containing the substituent --(COX).sub.A where X is the group --OR.sub.1 or --NH.sub.2 R.sub.3 and n is 1, 2 or 3. R.sub.1 is a hydrocarbyl group containing from 5 to 36 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together contain from 5 to 36 carbon atoms. The process is especially useful for the recovery of metals from leach solutions derived from sulphur-containing ores such as chalcopyrite.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for opening ores, particularly ores containing tantalum, niobium, zirconium and titanium, of the kind that includes the stages of leaching with mineral acids, solvent extraction, purification and separation of the products obtained, characterized by the fact that initially, instead of leaching with sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid being performed as a first stage, the original ore concentrate is melted together with fluorite (CaF.sub.2), followed by milling of the melting product obtained and subsequently leaching with concentrated sulfuric acid, followed by extraction of the soluble species using solvents, separation and purification of the products obtained.

Abstract: A process for producing aluminum hydroxide including the steps of:(a) dissolving colorant-containing aluminum hydroxide for forming a solution;(b) treating the solution for collecting colorant into solid phase material;(c) separating the solid phase material from the solution; and(d) precipitating aluminum hydroxide of improved whiteness from the solution.

Abstract: A method of extracting tungsten values from tungsten containing ores comprising step (i) forming a mixture of a tungsten containing ore and a first mineral acid adapted to consume acid consuming substances in the ore and step (ii) thereafter adding organic anions to produce a solution containing dissolved tungsten values.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a homogeneous mixture of co-precipitated carbonate salts capable of reacting together in an oxygen atmosphere at an elevated temperature to form a superconducting ceramic which comprises forming a first solution by dissolving in a first solvent maintained at a temperature of from about 15.degree. to 35.degree. C. a rare earth compound, an alkaline earth metal compound, and a copper compound capable of reacting with a carbonate ion to form an insoluble precipitate of carbonate salts in the solvent used to form the solution; forming a second solution containing a carbonate-forming compound dissolved in a second solvent miscible with the first solvent; blending the first and second solutions together at a temperature of from about 0.degree. to 15.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the production of TiO.sub.2 pigments by the sulfate process by digestion of titanium-containing raw materials with sulfuric acid, hydrolysis of the titanyl sulfate formed, purification of the hydrolyzate and calcination of the hydrolyzate in rotary kilns, wherein the calcination conditions are regulated through adjustment of the SO.sub.2 content of the waste gases issuing from the rotary kilns used for calcination.

Abstract: The agglomeration of gold or silver ore fines is improved by the use of a water-soluble vinyl polymer as the agglomerating agent.

Abstract: A homogenous coprecipitation method by which superconducting oxides having perovskite-like structure, such as YBa2Cu307-x, can be produced in mass, in which urea is used as solvent to adjust and control the PH value of an aqueous nitrate solution. The coprecipitation method of this invention comprises following steps: (a) preparing an aqueous mixture containing Y, Ba and Cu salts with molar ratio of 1:2:3 wherein Y being 0.068M; (b) adding 5-10 moles of oxalic acid per one mole of Y and 20-250 moles of urea per moles of Y into the aqueous mixture; (c) heating the aqueous mixture to a temperature range of 80.degree. to 100.degree. C. to proceed a hydrolysis of the urea such that PH value of the aqueous mixture will be gradually elevated by NH.sub.3 gas evoluted from the urea hydrolysis; and (d) cooling the temperature of the aqueous mixture to room temperature at which time a desired uniform PH value is reached. After cooling, pale blue homogeneous coprecipitates of the superconducting oxides can be obtained.

Abstract: A process for producing barium titanates which comprises admixing a titanium alkoxide with a barium salt of a lower carboxylic acid in the presence of an organic solvent containing at least ethylene glycol monomethyl ether to provide a uniform mixture, bringing the mixture in contact with water to form a gelated product and drying and calcining the gelated product.

Abstract: A process for preparing compound metal oxides, a superconductive compound oxides for instance, is disclosed. The process comprises preparing an aqueous solution containing a predetermined content ratio of chloride, nitrate or acetate of a rare earth metal, an alkaline earth metal and copper, slightly basifying the solution to form hydroxides of the rare earth metal and copper and then introducing carbon dioxide to form carbonate of the alkaline earth metal, collecting the thus formed mixed precipitate of hydroxides and carbonate and firing it.

Abstract: An elastic bar member is coupled to an orbiting mass oscillator and the entire assembly is suspended from a cable or the like such that the bar member has freedom of lateral motion and is nakedly immersed in a slurry having particulate material contained therein such as a mineral ore reject from which metal has been extracted. The rotor of the orbiting mass oscillator is driven at a speed such as to generate cycloidal sonic energy in the bar preferably at a frequency such as to set up resonant standing wave vibration of the bar in a cycloidal quadrature pattern. The cycloidal vibrational energy tends to set the surrounding fluid material into a whirling rotation or rotary traveling wave which facilitates the agglomeration or coagulation of the particles in the material and enhances the settling operation to make for more complete separation of the particles from the liquid.

Abstract: An elastic bar member is clamped to an orbiting mass oscillator and the entire assembly is suspended from a cable or the like such that the bar member has freedom of lateral motion and is nakedly immersed in a leachant having a material contained therein such as a mineral ore from which metal is to be extracted. The rotor of the orbiting mass oscillator is driven at a speed such as to generate cycloidal sonic energy in the bar preferably at a frequency such as to set up resonant standing wave vibration of the bar in a cycloidal nutating pattern. The cycloidal vibrational energy tends to set the surrounding fluid material into a whirling rotation or rotary traveling wave which facilitates the mixing of the ore and leachant and enhances the leaching operation to make for more complete separation of the mineral from the ore.

Abstract: A tungsten extraction process wherein tungsten values are extracted from an aqueous alkali metal tungstate solution by an organic solution containing an amine extractant wherein the organic solution consists essentially of from about 6% to about 10% by volume of said amine extractant, and the balance of said organic solution being an aromatic solvent consisting essentially of a mixture of alkyl benzenes wherein the alkyl benzenes have molecular weights of 120, 134, or 148 and the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chains attached to the benzene ring are either 3, 4, or 5, and thereafter the tungstate values are removed from the organic solution by stripping with aqueous ammonia, is improved by carrying out the stripping step in the aqueous continuous mode, and having as the stripping agent, an aqueous solution of ammonium metatungstate having a tungsten concentration which allows the strip solution to have a specific gravity of no greater than about 1.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of copper oxide superconductors which comprises (1) mixing and grinding yttrium nitrate hydrate, copper nitride, and an oxidizing agent such as barium peroxide in a suitable solvent; (2) forming a paste thereof; (3) applying the paste to a substrate; (4) heating the substrate with the paste thereon; and (5) therafter cooling. The process yields copper oxide superconducting compounds in a purity of at least 80 percent.