A process for manufacturing a material with a high specific surface area, including a step of spraying a liquid composition based on liquid residues derived from a chemical extraction of clinker, to a material based on clinker residues having a high specific surface area ranging from 200 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.1 to 900 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.1 and also by a mesopore size ranging from 2 nm to 50 nm, and to the use of materials for the absorption of pollutants species.

A malic acid and KMnO4-based combined and modified cow dung biogas residue hydrochar preparation method, comprising: mixing a cow dung biogas residue with malic acid, and performing ultrasonic treatment to obtain a malic acid modified cow dung biogas residue; performing a hydrothermal reaction with KMnO4 in a high-temperature high-pressure reactor to obtain a combined and modified cow dung biogas residue hydrochar material.

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.

An engine control system configured to operate an engine is configured to predict an expected duty cycle including an expected demand from the engine, and calculate two or more future operating conditions, each future operating condition including engine control parameters that, when used to control the engine, are expected to result in the engine meeting the expected demand. One of the future operating conditions is selected, and a present operation of the engine is adjusted in response to the selected future operating condition. A vehicle and/or offroad diesel apparatus may comprise the engine control system.

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 capturing carbon dioxide from a gaseous mixture at ambient temperature or higher, comprising obtaining a slurry of waste carbide slag obtained after the manufacturing of acetylene. Heating the slurry to a temperature of approximately 105? C. for two hours and sufficient to dry the slurry until a water content of about 20% of a dry mass of the carbide slag is achieved, thereby producing activated dried carbide slag. The method including contacting the activated dried carbide slag with a gaseous mixture containing CO.sub.2, thereby permitting the activated dried carbide slag to capture CO.sub.2.

A functional ceramic material made from a raw material mixture which includes 0.1-0.5 wt % iron powder, 20-25 wt % bentonite, and a remainder of sludge (based on dry weight) which contains bacteria. To make the functional ceramic material, the raw material mixture is calcined at low temperature and anaerobic conditions. Use of the material for purifying a medium is also provided.

A method of producing biochar from spent coffee grounds, biochar, such as biochar produced according to the methods of the present disclosure, an environmental remediation system including biochar according to embodiments of the present disclosure, and methods of removing contaminants from an aqueous solution using biochar according to embodiments of the present disclosure are described. In an embodiment, the method of producing biochar from spent coffee grounds comprises heating dried spent coffee grounds in an oven in a first pyrolysis temperature range to provide an intermediate biochar; and heating the intermediate biochar and a caustic in the oven in a second pyrolysis temperature range to provide the biochar.

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.