Microcapsules are disclosed that have a core composition encapsulated within a polymer wall, and an inorganic shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The inorganic shell has a cation attracted to the surfactant and an anion or anion equivalent chemically bonded to the cation to form the shell or has the metal portion of a metal-containing compound attracted to the surfactant to form the shell. The shell may comprise a Ca, Mg, or Ag metal compound. The shell may be a graphene oxide-metal compound.

Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a pre-formed capsule having a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.

Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a pre-formed capsule having a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.

The present application provides a composite material that comprises a solid and solid-supported non-polymeric switchable moiety, wherein the switchable moiety comprises a functional group that is switchable between a first form and a second form, said first form being neutral and hydrophobic, and said second form being ionized and hydrophilic. The composite material converts to, or is maintained in, said second form when the switchable moiety is exposed to CO.sub.2 at amounts sufficient to maintain the ionized form. The composite material converts to, or is maintained in, said first form when CO.sub.2 is removed or reduced to an amount insufficient to maintain the ionized form. CO.sub.2 is removed or reduced by exposing the composite material to heat and/or a flushing inert gas such as N.sub.2, Ar, or air. Envisioned uses of these composite materials includes removing water from non-aqueous solvents, removing water vapor from gaseous mixtures, and cleaning industrial reaction vessels and/or pipelines.

The present application provides a composite material that comprises a solid and solid-supported non-polymeric switchable moiety, wherein the switchable moiety comprises a functional group that is switchable between a first form and a second form, said first form being neutral and hydrophobic, and said second form being ionized and hydrophilic. The composite material converts to, or is maintained in, said second form when the switchable moiety is exposed to CO.sub.2 at amounts sufficient to maintain the ionized form. The composite material converts to, or is maintained in, said first form when CO.sub.2 is removed or reduced to an amount insufficient to maintain the ionized form. CO.sub.2 is removed or reduced by exposing the composite material to heat and/or a flushing inert gas such as N.sub.2, Ar, or air. Envisioned uses of these composite materials includes removing water from non-aqueous solvents, removing water vapor from gaseous mixtures, and cleaning industrial reaction vessels and/or pipelines.

The present invention provides a transparent electroconductive layer-equipped cover element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet preliminarily laminated thereto, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in which a refractive index adjustment zone having a refractive index greater than that of a base pressure-sensitive adhesive material thereof is formed over a given range from a surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in a thickness direction thereof, whereby: in a lamination process of a customer which is a supply destination of the transparent electroconductive layer-equipped cover element, it becomes possible to eliminate a need to distinguish between obverse and reverse sides of the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet itself; and, when the transparent electroconductive layer-equipped cover element is bonded to an optical element through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, it becomes possible to suppress internal reflection in a laminate formed of these optical elements.

The present invention provides a transparent electroconductive layer-equipped cover element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet preliminarily laminated thereto, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in which a refractive index adjustment zone having a refractive index greater than that of a base pressure-sensitive adhesive material thereof is formed over a given range from a surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in a thickness direction thereof, whereby: in a lamination process of a customer which is a supply destination of the transparent electroconductive layer-equipped cover element, it becomes possible to eliminate a need to distinguish between obverse and reverse sides of the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet itself; and, when the transparent electroconductive layer-equipped cover element is bonded to an optical element through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, it becomes possible to suppress internal reflection in a laminate formed of these optical elements.

Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.

Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.

The invention is directed to a method for the removal of mercury and selenium from sulfate-containing waste water. The method may include the following steps: a) a mercury- and selenium-contaminated waste water with a known sulfate concentration is provided, b) barium sulfate (BaSO.sub.4) is precipitated from the provided waste water by the addition of a predefined amount of Ba.sup.2+ ions to the waste water, c) BaSO.sub.4 (if necessary together with other solids) is separated obtaining a low-solid waste water, d) the low-solid waste water is fed to an ion exchanger for the removal of mercury obtaining a waste water with a reduced mercury content, e) selenium and/or selenium compounds are removed from the waste water with the reduced mercury content and f) a sulfate-containing solution or solid is added to the waste water with a reduced selenium and/or selenium compound content in order to precipitate barium sulfate.