Process for producing high surface area metal oxides

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR REDUCING VERY FINELY DIVIDED METAL OXIDES WHICH ARE STABLE AT THE COMBUSTING TEMPERATURE OF CARBON BLACK WHICH COMPRISES: CONTACTING CARBON BLACK WITH VAPORS OF A COMPOUND OF SAID METAL, SAID COMPOUND BEING CHARACTERIZEWD BY ITS TENDENCY TO HYDROLYZE UNDER CONDITIOND MILDER THAN REQUIRES FOR APPRECIABLE REACTION OF CARBON BLACK WITH WATER, THEREBYEFFECTING ADSORPTION OF SAID COMPOUND ON SAID BLACK; CONTACTING SAID COMPOUND WHILE IT ID ADSORBED ON SAID CARBON BLACK WITH WATER UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS SUITABLE FOR EFFECTING ACTIVE HYDROLYSIS OF SAID COMPOUND, ALL OF SAID WATER BEING IN VAPOR FORM EXCEPT THAT ALREADY ADSORBED UPON THE CARBON BLACK PRIOR TO CONTACTING SAID BLACK WITH SAID COMPOUND; HEATING SAID CARBON BLACK WITH THE PRODUCT OF SAID HYDROLYSIS REACTION THEREON IN AN OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE UNTIL SAID CARBON BLACK HAS BEEN CONSUMED AND SAID HYDROLYSIS PRODUCT IS IN THE OXIDE FORM; AND RECOVERING THE FINELY DIVIDED METAL OXIDE REMAINING.