Method for producing fine spherical particles of carbonate or hydroxide of nickel, cobalt or copper

Abstract

The invention provides a process for production of fine spherical particles of a carbonate or a hydroxide of nickel, cobalt or copper which comprises: dissolving a carbonate or a hydroxide of nickel, cobalt or copper having the general formula (I) M(CO3)x/2.(OH)y wherein M represents Ni, Co or Cu, and x and y are numerals satisfying the followings: 0≦x≦2, 0≦y≦2 and x+y=2, in aqueous ammonia, converting the resulting solution to a W/O emulsion containing droplets of the solution in a non-aqueous medium, and then removing volatile components including ammonia from within the droplets, thereby precipitating a basic carbonate or a hydroxide of a metal selected from nickel, cobalt and copperin the droplets. The fine spherical particles of a carbonate or a hydroxide of nickel, cobalt or copper obtained according to the process of the invention are especially useful as a precursor for the manufacture of uniform, fine spherical particles of nickel, copper or cobalt metal, as well as useful as themselves as a catalyst for use in organic synthesis, a carrier, a pigment, a filler or a glaze.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.