Methods for processing fumed metallic oxides
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorMichele Louisa Ostraat
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Abstract
Novel methods for processing fumed metallic oxides into globular metallic oxide agglomerates are provided. The methodology may allow for fumed metallic oxide particles, such as fumed silica and fumed alumina particles, to be processed into a globular morphology to improve handling while retaining a desirable surface area. The processes may include providing fumed metallic oxide particles, combining the particles with a liquid carrier to form a suspension, atomizing the solution of suspended particles, and subjecting the atomized droplets to a temperature range sufficient to remove the liquid carrier from the droplets, to produce metallic oxide-containing agglomerations.
Claims19
A method of producing metal oxide agglomerates, the method comprising:
- atomizing a solution comprising fumed metal oxide particles and a carrier liquid, the fumed metal oxide particles having a BET surface area of greater than or equal to 50 meters squared per gram (m2/g), where atomizing the solution produces a plurality of droplets containing the fumed metal oxide particles;
- removing at least a portion of the carrier liquid from the droplets to produce a plurality of metal oxide agglomerates comprising a plurality of the fumed metal oxide particles agglomerated together, where the metal oxide agglomerates have a BET surface area that is at least 75% of the BET surface area of the fumed metal oxide particles prior to atomization.
Metal oxide agglomerates comprising an agglomeration of a plurality of fumed metal oxide primary particles, where the metal oxide agglomerates have dominant globular morphology and a BET surface area of at least 75% of the BET surface area of the fumed metal oxide primary particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.