Abstract: A binder material for binding a plurality of particles together to form a conglomerate such as a carbon-containing briquette, a sand casting core and the like is provided. The binder material can include a collagen and/or lignin and a plurality of inorganic particles. In some instances, the binder material can be used to make a composite material. The composite material can include a plurality of particles and the binder material that contains the collagen and/or lignin. The binder material affords for the plurality of particles to be bound together into a desired shape, the desired shape having desirable properties.

Abstract: PEMFCs based on perfluorinated ionomer membranes (such as NAFION) are limited to temperatures below 100° C. because of the critical dependence of NAFION conductivity on the stability of liquid water. Ion-conductive composite compositions provided by the present invention, ion exchange membranes including such composite compositions and fuel cells incorporating those membranes are capable of maintaining high conductivity and mechanical integrity when temperature is above 100° C.

Abstract: A proton exchange membrane is provided which includes a proton exchange polymer, such as Nafion®, and agglomerates of metal oxide or metal phosphate particles. The particles and agglomerates are characterized in specific embodiments in having a high specific surface area. In one configuration an included particle includes a metal oxide or metal phosphate such as SiO2, ZrO2, GeO2, SnO2, TiO2 or a zirconium phosphate. A further detailed proton exchange membrane provided according to an embodiment of the invention is a membrane in which one surface is enriched in agglomerates of group IV metal oxide or phosphate particles. Inventive membranes demonstrate improvement in performance under dehydrating conditions compared to unmodified Nafion membranes.

Abstract: Transition metal NZP type compounds are synthesized. Examples of these compounds include MnZr4(PO4)6, FeZr4(PO4)6, CoZr4(PO4)6, NiZr4(PO4)6, and CuZr4(PO4)6. These compounds are synthesized by the Xerogel process. These transition metal NZP type compounds can be used as colorants in applications such as ceramic glazes where high thermal stability of the colorant is important.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing zeolite which is useful as catalyst carrier for exhaust gas clean up by decomposition, reduction or oxidation catalyst carrier for synthesis and/or decomposition of organic or inorganic chemicals, and membrane for selective separation of organic substances, gases and inorganic cations. This new method is one in which a crystalline silica or amorphous glass contained in a fired ceramic substrate is used as a silica source for forming a natural or synthetic zeolite film on the ceramic substrate, while at the same time making the ceramic substrate porous.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating synthetic zeolite to remove organic template material therefrom and concurrently therewith effect dealumination of the zeolite. The method comprises the steps of providing a body of synthetic zeolite containing organic template material, the zeolite having an SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio of at least 7:1. The body is treated with a solution comprised of an alcohol selected from methanol, ethanol and propanol and an acid selected from hydrochloric, nitric and sulfuric acid at a temperature and time to remove the organic template material therefrom and to effect dealumination thereof to provide a treated zeolite product. The treated product is washed to remove residual solution and then dried to provide a synthetic zeolite product containing a reduced amount of organic template material and having an SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio of at least 7:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a controlled process for producing amorphous, microporous silica gels having a predetermined water sorption isotherm of moderate Type I shape having a separation factor between about 0.07 and 0.1 and micropore diameter size between about 6 and 8.7 angstroms. The present microporous silica gels are prepared by adjusting the pH of the reaction system or by doping the system with various elements during the hydrolysis and condensation of alkoxy silicates to form silica gels therefrom, and the hydrolyzed products are successively polymerized to form polymers and particles containing siloxane bonds as follows: ##STR1## Various factors, for example open vs closed system, amount of water used for hydrolysis, type of alkoxides and solvent, pH, amount of catalyst, temperature, aging and drying conditions etc., affect the nature and the rate of hydrolysis, condensation reactions and network formation, and consequently the properties of the final gel products.

Abstract: In order to measure the adsorption and desorption characteristics of water vapor by a porous or powdery sample, the sample is placed in an automated device which measures the difference between an equilibrium pressure and a sample pressure for various values of sample pressures, during both adsorption and desorption. A programmable computer calculates the amount of water vapor adsorption and desorption based upon the equilibrium pressure and can be used to control a printer for plotting the resulting data.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a process of reducing the polarity on the internal surfaces of various zeolites having a SiO.sub.2 to Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio of at least about 3 and an average pore diameter size within the range of from about 4 to about 10 angstroms. The modified zeolites in accordance with the present invention are prepared by heating the starting zeolite in an aqueous medium also containing an acid or a source of ammonium ions to at least partially dealuminize the zeolite and thereby increase the ratio of silicon to aluminum present in the tetrahedral structure. At the same time, the process provides for hydrogen ion exchange with respect to those zeolites which contain significant amounts of metallic cation in the structure thereby replacing the bulky metallic cations with less bulky hydrogen ions and thereby increasing the water adsorptive capacity of the zeolite.

Abstract: Compositionally triphasic nanocomposite gel is made by mixing two or more sols of ceramic precursor oxides. Such gel is then dried and ground to a fine powder which is pressed into compact bodies. The compact bodies are thereafter fired in a sintering oven at from 1100.degree. C. to 1400.degree. C. and, aided by the heat of reaction of the two or more nono gel powders, the (heterogeneous) mixture of such powders crystallizes into a homogeneous crystalline ceramic of .alpha.-cordierite at up to 100% of theoretical density. Thus, novel method of manufacture and novel ceramic end-product are provided.

Abstract: Ceramic oxide diphasic xerogels of structurally dissimilar phases (crystalline and amorphous, semicrystalline or noncrystalline) but compositionally similar phases will be converted to crystalline ceramic oxide products having enhanced densification when subjected to substantially lower sintering temperature.

Abstract: Cesium can be selectively recovered from a nuclear waste solution containing cesium together with other metal ions by contact with a modified phlogopite which is a hydrated, sodium phlogopite mica. Once the cesium has entered the modified phlogopite it is fixed and can be safely stored for long periods of time.

Abstract: A new cation exchanger is a modified tobermorite containing aluminum isomorphously substituted for silicon and containing sodium or potassium. The exchanger is selective for lead, rubidium, cobalt and cadmium and is selective for cesium over calcium or sodium. The tobermorites are compatable with cement and are useful for the long-term fixation and storage of radioactive nuclear wastes.