Abstract: A composition and method of absorbing animal dross. In one embodiment, the composition comprises discrete particles (about 50 microns to about 3350 microns, preferably about 600 microns to about 3350 microns in size) of a non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clay that effectively absorbs animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a sufficiently large and stable mass, thereby permitting physical separation of the soiled and wetted water-swellable bentonite clay particles from discrete particles of the unsoiled and unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay even after partial drying of about 1 to about 24 hours at room temperature, without substantial sticking to animal paws and fur.

Abstract: A method of treating a water-swellable clay after the clay has been mined and dried. After the common initial drying of the clay to a moisture content of 12% or less, the clay is re-wetted to a moisture content of more than 12% by weight, preferably at least about 15% or more, based on the dry weight of the clay, then redried to a moisture content of 12% by weight or less, based on the dry weight of the clay.

Abstract: A multi-layer article of manufacture includes an intermediate layer of a water-swellable colloidal clay, such as bentonite, sandwiched between two layers of flexible sheet or fabric material wherein the two flexible layers of sheet or fabric material are structurally interconnected through the intermediate clay layer, such as by quilting, with threads, fibers, filaments or strands of flexible material at spaced locations over essentially the entire outer surface areas of both sheet or fabric material layers.

Abstract: A container having four vertical sides, a top side and a bottom side, the six sides being connected to form a cube. The six sides are joined at the edges of the cube, and the juncture of one vertical edge with two upper edges forms a slanted surface. A pouring spout is mounted on the slanted surface and is inset from the planes of the adjacent sides so that it does not interfere with nesting and stacking. A handle is attached to the top side, at approximately its center, for carrying purposes, the handle being foldable to a flat position to facilitate stacking. The container is formed by cutting a blank from a flat sheet of relatively stiff material, and folding the blank along creases to form a closed container. The top and four sides are folded and sealed first, the pouring spout is installed, the container is filled through the open bottom side, and then the bottom side is folded and sealed.

Abstract: A new and improved carbon sand and a method of treating a petroleum fluid coke, having a spherical or ovoid particle shape and a size suitable for a core or mold surface in the foundry industry, by heating or roasting the carbon particles at a temperature in the range of about 1000.degree. F. to about 1500.degree. F., particularly about 1200.degree. F. to about 1400.degree. F., for a time sufficient to volatilize from the carbon particles substantially all of the organic contaminants volatilizable at the roasting temperature, and a method of casting molten metal against the heat treated carbon particles, combined with a suitable binder, to form cast metal parts. The carbon sand also is useful in forming shell molds and shell cores and otherwise using the carbon sand to replace other molding and coremaking sands used in any of the various molding and coremaking processes with any of the various binder systems practiced by the foundry industry.

Abstract: A flexible or rigid panel, and method of making the panel, useful as a water barrier including an intermediate layer of a water-swellable colloidal clay, such as pentonite, sandwiched between two layers of sheet material, such as woven or non-woven fabric, or paperboard, wherein at least one one of the sheet material layers has a water-soluble coating material covering substantially the entire outer surface of the sheet material layer. The water-soluble coating is a material that dissolves upon a predetermined water contact period, having a controlled, predetermined water-solubility so that the intermediate water-swellable clay layer is protected against hydration during installation.

Abstract: An article of manufacture and method for holding and treating water contaminated with one or more water-soluble contaminants to substantially prevent the contaminants from seeping into ground water supplies disposed below a water holding area. The article of manufacture and method include the use of a water-holding material, e.g, a water-swellable clay, such as bentonite, for reducing the permeation of the contaminated water into the soil, and an inground treatment layer containing a material capable of adsorbing, absorbing, ion-exchanging, neturalizing or reacting with one or more water-soluble contaminants within the water for removing a substantial portion of the contaminants from the water so that the portion of the held water that permeates the water-holding layer, will be rendered substantially less contaminated.

Abstract: A method of improving agricultural and horticultural crop yields utilizing a mixture comprising a water-soluble alkali metal salt of humic acid and a plant nutrient component including plant nutrients such as nitrogen and/or phosphorous and/or potassium. The addition of a liquid mixture comprising the plant nutrient component and a water-soluble alkali metal salt of humic acid to the growth medium or seed germination medium of agricultural or horticultural crops has demonstrated improved crop yields both in the size of the individual fruit and in the number of the fruit per plant.

Abstract: A method of improving agricultural and horticultural crop yields utilizing a mixture comprising a water-soluble salt of humic acid and either calcium phosphate or ascorbic acid. The addition of a liquid mixture comprising calcium phosphate or ascorbic acid and a water-soluble salt or humic acid to the growth medium or seed germination medium or agricultural or horticultural crops has demonstrated improved crop yields both in the size of the individual fruit and in the number of the fruit per plant.

Abstract: A composition and method of absorbing animal dross. Discrete particles of a composition comprising a water-swellable bentonite clay absorb animal dross and related liquids, and simultaneously agglomerate into a sufficiently large and stable mass therefore permitting physical separation and removal of the wetted mass of particles from unwetted particles of the composition. Removing the wetted and agglomerated composition particles from the remaining unwetted composition reduces or eliminates offensive odors produced by dross-soaked particles.

Abstract: Magnesium oxide is included in a bentonite clay anti-friction composition in an amount of 0.025-0.25% based on the dry weight of the clay to substantially improve the efficiency of underground cable or pipe installation. The anti-friction composition is applied between an outer surface of the cable or pipe and tunnel walls to substantially and unexpectedly reduce the amount of force, e.g., hydraulic pressure, necessary to push or pull the cable or pipe into its intended location within the tunnel. The composition includes a water-swellable colloidal smectite clay, such as bentonite, and magnesium oxide in an amount of 0.025-0.25% based on the dry weight of the clay. In another embodiment, the composition also includes a polymeric fluid loss reduction agent, such as carboxymethyl cellulose to decrease the amount of the clay composition absorbed into the tunnel walls. Soil is extracted underground to form a tunnel and the cable or pipe is forced by a hydaulic jack, into the tunnel.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solid water absorbing resin including mixing a monomer solution of (A) acrylic acid neutralized 70-100 mole percent; and (B) a water-miscible to water-soluble polyvinyl monomer in a combined concentration of at least 30 wt. %; with water to form a mixed monomer solution, and adding a thermal initiator and a redox initiator to the mixed monomer solution to form an initiated mixed monomer solution, and wherein the mixed monomer solution is at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the thermal initiator when the thermal initiator is added to the mixed monomer solution and wherein the temperature of the mixed monomer solution is high enough such that addition of the redox initiator thereto causes sufficient polymerization of the monomers to raise the temperature of the initiated mixed monomer solution to a level sufficient that the thermal initiator decomposes sufficiently to provide, together with the redox initiator, substantially complete polymerization.

Abstract: A method of improving the crop yield of transplanted crops and of extending the useful life of freshly cut plants utilizing an aqueous gel including a highly absorbent, crosslinked, mixed salt of homopolymerized or copolymerized acrylic acid. The aqueous gels utilized in the present invention not only show improved crop yield and extended plant life in the absence of plant nutrients, but also exhibit sufficient gel strength and rigidity to support the plants in the absence of inert solid aggregates.

Abstract: A method of improving the yield of crops utilizing an aqueous gel including a highly-absorbent, crosslinked, mixed salt of homopolymerized or copolymerized acrylic acid. The aqueous gels utilized in the present invention demonstrate improved crop yield even in the absence of plant nutrients.

Abstract: Method and an apparatus are provided for automatically contacting customers and reporting customer order status data. A memory is provided for receiving and storing the customer order status information. The customer order status data includes product order information, scheduled and actual shipping dates and each customer's telephone number. A telephone dialer is provided for dialing customer telephone numbers. Customer order status data is sorted by each customer's telephone number and a sepatate customer report file is generated for facsimile transmission to each identified customer. The customer report facsimile is automatically transmitted to each of the identified customers.

Abstract: Improved water-absorbing, crosslinked acrylate resins are prepared by aqueous polymerization of (A) acrylic acid neutralized 70 to 100 mole percent for example with ammonia and/or caustic alkali and/or an amine; with (B) acrylamide in a mole ratio of 70 to 100 mole percent (A) to 30:0 mole percent (B); (C) styrene, in an amount of 0% to 25% based on the weight of acrylic acid or acrylate; and (D) a water miscible or a water soluble polyvinyl monomer in the presence of (E) a metal oxide, such as titanium dioxide, in an amount of 0.001% to 5% based on the total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E), such that the amount of (D) is 0.001 to 0.6 weight percent based on the total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E). In addition, surface treating the water-absorbing crosslinked acrylate resins with a polyquaternary amine substantially further increases both the rate of water absorption and the quantity of water absorbed and retained by the metal oxide-containing resin.

Abstract: Magnesium oxide is included in a bentonite clay anti-friction composition in an amount of 0.025-0.5% based on the dry weight of the clay to substantially improve the efficiency of underground cable or pipe installation. The anti-friction composition is applied between an outer surface of the cable or pipe and tunnel walls to substantially and unexpectedly reduce the amount of force, e.g. hydraulic pressure, necessary to push or pull the cable or pipe into its intended location within the tunnel. The composition includes a water-swellable colloidal smectite clay, such as bentonite, and magnesium oxide in an amount of 0.025-0.5% based on the dry weight of the clay. In another embodiment, the composition also includes a polymeric fluid loss reduction agent, such as carboxymethyl cellulose to decrease the amount of the clay composition absorbed into the tunnel walls. Soil is extracted underground to form a tunnel and the cable or pipe is forced by a hydraulic jack, into the tunnel.

Abstract: A method for sealing boreholes in the earth and particularly around well casings extending into boreholes in the earth comprises the placement of a plurality of discrete, liquid-absorbing annular sealing elements or disks formed of relatively dry, solid, particulate or granular liquid-swellable clay material, such as bentonite, or bentonite clay which swells in size upon contact with and absorption of liquid encountered in the borehole, The elements are characterized by a disk-like planar shape having parallel, flat opposing faces and a central hole slightly larger in diameter than the cross-section of a well casing when present in a borehole. The disks are placed successively on the well casing and move down into the borehole until a stack of disks of the desired height is formed to substantially fill the space or void between the well casing and the borehole wall.

Abstract: A masonry cement is prepared by dry mixing Portland cement, diatomaceous earth and a water-swellable colloidal clay, such as bentonite. Accordingly, the crushed limestone and other ingredients previously included in masonry cements for admixture with Portland cement can be completely eliminated and substituted by diatomaceous earth and water-swellable colloidal clay. In this manner, a combination of less than about 10% by weight of a combination of diatomaceous earth and colloidal clay replaces approximately 50% by weight crushed limestone and other ingredients from prior art masonry cement compositions while providing a masonry cement which meets ASTM specifications, particularly for air entrainment, water retention and compressive strength.

Abstract: A composition and method of absorbing animal dross. Discrete particles of a composition comprising a water-swellable bentonite clay absorb animal dross and related liquids, and simultaneously agglomerate into a sufficiently large and stable mass therefore permitting physical separation and removal of the wetted mass of particles from unwetted particles of the composition. Removing the wetted and agglomerated composition particles from the remaining unwetted composition reduces or eliminates offensive odors produced by dross-soaked particles.