Abstract: A method for recovering lithium according to this invention comprises separating sodium from a lithium-containing solution containing lithium ions and sodium ions to recover lithium, wherein the method comprises a solvent extraction step including: at least three-stage extraction process having a first extraction process, a second extraction process, and a third extraction process; and a lithium back extraction stage of back extracting the lithium ions from a solvent that have undergone the at least three-stage extraction process; and wherein, in the extraction process, the solvent undergoes the first extraction process, the second extraction process, and the third extraction process in this order, and a solution as the lithium-containing solution undergoes the respective processes in opposite order to the order of the solvent.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for counter-current solids leaching. A multi-stage countercurrent leaching chamber can include a top and bottom end, a barren liquor input, two or more regions for countercurrent mixing, and a barren solids output. The input can be configured to receive barren liquor. The two or more regions for countercurrent mixing and separation can be configured to mix and separate liquid and solid phases. The barren solids output can be configured to collect and discharge barren solids from the bottom end of the multi-stage countercurrent leaching chamber. A fluidized bed chamber and clarifier chamber can also be included, where the fluidized bed receives a fluidizable slurry of pregnant solids and the clarifier chamber aids in separating liquids from solids passing from a top of the fluidized bed chamber to the top end of the multi-stage countercurrent leaching chamber.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for the removal of arsenic and antimony from a so-called “dirty” copper concentrate (101) is described. The process comprises the following steps: Step 1: repulping (100) the “dirty” copper concentrate with an alkaline lixiviant (102, 103), and subjecting the “dirty” copper concentrate to an alkaline leaching process (“the Leach”) in a Leach reactor (110). The arsenic and antimony are dissolved in the Leach to produce a “clean” copper concentrate (138) and leach discharge liquor (132). Step 2: subjecting the Leach discharge liquor (132) to a lime treatment step (151) in order to regenerate (150) the alkaline lixiviant as well as precipitate an impurity rich precipitate (161) containing arsenic and antimony. Then the impurity rich precipitate (161) is separated (160) from the regenerated alkaline lixiviant (162). The impurity rich precipitate is washed and disposed of in an environmentally safe condition.

Abstract: This is directed to a novel chemical mixture process resulting in the production of an inorganic polymeric water complex with enhanced surface acting agent characteristic derived from the synergistic effects caused by individual chemical mechanisms within the mixture that is capable of separating, extracting and recovering hydrocarbons from tar/oil sands, oil shale, petroleum tailings or other types of terra based hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A composite particle and a population of particles comprising a water-insoluble polyphosphate composition, methods of producing, and methods of using the same are provided. The polyphosphate composition may comprise at least one alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium and optionally at least one nutrient ion selected from the group consisting of potassium, ammonium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, boron, chlorine, iodine, molybdenum, selenium or sulfur.

Abstract: A method is employed for producing a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery that comprises mixing lithium phosphate having a particle diameter D90 of 100 ?m or less, an M element-containing compound having a particle diameter D90 of 100 ?m or less (where, M is one type or two or more types of elements selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Ge, Cu, Cr, Ti, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Al, Ga, In, Si, B and rare earth elements) and water, adjusting the concentration of the M element with respect to water to 4 moles/L or more to obtain a raw material, and producing olivine-type LiMPO4 by carrying out hydrothermal synthesis using the raw material.

Abstract: A process for recovering a metal chloride or mixed metal chloride from a solid waste material comprising recoverable metal containing constituents produced by lead, copper or zinc smelting and refining processes, said process comprising the steps of: (i) heating the solid waste material; (ii) treating the heated material of step (i) with a gaseous chloride to form a gaseous metal chloride containing product; and (iii) treating the gaseous metal chloride containing product of step (ii) to recover the metal chloride or mixed metal chloride. The metal chloride may be further treated to extract the metal itself.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of producing fine particulate alkali metal niobate in a liquid phase system, wherein the size and shape of particles of the fine particulate alkali metal niobate can be controlled; and fine particulate alkali metal niobate having a controlled shape and size. Specifically disclosed are a method of producing particulate sodium-potassium niobate represented by the formula (1): NaxK(1-x)NbO3 (1), the method including four specific steps, wherein a high-concentration alkaline solution containing Na+ ion and K+ ion is used as an alkaline solution; and particulate sodium-potassium niobate having a controlled shape and size.

Abstract: Sodium hexatitanate having a mean particle diameter in the range of 2-5 ?m and an indeterminate shape, and is either obtained by firing a milled mixture obtained as a result of mechanochemical milling of a titanium source and a sodium source or prepared from sodium trititanate obtained by firing a milled mixture obtained as a result of mechanochemical milling of a titanium source and a sodium source.

Abstract: A boundary layer carbonation process for producing sodium bicarbonate crystals having specific surface area in the range 0.4 m2/g to 2.5 m2/g from Trona, wherein in one embodiment the process comprises the steps of: providing Trona particles having a particle size range of ?4 +120 mesh; pre-wetting the Trona particles with water to provide a plurality of pre-wetted Trona particles each having a liquid water solution boundary layer deposited thereon; and carbonating the pre-wetted Trona particles across the water boundary layer to provide a product comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of producing fine particulate alkali metal niobate in a liquid phase system, wherein the size and shape of the particulate alkali metal niobate can be controlled; and fine particulate alkali metal niobate having a controlled shape and size. One of specifically disclosed is a method of producing a substantially rectangular cuboid particulate alkali metal niobate represented by MNbO3 (1), wherein M represents one element selected from alkaline metals, including specific four steps. Another one of specifically disclosed is particulate alkali metal niobate represented by the formula (1) having a substantially rectangular cuboid shape, wherein the substantially rectangular cuboid shape has a longest side and a shortest side, the length of the longest side represented by an index Lmax is 0.10 to 25 ?m, and the length of the shortest side represented by an index Lmin is 0.050 to 15 ?m.

Abstract: A method for removing impurities from a waste solid to provide at least a portion of a suitable crystallizer feed to a process for making crystalline sodium carbonate, bicarbonate, and/or other derivatives. The method comprises: contacting the waste solid with a leach solution to dissolve at least one impurity and dissolving the resulting leached residue. Leaching may include heap percolation. The leach solution may comprise a crystallizer purge liquor, a process waste effluent, a mine water, or mixtures thereof. The method may further comprise adding a magnesium compound to the resulting leached residue during or after its dissolution to remove another impurity. The waste solid preferably comprises a pond solid containing such impurities. The pond solid may be recovered from a pond receiving crystallizer purge liquor(s) and/or other process waste effluent(s). The pond solid may contain sodium carbonate, any hydrate thereof, sodium bicarbonate, and/or sodium sesquicarbonate.

Abstract: A method for preparation of a getter material on the basis of intermetallic compounds of barium is described. The method comprises preparing a melt of a ternary mixture containing barium, metal and sodium; directionally solidifying the melt to produce a textured ingot; granulating the textured ingot, thereby obtaining granules having open-ended voids extending therethrough; and evaporating the sodium from the granules by applying a thermovacuum treatment to the granules. The textured ingot comprises a getter body made of intermetallic compounds of barium; and open-ended voids within the getter body.

Abstract: A process for extracting metal values from ores or residues is disclosed. The process mentioned above is mainly suitable for aluminoferrous ores such as bauxite, titanoferrous ores such as ilmenite, or residues such as red mud waste. The process involves pulverizing the ore and/or residue and mixing with a carbonaceous material, followed by smelting the iron values and slag in the mixture to yield molten iron and oxides of aluminum and titanium. The process is simple, cost-effective, and provides effective extraction of high purity metal values.

Abstract: A method for preparing a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery is provided. The preparing method includes: adding a phosphorus compound to a transition metal oxide dispersion liquid to prepare a coating liquid; drying the coating liquid to prepare a powder including phosphorus oxide coated on the surface of the transition metal oxide; and dry-mixing the powder coated with the phosphorus oxide with a lithium intercalation compound, and then firing the mixture to form a solid solution compound of L1-M1-M2-P—O (where M1 is a transition metal derived from transition metal oxide, and M2 is a metal derived from lithium intercalation compound) on the surface of the lithium intercalation compound. The method for preparing a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery simplifies the conventional preparing process to save process cost, and it provides comparable electrochemical characteristics to a cathode active material obtained from a wet process.

Abstract: A cyclic process for the preparation of barium sulphate and lithium-iron phosphate comprising (i) preparing an aqueous solution containing lithium and sulphate ions and (ii) adding solid barium hydroxide at a temperature of more than 50° C., wherein the barium hydroxide is added over a period of less than 15 minutes. Also, barium sulphate obtainable by the process according to the invention.

Abstract: A boundary layer carbonation process for producing sodium bicarbonate crystals having specific surface area in the range 0.4 m2/g to 2.5 m2/g from Trona, wherein in one embodiment the process comprises the steps of: providing Trona particles having a particle size range of ?4+120 mesh; pre-wetting the Trona particles with water to provide a plurality of pre-wetted Trona particles each having a liquid water solution boundary layer deposited thereon; and carbonating the pre-wetted Trona particles across the water boundary layer to provide a product comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals.

Abstract: The LiMPO4 compound is synthesized by reacting a compound of general formula XMPO4, nH2O where X represents a radical selected from —NH4 and —H and M is a transition metal selected from Co, Ni and Mn, with a lithium source such as lithium nitrate, at a temperature lower than or equal to 350° C. The XMPO4, nH2O compound further exhibits a particular morphology in the form of platelets that is preserved during the reaction between the two precursors. The LiMPO4 compound thus synthesized is advantageously used as active material of an electrode for a lithium storage battery.

Abstract: A filter type trapping agent for volatile cesium compound and trapping method for volatile cesium compound thereof are provided. More particularly, a filter type trapping agent for volatile cesium compound including silica 40-65% by weight of silica, 15-30% by weight of alumina, 5-15% by weight of iron oxide, 1-15% by weight of molybdenum oxide, 1-10% by weight of chromium oxide, and 1-10% by weight of vanadium oxide and trapping method for volatile cesium compound thereof are provided. Through a filter type trapping agent for volatile cesium compound and a trapping method, only cesium can be selectively separated among the nuclear fission gases. Accordingly, by disposing only the filter where cesium is trapped, the efficiency of an off-gas process improves, expense for disposing filter wastes decreases, and a cesium isotope of the waste filter can be recycled. Therefore, many forms of cesium compound gas are made insoluble efficiently.

Abstract: A preparation method of lithium carbonate, in recovering valuable resources of a lithium-ion battery, reducing impurities from lithium carbonate, having a pretreatment process, comprising: a first step cleaning an organic phase containing nickel and lithium prepared by a solvent extraction by use of a sulfuric acid solution containing nickel and enriching lithium in the cleaning solution; a second step extracting a residual nickel only by an organic solvent from a post-cleaning solution in which the lithium is enriched; and a third step controlling pH of the post-extraction solution containing the lithium by ammonia water or lithium hydroxide.

Abstract: A process for formulating high purity potassium chloride from a carnallite source. The process takes advantage of solubility differences and saturation levels in a multiple salt system generated upon dissolution of carnallite. In the system, the sodium chloride is kept in solution and the magnesium chloride present in the system is controlled to be in a concentration range of between 12% and 25% by weight. This avoids co-precipitation of sodium chloride with the potassium chloride during crystallization and therefore prevents the sodium chloride from contaminating the potassium chloride. The result is high grade potassium chloride.

Abstract: A potassium titanate, method for manufacturing the potassium titanate, a friction material using the potassium titanate and a resin composition using the potassium titanate are disclosed. The potassium titanate is represented by K2TinO(2n+1) (n=4.0-11.0) and has the highest X-ray diffraction intensity peak (2?) in the range of 11.0°-13.5° with its half width being not less than 0.5°.

Abstract: A composition that provides a combination of bactericidal, fungicidal, insecticidal, hormonal and nutritional activity when treating plants in an effective amount. The composition is an aqueous ammonium salicylate, potassium salicylate, and potassium acetate solution consisting essentially of: a first reaction product of salicylic acid and ammonium hydroxide reacted in an aqueous media with ammonium hydroxide and further reacting with a second reaction product made by combining potassium acetate and potassium hydroxide. Urea and primary nutrients, secondary nutrients and micronutrients can be subsequently added to the composition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering a metal and separating arsenic from an arsenic-containing solution. The method includes contacting the arsenic-containing solution with a fixing agent that comprises a rare earth compound to produce an arsenic-depleted solution and an arsenic-laden fixing agent. The fixing agent comprises a rare earth-containing compound that can include cerium, lanthanum, or praseodymium. The fixing agent is separated from the arsenic-depleted solution and a recoverable metal is separated from one or more of the arsenic-containing solution and the arsenic-depleted solution. Recoverable metals can include metal from Group IA, Group IIA, Group VIII and the transition metals. The arsenic-containing solution can be formed by contacting an arsenic-containing material with a leaching agent. Arsenic-depleted solids formed during the leach can also be separated and recovered.

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: A method for producing an alkali metal iodide salt solution including combusting a liquid for combustion so as to combust a combustible component of the liquid for combustion; and subsequently cooling a resultant gas containing a decomposition product. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a liquid containing (i) an alkali metal iodide salt, (ii) an inorganic-salt-forming substance capable of forming, at combustion, an inorganic salt containing an alkali metal and (iii) an organic compound; (b) adding to the liquid a precipitation solvent capable of depositing the inorganic-salt-forming substance; (c) removing from the liquid the inorganic-salt-forming substance precipitated in the step (b) so as to obtain the liquid for combustion; and (d) combusting the liquid for combustion and subsequently cooling the resultant gas containing a decomposition product.

Abstract: The invention relates to lithium argyrodite of the general formula (I): Li+(12-n-x)Bn+X2?6-xY?x (I), where Bn+ is selected from the group consisting of P, As, Ge, Ga, Sb, Si, Sn, Al, In, Ti, V, Nb, and Ta; X2? is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Te; Y? is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, F, CN, OCN, SCN, and N3; 0?x?2, and a method for the production thereof, and the use thereof as a lithium-ion electrolyte in primary and secondary electrochemical energy storage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solutions comprising water and at least one metal cyanide, at least a part of the water being obtained from wastewater which occurs as depleted wastewater in a process for extracting noble metals from noble metal-containing ores by the cyanide process, the process for the preparation of solutions according to the invention and to the use of the solutions according to the invention in a process for extracting noble metals from noble metal-containing ores by the cyanide process, to a process for extracting noble metals from noble metal-containing ores by the cyanide process, wherein the solution according to the invention is used, and to the use of depleted wastewater occurring in the extraction of noble metals from noble metal-containing ores by the cyanide process to the preparation of solutions comprising water and at least one metal cyanide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low sodium salt composition and the method used to make it. More particularly, the invention relates to a two step method of making a salt composition. The first step includes contacting a chloride salt with a modifier to form a chloride salt product, mixing the product with a carrier to form a modified chloride salt solution, and spray drying the modified chloride salt solution. The second step includes contacting the dried modified chloride salt with sodium chloride, and grinding the mixture to form a salt composition. The composition includes a combination of sodium chloride and carrier modified chloride salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of enriching element content in stable isotopes of light elements in ion-exchange chromatography. The process comprises development of band of light elements in a chromatographic column; elution of said band in a discontinuous basis so as to disconnect said chromatographic column at particular stage; and finally the process comprises of regeneration step.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing chromates, especially for producing alkali metal chromates. The method comprises following steps: the obtaining of a mixture of alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal chromate, and ferrous residue after the reaction of chromite ore with an oxidant in the reactor in the presence of molten salt or in aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide, the obtaining of a leaching slurry by leaching the reaction products with aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide, the separating of the primary chromate product from the leaching slurry, the obtaining of pure chromate crystal by purifying the primary chromate product. Both the primary chromate product and the pure chromate crystal can be used as the raw materials to manufacture other chromium compounds. Compared with the currently-used roasting method, the method has the advantages of decreasing the reaction temperature by about 700° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a treatment of high-level waste of radiochemical production containing radionuclides and macro-admixtures including sodium. The method of extraction of radionuclides by processing acidic aqueous waste solutions by extractants containing macrocyclic compounds selected from the group of crown ethers having aromatic fragments containing alkyl and/or hydroxyalkyl substituents of a linear and/or branched structure, and/or cyclohexane fragments containing alkyl and/or hydroxyalkyl substituents of a linear and/or branched structure, and/or fragments of —O—CHR—CH2O—, where R is the normal or branched alkyl or hydroxyalkyl in organic solvents containing polyfluorinated telomeric alcohol 1,1,7-trihydrododecafluoroheptanol-1 having the formula H(CF2CF2)nCH2OH, where n=3, and a mixture of polyoxyethylene glycol ethers of synthetic primary higher aliphatic alcohols of a fraction C12-C14 of a general formula CnH2n+1O(C2H4O)mH, where n=12-14, m=2 is proposed.

Abstract: A low-melting point, heat transfer fluid comprising a mixture of LiNO3, NaNO3, KNO3, NaNO2 and KNO2 salts where the Li, Na and K cations are present in amounts of about 20-33.5 mol % Li, about 18.6-40 mol % Na, and about 40-50.3 mol % K and where the nitrate and nitrite anions are present in amounts of about 36-50 mol % NO3, and about 50-62.5 mol % NO2. These compositions can have liquidus temperatures between 70° C. and 80° C. for some compositions.

Abstract: Processes are described for the extraction and recovery of alkali metal from the char that results from catalytic gasification of a carbonaceous material. Among other steps, the processes of the invention include a hydrothermal leaching step in which a slurry of insoluble particulate comprising insoluble alkali metal compounds is treated with carbon dioxide and steam at elevated temperatures and pressures to effect the conversion of insoluble alkali metal compounds to soluble alkali metal compounds. Further, processes are described for the catalytic gasification of a carbonaceous material where a substantial portion of alkali metal is extracted and recovered from the char that results from the catalytic gasification process.

Abstract: A filter type trapping agent for volatile cesium compound and trapping method for volatile cesium compound thereof are provided. More particularly, a filter type trapping agent for volatile cesium compound including silica 40˜65% by weight of silica, 15˜30% by weight of alumina, 5˜15% by weight of iron oxide, 1˜15% by weight of molybdenum oxide, 1˜10% by weight of chromium oxide, and 1˜10% by weight of vanadium oxide and trapping method for volatile cesium compound thereof are provided. Through a filter type trapping agent for volatile cesium compound and a trapping method, only cesium can be selectively separated among the nuclear fission gases. Accordingly, by disposing only the filter where cesium is trapped, the efficiency of an off-gas process improves, expense for disposing filter wastes decreases, and a cesium isotope of the waste filter can be recycled. Therefore, many forms of cesium compound gas are made insoluble efficiently.

Abstract: Processes are described for the extraction and recovery of alkali metal from the char that results from catalytic gasification of a carbonaceous material. Among other steps, the processes of the invention include a hydrothermal leaching step in which a slurry of insoluble particulate comprising insoluble alkali metal compounds is treated with carbon dioxide and steam at elevated temperatures and pressures to effect the conversion of insoluble alkali metal compounds to soluble alkali metal compounds. Further, processes are described for the catalytic gasification of a carbonaceous material where a substantial portion of alkali metal is extracted and recovered from the char that results from the catalytic gasification process.

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: The invention relates to a combined process for preparing a calcined soda from a natural soda containing sodium chloride, soda and sodium sulphate, which comprises steps: (a) dissolving the natural soda to prepare an aqueous solution; (b) obtaining sodium carbonate decahydrate crystals from the natural soda solution by using a separation method of attaching crystallization; and (c) treating the obtained sodium carbonate decahydrate crystals to obtain the calcined soda. The selection to raw materials in the combined process is widened, and the associated minerals, such as sodium chloride, soda and sodium sulphate, can be separated as simple substances. The species of the obtained calcined soda and anhydrous sodium sulphate are abundant, and their purities are high. Moreover, the entire processes can be recycled, and there is no discharge of smoke, dust, waste liquid and so on.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an active material for lithium ion battery capable of producing a lithium ion battery having an excellent high rate charge and discharge performance and a lithium ion battery having an excellent high rate charge and discharge performance. The present invention provides an active material for lithium ion battery represented by a composition formula: Li[Li(1-x)/3AlxTi(5-2x)/3]O4 (??x<1) lithium titanate is substituted with Al, and a lithium ion battery using this active material as a negative electrode active material.

Abstract: A low-melting point, heat transfer fluid made of a mixture of five inorganic salts including about 29.1-33.5 mol % LiNO3, 0-3.9 mol % NaNO3, 2.4-8.2 mol % KNO3, 18.6-19.9 mol % NaNO2, and 40-45.6 mol % KNO2. These compositions can have liquidus temperatures below 80° C. for some compositions.

Abstract: Anisotropically shaped ceramic particles are represented by the general formula {(K1?x?yNaxLiy)4(Nb1?zTaz)6O17+aMeOb} (where Me is at least one element selected from the group consisting of antimony, copper, manganese, vanadium, silicon, titanium, and tungsten; and b is a positive number determined by the valence of Me), where x, y, z, and a satisfy 0?x?0.5, 0?y?0.3, 0?z?0.3, and 0.001?a?0.1, respectively. The anisotropically shaped ceramic particles have a plate-like shape. The average particle size is 1 to 100 ?m, and the ratio D/t of the maximum diameter D of a main surface to the thickness t in a direction perpendicular to the main surface is 2 or more, preferably 5 or more. Thus, anisotropically shaped ceramic particles suitable as a reactive template for preparing a crystal-oriented alkali metal niobate-based ceramic can be produced at relatively low production costs without the need for a complicated production process.

Abstract: Methods for the production of shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structures, wherein a nanoscale-to-microscale template is provided having an original chemical composition and an original shape, and the nanoscale-to-microscale template subjected to a chemical reaction, so as to partially or completely convert the nanoscale-to-microscale template into the shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structure having a chemical composition different than the original chemical composition and having substantially the same shape as the original shape, being a scaled version of the original shape. The shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structure formed comprises an element (such as silicon), a metallic alloy (such as a silicon alloy), or a non-oxide compound (such as silicon carbide or silicon nitride).

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 system and method for conversion of alkali metals, heavy metals, halogens, and sulfur into mineral products. The system includes a single reaction vessel. To begin the process, co-reactants such as lime and clay are mixed with waste feeds containing alkali metals, heavy metals, halogens, and sulfur. This mixture is then introduced into the reaction vessel. The reaction vessel is operated under reducing conditions. After the mineral products are allowed to form, they are collected from the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one metallic element from ore or other material is described and includes reacting ore or other material with a salt capable of recovering the metallic element from the ore or other material to form a reaction product that includes the metallic element. The method also includes recovering the metallic element from the reaction product. To remove the metallic element from the reaction product, the method can involve crushing the reaction product to form a crushed material and dissolving the crushed material in a solvent to remove the precipitates, thereby leaving a sulfate solution containing the metallic element.

Abstract: Particulate material to be calcined is conditioned and then introduced into a stream of flue gases which transport the material along a sloping drying duct while drying the material. The dried material is then introduced into the same stream of flue gases upstream of the drying duct, and the flue gases transport the dried material along a sloping preheating duct while preheating the material. The preheated material is fed tangentially into the lower end of a vertical calcine reactor and calcined product is withdrawn tangentially from the upper end of the reactor. The flue gases used for drying and preheating are produced in the calcine reactor and are cooled during the drying and preheating.

Abstract: Methods are described for the production of hydrogen-bis(chelato)borates of the general formula H[BL1L2] and of alkali metal-bis(chelato)borates of the general formula M[BL1L2] where M=Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs L1=—OC(O)—(CR1R2)n—C(O)O— or —OC(O)—(CR3R4)—O— where n=0 or 1, R1, R2, R3, R4 independently of one another denote H, alkyl, aryl or silyl, L2=—OC(O)—(CR5R6)n—C(O)O— or —OC(O)—(CR7R8)—O— where n=0 or 1, R5, R6, R7, R8 independently of one another denote H, alkyl, aryl or silyl, wherein the respective raw materials are mixed in solid form without the addition of solvents and are reacted. Lithium-bis(oxalato)borate, lithium-bis(malonato)borate, caesium-bis-(oxalato)borate, caesium-bis-(malonato)borate and the mixed salts lithium(lactato,oxalato)borate and lithium(glycolato,oxalato)borate for example may be produced in this way.

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 present invention provides a process for producing particles, such as oxide nanoparticles, in a substantially water-free environment. The process involves mixing at least one metal compound of the formula MX(m?n) with at least one surfactant and at least one solvent, wherein M is an electropositive element of Groups 1–15; each X is independently selected from the group consisting of O1/2, F, Cl, Br, I, OR, O2CR, NR2, and R; each R is independently a hydrocarbyl group; n is equal to ½ the oxidation state of the metal M in the product particle; and m is equal to the oxidation state of the element M. The components are typically combined to form a mixture which is thermally treated for a time period sufficient to convert the metal compound into particles of the corresponding oxide, having sizes in a range between about 0.5 nanometer and about 1000 nanometers.