A process for separating heavy metals from phosphoric starting material comprises the following steps: (i) heating the starting material to a temperature of 600 to 1.200 C. in a first reactor (1) and withdrawing combustion gas; (ii) using the combustion gas of step (i) to preheat an alkaline source; and (iii) transferring the heated starting material of step (i) and the heated alkaline source of step (ii) to a second reactor (20), adding an elemental carbon source, heating to a temperature of 700 to 1.100 C. and withdrawing process gas and a product stream.

A method for preparing electrolyte material having a NASICON structure, based on a Na.sub.3+xSc.sub.xZr.sub.2x(SiO.sub.4).sub.2(PO.sub.4) compound where 0x<2. The method includes providing an acidic, aqueous solution which, according to a desired stoichiometry, comprises sodium, scandium and zirconium in the form of water-soluble nitrates, acetates or carbonates, and soluble silicates or orthosilicic acids or organic silicon compounds in dissolved form; subsequently adding phosphoric acid or ammonium dihydrogenphosphate or other soluble phosphates, according to the desired stoichiometry, complex zirconium dioxide phosphates forming as colloidal precipitations; and subsequently drying and calcining the mixture.

A method of calcination includes providing a raw material including whitlockite Ca.sub.9(Mg,Fe.sup.2+)[PO.sub.3(OH)|(PO.sub.4).sub.6], and/or iron phosphate FePO.sub.4, and/or aluminium phosphate AlPO.sub.4 and/or fluorapatite Ca.sub.5(PO.sub.4).sub.3F; providing an alkaline-sulfuric compound as an additive; and calcining a mixture of the raw material with the additive to obtain a product, including a citrate soluble phosphate compound.

The present invention provides the use of lanthanum phosphate for creating non wetting, non-reactive surfaces for molten metals like zinc and aluminium. By virtue of this property, lanthanum phosphate finds extensive applications in metallurgical industry for metal casting.

Various embodiments relate to separation of terbium(III,IV) oxide. In various embodiments, present invention provides a method of separating terbium(III,IV) oxide from a composition. The method can include contacting a composition including terbium(III,IV) oxide and one or more other trivalent rare earth oxides with a liquid including acetic acid to form a mixture. The contacting can be effective to dissolve at least some of the one or more other trivalent rare earth oxides into the liquid. The method can include separating undissolved terbium(III,IV) oxide from the mixture, to provide separated terbium(III,IV) oxide.

Various embodiments relate to separation of terbium(III,IV) oxide. In various embodiments, present invention provides a method of separating terbium(III,IV) oxide from a composition. The method can include contacting a composition including terbium(III,IV) oxide and one or more other trivalent rare earth oxides with a liquid including acetic acid to form a mixture. The contacting can be effective to dissolve at least some of the one or more other trivalent rare earth oxides into the liquid. The method can include separating undissolved terbium(III,IV) oxide from the mixture, to provide separated terbium(III,IV) oxide.

Disclosed are a superconducting ceramic and methods for producing the same. The superconducting ceramic is represented by Formula 1, which is described in the specification. The methods are suitable for producing the superconducting ceramic. The superconducting ceramic exhibits superconductivity at room temperature and ambient pressure.

Disclosed are a superconducting ceramic and methods for producing the same. The superconducting ceramic is represented by Formula 1, which is described in the specification. The methods are suitable for producing the superconducting ceramic. The superconducting ceramic exhibits superconductivity at room temperature and ambient pressure.

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.

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.