A method to make metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in which a first aqueous solution of a transition metal salt is mixed with a second aqueous solution of an imidazole or alkyl-substituted imidazole to yield a product solution containing MOF crystals. The MOF crystals are used to fabricate electrodes for electrochemical detection of nitro-aromatic compounds.

The present invention relates to a super-absorbent polymer having excellent properties, both centrifugal retention capacity (CRC) and absorption under pressure (AUP) having been improved by introducing a surface crosslinked layer crosslinked by surface-modified inorganic particles, and to a method for preparing the same. The super-absorbent polymer comprises: a base resin powder containing a crosslinked polymer of water-soluble ethylene-based unsaturated monomers having an at least partially neutralized acidic group; and a surface crosslinked layer formed on the base resin powder, wherein inorganic particles may be chemically bound to the crosslinked polymer contained in the surface crosslinked layer, via an oxygen-containing bond or a nitrogen-containing bond.

Fresh water contamination by heavy metals results from a variety of sources and can be damaging to wildlife, alter landscapes, and impact human health. metals removal form water sources is desirable for improving water quality and preventing adverse effects, but also for metals collection and recycling. Adsorption is a desirable metals extraction technique due to economic feasibility. Nanoscale materials exhibit high surface-area-to-volume ratio that lends to high adsorption and reactivity, making them ideal candidates for adsorptive metals extraction processes. Despite these properties, nanomaterials have elicited safety concerns. The extraordinarily small dimensions of these materials allow them to maneuver biological systems, tissues, and even cells, and combined with high reactivity, this translocation can result in toxic effects. It is therefore imperative that safety of nanomaterials for metals extraction be evaluated in addition to adsorptive properties. The current invention describes nanoparticles composed of magnetite, coated in hydroxyapatite, and functionalized for adsorption with titanium dioxide (TiHAMNPs). This material is safe, provides significant adsorption of metals, and allows efficient collection in magnetic systems.

The production method includes: a gel-crushing step of grinding a crosslinked hydrogel polymer to obtain a particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer; a heating drying step of obtaining dried particles from the particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer by using a continuous stirring drying machine; a post-crosslinking step of post-crosslinking the particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer or the dried particles; and a sizing step of adjusting a particle size of the dried particles or the post-crosslinked dried particles to obtain water-absorbent resin powder. The particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer contains a gel fluidizer. A gel temperature of the particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer containing the gel fluidizer, the gel temperature being measured by a contact thermometer, is not lower than 50° C. In the production method, the dried particles or the post-crosslinked dried particles is forcedly cooled before the sizing step.

A method for cleaning up oil spills using multi-layered carbon fiber-based absorbents is disclosed. The method for cleaning up oil spills requires an oil-contaminated area including a quantity of oil, a first storage vessel, an oil extraction machine, a heating element, and a multi-layered carbon fiber absorbent. The multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent is distributed to the oil-contaminated area, where the multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent is configured to extract the quantity of oil from the oil-contaminated area while maintaining hydrophobic. The quantity of oil is extracted and separated from the multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent using the oil extraction machine. The extracted quantity of oil is collected into the first storage vessel. The extract quantity of oil is then transferred over to a second storage vessel for later refinement.

The present disclosure is directed to a method for making a MER framework type zeolite, a MER framework type zeolite having a stick-like morphology, and processes for the selective separation of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from multi-component feedstreams containing CO.sub.2 using the zeolite.

Described are filter materials including a polyol ligand, such as n-methylglucamine, and/or a polyphosphonic acid ligand, which are highly effective for filtering metals or metal ions from fluids. The filter materials can be particularly useful to filter basic and acidic fluid compositions, such as those used for wet etching, removing photoresist, and cleaning steps in microelectronic device manufacturing.

A composition for making composite adsorbents from a mixture of geopolymer, zeolite and activated carbon wherein a geopolymer material, a carbonaceous material, and an alkali activating agent are the components of the mixture. The alkali activating agent to carbonaceous material solid mass ratio is at least 0.25:1, respectively. A process for producing shaped composite adsorbents from the composition is done using conventional means such as mixing, shaping, extrusion and other methods. Alkali activation is used to convert the carbonaceous material to activated carbon, followed by hydrothermal treatment to convert the geopolymer material to zeolites. Shaped composite adsorbents fabricated from the composition of the instant invention are used for adsorption, purification, or other separation applications of liquids and gases.

A sorbent composition for pelletized carbon products having high strength and water resistance is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing and using sorbent compositions of pelletized carbon products having higher strength and water resistance. Other embodiments include a system and method for removing contaminants from a process gas stream.

A method for the sorption of phosphorous and/or nitrogen from a liquid, the method comprising the step of contacting the liquid with a composition comprising spongolite.