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.

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 composition of matter and method of forming a radiation shielding member at ambient temperatures in which the composition of matter includes a cold-fired chemically bonded oxide-phosphate ceramic cement matrix; with one or more suitably prepared and distributed radiation shielding materials dispersed in the cold-fired chemically bonded oxide-phosphate ceramic cement matrix.

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.

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.

There are provided an adsorbent material excellent in the adsorptive removal properties of Cs and Sr also in seawater, and a method for producing a crystalline silicotitanate suitable for the adsorbent material. The adsorbent material according to the present invention comprises: at least one selected from crystalline silicotitanates represented by Na.sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O, (Na.sub.xK.sub.(1-x)).sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O and K.sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O wherein x represents a number of more than 0 and less than 1 and n represents a number of 0 to 8; and at least one selected from titanate salts represented by Na.sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O, (Na.sub.yK.sub.(1-y)).sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O and K.sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O wherein y represents a number of more than 0 and less than 1 and m represents a number of 0 to 10. The adsorbent material is suitably produced by a method for producing a crystalline silicotitanate in which a silicic acid source, a sodium compound and/or a potassium compound, titanium tetrachloride, and water are mixed to obtain a mixed gel, and the mixed gel is subjected to a hydrothermal reaction.

There are provided an adsorbent material excellent in the adsorptive removal properties of Cs and Sr also in seawater, and a method for producing a crystalline silicotitanate suitable for the adsorbent material. The adsorbent material according to the present invention comprises: at least one selected from crystalline silicotitanates represented by Na.sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O, (Na.sub.xK.sub.(1-x)).sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O and K.sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O wherein x represents a number of more than 0 and less than 1 and n represents a number of 0 to 8; and at least one selected from titanate salts represented by Na.sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O, (Na.sub.yK.sub.(1-y)).sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O and K.sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O wherein y represents a number of more than 0 and less than 1 and m represents a number of 0 to 10. The adsorbent material is suitably produced by a method for producing a crystalline silicotitanate in which a silicic acid source, a sodium compound and/or a potassium compound, titanium tetrachloride, and water are mixed to obtain a mixed gel, and the mixed gel is subjected to a hydrothermal reaction.

There are provided an adsorbent material excellent in the adsorptive removal properties of Cs and Sr also in seawater, and a method for producing a crystalline silicotitanate suitable for the adsorbent material.

The adsorbent material according to the present invention comprises: at least one selected from crystalline silicotitanates represented by Na.sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O, (Na.sub.xK.sub.(1-x)).sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O and K.sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O wherein x represents a number of more than 0 and less than 1 and n represents a number of 0 to 8; and at least one selected from titanate salts represented by Na.sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O, (Na.sub.yK.sub.(1-y)).sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O and K.sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O wherein y represents a number of more than 0 and less than 1 and m represents a number of 0 to 10. The adsorbent material is suitably produced by a method for producing a crystalline silicotitanate in which a silicic acid source, a sodium compound and/or a potassium compound, titanium tetrachloride, and water are mixed to obtain a mixed gel, and the mixed gel is subjected to a hydrothermal reaction.

There are provided an adsorbent material excellent in the adsorptive removal properties of Cs and Sr also in seawater, and a method for producing a crystalline silicotitanate suitable for the adsorbent material.

The adsorbent material according to the present invention comprises: at least one selected from crystalline silicotitanates represented by Na.sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O, (Na.sub.xK.sub.(1-x)).sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O and K.sub.4Ti.sub.4Si.sub.3O.sub.16.nH.sub.2O wherein x represents a number of more than 0 and less than 1 and n represents a number of 0 to 8; and at least one selected from titanate salts represented by Na.sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O, (Na.sub.yK.sub.(1-y)).sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O and K.sub.4Ti.sub.9O.sub.20.mH.sub.2O wherein y represents a number of more than 0 and less than 1 and m represents a number of 0 to 10. The adsorbent material is suitably produced by a method for producing a crystalline silicotitanate in which a silicic acid source, a sodium compound and/or a potassium compound, titanium tetrachloride, and water are mixed to obtain a mixed gel, and the mixed gel is subjected to a hydrothermal reaction.

The invention relates to a method for producing an alkali metal alcoholate solution L.sub.1 in an electrolysis cell E which comprises at least one cathode chamber K.sub.K, at least one anode chamber K.sub.A, and at least one central chamber K.sub.M lying therebetween. The interior I.sub.KK of the cathode chamber K.sub.K is separated from the interior I.sub.KM of the central chamber K.sub.M by a separating wall W comprising at least one alkali-cation-conductive solid ceramic electrolyte (=AFK) F (e.g. NaSICON). F has the surface O.sub.F. A part O.sub.A/MK of the surface O.sub.F directly contacts the interior I.sub.KM, and a part O.sub.KK of the surface O.sub.F directly contacts the interior I.sub.KK. The surface O.sub.A/MK and/or the surface O.sub.KK comprises at least one part of a surface O.sub.F. O.sub.F is produced from a pre-treatment step in which F is produced from an AFK F comprising the surface O.sub.F. In the pre-treatment step, AFK is removed from F by sputtering the surface O.sub.F using noble gas cations N+, and the AFK F with the surface O.sub.F comprising the surface O.sub.F formed by the sputtering process is obtained. During the electrolysis process for producing the alkali metal alcoholates with F instead of F, an improved conductivity is provided, whereby for a constant current density, a lower voltage can be used.