A chemical structure, and a process for synthesizing the chemical structure, of:

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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.

The present invention relates to a super absorbent polymer exhibiting more improved absorption under pressure and liquid permeability, even while basically maintaining excellent centrifuge retention capacity and absorption rate, and a method for producing the same. The super absorbent polymer comprises: a base polymer powder including a first crosslinked polymer of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least partially neutralized acidic groups; and a surface crosslinked layer formed on the base polymer powder and including a second crosslinked polymer in which the first crosslinked polymer is further crosslinked via a surface crosslinking agent, wherein the surface crosslinking agent includes at least two compounds having a solubility parameter value (σ) of 12.5 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 or more, and wherein at least one of the surface crosslinking agents is an alkylene carbonate-based compound, and the remainder is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene carbonate-based compound and a polyhydric alcohol-based compound.

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.

To provide water-absorbing resin powder particularly useful for a sanitary article, water-absorbing resin powder containing a polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water-absorbing resin as a main component is surface-crosslinked, and satisfies (1) to (3) below: (1) a proportion of a water absorbent resin powder having a particle size of not less than 150 μm and less than 850 μm is not less than 90 weight %; (2) a water absorption time according to a vortex method is not more than 42 seconds; and (3) an elastic modulus index (600-500) is not less than 5500.

A filtration material including a silica base material having a group represented by the following general formula (a0-1) [in formula (a0-1), Ya.sup.01 represents a divalent linking group; Ra.sup.01 represents a hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent; Ra.sup.02 represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent; n.sup.01 represents an integer of 0 to 5; and the symbol “*” represents a valence bond with respect to the silica base material].

##STR00001##

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.−.

The invention provides a composite material formed from an inorganic mesoporous, or mesoporous-like, material that is dispersed throughout a polymeric matrix formed by a crosslinked polymer that has acidic- or basic-residues and which may also optionally have further acidic- or basic-residues grafted onto the inorganic mesoporous material. The resulting composite material may be used to remove acidic or basic impurities from a gas in need thereof and can be easily regenerated.

Disclosed are a method of preparing a superabsorbent polymer, including adding a superabsorbent polymer with a water dispersion solution containing particles having i) a BET specific surface area of 300 to 1500 m.sup.2/g and ii) a porosity of 50% or more, and a superabsorbent polymer prepared by the method.