With an aim to provide a method for producing an oxide particle with controlled color characteristics and also provide an oxide particle with controlled color characteristics, the present invention provides a method for producing an oxide particle, wherein the color characteristics of the oxide particle are controlled by controlling a ratio of an M-OH bond between an element (M) and a hydroxide group (OH) or an M-OH bond/M-O bond ratio, where the element (M) is one element or plural different elements other than oxygen or hydrogen included in the oxide particle selected from metal oxide particles and semi-metal oxide particles. According to the present invention, by controlling the M-OH bond or the M-OH bond/M-O bond ratio of the metal oxide particle or the semi-metal oxide particle, the oxide particle with controlled color characteristics of any of reflectance, transmittance, molar absorption coefficient, hue, and saturation can be provided.

A method of making a synthetic hectorite-type mineral is described, along with its resulting physical and rheological properties. The synthetic hectorite-type mineral is a 2:1 phyllosilicate essentially free of aluminum, and having a trioctahedral structure with Mg2+ and Li+ occupying octahedral sites. As a hydrogel, the synthetic hectorite-type mineral has a swell index of greater than 55 mL, and a yield point of greater than 290 Pa. The method of making uses a MgO/MgCO3 buffer system, with heating for about 2 hours at temperatures of no higher than 300° C. and pressures of no higher than 600 psi.

An oxide includes a compound represented by Formula 1, a compound represented by Formula 2, or a combination thereof:

Li.sub.1−x+y−zTa.sub.2−xM.sub.xP.sub.1−yQ.sub.yO.sub.8−zX.sub.z  Formula 1

wherein, in Formula 1, M is an element having an oxidation number of 5+ or 6+, Q is an element having an oxidation number of 4+, X is a halogen atom, a pseudohalogen, or a combination thereof,
0≤x<0.6, 0≤y<1, and 0≤z<1, wherein x and y are not 0 at the same time,

Li.sub.1−x+yTa.sub.2−xM.sub.xP.sub.1−yQ.sub.yO.sub.8.zLiX  Formula 2

wherein, in Formula 2, M is an element having an oxidation number of 5+ or 6+, Q is an element having an oxidation number of 4+, X is a halogen atom, a pseudohalogen or a combination thereof, 0≤x<0.6, 0≤y<1, and 0≤z<1, wherein x and y are not 0 at the same time, and
wherein in Formulas 1 and 2, M, Q, x, y, and z are independently selected.

An oxide includes a compound represented by Formula 1, a compound represented by Formula 2, or a combination thereof:

Li.sub.1−x+y−zTa.sub.2−xM.sub.xP.sub.1−yQ.sub.yO.sub.8−zX.sub.z  Formula 1

wherein, in Formula 1, M is an element having an oxidation number of 5+ or 6+, Q is an element having an oxidation number of 4+, X is a halogen atom, a pseudohalogen, or a combination thereof,
0≤x<0.6, 0≤y<1, and 0≤z<1, wherein x and y are not 0 at the same time,

Li.sub.1−x+yTa.sub.2−xM.sub.xP.sub.1−yQ.sub.yO.sub.8.zLiX  Formula 2

wherein, in Formula 2, M is an element having an oxidation number of 5+ or 6+, Q is an element having an oxidation number of 4+, X is a halogen atom, a pseudohalogen or a combination thereof, 0≤x<0.6, 0≤y<1, and 0≤z<1, wherein x and y are not 0 at the same time, and
wherein in Formulas 1 and 2, M, Q, x, y, and z are independently selected.

The present invention relates to a negative electrode active material including silicon-based oxide particles and a metal distributed on a surface, inside, or on the surface of and the inside the silicon-based oxide particles, wherein compressive fracture strength measured at a pressure of 100 mN is 170 MPa to 380 MPa, and the silicon-based oxide particles contain Si crystal grains having a crystal grain size of 3 nm to 20 nm.

The present invention relates to bioavailable (which may also be referred to as plant available) silicon, such as in the form of a concentrate or solid, and processes for producing and using bioavailable silicon.

The present invention relates to bioavailable (which may also be referred to as plant available) silicon, such as in the form of a concentrate or solid, and processes for producing and using bioavailable silicon.

A process disclosed herein is related to the isolation and purification of substantially pure chemicals, including silica gel, sodium silicate, aluminum silicate, iron oxide, and rare earth elements (or rare earth metals, REEs), from massive industrial waste coal ash. In one embodiment, the process includes a plurality of caustic extractions of coal ash at an elevated temperature, followed by an acidic treatment to dissolve aluminum silicate and REEs. The dissolved aluminum silicate is precipitated out by pH adjustment as a solid product while REEs remain in the solution. REEs are captured and enriched using an ion exchange column. Alternatively, the solution containing aluminum silicate and REEs is heated to produce silica gel, which is easily separated from the enriched REEs solution. REEs are then isolated and purified from the enriched solution to afford substantially pure individual REE by a ligand-assisted chromatography. Additionally, a simplified process using one caustic extraction and one acidic extraction with an ion exchange process was also investigated and optimized to afford a comparable efficiency.

A process disclosed herein is related to the isolation and purification of substantially pure chemicals, including silica gel, sodium silicate, aluminum silicate, iron oxide, and rare earth elements (or rare earth metals, REEs), from massive industrial waste coal ash. In one embodiment, the process includes a plurality of caustic extractions of coal ash at an elevated temperature, followed by an acidic treatment to dissolve aluminum silicate and REEs. The dissolved aluminum silicate is precipitated out by pH adjustment as a solid product while REEs remain in the solution. REEs are captured and enriched using an ion exchange column. Alternatively, the solution containing aluminum silicate and REEs is heated to produce silica gel, which is easily separated from the enriched REEs solution. REEs are then isolated and purified from the enriched solution to afford substantially pure individual REE by a ligand-assisted chromatography. Additionally, a simplified process using one caustic extraction and one acidic extraction with an ion exchange process was also investigated and optimized to afford a comparable efficiency.

A negative electrode material includes a graphite material, an alkali metal salt, and at least one metal material selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Mg, Ni, Pd, Rh, Os, and Pt. The graphite material contains natural graphite.