A method for producing a modified sawdust sorbent. The method involves sulfonating sawdust with sulfuric acid and oxidizing the sulfonated sawdust with hydrogen peroxide. The method yields a modified sawdust sorbent containing sulfonated and oxidized cellulose. The modified sawdust sorbent has a higher surface area, higher organic dye adsorption capacity, and more rapid organic dye adsorption rate than unmodified sawdust. A method for organic dye removal from water includes using the modified sawdust sorbent to absorb dyes from water.

A method for producing a modified sawdust sorbent. The method involves sulfonating sawdust with sulfuric acid and oxidizing the sulfonated sawdust with hydrogen peroxide. The method yields a modified sawdust sorbent containing sulfonated and oxidized cellulose. The modified sawdust sorbent has a higher surface area, higher organic dye adsorption capacity, and more rapid organic dye adsorption rate than unmodified sawdust. A method for organic dye removal from water includes using the modified sawdust sorbent to absorb dyes from water.

A functional material is provided and includes a porous carbon material derived from a plant-derived material as a raw material, wherein a bulk density of the porous carbon material is in a range of 0.2 grams/cm.sup.3 to 0.4 grams/cm.sup.3, and wherein a value of an ignition residue of the porous carbon material ranges from 0.1 mass % to 20 mass %.

A polymer matrix composite comprising a porous polymeric network; and a plurality of functional particles distributed within the polymeric network structure, and wherein the polymer matrix composite has an air flow resistance at 25° C., as measured by the “Air Flow Resistance Test,” of less than 300 seconds/50 cm.sup.3/500 micrometers; and wherein the polymer matrix composite has a density of at least 0.3 g/cm.sup.3; and methods for making the same. The polymer matrix composites are useful, for example, as filters.

Described herein is a technology for the creation of “smooth” metal oxide films or coatings using organic cross-linking agents to enable low-temperature sintering. These metal oxide films can be used in conjunction with low-melting temperature substrates, such as plastics, metal, metal oxide, and glass, providing exquisite control over surface roughness.

Provided are superabsorbent materials composed of one or more water-soluble polysaccharides, such as gelling polysaccharides and gelling-compatible polysaccharides, and one or more insoluble fibers. The disclosed superabsorbent materials have a porous network structure and highly stable gelling properties as well as high absorption ratio and volume expansion capacity upon hydration or rehydration. Also provided are methods for preparing such superabsorbent materials and uses thereof.

A method for producing a modified sawdust sorbent. The method involves sulfonating sawdust with sulfuric acid and oxidizing the sulfonated sawdust with hydrogen peroxide. The method yields a modified sawdust sorbent containing sulfonated and oxidized cellulose. The modified sawdust sorbent has a higher surface area, higher organic dye adsorption capacity, and more rapid organic dye adsorption rate than unmodified sawdust. Also disclosed is a method of using the modified sawdust sorbent for organic dye removal from water.

A liquid absorbing body according to the present invention contains amorphous carbon and crystalline carbon particles dispersed in the amorphous carbon; the content of the crystalline carbon particles is from 60% by mass to 90% by mass based on the total mass of the amorphous carbon and the crystalline carbon particles; the degree of orientation as determined by a wide-angle X-ray scattering method is 75% or more; and the open porosity as determined in accordance with JIS R 1634 (1998) is 10% or more.

The present invention discloses a polymeric lanthanum nanocomposite, and a preparation method and application thereof and relates to the field of environmental functional materials. The preparation method includes the following steps: (1) mixing lanthanum chloride heptahydrate with concentrated hydrochloric acid and dissolving the mixture in alcohol, adding a resin polymer, and stirring at room temperature; (2) draining the resin after the stirring for use; (3) adding the resin to a precipitant solution, and stirring at room temperature and then filtering out the resin; and (4) washing the resin with water until the resin is neutral, adding a NaCl solution, stirring and then filtering out the resin, and drying to obtain the polymeric lanthanum nanocomposite. The prepared polymeric lanthanum nanocomposites have a relatively more uniform distribution, and show a higher phosphorus adsorption rate.

A support for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell catalyst satisfying the following requirements (A), (B), (C), and (D), and a producing method thereof, as well as a catalyst layer for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell and a fuel cell: (A) a specific surface area according to a BET analysis of a nitrogen adsorption isotherm is from 450 to 1500 m.sup.2/g. (B) a nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherm forms a hysteresis loop in a range of relative pressure P/P.sub.0 of more than 0.47 but not more than 0.90, and a hysteresis loop area ΔS.sub.0.47-0.9 is from 1 to 35 mL/g; (C) a relative pressure P.sub.close/P.sub.0 at which the hysteresis loop closes is more than 0.47 but not more than 0.70; and (D) a half-width of a G band detected by Raman spectrometry in a range of from 1500 to 1700 cm.sup.−1 is from 45 to 75 cm.sup.−1.