Aerogel materials, aerogel composites, and the like may be improved by the addition of opacifiers to reduce the radiative component of heat transfer. Such aerogel materials, aerogel composites, and the like may also be treated to impart or improve hydrophobicity. Such aerogel materials and methods of manufacturing the same are described.

An emitter for nickel isotope analysis of trace samples, its preparation and application are provided, wherein: the emitter is a zirconium hydrogen phosphate emitter; and the zirconium hydrogen phosphate emitter specifically comprises a zirconium hydrogen phosphate suspension and phosphoric acid solution as an auxiliary material. To prepare the zirconium hydrogen phosphate suspension, the zirconium hydrogen phosphate powder must be washed alternately with hydrochloric acid and high-purity water 3 to 4 times to reduce the sample loading blank. The application specifically relates to analytical method, specifically using zirconium hydrogen phosphate suspension as a high-sensitivity emitter to enhance the ionization efficiency of nickel samples, while using phosphoric acid solution to assist ionization, and using high-purity tungsten filament as the sample carrier to determine trace nickel isotope method.

A solid ionically conductive composition (e.g., nanoparticles of less than 1 micron or a continuous film) comprising at least one element selected from alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, aluminum, zinc, copper, and silver in combination with at least two elements selected from oxygen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, nitrogen, boron, gallium, indium, tin, germanium, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, transition metals, and lanthanides. Also described is a battery comprising an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte (corresponding to the above ionically conductive composition) in contact with or as part of the anode and/or cathode. Further described is a thermal (e.g., plasma-based) method of producing the ionically conductive composition. Further described is a method for using an additive manufacturing (AM) process to produce an object constructed of the ionically conductive composition by use of particles of the ionically conductive composition as a feed material in the AM process.

Commercially beneficial carbon-containing fractions can be recovered from hydrothermal liquefaction reactions in various types of processors. Feedstock slurry from waste solids is placed into a pressurized processor where it is maintained at temperature and pressure for a predetermined period. On discharge from the processor the processed discharge is separated into liquid and solid fractions. Gaseous fractions including carbon dioxide can also be removed or off-taken from the processor. New molecular structures are created in this reaction, resulting in fractions including biogas, biofuels, biosolids and biocrude. Silica, phosphates, potash and low concentration nitrogen based fertilizer, along with carbonaceous material can also be recovered.

This disclosure describes methods, processes and devices that remove or release organics from ores, such as phosphate ores or secondary sources such as mine tailings or waste. The method comprises: preparing an ore to a pre-set size; mixing the ore with a reagent having an initial pH value in a slurry comprising the ore and the reagent; and while mixing the slurry, maintaining a pH level in the slurry to a pH range. While mixing the slurry, the slurry may produce a supernatant containing organic material removed from the ore and sediment containing refined ore. The method may also screen the slurry to create a first stream of materials that does not pass through the screen and a second stream of materials and refined ore that pass through the screen.

A flow synthesis system (FSS) based on contamination free PTFE tubing, a pump for pumping requisite solutions and a heater for heating precipitated flow suspensions has been designed. Synthesis, using FSS, eliminates the need for secondary heat-treatments and/or long ageing times required in traditional inorganic synthesis routes. The FSS was used successfully to synthesis calcium phosphates which include phase-pure and ion substituted hydroxyapatite, respectively. Biologically beneficial magnesium, zinc, carbonate and silicon ions were successfully incorporated into hydroxyapatite.

A flow synthesis system (FSS) based on contamination free PTFE tubing, a pump for pumping requisite solutions and a heater for heating precipitated flow suspensions has been designed. Synthesis, using FSS, eliminates the need for secondary heat-treatments and/or long ageing times required in traditional inorganic synthesis routes. The FSS was used successfully to synthesis calcium phosphates which include phase-pure and ion substituted hydroxyapatite, respectively. Biologically beneficial magnesium, zinc, carbonate and silicon ions were successfully incorporated into hydroxyapatite.

A silica-based nanomaterial consisting of particles of a Zn salt supported on the surface of silica nanoparticles. The Zn salt is chosen from between Zn.sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2 and Zn.sub.2SiO.sub.4.

An adsorbent for phosphoric acid-based anionic substances, that contains foamed glass, and that has a Ca2p concentration of 7.5 atom % or more or a Na1s concentration of 5.0 atom % or less at the surface thereof as measured by XPS analysis, and a half-width of Si2p peak of 2.4 eV or more. The adsorbent can also have a specific surface area of 45 m.sup.2/g or more or a pore volume of 2.5 cm.sup.3/g or more as measured by mercury intrusion.

This invention relates to processes for the removal of phosphorous from aqueous waste streams comprising phosphorous-containing compounds produced in the manufacture of glyphosate, in order to meet and typically exceed environmental regulations. More particularly, various embodiments of the present invention relate to the removal of phosphorous-containing compounds utilizing biological treatment system(s), oxidizing agent(s), and/or precipitant(s). The processes of the invention are also applicable to the removal of phosphorous compounds from phosphorous-containing waste streams other than those waste streams resulting from the manufacture of glyphosate.