Abstract: This application relates to the modulation of the flora of bacteria in an environment by inhibiting the quorum sensing of a specific bacteria in said environment by administering an effective amount of a quorum sensing control composition comprising at least one quorum sensing control agent, which is an adsorbent/catalytic inhibitor for a QS signal molecule, such as, N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL), pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS), and autoinducer-1 (AI-1), autoinducer-2 (AI-2) type of quorum sensing molecules. Quorum sensing control agents include a sorbent material, sorbent mineral or non-porous mineral such as, for example, phyllosilicate clays, silica, calcite, zeolites, diatomaceous earth, smectite, activated carbon, a nanoparticle or a combination of any of the foregoing. Methods include inhibiting the spoilage of food stuffs and preventing vibriosis in fish or shell fish.

Abstract: The present methods involves methods of improving ethanol production which may comprise the addition of clay during ethanol production.

Abstract: The present methods involves methods of improving ethanol production which may comprise the addition of clay during ethanol production.

Abstract: A colorant is combined with a liquid and incorporated into a brick additive comprising an interconnected porosity. The colorant may comprise at least one of a dye and pigment comprising a metal cation and preferably penetrates the interconnected pores of the brick additive. Application of the colorant to the additive enables the additive to exhibit substantially the same color as a matrix material in finished bricks incorporating the additive. Ideally, the colorant is capable of withstanding temperatures up to about 1,350° C. without a substantial loss of color imparting properties. The additive may comprise at least one of a phyllosilicate clay mineral, a zeolite and a diatomaceous earth.

Abstract: A brick additive and methods for using the brick additive are disclosed. The additive may include an internal porosity. The internal porosity may display an intra-granular internal porosity in which at least some of the pores are interconnected via an open network of pore spaces. In some embodiments, the additive is capable of maintaining its internal porosity after undergoing thermal modification via calcination, for example. In addition, brick additives of the present invention may display a large surface area.

Abstract: A brick additive and methods for using the brick additive are disclosed. The additive may include an internal porosity. The internal porosity may display an intra-granular internal porosity in which at least some of the pores are interconnected via an open network of pore spaces. In some embodiments, the additive is capable of maintaining its internal porosity after undergoing thermal modification via calcination, for example. In addition, brick additives of the present invention may display a large surface area.

Abstract: A bleaching clay having an enhanced bleaching performance in oils is produced by first beneficiating a raw clay to remove sand and thereafter conditioning and then concentrating the beneficiated clay with a pH modifier and a Lewis acid salt.

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 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.