A method is described for improving water retention in soil, which involves mixing a super absorbing resin (SAR) composite with the soil. The SAR composite comprises a natural pozzolan and at least one polymer or copolymer. The SAR composite may be in the form of granules having an average longest dimension of 0.2-10 mm, though the SAR composite may be pelletized or formed in other sizes. The SAR composite may release water at a faster rate in a soil when exposed to drought conditions.

A composition remediation of soil and groundwater containing halogenated compounds. The remediation composition includes an elemental iron-based composition, which may include activated carbon capable of absorbing the halogenated compounds with numerous pores impregnated with elemental iron. The remediation composition further includes a first bioremediation material including a blend of one-to-many organisms capable of degrading the halogenated compounds. The remediation composition includes an organic compound or polymeric substance and a second bioremediation material including a blend of one-to-many organisms capable of degrading the organic compound or polymeric substance over time (e.g., 20 to 365 or more days to provide a time release substrate-creating material or platform) into smaller molecules or compounds used by the organisms in the first bioremediation material while degrading the halogenated compounds. The organic compound may be a complex carbohydrate such as food grade starch, chitin, or other complex carbohydrate such as one with low water solubility.

Composite materials having high cohesive strength, formed from at least one polymer and from at least one compound selected from among mineral oxides, aluminosilicates and active carbon, are characterized by a mean particle size of at least 100 mm, a pore volume (Vd1) formed by pores having a diameter ranging from 3.6 to 1,000 nm, equal to at least 0.2 cm.sup.3/g, a cohesive strength such that its content of particles having a size of less than 100 mm, obtained after being subjected to an air pressure of 2 bar, of less than 1.5%, preferably 0.0%, by volume; such composite materials are formed into useful liquid supports, catalyst supports, additives, or liquid or gas filters, in particular into cigarette filters.

Composite materials having high cohesive strength, formed from at least one polymer and from at least one compound selected from among mineral oxides, aluminosilicates and active carbon, are characterized by a mean particle size of at least 100 mm, a pore volume (Vd1) formed by pores having a diameter ranging from 3.6 to 1,000 nm, equal to at least 0.2 cm.sup.3/g, a cohesive strength such that its content of particles having a size of less than 100 mm, obtained after being subjected to an air pressure of 2 bar, of less than 1.5%, preferably 0.0%, by volume; such composite materials are formed into useful liquid supports, catalyst supports, additives, or liquid or gas filters, in particular into cigarette filters.

An oxidation catalyst is described for treating an exhaust gas produced by a diesel engine comprising a catalytic region and a substrate, wherein the catalytic region comprises a catalytic material comprising: bismuth (Bi) or an oxide thereof; an alkali metal or an oxide thereof; a platinum group metal (PGM) selected from the group consisting of (i) platinum (Pt), (ii) palladium (Pd) and (iii) platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd); and a support material comprising a mixed oxide of alumina and silica, a mixed oxide of silica and a refractory oxide, a composite oxide of alumina and silica, a composite oxide of silica and a refractory oxide, alumina doped with a silica or silica doped with a refractory oxide.

An oxidation catalyst is described for treating an exhaust gas produced by a diesel engine comprising a catalytic region and a substrate, wherein the catalytic region comprises a catalytic material comprising: bismuth (Bi) or an oxide thereof; an alkali metal or an oxide thereof; a platinum group metal (PGM) selected from the group consisting of (i) platinum (Pt), (ii) palladium (Pd) and (iii) platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd); and a support material comprising a mixed oxide of alumina and silica, a mixed oxide of silica and a refractory oxide, a composite oxide of alumina and silica, a composite oxide of silica and a refractory oxide, alumina doped with a silica or silica doped with a refractory oxide.

A method including adding to or positioning in a vehicle air conditioning system a solid form adsorbent. The solid form adsorbent includes a plurality of discrete adsorbent particles spatially bound in place by point bonding with a binder. At least about 25% of the external surface area of a majority of the particles is not sealed off by the binder and is available for adsorption.

A method including adding to or positioning in a vehicle air conditioning system a solid form adsorbent. The solid form adsorbent includes a plurality of discrete adsorbent particles spatially bound in place by point bonding with a binder. At least about 25% of the external surface area of a majority of the particles is not sealed off by the binder and is available for adsorption.

The present disclosure relates to hydrocarbon emission control systems. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to substrates coated with hydrocarbon adsorptive coating compositions and evaporative emission control systems for controlling evaporative emissions of hydrocarbons from motor vehicle engines and fuel systems. The hydrocarbon adsorptive coating compositions include particulate carbon having a BET surface area of at least about 1300 m.sup.2/g, and at least one of (i) a butane affinity of greater than 60% at 5% butane; (ii) a butane affinity of greater than 35% at 0.5% butane; (iii) a micropore volume greater than about 0.2 ml/g and a mesopore volume greater than about 0.5 ml/g.

Adsorbents of varying types and forms are described, as usefully employed in gas supply packages that include a gas storage and dispensing vessel holding such adsorbent for storage of sorbate gas thereon, and a gas dispensing assembly secured to the vessel for discharging the sorbate gas from the gas supply package under dispensing conditions thereof. Corresponding gas supply packages are likewise described, and various methods of processing the adsorbent, and manufacturing the gas supply packages.