Abstract: A granular absorbent and granular absorbent making method producing granular absorbent from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming liquid absorbing pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding granular absorbent causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each liquid absorbing pellet of the granular absorbent is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite.

Abstract: A shaft seal assembly externally mounted to a high temperature device, such as a gas or steam turbine, having a plurality of rotary shaft sealing brush seals that includes at least one brush seal of wear-compensating construction that possesses a suitably high linear coefficient of expansion so it viscoelestically creeps over time compensating for brush seal wear. In one embodiment, a brush seal closest to the device is formed of an electrically conductive material that electrically grounds a rotary shaft of the device during shaft rotation and at least one other brush seal is formed of filaments of polymeric material, such as heat stabilized nylon, of wear compensating construction. In one preferred embodiment, the filaments of the inner brush seal are made of a self-lubricating metallic or bearing material and at least one other brush seal is formed of an intumescing material that can be of polymeric composition.