A positive electrode includes a lithium-based active material, a binder, a conductive filler, and discrete aluminum oxide nanomaterials. The aluminum oxide nanomaterials are mixed, as an additive, throughout the positive electrode with the lithium-based active material, the binder, and the conductive filler. The positive electrode with the discrete aluminum oxide nanomaterials may be incorporated into a lithium ion battery. The aluminum oxide nanomaterials may be formed by the following method. A solution is formed by mixing an aluminum oxide precursor and an acid. A carbon material is added to the solution, thereby forming an aqueous mixture having the carbon material therein. Hydrothermal synthesis is performed using the aqueous mixture, and precursor nanostructures are grown on the carbon material. The precursor nanostructures on the carbon material are annealed so that the carbon material is removed and aluminum oxide nanomaterials are formed.

Effect pigments based on Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flakes with high weather resistance and less photoactivity and to their use thereof in paints, industrial coatings, automotive coatings, printing inks, cosmetic formulations. The effect pigments have a ratio of the amount by weight of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flake and the amount by weight of the metal oxide(s) of the coating layer(s) in the range of from 27:73 to 83:17 based on the total weight of the effect pigment.

Effect pigments based on Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flakes with high weather resistance and less photoactivity and to their use thereof in paints, industrial coatings, automotive coatings, printing inks, cosmetic formulations. The effect pigments have a ratio of the amount by weight of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flake and the amount by weight of the metal oxide(s) of the coating layer(s) in the range of from 27:73 to 83:17 based on the total weight of the effect pigment.

A supported catalyst having a calcined, predominantly aluminum, oxide support and an active phase of 5 to 65% by weight nickel with respect to the total mass of the catalyst, said active phase having no group VIB metal, the nickel particles having a diameter less than or equal to 20 nm, said catalyst having a mesopore median diameter greater than or equal to 14 nm, a mesopore volume measured by mercury porosimetry greater than or equal to 0.45 mL/g, a total pore volume measured by mercury porosimetry greater than or equal to 0.45 mL/g, a macropore volume less than 5% of the total pore volume, said catalyst being in the form of grains having an average diameter comprised between 0.5 and 10 mm. The invention also relates to the process for the preparation of said catalyst and the use thereof in a hydrogenation process.

A supported catalyst having a calcined, predominantly aluminum, oxide support and an active phase of 5 to 65% by weight nickel with respect to the total mass of the catalyst, said active phase having no group VIB metal, the nickel particles having a diameter less than or equal to 20 nm, said catalyst having a mesopore median diameter greater than or equal to 14 nm, a mesopore volume measured by mercury porosimetry greater than or equal to 0.45 mL/g, a total pore volume measured by mercury porosimetry greater than or equal to 0.45 mL/g, a macropore volume less than 5% of the total pore volume, said catalyst being in the form of grains having an average diameter comprised between 0.5 and 10 mm. The invention also relates to the process for the preparation of said catalyst and the use thereof in a hydrogenation process.

Disclosed herein are methods of producing alumina trihydrate crystals from an alumina trihydrate recovery process stream wherein an aqueous emulsion comprising a crystal growth modifier, which is at least one of an acyclic anhydride or an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride, is added to the alumina trihydrate recovery process stream, wherein the aqueous emulsion is substantially free of mineral oils. The method provides a decrease in percentage of alumina trihydrate crystals having a volume average diameter of less than about 45 micrometers compared to the percentage of alumina trihydrate crystals produced in the absence of the crystal growth modifier. The process does not require the addition of a defoamer/anti-foam agent in order to control foam generated in the process.

Disclosed herein are methods of producing alumina trihydrate crystals from an alumina trihydrate recovery process stream wherein an aqueous emulsion comprising a crystal growth modifier, which is at least one of an acyclic anhydride or an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride, is added to the alumina trihydrate recovery process stream, wherein the aqueous emulsion is substantially free of mineral oils. The method provides a decrease in percentage of alumina trihydrate crystals having a volume average diameter of less than about 45 micrometers compared to the percentage of alumina trihydrate crystals produced in the absence of the crystal growth modifier. The process does not require the addition of a defoamer/anti-foam agent in order to control foam generated in the process.

A process for the preparation of an amorphous mesoporous and macroporous alumina: at least once dissolving an acidic precursor of aluminium, adjusting pH by adding at least one basic precursor to the suspension obtained in a), co-precipitation of the suspension obtained from b) by adding at least one basic precursor and at least one acidic precursor to the suspension, filtration, drying, shaping and heat treatment. An amorphous mesoporous and macroporous alumina with bimodal pore structure: a specific surface area S.sub.BET more than 100 m.sup.2/g; a median mesopore diameter, by volume determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry, 18 nm or more; a median macropore diameter, by volume determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry, 100 to 1200 nm, limits included; a mesopore volume, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry, 0.7 mL/g or more; and a total pore volume, as measured by mercury porosimetry, 0.8 mL/g or more.

A process for the preparation of an amorphous mesoporous and macroporous alumina: at least once dissolving an acidic precursor of aluminium, adjusting pH by adding at least one basic precursor to the suspension obtained in a), co-precipitation of the suspension obtained from b) by adding at least one basic precursor and at least one acidic precursor to the suspension, filtration, drying, shaping and heat treatment. An amorphous mesoporous and macroporous alumina with bimodal pore structure: a specific surface area S.sub.BET more than 100 m.sup.2/g; a median mesopore diameter, by volume determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry, 18 nm or more; a median macropore diameter, by volume determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry, 100 to 1200 nm, limits included; a mesopore volume, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry, 0.7 mL/g or more; and a total pore volume, as measured by mercury porosimetry, 0.8 mL/g or more.

A process for the preparation of an alumina in the form of beads with a sulphur content in the range 0.001% to 1% by weight and a sodium content in the range 0.001% to 1% by weight with respect to the total mass of said beads is described, said beads being prepared by shaping an alumina gel having a high dispersibility by drop coagulation. The alumina gel is itself prepared using a specific precipitation preparation process in order to obtain at least 40% by weight of alumina with respect to the total quantity of alumina formed at the end of the gel preparation process right from the first precipitation step, the quantity of alumina formed at the end of the first precipitation step possibly even reaching 100%. The invention also concerns the use of alumina beads as a catalyst support in a catalytic reforming process.