Abstract: A thixotropic gel suitable for use in subsurface bioremediation is provided along with a process of using the gel. The thixotropic gel provides a non-migrating injectable substrate that can provide below ground barrier properties. In addition, the gel components provide for a favorable environment in which certain contaminants are preferentially sequestered in the gel and subsequently remediated by either indigenous or introduced microorganisms.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition in concentrated form (“the concentrate”) for dilution with water in the preparation of an agricultural composition for application to crops, soil or animals, comprising a carbohydrate-based pH modifying agent and a pH indicator. The agricultural composition comprises an agricultural chemical whose agricultural activity varies with the pH of the water. The proportions of the pH indicator and the pH modifying agent in the concentrate are selected so that when the concentrate is diluted with an appropriate amount of water, the pH indicator indicates visually by colouration of the composition, whether or not the pH of the water is suitable for acceptable agricultural activity of the chemical. The invention also provides a process for preparing the agricultural composition by mixing the concentrate with water, and adding the agricultural chemical to the composition, if it is not already present in the concentrate.

Abstract: An oil-containing solid in which liquid oil is contained in a large amount and from which oil seepage is slight; and a process for producing the same. The oil-containing solid is produced by impregnating a porous solid with a W/O emulsion. Further, use is made of the W/O emulsion having a water-soluble gellable substance incorporated in the water phase thereof. Consequently, the water-soluble gellable substance is converted to a gel in pores of the porous solid, thereby enhancing the liquid oil leakage preventing effect of the W/O emulsion.

Abstract: The inventive developments disclosed in this application include the following features and combinations thereof: extracting oil from spent bleaching earths for animal feed; using earths and acid water as soil amendment/fertilizer; efficient extraction of substances valuable to plants, animals, and humans from plant, animal, and fish oil soapstock, especially using the “interphase” emulsion from soapstock acidulation; use of “black paste” from oil refining as fertilizer component (nutrient source); use of interphase from agricultural oil refining, especially refining of non-degummed oils, as animal feed; use of “oil refining by-products to fertilizers” process and/or KOH refining in conjunction with “Miscella”-type hexane refining or “Zenith” process refining; fertilizers containing silica/silicates from by-products of agricultural oil refining; use of higher-sodium oil refining by-products as fertilizer for sodium-tolerant plants; using by-products of sugar beet refining as nutrient source; agriculturally us

Abstract: The invention relates to a gel based on poly-?-1,4-D-glucan and, optionally, on starch as well as on a swelling agent, to a method for the production thereof, and to the use of a gel of this type.

Abstract: A method for chemically recycling organic garbage, materials made of the organic garbage and a recycling device used therefor, which comprises of mixing hydroxide (A) having a property of saponifying fats and oils into organic garbage to obtain a decreased gelled mixture (C) by vaporizing water through reaction heat, mixing a given additive (D) into the gelled mixture (C), and step of manufacturing materials (F).

Abstract: The invention relates to aqueous boron-containing compositions and their preparation. In particular the invention provides self-structured aqueous sodium pentaborate gels. The gels according to the invention may be prepared by reacting boric acid or boric oxide and sodium tetraborate or metaborate in suspension in water and under mixing such that a self-structured sodium pentaborate gel is formed. The gels according to the invention are physically stable and are easily handled.

Abstract: A clay-containing mixture of dry solids to be used in forming a moisture-resistant gel, and a method for directly forming a moisture-resistant gel on a surface to be treated, using such a mixture. The present invention furthermore relates to the use of such a mixture.