The present invention relates to a breathable film comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and a surface-treated filler material product comprising a treatment layer comprising at least one mono-substituted succinic anhydride and/or at least one mono-substituted succinic acid and/or salty reaction product(s) thereof, a process for producing the same, and the use thereof. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to the use of a surface-treated filler material product comprising a treatment layer comprising at least one mono-substituted succinic anhydride and/or at least one mono-substituted succinic acid and/or salty reaction product(s) thereof in breathable films.

The present disclosure provides, for example, systems and methods for generating carbon particles. Carbon particles may have a total content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of less than or equal to about 0.5 parts per million, a content of benzo[a]pyrene of less than or equal to about 5 parts per billion, and a water spreading pressure that is less than about 5 mJ/m.sup.2. A carbon particle among the carbon particles may comprise less than about 0.3% sulfur by weight or less than or equal to about 0.03% ash by weight.

A hydrotalcite-like granular material having a grain size of 0.24 mm or larger is produced by drying a material that contains at least a hydrotalcite-like substance and that has a water content of 70% or lower at equal to or lower than a temperature at which the hydrotalcite-like substance is dehydrated of crystal water contained therein, preferably at 90° C. or higher and 110° C. or lower, such that the resulting hydrotalcite-like granular material has a water content of 10% or higher. In this manner, a hydrotalcite-like granular material that has a stable morphology and a high anion exchange performance and that can be produced at a low cost can be produced.

A surface-treated heavy calcium carbonate is provided which is useful for a film exactly controlled in its pore diameter and for easily hydrolyzable polyester resins. A heavy calcium carbonate is also provided which is compounded in a curable resin such as a one-component moisture-curable adhesive and a sealant either without any pre-drying treatment or by simple pre-drying treatment. A surface-treated heavy calcium carbonate satisfying 13,000≤A≤25,000, 0.8≤B≤3.0, C≥0.55, and 0≤D1≤1000, or 8,000≤A≤25,000, 0.8≤B≤15, 0≤C1≤1000, and 0≤C2≤150 wherein: A: specific surface area (cm.sup.2/g), B: average particle diameter (μm): 50% particle diameter (d50) (μm), C: 10% particle diameter (μm), D1, C1: water content at between 25° C. and 300° C. by a Karl-Fischer method (heating vaporization method) (ppm), and C2: water content at between 200° C. and 300° C. by the same method.

The calcium carbonate filler for a resin is provided in which a volatile component such as water present in a surface of calcium carbonate is likely to be degassed even when the filler is incorporated into and kneaded with a resin having high processing temperature at a high concentration, and foaming or the like can be suppressed. In particular, the calcium carbonate filler is useful in optical fields that require reflectivity and light resistance. The calcium carbonate filler for a resin has a content rate of particles having a particle diameter of 0.26 μm or less is 30% or less in a number particle size distribution diameter measured from an electron micrograph, and satisfies the following expressions (a) Dms5/Dmv5≤3.0, (b) 1.0≤Sw≤10.0 (m.sup.2/g) and (c) Dma≤5.0 (% by volume): Dms5: a 5% diameter (μm) accumulated from a small particle side in a volume particle size distribution measured with a laser diffraction particle size distribution measurement device; Dmv5: a 5% diameter (μm) accumulated from a small particle side in a number particle size distribution in a particle diameter measured with an electron microscope; Sw: a BET specific surface area (m.sup.2/g); and Dma: a content rate (% by volume) of particles having a particle diameter of 3 μm or more in a volume particle size distribution measured with a laser diffraction particle size distribution measurement device.

The present invention relates to iron oxide red pigments having improved color values, a process for producing these improved iron oxide red pigments by the Penniman red process using nitrate (also referred to as nitrate process or direct red process) and an apparatus for the production thereof.

In one arrangement, the present disclosure relates to a positive electrode active material including a nickel-cobalt-manganese-based lithium transition metal oxide which contains nickel in an amount of 60 mol % or more based on a total number of moles of metals excluding lithium, wherein the nickel-cobalt-manganese-based lithium transition metal oxide is doped with doping element M.sup.1 (where the doping element M.sup.1 is a metallic element including Al) and doping element M.sup.2 (where the doping element M.sup.2 is at least one metallic element selected from the group consisting of Mg, La, Ti, Zn, B, W, Ni, Co, Fe, Cr, V, Ru, Cu, Cd, Ag, Y, Sc, Ga, In, As, Sb, Pt, Au, and Si), where the doping element M.sup.1 can be in an amount of 100 ppm to 10,000 ppm, and the doping element M.sup.1 and the doping element M.sup.2 are included in a weight ratio of 50:50 to 99:1.

A method for preparing lithium concentrate from natural lithium-bearing brines was developed. The brine is first subjected to purification from the suspended solids, then filtered through a static layer of a granulated sorbent based on LiCl.2Al(OH).sub.3.mH.sub.2O, where m=3-5, to obtain a primary lithium concentrate. The process is carried out in sorption-desorption units consisting of 4 columns, two of which are in the process of sorption of lithium chloride from the brine, one column is in the process of washing the sorbent saturated with lithium chloride from the brine, and one column is in the process of lithium chloride desorption. The primary lithium concentrate is converted to a secondary lithium concentrate by concentration in evaporative pools or reverse osmotic concentration-desalination. The secondary lithium concentrate is used for further production of lithium chloride or lithium carbonate.

The present invention pertains to a hydrous silica for rubber-reinforcing filler, having a BET specific surface area ranging from 230 to 350 m.sup.2/g, and satisfies the following: a) the pore volume of 1.9 nm to 100 nm pore radius measured by the mercury press-in method (V.sub.HP-Hg) ranges from 1.40 to 2.00 cm.sup.3/g; b) total pore volume in the range of 1.6 nm to 100 nm pore radius by the nitrogen adsorption/desorption method (V.sub.N2) ranges from 1.60 to 2.20 cm.sup.3/g; and c) the pore volume ratio of (a) and (b) V.sub.HP-Hg/V.sub.N2 ranges from 0.70 to 0.95. This invention provides a hydrous silica capable of further improving reinforcing properties of a rubber, particularly the wear resistance by improving dispersibility of the hydrous silica in the rubber in addition to rubber reinforcing properties obtained by a high BET specific surface area.

A method for producing methanol is disclosed. The method includes supplying a high oxygen content oxidant to combust hydrocarbons, in particular methane, and then using the resulting hot gases to heat natural gas so as to convert the natural gas to synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is used to produce methanol in a methanol synthesis reactor. At least some of the carbon dioxide from the hot gases is fed to the methanol synthesis reactor to make methanol.