Abstract: PVC compositions disclosed herein comprise PVC resin, a co-precipitated rare earth additive, and an inorganic flame retardant. These PVC compositions demonstrate an improved flame retardance and have UL94 classification with a sample thickness of about 0.8 mm of V-2 or higher. The co-precipitated rare earth additive contains a rare earth and one or more of zinc, aluminum, and magnesium, wherein the co-precipitated rare earth additive contains about 5 to about 95% by weight rare earth measured on an oxide basis. The inorganic flame retardant can be ATO, MDH, ATH, or mixtures thereof. The co-precipitated rare earth additive provides improved properties in comparison to an identical PVC composition containing the components of the co-precipitated additive but added to the PVC composition as a blend of these components rather than a co-precipitant.

Abstract: A method for removing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) from water using rare earth salts, iron salts, or mixtures thereof effectively and efficiently removes undesired and dissolved PVP and provides a composition containing hydrolyzed PVP (h-PVP) having ions bound thereto. In these compositions the ions include rare earth cations, iron cations, and mixtures thereof. This composition is beneficial in the removal of aqueous contaminants, such as phosphate, other phosphorus containing compounds, arsenic, arsenic containing compounds, fluorides, and PFAS from water.

Abstract: PVC compositions disclosed herein comprise PVC resin, a rare earth compound, and an inorganic flame retardant. These PVC compositions demonstrate an improved flame retardance and have UL94 classification with a sample thickness of about 0.8 mm of V-2 or higher. The rare earth compound can be rare earth hydroxides, hydrated rare earth oxides, and mixtures thereof. The inorganic flame retardant can be antimony trioxide (ATO), magnesium dihydroxide (MDH), aluminum trihydrate (ATH), and mixtures thereof. The combination of the rare earth compound and inorganic flame retardant forms a synergistic partnership.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating wastewater using a membrane bioreactor and achieving a target phosphorus concentration for the membrane permeate stream. These methods include the steps of dosing a wastewater stream with a rare earth clarifying agent and passing the dosed wastewater stream through the membrane to obtain a membrane permeate stream with a permeate concentration that is less than the phosphorus concentration of the influent stream. This permeate concentration also can be equal to or less than a target phosphorus concentration. In the methods as disclosed herein, the rare earth clarifying agent can be chloride salts of one or more rare earth elements and in certain embodiments, the rare earth clarifying agent can be CeCl3 and LaCl3.

Abstract: A particulate oxide composition comprising cerium oxide, trivalent dopant, and optional additional metal oxide, other than cerium oxide and trivalent dopant, is beneficial to aid in the removal of biological contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa (e.g., amoebae), yeast and algae. This particulate oxide composition contains more cerium oxide than trivalent dopant and has a unique depth profile in which the average trivalent dopant to Ce ratio at about 0 nm to about 3.5 nm from the surface of the particulate composition is greater than the trivalent dopant to Ce ratio at about 15 nm from the surface of the particulate composition. These trivalent doped cerium oxide compositions can be used to remove these biological contaminants from fluids, including air and water, and from solid surfaces. Also described are methods of using compositions containing these trivalent doped cerium oxide compositions to remove biological contaminants.

Abstract: A trivalent doped cerium oxide composition is beneficial to aid in the removal of biological contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa (e.g., amoebae), yeast and algae. These trivalent doped cerium oxide compositions can be used to remove these biological contaminants from fluids, including air and water, and from solid surfaces. The compositions also include a support material. Also described are methods of using compositions containing these trivalent doped cerium oxide compositions to remove biological contaminants.

Abstract: A zirconium polymer composition comprising a zirconium polymer selected from the group consisting of polymeric zirconium oxychloride, polymeric zirconium acetate, and polymeric zirconium nitrate and having metal particles thereon is beneficial to aid in the removal of biological contaminants, such as bacteria, virus, yeast, algae, and amoeba, from fluids, including air and water. In this composition, the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), silicon (Si), boron (B), copper (Cu), gold (Au), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), silver (Ag), thorium (Th), tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), and mixtures thereof, and the metal particles are about 0.001% by weight to about 30% by weight of the composition. These zirconium polymer compositions are used in methods for removing biological contaminants from fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating wastewater using a membrane bioreactor and achieving a target phosphorus concentration for the membrane permeate stream. These methods include the steps of dosing a wastewater stream with a rare earth clarifying agent and passing the dosed wastewater stream through the membrane to obtain a membrane permeate stream with a permeate concentration that is less than the phosphorus concentration of the influent stream. This permeate concentration also can be equal to or less than a target phosphorus concentration. In the methods as disclosed herein, the rare earth clarifying agent can be chloride salts of one or more rare earth elements and in certain embodiments, the rare earth clarifying agent can be CeCl3 and LaCl3.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating wastewater using a membrane bioreactor and achieving a target phosphorus concentration for the membrane permeate stream. These methods include the steps of dosing a wastewater stream with a rare earth clarifying agent and passing the dosed wastewater stream through the membrane to obtain a membrane permeate stream with a permeate concentration that is less than the phosphorus concentration of the influent stream. This permeate concentration also can be equal to or less than a target phosphorus concentration. In the methods as disclosed herein, the rare earth clarifying agent can be chloride salts of one or more rare earth elements and in certain embodiments, the rare earth clarifying agent can be CeCl3 and LaCl3.

Abstract: Chloride salts of certain rare earth elements have beneficial effects as clarifying agents in the primary treatment of wastewater. Disclosed herein are methods for treating wastewater comprising dosing wastewater, as part of a primary treatment system, with a clarifying agent of chloride salts of rare earth elements, either individually or mixtures. The rare earth clarifying agents are added or dosed at any point upstream of the primary treatment operation, within the primary treatment operation, or both upstream of and within the primary treatment operation. Also disclosed herein are clarifying agents for use in the primary treatment of wastewater comprising an aqueous solution of chloride salts of the rare earth elements.