Process for preparing colloidal ceric oxide and complexes thereof with free organic acids

Abstract

A process is provided for preparing colloidal dispersions of ceric dioxide in inert organic media which comprises (1) heating (a) ceric dioxide comprising ammonium nitrate or ammonium and nitrate ions in an amount within the range from about 3 to about 14% by weight of the ceric dioxide and a member selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, acetic acid and mixtures thereof in an amount usually from about 10 to about 60 g per mole of CeO.sub.2, sufficient to effect reaction with (b) an organic acid having from about ten to about forty carbon atoms (c) an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of (i) aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, such as petroleum spirits, benzene, toluene, chlorobenzene, chlorotoluene, etc. (ii) aliphatic and cycloaliphatic ethers, such as isopropyl ether or dicyclohexyl ether (iii) aliphatic and cycloaliphatic ketones, such as diisobutylketone or cyclohexanone at a temperature within the range from about 60 to about 200.degree. C. thereby effecting dispersion of the ceric dioxide; (2) removing water, methanol, acetic acid or mixtures thereof, and separating undissolved particles of solid material such as ammonium nitrate and undissolved cerium dioxide. Association complexes are also provided, composed of ceric dioxide and organic acid having from about ten to about forty carbon atoms in a molar ratio CeO.sub.2 /organic acid of at least about 4:1.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.