Abstract: The invention concerns high performance adsorbents based on activated carbon of high microporosity which are present in the form of discrete grains of activated carbon, preferably in spherical form, and which are characterized by the following parameters: a Gurvich total pore volume of at least 0.7 cm3/g, at least 70% of this total pore volume being formed by micropores having pore diameters of ?20 ?, a measure of central tendency pore diameter of not more than 30 ?, and a BET surface area of at least 1500 m2/g. These high performance adsorbents are particularly useful for the adsorption of toxins, noxiants and odors, in particular from gas or to be more precise air streams, for purifying or cleaning gases, such as in particular air, for application in medicine or to be more precise pharmacy and as sorptive storage media for gases, in particular hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adsorptive filtering material with biological and chemical protective function, in particular with protective function with regard to both chemical and biological poisons and noxiants, such as chemical and biological warfare agents, the adsorptive filtering material having a multilayered construction comprising a first outer supporting layer and a second outer supporting layer and an adsorptive layer disposed between the two supporting layers, the adsorptive filtering material further comprising at least one catalytically active component, the first outer supporting layer and/or the second outer supporting layer being provided with the catalytically active component. The adsorptive filtering material is particularly useful in NBC protective materials (for example NBC protective apparel) and also for production of filters.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adsorption filter material (1) that provides protection against chemical toxins, chemical weapons and pollutants, with a preferably multi-layer composite construction (2). The layer construction (2) includes at least one planar support layer (3) with two opposing sides (3?, 3?) and an adsorption layer (4), provided on the support layer (3) made from a material which adsorbs chemical toxins, the surface of at least one of the both sides (3? and/or 3?) of the support layer (3) being modified by plasma treatment. The surface properties, in particular the surface finish and the surface reactivity can be adjusted and optimised to match the application by means of the plasma treatment.

Abstract: An adsorption filter material used especially for producing protective materials, such as NBC protective suits, has a first layer, a second layer, and an adsorption layer arranged between the first layer and the second layer. The adsorption layer has a first activated carbon layer with granular or spherical activated carbon particles. The first activated carbon layer additionally contains activated carbon fibers and/or the adsorption layer additionally contains a second activated carbon layer with activated carbon fibers.

Abstract: A filter unit for the purification of air includes at least a first filter element, which contains granular, especially spherical, activated carbon as an adsorbent material, and at least a second filter element, which contains a combination of granular, especially spherical, activated carbon and activated carbon fibers as an adsorbent material. The filter unit is suitable especially for use in ventilation plants, ventilation systems, air-conditioning systems and the like.

Abstract: The preparation of polyesters and copolyesters, titanium dioxide precipitates and/or titanium dioxide/silicon dioxide coprecipitates having a composition of TiO.sub.2 :SiO.sub.2 >90:10 mol/mol and/or titanium dioxide/zirconium dioxide coprecipitates having a composition of TiO.sub.2 :ZrO.sub.2 >95:5 mol/mol, which have been obtained by hydrolytic precipitation of the corresponding metal alcoholates formed from mono- or polyhydric alcohols, are proposed as polycondensation catalysts. They offer increased safety for the ecosystem and have a higher catalytic activity than Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, so that the preferred amount used is only 10 to 100 ppm, based on the esters or oligoesters to be subjected to polycondensation. Their storage stability is good if the catalysts have a water content of from 0 to about 15 weight percent, preferably from 0 to about 5 weight percent based upon the hydrated precipitate or coprecipitate, as determined by Karl Fischer titration.