An alumina having a multimodal particle size distribution wherein at least one of the particle sizes giving local maximum values in the particle size distribution is less than 10 m, and wherein the alumina comprises 1 to 5 wt % of at least one of La and Ba.

Digestion of impure alumina with sulfuric acid dissolves all constituents except silica. The resulting sulfatesaluminum sulfate, ferric sulfate, titanyl sulfate, and magnesium sulfate for alumina contaminated with iron-, titanium-, and/or magnesium-containing speciesremain in solution at approximately 90 C. Hot filtration separates silica. Solution flow over metallic iron reduces ferric sulfate to ferrous sulfate. Controlled ammonia addition promotes hydrolysis and precipitation of hydrated titania from titanyl sulfate that is removed by filtration. Addition of ammonium sulfate forms ferrous ammonium sulfate and ammonium aluminum sulfate solutions. Alum is preferentially separated by crystallization. Addition of ammonium bicarbonate to an ammonium alum solution precipitates ammonium aluminum carbonate which may be heated to produce alumina, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. The remaining iron rich liquor also contains magnesium sulfate. The addition of oxalic acid generates insoluble ferrous oxalate which is thermally decomposed to ferrous oxide and carbon monoxide which is used to reduce the ferrous oxide to metallic iron. Further oxalic acid addition precipitates magnesium oxalate which is thermally decomposed to magnesium oxide.

Digestion of impure alumina with sulfuric acid dissolves all constituents except silica. The resulting sulfatesaluminum sulfate, ferric sulfate, titanyl sulfate, and magnesium sulfate for alumina contaminated with iron-, titanium-, and/or magnesium-containing speciesremain in solution at approximately 90 C. Hot filtration separates silica. Solution flow over metallic iron reduces ferric sulfate to ferrous sulfate. Controlled ammonia addition promotes hydrolysis and precipitation of hydrated titania from titanyl sulfate that is removed by filtration. Addition of ammonium sulfate forms ferrous ammonium sulfate and ammonium aluminum sulfate solutions. Alum is preferentially separated by crystallization. Addition of ammonium bicarbonate to an ammonium alum solution precipitates ammonium aluminum carbonate which may be heated to produce alumina, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. The remaining iron rich liquor also contains magnesium sulfate. The addition of oxalic acid generates insoluble ferrous oxalate which is thermally decomposed to ferrous oxide and carbon monoxide which is used to reduce the ferrous oxide to metallic iron. Further oxalic acid addition precipitates magnesium oxalate which is thermally decomposed to magnesium oxide.

A plate-like alumina powder production method of the present invention comprises placing a transition alumina and a fluoride in a container such that the transition alumina and the fluoride do not come into contact with each other and then performing heat treatment to obtain a plate-like -alumina powder. The transition alumina is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of gibbsite, boehmite, and -alumina. It is preferable that the amount of the fluoride used is set such that the percentage ration of F in the fluoride to the transition alumina is 0.17% by mass or more. The container preferably has a volume such that a value obtained by dividing the mass of F in the fluoride by the volume of the container is 6.510.sup.5 g/cm.sup.3 or more. The heat treatment is preferably performed at the temperature of 750 to 1,650 C.

A plate-like alumina powder production method of the present invention comprises placing a transition alumina and a fluoride in a container such that the transition alumina and the fluoride do not come into contact with each other and then performing heat treatment to obtain a plate-like -alumina powder. The transition alumina is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of gibbsite, boehmite, and -alumina. It is preferable that the amount of the fluoride used is set such that the percentage ration of F in the fluoride to the transition alumina is 0.17% by mass or more. The container preferably has a volume such that a value obtained by dividing the mass of F in the fluoride by the volume of the container is 6.510.sup.5 g/cm.sup.3 or more. The heat treatment is preferably performed at the temperature of 750 to 1,650 C.

A method comprises reacting an aluminum feedstock with an acid in the presence of water to provide an aluminum salt solution comprising an aluminum salt in water, wherein the aluminum salt comprises a reaction product of the acid and aluminum, and spray roasting the aluminum salt solution at a temperature of at least about 450 C. to provide an aluminum oxide powder, wherein the spray roasting is performed in a furnace lined with a refractory comprising alumina that is at least about 99.2% purity alumina, and wherein the aluminum oxide powder is 99.2% pure aluminum oxide or greater.

A method comprises reacting an aluminum feedstock with an acid in the presence of water to provide an aluminum salt solution comprising an aluminum salt in water, wherein the aluminum salt comprises a reaction product of the acid and aluminum, and spray roasting the aluminum salt solution at a temperature of at least about 450 C. to provide an aluminum oxide powder, wherein the spray roasting is performed in a furnace lined with a refractory comprising alumina that is at least about 99.2% purity alumina, and wherein the aluminum oxide powder is 99.2% pure aluminum oxide or greater.

The present invention relates to: an alumina powder wherein a ratio (TBD/LBD) of a tapped bulk density (TBD) to a loose bulk density (LBD) is 1.5 or more; an alumina slurry containing the same; an alumina-containing coating layer; a multilayer separation membrane; and a secondary battery.

The present invention relates to: an alumina powder wherein a ratio (TBD/LBD) of a tapped bulk density (TBD) to a loose bulk density (LBD) is 1.5 or more; an alumina slurry containing the same; an alumina-containing coating layer; a multilayer separation membrane; and a secondary battery.

Disclosed is an ink including at least one particle including a first material; and at least one liquid vehicle; wherein the particle includes at least one particle including a second material and at least one nanoparticle dispersed in the second material; wherein the first material and the second material have an extinction coefficient less or equal to 1510.sup.5 at 460 nm. The invention also relates to inks, light emitting materials including at least one ink, patterns including at least one ink, particles deposited on a support, optoelectronic devices including at least one ink and method for depositing an ink on a support.