Abstract: A process for making a bleaching clay composition useful for purification of oil is disclosed. The process involves controlled acidification of a palygorskite and smectite clay mineral with sulfuric acid. The clay mineral starting material exhibits, in an aqueous slurry, an electrical conductivity of at least about 50 microSiemens per centimeter.

Abstract: A cellulose-based, clumpable animal litter features reduced water activity at cost-effective product moisture levels. The composition includes cellulosic granules and clay particles present in an amount up to 40 weight percent, but sufficient to give the litter composition a packaging-compatible water activity.

Abstract: A cellulose-based animal litter product effective in the control of odors generated by animal wastes is disclosed. Selected cellulosic granules containing mineral filler are contacted with a bactericide to produce a bactericide impregnated cellulosic litter which is useful as a pet box litter. The cellulosic litter can also contain an organic clumping agent or an inorganic clumping agent, or both.

Abstract: A substantially dust-free, inert absorbent derived from clay is described. Raw clay having strong surface acidity sites is combined with a metal salt, then heat treated to produce vitrified clay granules suitable as a carrier for labile chemical or biological materials.

Abstract: A clumping animal litter utilizing the interparticle interaction of a swelling clay, such as sodium bentonite, in combination with a non-swelling clay material. Preferably, sixty percent (60%) by weight, or less, composition of sodium bentonite is used after the judicious selection of particle size distribution such that the mean particle size of the non-swelling clay material is greater than the mean particle size of the sodium bentonite. In addition, an organic clumping agent, such as a pregelatinized corn starch can be combined with the sodium bentonite/clay mixture to enhance clumping properties.

Abstract: A sulfuric acid-containing clay-based litter product useful in the control of ammonia generated by decaying excrement in poorly ventilated poultry brooding houses is provided. Raw clay is contacted with sulfuric acid to produce an acidulated clay which is then applied to the poultry brooding house floor in an amount sufficient to provide from about 0.0175 pounds of sulfuric acid to about 0.0875 pounds of sulfuric acid per square foot of poultry brooding house floor.

Abstract: High performance acid activated clays suitable for bleaching oil are produced by contacting an intercalating clay mineral with a strong acid in a polar organic liquid.

Abstract: An improved, fast-clumping animal litter which substantially immediately upon wetting with aqueous liquid forms a clump of durable clump strength for removal from the unwetted litter substantially immediately or within hours. The inventive animal litter includes particulate non-swelling clay, swelling clay and starch. A preferred animal litter utilizes pregelatinized corn starch at relatively low amount which surprisingly permits decreasing the amount of swelling clay below the minimum amount conventionally required for autogenous clumping clay litters.

Abstract: A process for making a bleaching clay composition useful for purification of oil is disclosed. The process of involves controlled acidification of a palygorskite--smectite clay mineral with sulfuric acid.

Abstract: High performance activated clays suitable for bleaching oil are produced by mixing a clay mineral with a metal salt that is a Lewis acid. Mixtures of such metal salts can be used as well.

Abstract: An axial flow filtration cartridge, a system, a support assembly, an apparatus, as well as a process are provided for removing particulate matter as well as dissolved heavy metal ions and the like from an aqueous effluent stream. The invention is useful for removing contaminants from industrial waste streams. The cartridge contains features which make it relatively resistant to fouling by solid particles. Additionally, the cartridge has no central void volume. No separate housing for the cartridges is required. In a system embodiment the cartridge has a filtering chamber containing absorbent clay particles confined between porous liquid-permeable retainer. An upstream cartridge cap and a downstream cartridge cap removably receive the ends of the filter cartridge in a liquid-tight seal. The flow of aqueous effluent to each of the cartridges is individually controlled.

Abstract: A composition for a clumping animal litter forms agglomerates upon contact with relatively small amounts of an aqueous liquid, such as an animal body fluid, yet rapidly disperses upon disposal in a household plumbing system to produce only non-swelling clay particles and biodegradable end products. The animal litter composition is substantially dust-free, and can be safely ingested by pets. The composition includes non-swelling clay and/or diatomaceous earth particles and a galactomannan gum that has been distributed in a non-toxic liquid vehicle on the surface of the free-flowing clay particles. The galactomannan gum may be a guar gum or a locust bean gum, or an ether derivative of guar gum or locust bean gum. The animal litter composition may also include borax, xanthan gum, a carrageenan gum, or an alginate.

Abstract: An axial flow filtration cartridge, a system, a support assembly, an apparatus, as well as a process are provided for removing particulate matter as well as dissolved heavy metal ions and the like from an aqueous effluent stream. The invention is useful for removing contaminants from industrial waste streams. The cartridge contains features which make it relatively resistant to fouling by solid particles. Additionally, the cartridge has no central void volume. No separate housing for the cartridges is required. In a system embodiment the cartridge has a filtering chamber containing absorbent clay particles confined between porous liquid-permeable retainer means. An upstream cartridge cap and a downstream cartridge cap removably receive the ends of the filter cartridge in a liquid-tight seal. The flow of aqueous effluent to each of the cartridges is individually controlled.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to substantially dust-free granules. The granules are constituted by a normally dusty inorganic solid material and a water-dispersible nonionic vinyl polymer distributed thereon. The vinyl polymer promotes retention of dust size particles to the granules of the inorganic solid material.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a method for treating oils having undesirable color impurities and an oil bleaching composition suitable for use in this method. The method comprises contacting the oil with the oil bleaching composition for a time period sufficient to reduce the amount of color impurities of the oil. The oil bleaching composition includes a neutral bleaching clay and a chelating polycarboxylic acid. The spent bleaching composition resists spontaneous combustion.

Abstract: A particulate absorbent material is constituted by discrete clay granules and paper granules, and usually exhibits a bulk density of about 10 lbs/ft.sup.3 to about 30 lbs/ft.sup.3. The weight ratio of paper granules-to-clay granules is about 0.09 to about 9. The particle size distribution for the clay granules is relatively wider than for the paper granules.

Abstract: The animal litter that forms clumps upon wetting by the animal is constituted by particulate non-swelling clay and an organic clumping agent distributed over individual clay particles in an oleaginous vehicle such as mineral oil. A preferred organic clumping agent is a cellulose ether, e.g., hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for making a granular absorbent from cellulosic fibrous material includes a housing which defines an elongated internal cavity, and an inlet and an outlet communicating with the internal cavity. A rotatably driven shaft extends within the cavity of the housing, with the apparatus including an impeller arrangement mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. The impeller arrangement includes resiliently flexible bristles which cooperate with the interior surface of the internal cavity for effecting agitation, blending, and agglomeration of the cellulosic fibrous feed stock. A pellet-like granular absorbent is produced.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a method for treating oils having undesirable color impurities and an oil bleaching composition suitable for use in this method. The method comprises contacting the oil with the oil bleaching composition for a time period sufficient to reduce the amount of color impurities of the oil. The oil bleaching composition includes a neutral bleaching clay and a chelating polycarboxylic acid. The spent bleaching composition resists spontaneous combustion.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a particulate, free-flowing pelleting agent with energy value. The pelleting agent is constituted by discrete, free-flowing absorbent clay agglomerates that include clay and molasses in a clay-to-molasses weight ratio of at least about 1.5:1, respectively.