A process of preparing a polydopamine aerogel comprising first mixing together a silica precursor and an amine-functionalized silica precursor in a solvent to form a first solution. Then, adding an acid catalyst to the first solution to form a silica gel. Then, equilibrating the silica gel in a 50/50 solvent/water mixture. Wherein the final step in the process is to add about 1 mg/ml solution of a dopamine monomer to the silica gel to form a polydopamine aerogel.

A process of preparing a polydopamine aerogel comprising first mixing together a silica precursor and an amine-functionalized silica precursor in a solvent to form a first solution. Then, adding an acid catalyst to the first solution to form a silica gel. Then, equilibrating the silica gel in a 50/50 solvent/water mixture. Wherein the final step in the process is to add about 1 mg/ml solution of a dopamine monomer to the silica gel to form a polydopamine aerogel.

The present invention provides a method and kit for the treatment of surfaces, such as the skin surface of a user, to impart hydrophobic characteristics upon the surface. The treatment of surfaces to impart hydrophobicity protects equipment, personnel, and animals from the effects of aqueous solutions such as water, toxic slurries, concrete, acids and bases.

The present invention provides a method and kit for the treatment of surfaces, such as the skin surface of a user, to impart hydrophobic characteristics upon the surface. The treatment of surfaces to impart hydrophobicity protects equipment, personnel, and animals from the effects of aqueous solutions such as water, toxic slurries, concrete, acids and bases.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.

A carbon dioxide adsorbent including silica gel and an amine compound carried by the silica gel. The silica gel has a spherical shape, a particle size ranging from 1 mm to 5 mm inclusive, an average pore diameter ranging from 10 nm to 100 nm inclusive, a pore volume ranging from 0.1 cm.sup.3/g to 1.3 cm.sup.3/g inclusive, and a waterproof property N that is defined by an expression (1) and that is not lower than 45%,
N=(W/W.sub.0)×100  (1) where N is the waterproof property in percentage (%) of the silica gel, W.sub.0 is a total number of particles of the silica gel immersed in water, W is a number of particles of the silica gel not subjected to breakage out of W.sub.0.

A carbon dioxide adsorbent including silica gel and an amine compound carried by the silica gel. The silica gel has a spherical shape, a particle size ranging from 1 mm to 5 mm inclusive, an average pore diameter ranging from 10 nm to 100 nm inclusive, a pore volume ranging from 0.1 cm.sup.3/g to 1.3 cm.sup.3/g inclusive, and a waterproof property N that is defined by an expression (1) and that is not lower than 45%,
N=(W/W.sub.0)×100  (1) where N is the waterproof property in percentage (%) of the silica gel, W.sub.0 is a total number of particles of the silica gel immersed in water, W is a number of particles of the silica gel not subjected to breakage out of W.sub.0.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.