A sparsely pillared organic-inorganic hybrid compound is provided. The sparsely pillared organic-inorganic hybrid compound includes: two inorganic material layers, each extending in one direction and facing each other; and an organic material layer disposed between the two inorganic material layers, wherein each of the inorganic material layers has a gibbsite structure in which a divalent metal cation is doped to an octahedral site, and the organic material layer includes a plurality of pillar portions, each of which is chemically bound to each of the two inorganic material layers such that the two inorganic material layers are connected to each other.

The present invention provides a method for hydrophobization of a hydrophilic material, the method including introducing a hydrophobic group into a hydroxyl group (—OH group) on a surface of the hydrophilic material. A method for hydrophobization of a hydrophilic material, the method comprising reacting a hydrophilic material to be hydrophobized with a hydrophobic group-containing silylating agent in presence of an amino acid as a reaction accelerator, to introduce a hydrophobic group-containing silyl group to a surface of the hydrophilic material. A hydrophobized silica gel column filler is produced by using the method. Further, a hydrophobized silica gel column is produced by filling a column with the hydrophobized silica gel column filler.

The present invention provides a method for hydrophobization of a hydrophilic material, the method including introducing a hydrophobic group into a hydroxyl group (—OH group) on a surface of the hydrophilic material. A method for hydrophobization of a hydrophilic material, the method comprising reacting a hydrophilic material to be hydrophobized with a hydrophobic group-containing silylating agent in presence of an amino acid as a reaction accelerator, to introduce a hydrophobic group-containing silyl group to a surface of the hydrophilic material. A hydrophobized silica gel column filler is produced by using the method. Further, a hydrophobized silica gel column is produced by filling a column with the hydrophobized silica gel column filler.

Compositions are provided for binding mercury based in porous organic polymers having (i) a plurality of repeat units having heavy metal chelator moieties covalently attached thereto and (ii) a plurality of pores having a hierarchical pore size distribution over a range of pore sizes. In some aspects, the range of pore sizes is about 5 nm to 10 nm. The compositions can have a maximum mercury uptake capacity of 1,000 mg g.sup.−1 to 2,000 mg g.sup.−1 at 1 atm and 296 K and has a mercury uptake capacity that is stable and recyclable. Methods of making the compositions and methods of using the compositions for uptake of mercury are also provided.

The invention discloses a humic acid type adsorption material as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The humic acid type adsorption material is prepared by taking carboxymethyl cellulose or salts thereof, humate and montmorillonite as raw materials and adding a monomer, a cross-linking agent and an initiator through aqueous solution polymerization. The synthesized porous material is great in specific surface area, can quickly get close to water molecules in water to form hydrogen bonds, and finally achieves the purpose of removing organic dye pollutants through electrostatic attraction effect with dye molecules. The humic acid type adsorption material is low in raw material price, is simple in synthesis process, and is green and environmentally friendly.

The invention discloses a humic acid type adsorption material as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The humic acid type adsorption material is prepared by taking carboxymethyl cellulose or salts thereof, humate and montmorillonite as raw materials and adding a monomer, a cross-linking agent and an initiator through aqueous solution polymerization. The synthesized porous material is great in specific surface area, can quickly get close to water molecules in water to form hydrogen bonds, and finally achieves the purpose of removing organic dye pollutants through electrostatic attraction effect with dye molecules. The humic acid type adsorption material is low in raw material price, is simple in synthesis process, and is green and environmentally friendly.

A water harvesting device includes at least a first adsorption column including a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first interior region. A sorbent material is located within the first interior region of the first adsorption column. The sorbent material includes a metal organic framework (MOF) material including a plurality of metal ions or clusters of metal ions coordinated to one or more organic linkers, a plurality of nanofabrics comprising a hydrogel material, or a combination thereof.

According to one embodiment, a molecular sensor contains a sensitive film in which a porous member and an ionic liquid coexist. The molecular sensor is capable of detecting a target molecule by measuring a change in physical quantity of the sensitive film due to adsorption of the target molecule to the sensitive film.

Methods of using an organic framework (OF) are provided herein, including methods of using an OF comprising a repeat unit of the formula:

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The OFs provided herein may be used in the separation of two or more molecules from each other. In some embodiments, the molecules are propylene and propane.

A promoted carbon and/or non-carbon base sorbent are described that are highly effective for the removal of mercury from flue gas streams. The promoted sorbent comprises a carbon and/or non-carbon base sorbent that has reacted with and contains forms of halogen and halides. Optional components may be added to increase and/or preserve reactivity and mercury capacity. These may be added directly with the base sorbent, or in-flight within a gas stream (air, flue gas, etc.), to enhance base sorbent performance and/or mercury capture. Mercury removal efficiencies obtained exceed conventional methods. The promoted sorbent can be regenerated and reused. Base sorbent treatment and preparation methods are also described. New methods for in-flight preparation, introduction, and control of the active base sorbent into the mercury contaminated gas stream are described.