Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions, which can be used to coat electrode plates, comprising at least one carbonaceous material and at least one additive, wherein the at least one additive comprises a metal ion selected from calcium, barium, potassium, magnesium, and strontium ion, and wherein the metal ion is present in an amount ranging from 0.5 wt. % to 3 wt. % relative to the total weight of carbonaceous material. Also disclosed are electrodes and lead acid batteries comprising such compositions, and methods of making the compositions.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to mixtures and methods for pneumatically conveying powdered materials. A method includes providing a pneumatic conveyance system with a gas stream having a gas velocity; providing particles of sorbent material having a median sorbent particle size d50, sorbent from 1 ?m to 28 ?m; injecting the particles of sorbent material into the gas stream; providing particles of erodant material having a median erodant particle size d50, erodant of at least 150 ?m, where the erodant material is provided in an amount from 0.5% to 3% by weight of the particles of sorbent material; and injecting the particles of erodant material into the gas stream, where the gas velocity is sufficient to entrain the particles of sorbent material and sufficient to convey the particles of erodant material. A mixture of sorbent material and erodant material is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions, which can be used to coat electrode plates, comprising at least one carbonaceous material and at least one additive, wherein the at least one additive comprises a metal ion selected from calcium, barium, potassium, magnesium, and strontium ion, and wherein the metal ion is present in an amount ranging from 0.5 wt. % to 3 wt. % relative to the total weight of carbonaceous material. Also disclosed are electrodes and lead acid batteries comprising such compositions, and methods of making the compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions, which can be used to coat electrode plates, comprising at least one carbonaceous material and at least one additive, wherein the at least one additive comprises a metal ion selected from calcium, barium, potassium, magnesium, and strontium ion, and wherein the metal ion is present in an amount ranging from 0.5 wt. % to 3 wt. % relative to the total weight of carbonaceous material. Also disclosed are electrodes and lead acid batteries comprising such compositions, and methods of making the compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions, which can be used to coat electrode plates, comprising at least one carbonaceous material and at least one additive, wherein the at least one additive comprises a metal ion selected from calcium, barium, potassium, magnesium, and strontium ion, and wherein the metal ion is present in an amount ranging from 0.5 wt. % to 3 wt. % relative to the total weight of carbonaceous material. Also disclosed are electrodes and lead acid batteries comprising such compositions, and methods of making the compositions.

Abstract: A carbon black having a combination of properties with values in ranges selected to promote high conductivity, high hydrophobicity, and reduced outgassing in lead acid batteries while maintaining high charge acceptance and cycleability. The carbon black has a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area ranging from 100 m2/g to 1100 m2/g combined with one or more properties, e.g., a surface energy (SE) of 10 mJ/m2 or less, and/or a Raman microcrystalline planar size (La) of at least 22 ?, e.g., ranging from 22 ? to 50 ?. In some cases, the carbon black has a statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of at least 100 m2/g, e.g., ranging from 100 m2/g to 600 m2/g.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are negative active material compositions, comprising: a carbonaceous material having a surface area of at least 250 m2/g; and an organic molecule expander, wherein the ratio of carbonaceous material to expander ranges from 5:1 to 1:1, and wherein the composition has a median pore size ranging from 0.8 ?m to 4 ?m. Also disclosed are electrodes and batteries comprising such compositions, and methods of making thereof.

Abstract: A carbon black having a combination of properties with values in ranges selected to promote high conductivity, high hydrophobicity, and reduced outgassing in lead acid batteries while maintaining high charge acceptance and cycleability. The carbon black has a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area ranging from 100 m2/g to 1100 m2/g combined with one or more properties, e.g., a surface energy (SE) of 10 mJ/m2 or less, and/or a Raman microcrystalline planar size (La) of at least 22 ?, e.g., ranging from 22 ? to 50 ?. In some cases, the carbon black has a statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of at least 100 m2/g, e.g., ranging from 100 m2/g to 600 m2/g.

Abstract: A process is described for producing a powder batch comprises a plurality of particles, wherein the particles include (a) a first catalytically active component comprising at least one transition metal or a compound thereof; (b) a second component different from said first component and capable of removing oxygen from, or releasing oxygen to, an exhaust gas stream; and (c) a third component different from said first and second components and comprising a refractory support. The process comprises providing a precursor medium comprising a liquid vehicle and a precursor to al least one of said components (a) to (c) and heating droplets of said precursor medium carried in a gas stream to remove at least part of the liquid vehicle and chemically convert said precursor to said at least one component.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprises a particulate support and catalyst nanoparticles on the particulate support. The catalyst nanoparticles comprise an alloy of platinum and palladium in an atomic ratio of from about 25:75 to about 75:25 and are present in a concentration of between about 3 and about 10 wt % weight percent of the catalyst composition. The catalyst composition has an X-ray diffraction pattern that is substantially free of the (311) diffraction peak assignable to PtxPd1-x, where 0.25?x?0.75.

Abstract: A process is described for producing a powder batch comprises a plurality of particles, wherein the particles include (a) a first catalytically active component comprising at least one transition metal or a compound thereof; (b) a second component different from said first component and capable of removing oxygen from, or releasing oxygen to, an exhaust gas stream; and (c) a third component different from said first and second components and comprising a refractory support. The process comprises providing a precursor medium comprising a liquid vehicle and a precursor to al least one of said components (a) to (c) and heating droplets of said precursor medium carried in a gas stream to remove at least part of the liquid vehicle and chemically convert said precursor to said at least one component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cerium oxide particulate composition and a process for preparing a cerium oxide particulate composition comprising aggregates of approximately spherical primary particles of cerium oxide. The method involves preparing a solution of a cerium oxide precursor, aerosolizing the cerium oxide precursor solution, and heating the aerosol to provide the cerium oxide particle composition.

Abstract: A continuous process for the conversion of sodium silicate to silicic acid, wherein a moving bed of a protonated ion exchange resin is contacted with an inlet stream of sodium silicate to provide an outlet stream of silicic acid. The outlet stream of silicic acid produced thereby can be processed into a variety of silica products. The outlet moving bed of spent sodium-enriched ion-exchange resin is continuously regenerated into protonated ion-exchange resin by contacting the spent resin with an inlet stream of acid of sufficient strength to exchange the sodium ions in the spent resin with a proton. The regenerated protonated ion-exchange resin is continuously recycled back into the sodium silicate stream for further production of silicic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating silica, wherein dry silica is contacted with a reaction medium consisting essentially of concentrated aqueous acid and a hydrophobing agent selected from the group consisting of organosiloxanes and organochlorosilanes. The silica is then reacted with the hydrophobing agent in the reaction medium for about 90 minutes or less at a temperature from about 10° C. to about 40° C. to provide a hydrophobic treated silica. The hydrophobic treated silica then is recovered.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing lipophilic silica in an aqueous medium in the absence of added acids, bases, or organic solvents. In particular, the present inventive method of preparing lipophilic silica comprises (a) providing a mixture consisting essentially of (i) at least one organically modified silica precursor which is a trifunctional silane, (ii) water, and (iii) at least one tetrafunctional silane, (b) allowing the organically modified silica to form in the mixture, and (c) removing the organically modified silica from the mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating silica wherein silica is reacted with a di- or tri-functional organosilane in an aqueous acid medium to provide a crude organosilane-capped silica product containing organosilicon impurities. The organosilicon impurities are extracted from the crude product with an organic liquid to provide a purified product consisting essentially of organosilane-capped silica. The purified product is dried to provide a dry organosilane-capped silica. The aqueous acid medium can include a displacing reagent which displaces at least one reactive functional group of the di- or tri-functional organosilane. The present invention further provides-continuous methods of treating silica with di- and tri-functional organosilanes, wherein the organic liquid and/or the organosilicon impurities are recycled and reused.

Abstract: A method of preparing treated silica is described. The method comprises mixing a hydrolyzable silica precursor such as methyltrichlorosilane with water, an acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid) and a hydrophobing agent capable of rendering polar silanol groups hydrophobic, such as trimethylchlorosilane. The treated silica is then recovered from the mixture.The inventive method provides a number of mechanisms for controlling the physical properties (e.g., particle size, surface area, etc.) of the treated silica. For example, the rate of hydrolysis of the silica precursor, which impacts these physical properties, can be regulated by the nature and concentration of the acid used in the reaction.

Abstract: A for producing metal oxide and/or organo-metal oxide compositions from metal oxide and organo-metal oxide precursors utilizing a rate modifying drying agent. The process allows metal oxide and/or organo-metal oxide compositions to be produced from a wide variety of metal oxide and organo-metal oxide precursors including metal halides and organometallic halides.

Abstract: A process for producing surface modified metal oxide and/or organo-metal oxide compositions comprising esterifying at least a portion of the metal oxide and/or organo-metal oxide composition through contact with at least one esterification agent and at least one catalyst wherein the esterification agent and the catalyst are in the liquid phase. The process may be utilized to produce hydrophobic metal oxide and/or organo-metal oxide compositions at ambient temperature and/or ambient pressure conditions.

Abstract: A process for making non-porous, dense, silica partices having a diameter of about 3 to 1000 microns, a nitrogen B.E.T. surface area less than about 1 m.sup.2 /g, a total impurity content of less than about 50 ppm and a metal impurity content content of less than about 15 ppm from an aqueous dispersion of fumed silica. The particles are converted into porous particles and sintered in an atmosphere having a water partial pressure of from about 0.2 to about 0.8 atmosphere for temperatures below about 1200.degree. C.