Abstract: A method of solidifying toxic or hazardous liquid waste, including the steps of pumping an aqueous waste, e.g., from a drilling fluid holding area; through a shearing device; adding the layered phyllosilicate to said aqueous waste in an amount sufficient to solidify the aqueous waste sufficiently such that the solidified aqueous waste has no free liquid; shearing the pumped aqueous waste, containing said layered phyllosilicate, sufficiently to partially exfoliate the layered phyllosilicate into phyllosilicate platelets and tactoids while in contact with the aqueous waste; pumping the sheared aqueous waste and layered phyllosilicate to a solidification area; and allowing the sheared aqueous waste and partially exfoliated layered phyllosilicate sufficient time to solidify such that there are no free liquids remaining in the solidified waste.

Abstract: Reactive gabion/geocomposite articles, and their methods of manufacture, for controlling contaminants in soil, sediment or water that allow the passage of essentially non-contaminated water therethrough. The articles and methods described herein utilize gabions, which are box shaped cages or grids (see FIG. 2) made of either steel wire mesh or plastic. In one embodiment, the reactive geotextile mats are lined on the top major surface with a gabion cage or grid. In other embodiments, the cages or grids surround a geocomposite containing reactive material. The gabion/geocomposite articles can be constructed in-situ (at the site of deployment) or remotely (on land or barge) and set in place. They are typically placed side-by-side and, in a preferred embodiment, are configured to cover a target sediment area, underwater. The gabion/geocomposite articles may be filled with clean sediment, silt, sand and/or concrete block or rock to hold the reactive geocomposite in place and for armoring.

Abstract: A controlled delivery system for active ingredients, like a fragrance, for use in fabric softener products, such as tumble dryer sheets, rinse added liquids, and similar products, is disclosed. The delivery system enhances performance of an active ingredient, such as a fragrance. The controlled delivery system contains polymeric micro-particles highly loaded with the active ingredient. Other active ingredients that can be incorporated into a fabric softener composition using the delivery system include ironing aides, silicone fluids, antiwrinkle agents, antistatic agents, optical brighteners, fabric crisping agents, bleaching agents, germicides, fungicides, flow agents, and surfactants.

Abstract: A composition wherein phase or chemically incompatible components are introduced into a stick composition through the use of a microparticle delivery system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed concerning discovering how the use of an additive in a polyolefin compound affects the weatherability of that compound. Applying that technique, a weatherable polyolefin nanocomposite is disclosed, which contains UV stabilizers that filter wavelengths in a range influenced by presence of organoclay in the nanocomposite.

Abstract: A nanocomposite is made from melt-mixing of polyethylene with organoclay in the presence of a maleated polypropylene. Unexpectedly, the maleated polypropylene and polyethylene are sufficiently compatible to permit excellent dispersion of the organoclay in the nanocomposite. Because maleated polypropylene is compliant with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, though maleated polyethylene is not, one can use nanocomposites of the present invention for articles to be in contact with human food.

Abstract: A resin composition comprising melt blending a polyamide resin such as nylon MXD6 with a polyphenoxy resin. The polyamide resin and the polyphenoxy resin may be combined prior to or after melting and can be sandwiched between two PET layers in a perform mold to form an article capable of blow molding to form a container with improved delamination resistance. Also, intercalated layered materials are prepared by co-intercalation of an onium ion, an aromatic polyamide oligomer or polymer, e.g., nylon MXD6, and a polyphenoxy oligomer or polymer between the planar layers of a swellable layered material, such as a phyllosilicate, preferably a smectite clay. The co-intercalated layered materials are combined with the aromatic polyamide and polyphenoxy resin to form a nanocomposite composition for sandwiching between PET layers to form containers having improved delamination resistance.

Abstract: A cationic oil-in-water emulsion, for addition to detersive compositions, comprising hydrophilic cationic polymers, a surface-active, anionic polymer that is capable of adsorbing at an air-water interface or an oil-water interface and/or is oil-soluble, and a hydrophobic benefit agent in the oil phase made by adding the benefit agent to a hydrophobic liquid; thickening the oil phase with an organophillic smectite clay reacted at clay platelet surfaces to make the clay platelet surfaces hydrophobic while the edge surfaces of the clay remain hydrophilic, such that the organophillic smectite clay is adsorbed at an oil/water interface in the emulsion, and one of the hydrophilic, cationic polymers has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 6% by weight, that is incompatible with anionic surfactants, being insoluble in anionic-surfactant solutions containing an amount of 3% or higher of an anionic surfactant, and another hydrophilic cationic polymer has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 0.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fragrance composition and a method for making the same having a fragrance particulate and a viscoelastic gel; where the composition has enhanced fragrance retention throughout the processing of the composition.

Abstract: Reactive geocomposite mats, and their method of manufacture, for treating contaminants in sediment, soil or water that allow the passage of essentially non-contaminated water therethrough. The geocomposite mat includes a pre-formed woven or non-woven geotextile, that is needlepunched to an outer geotextile sheet layer to provide a high loft, structurally secured, pre-formed geotextile having a thickness of about 6 mm to about 200 mm, and having, a porosity sufficient to receive a powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material, contaminant-sorptive material, or a contaminant-neutralizing material (hereinafter collectively referred to as “contaminant-reactant material” or “contaminant-reactive material”) throughout its thickness, or in any portion of the thickness across its entire major surface(s). The powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material is disposed within the pores of the previously formed, high loft geotextile mat to surround the fibers, e.g.

Abstract: Reactive geocomposite mats, and their method of manufacture, for treating contaminants in sediment, soil or water that allow the passage of essentially non-contaminated water therethrough. The geocomposite mat includes a pre-formed woven or non-woven geotextile, that is needlepunched to an outer geotextile sheet layer to provide a high loft, structurally secured, pre-formed geotextile having a thickness of about 6 mm to about 200 mm, and having, a porosity sufficient to receive a powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material, contaminant-sorptive material, or a contaminant-neutralizing material (hereinafter collectively referred to as “contaminant-reactant material” or “contaminant-reactive material”) throughout its thickness, or in any portion of the thickness across its entire major surface(s). The powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material is disposed within the pores of the previously formed, high loft geotextile mat to surround the fibers, e.g.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to both sprayable and non-sprayable cleaner compositions comprising 1 to 9% by weight of a layered phyllosilicate, 1 to 10% of a surfactant, and at least one silicate salt or strong base as a pH-adjusting agent. The composition optionally can include hypochlorite bleach and the pH of the formulation can be in the range 11 to 14. The composition optionally can include water-insoluble glycol ether type solvents or oils in the form of emulsions or microemulsions for degreasing, disinfecting, and fragrance delivery. The compositions provide improved drip resistance when sprayed on to vertical surfaces.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to acidic cleaning compositions comprising 1 to 9% by weight of a layered phyllosilicate in surface modified sodium or protonated forms and pre-dispersed in pre-gel form with and without additives, 1 to 5% of an anionic surfactant, 2-10% of a hydrotope, 0.1-15% solvents, and at least one organic or inorganic acid as a pH-adjusting agent to provide a composition having a pH less than about 4.0. The compositions provide improved viscosity profile, sprayability, and drip resistance when applied to vertical surfaces.

Abstract: A cationic oil-in-water emulsion, for addition to detersive compositions, comprising hydrophilic cationic polymers, a surface-active, anionic polymer that is capable of adsorbing at an air-water interface or an oil-water interface and/or is oil-soluble, and a hydrophobic benefit agent in the oil phase made by adding the benefit agent to a hydrophobic liquid; thickening the oil phase with an organophillic smectite clay reacted at clay platelet surfaces to make the clay platelet surfaces hydrophobic while the edge surfaces of the clay remain hydrophilic, such that the organophillic smectite clay is adsorbed at an oil/water interface in the emulsion, and one of the hydrophilic, cationic polymers has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 6% by weight, that is incompatible with anionic surfactants, being insoluble in anionic-surfactant solutions containing an amount of 3% or higher of an anionic surfactant, and another hydrophilic cationic polymer has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 0.

Abstract: A heat stabilized polyolefin nanocomposite is disclosed, which contains metal scavengers to heat stabilize the nanocomposite.

Abstract: Layered phyllosilicates are useful for adsorbing and/or binding to cholesterol and, thereby, reducing blood cholesterol in a patient. Accordingly, provided herein is a method of reducing hypercholesteremia in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a protonated and at least partially exfoliated layered phyllosilicate material alone and in combination with other cholesterol-reducing agents in an amount effective to reduce hypercholesteremia in said mammal. Also provided are methods of treating a cardiovascular disorder associated with atherosclerosis in a mammalian subject comprising administering to the subject a layered phyllosilicate material in an amount effective to reduce atherosclerotic lesion formation in the subject.

Abstract: A method of treating a fluid stream underwater comprising integrally attaching a skid to a fluid stream treating vessel so that the fluid stream treating vessel can be disposed on an underwater floor in a position such that an opening in said vessel is at a highest point on said vessel when disposed on the underwater floor; remotely directing a fluid stream treating vessel to an underwater floor location sufficiently close to said fluid stream so that the fluid stream can be remotely attached in fluid communication with said fluid stream treating vessel; remotely connecting said underwater fluid stream to said fluid stream treating vessel for treatment of said fluid stream; treating said fluid stream by contact with a treatment media disposed within said treatment vessel, maintained at equilibrium water pressure at the depth of treatment; and flowing the treated fluid stream out of said treating vessel.

Abstract: The use of two mercury and arsenic removal media: A) a sulfur-impregnated organoclay; and B) a coupling agent-reacted organoclay, wherein the coupling agent preferably contains a mercapto, disulfide, tretrasulfide and/or polysulfide end group provides mercury removal media having increased reactivity, stability, and synergistic mercury removal ability. The preferred mercury removal media described herein is prepared by reacting an organophilic clay containing onium ions A) with elemental sulfur; and B) with a sulfur-containing coupling agent, preferably containing a mercapto, disulfide, tetrasulfide, and/or polysulfide moiety.

Abstract: A coated microparticulate composition comprising a microparticulate; wherein the microparticulate comprises a benefit agent; and wherein the microparticulate is coated with: a Type-1 Polymer, wherein the Type-1 Polymer comprises a cationic polymer with a cationic atom content greater than about 3 wt. % and a weight average molecular weight less than about 800,000 Dalton; and a Type-2 Polymer, wherein the Type-2 Polymer comprises a cationic polymer with a cationic atom content less than about 3 wt. % and a weight average molecular weight greater than about 1,000,000 Dalton.

Abstract: A cleansing or a surface-conditioning composition comprising a mixture of (i) and (ii) in water: i) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic, zwitterionic, cationic, and mixtures thereof; and ii) a hydrophobic benefit agent in a particulate form having a mean particle size in the range of 1-1,000 micron, and a specific gravity of ?1, not encapsulated within a film or a capsule-like enclosure, the particulate hydrophobic benefit agent comprising: a) a physically-modified form of the hydrophobic benefit agent; and b) a deposition-aid material bonded to the surface of the physically-modified benefit agent, wherein the bonding between the benefit agent and the deposition-aid material is achieved prior to addition to i), wherein said deposition-aid material is not a surfactant having a weight average molecular weight of less than 5,000 Dalton.