Technologies for combusting hazardous compounds such as chemical warfare agents and related compounds are disclosed. In embodiments, the technologies include systems and methods for combusting such compounds in an internal combustion engine, such as a spark ignition internal combustion engine, a diesel engine, or the like. The technologies described herein further include components for treating an exhaust gas stream produced by combustion of hazardous compounds. In embodiments such components include a scrubber that utilizes a scrubbing media such as soil to removing acid gases from the exhaust stream.

A catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus is especially suited for placement in a containment of a nuclear reactor. The apparatus has a natural convection flow duct with a number of catalytic elements for recombining hydrogen and oxygen contained in a gas flow through the flow duct. The catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus provides for reliable hydrogen reduction and iodine filtering for a gas flow even for a comparatively long period of operation. The catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus includes a number of adsorber elements with iodine adsorbing surfaces and with macroscopic flow channels in between. The iodine adsorbing surfaces are flown over by the gas flow, and the adsorber elements are arranged, when in use, downstream of the catalytic elements in a direction of the gas flow.

The present invention provides an improved sorbent and corresponding device(s) and uses thereof for the capture and stabilization of volatile organic compounds (VOC) or semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) from a gaseous atmosphere. The sorbent is capable of rapid and high uptake of one or more compounds and provides quantitative release (recovery) of the compound(s) when exposed to elevated temperature and/or organic solvent. Uses of particular improved grades of mesoporous silica are disclosed.

A filter is provided for removing contaminants from a gas flow (e.g., an air flow). Multiple panel filters are arranged in a filter housing. The panel filters are arranged parallel or near-parallel to a main gas flow direction and spaced apart to define elongated gas flow channels between adjacent panel filters, each elongated gas flow channel extending generally in the gas flow direction. The elongated gas flow channels include inlet channel(s) and outlet channel(a) arranged in an alternating manner, the inlet channel(s) configured receiving the gas flow at the inlet end and the outlet channel(s) outputting a filtered gas flow from the outlet end. Gas flow redirecting structures are arranged to redirect the gas flow in each inlet channel through adjacent panel filter(s) and into adjacent outlet channel(s). The filter may provide a pressure drop of less than 3 iwg, less than 1 iwg, or less than 0.3 iwg.

The present invention provides an improved sorbent and corresponding device(s) and uses thereof for the capture and stabilization of volatile organic compounds (VOC) or semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) from a gaseous atmosphere. The sorbent is capable of rapid and high uptake of one or more compounds and provides quantitative release (recovery) of the compound(s) when exposed to elevated temperature and/or organic solvent. Uses of particular improved grades of mesoporous silica are disclosed.

A method, comprising i) contacting an aqueous solution of an organic ligand salt of the formula A.sub.X(L.sup.?X) with a mesoporous material (MPM) to form an impregnated mesoporous salt material of the formula A.sub.X(L.sup.?X)/MPM, ii) treating the impregnated mesoporous salt material with an aqueous acidic solution to form an impregnated mesoporous acid material of the formula H.sub.X(L.sup.?X)/MPM, iii) contacting an aqueous solution of a metal precursor of the formula M.sup.+y(B)y with the impregnated mesoporous acid material to form an impregnated mesoporous metal organic framework precursor of the formula [M.sup.+y(B).sub.y][H.sub.x(L.sup.?x)]/MPM, and iv) at least one of 1) heating the impregnated mesoporous metal organic framework precursor in the absence of a solvent or 2) exposing the impregnated mesoporous metal organic framework precursor to a volatile vapor in the absence of a solvent such that the heating or the exposing forms a hybrid material of the formula (M.sup.+yL.sup.?x)/MPM, wherein the hybrid material comprises a nano-crystalline metal organic framework (MOF) embedded within the mesoporous material.

A method of using a metal organic framework (MOF) comprising a metal ion and an at least bidendate organic ligand to catalytically detoxify chemical warfare nerve agents including exposing the metal-organic-framework (MOF) to the chemical warfare nerve agent and catalytically decomposing the nerve agent with the MOF.

Related are a chemical warfare agent (CWA) decontaminant, a method of decontaminating a CWA using the CWA decontaminant, and a product including the CWA decontaminant. The CWA decontaminant may include a metal-organic framework (MOF) including at least one metallic compound among metal hydroxide, metal hydride, metal acetate, metal methoxide, and metal oxide, and the at least one metallic compound may be dispersed either on a surface of the MOF or in pores of the MOF, or both.

A thermal desorption tube for chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. The thermal desorption tube includes a sorbent and a plurality of focusing agents loaded at known, relative amounts onto the sorbent. Each focusing agent is a compound that chromatographically elutes within a retention time similar to a retention time of a target analyte and has a mass spectrum similar to a mass spectrum of the target analyte. The thermal desorption tube is configured to be further loaded with a sample having the target analyte.

A filter unit for use in a filter box assembly, the filter unit comprising a particulate filter layer and a gas filter layer, the particulate filter layer being configured to bias towards the gas filter layer, exerting pressure thereon. There is also described filter box assemblies (including a duel filter assembly) comprising the filter unit, and a respiratory protective device comprising the filter unit. Also described is a method of manufacturing a filter unit with a gas filter layer and a particulate filter layer, wherein a force is applied to the particulate filter layer causing it to fix the gas filter layer in place. Also described is a method of manufacturing a dual filter assembly wherein a casing is twice reversibly attached to and detached from a support surface, filter units being added to the casing when the casing is attached to the surface.