The present invention relates to a super-absorbent polymer having excellent properties, both centrifugal retention capacity (CRC) and absorption under pressure (AUP) having been improved by introducing a surface crosslinked layer crosslinked by surface-modified inorganic particles, and to a method for preparing the same. The super-absorbent polymer comprises: a base resin powder containing a crosslinked polymer of water-soluble ethylene-based unsaturated monomers having an at least partially neutralized acidic group; and a surface crosslinked layer formed on the base resin powder, wherein inorganic particles may be chemically bound to the crosslinked polymer contained in the surface crosslinked layer, via an oxygen-containing bond or a nitrogen-containing bond.

The present invention relates to a sorbent which is suitable for binding metals from solutions, the production of a corresponding sorbent as well as the use of the sorbent for binding metals from solutions.

Photo-initiated polymeric ionic liquids, methods of making and methods of using the same are disclosed. A preferred embodiment for making a photo-initiated polymeric ionic liquid (P-PIL) coated support, comprises: mixing at least one ionic liquid (IL) monomer with at least one photo-initiator; at least partially coating a support with the mixture; and exposing the coated support to UV light to form a photo-initiated polymeric ionic liquid (P-PIL) coated support.

A method of removing and detecting the presence of substances from at least one of a body of water and the air. The method includes placing into the body of water or into the air an open-cell foam material, removing separate portions of the open-cell foam material from the water or air at different exposure times after the open-cell foam material was placed into the water or air, and determining the presence in the removed separate portions of one or more substances that were removed from the water or air by the open-cell foam material.

The present invention relates to a super absorbent polymer exhibiting more improved absorption under pressure and liquid permeability, even while basically maintaining excellent centrifuge retention capacity and absorption rate, and a method for producing the same. The super absorbent polymer comprises: a base polymer powder including a first crosslinked polymer of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least partially neutralized acidic groups; and a surface crosslinked layer formed on the base polymer powder and including a second crosslinked polymer in which the first crosslinked polymer is further crosslinked via a surface crosslinking agent, wherein the surface crosslinking agent includes at least two compounds having a solubility parameter value (σ) of 12.5 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 or more, and wherein at least one of the surface crosslinking agents is an alkylene carbonate-based compound, and the remainder is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene carbonate-based compound and a polyhydric alcohol-based compound.

A method is described for improving water retention in soil, which involves mixing a super absorbing resin (SAR) composite with the soil. The SAR composite comprises a natural pozzolan and at least one polymer or copolymer. The SAR composite may be in the form of granules having an average longest dimension of 0.2-10 mm, though the SAR composite may be pelletized or formed in other sizes. The SAR composite may release water at a faster rate in a soil when exposed to drought conditions.

The invention is directed to utilization of a series of cross-linked 1,4-benzenediamine-co-alkyldiamine polymers and the use of the polymers to remove mercury from a hydrocarbon in fluid form.

Supported amine polymer adsorbents based on polymers containing only or primarily primary amines sites are to be used as regenerable adsorbents for CO.sub.2 capture from ultra-dilute gas streams, such as ambient air, or from mixtures of gases containing preferably at least 10% oxygen. and can also be useful for use at the moderate gas pressures found in typical post-combustion capture processes, such as flue gas from large point sources such as coal-fired power plants. Preferred supported solid amine adsorbents of this invention are based on poly(allylamine) (“PAA”) and poly(vinyl amine) (“PVAm”), both of which are linear polymers, and their derivatives, containing substantially all primary amine groups, supported on substrates. Preferred such substrates include silica mesocellular foam (MCF) and mesoporous-.gamma.-alumina, as well on mesoporous-.gamma.-alumina coated throughout the pores of MCF, most preferably of monolithic structure. Preferred derivatives include the guanidinylated and cross-linked poly(allylamine) materials.

The invention concerns methods of removing undesirable molecules from the blood or physiologic fluid; said method comprising contacting said blood or physiologic fluid with a sorbent, said sorbent comprising a plurality of solid forms and comprising a cross-linked polymeric material having a plurality of ligands attached to the surface of said cross-linked polymeric material, comprising (i) zwitterionic moieties, (ii) oligo(ethylene glycol) moieties or (iii) mixtures thereof; said contacting comprising said sorbent sorbing a plurality of said undesirable molecules when said sorbent is administered within a patient's body.

A carrier for adsorption a compound, comprising a support; and a shrink-fitted monolithic body attached to and surrounding at least a portion of the support. The monolithic body can be porous and configured to bind compounds in a solution either for the isolation or depletion of the compounds from the solution.