In oil spill clean-up, a sorbent is material that is used to absorb oil and repel water. Sorbents are used very frequently, but many of them tend to be expensive or inefficient. Based on extensive research, it is found that a combination of polypropylene, polyester, reclaimed newspaper print, and vermiculite makes a very effective filler for a sorbent. It is concluded after many trials that a composition of 48.63% polypropylene, 27.97% polyester, 12.53% newspaper print, and 10.87% vermiculite in a sorbent absorbs the most oil and repels the most water. A non-provisional utility patent will protect this ratio and introduce a competitive, cost-effective, and eco-friendly sorbent into the market.

Disclosed are sol gel derived materials obtained from at least one first precursor and at least one second precursor, as well as sol gel derived compositions containing a plurality of alkylsiloxy substituents obtained from such sol-gel derived materials.

The combination of colloidal silica in conjunction with a chemical, such as a cationically-modified water soluble polymer, e.g. aluminum brine dispersion polymer, clarifies combinations of oil and water, for instance wastewater comprising an oil-in-water emulsion. The colloidal silica may have an average silica particle size of about 0.5 to about 10 nanometers.

Sugar-based compounds are provided along with methods for making such compounds. Gels comprising such compounds are also provided along with methods of making gels. Methods of using such compounds for containing spill of a hydrocarbon, and method for reclaiming solvent from gels, comprising such compounds.

Methods for synthesizing macroscale 3D heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials (such as boron doped carbon nanotube materials) and compositions thereof. Macroscopic quantities of three-dimensionally networked heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials are directly grown using an aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition method. The porous heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material is created by doping of heteroatoms (such as boron) in the nanotube lattice during growth, which influences the creation of elbow joints and branching of nanotubes leading to the three dimensional super-structure. The super-hydrophobic heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube sponge is strongly oleophilic and can soak up large quantities of organic solvents and oil. The trapped oil can be burnt off and the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material can be used repeatedly as an oil removal scaffold. Optionally, the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotubes in the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials can be welded to form one or more macroscale 3D carbon nanotubes.

In accordance with the present subject matter there is provided peptide-based compounds. methods of making such compounds, gels comprising such compounds, methods of making gels, methods of using such compounds for the containing spill of a hydrocarbon, and methods for reclaiming solvent from gels comprising such compounds.

The combination of colloidal silica in conjunction with a chemical, such as a cationically-modified water soluble polymer, e.g. aluminum brine dispersion polymer, clarifies combinations of oil and water, for instance wastewater comprising an oil-in-water emulsion. The colloidal silica may have an average silica particle size of about 0.5 to about 10 nanometers.

Methods for synthesizing macroscale 3D heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials (such as boron doped carbon nanotube materials) and compositions thereof. Macroscopic quantities of three-dimensionally networked heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials are directly grown using an aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition method. The porous heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material is created by doping of heteroatoms (such as boron) in the nanotube lattice during growth, which influences the creation of elbow joints and branching of nanotubes leading to the three dimensional super-structure. The super-hydrophobic heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube sponge is strongly oleophilic and an soak up large quantities of organic solvents and oil. The trapped oil can be burnt off and the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material can be used repeatedly as an oil removal scaffold. Optionally, the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotubes in the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials can be welded to form one or more macroscale 3D carbon nanotubes.

A polymer composition for use in the removal and recovery of oil slicks or spills floating on the surfaces of bodies or water or present on land, such as beaches comprising a foam of a blend of polyethylene and an ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymer and a process for using such foams in the selective removal of oil from fresh water or salt water and the recovery of the absorbed oils from the foams is disclosed. The polymer composition is also for use in other applications in which absorption of liquids is desired.

In accordance with the present subject matter there is provided sugar-based compounds of formula I, methods of making such compounds, gels comprising such compounds, methods of making gels, methods of using such compounds for the containing spill of a hydrocarbon, and methods for reclaiming solvent from gels comprising such compounds.

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