A method for producing forsterite microparticles having a primary particle size of 1 to 200 nm, as determined through electron microscopy, characterized in that the method includes spray-drying, at 50 C. or higher and lower than 300 C., a solution containing a water-soluble magnesium salt and colloidal silica at a mole ratio of magnesium atoms to silicon atoms (Mg/Si) of 2; and subsequently, firing the spray-dried product in air at 800 to 1,000 C.

A method for producing forsterite microparticles having a primary particle size of 1 to 200 nm, as determined through electron microscopy, characterized in that the method includes spray-drying, at 50 C. or higher and lower than 300 C., a solution containing a water-soluble magnesium salt and colloidal silica at a mole ratio of magnesium atoms to silicon atoms (Mg/Si) of 2; and subsequently, firing the spray-dried product in air at 800 to 1,000 C.

The present invention relates to dissolved silicate compositions in which the dissolved silicate is stabilized by at least two selected osmolytes and is therefore bioavailable. The composition and its dilutions are stable over a long period of time and are used in a wide field of applications for the benefit of living organisms such as plants, animals and humans.

The present invention relates to dissolved silicate compositions in which the dissolved silicate is stabilized by at least two selected osmolytes and is therefore bioavailable. The composition and its dilutions are stable over a long period of time and are used in a wide field of applications for the benefit of living organisms such as plants, animals and humans.

A composition comprising synthetic mineral particles, such as silicate or phyllosilicate mineral particles, is presented. The composition can be prepared by a process in which a hydrogel precursor of the synthetic mineral particles is produced by a coprecipitation reaction between at least one compound comprising silicon, such as sodium metasilicate, and at least one compound comprising at least one metal element, such as a dicarboxylate salt of the formula M(R.sub.1COO).sub.2, wherein R.sub.1 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The coprecipitation reaction also takes place in the presence of at least one carboxylate salt of formula R.sub.2COOM wherein M is Na or K, and R.sub.2 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

A composition comprising synthetic mineral particles, such as silicate or phyllosilicate mineral particles, is presented. The composition can be prepared by a process in which a hydrogel precursor of the synthetic mineral particles is produced by a coprecipitation reaction between at least one compound comprising silicon, such as sodium metasilicate, and at least one compound comprising at least one metal element, such as a dicarboxylate salt of the formula M(R.sub.1COO).sub.2, wherein R.sub.1 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The coprecipitation reaction also takes place in the presence of at least one carboxylate salt of formula R.sub.2COOM wherein M is Na or K, and R.sub.2 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

A solution containing an ionic liquid, a polymer compound including at least one of a hydrolyzable polymer compound and a thermally-decomposable polymer compound, and a laminate of layered substances is irradiated with at least one of sonic waves and radio waves. Alternatively, a solution containing an ionic liquid, a polymer compound including at least one of a hydrolyzable polymer compound and a thermally-decomposable polymer compound, and a laminate of layered substances is heated.

The present invention relates to a product constituted totally or partly by a material of olivine crystallographic structure of formula:

A.sub.aZ.sub.zM.sub.mSiO.sub.4

in which A is chosen from lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K) and mixtures thereof, Z is chosen from beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and mixtures thereof, M is chosen from iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), and mixtures thereof, a, z and m are the stoichiometric coefficients, respectively, of A, Z and M, and satisfy the following conditions: z>0, m>0, a>0, a+z+m2, and 2(4a2z)/m<4.

Disclosed herein is a method for exfoliating a laminar material to form an exfoliated material, in which the laminar material is ultrasonicated in a solution of a surfactant for sufficient time to form the exfoliated material. At all times during the ultrasonication the concentration of the surfactant in the solution is maintained sufficient to form a complete monolayer on the surfaces of the laminar material and the exfoliated material in the solution, or sufficient to sterically stabilize the laminar and exfoliated materials against aggregation.

Disclosed herein is a method for exfoliating a laminar material to form an exfoliated material, in which the laminar material is ultrasonicated in a solution of a surfactant for sufficient time to form the exfoliated material. At all times during the ultrasonication the concentration of the surfactant in the solution is maintained sufficient to form a complete monolayer on the surfaces of the laminar material and the exfoliated material in the solution, or sufficient to sterically stabilize the laminar and exfoliated materials against aggregation.