Methods and apparatus for precipitating dissolved materials from an aqueous solution are provided. In an embodiment, the method comprises: introducing the aqueous solution into a reactor and introducing a source of magnesium (Mg) into the reactor in a quantity sufficient to cause the dissolved materials to precipitate into crystals. The source of Mg is introduced into the reactor in the form of particles of a Mg-containing material. The source of Mg has a solubility in the aqueous solution of less than about 1 g/L. Alternatively, the concentration of Mg in the reactor is less than about 0.03 mol/L. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a reaction tank having an inlet and an outlet and a hydration tank associated with the reaction tank and configured for hydrating a source of Mg in an aqueous solvent and introducing the source of Mg as a hydrated slurry into the reaction tank.

Disclosed is a method of obtaining an inorganic nanostructured complex (CFI-1), a protein-associated nanostructured complex (MRB-CFI-1) and antitumor use. The main use is in treating urinary bladder cancer, both in animals arid humans. The complex has singular antitumor activity, and can potentially be used as a substitute and/or act as an adjuvant for other commercial antineoplastic drugs.

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and processes for the conversion of lithium phosphate into a low-phosphate solution containing lithium which may be suitable as feedstock for the production of saleable lithium products.

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and processes for the conversion of lithium phosphate into a low-phosphate solution containing lithium which may be suitable as feedstock for the production of saleable lithium products.

A hydrogel comprising a colloidal suspension of M.sup.I.sub.XM.sup.II.sub.YP.sub.Z two-dimensional nanocrystals in water, wherein M.sup.I is Na.sup.+ and/or Li.sup.+, M.sup.II is Mg.sup.2+ or a mixture of Mg.sup.2+ with one or more Ni.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, Fe.sup.2+ and/or Mn.sup.2+, P is a mixture of dibasic phosphate ions (HPO.sub.4.sup.2) and tribasic phosphate ions (PO.sub.4.sup.3), X ranges from about 0.43 to about 0.63, Y ranges from about 0.10 to about 0.18, Z ranges from about 0.29 to about 0.48, X, Y, Z being mole fractions, is provided.

A hydrogel comprising a colloidal suspension of M.sup.I.sub.XM.sup.II.sub.YP.sub.Z two-dimensional nanocrystals in water, wherein M.sup.I is Na.sup.+ and/or Li.sup.+, M.sup.II is Mg.sup.2+ or a mixture of Mg.sup.2+ with one or more Ni.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, Fe.sup.2+ and/or Mn.sup.2+, P is a mixture of dibasic phosphate ions (HPO.sub.4.sup.2) and tribasic phosphate ions (PO.sub.4.sup.3), X ranges from about 0.43 to about 0.63, Y ranges from about 0.10 to about 0.18, Z ranges from about 0.29 to about 0.48, X, Y, Z being mole fractions, is provided.

Provided is a ternary inorganic compound crystal having a molecular formula of Ca.sub.8Al.sub.12P.sub.2O.sub.31, and a preparation method thereof comprising the following steps: weighing calcium salts, aluminum salts and phosphate respectively according to the molar ratio of calcium, aluminum and phosphorus in the molecular formula Ca.sub.8Al.sub.12P.sub.2O.sub.31; calcining at 15501570 C., cooling, and grinding to obtain the ternary inorganic compound crystal. Also provided is an application of the ternary inorganic compound in gelling materials and molecular sieves, nonlinear optical crystals, and photochromic materials.

A method and apparatus of preparing lithium compound(s) from lithium-containing mineral includes a) a leaching step, wherein the lithium-containing mineral is leached in aqueous leach solution containing alkaline carbonate, for liberating lithium and phosphate(s) from the lithium-containing mineral, thus obtaining leach slurry containing lithium carbonate and phosphate(s) leach slurry, b) a carbonization step, wherein the leach slurry containing lithium carbonate and phosphate(s), obtained from the leaching step, is reacted with an alkali earth metal compound in the presence of CO.sub.2 for obtaining a carbonated slurry containing lithium hydrogen carbonate, and for precipitating phosphate(s) contained in the leach slurry as insoluble phosphate compound(s), c) a solid-liquid separation step, wherein the carbonated slurry obtained from carbonization step is subjected to solid-liquid separation wherein the undissolved mineral and phosphate compound(s) are separated as solids that can be recovered or discarded, thereby obtaining a solution containing lithium hydrogen carbonate.

A method and apparatus of preparing lithium compound(s) from lithium-containing mineral includes a) a leaching step, wherein the lithium-containing mineral is leached in aqueous leach solution containing alkaline carbonate, for liberating lithium and phosphate(s) from the lithium-containing mineral, thus obtaining leach slurry containing lithium carbonate and phosphate(s) leach slurry, b) a carbonization step, wherein the leach slurry containing lithium carbonate and phosphate(s), obtained from the leaching step, is reacted with an alkali earth metal compound in the presence of CO.sub.2 for obtaining a carbonated slurry containing lithium hydrogen carbonate, and for precipitating phosphate(s) contained in the leach slurry as insoluble phosphate compound(s), c) a solid-liquid separation step, wherein the carbonated slurry obtained from carbonization step is subjected to solid-liquid separation wherein the undissolved mineral and phosphate compound(s) are separated as solids that can be recovered or discarded, thereby obtaining a solution containing lithium hydrogen carbonate.

An apatite for a filler includes an apatite that contains metal. The metal entirely or partially replaces the calcium of the apatite. A filler composition includes the apatite and hyaluronic acid. The metal may be magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and/or strontium (Sr). The metal of the apatite replaces the calcium of the apatite in a solution using a laser.