An object of the present invention is to provide a carbon black for batteries having excellent dispersibility, electron conductivity and oxidation resistance. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a low-viscosity conductive composition for an electrode produced using the carbon black, and a low-resistance battery electrode and a battery having excellent high-output characteristics and cycle characteristics produced using the conductive composition. A carbon black for batteries having: BET specific surface area of 50 to 220 m.sup.2/g; a crystallite diameter (La) of 30 to 42 Å; and a number of CO.sub.2 desorption molecules per unit surface area measured by a temperature-rising desorption gas analysis method (50° C. to 1200° C. of measurement temperature) of 8.0×10.sup.16 to 15.0×10.sup.16 molecules/m.sup.2 is excellent in dispersibility, electron conductivity and oxidation resistance. A conductive composition for a low-viscosity electrode produced using the carbon black, and a low-resistance battery electrode and a battery having excellent high-output characteristics and cycle characteristics produced using the conductive composition can be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a carbon black for batteries having excellent dispersibility, electron conductivity and oxidation resistance. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a low-viscosity conductive composition for an electrode produced using the carbon black, and a low-resistance battery electrode and a battery having excellent high-output characteristics and cycle characteristics produced using the conductive composition. A carbon black for batteries having: BET specific surface area of 50 to 220 m.sup.2/g; a crystallite diameter (La) of 30 to 42 Å; and a number of CO.sub.2 desorption molecules per unit surface area measured by a temperature-rising desorption gas analysis method (50° C. to 1200° C. of measurement temperature) of 8.0×10.sup.16 to 15.0×10.sup.16 molecules/m.sup.2 is excellent in dispersibility, electron conductivity and oxidation resistance. A conductive composition for a low-viscosity electrode produced using the carbon black, and a low-resistance battery electrode and a battery having excellent high-output characteristics and cycle characteristics produced using the conductive composition can be obtained.

Particles with suitable properties may be generated. The particles may include carbon particles.

Disclosed are a production method for efficiently controlling a specific surface area of conductive carbon black, and a material delivering device. The production method for efficiently controlling a specific surface area of conductive carbon black includes making acetylene mixed with a hydrocarbon raw material undergo a pyrolysis reaction at 1300 to 1500 C., wherein the hydrocarbon raw material includes one, or a combination of more than one, of hydrocarbon compounds. When acetylene is introduced to undergo a pyrolysis reaction at 1800 C., conductive carbon black is obtained with a specific surface area of generally 80 m.sup.2/g or more. When acetylene is mixed with a hydrocarbon raw material so that the temperature of the pyrolysis reaction is reduced to 1300 to 1500 C., conductive carbon black is obtained with a specific surface area of substantially from 40 to 80 m.sup.2/g by controlling the pyrolysis temperature.

Disclosed are a production method for efficiently controlling a specific surface area of conductive carbon black, and a material delivering device. The production method for efficiently controlling a specific surface area of conductive carbon black includes making acetylene mixed with a hydrocarbon raw material undergo a pyrolysis reaction at 1300 to 1500 C., wherein the hydrocarbon raw material includes one, or a combination of more than one, of hydrocarbon compounds. When acetylene is introduced to undergo a pyrolysis reaction at 1800 C., conductive carbon black is obtained with a specific surface area of generally 80 m.sup.2/g or more. When acetylene is mixed with a hydrocarbon raw material so that the temperature of the pyrolysis reaction is reduced to 1300 to 1500 C., conductive carbon black is obtained with a specific surface area of substantially from 40 to 80 m.sup.2/g by controlling the pyrolysis temperature.

Provided is a conductive carbon mixture which is to be used together with an electrode active material in manufacturing an electrode of an electricity storage device and enables the manufacture of the electricity storage device having a good cycle life. The conductive carbon mixture for manufacturing an electrode of an electricity storage device comprises an oxidized carbon having electrical conductivity and a different conductive carbon which is different from the oxidized carbon, wherein the oxidized carbon covers the surface of the different conductive carbon. The conductive carbon mixture is characterized in that the ratio of the peak intensity of the 2D band to the peak intensity of the D band in a Raman spectrum of the conductive carbon mixture is 55% or less relative to the ratio of the peak intensity of the 2D band to the peak intensity of the D band in a Raman spectrum of the different conductive carbon. This conductive carbon mixture covers the surface of the electrode active material in a particularly good manner and thus prolongs the cycle life of the electricity storage device.

Provided is a conductive carbon mixture which is to be used together with an electrode active material in manufacturing an electrode of an electricity storage device and enables the manufacture of the electricity storage device having a good cycle life. The conductive carbon mixture for manufacturing an electrode of an electricity storage device comprises an oxidized carbon having electrical conductivity and a different conductive carbon which is different from the oxidized carbon, wherein the oxidized carbon covers the surface of the different conductive carbon. The conductive carbon mixture is characterized in that the ratio of the peak intensity of the 2D band to the peak intensity of the D band in a Raman spectrum of the conductive carbon mixture is 55% or less relative to the ratio of the peak intensity of the 2D band to the peak intensity of the D band in a Raman spectrum of the different conductive carbon. This conductive carbon mixture covers the surface of the electrode active material in a particularly good manner and thus prolongs the cycle life of the electricity storage device.

The disclosed method and related systems and devices relate to producing a pigment from microbial biomass. The pigment may be an engineered black pigment. The method may include a thermal processing step where the microbial biomass is charred. The biomass in the charred and pre-charred state can be washed chemically and/or mechanically. In another step the biomass is ground via a grinding of milling process. The grinding/milling may occur at any various points in the process. In some embodiments the biomass has a particle size between 0.01 and 100 microns.

Carbon black in which an oil absorption amount is 150 mL/100 g or more and 400 mL/100 g or less and an iron content that is measured by induced coupled plasma-mass spectrometry is 500 ppb or less.

Carbon black in which an oil absorption amount is 150 mL/100 g or more and 400 mL/100 g or less and an iron content that is measured by induced coupled plasma-mass spectrometry is 500 ppb or less.