The present disclosure, in various embodiments, discloses hydrothermal methods, hydrothermally modified materials and dried hydrothermally modified materials. Certain dried hydrothermally modified materials can readily releases ionic species such as alkali metal ions (K.sup.+, Na.sup.+), silicate salts, and alkaline earth metal ions (Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+). Some dried hydrothermally modified materials can readily release aluminum ions and/or silicon, such as in the form of soluble silicates. Such processes and materials are useful, for example in economically preparing potassium releasing fertilizers.

A calcium-deficient silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite composition comprises an apatite phase having a Ca/P molar ratio of from greater than 2.15 to 2.30, and a Ca/(P+Si) molar ratio of from 1.45 to 1.55. A method of producing a calcium-deficient silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite composition comprises contacting a silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite starting material with an acidic solution to produce the calcium-deficient silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite composition. The starting material comprises an apatite phase and up to 15 wt % total of a phase or phases other than the apatite phase, and has a Ca/P molar ratio of from 2.3 to 2.6, and a Ca/(P+Si) molar ratio of from 1.56 to 1.66, and the calcium-deficient silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite composition comprises an apatite phase having a Ca/P molar ratio lower than the Ca/P ratio of the starting material apatite phase.

A calcium-deficient silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite composition comprises an apatite phase having a Ca/P molar ratio of from greater than 2.15 to 2.30, and a Ca/(P+Si) molar ratio of from 1.45 to 1.55. A method of producing a calcium-deficient silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite composition comprises contacting a silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite starting material with an acidic solution to produce the calcium-deficient silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite composition. The starting material comprises an apatite phase and up to 15 wt % total of a phase or phases other than the apatite phase, and has a Ca/P molar ratio of from 2.3 to 2.6, and a Ca/(P+Si) molar ratio of from 1.56 to 1.66, and the calcium-deficient silicate-substituted calcium phosphate apatite composition comprises an apatite phase having a Ca/P molar ratio lower than the Ca/P ratio of the starting material apatite phase.

A silicate-coated body contains: a mica particle; a first silicate coating at least part of the mica particle; and an ionic organic colorant adsorbed to the first silicate. The ionic organic colorant includes at least one selected from the group consisting of amaranth, new coccine, phloxine B, rose bengal, acid red, fast green, indigo carmine, lithol rubine B, and lithol rubine BCA.

A silicate-coated body contains: a mica particle; a first silicate coating at least part of the mica particle; and an ionic organic colorant adsorbed to the first silicate. The ionic organic colorant includes at least one selected from the group consisting of amaranth, new coccine, phloxine B, rose bengal, acid red, fast green, indigo carmine, lithol rubine B, and lithol rubine BCA.

The present disclosure, in various embodiments, discloses hydrothermal methods, hydrothermally modified materials and dried hydrothermally modified materials. Certain dried hydrothermally modified materials can readily releases ionic species such as alkali metal ions (K.sup.+, Na.sup.+), silicate salts, and alkaline earth metal ions (Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+). Some dried hydrothermally modified materials can readily release aluminum ions and/or silicon, such as in the form of soluble silicates. Such processes and materials are useful, for example in economically preparing potassium releasing fertilizers.

The present disclosure, in various embodiments, discloses hydrothermal methods, hydrothermally modified materials and dried hydrothermally modified materials. Certain dried hydrothermally modified materials can readily releases ionic species such as alkali metal ions (K.sup.+, Na.sup.+), silicate salts, and alkaline earth metal ions (Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+). Some dried hydrothermally modified materials can readily release aluminum ions and/or silicon, such as in the form of soluble silicates. Such processes and materials are useful, for example in economically preparing potassium releasing fertilizers.

The present disclosure relates to nanomaterial composites capable of selectively extracting lithium from a lithium-containing liquid resource when the nanomaterial composite is activated, a method of preparing the nanomaterial composites, and the use of the nanomaterial composites for the extraction and recovery of lithium.

The present disclosure relates to nanomaterial composites capable of selectively extracting lithium from a lithium-containing liquid resource when the nanomaterial composite is activated, a method of preparing the nanomaterial composites, and the use of the nanomaterial composites for the extraction and recovery of lithium.

An alkali metal ion source with a moderate rate of release of the ion (e.g. potassium) is formed by a method that includes: 1) combining an particulate ore that contains at least one of an alkali metal ion-bearing framework silicate (e.g. syenite ore) with at least one of an oxide and hydroxide of at least one of an alkali metal and alkaline earth metal such as calcium hydroxide; 2) milling the mixture of these two components optionally, with water, optionally, milling the dry components separately and blended thereafter, optionally, with water; 3) forming a mixture by adding water to the solid mixture after milling, if water was not added before milling; 4) exposing the mixture to an elevated temperature and pressure to form a gel that includes silica and the alkali metal of the framework silicate.