A filter medium for removal of contaminants from wastewater. The filter medium includes a walnut shell particle having a metal hydro(oxide) nanoparticle bonded to the surface of the nut shell particle. The filter medium is particularly useful for treating produced water and wastewater generated in steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) in recovery of hydrocarbons from oil sands to remove total organic carbon and silica. Processes for preparing the filter medium and for treating wastewater using the filter medium are also provided.

The present invention relates to a preparation method of La(OH).sub.3 nanorod/walnut shell biochar composite material (LN-WB), comprising the following steps: putting walnut shell powder into a crucible and pyrolyzing and carbonizing in a muffle furnace at 350° C. to 450° C.; after the pyrolysis is completed, grinding and sieving the obtained biochar, and then repeatedly washing with deionized water; drying the washed biochar for later use; putting an appropriate amount of biochar into the deionized water to form a turbid solution; simultaneously dropwise adding LaCl.sub.3 and NaOH to the above turbid solution by using a peristaltic pump; and allowing the obtained mixture to stand at room temperature for 20 to 30 h, washing and drying for later use. The present invention successfully prepares a La(OH).sub.3 nanoparticle-loaded biochar composite material through a simple synthesis technology.

A method for processing raw coconut coir pith into fine particles and the use of such fine particles directly or in formulated form in agricultural, industrial and commercial applications.

Articles are provided for absorbing fluids. In embodiments, the articles of the present disclosure are modified to make them hydrophobic, thereby decreasing their affinity for water and similar liquids, while increasing their affinity for other hydrophobic materials, including oil. After use, the articles, in embodiments sponges, may have their absorbed materials removed therefrom, and the articles may then be re-used to absorb additional materials.

A preparation method and an application of a scallop shell extract efficient adsorbent are provided. The adsorbent employs waste scallop shells as a primary raw material, and converts the scallop shells into an extract with excellent adsorption performance by heating and multiple times of extraction with acetic acid. The prepared scallop shell extract is used as an efficient adsorbent to be applied to adsorption of aqueous solution dyes and shows good adsorption performance. The preparation method has a simple preparation process, realizes high-value utilization of the waste scallop shells, effectively lightens the environmental burden, reduces shell pollution and waste, has low cost and high renewable efficiency, and has good ecological benefit and economic value.

The present invention provides a mixture of adsorbents which has the capacity to adsorb high concentrations of antibiotics from a diverse range of classes, pathogens, and heavy metals. The invention is a mixture of various charcoal adsorbents including areca nut, bamboo, pine nut, coconut shell and paper that can deplete a wide variety of antibiotics in one go.

Carbonaceous material that is activated to form precursor activated carbon is further enhanced by doping with copper, iron, and nitrogen and calcining. The carbonaceous material includes those obtained from coal, wood, or coconut shells. Methods of doping the activated carbon are described. The described treatment processes result in a sorbent material that has excellent performance in removing chloramine and similar compounds from fluids such as water that is intended for drinking.

Carbonaceous material that is activated to form precursor activated carbon is further enhanced by doping with iron and nitrogen and calcining. The resultant sorbent material has excellent catalytic properties which are useful in the field of fluid purification. The further enhancement can be performed in a single stage process or a dual stage process. The carbonaceous material includes those obtained from coal, wood, or coconut shells. The described treatment processes result in a sorbent material that has excellent performance in removing chloramine and similar compounds from fluids such as water that is intended for drinking.

The present invention relates to a preparation method of La(OH).sub.3 nanorod/walnut shell biochar composite material (LN-WB), comprising the following steps: putting walnut shell powder into a crucible and pyrolyzing and carbonizing in a muffle furnace at 350 C. to 450 C.; after the pyrolysis is completed, grinding and sieving the obtained biochar, and then repeatedly washing with deionized water; drying the washed biochar for later use; putting an appropriate amount of biochar into the deionized water to form a turbid solution; simultaneously dropwise adding LaCl.sub.3 and NaOH to the above turbid solution by using a peristaltic pump; and allowing the obtained mixture to stand at room temperature for 20 to 30 h, washing and drying for later use. The present invention successfully prepares a La(OH).sub.3 nanoparticle-loaded biochar composite material through a simple synthesis technology.

A ceramsite produced by using a river/lake/sea sludge and seashell powder as raw materials and a preparation method thereof are provided. The ceramsite is made of the following raw materials in parts by weight: 15-50 parts of shell powder, 5-15 parts of kaolin, 1-5 parts of peat ash, 15-30 parts of siliceous shale, 15-40 parts of furnace slag, 10-20 parts of fly ash, 15-40 parts of zeolite, 10-30 parts of river/lake/sea sludge, and 10-25 parts of peat. The shell powder is pulverized to a particle size of 60-200 mesh in fineness. A content of silica in the siliceous shale is 87.0%-89.5%. The preparation method of the ceramsite includes the following steps: taking raw materials, pulverizing, stirring, granulating, calcining, and naturally cooling, so as to obtain the ceramsite.