The present invention relates to compounds capable of forming metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly f-block metal MOFs which selectively sorb one component (e.g. para-xylene) from a mixture of components (e.g. m-/p-xylene mixture). The invention also relates to methods of producing and using said compounds.

The present invention relates to a zeolite absorbent comprising at least one FAU zeolite with hierarchical porosity and comprising barium or barium and potassium, and the external surface area of which is greater than 20 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.−1, and the non-zeolite phase content being between 6% and 12% by weight with respect to the total weight of the absorbent. The present invention also relates to the use of such a zeolite absorbent as an adsorption agent, as well as the method for separation of para-xylene from aromatic isomer fractions with 8 carbon atoms.

The invention concerns biocompatible polymer systems comprising at least one polymer with a plurality of pores, said polymer comprising either polyol or zwitterionic groups designed to adsorb endotoxins and other inflammatory mediator molecules. The inventions are in the field of porous polymeric sorbents, also in the field of broadly reducing endotoxins in blood and blood products that can cause endotoxemia, additionally, in the field of broadly removing endotoxins by perfusion or hemoperfusion.

The present invention provides activated carbon with which hydrophilicity is excellent and the amount of steam adsorbed is increased, and provides a method for producing this activated carbon. This activated carbon is characterized in that the amount of basic functional groups in the activated carbon is 0.470 meq/m.sup.2 or greater. Preferably the amount of basic groups per specific surface area of activated carbon is 0.200 μeq/m.sup.2 or greater and the ratio of the amount of basic functional groups and the amount of acidic functional groups (basic functional groups/acidic functional groups) is 1.00 or greater. This method for producing activated carbon is characterized in comprising a step for imparting basic functional groups by bringing the activated carbon into contact with a basic substance. According to a preferred embodiment, the method comprises a step for heating the resulting activated carbon in an insert atmosphere.

The subject technology is directed to a CO.sub.2-based chromatography system and method for rapid determination of the levels and/or the presence or absence of steroids or steroid derivatives in a sample.

The rate of recovery of a purification target gas from a gas purification apparatus that uses a PSA device is improved, and both a high purity and a high recovery rate are achieved with good power efficiency. The present invention is directed to a gas purification method using the PSA method, in which a carbon molecular sieve having a pore volume, at a pore diameter of 0.38 nm or more, of not exceeding 0.05 cm.sup.3/g and a pore volume, at a pore diameter of 0.34 nm, of 0.15 cm.sup.3/g or more, in a pore diameter distribution measured by the MP method is used as an adsorbent, and, in an adsorption step, a miscellaneous gas is adsorbed from a source gas by bringing the source gas into contact with the adsorbent for 10 seconds or more and 6000 seconds or less so as to obtain a concentrated methane.

Provided herein are materials and methods of reducing contamination in a biological substance or treating contamination in a subject by one or more toxins comprising contacting the biological substance with an effective amount of a sorbent capable of sorbing the toxin, wherein the sorbent comprises a plurality of pores ranging from 50 Å to 40,000 Å with a pore volume of 0.5 cc/g to 5.0 cc/g and a size of 0.05 mm to 2 cm and sorbing the toxin. Also provided are kits to reduce contamination by one or more toxins in a biological substance comprising a sorbent capable of sorbing a toxin, wherein the sorbent comprises a plurality of pores ranging from 50 Å to 40,000 Å with a pore volume of 0.5 cc/g to 5.0 cc/g and a size of 0.05 mm to 2 cm and a vessel to store said sorbent when not in use together with packaging for same.

The present invention relates to an adsorbent comprising an alumina support and at least one alkali element, said adsorbent being obtained by introducing at least one alkali element, identical to or different from sodium, onto an alumina support the sodium content of which, expressed as Na.sub.2O equivalent, before the introduction of the alkali element or elements, is comprised between 1000 and 5000 ppm by weight with respect to the total weight of the support. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of said adsorbent and use thereof in a process for the elimination of acidic molecules such as COS and/or CO.sub.2.

The invention relates to an improved process for preparing metal-organic framework materials, metal-organic frameworks obtainable by such processes, methods using the same, and the use thereof. The process of the invention provides an improved process for preparing metal-organic frameworks in particular monocrystalline metal-organic frameworks having large crystal sizes. The invention also relates to metal organic frameworks comprising iron or titanium, and their uses.

The invention relates to zeolitic absorbents based on at least one zeolite with hierarchical porosity, containing barium or barium and potassium, to the uses thereof for separating para-xylene from aromatic fractions containing 8 carbon atoms, and to the method for separating para-xylene from aromatic fractions containing 8 carbon atoms.