Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a layered double hydroxide comprising a charge-balancing anion, the process comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a precursor suspension or solution comprising a divalent metal ion source, a trivalent metal ion source, water, and a solvent which is miscible with water and in which at least 5 g/l of a charge-balancing anion precursor can be dissolved; (b) treating the precursor suspension or solution to obtain the layered double hydroxide, wherein the charge-balancing anion precursor is added to the suspension or solution before, during or after step (b), and wherein, if the charge-balancing anion is an organic anion, less than 50 wt % of the charge-balancing anion precursors, based on the total weight of charge-balancing anion precursors, is a salt, with the proviso that the charge-balancing anion is not carbonate. The invention further pertains to a layered double hydroxide obtainable by this process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an organically modified layered double hydroxide having a distance between the individual layers of the layered double hydroxide of above 1.5 nm and comprising an organic anion as charge-balancing anion, the process comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a precursor suspension comprising a divalent metal ion source and a trivalent metal ion source; (b) solvothermally treating the precursor suspension to obtain the layered double hydroxide, wherein an organic anion is added before or during the formation of the layered double hydroxide of step (b), or following the formation of the layered double hydroxide, so as to obtain the organically modified layered double hydroxide, with the proviso that deoxycholic acid is not the sole organic anion. The invention further pertains to a process for preparing an organically modified layered double hydroxide having a distance between the individual layers of the layered double hydroxide of above 1.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a nanocomposite material comprising rubber and a modified layered double hydroxide comprising: a charge-balancing organic ion having a first functional group and a second functional group, wherein at least part of the organic anions is chemically linked to the rubber through the second functional group; and/or a silane coupling agent having at least one alkoxysilane group and at least one reactive group, at least one alkoxysilane group being chemically linked to the layered double hydroxide, at least one reactive group being chemically linked to the rubber. The invention further pertains to a process for preparing the nanocomposite material or a precursor thereof.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a polymer-containing composition comprising the steps of (a) preparing a mixture of an inorganic anionic clay and a cyclic monomer and (b) polymerising said monomer. It has been found that intercalation of the anionic clay with organic anions prior to its use in a polymerisation reaction is not required. Neither is the use of a polymerisation catalyst or initiator.

Abstract: The invention relates to clays comprising charge-balancing organic ions wherein at least part of the organic ions are rosin-based ions. The invention further pertains to a hybrid organic-inorganic composite material comprising a polymer matrix and a clay comprising charge-balancing organic ions wherein at least part of the organic ions are rosin-based ions.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the use of a granulate for the removal of liquid, gaseous and/or dissolved organic constituents from a process stream, said granulate consisting of dimensionally stable, porous synthetic particles with an extracting agent having a boiling point higher than 350° C. at 1 bar immobilized therein, characterized in that the granulate is obtainable by suspension polymerization of a monovinyl compound in the presence of a polyvinyl compound, with at least 50% wt. % of the monomer units having an aromatic structure and with the solvent for the monomers acting both as a non-solvent for the copolymer and as an extracting agent.

Abstract: A process for the removal of liquid, gaseous and/or dissolved constituents from a process stream. The process stream is contacted with an adsorbent comprising a first porous material which has been incorporated into a second porous material at least 30 vol. % of the pores of the first and second porous materials of which are filled with an extraction liquid. The affinity between the adsorbent and the constituents to be removed exceeds the affinity between the constituents and the extraction liquid.

Abstract: A method for the extraction of hydrophobic constituents, such as benzene, toluene, xylene and/or chlorinated hydrocarbons, from an aqueous solution, involving the steps of contacting said solution with a porous, preferably dimensionally stable granular or powdery material, of which the pores have a size of from 0.1 to 50 &mgr;m and contain a hydrophobic substance with affinity for the hydrophobic constituents to be extracted, which granular or powdery material has a particle size of from 0.1 to 10 mm, and is wetted more readily by the hydrophobic substance immobilized in the pores than by the aqueous solution to be treated, and regenerating the product of step a), essentially without the granular or powdery material being freed from the hydrophobic substance, by removal of the hydrophobic constituents.

Abstract: Use of an adsorbent for the removal of liquid, gaseous and/or dissolved constituents from a process stream, where the adsorbent is a porous material is and/or has been incorporated into a porous material at least 30 vol. % of the pores of which is filled with an extraction liquid and where the affinity between the adsorbent and the constituents to be removed exceeds the affinity between said constituents and the extraction liquid.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the use of a granulate for the removal of liquid, gaseous and/or dissolved organic constituents from a process stream, said granulate consisting of dimensionally stable, porous synthetic particles with an extracting agent having a boiling point higher than 350° C. at 1 bar immobilized therein, characterized in that the granulate is obtainable by suspension polymerization of a monovinyl compound in the presence of a polyvinyl compound, with at least 50% wt. % of the monomer units having an aromatic structure and with the solvent for the monomers acting both as a non-solvent for the copolymer and as an extracting agent.

Abstract: Porous, preferably dimensionally stable material and a method for using for the removal of gaseous impurities from a gas mixture, such as H2S, COS, CH2, and SO2, into the pores of which there is incorporated a secondary amine which chemically bonds with the constituents to be removed, with the material including a hydrophobic polymer with pores having an average diameter in the range of from 0.1 to 50 &mgr;m and a secondary amine having hydrophobic properties which optionally is incorporated into a hydrophobic liquid is disclosed. Favorable results have been attained using polypropylene as the hydrophobic polymer and ditridecyl amine as the secondary amine, with a tertiary amine, such as C12 to C14-alkyl diethanol amine, being part of the hydrophobic liquid.

Abstract: A method for the extraction of hydrophobic constituents, such as benzene, toluene, xylene and/or chlorinated hydrocarbons, from an aqueous solution, involving the steps of contacting said solution with a porous, preferably dimensionally stable granular or powdery material, of which the pores have a size of from 0.1 to 50 &mgr;m and contain a hydrophobic substance with affinity for the hydrophobic constituents to be extracted, which granular or powdery material has a particle size of from 0.1 to 10 mm, and is wetted more readily by the hydrophobic substance immobilized in the pores than by the aqueous solution to be treated, and regenerating the product of step a), essentially without the granular or powdery material being freed from the hydrophobic substance, by removal of the hydrophobic constituents.

Abstract: A method for the use of a porous, preferably dimensionally stable, particulate material in a packed filter bed for separating a disperse liquid phase from a gas and/or separating a disperse liquid phase from a liquid, with the average size of the particles being in the range of from 0.1 to 10 mm and the internal surface area of the material being such that, after it has been filled with the disperse liquid phase to be separated and placed, as a packed bed, at a distance of from R to r from the center in a centrifuge rotating at an angular velocity w, for which it holds that0<w.sup.2 (R.sup.2 -r.sup.2).ltoreq.20 (rad/s).sup.2 m.sup.2,wherein w stands for the angular velocity (in rad/s) and R and r represent the largest and the smallest radius (in m), respectively, of the material in the centrifuge, at least 1% of the liquid will have been separated after 5 minutes, while at least 10% of the liquid will have been separated after 60 minutes is disclosed.

Abstract: It is proposed to use a synthetic granulate or powder with a particle size of 0.1 to 10 mm as packing material for the removal of liquid, gaseous and/or dissolved constituents from a process stream, which packing material is made up of a porous, preferably dimensionally stable polymer having an overall porosity of 50 to 95% by volume, which when used as an extracting medium has pores of a diameter of 0.01 to 50 .mu.m, with an extracting liquid immobilised therein, or when used as a coalescence medium has a cellular body/window structure with the diameter of more than 50% by volume of the bodies being in the range of 100 to 700 .mu.

Abstract: A method for the making and use of a porous, preferably dimensionally stable, hydrophobic polymer for the extraction of metal ions from an aqueous solution, with the polymer being in the form of a regenerative granulate or powder having an average particle diameter of from 0.1 to 10 mm and pores of from 0.1 to 50 .mu.m, which is obtained by the dissolving of a polymer, with heating, at a temperature above the upper critical demixing temperature Tc in a complexing agent containing hydrophobic liquid, followed by lowering of the temperature, resulting in a porous polymer filled with the hydrophobic liquid, and the mechanical diminution of the solidified mass is disclosed. Favorable results have been attained using polypropylene as the hydrophobic polymer, bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)thio acid as the complexing agent, and with a mixture of dibenzyl toluene and/or polypropylene glycol ether being part of the hydrophobic liquid.