Method and apparatus for the production of metal oxide powder

An apparatus for reacting immiscible liquid reactant phases to form metal oxide particles comprising:

• a vessel for containing a liquid continuous phase reactant;
• a liquid drop delivering means for delivering a liquid dispersed phase reactant as drops into said liquid continuous phase reactant, said liquid drop delivering means being disposed so as to be submerged in said liquid continuous phase reactant, at least one of said liquid continuous phase reactant and said liquid dispersed phase reactant comprising a source of metal-containing ions;
• a pulse electric field applying means for producing and applying a pulsed electrical field to said liquid dispersed phase reactant, said pulsed electrical field applying means being disposed so as to be submerged in said liquid continuous phase reactant, said pulsed being capable of fracturing said drops of said liquid dispersed phase reactant to form micro-drops of said liquid dispersed phase reactant so that said liquid continuous phase reactant can react with said micro-drops of said liquid dispersed phase reactant to form metal hydroxide particles;
• and
• a drying means for drying said metal hydroxide particles to a metal oxide powder.