Abstract: Bioremediation geocomposite articles, and their method of manufacture, for treating (digesting) contaminats in soil or water. The bioremediating geocomposite mat includes a woven or non-woven geotexile, having a thickness of about 6 mm to about 200 mm. In the preferred embodiment, outer layers of the geocomposite article have a porosity sufficient to receive a powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material, contaminat-sorptive material, or a contaminant-neutralizing material in at least outer portions of the thickness across its entire major surface(s) for better contact of the bacteria with contaminants held by the powdered or granular material. In the most preferred embodiment, liquid-permeable cover sheets are adhered to the upper and lower major surfaces of the bacterial-containing geotextile article to prevent a powdered or granular material from escaping from the geotextile during transportation and installation.

Abstract: Layered phyllosilicates are useful for adsorbing and/or binding to and, thereby, inactivating viruses. Accordingly, provided herein are methods of inactivating a virus and methods of treating a viral infection. Methods of delivering a therapeutic agent to a mammalian subject and methods of inactivating a virus in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal are also provided.

Abstract: Concentrated suspensions of smectite clays are obtained as either relatively “thin” or highly shear-thinning slurries that are easy to pump, by adding one or more of certain cationic polymers whose weight average molecular weight, Mw, is 50,000 or higher. It was found during the course of the invention that a cationic polymer with an Mw of 10,000 did not work, while the same polymer with a bimodal Mw of 50,000 and 30,000 worked satisfactorily. To achieve the full advantage of the present invention, the cationic polymer preferably has 1 to 10 milliequivalents of cationic charge per gram of the polymer, and more preferably 5 to 10 milliequivalents of cationic charge per gram of the polymer, and most preferably 6 to 8 milliequivalents of cationic charge per gram of the polymer.

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: 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 layered phyllosilicate material alone and in combination with other cholesterol-reducing agents in an amount effective to reduce hypercholesteremia in said mammal.

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: Layered phyllosilicates are useful for adsorbing and/or binding to and, thereby, inactivating viruses. Accordingly, provided herein is a method of inactivating a virus in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian subject comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a layered phyllosilicate material in an amount effective for virus inactivation. Also provided are methods of treating a viral infection in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian subject. Methods of delivering a therapeutic agent to a mammalian subject and methods of inactivating a virus in waste expelled from a mammal are also provided.

Abstract: Reactive geocomposite mats, and their method of manufacture, for treating contaminants in 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, 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: Layered phyllosilicates are useful for adsorbing and/or binding to and, thereby, inactivating viruses. Accordingly, provided herein is a method of inhibiting transfer of a virus to a surface comprising contacting the surface with a composition comprising a layered phyllosilicate material in an amount sufficient for inhibiting the transfer of the virus thereto. Also provided are methods of inactivating a virus on a surface comprising contacting the surface with a composition comprising a layered phyllosilicate material in an amount sufficient to inactivate said virus.

Abstract: It has been found that phosphorous-containing and oxyanion compounds can be removed efficiently and economically by adsorption with cation-exchanged aluminosilicates that are ion-exchanged in a concentrated aluminosilicate composition containing the aluminosilicate, the exchange cations, and only about 15% to about 50% by weight water, based on the total weight of the aluminosilicate and water. Further, the ion-exchange process described herein has been found to be effective, in addition to those complexing or ion-exchange elements described in the Douglas '383 patent, when complexed or ion-exchanged with one or more elements of Group VIII (Fe, Co, Mi, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir), Group IB (Cn, Ag, Au), and Group IIB (Zn, Cl, Hg).

Abstract: Compositions and methods for planarizing or polishing a surface, particularly a semiconductor wafer surface. The polishing compositions described herein comprise (a) a liquid carrier; (b) purified clay; and optional additives, such as (c) a chemical accelerator; and (d) a complexing or coupling agent capable of chemically or ionically complexing with, or coupling to, the metal and/or insulating material removed during the polishing process. The complexing or coupling agent carries away the removed metal and/or silicon dioxide insulator particles, during polishing, to prevent the separated particles from returning to the surface from which they were removed. Also disclosed are methods of planarizing or polishing a surface comprising contacting the surface with the compositions.

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: An intumescent polyolefin nanocomposite is disclosed. The nanoclay contributes stiffness, toughness and flame retardancy to the compound. The intumescent contributes flame retardancy. The compound can be processed as a thermoplastic into any practical article needing stiff, tough, and flame retardancy properties.

Abstract: A sunscreen composition, either impregnating a wipe substrate or comprising a sunscreen spray, wherein the composition comprises an oil phase dispersed stably as emulsion droplets in a water phase that contains i) a booster for the sun protection factor (SPF), comprising a combination of water-dispersible particulate materials, one of which is smectite clay, and a water-soluble or water-dispersible phenolic polymer; and ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having a weak acid group, a weight average molecular weight of 1,000-100,000 Dalton, and an anionic charge density of no less than 4 milliequivalent per gram of the polymer; the said sunscreen composition meeting the following specifications: i) the in-vivo sun protection factor (SPF) is ?1.

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 particulate clumping animal litter composition is disclosed. The composition comprises water-swellable smectite clay 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, clump strength, and particle size. Methods of production for clumping animal litter compositions are also disclosed that employ sufficient shear to bind the water-swellable smectite clay particles 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 particulate clumping animal litter composition is disclosed. The composition comprises water-swellable smectite clay 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, clump strength, and particle size. Methods of production for clumping animal litter compositions are also disclosed that employ sufficient shear to bind the water-swellable smectite clay particles 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: Concentrated suspensions of smectite clays are obtained as either relatively “thin” or highly shear-thinning slurries that are easy to pump, by adding one or more of certain cationic polymers whose weight average molecular weight, Mw, is 50,000 or higher. It was found during the course of the invention that a cationic polymer with an Mw of 10,000 did not work, while the same polymer with a bimodal Mw of 50,000 and 30,000 worked satisfactorily. To achieve the full advantage of the present invention, the cationic polymer preferably has 1 to 10 milliequivalents of cationic charge per gram of the polymer, and more preferably 5 to 10 milliequivalents of cationic charge per gram of the polymer, and most preferably 6 to 8 milliequivalents of cationic charge per gram of the polymer.

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: Compositions and methods for planarizing or polishing a corundum, GaAs, GaP or GaAs/GaP alloy surface, particularly a semiconductor wafer surface. The polishing compositions described herein comprise (a) a liquid carrier; (b) a smectite clay, preferably a sodium smectite clay; and optional additives, such as (c) CeO2, SiO2 and/or Al2O3 abrasive particles, (d) a chemical accelerator; and (e) a complexing or coupling agent capable of chemically or ionically complexing with, or coupling to, the material removed during the polishing process. The optional complexing or coupling agent carries away the removed particles, during polishing, to prevent the separated particles from returning to the surface from which they were removed. Also disclosed are methods of planarizing or polishing corundum, GaAs, GaP and GaAs/GaP alloy surfaces comprising contacting the surface with the compositions.