Copper-boron-ferrite (Cu—B—Fe) composites may be prepared and immobilized on graphite electrodes in a silica-based sol-gel, e.g., from rice husks. Different bimetallic loading ratios can produce fast in-situ electrogeneration of reactive oxygen species, H.sub.2O.sub.2 and .Math.OH, e.g., via droplet flow-assisted heterogeneous electro-Fenton reactor system. Loading ratios of, e.g., 10 to 30 wt. % Fe.sup.3+ and 5 to 15% wt. Cu.sup.2+, can improve the catalytic activities towards pharmaceutical beta blockers (atenolol and propranolol) degradation in water. Degradation efficiencies of at least 99.9% for both propranolol and atenolol in hospital wastewater were demonstrated. Radicals of .Math.OH in degradation indicate a surface mechanism at inventive cathodes with correlated contributions of iron and copper. Copper and iron can be embedded in porous graphite electrode surface and catalyze the conversion of H.sub.2O.sub.2 to .Math.OH to enhance the degradation. Inventive cathodes can be stable catalytically after 20 or more cycles under neutral and acidic conditions.

A novel solar-powered desalination and water purification system is disclosed herein. The system includes a nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel, an untreated water source, a water collection surface, and a purified water storage container. A novel photocatalytic nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel for desalination and photodegradation of contaminants for use in the disclosed system is also disclosed herein. The nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel exhibits excellent hydrophilicity, thermal insulation, and photodegradation capability, and allows for efficient solar-powered evaporation of water. The introduction of photocatalytic nanofibers into the graphene aerogel allows effective interfacial evaporation and in situ photodegradation of contaminants. The rate of water evaporation is preferably greater than 1.3 gal/ft.sup.2 per day, and the contaminant removal is preferably greater than 90%. A method of desalinating and purifying water using the disclosed system is also disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein is a method for making hydrogen with carbon sequestration. The method may comprise using a biomass hydroconverter product to fuel a steam reformer that converts a hydrocarbon fuel stream into a gas mixture that contains at least hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The gas stream is separated to form a hydrogen-enriched gas stream and at least one hydrogen-depleted stream. The hydrogen-depleted stream may be stored or further processed to sequester the carbon contained therein. Additionally, or alternatively, the solid residue from the biomass hydroconverter also may be stored for further sequester carbon generated by the method.

Oilfield water storage systems, methods of managing the same, and film forming compositions are provided herein. In an embodiment, an oilfield water storage system includes a water storage pond, a surface spreading layer on a surface of the water storage pond, and a water outlet pipe disposed in fluid communication with the water storage pond below the surface treatment layer. The surface spreading layer includes a surface spreading agent.

The subject invention provides microbe-based products, as well as their use to improve oil production and refining efficiency by, for example, remediating the disposable layers in oil tanks and other oil storage units. In preferred embodiments, the microbe-based products comprise biochemical-producing yeast and growth by-products thereof, such as, e.g., biosurfactants. The subject invention can be used to remediate rag layer and/or other dissolved solid layers that form in water-oil emulsions. Furthermore, the subject invention can be used for remediating solid impurities, such as sand, scale, rust and clay, in produced water, flow-back, brine, and/or fracking fluids.

A system and method for the production of microbial consortiums and by-product material is provided. A physical containment system comprising phase spaces arranged in a discrete order to favor specific biological reactions is also provided. Phase profiles and phase data sets include the pre-determined physical and biological parameters for the phase space transitions. Movement of material from one phase to the next is hydraulically balanced enabling working fluid to continuously move in a fixed direction and rate of flow. Continuous monitoring of phase profiles and phase data sets provide feedback to the system enabling alteration of the conditions in the system to control reactions therein.

Methods are described for treating aqueous solutions, including wastewater, to remove nitrogen-containing compounds using electrochemical processes. The method may be conducted electrolytically under an applied voltage or using endogenous current in a fuel cell arrangement. In some embodiments, energy is reclaimed in the form of hydrogen, methane, and other hydrocarbons or organic molecules. Microorganisms may be used as the catalyst for oxidation of the nitrogen-containing compound and/or reduction of hydrogen ions, carbon dioxide, or bicarbonate. Anaerobic or low-oxygen conditions may be used in the zone.

A system for reducing total dissolved solids in wastewater can include a vertical reactor that can include a flexible sheet material, where the flexible sheet material can be configured to facilitate the growth and attachment of an algal biofilm. The vertical reactor can include a shaft, where the shaft can be associated with and can support the flexible sheet material, and a drive motor, where the drive motor can be coupled with the shaft such that the flexible sheet material can be selectively actuated. The system can include a fluid reservoir containing a portion of wastewater through which the flexible sheet material is configured to pass as well as a stressor operably configured to stimulate the algae to produce an extracellular polymeric substance. A method of reducing total dissolved solids in wastewater includes moving an algal biofilm through the wastewater and moving the algal biofilm through a gas.

The present disclosure is generally related to the fields of biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, molecular biology, enzymology, chlorinated water treatment processes and the like. More particularly, certain embodiments are related to reducing cyanuric acid concentrations in aqueous liquids, such as chlorinated swimming pool water, chlorinated hot tub water and the like.

The invention provides a system for pyrolysis, comprising: (i) a gas producer comprising a gasification zone and a producer gas outlet, wherein the gas producer is configured to: oxidise at least one carbon-containing feed in the presence of an oxidising gas in the gasification zone to form a producer gas; and discharge the producer gas from the gasification zone via the producer gas outlet, wherein a residual oxygen content of the producer gas is substantially depleted or maintained below a maximum predetermined amount by controlling a ratio of oxygen fed to the gasification zone to the carbon-containing feed, (ii) a pyrolyzer comprising a pyrolysis zone and one or more pyrolyzer gas outlets, wherein the pyrolyzer is configured to: feed the producer gas discharged from the gasification zone to the pyrolysis zone; pyrolyze a pyrolyzable organic feed in the pyrolysis zone in the presence of the producer gas to produce a carbonaceous pyrolysis product and a gas mixture comprising combustible components comprising pyrolysis gas; and discharge the gas mixture from the pyrolysis zone via the one or more pyrolyzer gas outlets, and (iii) a first combustor comprising a combustion zone, wherein the first combustor is configured to: receive the gas mixture discharged from the pyrolysis zone in the combustion zone; feed an oxygen-containing gas to the combustion zone; and combust at least a portion of the combustible components present in the gas mixture in the combustion zone to produce a combustion product gas.