A separation medium for removing small molecules from biomacromolecule in aqueous mixtures comprises gel filtration chromatography beads having a nominal protein fractional range of about 1000 Da to about 5000 Da and having an internal adsorbent matrix derived from a hydrophobicized scaffold. The gel filtration chromatography beads remove small molecules that are less than 1500 Da and have log Pow values greater than about −0.5 from biomacromolecules in aqueous mixtures. Devices containing the separation medium are also provided.

Water absorbent polymers and a process for their preparation are disclosed. The process for preparing water absorbent polymers comprises preparing a slurry with relatively high amounts of polymer particles (in the range of 40 to 55 wt % of the total mass of the slurry) having water absorbed therein. The slurry is then directly spray dried to obtain water absorbent polymers.

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.

An article that can be used for biomaterial capture comprises (a) a porous substrate; and (b) borne on the porous substrate, a polymer comprising interpolymerized units of at least one monomer consisting of (1) at least one monovalent ethylenically unsaturated group, (2) at least one monovalent ligand functional group selected from acidic groups, basic groups other than guanidino, and salts thereof, and (3) a multivalent spacer group that is directly bonded to the monovalent groups so as to link at least one ethylenically unsaturated group and at least one ligand functional group by a chain of at least six catenated atoms.

Disclosed are an antibacterial superabsorbent resin having excellent antibacterial and deodorizing properties and a method of preparing the same, wherein a fine powder can be recycled in a manner in which the fine powder is added with an additive and an antibacterial material upon regranulation thereof, thus minimizing the deterioration of the properties of the resulting superabsorbent resin and imparting antibacterial and deodorizing properties, as a consequence of which an antibacterial superabsorbent resin having excellent antibacterial and deodorizing properties can be economically obtained and can be applied to hygiene products.

An aggregate includes a polymeric foam present in a range of about 80 vol % to about 85 vol % of the aggregate. A cementitious matrix is present in a range of about 10 vol % to about 13 vol % of the aggregate. One or more resins are present in an amount of less than about 2 vol % of the aggregate, and one or more reinforcing fibers are present in an amount of less than about 1 vol % of the aggregate.

The invention is directed to utilization of a series of cross-linked 1,4-benzenediamine-co-alkyldiamine polymers and the use of the polymers to remove mercury from a hydrocarbon in fluid form.

The present invention concerns methods of treating systemic, regional, or local inflammation from a patient suffering or at risk of inflammation comprising administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a sorbent that sorbs an inflammatory mediator in said patient. In some preferred embodiments, the sorbent is a biocompatible organic polymer.

Provided is a dehumidification apparatus with good energy efficiency. A moisture absorbing material (polymeric moisture absorbing material 24), which absorbs moisture and swells at a temperature not higher than a predetermined temperature sensitive point, while shrinking and releasing condensed water at a temperature higher than the temperature sensitive point as a result of phase transition, is formed so as to be divided into a plurality of segments which are made apart from each other during dehydration. A rotation motor (21) is used to move the moisture absorbing material (polymeric moisture absorbing material 24) between a moisture absorption region (14a) and a dehydration region (14b). In the dehydration region (14b), the moisture absorbing material (polymeric moisture absorbing material 24) is heated by the heater (25).

Provided is a moisture absorbing material, a dehumidifying device, and a dehumidifying method each of which makes it possible to efficiently release absorbed moisture without use of a large quantity of heat. A moisture absorbing material (22) (i) having (a) a first state in which the moisture absorbing material (22) is capable of absorbing moisture and (b) a second state in which the moisture absorbing material (22) releases the moisture absorbed in the first state and (ii) having a property of changing from the first state to the second state in response to an external stimulus and returning from the second state to the first state when the external stimulus disappears, the moisture absorbing material (22) including: first through fourth moisture absorbing bodies (22a) through (22d) which have respective different stimulus response levels and are provided in order of stimulus response level so as to be in contact with one another.