A composition comprising a physical blend of discrete particulates such that the liquid absorbency is greater than the individual components and is greater than the expected absorbency based on the rule of mixtures. A composition comprising diatomaceous earth which may have a clump strength greater than 75% and in which the thy density may be less than 880 kg/m.sup.3(55 lb/ft.sup.3). The compositions exhibit synergistic absorbance, light density, high clump strength, low dustiness, and are suitable for industrial and household absorption and solidification, animal litter, and soil amendment.

Functionalized material, methods of producing the functionalized material, and use thereof for separation processes such as for separating and extracting a dissolved organic foulant, charged contaminant or oily matter or any combination thereof from water (e.g., produced water), are provided. The method of making the functionalized material, can include: a) providing a mineral material; b) providing an alkyl chain and/or a perfluorinated species, the alkyl chain or perfluorinated species selected to dissolve organic foulants, charged contaminants or oily matter from water or any combination thereof; c) hydroxylating the material via a concentrated acid solution or a basic solution; and d) grafting the alkyl chain and/or the perfluorinated species onto the material via a silanation reaction.

Functionalized material, methods of producing the functionalized material, and use thereof for separation processes such as for separating and extracting a dissolved organic foulant, charged contaminant or oily matter or any combination thereof from water (e.g., produced water), are provided. The method of making the functionalized material, can include: a) providing a mineral material; b) providing an alkyl chain and/or a perfluorinated species, the alkyl chain or perfluorinated species selected to dissolve organic foulants, charged contaminants or oily matter from water or any combination thereof; c) hydroxylating the material via a concentrated acid solution or a basic solution; and d) grafting the alkyl chain and/or the perfluorinated species onto the material via a silanation reaction.

Provided herein are oil herding agents, for example, a biocompatible non-ionic functionalized polysaccharide konjac glucomannan radiation-induced degraded konjac glucomannan. Also provided is a method for containing the spread of an oil spill on a water surface at a low water temperature utilizing the oil herding agent. In addition there is provided a method for preparing an oil herder, a radiation-induced degraded konjac glucomannan prepared by the method and a method for increasing a slick thickness ratio of an oil slick on a water surface utilizing the prepared oil herder.

Provided herein are oil herding agents, for example, a biocompatible non-ionic functionalized polysaccharide konjac glucomannan radiation-induced degraded konjac glucomannan. Also provided is a method for containing the spread of an oil spill on a water surface at a low water temperature utilizing the oil herding agent. In addition there is provided a method for preparing an oil herder, a radiation-induced degraded konjac glucomannan prepared by the method and a method for increasing a slick thickness ratio of an oil slick on a water surface utilizing the prepared oil herder.

The present disclosure provides advantageous graphene/graphite stabilized composites (e.g., graphene/graphite stabilized emulsion-templated foam composites), and improved methods for fabricating such graphene/graphite stabilized composites. More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved methods for fabricating pristine, graphene/graphite/polymer composite foams derived from emulsions stabilized by graphene/graphite kinetic trapping. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides that, instead of viewing the insolubility of pristine graphene/graphite as an obstacle to be overcome, it is utilized as a means to create or fabricate water/oil emulsions, with graphene/graphite stabilizing the spheres formed. These emulsions are then the frameworks used to make foam composites that have shown bulk conductivities up to about 2 S/m, as well as compressive moduli up to about 100 MPa and breaking strengths of over 1200 psi, with densities as low as about 0.25 g/cm.sup.3.

The present disclosure provides advantageous graphene/graphite stabilized composites (e.g., graphene/graphite stabilized emulsion-templated foam composites), and improved methods for fabricating such graphene/graphite stabilized composites. More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved methods for fabricating pristine, graphene/graphite/polymer composite foams derived from emulsions stabilized by graphene/graphite kinetic trapping. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides that, instead of viewing the insolubility of pristine graphene/graphite as an obstacle to be overcome, it is utilized as a means to create or fabricate water/oil emulsions, with graphene/graphite stabilizing the spheres formed. These emulsions are then the frameworks used to make foam composites that have shown bulk conductivities up to about 2 S/m, as well as compressive moduli up to about 100 MPa and breaking strengths of over 1200 psi, with densities as low as about 0.25 g/cm.sup.3.

The present invention provides for an oil pad having an oil absorbing medium which is formed or compressed to a particular shape. It is intended that such oil absorbing pad can be placed over an oily spill, or in a container containing oil, whereby the formed shape optimizes oil absorption by wicking oil to the interior of the pad, being sufficient to absorb and retain large volumes of oil, or to expand as oil is absorbed to expose one or more potions of the pad to the oil volume to be absorbed. The inventive oil absorbing pad reduces waste, does not create a mess when disposing, and effortlessly absorbs oil from an oily surface.

The present invention provides for an oil pad having an oil absorbing medium which is formed or compressed to a particular shape. It is intended that such oil absorbing pad can be placed over an oily spill, or in a container containing oil, whereby the formed shape optimizes oil absorption by wicking oil to the interior of the pad, being sufficient to absorb and retain large volumes of oil, or to expand as oil is absorbed to expose one or more potions of the pad to the oil volume to be absorbed. The inventive oil absorbing pad reduces waste, does not create a mess when disposing, and effortlessly absorbs oil from an oily surface.

An oil adsorbent is manufactured by including performing heat treatment on a non-woven fabric for low-temperature carbonization, and has the effect of adsorbing and evaporating oil having various carbon numbers ranging from a low boiling point to a high boiling point to remove the oil, has photothermal conversion efficiency, high evaporation efficiency of oil by sunlight, and a high adsorption amount and high adsorption rate, thereby making the adsorption-evaporation cycle fast and efficiently performing the adsorption-evaporation, and has an environmentally friendly effect that does not cause any environmental problems even if the oil adsorbent is put into a river, a sea, or the like and then lost.