Abstract: The invention relates to composite adsorbent materials, and in particular, to highly porous carbon-based composite materials for the adsorption and stabilization of inorganic substances. The composite adsorbent material comprises a porous carbon carrier matrix and an adsorbent species, wherein the adsorbent species is precipitated within the pores of the carrier matrix. The invention extends to various uses of such adsorbent materials, for example in water purification, recovery of metals from waste streams and remediation applications, and where the adsorbant material is amended into soil, waste etc. for the purpose of breaking pollutant-receptor linkages.

Abstract: Non-activated charcoals from living plant materials are useful as ion exchange agents for adsorbing cations from an environment, especially metal ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing an oil absorbent composition. The method comprises heating and then de-mineralising a precursor plant material under conditions suitable to produce an oil absorbent composition comprising charcoal. The invention extends to oil absorbent compositions per se, such as charcoal-based compositions, and to various uses of the compositions for efficiently and rapidly absorbing spilled oil, for example from water surfaces, or from bituminous sands.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite adsorbent materials, and in particular, to highly porous carbon-based composite materials for the adsorption and stabilisation of inorganic substances. The composite adsorbent material comprises a porous carbon carrier matrix and an adsorbent species, wherein the adsorbent species is precipitated within the pores of the carrier matrix. The invention extends to various uses of such adsorbent materials, for example in water purification, recovery of metals from waste streams and remediation applications, and where the adsorbant material is amended into soil, waste etc. for the purpose of breaking pollutant-receptor linkages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing antimicrobial material. The method comprises heating material comprising wood or bark or material derived therefrom, under conditions sufficient to render the material antimicrobial. The invention also relates to antimicrobial materials prepared by such methods, and to various uses of the antimicrobial materials, for example in reducing microbial activity in animal bedding, such as that which is used in poultry farming.