SE365187

1336331 Oil absorbent compositions; coated particles CABOT CORP 5 Jan 1971 [5 Feb 1970] 417/71 Headings C1A and C1C [Also in Division B2] An oil absorbent composition comprises a liquid absorbing material bearing a coating thereover comprising at least 0À1% by wt. of the liquid absorbing material, of a hydrophobic substance comprising a metal or metalloid oxide having a BET-N 2 surface area of at least 50 m2/g, an average ultimate particle diameter of less than 0À5 micron and having chemically bound to the surface thereof, at least 0À5% by wt. of the oxide, of organo-silicon surface structures of the formula -SiR a X b where each R = alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkaryoloxy or aralkoxy group, each X = halogen or hydroxyl group, a = 2 or 3 and a + b = 3. The liquidabsorbing material may be sand, straw, charcoal, coke, kieselguhr or diatomaceous earth, peat, textile fibres, sawdust, chalk, mica, expanded mica, cork, felt, wood chips, paper, nut shells and granulated corn cobs. The coating may comprise an oxide of Si, Ti, Al, Zr, V, Cr, Fe, Ge, As or Sb. The oxide may be reacted with organo-halosilanes, organosilylamines or organodisilazones. The coating material may be applied as a dispersion or in dry form. In use the absorbent composition may be applied to the surface of a body of water to remove oil therefrom. The oil-laden absorbent composition may sink or float. The oil may be combusted after being absorbed. In another use water is passed through a bed of the absorbent composition.