The current invention relates to methods of the recovery and re-use of minerals obtained from the combustion of the residues of a process to recycle paper.

The current invention relates to methods of the recovery and re-use of minerals obtained from the combustion of the residues of a process to recycle paper.

A p-type oxide which is amorphous and is represented by the following compositional formula: xAO.yCu.sub.2O where x denotes a proportion by mole of AO and y denotes a proportion by mole of Cu.sub.2O and x and y satisfy the following expressions: 0x<100 and x+y=100, and A is any one of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba, or a mixture containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba.

A p-type oxide which is amorphous and is represented by the following compositional formula: xAO.yCu.sub.2O where x denotes a proportion by mole of AO and y denotes a proportion by mole of Cu.sub.2O and x and y satisfy the following expressions: 0x<100 and x+y=100, and A is any one of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba, or a mixture containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba.

The present application pertains to processes producing oxides using a weak acid intermediate. In one embodiment a material comprising calcium carbonate is reacted with a solution comprising aqueous carboxylic acid to form a gas comprising carbon dioxide and a solution comprising aqueous calcium carboxylate. The solution comprising aqueous calcium carboxylate is reacted with sodium sulfate to form a solution comprising aqueous sodium carboxylate and a solid comprising calcium sulfate. The solution comprising aqueous sodium carboxylate is reacted with sulfur dioxide to form sodium sulfite and an aqueous carboxylic acid. The sodium sulfite is separated from said aqueous carboxylic acid and reacted to form a solid comprising calcium sulfite which is decomposed to form calcium oxide and sulfur dioxide.

The present application pertains to processes producing oxides using a weak acid intermediate. In one embodiment a material comprising calcium carbonate is reacted with a solution comprising aqueous carboxylic acid to form a gas comprising carbon dioxide and a solution comprising aqueous calcium carboxylate. The solution comprising aqueous calcium carboxylate is reacted with sodium sulfate to form a solution comprising aqueous sodium carboxylate and a solid comprising calcium sulfate. The solution comprising aqueous sodium carboxylate is reacted with sulfur dioxide to form sodium sulfite and an aqueous carboxylic acid. The sodium sulfite is separated from said aqueous carboxylic acid and reacted to form a solid comprising calcium sulfite which is decomposed to form calcium oxide and sulfur dioxide.

Nanoplatelet forms of metal hydroxide and metal oxide are provided, as well as methods for preparing same. The nanoplatelets are suitable for use as fire retardants and as agents for chemical or biological decontamination.

Nanoplatelet forms of metal hydroxide and metal oxide are provided, as well as methods for preparing same. The nanoplatelets are suitable for use as fire retardants and as agents for chemical or biological decontamination.

An acid gas absorption composition may generally comprise calcium oxide generally characterized by a specific surface area from 40-100 m.sup.2/g, a porous volume from 0.25-0.50 cm.sup.3/g within a pore diameter range up to 1200 Angstroms, more than 40% by weight of the composition of pores having a diameter from 100-400 Angstroms, and an acid gas mass absorption capacity of at least 4.5 grams of acid gas per 100 grams of composition. Methods of making and using the same are also described.

An acid gas absorption composition may generally comprise calcium oxide generally characterized by a specific surface area from 40-100 m.sup.2/g, a porous volume from 0.25-0.50 cm.sup.3/g within a pore diameter range up to 1200 Angstroms, more than 40% by weight of the composition of pores having a diameter from 100-400 Angstroms, and an acid gas mass absorption capacity of at least 4.5 grams of acid gas per 100 grams of composition. Methods of making and using the same are also described.