This disclosure provides a method of making a high-fixed-carbon material comprising pyrolyzing biomass to generate intermediate solids and a pyrolysis vapor; condensing the pyrolysis vapor to generate pyrolysis liquid; blending the pyrolysis liquid with the intermediate solids, to generate a mixture; and further pyrolyzing the mixture to generate a high-fixed-carbon material. A process can comprise: pyrolyzing a biomass-comprising feedstock in a first pyrolysis reactor to generate a first biogenic reagent and a first pyrolysis vapor; introducing the first pyrolysis vapor to a condensing system to generate a condenser liquid; contacting the first biogenic reagent with the condenser liquid, thereby generating an intermediate material; further pyrolyzing the intermediate material in a second pyrolysis reactor to generate a second biogenic reagent and a second pyrolysis vapor; and recovering the second biogenic reagent as a high-yield biocarbon composition. The process can further comprise pelletizing the intermediate material. Many process and system configurations are disclosed.

Polystyrene waste, such as Styrofoam® waste, and carbon nanofibers may be used to produce highly hydrophobic compositions or composites that can separate oil and water. Methods for purifying an aqueous solution may include: passing the aqueous solution, including a hydrophobic organic substance, over or through a surface including a polystyrene-CNF composition, thereby producing an aqueous product including less of the hydrophobic organic substance; and optionally, passing the aqueous product over or through the surface at least one more time.

This disclosure provides a method of making a high-fixed-carbon material comprising pyrolyzing biomass to generate intermediate solids and a pyrolysis vapor; condensing the pyrolysis vapor to generate pyrolysis liquid; blending the pyrolysis liquid with the intermediate solids, to generate a mixture; and further pyrolyzing the mixture to generate a high-fixed-carbon material. A process can comprise: pyrolyzing a biomass-comprising feedstock in a first pyrolysis reactor to generate a first biogenic reagent and a first pyrolysis vapor; introducing the first pyrolysis vapor to a condensing system to generate a condenser liquid; contacting the first biogenic reagent with the condenser liquid, thereby generating an intermediate material; further pyrolyzing the intermediate material in a second pyrolysis reactor to generate a second biogenic reagent and a second pyrolysis vapor; and recovering the second biogenic reagent as a high-yield biocarbon composition. The process can further comprise pelletizing the intermediate material. Many process and system configurations are disclosed.

Provided is a method for efficiently producing recycled water-absorbing resin particles from, as a raw material, discarded water-absorbing resin particles derived from used sanitary supplies, etc., the recycled water-absorbing resin particles having decreased little in absorption property and having various excellent properties. The method for producing water-absorbing resin particles of the present invention comprises a polymerization step (I) in which an aqueous gel containing a crosslinked polymer (A) of a water-soluble vinyl monomer (a1) is obtained, a gel reduction step (II) in which the aqueous gel is reduced into particles to obtain aqueous-gel particles, a step (Va) in which resin particles including the crosslinked polymer (A) and obtained from the aqueous-gel particles are mixed with a surface-crosslinking agent (d), and a reaction step (Vb) in which the surface-crosslinking agent (d) is reacted.

A retention media for removing substances from water that includes an aggregate; at least one granular adsorbing material capable of adsorbing nutrients and metals; and a psyllium, wherein the psyllium performs as a binder to adhere the at least one granular adsorbing material to the aggregate to form a high permeability media mix is disclosed. A method of manufacturing a media mix is disclosed that includes creating a dry mixture of aggregate, at least one granular absorbing material, and a psyllium; and saturating the dry mixture with water to create a bond between the at least one granular absorbing material, and the aggregate via the psyllium thereby forming a high permeability media mix (HPMM). A method of using a media mix to reduce concentration of substances in water includes installing materials over granular adsorbing material, aggregate; and psyllium to reduce concentration of phosphorous or nitrogen or metals in the water.

A Bayer process increases oxalate removal in the red side of the Bayer process and at least substantially minimises, for example by at least substantially suppressing, precipitation of oxalates in the white side of the Bayer process.

A method of manufacturing a sorbent material is described, to include mixing a first granular material containing iron and a second granular material containing aluminum hydroxide. The first granular material and the second granular material are mixed in a proportion such that a ratio of Fe to Al is between 0.5 and 3.5 by weight. The second granular material has an Al content (including aluminum hydroxide phases) of at least 30% by weight. The mixture is subjected to a thermal treatment at a temperature between 400 C. and 950 C. to obtain a sorbent material comprising a first phase rich in iron oxides bound by a matrix rich in aluminum oxide, and the obtained sorbent material has a compressive strength of at least 3 MPa.

A reformulated barrier material for use as an alternative cover for landfills made from recycled materials which may comprise construction and/or demolition debris to which is added tire derived rubber particles to inhibit the release of hydrogen sulfide gas through the reformulated barrier material to the surrounding atmosphere from the landfill beneath.

Implementations of a non-polluting biomass processor, and manufactured processor components are disclosed which at least partly address the local technical problems of a municipality, business, and/or organization, to generate non-polluting emissions, while generating at least one, often two or more, product outputs from biomass feedstocks input into the biomass processor. Examples of the operations of the biomass processor and various combinations of its manufactured processor components are disclosed. The product outputs may include carbon char and/or activated carbon, both of which may be used to increase water retention in climates with hot, dry summers and/or used to remediate water pollution in water reservoirs.

The invention is directed to use of polystyrene wastes, such as Styrofoam wastes, and carbon nanofibers to produce a highly hydrophobic composition or composite that can separate oil and water.