Abstract: Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e.g., a water leg portion of a produced water stream or an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with non-woven fiber/particulate polymer coalescing media-containing canisters such that the hydrocarbon droplets and other organic material droplets commingled with the sump tank or produced water will be coalesced by passage through the coalescing media. The canisters preferably are provided in a plurality of stacks in each vessel. Solids that do not pass through the canisters are accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and easily drained through a drain port. The water and hydrocarbons will pass through the coalescing media within the canisters and will be separated easily from each vessel, e.g., by gravity separation, sot that the water can be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination.

Abstract: A particulate non-clumping animal litter composition is disclosed. The composition comprises non-clumping absorbent particles bound to magnetically-attractable metal particles such that substantially all particles of the animal litter composition are attracted to a magnetic surface. The animal litter composition exhibits favorable properties such as absorbency, resiliency, homogeneity, and particle size. Methods of production for non-clumping animal litter compositions are also disclosed that employ sufficient shear to bind the non-clumping absorbent particulate material to the magnetically-attractable metal particles such that the animal litter compositions exhibit favorable properties. A method and apparatus for the collection of magnetically-attractable animal litter particles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A water-swelling composition adapted to be secured to an area of potential water flow in the form of a flexible cohesive mass comprising about 10% to about 90% by weight of a water-swellable layered material; about 1% to about 30% by weight of an elastomer; about 8% to about 65% by weight of a material selected from the group consisting of polypropene, polybutene, and a mixture thereof; and about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a clay binder selected from group consisting of (1) an onium ion-liberating compound that is ion-exchanged with platelet cations of the layered material, (2) a coupling agent that is reacted with the layered material, and (3) a combination thereof.

Abstract: A waterproofing article in the form of rod-, or rope-shaped clay-containing compositions, and a method of waterproofing using the article, whereby a water-penetrable, degradable, or water-soluble film or coating forms an outer surface of the article for avoiding premature hydration of an underlying clay-containing composition. In the preferred embodiment, an inner core of a water-swellable clay-containing composition includes a coating of a water-removable or degradable material, completely encasing the major outer surfaces of the composition, having controlled, predetermined water-penetration; high pH degradability; or water-solubility so that the core of water-swellable clay-containing composition is quickly hydrated after water-penetration of the coating material, and to prevent clay hydration during installation, prior to water-penetration of the coating material.

Abstract: In accordance with the method of manufacture described herein, it has been found that by applying a polymerization catalyst or polymerization initiator directly to a liquid-absorbent or liquid adsorbent (hereinafter collectively referred to as “liquid-sorbent”) substrate, preferably a porous geotextile in sheet material form, to form a polymerization-initiating substrate or sheet material, a monomer that is subsequently embedded in the liquid-sorbent substrate will be completely contacted by the polymerization catalyst or polymerization initiator for complete polymerization of the embedded monomer to form embedded polymer solids, without the monomer partially polymerizing before contacting the substrate. It has been found that complete polymerization of the monomer while in contact with the substrate achieves best results in retention of embedded and interlocked polymer solids.

Abstract: By applying a polymerization catalyst or polymerization initiator directly to a liquid-absorbent or liquid-adsorbent (hereinafter collectively referred to as “liquid-sorbent”) substrate, preferably a porous geotextile in sheet material form, to form a polymerization-initiating substrate or sheet material, a slurry of a monomer and a water-absorbent clay that is subsequently embedded in the porous substrate will have its monomer content sufficiently contacted by the polymerization catalyst or polymerization initiator for complete polymerization of the embedded monomer to form embedded polymer solids and clay, without the monomer partially polymerizing before contacting the substrate. It has been found that polymerization of the monomer while in contact with the substrate achieves best results in retention of embedded and interlocked polymer and clay solids.

Abstract: Cosmetic and personal care compositions can be manufactured using the multifunctional-additive compositions of the present invention. Such an additive preferably contains one or more particulate-based thickeners, such as a smectite clay, colloidal silica, laponite, and/or alumina, and most preferably one or more smectite clays. According to one important embodiment of the present invention, the thickener particles are co-dispersed with particles of one or more particulate UVR-filters such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or SUNSPHERE (available from International Specialty Chemicals, ISP), and most preferably with the natural particulate sunscreens such as the metal oxides. Another important component of the multifunctional-additive compositions is a dispersant or surface-modifier for the foregoing particulate materials, selected from the family of polyphenolic, natural polymers such as lignosulfonates, lignins, humates, tannates, and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: Cosmetic and personal care compositions can be manufactured using the multifunctional-additive compositions of the present invention. Such an additive preferably contains one or more particulate-based thickeners, such as a smectite clay, colloidal silica, laponite, and/or alumina, and most preferably one. or more smectite clays. According to one important embodiment of the present invention, the thickener particles are co-dispersed with particles of one or more particulate UVR-filters such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or SUNSPHERE (available from International Specialty Chemicals, ISP), and most preferably with the natural particulate sunscreens such as the metal oxides. Another important component of the multifunctional-additive compositions is a dispersant or surface-modifier for the foregoing particulate materials, selected from the family of polyphenolic, natural polymers such as lignosulfonates, lignins, humates, tannates, and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e.g., a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic media canisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic media and detected by the embedded probe in selected canisters. The canisters are provided in a plurality of stacks and are in fluid communication with a header disposed at the bottom of the vessel housing the various stacks of canisters. Solids that do not pass through the canisters are accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and easily drained through a drain port. The water will pass through the media and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination.

Abstract: Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e.g., a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic media canisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic media and detected by the embedded probe in selected canisters. The canisters are provided in a plurality of stacks and are in fluid communication with a header disposed at the bottom of the vessel housing the various stacks of canisters. Solids that do not pass through the canisters are accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and easily drained through a drain port. The water will pass through the media and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination.

Abstract: Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e.g., a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic media canisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic media and detected by the embedded probe in selected canisters. The canisters are provided in a plurality of stacks and are in fluid communication with a header disposed at the bottom of the vessel housing the various stacks of canisters. Solids that do not pass through the canisters are accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and easily drained through a drain port. The water will pass through the media and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination.

Abstract: Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e.g., a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic clay cannisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic clay and detected by the embedded probe in selected cannisters. The water will pass through the clay and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination. At some point in time, the organophilic clay will become “spent” and at a certain “spent level”, the saturated condition of the organoclay will be electronically detected by the embedded probe and alarm/control panel. The alarm indicates that the “spent” organophilic clay should be replaced with fresh clay or the spent clay regenerated.

Abstract: An odor-controlling superabsorbent polymer and methods of manufacturing the odor-controlling superabsorbent polymer are disclosed. The odor-controlling superabsorbent polymer has an odor-controlling compound homogeneously distributed therein. The odor-controlling compound is a material selected from the group consisting of a cyclodextrin compound, an amphoteric surfactant, a water-insoluble phosphate, triclosan, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Poly(vinylamine)-based superabsorbent gels are disclosed. The superabsorbent gels either comprise a mixture of a poly(vinylamine) polymer and an acidic water-absorbing polymer, like polyacrylic acid, or comprise a salt of a poly(vinylamine) polymer. An improved method of preparing poly(vinylamine), and improved diaper cores, also are disclosed.

Abstract: Poly(vinylamine)-based superabsorbent gels are disclosed. The superabsorbent gels either comprise a mixture of a poly(vinylamine) polymer and an acidic water-absorbing polymer, like polyacrylic acid, or comprise a salt of a poly(vinylamine) polymer. An improved method of preparing poly(vinylamine) also is disclosed.

Abstract: Poly(vinylamine)-based superabsorbent gels are disclosed. The superabsorbent gels either comprise a mixture of a poly(vinylamine) polymer and an acidic water-absorbing polymer, like polyacrylic acid, or comprise a salt of a poly(vinylamine) polymer. An improved method of preparing poly(vinylamine) also is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for treating produced water for removal of a majority of the water-insoluble petroleum oil components using an oil-adsorbent, such as an organophilic clay or an acid-activated smectite clay, such as acid-activated calcium bentonite clay, to provide a reduced-oil produced water in a first or pretreatment step; and then treating the reduced-oil produced water with a macroreticular adsorbent resin, such as styrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene, or a polyvinyl pyridine resin to remove marginally water-soluble petroleum oil components, such as C.sub.6 + carboxylic acids, phenolics, naphthenic carboxylic acid compounds, and aromatic carboxylic acids, such as benzene carboxylic acids.