The invention provides a process for the production of titania particles with a desired morphology. The process comprises providing a titania sol and then drying the sol to provide dried titania particles. The process is characterized in that the morphology of the dried titania particles is controlled by applying one or more of the following criteria: (a) the titania sol is produced from a TiO.sub.2 containing slurry obtained using a precipitation step in a sulphate process, wherein the size of micelles formed during the precipitation is controlled; (b) the titania sol is produced from a TiO.sub.2 containing slurry and the pH of the slurry is controlled in order to affect the extent to which the titania sol is flocculated; (c) the titania sol is produced from a TiO.sub.2 containing slurry and the iso-electric point of the titania is adjusted in order to affect the extent to which the titania sol is flocculated; (d) the titania sol is dried by application of heat and the temperature used during the drying step is controlled.

A TiO.sub.2-based catalyst precursor material in powder form includes TiO.sub.2 particles with the formula TiO.sub.(2-x)(OH).sub.2x (x=0-1). The particles are coated with one or more auxiliary shaping agents and after coating and drying have a specific surface area of at least 150 m.sup.2/g. The material has a content of 1) 50-99.5% by weight of the titanium-oxygen compound with the general formula TiO.sub.(2-x)(OH).sub.2x, wherein x=0 to 1, or mixtures thereof, wherein the crystalline phases of the titanium-oxygen compound are in the anatase form, and 2) 0.5-50% by weight of an auxiliary shaping agent or mixtures thereof, which evaporates, sublimates and/or decomposes upon heating to temperatures below the transformation temperature from anatase to rutile, wherein the % by weight are relative to the total weight of the dried catalyst precursor material.

A porous silica particle optimized as the scrubbing agent is used for a cleansing cosmetic. The porous silica particle has an average circularity of 0.1 to 0.5, a pore volume of 1.0 to 2.0 ml/g, a mode diameter of 50 to 600 m, and a ratio of the maximum particle diameter to the mode diameter of 3.0 or less. The porous silica particle moreover has a median size of 0.5 to 25 m and the maximum particle diameter of 1 to 100 m, after rubbing with a load of 1.0 to 1.4 KPa for 30 seconds. With the cleansing cosmetic containing this particle, the skin is rubbed by the frictional force generated by the friction with the skin at the rubbing. Therefore, the mild peeling effect for the stratum corneum is obtained and the damage of the skin and the micro damage on the stratum corneum can be prevented.

Porous silicon and methods for preparation and use of the same are disclosed. The porous silicon materials have utility either alone or in combination with other materials, for example, combined with carbon particles for energy storage applications.

The present disclosure relates to an alumina having a surface area in the range of 330-400 m.sup.2/g, a pore volume in the range of 1.2-1.7 cc/g, and an average pore diameter in the range of 125-160 . The present disclosure also relates to alumina extrudates having a diameter in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm, a surface area in the range of 300-360 m.sup.2/g, a pore volume in the range of 0.8-1.3 cc/g and pore diameter in the range of 90-130 with a crushing strength in the range of 1-2.5 daN/mm. Further, the present disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of alumina and alumina extrudates. The alumina extrudates can be used as a support for catalyst preparation or as a catalyst or adsorbent in various processes. The process of the present disclosure enhances metal loading capacity, has better metal dispersion, and exhibit delay in deactivation of the catalyst due to mouth pore plugging.

The present invention relates to a process for modifying a layered double hydroxide (LDH), the process comprising, a. providing a water-wet layered double hydroxide of formula:
[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n).sub.a/r.bH.sub.2O(1) wherein M and M are metal cations, z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4, x is 0.1 to 1, preferably x<1, more preferably x=0.1-0.9, b is 0 to 10, X is an anion, r is 1 to 3, n is the charge on the anion X and a is determined by x, y and z, preferably a=z(1x)+xy2; b. maintaining the layered double hydroxide water-wet, and c. contacting the water-wet layered double hydroxide with at least one solvent, the solvent being miscible with water and preferably having a solvent polarity (P) in the range 3.8 to 9,
as well as to a layered double hydroxide prepared according to that process.

The present disclosure relates generally to ceramic materials suitable for use as catalyst support materials, catalysts using such materials and methods for using them, such as methods for converting sugars, sugar alcohols, glycerol, and bio-renewable organic acids to commercially-valuable chemicals and intermediates. One aspect of the invention is a ceramic material including zirconium oxide and one or more metal oxides selected from nickel oxide, copper oxide, cobalt oxide, iron oxide and zinc oxide, the ceramic material being at least about 50 wt. % zirconium oxide. In certain embodiments, the ceramic material is substantially free of any binder, extrusion aid or additional stabilizing agent.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a microporous material shaped in the form of extrudates, tablets or beads having good mechanical crush strength and containing at least 90% by weight of KL zeolite (structural type LTL). This method comprises a stage of shaping a KL zeolite with at least one zeolitizable binder and at least one stage of zeolitization, in the presence of potassium hydroxide in one and/or the other of the stages, in order to obtain a material shaped in the form of extrudates, tablets or beads containing at least 90% by weight of KL zeolite and good mechanical crush strength.

Porous silicon and methods for preparation and use of the same are disclosed. The porous silicon materials have utility either alone or in combination with other materials, for example, combined with carbon particles for energy storage applications.

A polycrystalline diamond body contains diamond particles, the diamond particles have a mean particle size of 50 nm or less, and a crack initiation load is 10 N or more as measured in a fracture strength test by pressing a diamond indenter D with a tip radius Dr of 50 m against a surface of the polycrystalline diamond body at a load rate F of 100 N/min. Accordingly, a polycrystalline diamond body that is tough and has a small diamond particle size, a cutting tool, a wear-resistant tool, a grinding tool, and a method for producing the polycrystalline diamond body are provided.