Abstract: Ceric oxide particulates having a specific surface of at least 190 m.sup.2 /g, measured after calcination at a temperature of from 350.degree. to 450.degree. C., and a specific surface of at least 15 m.sup.2 /g after calcination at 800.degree. C., are prepared by (a) suspending, in an aqueous solution of a decomposable base, a ceric hydroxide of the formula (I):Ce(M).sub.x (OH).sub.y (NO.sub.3).sub.z (I)wherein M is an alkali metal or a quaternary ammonium radical; x is a number ranging from 0.01 to 0.2; y is such that y=4-z+x; and z is a number ranging from 0.4 to 0.7; (b) heating the resulting suspension in a confined reaction zone to a temperature and pressure respectively lower than its critical temperature and pressure; (c) cooling such reaction medium and permitting it to return to atmospheric pressure; (d) separating the ceric hydroxide thus treated; and (e) calcining the separated ceric hydroxide.

Abstract: Ceric oxide particulates having a specific surface of at least 190 m.sup.2 /g, measured after calcination at a temperature of from 350.degree. to 450.degree. C., and a specific surface of at least 15 m.sup.2 /g after calcination at 800.degree. C., are prepared by (a) suspending, in an aqueous solution of a decomposable base, a ceric hydroxide of the formula (I):Ce(M).sub.x (OH).sub.y (NO.sub.3).sub.z (I)wherein M is an alkali metal or a quaternary ammonium radical; x is a number ranging from 0.01 to 0.2; y is such that y=4-z+x; and z is a number ranging from 0.4 to 0.7; (b) heating the resulting suspension in a confined reaction zone to a temperature and pressure respectively lower than its critical temperature and pressure; (c) cooling such reaction medium and permitting it to return to atmospheric pressure; (d) separating the ceric hydroxide thus treated; and (e) calcining the separated ceric hydroxide.

Abstract: Essentially anhydrous (i.e., containing no more than 2.5% by weight of water of hydration) admixtures of (i) dehydrated rare earth halides, (ii) at least 10% by weight of alkali and/or alkaline earth metal halides, and (iii) up to 4.5% by weight of rare earth oxyhalides, these halides being other than fluorides, are produced by mixing hydrated rare earth halides with alkali and/or alkaline earth metal halides and then raising the temperature of such admixtures, advantageously in the presence of a gaseous flux containing a dehydrating halocompound, to a value ranging from 150.degree. to 350.degree. C. as to essentially dehydrate the hydrated rare earth halides, the final admixtures are well adapted for the production of rare earth metals therefrom.

Abstract: Weakly acidic colloidal aqueous dispersions of particulates of a cerium (IV) compound, having a pH ranging from 1.5 to 5, well adapted for catalyst applications, are prepared by (a) acidulating a cerium (IV) hydroxide with an acid having a pKa ranging from 2.5 to 5.0, or with a salt or mixture thereof, (b) next separating the resulting cerium (IV) compound that precipitates from the medium of acidulation, and then (c) colloidally dispersing such cerium (IV) precipitate in an aqueous medium.