Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a microwave-assisted comminution method for achieving more efficient beneficiation and later hydrometallurgical recovery of rare earth elements and other metals from coal fly ash particles. The method requires only a short processing time, is energy efficient, allows for better process control, and is environmentally advantageous compared to current methods. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The titanium phosphate powder of the present invention includes plate-shaped crystalline particles of titanium phosphate, an average thickness of the plate-shaped crystalline particles is 0.01 ?m or more and less than 0.10 ?m, and an aspect ratio, which is a value obtained by dividing an average primary particle diameter of the plate-shaped crystalline particles by the average thickness, is 5 or more. In the method for producing a titanium phosphate powder of the present invention, a raw material containing titanium and phosphorus is caused to react by a hydrothermal synthesis method, and when the titanium phosphate powder including plate-shaped crystalline particles of titanium phosphate is produced, a mixture of titanium sulfate and phosphoric acid is used as the raw material.

Abstract: A crystallizing glass solder for high-temperature applications, which is free of PbO and contains, in % by weight on an oxide basis: 45% to 60% of BaO; 25% to 40% of SiO2; 5% to 15% of B2O3; 0 to <2% of Al2O3; 2 to 7.0, preferably 4.4 to 7.0%, of MgO; and at least one alkaline earth metal oxide from the group consisting of MgO, CaO and SrO, wherein CaO is 0% to 5% and the sum of the alkaline earth metal oxides MgO, CaO and SrO is 2% to 15%. Preferred embodiments of the glass solder contain from 3 to 15 wt. % of Y2O3 and have low porosity and high stability with respect to a moist fuel gas environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mesoporous titania bead and the preparation method thereof, wherein said mesoporous titania bead has a diameter of 200-1000 nm, specific surface area of 50-100 m2/g, porosity of 40-60%, pore radius of 5-20 nm, pore volume of 0.20-0.30 cm3/g, and the titania comprised in the bead is anatase titania.

Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (as herein defined) including a step of leaching said titaniferous material with a leachant to form a process solution that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate and iron sulfate, wherein said sulfate process further includes a filtration step comprising filtering said leachant to at least substantially remove titanyl sulfate particles from said leachant prior to supplying said leachant to said leach step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the Industrial production of a titanium salt TP, said method comprising the steps of: i. Precipitation of titanic acid from a solution comprising titanium salt TP1; ii. Production of a titanium containing product TP2 from a medium comprising of said titanic acid and an acid; and iii. Thermal conversion of titanium containing product TP3 to a titanium salt TP at temperature higher than 170° C.

Abstract: Formulations useful for preparing hydrous hafnium oxide gels contain a metal salt including hafnium, an acid, an organic base, and a complexing agent. Methods for preparing gels containing hydrous hafnium oxide include heating a formulation to a temperature sufficient to induce gel formation, where the formulation contains a metal salt including hafnium, an acid, an organic base, and a complexing agent.

Abstract: A method is presented for recovery, in reusable form, of rare earth minerals and zirconia from waste materials containing them. The method includes: mixing an ammonium sulfate powder and a powder containing the oxide waste material; heating the mixture to decompose the waste into a residue; dissolving the residue in water; separating rare earth constituents from the solution; and subsequently using the separated rare earth constituent (salt or solution) as a raw material. Moreover, the reactants used in the recovery may be recovered by appropriate precipitation and concentration operations.

Abstract: TiO2 nanoparticles and methods of producing the same are provided. The nanoparticles can be processed by neutralization, calcination, and/or micronization. The TiO2 nanoparticle size is controlled by controlling synthetic and process conditions. TiO2 nanoparticles produced are of the anatase polymorph, of the rutile polymorph, or a mixture thereof, and have particle sizes in the range of from 10 nm to 100 nm.

Abstract: It is disclosed a process for the production of titanium dioxide comprising the following steps: (a) a titanium ore containing iron, preferably ilmenite, is reacted with an aqueous NH4F solution; (b) the aqueous suspension thus obtained is filtered with consequent separation of a sludge fraction, which contains ammonium fluoroferrates, and a filtrate fraction, which contains ammonium fluorotitanates; (c) the filtrate fraction thus obtained is subjected to an hydrolysis reaction; (d) the thus-obtained solid component is subjected to a thermal hydrolysis reaction. The plant and the reactors for performing the above process are also disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a process for preparing mesoporous amorphous hydrous oxide of titanium, comprising formation of a precipitate comprising an ionic porogen and a hydrolyzed compound comprising titanium from an aqueous mixture in the pH range of 5 to 10; and removing the ionic porogen from the precipitate to recover a mesoporous hydrous oxide of titanium, the ionic porogen being in sufficient amount and the conditions of precipitating being effective for producing a mesoporous hydrous oxide of titanium having a surface area of at least about 400 m2/g and a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g.

Abstract: A method for preparing a colloidal solution of non-aggregated zirconia particles, comprising the following steps: a) providing a zirconium hydroxide sol, b) adding to said sol an inorganic acid according to an [inorganic acid]/[Zr] molar ratio of <0.5, c) performing the hydrothermal treatment of said sol, and d) recovering the colloidal solution of zirconia particles.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a process for recycling ore in the chloride process, without the build-up of silica-containing gangue in the chlorination reactor.

Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material; such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes precipitating titanyl sulfate from a process solution produced in the process. The titanyl sulfate precipitation step includes subjecting the precipitated titanyl sulfate to a shearing action during the course of precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution or after precipitation has been completed.

Abstract: A method for preparing titania or precursor thereof with a controllable structure from micropore to mesopore is provided. The method is characterized in that the alkali metal titanate as raw material is reacted for 0.5˜72 hours in the wet atmosphere with humidity of 2˜100% at temperature of 20˜250° C., then washed with water or acid, finally performed by air roasting or solvent thermal treatment. The method has advantages that the raw material is easy to be obtained, the conditions and preparation are controllable, the pore structure may be adjusted from micropore to mesopore, crystal mixing and doping are easy, reacting time is short, preparing cost is low, and the said method is suitable for large scale production and so on. The most probable aperture of titanium oxide or precursor thereof with a controllable structure from micropore to mesopore is in the range of 1˜20 nm, the pore volume thereof is in the range of 0.05˜0.4 cm3/g, and the specific surface area thereof is more than 30 m2/g.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing TiO2 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles can be further processed by neutralization, calcination, and/or micronization. The TiO2 nanoparticle size is controlled by controlling synthetic and process conditions. TiO2 nanoparticles produced are of the anatase polymorph, of the rutile polymorph, or a mixture thereof, and have particle sizes in the range of from 10 nm to 100 nm.

Abstract: Provided are processes for the production of titanium dioxide from ilmenite. In these processes, ilmenite is digested with aqueous ammonium hydrogen oxalate. Iron from the ilmenite precipitates as a hydrated iron oxalate and is removed by filtering, leaving a titanium-rich solution. The titanium-rich solution can be further processed to form titanium dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering an organic-inorganic element-doped metal oxide from a hydrolysable metal compound, accompanied with contaminated water treatment. The present invention comprises steps of: a) adding a hydrolysable metal compound as a coagulant to a contaminated water to form a separable floc between the hydrolysable metal compound and contaminants present in contaminated water; b) separating the separable floc and the pre-treated water after flocculation treatment; and c) calcinating the separated floc over 500° C. to produce an organic-inorganic element-doped metal oxide. More preferably, the present invention further comprises subjecting the pre-treated water of the step b) to a microwave treatment to cause a photocatalytic degradation of an organic contaminant that remains in the pre-treated water, with the assistance of the remaining hydrolysable metal compound.

Abstract: An improved process for recovering a titanium dioxide product from a titanium oxide-containing roasted mass of the type derived from roasting an ilmenite, anatase or perovskite ore by exploiting an organic acid, such as mixture of oxalic acid and ascorbic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel compositions of zeolites or microporous metallosilicates characterized by a continuous spatial distribution of the metal and silicon in the crystals and characterized by a crystal surface enriched in silicon relative to the internal part of the same crystals. This invention also relates to a synthesis method of producing these metallosilicates with spatial distribution of the constituting elements. These novel zeolitic compositions can be used in various hydrocarbon conversion reactions. The crystalline metallosilicates can be selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, gallosilicates, ferrosilicates, titanosilicates and borosilicates.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and composite particles that may be employed as anode materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). The invention particularly relates to novel metallic SOFC anode materials, which preferably comprise metallic nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), especially if the Ni/Cu oxide has been stabilized with yttrium (Y) oxide (e.g., Y2O3) and/or zirconium (Zr) oxide (e.g., ZrO2) composition(s) (“YSZ”). Such compositions may additionally comprise a cerium (Ce) oxide (such as CeO2) (e.g., Ni/YSZ/CeO2). The invention particularly concerns such compositions and particles produced through the use of direct deposition or Flame Spray Pyrolysis so as to provide a controlled morphology and chemical composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the Industrial production of a titanium salt TP, said method comprising the steps of: i. Precipitation of titanic acid from a solution comprising titanium salt TP1; ii. Production of a titanium containing product TP2 from a medium comprising of said titanic acid and an acid; and iii. Thermal conversion of titanium containing product TP3 to a titanium salt TP at temperature higher than 17O° C.

Abstract: A process for leaching a value metal from a titanium-bearing ore material comprising the step of leaching the ore material at atmospheric pressure with a lixiviant comprising a chloride and hydrochloric acid is disclosed. The leaching conditions are such that titanium is leached and remains in solution. The temperature is maintained at less that 85° C., and the concentration of hydrochloric acid is preferably less than 20% (mass ratio). The preferred chloride is magnesium chloride. The lixiviant may contain oxidant e.g. sodium chlorate or chlorine.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of titanium dioxide by the treatment with ammonium fluoride of titanium ores containing iron; the process comprises the following steps: (a) the titanium ore containing iron is reacted with an aqueous NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution; (b) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered with consequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution thus obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, the hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH 7.0-8.5 and a second stage at pH 10.0-13.0; (d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis, the pyrohydrolysis comprising a first stage at a maximum temperature of 450° C. and a second stage at a maximum temperature of 1000° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel form of titanium oxide. The titanium oxide is characterized in that it has the crystallographic structure of rutile with an orthorhombic lattice and a Pnmm space group, it has a platelet morphology, the platelets being of rectangular shape with a length between 3 and 10 nm, a width between 3 and 10 nm and a thickness of less than 1 nm and it has a specific surface area, determined by nitrogen adsorption/desorption, of 100 to 200 m2/g. Applications: self-cleaning glazing, photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A process for obtaining one or more metal fluoride or metal oxide compounds from treatment of a feed material containing aluminium ore, includes the steps of contacting the feed material with a fluorine acid solution to form gaseous silicon fluoride and aqueous soluble metal fluorides and/or metal fluosilicates, processing the aqueous reaction products to form a solid reaction product containing metal fluorides, processing to remove low boiling point compounds and heating said solid reaction product to a temperature to drive off metal fluoride in gaseous form. The feed material may include aluminium ores and/or titanium ores, coal or other carbonaceous materials containing mineral impurities, or other minerals such as mica. Processes for the production of aluminium and titanium compounds are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method for removing colloidal titanium dioxide and titanium oxychloride from by-product hydrochloric acid. The method includes adding phosphate ion source and quaternary amine to the by-product acid to cause the titanium dioxide and the titanium oxychloride to form a precipitate. The precipitate can then be separated from the acid, thus producing a decontaminated hydrochloric acid product with reduced levels of titanium.

Abstract: Provided are processes for the production of titanium dioxide from ilmenite. In these processes, ilmenite is digested with aqueous trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate. Iron from the ilmenite precipitates as a hydrated iron oxalate and is removed by filtering, leaving a titanium-rich solution. The titanium-rich solution can be further processed to form titanium dioxide.

Abstract: A method of producing titanium metal from a titanium-containing material includes the steps of producing a solution of M?TiF6 from the titanium-containing material, selectively precipitating M?2TiF6 from the solution by the addition of (M?)aXb and using the selectively precipitated M?2TiF6 to produce titanium. M? is a cation of the type which forms a hexafluorotitanate, M? is selected from ammonium and the alkali metal cations, X is an anion selected from halide, sulphate, nitrite, acetate and nitrate and a and b are 1 or 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an inorganic fine particle comprising the step of: reacting two or more reaction solutions for forming an inorganic fine particle while the reaction solutions flow in a non-laminar flow state in a microchannel, thereby form the inorganic fine particle, and an inorganic fine particle produced by the production method. The method for producing an inorganic fine particle of the present invention can stably produce monodisperse inorganic fine particles of nanometer size and allows for flexible response to formulation conditions (e.g., varying flow rate ratios between reaction solutions to be mixed) and for high-throughput production.

Abstract: A method for treating a polymetallic sulfide ore containing gold and/or silver, and further containing base metals selected from the group consisting of iron, aluminum, chromium, titanium, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, mercury, tin, and mixtures thereof, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of grinding the polymetallic sulfide ore to produce granules, oxidizing the granules to produce oxidized granules, and chloride leaching the granules using a brine solution including dissolved halogens, as well as chloride and bromide salts.

Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material is disclosed. The process includes leaching the titaniferous material and producing a leach liquor, separating titanyl sulfate from leach liquor, hydrolysis of the extracted titanyl sulfate, and thereafter calcining the solid phase produced in the hydrolysis step. The process is characterised by controlling the hydrolysis step and forming a selected particle size distribution of hydrated titanium oxides from titanyl sulfate.

Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material is disclosed. The process includes leaching the titaniferous material and producing a leach liquor, separating titanyl sulfate from leach liquor, hydrolysis of the extracted titanyl sulfate, and thereafter calcining the solid phase produced in the hydrolysis step. The process is characterized by multiple stage leaching of the titaniferous material.

Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material is disclosed. The process includes leaching the titaniferous material and producing a leach liquor, precipitating iron sulfate from the leach liquor, solvent extraction of titanyl sulfate from leach liquor, hydrolysis of the extracted titanyl sulfate, and thereafter calcining the solid phase produced in the hydrolysis step. The process is characterised by using at least part of the raffinate from the solvent extraction step as at least part of the leach solution in the initial leach step.

Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from titaniferous material is disclosed. The process includes precipitating titanyl sulfate from leach liquors containing acidic solutions of titanyl sulfate. The process is characterised by: (a) multiple stage leaching to produce leach liquors containing acidic solutions of titanyl sulfate; (b) using depleted leach liquor from a titanyl sulfate precipitation reactor in the leach steps; and (c) controlling acid concentration in the leach steps to avoid premature hydrolysis and premature precipitation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing an oxide based on zirconium and titanium in which a liquid medium containing a zirconium compound and a titanium compound is formed; said medium is then heated; the precipitate obtained from the end of the preceding step is recovered and optionally, said precipitate is calcined. The invention also concerns an oxide based on zirconium and titanium. Said oxide can comprise in the range 30% to 40% by weight of titanium oxide and in this case it has a pure ZrTiO4 type structure or a mixture of phases of structure type ZrTiO4 and structure type anatase. Said oxide can also comprise in the range 10% to 20% by weight of titanium oxide and it then has a specific surface area of at least 40 m2/g after calcining for 5 hours at 800° C.

Abstract: Zirconia particles, methods of making zirconia particles, composite materials that contain the zirconia particles, methods of making the composite materials, and zirconia sols that contain the zirconia particles are described. The zirconia particles are substantially non-associated and have an average size no greater than 50 nanometers and may contain yttrium. The zirconia particles are prepared by a method that includes two separate hydrothermal treatments.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing nano-powders and powders of nano-particle loose aggregate, which includes: (a) providing at least two reactant solutions A and B capable of rapidly reacting to form deposits; (b) supplying the at least two reactant solutions A and B at least at the reaction temperature into a mixing and reaction precipitator respectively, in which mixing reaction and precipitation are continuously carried out in sequence, the mixing and reaction precipitator being selected from at least one of a tubular ejection mixing reactor, a tubular static mixing reactor and an atomization mixing reactor; and (c) treating the deposit-containing slurry continuously discharged from the mixing reaction precipitator.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing nanometer powders, comprising the following steps: (a) providing reactant solution A and reactant solution B that can rapidly react to form precipitate; (b) continuously adding said solution A and solution B into a mixing and reacting precipitator with a stator and a rotor in operation, respectively; and (c) post-treating the precipitate-containing slurry discharged continuously from the mixing and reacting precipitator. The present process could produce nanometer powders with adjustable particle size, good homogeneity in size and good dispersity. The method also has the characteristics of high production yield, simplicity in process and low consumption of energy. It could be applied to produce various nanometer powders of metals, oxides, hydroxides, salts, phosphides and sulfides as well as organic compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing barium titanate based powder. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for preparing barium titanate powder comprising the following steps of precipitation of barium titanyl oxalate (BaTiO(C2O4)2.4H2O) with spraying a mixture of an aqueous barium chloride (BaCl2.2H2O) and titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) to an aqueous solution of oxalic acid, via a nozzle; wet pulverization by using a beads mill after adding an additive such as an amine; dry; pyrolysis; and re-pulverization.

Abstract: Titania is dissolved in a hydrogen peroxide solution to produce an amorphous titania gel, then the amorphous titania gel and a hydrogen peroxide solution are mixed together to produce an amorphous titania sol, and then an alkali solution is supplied to the solution containing the amorphous titania sol to thereby adjust a pH of the solution to 2 to 10. Even if the obtained solution containing amorphous titania is, for example, left to stand at normal temperature for a long time, gelling or aggregation of titania can be suppressed. That is, it is possible to obtain a titania solution that can maintain the state where fine particles of titania are highly dispersed in the solution, over a long term.

Abstract: Catalysts or carriers which consist essentially of monoclinic zirconium dioxide are prepared by pecipitation of zirconium salts with ammonia, by adding a zirconyl nitrate or zirconyl chloride solution to an aqueous ammonia solution at a decreasing pH from 14 to 6 and drying, calcining and pelletizing the product.

Abstract: There are provided a method for producing a fine zirconium oxide powder which has a narrower particle size distribution than that of conventional zirconium oxide powders and which is capable of lowering the starting temperature in the sintering reaction of a reactant to which the fine zirconium oxide powder is added. When a hydrated zirconium is calcined to be dispersed in a solvent with a dispersing agent, an alcohol (e.g., IPA or t-butanol) having a branched chain structure, not a straight chain structure, is used as the solvent, and a dicarboxylic acid (e.g., maleic acid or oxalic acid) having two carboxyl groups in its molecule is used as the dispersing agent. Thus, a fine zirconium oxide powder having a narrow particle size distribution and a small particle size at 90 vol % is obtained.

Abstract: Provided is a cathode composition for lithium secondary battery that includes a lithium-chromium-titanium-manganese oxide that has the formula Li[Li(1-x)/3CrxTi(2/3)yMn2(1-x-y)/3]O2 where 0?x?0.3, 0?y?0.3 and 0.1?x+y?0.3, and layered a-LiFeO2 structure. A method of synthesizing the lithium-chromium-titanium manganese oxide includes preparing a first mixed solution by dispersing titanium dioxide (TiO2) in a mixed solution of chrome acetate (Cr3(OH)2(CH3CO2)7) and manganese acetate ((CH3CO2)2Mn.4H2O), adding a lithium hydroxide (LiOH) solution to the first mixed solution to obtain homogeneous precipitates, forming precursor powder that has the formula Li[Li(1-x)/3CrxTi(2/3)yMn2(1-x-y)/3]O2 where 0?x?0.3, 0?y?0.3 and 0.1?x+y?0.3 by heating the homogeneous precipitates, and heating the precursor powder to form oxide powder having a layered structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photocatalyst containing titanium dioxide, to a method for using it and to its application. A sulphurous titanium dioxide hydrate precipitate is precipitated from an acid titanium oxysulphate solution at a temperature below the boiling point of the solution, e.g. in the range from 70 to 100° C., using crystal nuclei and without addition of base. The precipitate is separated, washed and calcinated. The photocatalytic titanium dioxide thus obtained has a specific area in the range from 100 to 250 m2/g and a 0.3 to 5% sulphur concentration. Catalytic activity has been confirmed in asetal dehyde decomposition and in anionic (SNC?)2 radical formation.

Abstract: Methods of producing zirconium oxide compositions and using same are provided. The zirconium oxide compositions in crystalline form can be prepared by a synthetic process wherein the hydrolysis of zirconyl chloride and particle formation can be achieved simultaneously. Alternatively, the particle formation can occur first and then followed by hydrolysis with a base solution. The processes utilize a zirconyl salt solution that includes a zirconyl salt in isopropanol and water.

Abstract: The oxide materials are of the class of ternary mesoporous mixed oxide materials including lanthanum, a metal M selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn, and zirconium or cerium such a mesoporous La—Co—Zr mixed oxide material designated as Meso LCZ[x] where x is the atomic ratio (La+Co)/La+Co+Zr. They are useful as catalysts since they show high activities for hydrocarbon oxidation and good resistance against poisoning agents. These highly ordered mesoporous mixed oxides are synthesized by: preparing an amorphous solution of a La-M precursor and adding a salt of zirconium or cerium thereto; acidifying the amorphous solution in the presence of a surfactant under conditions to obtain a clear homogeneous solution; adjusting pH of the solution under conditions to form a solid precipitate; separating the solution and surfactant from the precipitate; and calcinating the precipitate.

Abstract: In a metal oxide nanoparticle and a synthetic method thereof, and in particular to maghemite (?-Fe2O3) nanoparticles usable as a superhigh density magnetic recording substance by having good shape anisotropy and magnetic characteristics, hematite (?-Fe2O3) nanoparticles usable as a precursor to the maghemite or a catalyst, maghemite and hematite-mixed nanoparticles and a synthetic method thereof, the method for synthesizing metal oxide nanoparticles includes forming a reverse micelle solution by adding distilled water, a surfactant and a solvent to metallic salt not less than trivalent, precipitating and separating gel type amorphous metal oxide particles by adding proton scavenger to the reverse micelle solution; adjusting a molar ratio of metal oxide to the surfactant by washing the gel type amorphous metal oxide particles with a polar solvent; and crystallizing metal oxide nanoparticles through heating or reflux after dispersing the gel type amorphous metal oxide particles in a non-polar solvent having a h

Abstract: Methods of making zirconium basic carbonate are further described which involve titrating an aqueous slurry of sodium zirconium carbonate to a pH of from about 3.5 to about 4.0 with an acidic agent wherein the sodium zirconium carbonate has a moisture content of from about 15% to about 25% LOD in solid form. The process further involves washing the aqueous slurry containing the formed zirconium basic carbonate with water. A novel zirconium basic carbonate is further disclosed which has a minimum adsorption capacity of from about 30 to about 35 mg/PO4-P/gm SCZ; a minimum HCO3- content of from about 2 to about 4 mEq HCO3-gm/SCZ; a leachable Na+ content of from about 1.5 to about 2.0 mEq Na+/gm SCZ; and/or a pH range of titrated sodium zirconium carbonate of from about 6 to about 7.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of treating a zirconium containing product such as zircon. The process comprises providing an alkali fusion decomposed zircon product (AFDZ) formed from reading zircon with a source of alkali metal at elevated temperatures, and treating the AFDZ to form a solid containing hydrated zirconium oxide and/or hydrated zirconium basic carbonate (hereinafter referred to as the hydrated zirconium product). The process further comprises treating the solid hydrated zirconium product to obtain in situ formation of basic zirconium sulphate as a solid thereon. The invention also relates to such a process for producing zircon derived material suitable for pigments and to such a process to produce opacifier material. The invention also relates to products of such processes.