Provided herein are methods of making an adsorbent bed useful as a micro-reactor, or a catalytic and/or separation device. The adsorbent bed comprises a metal-organic framework composite. In the present methods, one or more metal-organic frameworks in powder form are mixed in a liquid to produce a metal-organic framework suspension or other type of metal-organic framework coating. A monolith is coated with the suspension or coating to provide the metal-organic framework composite having at least one metal-organic framework coating layer deposited on and bounded to the monolith. The metal-organic framework composite produced has a BET surface area of about 1 m.sup.2/g to about 300 m.sup.2/g and/or a comparative BET surface area of about 40% to about 100% relative to the metal-organic framework monolith, and pore size between about 1 nm and about 50 nm.

Disclosed is a system and method for performing measurements on a biological subject, and in one particular example, to performing measurements of analytes in a biological subject by breaching a functional barrier of the subject using microstructures, wherein the one or more microstructures include molecularly imprinted polymer for binding one or more analytes.

Disclosed are methods of preparing a cross-linked polymeric polycarboxylic acid by cross-linking the polymeric polycarboxylic acid with cross-linking agent comprising a polyepoxide and a polyhydrazide. Also disclosed are the cross-linked polymeric polycarboxylic acids made by the process and water-absorbent polymer materials comprising the cross-linked polymeric polycarboxylic acids.

An apparatus for collecting a gaseous pollutant from air may comprise multiple vertical panel-beds each containing a solid sorbent; a fan to pass the air through the multiple vertical panel-beds and over the solid sorbent; an outlet gate configured to release the solid sorbent from the multiple vertical panel-beds after the fan passes the air over the solid sorbent; a regeneration vessel configured to regenerate the released solid sorbent by recovering the gaseous pollutant from the released solid sorbent; and a conveyor configured to return the regenerated solid sorbent to the multiple vertical panel-beds.

An apparatus for collecting a gaseous pollutant from air may comprise multiple vertical panel-beds each containing a solid sorbent; a fan to pass the air through the multiple vertical panel-beds and over the solid sorbent; an outlet gate configured to release the solid sorbent from the multiple vertical panel-beds after the fan passes the air over the solid sorbent; a regeneration vessel configured to regenerate the released solid sorbent by recovering the gaseous pollutant from the released solid sorbent; and a conveyor configured to return the regenerated solid sorbent to the multiple vertical panel-beds.

Disclosed are methods for critical point drying a composite material. After exposing the composite material to a supercritical fluid, the composite material dries as the supercritical fluid evaporates with reduced pressure. The composite materials are useful as chromatographic separation media.

A method of manufacturing a hydrocarbon absorbent structure comprises providing a lower sheet of material and dispensing a hydrocarbon absorbent polymer mixture thereon. The polymer mixture is then preheated so as to at least partially melt the polymer mixture. An upper sheet of material is then provided onto the at least partially melted polymer mixture on the lower sheet of material. The lower sheet of material, polymer mixture and upper sheet of material are then laminated together to form a hydrocarbon absorbent laminate structure.

A method of manufacturing a hydrocarbon absorbent structure comprises providing a lower sheet of material and dispensing a hydrocarbon absorbent polymer mixture thereon. The polymer mixture is then preheated so as to at least partially melt the polymer mixture. An upper sheet of material is then provided onto the at least partially melted polymer mixture on the lower sheet of material. The lower sheet of material, polymer mixture and upper sheet of material are then laminated together to form a hydrocarbon absorbent laminate structure.

The present invention relates to a sheet filter material, in particular having an aerosol filter function and/or a particle filter function, preferably having a protective function against chemical, biological and/or chemical harmful and toxic substances, and to a method for the production thereof. The sheet filter material is particularly suitable for producing protective equipment, protective objects, sports and leisure clothing and filters and filter materials of all types.

Provided is a water-absorbing agent that causes no or little fluctuation of feed rate when fed with use of a feeder. A water-absorbing agent containing a water-absorbing resin as a main component, the water-absorbing agent satisfying the following (a) and (b): (a) K-index is 70 or more; and (b) Moisture absorption blocking ratio, after 30 minutes of standing at a temperature of 25° C. and a relative humidity of 80% RH, is 70 weight % or less, the K-index being defined by the following equation: K-index=100−(−438+3.6×angle of repose+3.5×angle of difference+7.9×compressibility rate+290×bulk density (EDANA method)).