Provided is a polycrystalline oxide having a chemical formula such as the following A.sub.1xB.sub.1yM.sub.yO.sub.3 and having an improved grain boundary proton conductivity as an oxide having a perovskite structure. Through the present invention, the conductivity and chemical stability of proton conducting oxide may be improved.

A viscosity reducer based on vegetable extracts of natural origin is disclosed. The vegetable extracts include a mixture of phosphoglycerides and vegetable oils. A method of reducing the viscosity in heavy and extra heavy crude oil using the viscosity reducer is also disclosed. No aromatic base solvents are needed. A reduction in diluent usage is achieved using the viscosity reducer based on vegetable extracts. The viscosity reducer composition includes a mixture of phosphoglycerides, vegetable oil, non-aromatic solvent, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and stabilizer.

A process for the separation of .sup.99mTc from molybdenum targets is described. The method for separation of .sup.99mTc isotope from molybdenum targets includes: i) providing an initial multicomponent mixture of elements, the mixture containing .sup.99mTc; ii) dissolving the multicomponent mixture of elements with an oxidizing agent to oxidize the mixture of elements; iii) heating the mixture of elements at a temperature sufficiently high enough to sublimate a vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc; iv) condensing the vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc to form a reaction product; v) adding a base to the condensed reaction product to dissolve the .sup.99mTc containing reaction product to form sodium pertechnetate (Na.sup.99mTcO.sub.4); and vii) purifying the crude solution of sodium pertechnetate Na.sup.99mTcO.sub.4 using column chromatography to provide the .sup.99mTc isotope as a radiochemical compound.

The invention provides a process for exfoliating a 3-dimensional layered material to produce a 2-dimensional material, said process comprising the steps of mixing the layered material in a solvent to provide a mixture; applying energy, for example ultrasound, to said mixture, and removing the energy applied to the mixture, such that sedimentation of the 2-dimensional material out of solution as a weakly re-aggregated, exfoliated 2-dimensional material is produced. The invention provides a fast, simple and high yielding process for separating 3-dimensional layered materials into individual 2-dimensional layers or flakes, which do not strongly re-aggregate, without utilising hazardous solvents.

The invention provides a process for exfoliating a 3-dimensional layered material to produce a 2-dimensional material, said process comprising the steps of mixing the layered material in a solvent to provide a mixture; applying energy, for example ultrasound, to said mixture, and removing the energy applied to the mixture, such that sedimentation of the 2-dimensional material out of solution as a weakly re-aggregated, exfoliated 2-dimensional material is produced. The invention provides a fast, simple and high yielding process for separating 3-dimensional layered materials into individual 2-dimensional layers or flakes, which do not strongly re-aggregate, without utilising hazardous solvents.

A process for the separation of .sup.99mTc from molybdenum targets is described. The method for separation of .sup.99mTc isotope from molybdenum targets includes: i) providing an initial multicomponent mixture of elements, the mixture containing .sup.99mTc; ii) dissolving the multicomponent mixture of elements with an oxidizing agent to oxidize the mixture of elements; iii) heating the mixture of elements at a temperature sufficiently high enough to sublimate a vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc; iv) condensing the vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc to form a reaction product; v) adding a base to the condensed reaction product to dissolve the .sup.99mTc containing reaction product to form sodium pertechnetate (Na.sup.99mTcO.sub.4); and vii) purifying the crude solution of sodium pertechnetate Na.sup.99mTc04 using column chromatography to provide the .sup.99mTc isotope as a radiochemical compound.

A method for producing .sup.99mTc may include: providing a solution comprising .sup.100Mo-molybdate-ions; providing a proton beam having an energy suitable for inducing a .sup.100Mo(p,2n).sup.99mTc-nuclear reaction when exposing .sup.100Mo-molybdate-ions; exposing the solution to the proton beams and inducing a .sup.100Mo(p,2n).sup.99mTc-nuclear reaction; and applying an extraction method for extracting the .sup.99mTc from the solution. Further, a device for producing .sup.99mTc may include: a solution with .sup.100Mo-molybdate-ions; an accelerator for providing a proton beam with energy which is suitable for inducing a .sup.100Mo(p,2n).sup.99mTc-nuclear reaction when exposing .sup.100Mo-molybdate-ions, for exposing the solution and for inducing a .sup.100Mo(p,2n).sup.99mTc-nuclear reaction; and an extraction step for extracting .sup.99mTc from the solution.

Provided herein are protein contrast agents and targeted protein contrast agents, formulations thereof, and methods of use, including but not limited to, as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent.