Abstract: A method of preparing an aqueous dispersion comprising silver particles of mean diameter from 0.5 to 25 nm by weight and an aqueous carrier liquid, including the steps of i) providing a mixture comprising at least one silver salt, aqueous carrier liquid and a stabiliser for the particles ii) contacting the mixture with a non-ionic or covalent reducing agent to form a reaction mixture iii) causing the at least one silver salt to react with the reducing agent to form a dispersion comprising silver particles and acid wherein step iii) is partly or completely performed in the presence of anion exchange resin whereby the acid is exchanged for a hydroxide ion from the resin and/or is sorbed by the resin.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aqueous dispersion comprising metal particles of mean diameter from 0.5-200 nm by weight and an aqueous carrier liquid, including the steps of i) providing a mixture comprising at least one metal salt, aqueous carrier liquid and a stabilizer for the particles ii) contacting the mixture with a reducing agent to form a reaction mixture iii) causing the at least one metal salt to react with the reducing agent to form a dispersion comprising metal particles and acid wherein step iii) is partly or completely performed in the presence of anion exchange resin whereby the acid is exchanged for a hydroxide ion from the resin and/or is sorbed by the resin.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aqueous dispersion comprising silver particles of mean diameter from 0.5 to 25 nm by weight and an aqueous carrier liquid, including the steps of i) providing a mixture comprising at least one silver salt, aqueous carrier liquid and a stabiliser for the particles ii) contacting the mixture with a non-ionic or covalent reducing agent to form a reaction mixture iii) causing the at least one silver salt to react with the reducing agent to form a dispersion comprising silver particles and acid wherein step iii) is partly or completely performed in the presence of anion exchange resin whereby the acid is exchanged for a hydroxide ion from the resin and/or is sorbed by the resin.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing polymeric beads of complexing resin incorporating magnetic particles, which process comprises: producing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed organic phase, said organic phase comprising one or more polymerisable monomers, magnetic particles and a dispersing agent for dispersing said magnetic particles in the organic phase; polymerising said one or more polymerisable monomers to form polymeric beads incorporating said magnetic particles, wherein said polymeric beads include amine groups capable of complexing a transition metal cation, or wherein said polymeric beads are reacted with one or more compounds to provide amine groups capable of complexing a transition metal cation, complexing resins prepared by this process, and polymeric beads of complexing resin comprising a polymer matrix having magnetic particles dispersed substantially uniformly therein, wherein the polymer matrix incorporates amine groups capable of complexing a transiti

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing polymer beads incorporating magnetic iron oxide particles, which process comprises producing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed organic phase, the organic phase comprising one or more polymerisable monomers, magnetic iron oxide particles and an organophosphorus dispersing agent for dispersing the magnetic iron oxide particles in the organic phase, and polymerising the one or more polymerisable monomers to form the polymer beads incorporating the magnetic iron oxide particles; complexing and ion exchange resins prepared by this process; methods for separating transition metal ions and other ions from an aqueous solution using the complexing and ion exchange resins; and polymer beads comprising a polymeric matrix having magnetic iron oxide particles and organophosphorus dispersing agent dispersed substantially uniformly therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polymer beads incorporating solid particles and to the novel polymer beads per se. The invention provides a process for producing polymer beads incorporating solid particulate material, which process comprises producing a dispersion having a dispersed phase including one or more monomers also including solid particulate material, and causing said one or more monomers to undergo a polymerisation reaction to form said polymer beads, wherein said dispersion further includes a solid phase dispersing agent for dispersing solid particles of material in the dispersed phase and wherein said solid phase dispersing agent reacts with at least one monomer to thereby become chemically incorporated in said polymer. The polymer beads comprise a polymer matrix having solid particulate material dispersed substantially uniformly therein and wherein the polymer matrix incorporates a solid phase dispersing agent chemically reacted into the polymeric matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polymer beads incorporating solid particles and to the novel polymer beads per se. The invention provides a process for producing polymer beads incorporating solid particulate material, which process comprises producing a dispersion having a dispersed phase including one or more monomers also including solid particulate material, and causing said one or more monomers to undergo a polymerization reaction to form said polymer beads, wherein said dispersion further includes a solid phase dispersing agent for dispersing solid particles of material in the dispersed phase and wherein said solid phase dispersing agent reacts with at least one monomer to thereby become chemically incorporated in said polymer. The polymer beads comprise a polymer matrix having solid particulate material dispersed substantially uniformly therein and wherein the polymer matrix incorporates a solid phase dispersing agent chemically reacted into the polymeric matrix.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of composite particles having a specified range of particle size and comprising a finely divided, magnetic, particulate material embedded in a matrix of a linear polymeric material, which method comprises the steps of:A. forming discrete liquid droplets consisting of or containing the polymer, together with the particulate material;B. causing or allowing the droplets to form into solid particles;C. separating from the thus-formed particles those of the desired size range;D. re-converting the remaining particles to liquid form; andE. returning the re-liquified particles to step (a).