Articles comprising pressure-sensitive adhesives and methods of their use for removing micro- and nanoplastic particles from various media, including wastewater effluent, laundry effluent, and indoor air, are disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to bioremediation systems and methods for wastewater treatment in heavy industry, including the mining industry. A benefit of the systems and methods disclosed herein can include the reduction of heavy metals in wastewater. Another benefit can be the treatment of acidic wastewater to achieve higher pH levels. An additional benefit can be the use of carbon dioxide to raise the pH level of acidic wastewater, or to produce feedstocks for the growth of anaerobic or aerobic microorganisms that are capable of reducing a concentration of heavy metals in wastewater. A benefit of the systems and methods herein can include the treatment of acid mining drainage wastewater, as well as heavy metal removal from other industrial wastewater. Another benefit of the methods and systems disclosed herein can include reduction of excess carbon dioxide from the environment.

A composite nanomaterial of ZnO impregnated by, e.g., a green copper phthalocyanine compound (CuPc) can be an efficient solar light photocatalyst for water remediation. The composite may include hollow shell microspheres and hollow nanospheres of CuPc-ZnO. CuPc may function as a templating and/or structure modifying agent, e.g., for forming hollow microspheres and/or nanospheres of ZnO particles. The composite can photocatalyze the degradation of organic pollutants such as crystal violet (CV) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as well as microbes in water under solar light irradiation. The ZnO-CuPc composite can be stable and recyclable under solar irradiation.

An ecosystem for deep water environment restoration includes: a light-collecting device; an underwater lighting system connected to the light-collecting device and configured to provide light to a deep water layer of a water body; a photocatalytic bionic net comprising a photocatalytic material and a fiber and placed in the deep water layer; and an aquatic plant. When the photocatalytic material receives the light, the photocatalytic material is able to adsorb organic pollutants of the water body to the photocatalytic bionic net and catalyze degradation of the organic pollutants of the water body, concentrate microorganisms to allow the microorganisms to decompose the organic pollutants into nutrients required for growth of the aquatic plant, and absorb the light to catalyze decomposition of water to produce oxygen. When the aquatic plant receives the light, the aquatic plant is able to perform photosynthesis to release oxygen.

A photocatalytically active particulate material includes a particle core of ZnS, particles of a nanoscale metal selected from Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Cu or an alloy thereof loaded on the particle core, and a layer of Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2 or mixtures thereof on the loaded particle core.

A system for biofuel production can include a cell, a nanoparticle on a surface of the cell, and an irradiation unit configured to expose the cell to irradiation. A method of producing biofuel can include providing a cell having a nanoparticle on a surface of the cell, exposing the cell to a fuel precursor, irradiating the cell, converting the fuel precursor to a biofuel with the cell, and collecting the biofuel.

There is provided a method of preparing a photoelectrochemical and electrochemical electrode catalyst, the method including preparing a metal oxide-based electrode, introducing a phosphate layer on a surface of the metal oxide-based electrode; and converting the phosphate layer into an oxyhydroxide layer by performing electrochemical activation on the phosphate layer.

The efficiency of selective oxidation reaction of ammonia in wastewater may be improved.

A bubble generator including a container having a side wall and a top wall defining a cavity. An insert is located within the cavity defining a gas path with a trap portion. The gas path being in communication with an exit in the container. The cavity including an opening receiving a gas accumulating within the cavity, the gas path allowing the accumulating gas to escape through the exit once the accumulating gas reaches a predetermined level proximate the trap portion.

A water treatment system comprises an actinic radiation reactor, an electrochemical cell configured to produce hydrogen peroxide and having an outlet in fluid communication between a source of electrolyte and the actinic radiation reactor, and a source of oxygen in communication with an inlet of the electrochemical cell.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.