A diatomite product and method of using such is disclosed. The diatomite product may comprise sodium flux-calcined diatomite, wherein the diatomite product has a crystalline silica content of less than about 1 wt %, and the diatomite product has a permeability between 0.8 darcy and about 30 darcy. In some embodiments, the diatomite product may be in particulate or powdered form. This disclosure also concerns flux-calcined silica products containing low or non-detectable levels of crystalline silica. Some of these products can be further characterized by high permeabilities and a measurable content of opal-C, a hydrated form of silicon dioxide.

A lactic acid adsorbent includes a layered double hydroxide that contains multiple metal hydroxide layers and also contains anions and water molecules held between the metal hydroxide layers. The anions include (i) an amino acid such as glutamine, (ii) a dipeptide constituted by one or two kinds of amino acids such as glutamine, (iii) a vitamin such as ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, (iv) a pH buffer such as MES, (v) a glucose metabolite such as pyruvic acid, or (vi) inorganic ions selected from a group including NO.sub.3.sup.− and Cl.sup.−.

Calcium silicate hydrate nanoparticles are combined with ammonia control materials (e.g. alum, aluminum chloride, ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, and/or sodium bisulfate) to create a phosphorus-binding composition. In the preferred embodiment, the composition is applied to poultry litter, poultry bedding or other non-aqueous substrates that are at least partially comprised of animal manure. The composition binds with phosphorus to at least reduce the amount of phosphorus in runoff water or in leachate from fields fertilized with treated manure. The combining of the calcium silicate hydrate nanoparticles with the ammonia control products has a surprising and unexpected result. The calcium silicate hydrate-ammonia control material mix reduces soluble phosphorus more than either component of the mix alone.

A fluorescent nanocomposite which includes a thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide having formula Tl.sub.xGd.sub.1-xY, wherein x is 0.01 to 0.1, and Y is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, or Te, and a benzothiazolium salt bound to a surface of the thallium doped gadolinium chalcogenide. A method of detecting antimony ions in a fluid sample whereby the fluid sample is contacted with the fluorescent nanocomposite to form a mixture, and a fluorescence emission profile of the mixture is measured to determine a presence or absence of antimony ions in the fluid sample, wherein a reduction in intensity of a fluorescence emissions peak associated with the fluorescent nanocomposite indicates the presence of antimony ions in the fluid sample.

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.

The present invention provides for an oil pad having an oil absorbing medium which is formed or compressed to a particular shape. It is intended that such oil absorbing pad can be placed over an oily spill, or in a container containing oil, whereby the formed shape optimizes oil absorption by wicking oil to the interior of the pad, being sufficient to absorb and retain large volumes of oil, or to expand as oil is absorbed to expose one or more potions of the pad to the oil volume to be absorbed. The inventive oil absorbing pad reduces waste, does not create a mess when disposing, and effortlessly absorbs oil from an oily surface.

A composition that absorbs oxygen and emits carbon dioxide in response to absorbing oxygen including ascorbic acid, an organic acid, a catalyst that promotes oxidation of the organic acid and emission of carbon dioxide and a soluble transition metal salt characterized by multiple oxidation states.

Provided herein are compounds, compositions, and methods for the treatment of wastewater. Provided herein are compounds, composites, compositions, and methods for purifying a medium such as wastewater, saline for desalination, and petroleum wastes.

A composite material, wherein the composite material contains aluminum alloys with at least one of alkaline-earth metals and transition metals, and are used for removing pollutants by dissolving to release divalent metal ions, trivalent aluminum ions and hydroxide ions, which contact with other divalent and trivalent metal cations and anions in the contaminated water, to perform an in situ self-assemble of two-dimensional Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) precipitates; consists of 18-70 weight% of aluminum metal, 30-80% weight of a second type of metal, and 0-2 weight% of an auxiliary agent; has a particle size of 0.01-3 mm; and preferably forms a micro-nano Alloy@LDH composite material with a core-shell structure by pretreating with dilute HCl. The present invention is used for soil remediation or sewage purification, and is suitable for chemical removal and degradation of complex contaminants from an acidic to alkaline environment.

A hydrogen production system includes: a hydrogen compound slurry in which a hydrogen compound member is suspended in a solvent containing water; a first vessel; a second vessel having an internal temperature higher than that of the first vessel; a first passage connecting the first vessel and the second vessel; and a second passage connecting the first vessel and the second vessel and different from the first passage. The hydrogen production system is configured to allow the hydrogen compound slurry contained in the first vessel to move into the second vessel through the first passage, and the hydrogen compound slurry contained in the second vessel to move into the first vessel through the second passage.