A composition is disclosed for aiding extraction of an emulsified oil from an oil and water emulsion. The composition includes silicon containing particles at a level of 0.1 wt. % to 30 wt. %; an emulsifying agent at a level of 1 wt. % to 30 wt. %; and water at a level of 40 wt. % to 99 wt. %. A method of extracting oil from an oil and water emulsion in a material is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) dispersing silicon containing particles into the material using a mechanical blending device; and (b) separating the oil from the material. A method of extracting oil from an oil and water emulsion in a material is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a dispersion of silicon containing particles in water; (b) metering the dispersion into the material; and (c) separating the oil from the material.

A process for the treatment of wastewater is disclosed, which comprises (a) contacting the wastewater with fast settling sludge from step (c) in an anaerobic zone, obtaining a mixture of wastewater and sludge; (b) subjecting the mixture from step (a) and slow settling sludge from step (c) to an aerobic zone, obtaining a water and sludge mixture; (c) subjecting a first part of the mixture from step (b) to a sludge selection step, wherein sludge is selected based on settling velocity and a first portion containing slow settling sludge and a second portion containing fast settling sludge are collected, wherein average settling velocity of the fast settling sludge is greater than that of the slow settling sludge, and wherein the first portion is returned to step (b) and the second portion is returned to step (a); and (d) separating sludge from a second part of the mixture from step (b).

The separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), by electronic type using centrifugation of compositions of SWNTs and surface active block copolymers in density gradient media.

The separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), by electronic type using centrifugation of compositions of SWNTs and surface active block copolymers in density gradient media.

Disclosed herein is an elution device comprising one or more inlets and one or more outlets and defining an interior volume comprising steel slag, wherein the elution device is mounted to a support and situated substantially above ground level. One or more inlets and one or more outlets are disposed to facilitate fluid flow from an inlet toward an outlet to cause contact of the eluant with the slag for a period sufficient to form an eluate. Also disclosed herein are methods of applying an eluant to the elution device and dispensing an eluate from an outlet proximal to a distressed water source to form a treated water source. Also disclosed herein are methods of applying an eluant to the elution device and dispensing an eluate from an outlet proximal to one or more areas having living plants thereon or therein.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to systems and methods of fluid treatment systems. Fluid treatment systems and methods thereof may be operable to remove contaminants and optionally reduce hardness. A fluid treatment system may comprise a feed stream configured to provide a contaminated fluid, a concentrate tank configured to receive the contaminated fluid from the feed stream, a filtration unit configured to receive the contaminated fluid from the concentrate tank, and a permeate stream operable to receive a treated fluid from the filtration unit. A concentrate tank may be operable to reduce hardness of the contaminated fluid. A filtration unit may be operable to filter contaminants from the contaminated fluid.

A polymer useful as a flocculent, demulsifier or water clarifier may be selected from those having the general formula: ##STR00001##
wherein R is an alkyl group having from 3 to about 7 carbons and X is an integer having a value of at least two. The alkyl group may be linear or branched.

In one embodiment, a process includes creating a mixture of an aqueous component, nanowires and nanoparticles, and a hydrophobic solvent and allowing migration of the nanowires to the hydrophobic solvent, where the nanoparticles remain in the aqueous component. Moreover, the nanowires and nanoparticles are in the aqueous component before the migration.

Provided are a water treatment system and a water treatment process, which are capable of reproducing water containing salts with high water recovery. A water treatment system 100 comprises a second demineralizing section 210a, 210b that separates water to be treated containing Ca ions, SO.sub.4 ions and carbonate ions into concentrated water in which the Ca ions and the SO.sub.4 ions are concentrated and treated water; a crystallizing section which is positioned on a downstream side of the second demineralizing section 210a, 210b and which includes a second crystallizing tank 221a, 221b that crystallizes gypsum from the concentrated water and a seed crystal supplying section that supplies seed crystals of gypsum to the second crystallizing tank 221a, 221b; and a separating section that is positioned on a downstream side of the crystallizing section and separates the gypsum from the concentrated water.

Separation of rhenium disulfide nanomaterials and related fluid density gradient media.