Abstract: A water purification apparatus and a water purification method capable of effectively using a layered double hydroxide and easily being applied are described. A water purification apparatus for removing a polluted substance from polluted water includes a solid-liquid separator that separates the polluted water and a solid material from each other, and a polluted substance remover that removes, by a layered double hydroxide, the polluted substance contained in the polluted water separated by the solid-liquid separator.

Abstract: A process of forming a treated clay composition, a process of decaffeination, and a treated clay composition are shown. The process of forming the treated clay composition includes providing a first solution of caffeine molecules and non-caffeine molecules, extracting the caffeine molecules to form a pretreatment solution, and bringing a clay composition into contact with the pretreatment solution to form the treated clay composition, on which at least one of the non-caffeine molecules is adsorbed. The process of decaffeination includes providing a solution of caffeine and non-caffeine molecules, and bringing the solution into contact with a treated clay composition. The treated clay composition includes organic molecules adsorbed on mineral layers of a clay. The organic molecules are non-caffeine molecules from a pretreatment solution.

Abstract: A ventilation assembly includes an air intake channel; a delivery channel; a generating device of an air stream between the intake channel and the delivery channel; a filtering section of the air stream to decrease, if not eliminate, the presence of particulate in the air stream. The filtering section includes a filter having a containment body provided with an intake opening and a delivery opening for the air stream passing therethrough, and air-tight bulkheads, arranged inside the containment body and shaped to force the air stream to collide therewith and with the inner walls of the containment body, the bulkheads and the containment body having a section portion suitable for being penetrated by the particulate in the air stream so as to retain it therein.

Abstract: Disclosed are remote oily water treatment systems, including systems and related methods of remote oily water treatment with point-of-treatment discharge of treated water. In a preferred embodiment, (a) oily water is treated at a location proximate to where the oily water by passing the oily water through a tank containing a medium defined by at least one polymer mixed with activated carbon and (b) treated water is discharged at the point-of-treatment of the oily water.

Abstract: Process for the treatment of water containing low quantities of hydrocarbons (as dispersed or dissolved or emulsified) by means of expanded graphite having an apparent density from 2 to less than 5 g/l, wherein said hydrocarbons are present in a quantity less than or equal to 1 g/l, a specific surface area from 50 to 100 m2/g and a carbon/oxygen ratio (C:O)?100. The expanded graphite is mixed vigorously for a short time with the water contaminated by hydrocarbons and easily separated at the end of the treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for a superabsorbent polymer. The preparation method controls the time from the addition of a foaming agent to the initiation of a polymerization reaction, thereby forming an appropriate pore structure in a superabsorbent polymer. The superabsorbent polymer produced through the preparation method can exhibit a remarkably improved absorption rate while exhibiting excellent absorption performance.

Abstract: There is provided according to the present invention a sustained release reactant blend and methods for making and using the sustained release reactant blends. There is further provided methods for using such blends in the in situ or ex situ remediation of contaminated groundwater and in the treatment of water and wastewater. There is further provided, according to the present invention, methods for controllably coating reactant blends whereby such coated blends exhibit sustained release properties and have an open structure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing water absorbent resin powder in which permeability potential (SFC) is improved while a water absorbing rate (FSR) is being kept. The method is a method for producing water absorbent polyacrylic acid (salt) resin powder including the steps of: (i) polymerizing an acrylic acid (salt) monomer aqueous solution; (ii) during or after the step of (i), performing gel grinding of a hydrogel crosslinked polymer obtained by the polymerization, wherein the hydrogel crosslinked polymer has resin solid content of 10 wt % to 80 wt %, and the gel grinding is carried out with gel grinding energy (GGE) of 18 [J/g] to 60 [J/g]; (iii) drying a particulate hydrogel crosslinked polymer obtained by the gel grinding, wherein the drying is performed at 150° C. to 250° C.; and (iv) carrying out a surface treatment to the particulate hydrogel crosslinked polymer thus dried.

Abstract: There is provided according to the present invention a sustained release reactant blend and methods for making the sustained release reactant blends. There is further provided methods for using such blends in the in situ or ex situ remediation of contaminated groundwater and in the treatment of water and wastewater. There is further provided, according to the present invention, methods for controllably coating reactant blends whereby such coated blends exhibit sustained release properties and have an open structure.

Abstract: A vulcanizing composition useful for the vulcanization of vulcanizable formulations is disclosed. The vulcanizing composition includes a vulcanizing agent which in turn includes a cyclododecasulfur compound. A cyclododecasulfur compound characterized by a DSC melt point onset of between 155° C. and 167° C. when measured at a DSC heat rate of 20° C./minute is also disclosed.

Abstract: Herein are described compositions useful in the purification of hydrocarbon-contaminated liquids (e.g., oil-contaminated water), methods of their manufacture, and methods of their use. In one instance, the composition can include a porous agricultural substrate selected from the group consisting of walnut shell, pecan shell, apricot pit, peach pit, corn cob, and a mixture thereof; the porous agricultural substrate having an external surface and pores, wherein the external surface is hydrophilic; and an organo-amine carried within the pores of the porous agricultural substrate. These compositions are utilized as regenerable filter media in place of, for example, ground walnut media.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an extracorporeal perfusion apparatus comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit for conveying blood, a filtrate circuit for conveying blood plasma, and a controller, wherein the filtrate circuit is connected to the extracorporeal blood circuit by means of a filter, wherein the filter has a sieving coefficient of 5% for substances having a molar mass of 340,000 g/mol (relative molecular mass of 340 kDa), and wherein a depletion agent comprising a first carrier having a neutral, hydrophobic surface is arranged in the filtrate circuit, wherein the perfusion apparatus comprises a dispensing means for feeding an endotoxin-binding lipopeptide into the extracorporeal blood circuit, wherein the endotoxin-binding lipopeptide is selected from the group consisting of polymyxins, polymyxin derivatives, prodrugs thereof, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: Herein is reported a method for obtaining a polypeptide in monomeric form comprising the steps of a) providing a solution comprising the polypeptide m monomeric form and m aggregated form, wherein the ratio of monomeric to aggregated form is 4:1 or less as determined by size exclusion chromatography, b) performing a mixed-mode chromatography in bind-and-elute mode, or a hydrophobic interaction chromatography in flow-through mode, or a size-exclusion chromatography, and c) performing a weak cation exchange chromatography in bind-and-elute mode or flow-through mode, and thereby obtaining the polypeptide m monomeric form.

Abstract: Described herein is a liquid filtration device is disclosed comprising a fluid conduit fluidly connecting a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet; and a water filtration medium disposed in the fluid conduit; the water filter medium comprising a metal-containing particulate, wherein the metal-containing particulate comprises a thermolysis product of a metal carboxylate; and methods of removing chloramines from aqueous solutions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing a water-absorbing polymer, including the following steps: (i) mixing (?1) 0.1 to 99.999 wt % polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated, acid-group-containing monomers; (?2) 0 to 70 wt % polymerized ethylenically unsaturated, monomers copolymerizable with (?1); (?3) 0.00 1 to 10 wt %, cross-linking agent(s); (?4) 0 to 30 wt % water-soluble polymers; and (?5) 0 to 20 wt % additive(s), wherein the total quantity by weight of (?1) to (?5) amounts to 100 wt %, (ii) radical polymerization while cross-linking, in order to form a hydrogel polymer, (iii) drying the hydrogel polymer, (iv) grinding and sifting the water-absorbing polymer, (v) surface post-cross-linking the hydrogel polymer, and (vi) drying and processing the polymer, wherein, before the admixture of the initiator and the start of radical polymerization, 0.01 to 5 wt % of a surfactant, relative to acrylic acid, 0.01 to 5 wt % foaming agent, are added.

Abstract: Method for the removal of organic components from a mixture of organic components and water having the steps of guiding the mixture through at least one vessel (3) in which has been provided an amount of organoclay (17) in at least one removable casing (18) which is permeable to liquids and gasses but not to organoclay particles, or on a supporting structure (28) from where the organoclay particles cannot come off, such that the amount of organoclay particles is at any time part of a removable entity; and of producing a flow through the aforesaid mixture in this vessel (3).

Abstract: A control and instrumentation system utilizes a subsea data hub to establish closed loop of between subsea production system components and a surface located controller. The control and instrumentation system can be utilize to operational control all of the required process components of the subsea production system from the surface located controller.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon sequestering product, a method to obtain the product, and a method and a facility to sequester hydrocarbons, wherein the product comprises an oleophilic filamentous material that gets in contact with a medium contaminated by one or more hydrocarbons with the purpose of sequestrating the hydrocarbon(s) present in the medium to free it from said hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Methods to separate or recover brine that is present in an invert emulsion are described. The brine is present as an internal phase in the invert emulsion. The brine can be a valuable component, such as an alkali metal formate, and separation and recovering of the brine from the invert emulsion permits the brine to be reused.

Abstract: A process for treating water used in a coal tar process is described. The process involves treating the water with extraction with an extraction agent or adsorption with an adsorbent. The extraction agent includes at least one of amphiphilic block copolymers, cyclodextrins, functionalized cyclodextrins, and soluble cyclodextrin-functionalized polymers, and the adsorbent includes insoluble cyclodextrin-functionalized polymers, exfoliated graphite oxide, thermally exfoliated graphite oxide or intercalated graphite compounds.

Abstract: Cellulose acetate or polyvinylpyrrolidone is electrospun into fibers having diameters of nanometer scale to form a first mat that is capable of absorbing hydrocarbons. A second mat may be formed from a solution of cellulose acetate or polyvinylpyrrolidone further containing tungsten trioxide. The solution is electrospun onto a copper mesh and then thermally oxidized to create a nanostructure comprising a grid or network of tungsten trioxide crystals and copper oxide crystals. The nanogrid is capable of photocatalyzing the degradation of hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water. The grid may be combined with the first mat to degrade hydrocarbons that the first mat absorbs.

Abstract: An oleophilic product for absorbing and retaining a hydrophobic liquid such as oil. The product comprises cones of the plant species Pinus elliottii comminuted to a mixture of particles. A method of manufacturing the product is also disclosed, as is a method of absorbing and retaining a hydrophobic liquid using the product.

Abstract: A method of diagnosis, prognosis or treatment of an autoimmune disease in a subject wherein the method comprises detecting aquaporin-1 (AQP1), aquaporin-2 (AQP2), aquaporin-5 (AQP5), aquaporin-7 (AQP7) and/or aquaporin-8 (AQP8) autoantibodies in a sample obtained from said subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to removing disease material from the blood of a patient. Specifically, the invention relates to using biological binders to trap disease material that is desired to be removed from the blood of a patient.

Abstract: A method of reducing disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants including contacting the water with an amount of a non-decomposed moss effective to reduce the level of disinfection by-products. A method of determining the effectiveness of a first method of reducing disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants, the first method including contacting the water with an amount of a non-decomposed moss effective to reduce the level of disinfection by-products, the method including determining the effectiveness of the first method by measuring the level of the disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants and contacted with the amount of non-decomposed moss.

Abstract: Methods for treating contaminated water from water cooling systems are provided. The inventive methods include treating water contaminated with anti-biofouling quaternary amine compounds with a bentonite clay slurry which has been formed on-site in a mix tank. The slurry is formed on-site by mixing a metered amount of bentonite clay particles with mix water in a mix tank to produce the desired slurry concentration and directly transferring the formed slurry from the mix tank into a flow of the contaminated water, where it mixes with the quaternary ammonium compound and detoxifies it.

Abstract: Storage stable polyhydroxylated aromatic ether adducts of polyalkylene oxide are described. Reactive compositions are formed by combining an ether adduct with an aldehyde, optionally further adding a phenolic-aldehyde prepolymer. The reactive compositions are cured by removing water, by acidification, or both. The cured compositions sorb solvated compounds from environments containing water. The cured compositions are also useful for pre-loading with compounds that are subsequently released at a controlled rate into environments containing water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying water using a hybrid material based on carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles of clay, preferably laponite.

Abstract: Provided are a blood-pretreating apparatus and method for removing corpuscles and abundant albumin from whole blood by use of microbeads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing organic chemicals and organometallic complexes (organic heavy metal complexes) using zeolites from process water or tailings streams of a mineral processing plant where diethylenetriamine (DETA) or triethylenetetramine (TETA) is used as a flotation reagent and DETA-metal complexes are found in process water or tailings streams. The process water or slurry tailings streams of a mineral processing plant containing DETA, DETA-metal complexes and residual heavy metals may be contacted with natural zeolites. This may be carried out by adding the natural zeolites to the process streams or slurries while mixing with a mechanical mixer to efficiently adsorb DETA, DETA-metal complexes and heavy metals from the process streams on the zeolite. The loaded zeolite may then be discarded with the flotation tailings.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes to treat water having halide ions and organohalides. The process comprises contacting a plant biomass with an alkaline solution to give an alkaline plant biomass, and contacting the alkaline plant biomass with water to give a biomass material. An aqueous sample with organohalides or halide ions is contacted with the biomass material to provide a low halide filtrate and a spent biomass.

Abstract: In a water environment in conjunction with one or more types of oil, a method of in-situ burning including placing a fire resistant sorbent material in contact with the oil and allowing the oil to wick into the sorbent material. The method further includes burning the oil using the sorbent material as a wick.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of removing oil from an aqueous surface, comprising: surrounding an oil spot on the aqueous surface with an oil-absorbing material; and introducing a solution comprising a surfactant to the oil spot. Also disclosed are the above methods where the oil is not mechanically directed towards the oil-absorbing material, or where the oil-absorbing material is not mechanically directed towards the oil. Also disclosed are the above methods further comprising introducing a solution comprising a protein/surfactant complex to the oil spot, where the protein/surfactant complex comprises a protein component obtained from the fermentation of yeast, comprising a mixture of multiple intracellular proteins, at least a portion of the mixture including yeast polypeptides obtained from fermenting yeast and yeast stress proteins resulting from subjecting a mixture obtained from the yeast fermentation to stress.

Abstract: A method of removal of oil slicks or spills floating on the surfaces of bodies of water is disclosed in which, unlike the traditional methods, a floatable or a non-floatable oil-absorbing substance is pumped into the water under the oil-spill layer. The pumped substance will reach and lie under the oil-spill layer and cannot be blown away by wind or other causes during or after dispersion of the substance. After application of the substance, the oil layer may be naturally or mechanically agitated to facilitate formation of a removable mixture of oil and the substance. In various embodiments, after the removal of the oil-substance mixture, the oil may be separated from the mixture and be reused.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of liquid effluents laden with hydrocarbons, which comprises: feeding the effluents into a treatment tank; supplying the treatment tank with a reversible sorbent having a defined particle size; mixing the effluents with the reversible sorbent in the treatment tank in order to load said reversible sorbent with the hydrocarbons in the effluents; removing the hydrocarbon-laden reversible sorbent from the top of the treatment tank; extracting the treated effluents from the bottom of the treatment tank; and separating the hydrocarbons from the laden reversible sorbent from the treatment tank.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a stream comprising hydrocarbons and an aqueous-based liquid are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a media composite comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer. In certain systems and methods, the media composite is capable of being backwashed. The stream comprising the hydrocarbons and aqueous-based liquid may be separated by contacting the stream with the media composite. In certain system and methods, the stream comprising the hydrocarbons and aqueous-based liquid may be coalesced by contacting the stream with the media composite.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon sequestering product, a method to obtain the product, and a method and a facility to sequester hydrocarbons, wherein the product comprises an oleophilic filamentous material that gets in contact with a medium contaminated by one or more hydrocarbons with the purpose of sequestrating the hydrocarbon(s) present in the medium to free it from said hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of stabilizing spent filter material that comprises mixing the filter media with a city media to produce a composition having a moisture content that is sufficiently low to retard microbial growth. The composition comprises spent filter media and a dry material, and preferably comprises diatomaceous earth. Soil is treated by adding the composition as a top dressing, soil amendment, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite.

Abstract: A method for extracorporeal elimination of one or more components from blood where whole blood or blood plasma is added to a blood treatment device containing an adsorbent which binds the one or more components is disclosed. The adsorbent comprises at least one matrix to which at least one ligand having specific binding affinity to said one or more component is covalently bound. The ligand comprises a glycosidically bound aglycon and at least one saccharide, preferably blood group determinant A, blood group determinant B, blood group H determinant, a P antigen, or a Pk antigen; or said ligand is an amino acid, a peptide or an antibody. Methods for treatment of transplant recipients, and to use a blood treatment device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an economic process for preparing surface-reacted calcium carbonate. The present invention further relates to a surface-reacted calcium carbonate having an increased specific BET surface area, and the use of a process for adjusting the specific BET surface area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an economic process for preparing surface-reacted calcium carbonate. The present invention further relates to a surface-reacted calcium carbonate having an increased specific BET surface area, and the use of a process for adjusting the specific BET surface area.

Abstract: A method for removing liquid, gaseous and/or dissolved constituents from an aqueous stream includes contacting the aqueous stream with a porous material and then contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent material. The porous material includes pores having an average diameter of approximately 0.01 ?m to approximately 50 ?m and an extraction liquid immobilized within at least a portion of the pores.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying wastewater loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds, wherein the wastewater loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds is reacted with a smectic sheet silicate, wherein a clay material loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds is obtained, and the clay material loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds is separated off, wherein purified wastewater is obtained.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing surgical site infections (SSI) that have occurred at extremely high incidence rates at the time of surgical operations and particularly surgical operations on digestive system organs, and to provide a column to be used for the method. According to the present invention, a method is provided for suppressing surgical site infections, which comprises the steps of: (a) administering a chemotherapeutic drug for treating and/or preventing a surgical site infection; and (b) collecting blood from a surgical subject and removing leukocytes that comprise neutrophils from the blood during or within 24 hours after surgical operation, and then returning the blood from which the leukocytes have been removed to the surgical subject.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing, monitoring progression of, or monitoring treatment of inflammatory bowel disease comprises determining the levels of CD14+HLA-DRhi monocytes or monocytes expressing CCR7 or CCR9 or both CCR7 and CCR9 in a sample obtained from a subject, wherein high levels of CD14+HLA-DRhi monocytes or monocytes expressing CCR7 or CCR9 or both CCR7 and CCR9, or increased levels of CD14+HLA-DRhi monocytes or monocytes expressing CCR7 or CCR9 or both CCR7 and CCR9 compared to control, indicate the presence or progression of inflammatory bowel disease. Similar methods for diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome are also described. Various companion therapeutic methods and useful binding reagents are also described.

Abstract: Novel tetracationic cyclophanes incorporating ?-electron poor organic compounds into their ring structures, as well as methods of making the cyclophanes, are provided. The cyclophanes are able to form electron donor-acceptor complexes with a variety of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) ranging in size, shape, and electron density. Also provided are methods of using the cyclophanes in the sequestration of PAHs in liquid or gaseous samples, the separation of PAHs from liquid or gaseous samples, the detection of PAHs in liquid samples, and the exfoliation of graphene via pseudopolyrotaxane formation.

Abstract: The invention described herein teaches methods of removing microvesicular particles, which include but are not limited to exosomes, from the systemic circulation of a subject in need thereof with the goal of reversing antigen-specific and antigen-nonspecific immune suppression. Said microvesicular particles could be generated by host cells that have been reprogrammed by neoplastic tissue, or the neoplastic tissue itself. Compositions of matter, medical devices, and novel utilities of existing medical devices are disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein are xerogels consisting essentially of 12-hydroxy-stearic acid (12-HSA) wherein the xerogel is characterized by a spherulitic fibrillar network structure. Also provided is a method for adsorbing an apolar liquid by contacting a 12-HSA xerogel composition with the apolar liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtering device comprising clay minerals for the filtration of aqueous solutions used in biochemical and molecular biological applications. In particular, the present invention relates to the removal of undesired proteins from aqueous solutions by filtration through a filter comprising clay minerals.