Provided is a composite material including a plurality of porous silicate particles having a glass phase structure, a first active metal adsorbed into the glass phase structure of the porous silicate particles, and a modified layer containing a second active metal formed on the surfaces of the porous silicate particles. The porous silicate particles have an average pore diameter of from 3 nm to 50 nm, and the first active metal includes at least one of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

An ammonia adsorption product is described which may be used for fresh caught fish and bait. The product may comprise functionalized tectosilicate compound and a buffer. High concentrations of ammonia produced by fish waste can be lethal, even though oxygen availability is rich enough to keep fish breathing. The product is a user-friendly, sustainable, affordable product which is able to extend the life of the fish by safely removing ammonia by an ion-exchange mechanism. This product can convert toxic ammonia into ammonium and uptake ammonium by releasing sodium ions in the water.

A method includes contacting a metallic compound comprising a first metallic cation, with a melt comprising a metallic polysulfide comprising a second metallic cation, thereby forming a molten metallic polysulfide of the first metallic cation. The method also includes cooling the melt to form a sulfur phase and a solid phase comprising the molten metallic polysulfide of the first metallic cation.

A method includes contacting a metallic compound comprising a first metallic cation, with a melt comprising a metallic polysulfide comprising a second metallic cation, thereby forming a molten metallic polysulfide of the first metallic cation. The method also includes cooling the melt to form a sulfur phase and a solid phase comprising the molten metallic polysulfide of the first metallic cation.

A solid particulate composition useful in extracting a lithium salt from aqueous solutions, the composition comprising lithium, metal atoms, oxygen atoms, and at least one anionic species (X) selected from halide, nitrate, sulfate, carbonate and bicarbonate, all in a framework structure, wherein said metal atoms are selected from at least one of oxophilic main group metal and oxophilic transition metal atoms, provided that, if the metal atoms comprise aluminum atoms, then at least 10 mol % of said aluminum atoms are substituted with at least one metal atom selected from said at least one oxophilic main group and oxophilic transition metal atoms, other than aluminum, and wherein said lithium is present in said composition in an amount less than a saturated amount in order to permit extraction of lithium salt. Methods for extracting and recovering a lithium salt from an aqueous solution by use of the above-described composition are also described.

A solid particulate composition useful in extracting a lithium salt from aqueous solutions, the composition comprising lithium, metal atoms, oxygen atoms, and at least one anionic species (X) selected from halide, nitrate, sulfate, carbonate and bicarbonate, all in a framework structure, wherein said metal atoms are selected from at least one of oxophilic main group metal and oxophilic transition metal atoms, provided that, if the metal atoms comprise aluminum atoms, then at least 10 mol % of said aluminum atoms are substituted with at least one metal atom selected from said at least one oxophilic main group and oxophilic transition metal atoms, other than aluminum, and wherein said lithium is present in said composition in an amount less than a saturated amount in order to permit extraction of lithium salt. Methods for extracting and recovering a lithium salt from an aqueous solution by use of the above-described composition are also described.

Crystalline molecular sieves and their synthesis using quaternary N-methyl-diisoalkylammonium cations as organic structure directing agents are disclosed. The structure directing agent has the following structure (1): ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, and a hydroxymethyl group; and R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from a methyl group, an ethyl group, and a propyl group.

Crystalline molecular sieves and their synthesis using quaternary N-methyl-diisoalkylammonium cations as organic structure directing agents are disclosed. The structure directing agent has the following structure (1): ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, and a hydroxymethyl group; and R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from a methyl group, an ethyl group, and a propyl group.

Systems, methods, and membranes involving ion exchange membranes are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, an ultrathin laminar layer made of inorganic nanosheets may be coated on one side or both sides of a polymeric anion exchange membrane (AEM), forming a composite AEM. Oxidation stability measurements may indicate that composite AEM provide superior oxidation resistance to exemplary polymeric AEMs and to commercial polymeric AEMs.

Systems, methods, and membranes involving ion exchange membranes are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, an ultrathin laminar layer made of inorganic nanosheets may be coated on one side or both sides of a polymeric anion exchange membrane (AEM), forming a composite AEM. Oxidation stability measurements may indicate that composite AEM provide superior oxidation resistance to exemplary polymeric AEMs and to commercial polymeric AEMs.