A shower filter includes a water treatment gel composition containing 100 parts by weight of vitamin C or a vitamin C derivative, 100 parts by weight of salt, and 3 to 13 parts by weight of xanthan gum so that there are advantages of removing chlorine dissolved in service water and simultaneously providing natural minerals to skin to help skin care.

A method, system and machine for cold processing extruded starch-containing pellets by cold particle size reducing pellets of a size greater than a particle size reduction setting size enabling particle size reduction to be performed without compacting or compression any size reduced particle while doing so without heating them during particle size reduction thereby preserving their pores, internal liquid absorbing voids and starch matrix optimizing granular sorbent performance. Such a method, system and machine is selectively controllable enabling not only control of how many and a ratio of fines produced relative to the final product providing real time control of fines production but also is able to provide particle size distribution control as well. A preferred particle size reduction machine is a roll granulator that breaks larger size pellets into smaller sized particles and/or fines without compressing or compacting them with the spacing between the rolls selectively variably in a manner that regulates how much of different sized particles and/or particles falling within certain size ranges are produced advantageously enabling real time control of particle size distribution to be achieved during extruder line operation.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to microdenier fabrics comprising fibrillated bicomponent fibers. The bicomponent fibers can be fibrillated mechanically by hydroentangling, where the hydroentangling energy is sufficient for fibrillating as well as entangling or bonding the fibers. The bicomponent fibers can have an island-in-the-sea configuration. The micro-denier fabrics can be woven, knitted, or nonwoven. A nonwoven fabric made from the bicomponent fibers can be formed by either spunbonding or through the use of bicomponent staple fibers formed into a web by any one of several means and bonded similarly to those used for the spunbonded filament webs.

Methods for fabrication of and use of magnesium oxide sorbents for room temperature carbon dioxide adsorption are provided. In accordance with one aspect, a method for fabrication of sorbents is provided which includes using calcination to obtain MgO—Mg(OH).sub.2 nano-composites and aging the MgO—Mg(OH).sub.2 nano-composites to form nano MCHs for room temperature carbon dioxide adsorption. According to another aspect, a method for fabrication of sorbents which includes fabrication of monoclinic magnesium malate tetrahydrate (C.sub.8H.sub.10MgO.sub.10.4H.sub.2O) and use of such sorbents for room temperature carbon dioxide adsorption is provided.

A method for capturing material extracted from biochar is provided comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biochar; (ii) contacting the biochar with an extraction media, where the extraction media causes the removal of residual compounds from the pores and surface of the biochar, creating a resulting extract comprised of the extraction media and removed compounds; and (iii) collecting the resulting extract. The method also can include other steps of extraction and purification. The method further comprises the step of applying the resulting extract to seeds, plants, soil, other agricultural products, or for use in other applications. A biochar having high levels of soluble signaling compounds is also provided, where the biochar is derived from a biomass source that together with predefined pyrolysis parameters produces resulting biochar having increased levels of soluble signaling compounds that are known to increase seed germination rates and early plant growth. Such soluble signaling compounds can then be collected in a biochar extract by contacting the biochar with an extraction media.

This invention relates generally to zeolites and polymer compositions with zeolites having enhanced adsorption capacity for adsorption of water, ammonia and other similar compounds. The invention is directed particularly to aluminosilicate zeolites, and methods for preparing zeolite entrained polymer compositions having enhanced water adsorption properties. This invention relates also to improved packaging materials with enhanced water adsorption properties incorporating the polymer compositions containing zeolites.

The present invention provides a formulation and method for preparing a fibrous material comprising nanofibers. The formulation comprises (a) at least one polymer, (b) at least one solvent in which the at least one polymer is dissolved to provide a polymer solution, and (c) at least one functional additive that imparts functionality to the fibrous material. The at least one functional additive is dissolvable or suspensible in the polymer solution. The formulation is able to remove or reduce the concentration of bacteria, viruses and heavy metals while maintaining high filtration efficiency. The invention also relates to a fibrous material prepared by the formulation and applications of the fibrous material.

A material for sterilization and deodorization according to the present invention comprises: a porous molded body formed by compressing and heat-treating aluminosilicate-based inorganic particles; and sodium chlorite present by being adsorbed on the surface and pores of the porous molded body. Thus, the material is excellent in durability, has excellent sterilization performance and deodorization performance by discharging chlorine dioxide gas according to atmospheric exposure, and exhibits an effect of continuously maintaining the initial performance for a long time. In addition, the degree to which sodium chlorite contacts and reacts with the atmosphere is controlled so that environmental and stability problems caused by chlorine dioxide emitted by the reaction can be overcome. Since the duration of natural decomposition can be controlled, there is an effect of making it possible to use the material in an environmentally friendly manner in the natural environment and ecosystem.

Disclosed are polymer compositions comprising activated carbon and method of making the polymer compositions that are used for sorption of formaldehyde from air, gas or liquids. The activated carbon is entrained in at least one base polymer with optional channels throughout.

A product based on a metal-organic framework (MOF) and the method for producing same, the product containing particles bound by a binder, the binder including boehmite, the particles being essentially MOF particles and, optionally, particles of a ceramic material other than boehmite.