In one aspect, separation media are described herein operable for removing one or more water contaminants including NOM and derivatives thereof. Briefly, a separation medium includes a nanoparticle support and an oligomeric stationary phase forming a film on individual nanoparticles of the support, the film having thickness of 1 to 100 nm. In some embodiments, oligomeric chains of the stationary phase are covalently bonded to the individual nanoparticles.

In one aspect, separation media are described herein operable for removing one or more water contaminants including NOM and derivatives thereof. Briefly, a separation medium includes a nanoparticle support and an oligomeric stationary phase forming a film on individual nanoparticles of the support, the film having thickness of 1 to 100 nm. In some embodiments, oligomeric chains of the stationary phase are covalently bonded to the individual nanoparticles.

A method for recovering water from purified terephthalic acid production wastewater includes: producing purified terephthalic acid comprising purified terephthalic acid feedstock and wastewater comprising impurities; separating the purified terephthalic acid feedstock from the wastewater comprising impurities; transferring the wastewater to a tank; adjusting the p H of the wastewater with a basic solution; adjusting the temperature of the wastewater; passing the wastewater to a column; contacting the wastewater with an ion exchange resin to remove the impurities; and recovering the water depleted of impurities.

A method for recovering water from purified terephthalic acid production wastewater includes: producing purified terephthalic acid comprising purified terephthalic acid feedstock and wastewater comprising impurities; separating the purified terephthalic acid feedstock from the wastewater comprising impurities; transferring the wastewater to a tank; adjusting the p H of the wastewater with a basic solution; adjusting the temperature of the wastewater; passing the wastewater to a column; contacting the wastewater with an ion exchange resin to remove the impurities; and recovering the water depleted of impurities.

Metal organic resins, composite materials composed of the metal organic resins, and anion exchange columns packed with the composite materials are provided. Also provided are methods of using the composite materials to remove metal anions from a sample, methods of using the metal organic resins as fluorescence sensors for detecting metal anions in a sample, and methods of making the metal organic resins and the composite materials. The metal organic resins are amine-functionalized metal organic frameworks and their associated counter anions. The composite materials are composed of metal organic resin particles coated with organic polymers, such as alginic acid polymers.

Metal organic resins, composite materials composed of the metal organic resins, and anion exchange columns packed with the composite materials are provided. Also provided are methods of using the composite materials to remove metal anions from a sample, methods of using the metal organic resins as fluorescence sensors for detecting metal anions in a sample, and methods of making the metal organic resins and the composite materials. The metal organic resins are amine-functionalized metal organic frameworks and their associated counter anions. The composite materials are composed of metal organic resin particles coated with organic polymers, such as alginic acid polymers.

An ion exchange system includes one or more strategies to reduce the amount of hydrogen gas inside an ion exchange column when the column is offline or disposed of. The ion exchange system comprises an ion exchange column including a housing and ion exchange media positioned in the housing. The ion exchange column can include one or more of the following: (1) an oxide material that limits the production of hydrogen gas from radiolysis, (2) a hydrogen scavenging material that removes or scavenges hydrogen gas inside the column, and (3) a hydrogen catalytic material that catalyzes the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen inside the column.

An ion exchange system includes one or more strategies to reduce the amount of hydrogen gas inside an ion exchange column when the column is offline or disposed of. The ion exchange system comprises an ion exchange column including a housing and ion exchange media positioned in the housing. The ion exchange column can include one or more of the following: (1) an oxide material that limits the production of hydrogen gas from radiolysis, (2) a hydrogen scavenging material that removes or scavenges hydrogen gas inside the column, and (3) a hydrogen catalytic material that catalyzes the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen inside the column.

A method for purifying waste water, and a dual chamber purification system, in which feed water may be passed first through a hybrid anion exchange unit, and subsequently through a weak acid cationic exchange unit. The hybrid anion exchanger may comprise a hybrid sorbent (HAIX-NanoZr) with dual functional sorption sites. The weak acid cationic exchanger may be a fiber having a shell-core physical configuration with relatively short intra-particle diffusion path length so that the ion exchange sites reside predominantly on the periphery. The system may be used to achieve partial desalination or TDS reduction and concurrent removal of target contaminants (e.g., phosphate, hardness). Further, the system may be regenerated using CO.sub.2 as the sole regenerant for both the hybrid anion exchanger and the weak acid cationic exchanger, thus producing spent regenerant with no externally added chemicals.

A method for purifying waste water, and a dual chamber purification system, in which feed water may be passed first through a hybrid anion exchange unit, and subsequently through a weak acid cationic exchange unit. The hybrid anion exchanger may comprise a hybrid sorbent (HAIX-NanoZr) with dual functional sorption sites. The weak acid cationic exchanger may be a fiber having a shell-core physical configuration with relatively short intra-particle diffusion path length so that the ion exchange sites reside predominantly on the periphery. The system may be used to achieve partial desalination or TDS reduction and concurrent removal of target contaminants (e.g., phosphate, hardness). Further, the system may be regenerated using CO.sub.2 as the sole regenerant for both the hybrid anion exchanger and the weak acid cationic exchanger, thus producing spent regenerant with no externally added chemicals.