A device for preparing high-purity hydrogen and/or oxygen by electrolyzing water, including an electrolyzer and a degasser for degassing desalted water. The degasser is located at the upstream of the electrolyzer. After desalted water is heated and degassed in the degasser, the content of gaseous impurities, particularly argon, can be reduced to several ppb (weight ratio). The hydrogen and oxygen generated after the desalted and degassed water is electrolyzed in the electrolyzer also contain an extremely small amount of argon, so that the requirements in semiconductor industry are met. Also involved is a method of preparing high-purity hydrogen and/or oxygen by using the device.

A device for preparing high-purity hydrogen and/or oxygen by electrolyzing water, including an electrolyzer and a degasser for degassing desalted water. The degasser is located at the upstream of the electrolyzer. After desalted water is heated and degassed in the degasser, the content of gaseous impurities, particularly argon, can be reduced to several ppb (weight ratio). The hydrogen and oxygen generated after the desalted and degassed water is electrolyzed in the electrolyzer also contain an extremely small amount of argon, so that the requirements in semiconductor industry are met. Also involved is a method of preparing high-purity hydrogen and/or oxygen by using the device.

A method for recovering metal values from a molten slag composition includes atomizing the slag with an oxygen-containing gas in a gas atomization apparatus, to produce solid slag granules. Oxygen in the atomizing gas converts metals to magnetic metal compounds, thereby magnetizing the metal-containing slag granules. These metal-containing slag granules are then magnetically separated. Larger amounts of metals may be removed by passing the molten slag through a pre-settling pan with an adjustable base, and/or discontinuing atomization where the metal content of the slag exceeds a predetermined amount. Solid slag granules produced by atomization may be charged to a recovery unit for recovery of one or more metal by-products. An apparatus for recovering metal values from molten slag includes a gas atomization apparatus, a flow control device for controlling the flow of atomizing gas, a control system, and one or more sensors to detect metal values in the slag.

A method for recovering metal values from a molten slag composition includes atomizing the slag with an oxygen-containing gas in a gas atomization apparatus, to produce solid slag granules. Oxygen in the atomizing gas converts metals to magnetic metal compounds, thereby magnetizing the metal-containing slag granules. These metal-containing slag granules are then magnetically separated. Larger amounts of metals may be removed by passing the molten slag through a pre-settling pan with an adjustable base, and/or discontinuing atomization where the metal content of the slag exceeds a predetermined amount. Solid slag granules produced by atomization may be charged to a recovery unit for recovery of one or more metal by-products. An apparatus for recovering metal values from molten slag includes a gas atomization apparatus, a flow control device for controlling the flow of atomizing gas, a control system, and one or more sensors to detect metal values in the slag.

A method of purifying a plurality of metal oxide particles produced from a synthesis process comprising the step of washing a plurality of metal oxide particles in a first solvent composition comprising of at least one aliphatic ether, and at least one flocculant. In one embodiment, the plurality of metal oxide particles are iron oxide particles produced from a thermal decomposition synthesis process between an iron-oleate complex and oleic acid in 1-octadecene, wherein the first solvent composition comprises a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of an aliphatic ether in the form of diethyl ether and a flocculant in the form of methanol. The washed iron oxide particles are further washed in a second solvent composition comprising a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of hexane and ethanol, and then finally dispersed in hexane. The resulting iron oxide particles find use as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or as magnetic particles in magnetic separation, magnetism-directed targeting or magnetism-induced heating.

A method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid with which dispersibility and dispersion stability can be improved includes performing filtration to remove impurities in a dispersion liquid using a dispersion liquid modifying device provided with a removal unit that uses a filtration membrane. The quantity of impurities is reduced from a first region until said quantity reaches a second pH-dependent region. In the second pH-dependent region, the dispersibility of the fine particles in the dispersion liquid is in a range in which the dispersibility depends more on a change in dispersion liquid pH than on a change in the quantity of impurities in the dispersion liquid. With the quantity of impurities reduced to the second pH-dependent region, the dispersibility of the fine particles is controlled by adjusting the pH of the fine particle dispersion liquid.

A method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid with which dispersibility and dispersion stability can be improved includes performing filtration to remove impurities in a dispersion liquid using a dispersion liquid modifying device provided with a removal unit that uses a filtration membrane. The quantity of impurities is reduced from a first region until said quantity reaches a second pH-dependent region. In the second pH-dependent region, the dispersibility of the fine particles in the dispersion liquid is in a range in which the dispersibility depends more on a change in dispersion liquid pH than on a change in the quantity of impurities in the dispersion liquid. With the quantity of impurities reduced to the second pH-dependent region, the dispersibility of the fine particles is controlled by adjusting the pH of the fine particle dispersion liquid.

A method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid has excellent dispersibility and dispersion stability. In this method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid having improved fine particle dispersibility, impurities included in an agglomeration of fine particles contained in the fine particle dispersion liquid are released into the dispersion liquid by applying physical energy to the agglomeration and performing dispersion processing for dispersion into particles that are smaller than the agglomeration of fine particles. The impurities are removed from the dispersion liquid by means of a removal unit provided with a filtration membrane before reagglomeration is caused by the impurities.

A method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid has excellent dispersibility and dispersion stability. In this method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid having improved fine particle dispersibility, impurities included in an agglomeration of fine particles contained in the fine particle dispersion liquid are released into the dispersion liquid by applying physical energy to the agglomeration and performing dispersion processing for dispersion into particles that are smaller than the agglomeration of fine particles. The impurities are removed from the dispersion liquid by means of a removal unit provided with a filtration membrane before reagglomeration is caused by the impurities.

The present disclosure provides methods whereby products can be prepared in a manner that adds value to the products beyond the market value of such products, and the present disclosure further provides methods for optimizing production of products toward processes that yield a positive net result. The methods for preparing a product can utilize a synthesized oxide compound and, depending upon the order of combination, can modify the synthesized oxide compound by combination with both of carbon dioxide and a secondary component.