Abstract: A process for preparing spheroid particles of oxide compounds, having an average diameter of smaller than 3 microns. An emulsion is prepared of a hydrolyzable liquid oxide compound in a perfluoropolyether, the emulsion is reacted with water, water vapor or with a mixture, in any ratio, of water with a liquid miscible or immiscible with water so as to form an oxide hydrate which is recovered dried and calcined. Oxide compounds include oxides of Ti, Al, Zr, Si or B.

Abstract: A product suitable as a ceramic comprises substantially nonaggregated alumina particles with 95% by number having an aspect ratio (i.e., the ratio of the longest dimension to the shortest dimension for any single particle) not greater than 1.1 and more than 80% having an aspect ratio not greater than 1.05 and having a geometric mean size of from 0.02 to 0.5 microns. Usually the product contains no more than 3% by weight as aggregates and preferably the product is as small as can conveniently be manufactured.

Abstract: A process for preparing titanium dioxide in the form of spherical particles having the particle size distribution indicated by dw/dn.ltoreq.2, by hydrolysis of strongly acid solutions of Ti(IV), wherein the molar ratio SO.sub.4.sup.= /Ti(IV) is at least 1.5, and in the presence of cationic polyelectrolytes having a molecular weight higher than 1 million and a ionicity of at least 3 milliequivalents per gram.

Abstract: Synthesis gas is produced by the partial oxidation of a feedstock comprising petroleum coke and/or heavy liquid hydrocarbon fuel containing sulfur and having an ash that contains nickel, vanadium and silicon. An iron-containing or an iron and calcium-containing additive is introduced into the reaction zone along with the feed. The additive combines with at least a portion of the iron and nickel constituents and sulfur found in the feedstock to produce a liquid phase washing agent that collects and transports at least a portion of the vanadium-containing oxide laths and spinels and other ash components out the reaction zone. Slag and other particulate matter is separated from the effluent gas stream and ground to produce a heterogeneous mixture of magnetic and non-magnetic solid particles.

Abstract: The process of the present invention for preparing granules of alumina includes pretreating an alumina powder by admixing with cold water in a mixer at a temperature below room temperature, e.g., such as below about 20.degree. C., to form a pretreated alumina having a pore volume saturated with water and further having a surface area of gel structure, and agglomerating the pretreated alumina in a fluidized bed to form granules. The process is particularly suited to producing activated alumina in macroporous granules. The process in one aspect further includes a cold hopper for cooling alumina powder prior to the pretreating step.

Abstract: Seeding of beta type alumina compositions in which the alumina in the raw batch is microcrystalline boehmite results in significant increase in hardness, density and strength, as compared to unseeded beta alumina, when fired under similar conditions.

Abstract: A process for the production of coarse scrubbing aggregates of TiO.sub.2 particles by vapor phase oxidation of titanium tetrachloride. The particle aggregates of sizes above 0.15 mm are separated from the TiO.sub.2 fines by wet screening on a moving screen, calcined and returned to the process. In a preferred embodiment of the process, the titanium dioxide prior to calcination is admixed with 0.01 to 0.3% by weight alkaline hydroxides (related to anhydrous TiO.sub.2), hard particle aggregates of sizes between 0.2 to 2.0 mm being generated that are returned to the hot reaction mixture and used for the prevention of deposit formation on the surfaces of the heat exchanger.The process can be carried through in such a way that the quantities of coarse scrubbing TiO.sub.2 aggregates per unit of time consumed by abrasion and newly formed by sintering are equal, their percentages in recycling TiO.sub.2 thus remaining constant which simplifies the TiO.sub.2 production process.

Abstract: Method for reduction in metallic impurities in aqueous and anhydrous TiCl.sub.4. The method utilizes activated carbon to remove poisonous impurities such as antimony and arsenic, which allows use of the TiCl.sub.4 in pearlescent pigment production and cosmetics.

Abstract: An electrically conductive material of titanium dioxide crystal comprising at least one electrically conductive portion and at least one less conductive portion, and a method of producing the electrically conductive material, which comprises the steps of applying a catalyst to the surface of the crystal and heating the crystal at a temperature of 300.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. in a gas atmosphere containing an oxidizing gas and a reducing gas.

Abstract: A finely divided metal oxide powdery composition, preferably with a narrow particle size distribution, is produced from a particulate, sol-gel derived composition containing agglomerates by heating the particulate composition in the presence of an effective amount of a composition which decomposes upon heating and forms a gas to break at least a portion of the agglomerates so as to yield the desired finely divided ceramic particle composition. Examples of suitable gas-forming agents for use in the present invention include the ammonium salts or amides of organic and inorganic acids, volatile acids, and gases dissolved in a suitable solvent, such as water, alcohol or ammonia.

Abstract: The beneficiation or upgrading of an iron-containing titaniferous ore to a synthetic rutile by subjecting the ore to reduction followed by acid leaching of the reduced ore is improved by forming a mixture of the ore and an aqueous sulfuric acid solution, adding a reducing agent to this mixture and then subjecting this mixture containing the reducing agent to reduction at elevated temperatures. The resulting reduced ore, which is characterized by an increase in the ferrous iron content thereof and an increase in its specific surface area, exhibits an enhanced response to subsequent acid leaching to provide a synthetic rutile of improved purity.

Abstract: The precipitation of iron and aluminum from their solutions in strong acids, eg. 18% HCl and 25% H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, is accomplished by adding to the acid solution certain organic aminophosphonic acids in which at least 50% of the amine hydrogens have been substituted with methylenephosphonic acid groups. Particularly preferred compounds are the methylenephosphonic acid derivatives of ammonia and polyalkylenepolyaminepoly(methylenephosphonic acids). The completely phosphonomethylated derivatives are most preferred.

Abstract: The rare earth hydroxides are improvedly prepared by (i) treating a rare earth phosphate mineral, e.g., monazite or xenotime, with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, (ii) separating therefrom rare earth hydroxide solids and a liquid phase essentially consisting of alkali metal phosphate and alkali metal hydroxide, (iii) crystallizing alkali metal phosphate from said liquid phase, (iv) separating the mother liquor of crystallization therefrom which contains said alkali metal hydroxide, (v) adding calcium oxide or hydroxide to the mother liquor thus separated to form a precipitate therein, (vi) separating said formed precipitate, and (vii) recycling the mother liquor of separation to said treatment step (i).

Abstract: An improved process for fabricating barium calcium aluminum impregnants for dispenser cathodes is described. The resulting cathodes have improved lifetimes and reliability through the use of organometallic starting materials in the impregnant process.

Abstract: Lepidocrocite suitable for obtaining excellent magnetic powders and magnetic recording media is manufactured by oxidizing an aqueous suspension of ferrous hydroxide obtained from a ferrous salt and an alkali by blowing an amount of an oxygen-containing gas into the suspension, in which the blowing amount of the oxygen-containing gas is appropriately controlled in three steps, according to three steps of the oxidation reaction of the ferrous hydroxide. In a preferred embodiment, average oxygen absorption rates in the three oxidization steps are defined and the blowing of the oxygen-containing gas is controlled thereby.

Abstract: A process for treating dry, particulate alumina for use in preparing alumina slurries which are resistant to gellation in which the particulate alumina is contacted with a carbon dioxide rich gaseous medium for a suitable time.

Abstract: A process for the production of high-purity zirconia from dissociated zircon or other zirconiferous material is disclosed. The process includes leaching of the zirconiferous material with concentrated sulphuric acid and continuously removing the water formed during leaching to maintain the concentration of sulphuric acid at a substantially constant level.

Abstract: A process for producing alumina wherein an aluminum trialkyl is reacted with a substantially water immiscible alcohol to produce an aluminum alkoxide and an alkane, the reaction between the aluminum trialkyl and the alcohol being conducted in an organic phase, the alkoxide being hydrolyzed in an aqueous phase which is in contact with the organic phase, the alumina formed by hydrolysis of the aluminum alkoxide being recovered from the aqueous phase.

Abstract: Niobium (V) and tantalum (V) halides are converted to Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 and Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 that are free of detectable levels of halide in a two step process. In the first step, the metal halide is reacted with an alcohol and with a replacement species, such as ammonia, which reacts with the halide. This produces a metal alkoxide which is soluble and a halide salt of the replacement species which is insoluble in the alcohol and precipitates. After physically separating the alkoxide in alcohol solution from the precipitate, in a second step, the metal alkoxide is hydrolyzed with purified water to produce the oxide.

Abstract: An aqueous solution containing a water soluble polyvalent metal sulphate, an alkali metal silicate and an alkali metal metabisulphite is described which is added to a slurry of a copper mineral bearing ore to be subjected to a froth flotation step for obtaining a copper concentrate. The aqueous solution is added to enhance the selectivity of conventional flotation collectors and depressants when the valuable minerals are finally disseminated in the host ore, which is then required to be ground to very small particle sizes to achieve the desired liberation. Other valuable minerals such as those bearing zinc and lead, may be recovered from the tailing.