Abstract: A method of stabilizing an aqueous solution of alkali metal aluminate comprises admixing an aqueous solution of alkali metal aluminate having a pH of at least 10 with a sufficient amount of carboxylate-containing vinyl polymer to form a solution containing fron 0.1 to 2.0 weight percent of an anionic vinyl polymer based on alkali metal aluminate solids, and a stabilized aqueous alkali metal aluminate solution.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for reproducibly forming monodisperse titania spheres by the hydrolysis of titanium alkoxides in the presence of an amine containing additive in such a way as to constrain the particle size within a narrow range.

Abstract: A process for the production of pure aluminum trihydroxide having a controlled median diameter of less than 4 microns with a unimodal distribution and a minimum deviation. The process comprises contacting, for a short time, sodium aluminate solution with a small quantity of ground aluminum trihydroxide having a specific BET surface area of at least 8 m.sup.2 /g, separating the sodium aluminate solution from the solid phase comprising ground aluminum trihydroxide and aluminum trihydroxide precipitate containing impurities, then decomposing the purified sodium aluminate solution in the presence of a quantity of pure ground aluminum trihydroxide from a preceding decomposition operation to precipitate a very pure aluminum trihydroxide having the specified median diameter.

Abstract: A method of making beta"-alumina comprises dispersing in a precursor of aluminum oxide a member of the group comprising sodium oxide and its precursors, and dispersing in the precursor of aluminum oxide a spinel stabilizer which is a member of the group comprising spinel-forming oxides and the precursors thereof, to form a mixture. The mixture is then heated to a temperature at which at least some of the precursor of aluminum oxide is converted to beta"-alumina. The precursor of aluminum oxide is one which, when calcined in air by itself, has a calcination product which, when subjected to X-ray diffraction, displays a predetermined X-ray diffraction trace. The X-ray diffraction trace is one whose peak with the highest intensity in the 2 (theta) range of 44.degree.-48.degree. and whose peak with the highest intensity in the 2 (theta) range of 63.degree.-69.degree. respectively have maximum intensities and integrated intensities which comply with equations (I) and (II):A/S is greater than 0.

Abstract: Lepidocrocite (.gamma.-FeOOH) with an large specific surface area and a uniform particle size is provided by a method comprising preparing a suspension of ferrous hydroxide at a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 by adding a ferrous salt solution with an alkali solution in an amount of 0.4 to 0.7 times the theoretical amount for converting all the ferrous salt to ferrous hydroxide, blowing an oxygen-containing gas into the suspension to form a seed crystal of .gamma.-FeOOH, completing the generation reaction of .gamma.-FeOOH by blowing an oxygen-containing gas into the suspension while adding an alkali solution to keep the pH of the suspension within a range of 3 to 5, in which an Si concentration of the suspensions for seed reaction and for generation reaction of .gamma.-FeOOH is controlled to be within 5 to 30 ppm.

Abstract: Transition metal, notably zirconium alloy, is melted (e.g., by a plasma) to form droplets within the size range of minus 20, plus 60 mesh. The droplets are exposed to a hydrogen atmosphere for a short period while cooling through the hydriding temperature range (e.g., 600.degree. C. to 400.degree. C.). A friable particulate of uniform size and hydrogen content, suitable for sintering or forming components, is recovered.

Abstract: A process of producing alkali metal by a reduction of alkali metal compounds with metallic reducing agents, which is simplified and avoids corrosion of the reaction vessel and part thereof in that the reduction is effected with particulate magnesium in an organic solvent which under the conditions of the process is inert to the alkali metal to be produced. The reaction is effected at temperatures from 100.degree. to 300.degree. C. In an embodiment of the process the reduction is effected in the presence of an alcohol used as a reaction accelerator.

Abstract: The process of producing high surface area mixed metal oxides comprising selecting a precursor characterized by the following formula:A.sub.x M.sub.a [M'(CN).sub.c ].sub.b.nH.sub.2 Ox=0-4;a=0-4;b=0.1-4;c=4-8;n=0-30;A=alkali, alkaline earth metal, Al, Si or mixtures;M=rare earth metals, transition metals or mixture thereof; andM'=transition metal capable of forming a cyanide (e.g. Group VIA-VIII A) or mixture thereof,and heating the precursor at a temperature rate of below 1.degree.C/minute in a controlled atmosphere consisting essentially of O.sub.2 and an inert gas to a temperature sufficient to decompose the precursor and produce the mixed metal oxide.

Abstract: The method of recovering gallium from very basic solutions such as sodium aluminum liquors from the Bayer process by liquid/liquid extraction by means of an organic phase, preferably formed of an organic solvent and water-insoluble alkylhydroxyquinolines of the general formula ##STR1## in which n is a number between 5 and 20.

Abstract: Substantially spherical mono-sized particles of zirconia can be prepared by the forced hydrolysis of an aqueous solution of zirconyl chloride. A zirconyl chloride solution having a molarity up to about 0.4 is heated for at least 72 hours at a temperature of at least 95.degree. C. to generate suspended particles of hydrated zirconium oxide, which are recovered and calcined to provide the mono-sized zirconia powders. In preferred embodiments, mono-sized powders of a mixture of zirconia with one or more of its stabilizing metal oxides is prepared by precipitating the metal in the form of its hydroxide onto pre-formed zirconium-containing particles.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed applicable to the production of calcined, anhydrous kaolins in particulate form. A process and system are disclosed in which the calciner is integrated with a preceding spray drier by cycling the dust-laden calciner hot off-gases to the spray drier to achieve savings in energy. Waste heat from the calciner, and concomitantly dust-like clay particles carried in the off-gas, are thereby passed to the drier and their values recovered.

Abstract: A process for producing alumina involving reacting anhydrous aluminum chloride with a oxidizing agent with a temperature within the range of from about 700.degree. C. to about 1200.degree. C. to form aluminum oxide and chlorine and separating the chlorine and mixing a portion thereof with the reacting aluminum chloride and oxidizing agent.

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 sized in the range of about 1-3 mm. 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: Soluble hexavalent chromium values are removed from aqueous chlorate solutions by employing a critical effective ratio of OH.sup.- :Cr.sub.2 O.sub.7.sup.= ions of at least 3:1 in the aqueous chlorate solution and by employing a dithionite to reduce the hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium, preferably in the mole ratio of S.sub.2 O.sub.4.sup.= :Cr.sub.2 O.sub.7.sup.= of at least 3:1. The trivalent chromium forms chromic hydroxide (Cr(OH).sub.3) with the hydroxyl ions and precipitates from the aqueous chlorate solution. The process is rapid and effective in quantitative removal of hexavalent chromium from the aqueous chlorate solutions and is especially useful for the removal of sodium dichromate from cell liquor which is intended to be employed in chlorine dioxide production and which is produced by diaphragmless electrolysis of sodium chloride.

Abstract: A method for producing .gamma.-form lithium aluminate powders usable as a material for an electrolyte tile of molten carbonate fuel cells which comprises mixing aluminum alkoxide with one member selected from the group consisting of the lithium salts of inorganic and organic acids, lithium hydroxide and lithium oxide in the presence of a non-aqueous solvent, carrying out reaction with addition of water of 1.5 to 20 moles (including water of crystallization contained in the lithium compound) based on 1 mole of aluminum alkoxide with stirring, and removing the solvent to obtain a solid matter which is then calcined at a temperature in a range of from 650.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to gas-tight sintered translucent aluminum oxide having a density of at least 99.5%, which contains at most 1000 ppm by weight of MgO. According to the invention, the aluminum oxide also has a content of Er.sub.2 O.sub.3 lying between 20 ppm by weight and 200 ppm by weight. The material thus obtained has a great mechanical strength, a high resistance to attack by sodium and a satisfactory translucence. Thus, the material is very suitable for use as wall material for the discharge vessels of high-pressure discharge lamps.

Abstract: A process for forming a homogeneous mixture of yttrium oxide and zirconium oxide involves dissolving yttrium oxide and hydrochloric acid in water, precipitating yttrium hydroxide by adding ammonium hydroxide to the solution and dissolving yttrium hydroxide in acetic acid, adding zirconium oxide to the resulting solution which is thereafter spray dried to yield an agglomerate having uniformly distributed yttrium acetate throughout and thereafter converting the yttrium acetate to yttrium oxide to yield an agglomerate having uniform distribution of yttrium oxide and zirconium oxide. The yttrium oxide/zirconium oxide agglomerates have a particle size of from about 20 to about 200 microns. The intermediate agglomerate contains a uniform distribution of yttrium acetate and provides a composition which can be converted to a yttrium oxide/zirconium oxide agglomerate having a homogeneous mixture of the two components.

Abstract: A need exists for an economical process for the production of alkali silicates of high purity, especially soda-waterglass, from waste silicic acid. From a waste silicic acid occurring in the reaction of hexafluorosilicic acid with aluminum hydroxide, which is treated with hot 15-25% wt. hexafluorosilicic acid and then calcined preferably at 750.degree.-900.degree. C. in a flow of water vapor, alkali silicates can be obtained with low degree of impurity, which are suitable advantageously for the production of precipitated silicic acid.

Abstract: Molybdenite, MoS.sub.2, is completely converted into molybdenum dioxide, MoO.sub.2, by mixing MoS.sub.2 with petroleum or coal tar pitches and heating in air at 400.degree.-600.degree. F.