Abstract: Proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions are described. Proppant formulations which use one or more proppants of the present invention are described, as well as methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions, and other uses for the proppants and methods of making the proppants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an oxide containing a conductive mayenite type compound and having an electron concentration of 1×1018/cm3 or more, from a raw material which is a combination of a calcium compound and an aluminum compound or is a compound containing calcium and aluminum, each having a molar ratio of calcium oxide and aluminum oxide ranging from 9:10 to 14:5 in terms of the oxides, the method including the steps of: heating and holding the raw material at 900 to 1,300° C. to produce a calcined powder containing at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of a calcium aluminate, calcium oxide and aluminum oxide; and heating and holding the calcined powder at 1,200° C. to less than 1,415° C. under a reduction atmosphere in an inert gas atmosphere or a vacuum atmosphere each having an oxygen partial pressure of 1,000 Pa or less.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cathode active material for a lithium rechargeable battery, including: selecting a first metal compound from a group consisting of a halide, a phosphate, a hydrogen phosphate and a sulfate of Mg or Al; selecting a second metal compound from a group consisting of an oxide, a hydroxide and a carbonate of Mg or Al; combining the first metal compound and the second metal compound to obtain a metal compound, the metal compound containing either Mg or Al atoms; mixing a lithium compound, a transition metal compound and the metal compound to obtain a mixture; and sintering the mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for hydrolyzing hydrolyzable solid metallic salts, wherein the metallic salts are reacted with aqueous saline solutions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating spent pot liner material (SPL) containing carbon and/or an inorganic material, the method comprising: providing a plasma furnace having first and second electrodes for generating plasma and a crucible having a non-electrically conductive inner surface, heating the SPL material in the crucible in the presence of a flux material and an oxidant by passing an arc between the first and second electrodes via the SPL material to form a molten slag material and convert at least some of the carbon in the SPL material to CO and/or CO2 and/or incorporate at least some of the inorganic material into the molten slag material.

Abstract: The application of aqueous solution of magnesium bicarbonate and/or calcium bicarbonate in the process of extraction separation and purification of metals is disclosed, wherein the aqueous solution of magnesium bicarbonate and/or calcium bicarbonate is used as an acidity balancing agent, in order to adjust the balancing pH value of the extraction separation process which uses an acidic organic extractant, improve the extraction capacity of organic phase, and increase the concentration of metal ions in the loaded organic phase.

Abstract: The present disclosure suggests a method of manufacturing flake aluminum oxide using a microwave including: performing a pre-treatment on a starting material by grinding the starting material such as alumina hydrate, aluminum salt or the like and classifying particles with an appropriate size; manufacturing transition alumina by performing a heat treatment by means of heating the pre-treated starting material; mixing the transition alumina with molten salt and an additive and then dispersing and grinding the mixed compounds; melting and synthesizing flake aluminum oxide by heating the dispersed and grinded mixture with a microwave as a heating source; separating the molten salt and the additive from the synthesized aluminum oxide; and performing a post-treatment on the flake aluminum oxide by removing a foreign substance such as an additive residue stuck to a surface of a crystal particle of the separated flake aluminum oxide.

Abstract: Proposed is a method for collecting valuable metal from an ITO scrap by subjecting the ITO scrap to electrolysis and collecting the result as metallic indium. Specifically, the present invention proposes a method for selectively collecting metallic indium including the steps of subjecting the ITO scrap to electrolysis in an electrolytic bath partitioned with a diaphragm or an ion-exchange membrane, subsequently extracting anolyte temporarily, eliminating tin contained in the anolyte by a neutralization method, a replacement method or other methods, placing a solution from which the tin was eliminated in a cathode side again and performing electrolysis thereto; or a method for collecting valuable metal from an ITO scrap including the steps of obtaining a solution of In or Sn in an ITO electrolytic bath, eliminating the Sn in the solution, and collecting In in the collecting bath.

Abstract: Proposed is a method for collecting valuable metal from an ITO scrap in which a mixture of indium hydroxide and tin hydroxide or metastannic acid is collected by subjecting the ITO scrap to electrolysis in pH-adjusted electrolyte, and roasting this mixture as needed to collect the result as a mixture of indium oxide and tin oxide. This method enables the efficient collection of indium hydroxide and tin hydroxide or metastannic acid, or indium oxide and tin oxide from an ITO scrap of an indium-tin oxide (ITO) sputtering target or an ITO scrap such as ITO mill ends arisen during the manufacture of such ITO sputtering target.

Abstract: Proposed is a method for collecting valuable metal from an ITO scrap including the steps of subjecting the ITO scrap to electrolysis and collecting the result as indium-tin alloy. Additionally provided is a method for collecting valuable metal from an ITO scrap including the steps of providing an ITO electrolytic bath and an indium-tin alloy collecting bath, dissolving the ITO in the electrolytic bath, and thereafter collecting indium-tin alloy in the indium-tin alloy collecting bath. These methods enable the efficient collection of indium-tin alloy from an ITO scrap of an indium-tin oxide (ITO) sputtering target or an ITO scrap such as ITO mill ends arisen during the manufacture of such ITO sputtering target.

Abstract: Proposed is a method for collecting valuable metal from an ITO scrap including the steps of subjecting the ITO scrap to electrolysis in pH-adjusted electrolyte, and collecting indium or tin as oxides. Additionally proposed is a method for collecting valuable metal from an ITO scrap including the steps of subjecting the ITO scrap to electrolysis in an electrolytic bath partitioned with a diaphragm or an ion-exchange membrane to precipitate hydroxide of tin, thereafter extracting anolyte temporarily, and precipitating and collecting indium contained in the anolyte as hydroxide. With the methods for collecting valuable metal from an ITO scrap described above, indium or tin may be collected as oxides by roasting the precipitate containing indium or tin. Consequently, provided is a method for efficiently collecting indium from an ITO scrap of an indium-tin oxide (ITO) sputtering target or an ITO scrap such as ITO mill ends arisen during the manufacture of such ITO sputtering target.

Abstract: The invention relates to hydrotalcite intercalated by precipitated silica, and to the use thereof as a charge in a polymer composition. The invention also relates to polymer compositions comprising one such charge, and to finished articles based on such compositions.

Abstract: An improved method and composition for producing aluminum hydroxide crystals from precipitation liquor, involves the addition of an emulsified crystal growth modifier comprising a C8-C10 fatty acid, precursors, salts or blends thereof. The emulsified crystal growth modifier also facilitates an upward shift in particle size distribution of aluminum hydroxide and an upward shift in oxalate ball size.

Abstract: An improved method and composition for producing aluminum hydroxide crystals in a Bayer process pregnant liquor, involve the addition of an emulsified crystallization modifier comprising a C8-C10 fatty acid, precursors, salts or blends thereof. The alkyl chain of the fatty acid crystallization modifier is free of functional groups. The modifier yields a commercially viable product in the presence and absence of a hydrocarbon oil which dissolves the fatty acid. Further, the modifier, prepared in either an emulsified form or as a fatty acid neat, facilitates formation of oxalate aggregates greater than 200 ?m which may be readily screened out with minimum trihydrate loss.

Abstract: An improved method and composition for producing aluminum hydroxide crystals in a Bayer process pregnant liquor, involve the addition of a crystallization modifier comprising a C8-C10 fatty acid, precursors, salts or blends thereof. The alkyl chain of the fatty acid crystallization modifier is free of functional groups. The modifier yields a commercially in the presence and absence of an hydrocarbon oil which dissolves the fatty acid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system and process for recovering useful compounds from a byproduct composition produced in a silicon tetrafluoride production process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for separating radioisotope thallium-201. The device includes an evaporation unit for a solution vial, a first glass vial connected to a first valve and a second valve, an ion exchange column connected to a third valve, a second glass vial connected to a fourth valve and a fifth valve, a collection vial for receiving solution from the fifth valve, a product vial with a membrane filter and a vacuum unit connected to the first valve, the fourth valve and a sixth valve. This device can separate out high-concentration thallium-201 solution from which radioisotope thallium-201 can be obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and material for storing and retrieving hydrogen are presented. The apparatus comprises a storage component, and this component comprises a hydrogen storage medium. The hydrogen storage medium comprises gallium. The method for storing and retrieving hydrogen comprises providing a source of hydrogen; providing a storage component, the component comprising a hydrogen storage medium, wherein the hydrogen storage medium comprises gallium; and exposing the medium to hydrogen from the source. The material comprises at least about 10 atom percent gallium, with the balance comprising at least one of aluminum and boron. The material is a metallic alloy.

Abstract: A method of growing group III-nitride crystals in a mixture of supercritical ammonia and nitrogen, and the group-III crystals grown by this method. The group III-nitride crystal is grown in a reaction vessel in supercritical ammonia using a source material or nutrient that is polycrystalline group III-nitride, amorphous group III-nitride, group-III metal or a mixture of the above, and a seed crystal that is a group-III nitride single crystal. In order to grow high-quality group III-nitride crystals, the crystallization temperature is set at 550° C. or higher. Theoretical calculations show that dissociation of NH3 at this temperature is significant. However, the dissociation of NH3 is avoided by adding extra N2 pressure after filling the reaction vessel with NH3.

Abstract: Aluminium oxide powder produced by flame hydrolysis and consisting of aggregates of primary particles, having a BET surface area of from 100 to 250 m2/g, a dibutyl phthalate absorption of from 50 to 450 g/100 g of aluminium oxide powder, which powder shows only crystalline primary particles in high-resolution TEM pictures.

Abstract: A method of producing a proton conducting material, comprising adding a pyrophosphate salt to a solvent to produce a dissolved pyrophosphate salt; adding an inorganic acid salt to a solvent to produce a dissolved inorganic acid salt; adding the dissolved inorganic acid salt to the dissolved pyrophosphate salt to produce a mixture; substantially evaporating the solvent from the mixture to produce a precipitate; and calcining the precipitate at a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 1200° C.

Abstract: A method for using a heat processing apparatus of a batch type includes performing a preparatory process for removing aluminum present as a metal impurity from a quartz inner surface of a process container, and performing a main heat process on product substrates held on a holder member in the process container after the preparatory process. The preparatory process includes placing a plurality of dummy substrates for allowing the metal impurity to be deposited thereon inside a process container with no product substrates placed therein; then, supplying a chlorine-containing gas and water vapor into the process container and heating the quartz inner surface of the process container at a process temperature, thereby applying a baking process onto the quartz inner surface to discharge the metal impurity from the quartz inner surface and deposit the metal impurity onto the dummy substrates; and then, unloading the dummy substrates with the metal impurity deposited thereon from the reaction container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing metal oxide from metal compounds, in particular metal hydroxide or metal carbonate, in which the metal compound is conveyed into a reactor (25) with fluidized bed, heated there to a temperature of 650 15 to 1150° C. by combustion of fuel, and metal oxide is generated, as well as to a corresponding plant. To improve the utilization of energy, it is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through a gas supply tube (26) into a mixing chamber (20) of the reactor (25), the gas supply tube (26) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (27) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas, and 20 to adjust the gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture and of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bed (27) such that the Particle-Froude numbers in the gas supply tube (26) lie between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidized bed (27) between 0.02 and 2, and in the mixing chamber (20) between 0.3 and 30.

Abstract: A metal sulfide nanocrystal manufactured by a method of reacting a metal precursor and an alkyl thiol in a solvent, wherein the alkyl thiol reacts with the metal precursor to form the metal sulfide nanocrystals, wherein the alkyl thiol is present on the surface of the metal sulfide nanocrystal, wherein the alkyl thiol is bonded to the sulfur crystal lattice. A metal sulfide nanocrystal manufactured with a core-shell structure by a method of reacting a metal precursor and an alkyl thiol in a solvent to form a metal sulfide layer on the surface of a core, wherein the alkyl thiol is present on the surface of the metal sulfide nanocrystal, wherein the alkyl thiol is bonded to the sulfur crystal lattice. These metal sulfide nanocrystals can have a uniform particle size at the nanometer-scale level, selective and desired crystal structures, and various shapes.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a process for industrially advantageously producing InP fine particles having a nano-meter size efficiently in a short period of time and an InP fine particle dispersion, and there are provided a process for the production of InP fine particles by reacting an In raw material containing two or more In compounds with a P raw material containing at least one P compound in a solvent wherein the process uses, as said two or more In compounds, at least one first In compound having a group that reacts with a functional group of P compound having a P atom adjacent to an In atom to be eliminated with the functional group in the formation of an In-P bond and at least one second In compound having a lower electron density of In atom in the compound than said first In compound and Lewis base solvent as said solvent, and InP fine particles obtained by the process.

Abstract: The present invention provides ?-alumina powders comprising ?-alumina particles of which at least 80% of the ?-alumina particles have a particle size of less than 100 nm. The invention also provides slurries, particularly aqueous slurries, which comprise ?-alumina powders of the invention. The invention further provides methods of manufacturing ?-alumina powders and ?-alumina slurries of the invention and methods of polishing using same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a zero-waste process for extraction of alumina from different types of bauxite ores and red mud residues and of titanium dioxide from ilmenite. Iron oxide is first reduced to metallic iron above the melting point of C-saturated cast iron alloy which yields a high-C iron alloy and an Al and Ti metal oxide rich slag which is then treated with alkali carbonate to form alkali aluminates and titanates. The alkali aluminates are separated by water leaching from which the hydroxide of alumina is precipitated by bubbling CO2. The residue from water leaching is treated with sulphuric acid and TiO2 is precipitated via a hydrolysis route. The process recovers most of the metal values and generates only small quantities of silicious residues at pH4-5 which can be used for soil conditioning.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a particulate mixed metal hydroxide that includes nickel, cobalt and aluminium. The powder particles have a core of nickel/cobalt hydroxide, and a surface that is coated with amorphous aluminium hydroxide. A process for the continuous preparation of such mixed metal hydroxides is also described. The process includes precipitating aluminium hydroxide in the presence of a nickel/cobalt mixed hydroxide in a tube reactor. The mixed metal hydroxides of the present invention may be used to prepare active materials for positive electrodes of a secondary battery.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of synthesizing an aluminophosphate or metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieve comprising an AEI structure type material, in which the rate of heating to the crystallization temperature is controlled, either alone or in combination with the H2O:Al2O3 molar ratio of the synthesis mixture, so as to enhance the yield of the desired molecular sieve product.

Abstract: It is aimed at providing an oxynitride powder, which is suitable for usage as a phosphor, is free from coloration due to contamination of impurities, and mainly includes a fine ?-sialon powder. An oxynitride powder is produced by applying a heat treatment in a reducing and nitriding atmosphere, to a precursor compound including at least constituent elements M, Si, Al, and O (where M is one element or mixed two or more elements selected from Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu), thereby decreasing an oxygen content and increasing a nitrogen content of the precursor.

Abstract: The invention relates to nanoscale rutile or oxide powder that is obtained by producing amorphous TiO2 by mixing an alcoholic solution with a titanium alcoholate and with an aluminum alcohalate and adding water and acid. The amorphous, aluminum-containing TiO2 is isolated by removing the solvent, and is redispersed in water in the presence of a tin salt. Thermal or hydrothermal post-processing yields rutile or oxide that can be redispersed to primary particle size. The n-rutile or the obtained oxide having a primary particle size ranging between 5 and 20 nm can be incorporated into all organic matrices so that they remain transparent. Photocatalytic activity is suppressed by lattice doping with trivalent ions. If the amorphous precursor is redispersed in alcohol, or not isolated, but immediately crystallized, an anatase is obtained that can be redispersed to primary particle size.

Abstract: A boehmite particulate material is disclosed. The material is formed by a process that includes providing a boehmite precursor and boehmite seeds in a suspension, and heat treating the suspension to convert the boehmite precursor into boehmite particulate material. The boehmite particulate material has an aspect ratio of not less than 3:1.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a method for producing stable alkaline metal oxide sols having a uniform particle size distribution. The method comprises the steps of: heating a metal compound at a temperature of 60° C. to 110° C. in an aqueous medium that contains a carbonate of quaternary ammonium; and carrying out hydrothermal processing at a temperature of 110° C. to 250° C. The carbonate of quaternary ammonium is (NR4)2CO3 or NR4HCO3 in which R represents a hydrocarbon group, or a mixture thereof. The metal compound is one, or two or more metal compounds selected from a group of compounds based on a metal having a valence that is bivalent, trivalent, or tetravalent.

Abstract: In the mining process, linear, branched, hyperbranched or dendrimeric polyols or mixtures thereof are employed as process stabilization aids for aqueous solutions and, or suspensions of metal salts. A specific application area of the polyols is the stabilization of bauxite liquor in the Bayer process of producing alumina from bauxite.

Abstract: A modified polymer material is discloses, including a polymer base and boehmite particles provided in the polymer base, the boehmite particles are made up of mainly anisotropically shaped particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides high purity anhydrous aluminium chloride which is freed as completely as possible from all the major impurity components (impurity metals) derived from starting aluminium used in industrial production of anhydrous aluminium chloride, wherein a content of the major impurity components except gallium (Ga), such as Na, K, Si, Fe, etc. is 1 ppm or less, and a purity of the anhydrous aluminium chloride as determined by subtracting a total content of the impurity components is 99.99% by weight or more, preferably 99.999% or more, and a process for production thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a production process, which can stably produce high-quality satin white (calcium trisulfoaluminate) having very small and homogeneous particulate shapes suitable for incorporation into coated paper for printing, and an apparatus for use in said process. In this process for producing calcium trisulfoaluminate, a calcium hydroxide suspension (A) is reacted with an aqueous aluminum sulfate solution (B) to produce calcium trisulfoaluminate (C). The aqueous aluminum sulfate solution (B) is added in plurality of stages to the calcium hydroxide suspension (A). At least any one stage of the plurality of stages addition, addition of the aqueous aluminum sulfate solution (B) to the calcium hydroxide suspension (A) is carried out in such a manner that the aqueous aluminum sulfate solution (B) is continuously added to the calcium hydroxide suspension (A) being continuously transferred.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing metal sulfide nanocrystals using a thiol compound as a sulfur precursor. The method comprises reacting the thiol compound and a metal precursor in a solvent to grow metal sulfide crystals to the nanometer-scale level. Further disclosed is a method for manufacturing metal sulfide nanocrystals with a core-shell structure by reacting a metal precursor and a thiol compound in a solvent to grow a metal sulfide layer on the surface of a core. The metal sulfide nanocrystals prepared by these methods can have a uniform particle size at the nanometer-scale level, selective and desired crystal structures, and various shapes.

Abstract: The present invention provides gibbsite type aluminum hydroxide particles having a primary particle diameter of from 0.01 ?m to 0.3 ?m and a DOP oil absorption of from 90 mL/100 g to 300 mL/100 g.

Abstract: The present invention provides ?-alumina powders comprising ?-alumina particles of which at least 80% of the ?-alumina particles have a particle size of less than 100 nm. The invention also provides slurries, particularly aqueous slurries, which comprise ?-alumina powders of the invention. The invention further provides methods of manufacturing ?-alumina powders and ?-alumina slurries of the invention and methods of polishing using same.

Abstract: A process for producing a trivalent metal ion compound is provided. The process combines a trivalent metal organo-oxide M?OR1)3 with a dione under reaction conditions to yield a reaction product where R1 in each occurrence independently is a C1-C8 alkyl, C6-C12 cycloalkyl, or C6-C14 aryl; R2 in each occurrence independently is H, C1-C8 alkyl, C6-C12 cycloalkyl, or C6-C14 aryl; M is a trivalent main group or lanthanide metal ion of Al, Ga, In, Ti, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Zr, or Lu, and n is 3 with the proviso that when M is Zr n is 4. The reaction product has impurity levels of the order of tens of parts per million by weight when formed from reagent grade M?OR1)3. The reaction product is isolated and freeze-dried without need for washing to preclude wash solution contamination.

Abstract: A mesoporous alumina molecular sieve and a method of manufacturing a mesoporous alumina mesoporous alumina molecular sieve of the invention is produced without using traditionally used additives. Also, because the size and distribution of the pores can be controlled, the molecular sieve can be produced simply and economically, producing molecular sieve with high surface area and thermal stability. Further, a method of manufacturing an alumina nanotube by using a surfactant and a use of the alumina nanotube as a hydrogen storage material are provided.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing alumina abrasive for use in chemical mechanical polishing are described, wherein the abrasive is in a slurry having gamma alumina formed in a low temperature fuming process, water, an acid sufficient to maintain the pH below about 7, wherein the slurry does not settle appreciably in an 8 to 24 hour period. Advantageously, the alumina is wet-milled without the use of wet-milling salt additives.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing acids in a system in which aromatic hydrocarbons are separated from a mixture with aliphatic hydrocarbons. The aromatic hydrocarbons are extracted from the mixture using an extracting solvent. The aromatic hydrocarbons are stripped from the extracting solvent with steam and the steam is condensed to form water which is separated from the aromatic hydrocarbons. The separated water is passed through a basic anion exchange column and is then heated to produce the steam.

Abstract: A black composite oxide particle includes a composite oxide having Fe, Mg and Al as metal components. The particle contains Fe, Mg and Al in amounts of 30 to 55 mass %, 1 to 10 mass %, and 1 to 10 mass %, respectively, and has an atomic ratio of Fe3+/Fe2+ of 0.8 to 10. Also described is a method for producing the black composite oxide particle. In an embodiment, the particle includes a hydrated composite oxide represented by an empirical formula: Fe2+aFe3+bMgcAldOe·nH2O. The black composite oxide particle is suitable as a black pigment for a coating material, an ink, toner particles, a rubber and a plastic, and is reduced with respect to the load on the environment and excellent in blackness.

Abstract: Granular secondary particles of a lithium-manganese composite oxide suitable for use in non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries showing high-output characteristics which are granular secondary particles made up of aggregated crystalline primary particles of a lithium-manganese composite oxide and have many micrometer-size open voids therein with a defined average diameter and total volume of open voids. A process for producing the granular secondary particles which includes spray-drying a slurry of at least a manganese oxide, a lithium source, and an agent for open-void formation to thereby granulate the slurry and then calcining the granules.

Abstract: A method for the production of aluminum from bauxites containing aluminum monohydate of the diaspore or boehmite type which may contain more than 1.5% by weight of calcium carbonates. The ore is digested by producing feeding a suspension produced from milled bauxite ore and concentrated aluminate liquor to a plant with a series of autoclaves and a series of regulators supplying tubular reheaters across the autoclaves with steam. The suspension first travels across the series of autoclaves, and on exiting, the digestion of the ore is practically complete, and the suspension then travels across the series of regulators. The condensation water from the steam coming from the regulator and feeding the reheater is collected in a purge pot. Within the series of regulators, the suspension is diluted on entering a regulator with the water coming from the condensation of the steam from one or several upstream regulators.

Abstract: Mesoporous aluminum oxides with high surface areas have been synthesized using inexpensive, small organic templating agents instead of surfactants. Optionally, some of the aluminum can be framework-substituted by one or more other elements. The material has high thermal stability and possesses a three-dimensionally randomly connected mesopore network with continuously tunable pore sizes. This material can be used as catalysts for dehydration, hydrotreating, hydrogenation, catalytic reforming, steam reforming, amination, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and Diels-Alder synthesis, etc.

Abstract: The present invention is focused on a revolutionary, low-cost (highly-scaleable) approach for the mass production of three-dimensional microcomponents: the biological reproduction of naturally-derived, biocatalytically-derived, and/or genetically-tailored three-dimensional microtemplates (e.g., frustules of diatoms, microskeletons of radiolarians, shells of mollusks) with desired dimensional features, followed by reactive conversion of such microtemplates into microcomponents with desired compositions that differ from the starting microtemplate and with dimensional features that are similar to those of the starting microtemplate. Because the shapes of such microcomponents may be tailored through genetic engineering of the shapes of the microtemplates, such microcomposites are considered to be Genetically-Engineered Materials (GEMs).

Abstract: The method relates to a pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical process for the recovery and recycling of lithium and vanadium compounds from a material comprising spent rechargeable lithium batteries, particularly lithium metal gel and solid polymer electrolyte rechargeable batteries. The method involves providing a mass of the material, hardening it by cooling at a temperature below room temperature, comminuting the mass of cooled and hardened material, digesting with an acid its ashes obtained by incineration, or its solidified salts obtained by molten salt oxidation, or the comminuted mass itself, to give a mother liquor, extracting vanadium compounds from the mother liquor, separating heavy metals and aluminium therefrom, and precipitating lithium carbonate from the remaining solution.