Cavitand compositions that comprise void spaces are disclosed. The void spaces may be empty, which means that voids are free of guest molecules or atoms, or the void spaces may comprise guest molecules or atoms that are normally in their gas phase at standard temperature and pressure. These cavitands may be useful for industrial applications, such as the separation or storage of gasses. Novel cavitand compounds are also disclosed.

Methods for fabricating a membrane with an organosilica material which is a polymer comprising independent units of Formula [Z.sup.3Z.sup.4SiCH.sub.2].sub.3 (I), wherein each Z.sup.3 represents a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another unit or an active site on the support and each Z.sup.4 represents a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group, an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another unit or an active site on the support are provided. Methods of removing a contaminant from a hydrocarbon stream are also provided.

A packed bed for a heat exchanger may comprise a frame and a first fin layer disposed within the frame. A second fin layer may be disposed within the frame. A first perforated sheet may be disposed between the first fin layer and the second fin layer. A sorbent material may be disposed within a volume of at least one of the first fin layer or the second fin layer.

An active element for trapping and/or releasing a gaseous or liquid substance is provided including a solid body, which is enveloped by an outer boundary surface (S), and contains an active material adapted to trap and/or release a gaseous or liquid substance, wherein the outer boundary surface S has an overall roundish, preferably round shape. The active element is manufactured by injection moulding and can be utilized within a container.

A method for removing carbon dioxide directly from ambient air, using a sorbent under ambient conditions, to obtain relatively pure CO.sub.2. The CO.sub.2 is removed from the sorbent using process heat, preferably in the form of steam, at a temperature in the range of not greater than about 130 C., to capture the relatively pure CO.sub.2 and to regenerate the sorbent for repeated use. Increased efficiency can be achieved by admixing with the ambient air, prior to contacting the sorbent, a minor amount of a preferably pretreated effluent gas containing a higher concentration of carbon dioxide. The captured carbon dioxide can be stored for further use, or sequestered permanently. The above method provides purified carbon dioxide for further use in agriculture and chemical processes, or for permanent sequestration.

A carbon dioxide absorbent composition is disclosed. Based on 100 parts by weight of the carbon dioxide absorbent composition, the carbon dioxide absorbent composition includes 5 to 45 parts by weight of sodium 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanesulfonate. Moreover, a method for capturing carbon dioxide using the carbon dioxide absorbent composition is disclosed.

A method of capturing water from a gaseous composition comprising water vapour (e.g., air), the method comprising: (a) providing a metal-organic material; and (b) contacting the metal-organic material with water and/or water vapour;
wherein upon contact with water and/or water vapour the material switches from a first state to a second state wherein the second state is able to retain a higher amount of water than the first state.

A process is provided for making a polymer comprising providing a mixture of at least one furandicarboxylic acid, at least one diol, and at least one C2-C3 dicarboxlic acid, ester derivatives of C2-C3 dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy fatty acid or ester derivative of a hydroxy fatty acid; adding a catalyst and processing said mixture at reaction conditions until a polymer product is produced. The polymer consists of random units based upon the starting materials that are used.

A method and a system capable of removing carbon dioxide directly from ambient air, and obtaining relatively pure CO.sub.2. The method comprises the steps of generating usable and process heat from a primary production process, applying the process heat from said primary process to co-generate substantially saturated steam, alternately repeatedly exposing a sorbent to removal and to capture regeneration system phases, wherein said sorbent is alternately exposed to a flow of ambient air during said removal phase, to sorb, and therefore remove, carbon dioxide from said ambient air, and to a flow of the process steam during the regeneration and capture phase, to remove the sorbed carbon dioxide, thus regenerating such sorbent, and capturing in relatively pure form the removed carbon dioxide. The sorbent can be carried on a porous thin flexible sheet constantly in motion between the removal location and the regeneration location

Some embodiments of the disclosure correspond to, for example, a method for controlling a scrubber containing an adsorbent. The scrubber may be configured to cycle between scrubbing at least one pollutant/gas from a stream of gases with the pollutant/gas being adsorbed onto the adsorbent, and regenerating at least some of the adsorbent and thereby purging at least some of the one pollutant and/or first gas from the adsorbent via a regeneration gas flow. The method may include flowing a stream of gases through the scrubber, the scrubber including the adsorbent and adsorbing at least some of the one pollutant/gas from the stream of gases onto the adsorbent during an adsorption phase over a first time period. The method may also include purging at least a portion of the one pollutant/gas from the adsorbent during a regeneration phase over a second time period with a regeneration gas flow, and cycling therebetween.