Abstract: An adsorptive monolith made by extruding a mixture of activated carbon, a ceramic forming material, a flux material, and water, drying the extruded monolith, and firing the dried monolith at a temperature and for a time period sufficient to react the ceramic material together and form a ceramic matrix. The extrudable mixture may also comprise a wet binder. The monolith has a shape with at least one passage therethrough and desirably has a plurality of passages therethrough to form a honeycomb. The monolith may be dried by vacuum drying, freeze drying, or control humidity drying. The monolith is useful for removing volatile organic compounds and other chemical agents such as ozone from fluid streams. Particularly useful applications include adsorptive filters for removing ozone from xerographic devices and other appropriate office machines and volatile organic compounds from automobile engine air intake systems.

Abstract: An adsorptive monolith made by extruding a mixture of activated carbon, a ceramic forming material, a flux material, and water, drying the extruded monolith, and firing the dried monolith at a temperature and for a time period sufficient to react the ceramic material together and form a ceramic matrix. The extrudable mixture may also comprise a wet binder. The monolith has a shape with at least one passage therethrough and desirably has a plurality of passages therethrough to form a honeycomb. The monolith may be dried by vacuum drying, freeze drying, or control humidity drying. The monolith is useful for removing volatile organic compounds and other chemical agents such as ozone from fluid streams. Particularly useful applications include adsorptive filters for removing ozone from xerographic devices and other appropriate office machines and volatile organic compounds from automobile engine air intake systems.

Abstract: Cordierite compositions having increased porosity and improved thermal expansion characteristics are disclosed. The cordierite compositions comprise from about 0.025 to about 1.5 percent by weight germanium dioxide and exhibit reduced CTE. The cordierite compositions are made by heating a mixture of kaolin, talc, alumina, kyanite and germanium dioxide to temperatures of between 1350.degree. and 1475.degree.C. The cordierite compositions are preferably made from a mixture which includes a calcined material, such as calcined talc, so that the mixture is more easily processed and the resulting cordierite compositions are more porous, and thus, more easily coated.

Abstract: A cellular base member is disclosed for use, in particular, with a barbeque grill. The preferred base member is made of ceramic and provided in a honeycomb shape. When fixedly disposed between the heat source and the cooking surface of a barbeque grill, the disclosed cellular base member retains and evenly radiates heat to the cooking surface. Furthermore, should any fatty food substance or the like fall from the cooking surface, the cellular base member vaporizes such food substance before it reaches the heat source, thereby eliminating the problem of flame flare-up.