Fluid-absorbent granules based on cellulosic fibers from, e.g., papermill waste, are incineratable, leave essentially no oil surface residues, absorb both oil and water from hard surfaces, and are easily swept up without dusting.

Carbon-clad ZrO2 particles display very high physical and chemical stability in aqueous media of high pH, e.g., pH 14. At these conditions, the particles are substantially resistant to dissolution of both the carbon cladding and the underlying ZrO2, and provide substantially constant solute retention during exposure to increasing amounts of alkaline mobile phase.

Zirconia beads exhibit stability over a pH range of 1 to 14 and can withstand common heat sterilization procedures. The beads can be coated with a number of active or activating materials, including polymers, biomolecules, and phosphate or organophosphorous compounds for ion-exchange uses. The beads are especially useful as the stationery phase for HPLC separations.

The carbon-clad ZrO2 particles display very high physical & chemical stability in aqueous media of high pH, e.g., pH 14. Use of a non-polar polymeric coating renders the carbon-clad inorganic oxide particles substantially hydrophobic & provides a more energetically homogenous surface. Hydrophobic polymer-coated, carbon-clad particles are a useful support for reversed phase liquid chromatography.