A composite filter aid may include diatomaceous earth, natural glass, and a precipitated silica binder, wherein the filter aid has a permeability ranging from 3 to 20 darcys. A composite filter aid may include diatomaceous earth, perlite, and a precipitated silica binder, wherein the filter aid has an alpha density less than 15 lbs/ft.sup.3. A method for making a composite material may include blending diatomaceous earth and perlite, adding alkali silicate to the blended diatomaceous earth and perlite, and precipitating the alkali silicate as a binder to make the composite material. A method for filtering a beverage may include using a composite filter aid and/or composite material.

A composite filter aid may include diatomaceous earth, natural glass, and a precipitated silica binder, wherein the filter aid has a permeability ranging from 3 to 20 darcys. A composite filter aid may include diatomaceous earth, perlite, and a precipitated silica binder, wherein the filter aid has an alpha density less than 15 lbs/ft.sup.3. A method for making a composite material may include blending diatomaceous earth and perlite, adding alkali silicate to the blended diatomaceous earth and perlite, and precipitating the alkali silicate as a binder to make the composite material. A method for filtering a beverage may include using a composite filter aid and/or composite material.

Provided are media cartridges that have adjustable bypasses, and systems and methods that use them. Aspects include an adjustable bypass filter cartridge where a treated stream and an adjusted non-treated stream combine prior to post-filtration and the percentage or ratio of treated the and the non-treated water is adjustable at the time of installation from the outside of the filter cartridge with a known or predictable level of bypass. Media cartridges comprise: an inlet in fluid communication with a feed chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with a mixing compartment; a media compartment containing a media; a bypass port in fluid communication with the feed chamber and the mixing compartment. Such cartridges can be adjusted to meet the needs of a wide variety of end uses.

Provided are media cartridges that have adjustable bypasses, and systems and methods that use them. Aspects include an adjustable bypass filter cartridge where a treated stream and an adjusted non-treated stream combine prior to post-filtration and the percentage or ratio of treated the and the non-treated water is adjustable at the time of installation from the outside of the filter cartridge with a known or predictable level of bypass. Media cartridges comprise: an inlet in fluid communication with a feed chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with a mixing compartment; a media compartment containing a media; a bypass port in fluid communication with the feed chamber and the mixing compartment. Such cartridges can be adjusted to meet the needs of a wide variety of end uses.

Sorbent material sheets provide for enhanced performance in vapor adsorbing applications over conventional canisters and other emissions control equipment. The sorbent material sheets can be formed as part of a small, lightweight canister, or can be integrated into a fuel tank. The sorbent material sheets can also be used as part of an onboard refueling vapor recovery system to control volatile organic compound emissions from fuel tanks of gasoline vehicles, such as automobiles.

Sorbent material sheets provide for enhanced performance in vapor adsorbing applications over conventional canisters and other emissions control equipment. The sorbent material sheets can be formed as part of a small, lightweight canister, or can be integrated into a fuel tank. The sorbent material sheets can also be used as part of an onboard refueling vapor recovery system to control volatile organic compound emissions from fuel tanks of gasoline vehicles, such as automobiles.

A method for calcining diatomaceous earth may include adding at least one lattice interfering agent to the diatomaceous earth to form a composite material. The method may further include heating the composite material at a temperature of at least about 800 C. for at least about 15 minutes to form an at least partially calcined composite material. The at least one lattice interfering agent may include at least one cation of at least one of aluminum and titanium. A diatomaceous earth product may include the at least partially calcined composite material formed from the above-noted method for calcining diatomaceous earth. A filter aid may include the diatomaceous earth product.

A method for calcining diatomaceous earth may include adding at least one lattice interfering agent to the diatomaceous earth to form a composite material. The method may further include heating the composite material at a temperature of at least about 800 C. for at least about 15 minutes to form an at least partially calcined composite material. The at least one lattice interfering agent may include at least one cation of at least one of aluminum and titanium. A diatomaceous earth product may include the at least partially calcined composite material formed from the above-noted method for calcining diatomaceous earth. A filter aid may include the diatomaceous earth product.

A water absorbent resin (water absorbing agent) and method for producing it are provided which improve, in a water absorbent article (in particular, a diaper) including a water absorbent resin as a water absorbing agent, the absolute absorption amount (g), liquid absorbing times (in particular, liquid absorbing times at the second instance and later), re-wet (g), and diffusion distance (%) of the water absorbent article. A particulate water absorbing agent of the present invention has a CRC, a proportion of particles with sizes of 600 m to 150 m as defined through a standard-sieve classification, an SST, and the value of the difference between an FST and the SST each within a predetermined range.

A water absorbent resin (water absorbing agent) and method for producing it are provided which improve, in a water absorbent article (in particular, a diaper) including a water absorbent resin as a water absorbing agent, the absolute absorption amount (g), liquid absorbing times (in particular, liquid absorbing times at the second instance and later), re-wet (g), and diffusion distance (%) of the water absorbent article. A particulate water absorbing agent of the present invention has a CRC, a proportion of particles with sizes of 600 m to 150 m as defined through a standard-sieve classification, an SST, and the value of the difference between an FST and the SST each within a predetermined range.