Abstract: The invention features a system for treating liquid including a liquid treatment device comprising adsorbent media for removing a substance from liquid and a pH adjuster device located upstream of the liquid treatment device relative to a direction of flow of the liquid. The pH adjuster device contains particulate or solid state pH adjuster material capable of releasing H or OH groups into the liquid or consuming H or OH groups from the liquid effective to raise or lower the pH of the liquid while it passes through the media. The pH adjuster may include acidifier or basifier material. Also featured is a method of using the device to remove a substance from liquid by adsorption and/or ion exchange.

Abstract: The present invention features a method of making hydrous zirconium oxide having desirable properties, including resistance to moisture content, predetermined particle size, and developed porosity and surface area. The inventive material is suitable for use as an ion exchanger, a catalyst and a catalyst support. The process comprises providing a liquid comprising a zirconium compound and an alkali metal-containing reagent. The alkali metal-containing reagent may comprise a compound selected from the group consisting of MOH-M2SO4, MOH-M3PO4, and combinations thereof, where M is at least one of Li, Na and K. The zirconium compound may be treated with the alkali metal-containing reagent effective to form a mixture which achieves an uptake of alkali metal in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 meq/g. The mixture is reacted to form the hydrous zirconium oxide. A molar ratio of SO4/Zr and PO4/Zr in the mixture may range from 0.2-0.7:1. The mixture may be heated at a temperature ranging from 80 to 150° C.

Abstract: The invention features a system for treating liquid including a liquid treatment device comprising adsorbent media for removing a substance from liquid and a pH adjuster device located upstream of the liquid treatment device relative to a direction of flow of the liquid. The pH adjuster device contains particulate or solid state pH adjuster material capable of releasing H or OH groups into the liquid or consuming H or OH groups from the liquid effective to raise or lower the pH of the liquid while it passes through the media. The pH adjuster may include acidifier or basifier material. Also featured is a method of using the device to remove a substance from liquid by adsorption and/or ion exchange.

Abstract: A zirconium phosphate compound having a Zr:P ratio of from about 1.80-2.0 to 1, which compound's H-form exhibits a single peak at ?13.7±0.5 ppm in the 31P NMR spectra. The compound is useful as a catalyst, catalyst support and ion exchange media having a high affinity for cobalt and nickel ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to zirconium phosphate of H form which is characterized by a 31P NMR spectra comprising peaks at ?4.7 ppm, ?12.8 ppm and ?17.0 ppm (all peaks being in a range of ±0.5 ppm). Also featured is a Na form of the material. The zirconium phosphate material is characterized by a unique surface area, pore size distribution and surface morphology, as well as by an affinity for NH4+ ions and moisture insensitivity. Also featured is hafnium phosphate characterized by moisture insensitivity. The zirconium phosphate may be amorphous and possess a framework-type structure. The inventive method of making zirconium phosphate includes the steps of heating an aqueous mixture including a zirconium compound and a phosphorous-containing reagent at a temperature of at least 120° C. to form a reaction product, and treating the reaction product with acid at a temperature of at least 60° C.

Abstract: The present invention features a method of making hydrous zirconium oxide having desirable properties, including resistance to moisture content, predetermined particle size, and developed porosity and surface area. The inventive material is suitable for use as an ion exchanger, a catalyst and a catalyst support. The process comprises providing a liquid comprising a zirconium compound and an alkali metal-containing reagent. The alkali metal-containing reagent may comprise a compound selected from the group consisting of MOH-M2SO4, MOH-M3PO4, and combinations thereof, where M is at least one of Li, Na and K. The zirconium compound may be treated with the alkali metal-containing reagent effective to form a mixture which achieves an uptake of alkali metal in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 meq/g. The mixture is reacted to form the hydrous zirconium oxide. A molar ratio of SO4/Zr and PO4/Zr in the mixture may range from 0.2-0.7:1. The mixture may be heated at a temperature ranging from 80 to 150° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to zirconium phosphate of H form which is characterized by a 31P NMR spectra comprising peaks at −4.7 ppm, −12.8 ppm and −17.0 ppm (all peaks being in a range of ±0.5 ppm). Also featured is a Na form of the material. The zirconium phosphate material is characterized by a unique surface area, pore size distribution and surface morphology, as well as by an affinity for NH4+ ions and moisture insensitivity. Also featured is hafnium phosphate characterized by moisture insensitivity. The zirconium phosphate may be amorphous and possess a framework-type structure. The inventive method of making zirconium phosphate includes the steps of heating an aqueous mixture including a zirconium compound and a phosphorous-containing reagent at a temperature of at least 120° C. to form a reaction product, and treating the reaction product with acid at a temperature of at least 60° C.

Abstract: A zirconium phosphate compound having a Zr:P ratio of from about 1.80-2.0 to 1, which compound's H-form exhibits a single peak at −13.7±0.5 ppm in the 31P NMR spectra. The compound is useful as a catalyst, catalyst support and ion exchange media having a high affinity for cobalt and nickel ions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high oxygen ion conducting/oxygen storage (OIC/OS) materials, a catalyst employing the OIC/OS materials, and a method for converting hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides using the catalyst. The OIC/OS materials have significantly higher oxygen storage capacity than that predicted based on Ce content due to the unexpected high and facile redox activity of the added niobium. These materials are further characterized by having a tetragonal crystalline structure under oxidizing conditions (in air) up to about 1,200° C. and a cubic crystalline structure in reducing conditions (5% hydrogen) up to about 1,000° C. for 24 hours. These materials comprise, based upon 100 mole % of the metal component in the material, up to about 95 mole % zirconium, up to about 50 mole % cerium, about 0.5 to about 15 mole % rare earth metal(s), alkaline earth metal(s) or a combination thereof, and about 0.5 to about 15 mole % niobium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high oxygen ion conducting/oxygen storage (OIC/OS) capacity materials, a catalyst employing the OIC/OS materials, and a method for converting hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides using the catalyst. The OIC/OS materials have stable cubic crystalline structures such that after aging for greater than about 36 hours at temperatures up to about 1,200° C., greater than about 60-95% of the cerium present is reducible. These materials comprise up to about 95 mole percent (mole %) zirconium, up to about 50 mole % cerium, up to about 20 mole % of a stabilizer such as yttrium, rare earths, and the like; and about 0.01 to about 25 mole % of a base metal selected from the group consisting of iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, silver, manganese, bismuth and mixtures comprising at least one of the foregoing metals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high oxygen ion conducting/oxygen storage (OIC/OS) materials, a catalyst employing the OIC/OS materials, and a method for converting hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides using the catalyst. The OIC/OS materials have significantly higher oxygen storage capacity than that predicted based on Ce content due to the unexpected high and facile redox activity of the added niobium. These materials are further characterized by having a tetragonal crystalline structure under oxidizing conditions (in air) up to about 1,200° C. and a cubic crystalline structure in reducing conditions (5% hydrogen) up to about 1,000° C. for 24 hours. These materials comprise, based upon 100 mole % of the metal component in the material, up to about 95 mole % zirconium, up to about 50 mole % cerium, about 0.5 to about 15 mole % rare earth metal(s), alkaline earth metal(s) or a combination thereof, and about 0.5 to about 15 mole % niobium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high oxygen ion conducting/oxygen storage (OIC/OS) materials, a catalyst employing the OIC/OS materials, and a method for converting hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides using the catalyst. The OIC/OS materials have significantly higher oxygen storage capacity than that predicted based on Ce content due to the unexpected high and facile redox activity of the added niobium. These materials are further characterized by having a tetragonal crystalline structure under oxidizing conditions (in air) up to about 1,200° C. and a cubic crystalline structure in reducing conditions (5% hydrogen) up to about 1,000° C. for 24 hours. These materials comprise, based upon 100 mole % of the metal component in the material, up to about 95 mole % zirconium, up to about 50 mole % cerium, about 0.5 to about 15 mole % rare earth metal(s), alkaline earth metal(s) or a combination thereof, and about 0.5 to about 15 mole % niobium.