Disclosed herein is an apparatus (10) for remediation of a site contaminated by an oil spill. The apparatus (10) comprises a porous capsule (12) encapsulating material (14) for sorbing oil. The material (14) comprises granules of an at least semi-open cell polymeric foam, the granules being less than 10cm3 in size. Ingredients from which the polymeric foam is formed comprise acrylonitrile butadiene rubber as a major constituent thereof by weight.

A family of highly charged crystalline microporous metallophosphate molecular sieves designated PST-19 has been synthesized. These high charge density metallophosphates are represented by the empirical formula of:

R.sup.p+.sub.rA.sup.+.sub.mM.sup.2+.sub.xE.sub.yPO.sub.z

where A is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is an organoammonium cation such as tetraethylammonium, M is a divalent metal such as zinc and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The PST-19 family of materials are among the first MeAPO-type molecular sieves to be stabilized by combinations of alkali and quaternary ammonium cations, enabling unique compositions. The PST-19 family of molecular sieves has the SBS topology and catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

The invention is directed to an adsorbent comprising: a) 20-30% porous carbon with incorporated organic nitrogen species; and b) 70-80% inorganic matter. The invention is directed to a method of making an adsorbent which comprises: a) thermally drying dewatered sewage sludge to form granulated organic fertilizer; and b) pyrolyzing said the organic fertilizer at temperatures between 600 and 1000° C. The invention is additionally directed to the process of removing acidic gases from wet air streams comprising putting an adsorbent in contact with the wet air stream and allowing the adsorbent to adsorb the acidic gases.

A method of reducing hydrogen sulfide emissions from an asphalt or bitumen composition comprises releasing a solid hydrogen sulfide scavenger from an additive package, which comprises the solid hydrogen sulfide scavenger disposed in a sealed pouch; and contacting the asphalt or bitumen composition with the released solid hydrogen sulfide scavenger. The sealed pouch is formed from a pouch material, which includes an polyethylene, a polypropylene, an ethylene propylene copolymer, a polystyrene, a polylactic acid, a polyamide, a polyester, a polystyrene, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, an ethylene vinylpyrrolidone copolymer, a vinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyvinyl acetate, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyethylene oxide, a polyethylene glycol, polyvinylidene chloride, a polysaccharide or its derivative, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

The present invention provides processes for filtering undesired chemicals in streams of contaminated air for supply to confined areas. The processes provide (1) contacting air with a filter comprising by volume from about 5% to about 95% impregnated zirconium hydroxide, from about 5% to about 95% activated impregnated carbon, and optionally, up to about 50% ammonia removal material; and (2) supplying the contacted air to a confined area.

The present invention relates to the use of adsorbents comprising zinc oxide nanowires decorated with catalytically active metal particles for the removal of sulfur from hydrocarbon feedstocks, including the desulfurization of diesel fuels and the deep desulfurization of natural gas, and to the use of decorated zinc oxide nanowire adsorbents for the hydrogenation of naphthalene selectively to tetralin in the presence of sulfur compounds. The adsorbent comprises nickel metal particles or nickel-zinc alloy particles deposited on zinc oxide nanowires.

A material for moisture removal and/or water harvesting from air may include a hydrophilic material containing micropores and a low water activity material confined within the micropores of the hydrophilic material. Apparatuses containing such materials and methods for moisture removal and/or water harvesting from air by using such materials are also described.

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.

Industrial waste derived adsorbents were obtained by pyrolysis of sewage sludge, metal sludge, waste oil sludge and tobacco waste in some combination. The materials were used as media to remove hydrogen sulfide at room temperature in the presence of moisture. The initial and exhausted adsorbents after the breakthrough tests were characterized using sorption of nitrogen, thermal analysis, XRD, ICP, and surface pH measurements. Mixing tobacco and sludges result in a strong synergy enhancing the catalytic properties of adsorbents. During pyrolysis new mineral phases are formed as a result of solid state reaction between the components of the sludges. High temperature of pyrolysis is beneficial for the adsorbents due to the enhanced activation of carbonaceous phase and chemical stabilization of inorganic phase. Samples obtained at low temperature are sensitive to water, which deactivates their catalytic centers.

An apparatus for removing contaminants from emissions is provided with a reverse venturi shaped fluidized bed device integrated into the system. The system includes numerous component devices such as, but not limited to, an influent source, a fluidized bed device, a post filter device, and an effluent discharge. The system may also include one or more application specific pre-filter and/or post filter devices. The fluidized bed is constructed with a specific length to diameter ratio for optimum restrictive flow through a specialized filter media. The filter media is a mass of reactive material disposed within the fluidized bed which is in intimate contact with the emissions, as the emissions pass through the fluidized bed. The mass of reactive material contains an amalgam forming metal which chemically binds with the emissions that are passing through the system. Methods for removing contaminants from gaseous and non-gaseous emissions are also provided.