Abstract: A high capacity battery material is made, consisting essentially of hydrated Ni(II) hydroxide, and about 5 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of Ni(IV) hydrated oxide interlayer doped with alkali metal cations selected from potassium, sodium and lithium cations.

Abstract: A battery plate is made by loading a supporting porous metallic plaque with an electrode paste comprising: (1) NiCO.sub.3, (2) cobalt additive, (3) sufficient water to form a paste, and optionally (4) a deflocculant.

Abstract: An iron active electrode and method of preparing same in which iron sulfate is calcined in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of from about 600.degree. C. to about 850.degree. C. for a time sufficient to produce an iron oxide with a trace amount of sulfate. The calcined material is loaded into an electrically conductive support and then heated in a reducing atmosphere at an elevated temperature to produce activated iron having a trace amount of sulfide which is formed into an electrode plate.

Abstract: A high capacity battery material is made, consisting essentially of hydrated Ni(II) hydroxide, and about 5 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of Ni(IV) hydrated oxide interlayer doped with alkali metal cations selected from potassium, sodium and lithium cations.

Abstract: Uranium ore deposits which contain uranium in the relatively insoluble tetravalent state are readily selectively leached in situ to recover relatively pure uranium compounds, by: (a) passing through the ore deposit a relatively dilute aqueous leach solution of ammonium bicarbonate, ferric ammonium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and a source of oxygen, the leach solution converting the tetravalent uranium to hexavalent uranium which readily dissolves in the leach solution; (b) withdrawing the reacted leach solution enriched in dissolved uranium from the ore deposit; and (c) stripping the uranium from the withdrawn leach solution. The stripping of the uranium from the leach solution is preferably accomplished by countercurrent flow of the enriched leach solution to a column of base anion exchange material which preferentially extracts the uranium.

Abstract: The oxidation of uranium is catalyzed with water-soluble copper or zinc chelates. An aqueous solution is prepared containing carbonate or bicarbonate ion, an oxidizer such as hydrogen peroxide or oxygen, and a water-soluble copper or zinc chelate which has at least two amino, carboxylic acid, or thiocarboxylic acid donor groups. The solution is pumped into an underground deposit of uranium. The water-soluble +4 state uranium is oxidized to the water-soluble +6 state which forms a complex with the carbonate ion. The solution is pumped to the surface and is recycled after precipitation of the uranium.

Abstract: A battery electrode plate is made by loading a supporting porous metallic plaque with active battery material made by: (1) hydrolyzing the reaction product of a fuse-melted starting material comprising an admixture of nickel oxide, sodium peroxide and an amount of an oxide containing, alkali metal, non-reactive flux material effective to allow a melt-fusion reaction of the starting material at temperatures of between about 650.degree. C to about 925.degree. C, the hydrolyzed solid reaction product containing electrochemically active nickel hydrated oxides and hydroxide forms, (2) if desirable, drying the product below about 65.degree. C, and (3) preferably adding, at some step in the method, an amount of cobalt containing additive effective to provide about 2 wt.% to about 10 wt.% cobalt in the active battery material based on nickel oxide plus cobalt content.

Abstract: An electrode plate is made by loading a supporting porous metallic plaque with active battery material made by: (1) hydrolyzing the reaction product of a starting material comprising an admixture of Ni oxide and effective amounts of sodium peroxide fused at temperatures between about 800.degree.-1150.degree. C, the hydrolyzed solid reaction product containing electrochemically active Ni hydrated oxides and hydroxide forms, (2) if desirable, drying the product below about 65.degree. C, and (3) adding, at some step in the method, an amount of cobalt containing additive effective to provide about 2-12 wt% total Co in the active battery material based on Ni oxide plus Co content.

Abstract: A negative electrode plate, for a battery containing at least one positive and one negative electrode plate, with alkaline electrolyte contacting the plates, is made by reacting iron oxides contained within the plate volume with at least one sulfur substituted organic acid of the thiolic, dithiolic, dithionic or mercaptocarboxylic type.

Abstract: An electrode plate is made by loading a supporting porous metallic plaque with active battery material made by: (1) hydrolyzing the reaction product of a starting material comprising an admixture of Ni oxide and effective amounts of sodium peroxide fused at temperatures between about 800.degree.C-1150.degree.C, the hydrolyzed solid reaction product containing electrochemically active Ni hydrated oxides and hydroxide forms, (2) if desirable, drying the product below about 65.degree.C, and (3) adding, at some step in the method, an amount of cobalt containing additive effective to provide about 2-12 wt% total Co in the active battery material based on Ni oxide plus Co content.