There is disclosed a system and process for purifying air. The system includes a housing and a plurality of inner and outer chambers. A solution of water and a biological reagent is configured to flow around the inner and outer walls of the inner and outer chambers while air is passed adjacent to this fluid flow. This causes an interaction between the air and the fluid solution to cleanse the air. The air is then discharged from the chamber.

An air mover for forcing air through the system, a pre-treating stage with a particulate filter for removing larger contaminants from the air and an antimicrobial (e.g., copper and silver) filter for killing or damaging microorganisms, a UV chamber including an ultraviolet lamp that emits radiation and a catalytic (e.g., TiO.sub.2-coated) device and a reflective (e.g., mirror-finish anodized aluminum) lining for amplifying the UV radiation for killing microorganisms, a post-UV stage including a VOC-reducing (e.g., activated-charcoal) filter for removing odors and VOCs from the air, and optionally a supply of a surface disinfectant (e.g., ClO.sub.2). In example embodiments, the UV lamps and VOC filters are selected and configured for controlling microbial pathogens, and in other example embodiments they are selected and configured for removing ethylene from the air.

The application provides an oxide layer material capable of adsorbing and degrading methane gas, which is obtained by a method comprising the steps of: 1) subjecting a cracked household refuse to aerobic biological pretreatment; 2) subjecting the material which has been subjected to the aerobic biological pretreatment to biological stabilizing treatment; and 3) adding copper chloride, potassium sulfate, magnesium oxide, and a composite bacterial agent for oxidizing methane gas to the material which has been subjected to the biological stabilizing treatment to obtain the oxide layer material capable of adsorbing and degrading methane gas. This disclosure further discloses a method for preparing the oxide layer material capable of adsorbing and degrading methane gas described above.

A computerized process for controlling an air purification system comprises a bioreactor in particular, the system may comprise a photobioreactor for treating urban air, in particular for CO.sub.2 removal. The system may be connected to the sanitation network and/or to a (drinking and/or municipal) water supply network. The connection and the drainage system may in particular maintain a fluidic isolation between the two types of networks. The system may optionally be equipped with measurement sensors and/or actuators that make it possible to control the internal activity of the bioreactor. Various control modes of a grid of bioreactors are described. Data on the status of the connected networks (e.g. water, sanitation, cooling, heating networks) contribute to the control of a network of geolocalized bioreactors. The software aspects are described. The supervision of the grid of bioreactors may in particular be carried out remotely via onboard communication devices.

Methods of producing solid CO.sub.2 sequestering carbonate materials are provided. Aspects of the methods include introducing a divalent cation source into a flowing aqueous liquid (e.g., a bicarbonate rich product containing liquid) under conditions sufficient such that a non-slurry solid phase CO.sub.2 sequestering carbonate material is produced. Also provided are systems configured for carrying out the methods.

The innovation uses the disparity between dry and wet conditions of the air, by storing the dryness or wetness in a hygroscopic material. When the surrounding air is drier or wetter than the hygroscopic material, the potential energy difference between moisture in the air and that in the material can be used as a way of transporting heat from the material to the air and vice versa. A simple way this energy can be used is for heating and cooling of a building. For example, a large storage of adsorbing material can be dried in the hot summer, and allowed to re-adsorb water in the cold winter, thus gaining heat that can be used for domestic heating.

Methods of producing solid CO.sub.2 sequestering carbonate materials are provided. Aspects of the methods include introducing a divalent cation source into a flowing aqueous liquid (e.g., a bicarbonate rich product containing liquid) under conditions sufficient such that a non-slurry solid phase CO.sub.2 sequestering carbonate material is produced. Also provided are systems configured for carrying out the methods.

Provided are materials and processes for removing nitrogen dioxide gas from a sample by contacting the sample with a filtration media that includes a MOF, optionally an amine containing MOF. The resulting filtration media has the ability to sequester nitrogen dioxide with little conversion to nitric oxide, is stable, and highly functional so as to be useful in protective equipment or other filtration systems.

Polymeric film of a semi rigid nature and with low opacity that contributes to environmental detoxification through the inclusion of titanium dioxide particles. It features photocatalytic properties within the range of visible light. The film permits the coating of surfaces such as windows by adhering to them and is thus easily removable. Versions in which the film includes at least one layer with electrochromic properties have been developed. It is intended for the chemicals and construction sectors.

Methods for carbon-capture within a biochar are provided. The method includes mixing a biochar with an alkaline solution to form an intermediate mixture and exposing the intermediate mixture to a CO.sub.2 source so as to precipitate calcium carbonate onto and into the biochar to form a CO.sub.2-weathered biochar. In some cases, the method also includes injecting CO.sub.2 into alkaline wastewater to sequester/store CO.sub.2 which can then serve as mixing water for producing cementitious composites. This method may be used to upcycle three waste streams, and treated CO.sub.2-weathered biochar preserves compressive strength of resultant concrete when substituted for a portion of the pre-cure cement and aggregate components. Further, treated CO.sub.2-weathered recycled aggregate preserves mechanical strength of resultant concrete when substituted for a portion of aggregate.