Abstract: Disclosed are amorphous precipitated silicas, silica gels, and amorphous carbons derived from biomass and methods of producing them with and without adhered or deposited amorphous carbons produced by acidifying a caustic silicate solution produced by caustic digestion of biomass ash containing silica with and without activated carbon, the ash being obtained from thermal pyrolysis of the biomass, the acidifying effective to produce a slurry of the precipitated silica and silica gels with and without adhered or deposited amorphous carbon, and separated from the slurry the precipitated silicas and silica gels with and without the adhered or deposited amorphous carbons. The properties of the precipitated silica with adhered or deposited carbon being within the range as utilized in rubber compositions thereby avoiding the blending of silica and carbon components for such use.

Abstract: Disclosed are amorphous precipitated silicas, silica gels, and amorphous carbons derived from biomass and methods of producing them with and without adhered or deposited amorphous carbons produced by acidifying a caustic silicate solution produced by caustic digestion of biomass ash containing silica with and without activated carbon, the ash being obtained from thermal pyrolysis of the biomass, the acidifying effective to produce a slurry of the precipitated silica and silica gels with and without adhered or deposited amorphous carbon, and separated from the slurry the precipitated silicas and silica gels with and without the adhered or deposited amorphous carbons. The properties of the precipitated silica with adhered or deposited carbon being within the range as utilized in rubber compositions thereby avoiding the blending of silica and carbon components for such use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rigid fine-celled light-weight foam composition and a method of producing it which has improved retention of liquids by absorption/adsorption which improves the thermal insulation and fire retardant properties of the fine-celled foam particularly suited for use in double walled tanks and hollow canopies, building panels, profiles, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are amorphous precipitated silicas, silica gels, and amorphous carbons derived from biomass and methods of producing them with and without adhered or deposited amorphous carbons produced by acidifying a caustic silicate solution produced by caustic digestion of biomass ash containing silica with and without activated carbon, the ash being obtained from thermal pyrolysis of the biomass, the acidifying effective to produce a slurry of the precipitated silica and silica gels with and without adhered or deposited amorphous carbon, and separated from the slurry the precipitated silicas and silica gels with and without the adhered or deposited amorphous carbons. The properties of the precipitated silica with adhered or deposited carbon being within the range as utilized in rubber compositions thereby avoiding the blending of silica and carbon components for such use.

Abstract: Disclosed are highly activated carbon particles derived from caustic digestion of rice hull ash obtained from thermal pyrolysis of rice hulls having an iodine number of at least 650 to 1000. The activated carbon pores are free of silicate residue from the caustic digestion. Also disclosed are methods of removing the silicate residue from the caustic silicate solution during digestion effective to substantially improve the activation of the carbon particles to commercial grade.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rigid fine-celled foam composition and a method of producing it. The foam composition is nontoxic, environmentally friendly, has improved absorption/adsorption and retention of liquids, is not as hard as prior art foams, does not include polymerization by-products detrimental to flower and plant life, and is a foamed mixture of a caustic silicate solution derived from the caustic digestion of rice hull ash having diffused activated carbon particles from thermal pyrolysis of rice hulls rather than from commercial sodium silicate solutions. Valuable by-products of commodity grade are obtained including activated carbon and sodium fluoride.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rigid fine-celled foam composition and a method of producing it. The foam composition is nontoxic, environmentally friendly, has improved absorption/adsorption and retention of liquids, is not as hard as prior art foams, does not include polymerization by-products detrimental to flower and plant life, and is a foamed mixture of a caustic silicate solution derived from the caustic digestion of rice hull ash having diffused activated carbon particles from thermal pyrolysis of rice hulls rather than from commercial sodium silicate solutions. Valuable by-products of commodity grade are obtained including activated carbon and sodium fluoride.

Abstract: Plant growth media containing rice hull ash in substantially amorphous state and having a porous skeletal structure are disclosed. The rice hull ash is incorporated in naturally occurring soils or so-called synthetic or potting soils. If desired, water swellable binders or polymers can be incorporated with the ash in such soils to enchance their water retention properties. The porous rich hull ash in amorphous form combines synertistically with the soil or soil components to provide desirable growing characteristics as set forth.

Abstract: Disclosed is the filtration of fluids by utilizing porous biogenetic silica ash devoid of fiber alone or combined with additives. The biogenetic silica may be in particles or prilled or pelleted. Solid particles and liquids are filtered from gases and liquids by passing them through the biogenetic silica. The additives are materials which attract the impurities into the pores of the biogenetic silica, such as water-swellable polymers or carbon remaining on the biogenetic silica when incompletely pyrolyzed. The carbon can be activated.

Abstract: The invention is directed to insulation, methods of insulation, and methods of making insulation with biogenetic silica particles in amorphous state and having a substantially porous skeletal structure. The insulation is not compacted or densified.

Abstract: Disclosed is the containment or controlling of waste and hazardous liquids, drilling muds and chemicals in a semi-solid or solid form for removal, transportation and disposal or otherwise handling thereby avoiding the problems and reducing the expense in removing, transporting, disposing or otherwise handling them in liquid form.

Abstract: A method and composition is disclosed which is particularly suitable for forming a firm, bound aggregate-water support for floral arrangements with at least 60% by weight water. The composition comprises a water-insoluble, water-retaining binder, such as a particulate, water-insoluble, water-swellable, cross-linked polymer, and inert non-packing, highly porous water-trapping, aggregate particles dispersed throughout, the particles being present in an amount and having a bulk density and surface area effective to disperse the composition throughout the water as the composition is added to it without hand kneading or stirring. The binder should have water retention properties of at least 100 gm/gm. The aggregate particles should have an open structure and water retention properties of at least 4 gm/gm, have a surface area of at least about 10 m.sup.2 /gm and an apparent bulk density of not over 30 lbs/sq.ft. to avoid packing.