Apparatus and method for producing silica and other oxides

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF PRODUCING FINELY DIVIDED OXIDES DERIVED FROM AT LEAST ONE PERHALIDE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF VOLATILE PERHALIDES OF METALS AND METALLOIDS, SAID METHOD COMPRISING FORMING A CONICALDIFFUSION TYPE OF FLAME FROM A BURNER BY BRINGING TOGETHER TWO IMPINGING GAS STREAMS A AND B AT A PREDETERMINED ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER THAT IS WITHIN THE RANGE OF 85*-95*, GAS STREAM A BEING A HYDROGEN-SUPPLYING GAS AND GAS STREAM B BEING A GASEOUS MIXTURE OF AN OXYGEN-SUPPLYING GAS AND AT LEAST ONE PERHALIDE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF VOLATILE PERHALIDES OF METALS AND METALLOIDS, THE SAID FLAME HAVING A BURNING CONE OF GAS STREAM A THAT ENVELOPS A CONE OF GAS STREAM B WHEREBY HYDROLYSIS AND SUBSEQUENT DEHYDRATION OF THE AFORESAID HALIDE TAKES PLACE AT THE INTERFACE AND WITHIN THE BURNING CONE OF GAS STREAM A; DIRECTING THE SAID FLAME INTO THE ENTRANCE PORT OF A MECHANICAL, NON-LIQUID COLLECTION SYSTEM WHILE THE FLAME IS SIMULTANEOUSLY SURROUNDED BY A BLANKET OF A SECONDARY GAS; AND COLLECTING THE RESULTING FINELY DIVIDED OXIDE HAVING A HIGH DEGREE OF PURITY.