The present invention relates to a conversion of fuel grade coke produced through thermal cracking of heavy petroleum residue to anode grade coke. More specifically, the present invention provides a process which employs high sulfur fuel grade coke as the feedstock to produce low sulfur coke which can be used to manufacture electrodes for use in aluminium industry. Further, the invention also relates to a system for removal of metal content from coke and conversion of fuel grade coke to anode grade coke.

A system and method for synthesizing a nanoparticle material includes dissolving a metal nitrate in deionized water, adding a hydrogel precursor in the deionized water containing the dissolved metal nitrate to create an aqueous solution, heating the aqueous solution, cooling the aqueous solution to create a solid gel, and calcinating the solid gel to create a metal oxide nanoparticle material. The metal oxide nanoparticle material may include a zinc oxide-based nanoparticle material. The hydrogel precursor may include an agarose gel. The solid gel may be calcinated at approximately 600 C. The solid gel may be calcinated for approximately five hours in the presence of air. The aqueous solution may be heated to a boil. The aqueous solution may be heated at a temperature of 100 C.

The present invention relates to a superior carbon adsorbent with or without a core. In one embodiment the carbon adsorbent of the present invention employs carbon adsorbent powder and an organic binding agent which are combined together with an appropriate solvent in an agglomeration step. In another embodiment the invention contemplates a core-in-shell adsorbent comprising an outer shell composed of a carbon and a non-adsorbing inert inner core. Low temperature processing of these agglomerates substantially preserves the binding agent within the final composition and allows one to prepare adsorbent products of high sphericity. The adsorbents of the invention possess superior characteristics such as higher mass transfer rate and CO.sub.2 working capacity for use in a H.sub.2PSA process.

Provided is a porous molding which is capable of removing ions in water to be treated, in particular, phosphorus ions at a very high liquid-permeation rate of at least SV 120 hr.sup.1, and which has a large adsorption capacity. The porous molding according to the present invention comprises an organic polymer resin and an inorganic ion adsorbent, and is characterized in that a total volume of pores having a pore diameter of 1-80 nm as measured by a nitrogen adsorption method is 0.05-0.7 cm.sup.3/g per unit mass of the inorganic ion adsorbent.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water-absorbent resin having excellent absorption properties in a localized absorption area. Provided is a water-absorbent resin composed of a polymer of water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomers, wherein the physiological saline absorption rate is 5-30 seconds, and the diffusion absorption rate under load expressed as a physiological saline absorption capacity under a load of 1.96 kPa in a local area of 78.5 mm2 is at least 10 g/g. This water-absorbent resin has excellent absorption properties in a localized absorption area.

A bio-inspired method for detoxifying contaminated water is disclosed. In the method, polydopamine, a mussel-inspired adhesive catecholamine was used as an adsorbent to effectively remove from contaminated water three major classes of toxic agents: heavy metal ions (e.g., Cr, Hg, Pb, Cu, and Cd), toxic organic species (e.g., 4-aminopyridine), and radioisotopes (e.g., Lutetium-177). Furthermore, the polydopamine adsorbent was regenerated by treatment with acid or hydrogen peroxide.

A substantially insoluble compound having a polysaccharide backbone which is derivatised at one or more of its hydroxyl groups with a ligand (L) bound to the sugar moiety by a sulphur atom which may be tailored according to a wide range of applications. The compound is useful as a catalyst and in removal of contaminants from a feed containing particularly metal ions.

A method of forming a batch of shaped adsorbent particles may include applying a precursor mixture into a shaping assembly within an application zone to form a batch of precursor shaped adsorbent particles, drying the batch of precursor shaped adsorbent particles within the shaping assembly to form the batch of shaped adsorbent particles, and ejecting the batch of shaped adsorbent particles from the shaping assembly, The batch of shaped adsorbent particles may have a moisture content of at least about 20 wt. %.

A method for removing aromatic compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid comprises contacting the hydrocarbon fluid with a solid-phase polymeric material. The solid-phase polymeric material comprises a cross-linked polymer which contains aromatic groups. The method may be used to prevent the build-up of sludge and soot in a lubricant system in an internal combustion engine. A polymer bead comprising a solid-phase polymeric material is also provided.

Methods, kits and devices for separating phospholipids and proteins from small molecules in biochemical samples can feature an apparatus having a wetting barrier, at least one frit and a separation media. For example, an apparatus can include at least one wall defining a chamber having an exit and an entrance; a wetting barrier disposed between the exit and entrance, so as to define a separation media space located between the wetting barrier and the exit and a sample receiving area located between the wetting barrier and the entrance; and a separation media disposed adjacent to the wetting barrier and having a specific affinity for phospholipids.