The invention provides for methods, devices, and systems for pyrolyzing biomass. A pyrolysis unit can be used for the pyrolysis of biomass to form gas, liquid, and solid products. The biomass materials can be selected such that an enhanced biochar is formed after pyrolysis. The biomass can be pyrolyzed under specified conditions such that a selected biochar core is formed. The pyrolysis process can form a stable biochar core that is inert and/or resistant to degradation. The biochar or biochar core can be functionalized to form a functionalized biochar or functionalized biochar core. Functionalization can include post-pyrolysis treatments such as supplementation with microbes or physical transformations including annealing and/or activation.

A composite filter aid may include a first mineral selected from diatomaceous earth and natural glass. The filter aid may also include a second mineral having and aspect ratio greater than about 2:1, and a binder. The filter aid may have a permeability ranging from 0.2 to 20 darcys. A method for making a composite filter aid may include blending a first mineral, a second mineral, and a binder, wherein the first mineral comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth and natural glass, and the second mineral has an aspect ratio greater than about 2:1. The method may further include agglomerating the first mineral and second mineral in the presence of the binder to form the composite filter aid. A method for filtering a beverage may include using the composite filter aid.

[Object] To provide an adsorbent, an adsorbent sheet, and a carbon/polymer composite for adsorbing a virus having further improved virus adsorption capability. [Solving Means] An adsorbent for adsorbing a virus according to the present invention has a specific surface area value as measured by the nitrogen BET method of 10 m.sup.2/g or more and a pore volume as measured by the BJH method of 0.1 cm.sup.3/g or more. An adsorbent sheet for adsorbing a virus according to the present invention includes a porous carbonaceous material having a specific surface area value as measured by the nitrogen BET method of 10 m.sup.2/g or more and a pore volume as measured by the BJH method of 0.1 cm.sup.3/g or more. A carbon/polymer composite for adsorbing a virus according to the present invention includes a porous carbonaceous material having a specific surface area value as measured by the nitrogen BET method of 10 m.sup.2/g or more and a pore volume as measured by the BJH method of 0.1 cm.sup.3/g or more; and a binder.

The present invention relates to a sorbent material for separation and purification of biopolymers, particularly nucleic acids, having a solid support substantially modified with a copolymer coating comprising aromatic monomers and crosslinking compounds and unsaturated esters or ethers preferably attached to the support via a vinylchlorsilane. The use of these materials for separation of nucleic acids, particularly a one-step isolation of DNA from lysates of different biological sources, is an object of the invention as well as a chromatographic column or cartridge at least partially filled with the sorbent material of the invention, a membrane-like device comprising the sorbent material of the invention, and a kit comprising the sorbent material of the invention in bulk or packed in chromatographic devices as well as other devices necessary for performing sample preparations.

The present disclosure provides a method for synthesizing fibrous silica nanospheres, the method can include, in sequence, the steps of: a) providing a reaction mixture comprising a silica precursor, a hydrolyzing agent, a template molecule, a cosurfactant and one or more solvents; b) maintaining the reaction mixture under stirring for a length of time; c) heating the reaction mixture to a temperature for a length of time; d) cooling the reaction mixture to obtain a solid, and (e) calcinating the solid to pro duce fibrous silica nanospheres, wherein desirable product characteristics such as particle size, fiber density, surface area, pore volume and pore size can be obtained by controlling one or more parameters of the method. The present disclosure further provides a method for synthesizing fibrous silica nanospheres using conventional heating such as refluxing the reactants in an open reactor, thereby eliminating the need for microwave heating in a closed reactor or the need for any pressure reactors.

The invention relates to an adsorbent comprising a zeolite-based phase and a non-zeolite-based phase, said adsorbent having: an outer surface area of less than or equal to 30 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.1, preferably less than or equal to 20 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.1, a zeolite-based phase comprising at least one zeolite of FAU structure of X type, and a pore diameter distribution, determined by mercury intrusion according to standard ASTM D 4284-83 and expressed by the volume distribution dV/dlogDHg, in which DHg is the apparent pore diameter and V is the pore volume, the mode of which is between 100 nm and 250 nm, limits inclusive. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the said adsorbent and to the uses thereof, especially for separating xylene isomers.

Disclosed is a composition for the purification of biofluids, for example, for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, comprising an osmotic agent and a toxin-removal reagent, wherein the toxin-removal reagent can remove a toxin from a biofluid under a condition for osmosis. Provided are a dialysis solution and a kit comprising the aforementioned composition, a method for removing a toxin from a biofluid using the aforementioned composition, and a method for treating a toxin-related disease.

A porous material including alumina, the alumina including alpha-alumina, the porous material including one or more metals selected from Co, Mo, Ni, W and combinations thereof, and the porous material having a BET-surface area of 1-110 m.sup.2/g, a total pore volume of 0.50-0.80 ml/g, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry, and a pore size distribution (PSD) with at least 30 vol % of the total pore volume being in pores with a radius 400 , suitably pores with a radius 500 . A process for removing impurities such as phosphorous (P) from a feedstock, by contacting the feedstock with a guard bed including the above porous material. A guard bed for a hydrotreatment system including the porous material, a hydrotreatment system including a guard bed which includes the porous material and a downstream hydrotreatment section including at least one hydrotreatment catalyst.

Adsorbent clarification agents suitable for use in bioprocessing procedures are disclosed. Methods of making and using the adsorbent clarification agents are also disclosed.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a porous monolith polymeric composition having utility in catalysis, chromatography, filtration, and electro-kinetic pumps, devices incorporating such composition and methods or making and using such monoliths. The monoliths are characterized by a substantially homogeneous skeletal core with little shrinkage, few voids and few channels.