The present disclosure relates to roofing granules, such as colored solar-reflective roofing granules, and to methods for making and their use in roofing products. One aspect of the disclosure provides a collection of colored solar-reflective roofing granules, wherein substantially each roofing granule includes an inner layer of a porous ceramic material, the pore size and material of the inner layer being selected such that the inner layer is substantially reflective of infrared radiation; and disposed about and substantially surrounding the inner layer, an outer layer of a substantially colored ceramic material, the outer layer of substantially colored ceramic material being substantially transmissive to infrared radiation, the collection of colored solar-reflective roofing granules having a L* of no more than 60 and a solar reflectivity of at least 30%.

A composite including a polymeric material or emulsion and biochar. The composite includes 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the biochar. Making the composite includes combining biochar with a polymeric material or emulsion to yield a modified polymeric material or emulsion, and homogenizing the modified polymeric material or emulsion to yield the composite. Functionalizing biochar includes removing contaminants from the biochar to yield decontaminated biochar, oxidizing the decontaminated biochar to yield oxidized biochar, and functionalizing the oxidized biochar. Making nitrogen-doped biochar includes combining urea and wood residue to form a mixture, and heating the mixture in an oxygen-free environment to form the nitrogen-doped biochar.

A composite including a polymeric material or emulsion and biochar. The composite includes 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the biochar. Making the composite includes combining biochar with a polymeric material or emulsion to yield a modified polymeric material or emulsion, and homogenizing the modified polymeric material or emulsion to yield the composite. Functionalizing biochar includes removing contaminants from the biochar to yield decontaminated biochar, oxidizing the decontaminated biochar to yield oxidized biochar, and functionalizing the oxidized biochar. Making nitrogen-doped biochar includes combining urea and wood residue to form a mixture, and heating the mixture in an oxygen-free environment to form the nitrogen-doped biochar.

A composite including a polymeric material or emulsion and biochar. The composite includes 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the biochar. Making the composite includes combining biochar with a polymeric material or emulsion to yield a modified polymeric material or emulsion, and homogenizing the modified polymeric material or emulsion to yield the composite. Functionalizing biochar includes removing contaminants from the biochar to yield decontaminated biochar, oxidizing the decontaminated biochar to yield oxidized biochar, and functionalizing the oxidized biochar. Making nitrogen-doped biochar includes combining urea and wood residue to form a mixture, and heating the mixture in an oxygen-free environment to form the nitrogen-doped biochar.

Embodiments may include a coated granule for roofing systems. The coated granule may include an aluminum silicate granule and a coating disposed on the aluminum silicate granule. The coating may include a copolymer and a siloxane-based or a silane-based compound. The copolymer may be a cationic fluorinated (meth)acrylic copolymer. The aluminum silicate granule may have a particle size in a range from 0.2 mm to 2.4 mm. The aluminum silicate granule may have a 65% or greater reflectivity. The coated granule may repel oil and maintain its reflectivity better than with other techniques.

Embodiments may include a coated granule for roofing systems. The coated granule may include an aluminum silicate granule and a coating disposed on the aluminum silicate granule. The coating may include a copolymer and a siloxane-based or a silane-based compound. The copolymer may be a cationic fluorinated (meth)acrylic copolymer. The aluminum silicate granule may have a particle size in a range from 0.2 mm to 2.4 mm. The aluminum silicate granule may have a 65% or greater reflectivity. The coated granule may repel oil and maintain its reflectivity better than with other techniques.

Embodiments may include a coated granule for roofing systems. The coated granule may include an aluminum silicate granule and a coating disposed on the aluminum silicate granule. The coating may include a copolymer and a siloxane-based or a silane-based compound. The copolymer may be a cationic fluorinated (meth)acrylic copolymer. The aluminum silicate granule may have a particle size in a range from 0.2 mm to 2.4 mm. The aluminum silicate granule may have a 65% or greater reflectivity. The coated granule may repel oil and maintain its reflectivity better than with other techniques.

A process for rendering excavation material inert for the purpose of their analysis, of their storage and/or of their valorisation. The process for inerting the excavation material includes adding an organic acid, of a complexing agent or of a diaminotetracarboxylic acid to the excavation material, the complexing agent being chosen from a sugar alcohol, a cationic surface-active agent and their mixtures. Also, a method of determining the concentration by weight of a polluting inorganic element included in an excavated material, a method of storage of the inert excavation material, and a method of valorising the inerted material.

A process for rendering excavation material inert for the purpose of their analysis, of their storage and/or of their valorisation. The process for inerting the excavation material includes adding an organic acid, of a complexing agent or of a diaminotetracarboxylic acid to the excavation material, the complexing agent being chosen from a sugar alcohol, a cationic surface-active agent and their mixtures. Also, a method of determining the concentration by weight of a polluting inorganic element included in an excavated material, a method of storage of the inert excavation material, and a method of valorising the inerted material.

Methods of making a hybrid crude oil using man-made or natural petroleum-based waste stream products. The hybrid crude oil is composed of an oil-based solution and petroleum-based coatings that were extracted from a petroleum-containing material. This hybrid crude oil is created by elevating the temperature of the oil-based solution to or above an elevated temperature, i.e., the melting or phase-change temperature of the petroleum-based coating so that it can become liquified and dissolve into the oil-based solution and create the hybrid crude oil. The petroleum-containing material is submerged into the heated oil-based solution to cause the petroleum-based coatings to dissolve into the heated oil-based solution at the elevated temperature. The liquid oil-based solution at the elevated temperature creates an environmental seal to the petroleum-based coatings to protect them from burning, carburizing, or degrading, until the liquid oil-based solution is capable of providing the necessary thermal energy for the phase change of the petroleum-based coating from a solid state to a liquid state. At which time, the petroleum-based coatings safely phase-changes into a liquid and dissolves into the oil-based solution, creating the hybrid crude oil.