The present disclosure provides advantageous rotary interfaces for fluid assemblies (e.g., rotary interfaces for fluid flow in bioreactor applications), and related methods of fabrication and use. More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved rotary interfaces for fluid flow through porous impellers for filtration and/or sparging for fluid assemblies (e.g., bioreactor applications), and related methods of fabrication and use. Disclosed herein is a fluid assembly (e.g., bioreactor) that includes a porous impeller which is in fluid communication with a hollow shaft that can be used to transport a reaction fluid to an external storage tank or the like. The fluid assembly/bioreactor can include a coupling mechanism that transmits rotary motion from a motor to a primary shaft and then to a hollow secondary shaft, while at the same time permitting removal of a filtrate from the fluid assembly or bioreactor via the hollow secondary shaft and a porous impeller.

A refractory filter suitable for filtering molten metal, such as steel, and a method and powdered composition for producing said filter. The filter comprises refractory material, said refractory material comprising: 60-90 wt % alumina; 8-30 wt % zirconia; and 3-20 wt % magnesia. The powdered composition comprises: 60-90 wt % alumina; 8-30 wt % zirconia; and 3-20 wt % magnesia, wherein the powdered composition comprises less than 12.5 wt % reactive alumina, calcined alumina or a mixture thereof, and wherein the remainder of the alumina is tabular alumina. The method comprises: providing a powdered composition in accordance with the invention; forming a filter precursor from the powdered composition and a liquid component; and firing the filter precursor to form a refractory filter.

A pillar-shaped honeycomb structure including an outer peripheral side wall, a plurality of first cells provided on an inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral side wall, the first cells extending from a first end surface to a second end surface, each opening on the first end surface and having a sealing portion with an average void ratio of 4% or less on the second end surface, and a plurality of second cells provided on the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral side wall, the second cells extending from the first end surface to the second end surface, each having a sealing portion with an average void ratio of 4% or less on the first end surface and opening on the second end surface, the first cells and the second cells being alternately arranged adjacent to each other with a partition wall interposed therebetween.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for removing formaldehyde from indoor air. Some embodiments include flowing an indoor airflow over and/or through a solid supported amine filtering medium, such that, at least a portion of formaldehyde entrained in the indoor airflow is removed therefrom. Some other embodiments include systems having one or more fans for providing velocity to one and/or another airflows (e.g., airflows to/from a formaldehyde filter).

To provide a titanium-based porous body that has high void fraction to ensure gas permeability and water permeability for practical use as an electrode and a filter, has a large specific surface area to ensure conductivity and sufficient reaction sites with a reaction solution or a reaction gas, thus showing excellent reaction efficiency, and contains less contaminants because of no organic substance used. A titanium-based porous body having a specific void fraction and a high specific surface area is obtained by filling an irregular-shaped titanium powder having an average particle size of 10 to 50 μm in a dry system without using any binder or the like into a thickness of 4.0×10.sup.−1 to 1.6 mm, and sintering the irregular-shaped titanium powder at 800 to 1100° C.

A fluid filter, filtering medium composition, and associated process for removing contaminants from feed and exhaust fluids used in fuel cell electricity generation, laboratories, the semiconductor and other industries to improve performance and extend useful equipment lifetimes and to clean fluids of sulfur compound contaminants, as well as to remove noxious NOx contaminants from feed and exhaust gases.

A filter may remove PM.sub.2.5 and/or other airborne pollutants, which filter has fibers of an average diameter of no more than 500 nm, the fibers of at least 90 wt. % polyacrylonitrile, relative to all fibers in the filter; and a catalyst of at least 90 wt. % TiO.sub.2, relative to all catalytic metals in the filter, dispersed onto the fibers. The fibers need not be charged. The TiO.sub.2 may be condensed or precipitated onto the fibers out of a liquid containing the TiO.sub.2 and the fibers by simple methods. The catalyst may be activated by UV irradiation to decompose particulate matter having an average particle size of 2.5 μm or less, i.e., PM.sub.2.5, and/or other airborne pollutants from air. Such filters may be implemented around areas of vehicle traffic, e.g., as elements of traffic lights, and may be used to controllably purify polluted air.

A pool strainer basket insert system and method are contemplated in which a high porosity, coarse fibrous mass is inserted in a pool skimmer basket. Via optimization of the material properties of the fibrous mass and configuration such that approximately 50% of the fibrous mass is located above the waterline and 50% below the water line the problems of the prior art may be solved via the retaining properties of the fibrous mass, enabling insects and small organic matter to be retained and preventing their migration back to the main body of the pool.

Provided are anti-pathogenic sintered nanoparticle compounds made of zeolite, silver nitrate (AgNO.sub.3), silver dioxide nanoparticles (Ag.sub.2O np), and graphene. Provided are enhanced granulated activated charcoal (EGAC) compounds made of granulated activated charcoal, silver nitrate (AgNO.sub.3), silver dioxide nanoparticles (Ag.sub.2O np), and graphene. Uses of the same are provided, including in enhanced filtration systems and/or pressurized wastewater filtration plants.

Metal nanoparticle agglomerates may convey biocidal activity to surfaces upon which they are deposited and become adhered, such as various air filtration media. Air filtration media may comprise a plurality of fibers having a plurality of metal nanoparticle agglomerates adhered thereto. The metal nanoparticle agglomerates may comprise a plurality of fused, partially fused, or unfused metal nanoparticles that are associated with one another upon a surface of the plurality of the fibers. Suitable metal nanoparticles for promoting biocidal activity against various pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, may include copper nanoparticles and/or silver nanoparticles. Masks, inline filters, and air filtration systems may incorporate the air filtration media.