A process for preparing a granular ceramic mixture includes the steps of: (a) contacting fluid bed combustion fly ash with an acidic aqueous solution to obtain acidic fluid bed combustion fly ash slurry; (b) removing excess acid from the slurry obtained in step (a) to obtain solid acid treated fluid bed combustion fly ash; and (c) contacting together: (i) the solid acid treated fluid bed combustion fly ash obtained in step (b); (ii) clay; (iii) optionally, feldspar; and (iv) optionally, other ingredients.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic that comprises: making available amorphous Ti; making available a biomimetic material or a biomaterial based on calcium phosphate; functionalizing said biomimetic material or said biomaterial based on calcium phosphate, with said amorphous Ti, obtaining a functionalized and oriented composite; adding said functionalized composite to a ceramic mixture, and/or applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product, where ceramic semi-finished product means the ceramic material before baking; applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product; baking at a temperature between 600 and 1400° C., preferably between 900 and 1300° C., for a time that varies from 20 to 500 minutes, obtaining an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic. The present invention further relates to a photocatalytic ceramic material that comprises a biomimetic material having a nanostructured hierarchical structure with macro and micro cavities, within which TiO.sub.2 is included in the crystalline form of rutile, and tiles, sanitary ware and tableware comprising same.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic that comprises: making available amorphous Ti; making available a biomimetic material or a biomaterial based on calcium phosphate; functionalizing said biomimetic material or said biomaterial based on calcium phosphate, with said amorphous Ti, obtaining a functionalized and oriented composite; adding said functionalized composite to a ceramic mixture, and/or applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product, where ceramic semi-finished product means the ceramic material before baking; applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product; baking at a temperature between 600 and 1400° C., preferably between 900 and 1300° C., for a time that varies from 20 to 500 minutes, obtaining an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic. The present invention further relates to a photocatalytic ceramic material that comprises a biomimetic material having a nanostructured hierarchical structure with macro and micro cavities, within which TiO.sub.2 is included in the crystalline form of rutile, and tiles, sanitary ware and tableware comprising same.

A metal oxide composition for use in ceramic bodies to form a ceramic whitener-opacifier composition is disclosed. The metal oxide composition includes one or more crystalline metal oxides or crystalline mixed metal oxides of Al, Ca, Mg, Si and Zr. The metal oxide composition includes at least (i) Al in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % measured as Al2O3, (ii) Ca in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % measured as CaO, (iii) Mg in an amount 5 of from about 0 wt % to about 25 wt % measured as MgO, (iv) Si in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 25 wt % measured as SiO2, and (v) Zr in an amount of from about 15 wt % to about 35 wt % measured as ZrO.

A metal oxide composition for use in ceramic bodies to form a ceramic whitener-opacifier composition is disclosed. The metal oxide composition includes one or more crystalline metal oxides or crystalline mixed metal oxides of Al, Ca, Mg, Si and Zr. The metal oxide composition includes at least (i) Al in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % measured as Al2O3, (ii) Ca in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % measured as CaO, (iii) Mg in an amount 5 of from about 0 wt % to about 25 wt % measured as MgO, (iv) Si in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 25 wt % measured as SiO2, and (v) Zr in an amount of from about 15 wt % to about 35 wt % measured as ZrO.

A cost-effective and practical antimicrobial glaze system and glazing process is disclosed herein. The antimicrobial glaze/enamel may comprise at least two layers: a base layer and a top layer. The base layer may contain a typical or normal glaze widely used in sanitary ware, having a low level of zinc oxide. The base layer glaze may be directly sprayed on the clay body surface. A thin top glaze layer is sprayed on top of the base glaze layer and the top layer may contain a high level of zinc oxide.

A cost-effective and practical antimicrobial glaze system and glazing process is disclosed herein. The antimicrobial glaze/enamel may comprise at least two layers: a base layer and a top layer. The base layer may contain a typical or normal glaze widely used in sanitary ware, having a low level of zinc oxide. The base layer glaze may be directly sprayed on the clay body surface. A thin top glaze layer is sprayed on top of the base glaze layer and the top layer may contain a high level of zinc oxide.

A method for preparing raw kaolin (R) uses a milling and separating device (1) which has a milling section (13) and a first separating section (16). The raw kaolin (R) is a material mixture of at least kaolin as a first fraction (F1) and a second fraction (F2) which comprises at least quartz. The raw kaolin (R) is supplied to the milling section (13), in which the first fraction (F1) is at least partly removed from the raw kaolin (R) by means of a grinding process, and the first fraction (F1) is then separated from the second fraction (F2) in the first separating section (16).

An iron oxide powder which has an aluminum content of from 10 mol % to 80 mol % (inclusive), and which is composed of porous structures that have a diameter of from 0.3 μm to 2 μm (inclusive).

An iron oxide powder which has an aluminum content of from 10 mol % to 80 mol % (inclusive), and which is composed of porous structures that have a diameter of from 0.3 μm to 2 μm (inclusive).