A method for producing a solid scandium-containing material comprises providing an aqueous solution containing carbonate ions, carbamate ions, hydrogen carbonate (HCO.sub.3.sup.+) ions, or mixtures thereof, contacting the aqueous solution with a scandium containing material containing one or more impurities to produce a scandium-loaded solution and a depleted scandium containing material, separating the depleted scandium containing material from the scandium loaded solution, treating the scandium loaded solution to cause precipitation of a solid scandium-containing material while avoiding or minimizing precipitation of impurities present in the aqueous solution, and separating the solid scandium-containing material from the solution. In another embodiment, a high purity scandium containing is produced by contacting a solid material containing scandium with an acid to form a scandium loaded solution, separating the scandium loaded solution from any solids, adding additional acid to the scandium loaded solution to reduce the pH and precipitating a high purity scandium oxalate material by adding oxalic acid to the solution.

Nanowires useful as heterogeneous catalysts are provided. The nanowire catalysts are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to ethylene. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from an aluminum-bearing material. The processes can comprise leaching the aluminum-bearing material with an acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one aluminum ion, at least one iron ion, at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one aluminum ion and the at least one iron ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.

The present disclosure provides a process for polishing at least one metal contaminant from a stock solution comprising Sc comprising the steps of a) contacting the stock solution with an ion exchange resin capturing Sc and the at least one metal contaminate so as to produce a metal ion exchange resin complex, and b) scrubbing the metal resin complex with a scrubbing solution comprising a carboxylate ion, so as to produce a Sc ion exchange resin complex and a spent carboxylate solution, which can be treated by electrodialysis to regenerate the carboxylate ion required for scrubbing.

According to this method for recovering scandium, an acidic solution containing scandium is used and a scandium dissolution liquid after purification is obtained by a double sulfate precipitation step, and scandium is recovered from the obtained scandium dissolution liquid, as follows: [A] A precipitation step wherein sodium sulfate is added into the acidic solution containing scandium, so that a precipitate of a scandium double sulfate is obtained; [B] A neutralization step wherein pure water is added to the precipitate of a scandium double sulfate obtained in the precipitation step to dissolve the precipitate of a scandium double sulfate therein, and scandium hydroxide is obtained by adding a neutralizing agent into the obtained dissolution liquid; and [C] A re-dissolution step wherein an acid is added to the scandium hydroxide obtained in the neutralization step, so that a scandium dissolution after purification, in which the scandium hydroxide is dissolved, is obtained.

A method (101) is provided for making a scandium-containing alloy. The method includes providing a molten metal (103), and mixing the molten metal with a scandium-containing precursor (113) which undergoes thermal decomposition at the temperature of the molten metal to produce scandium oxide, thereby producing a scandium-containing alloy.

The present invention relates to an electrochemical catalyst structure and a method for producing the same. The electrochemical catalyst structure may include a catalyst layer including a perovskite based oxide as an electrochemical oxygen reduction catalyst; and a modifying layer being in contact with the catalyst layer and including a transition metal oxide capable of chemical interaction with a metal of the perovskite based oxide through electron orbital hybridization.

Nanoplatelet forms of metal hydroxide and metal oxide are provided, as well as methods for preparing same. The nanoplatelets are suitable for use as fire retardants and as agents for chemical or biological decontamination.

There is provided a method of making luminescent nanoparticles of the type A2-xO3:Lnx, wherein A is one or more of yttrium, scandium, aluminium, gallium, or a lanthanide; Ln is at least one lanthanide; and 0<x<2, said method comprising:providing a first mixture comprising at least a salt of A, a salt of Ln, and a solvent,providing a second mixture comprising a precipitating agent and a solvent,contacting said first mixture with said second mixture in a microjet reactor process to obtain a third mixture comprising nanoparticles, andsubjecting said nanoparticles to a heating step. There is also provided compositions and applications comprising the nanoparticles obtainable by the method.

Nanoplatelet forms of metal hydroxide and metal oxide are provided, as well as methods for preparing same. The nanoplatelets are suitable for use as fire retardants and as agents for chemical or biological decontamination.