A colorimetric sensor for detecting an analyte of interest that includes a metal layer disposed upon a substrate, a plurality of nanostructures, and a corresponding plurality of metal deposits spaced apart from the metal layer. The metal layer defines a plurality of holes, each nanostructure includes a first portion disposed within a respective hole, and each metal deposit is disposed upon a second portion of a respective nanostructure. The sensor also includes a molecularly imprinted polymer layer that may cover the metal layer, the nanostructures, and/or the metal deposits. The molecularly imprinted polymer layer defines a cavity shaped to receive the analyte of interest, and the sensor is configured such that, when an analyte contacts the molecularly imprinted polymer layer and becomes disposed within the cavity, an optical property of at least a portion of the sensor changes thereby to cause a detectable color change in and/or from the sensor.

A process for separate removal and recovery of heavy metals from industrial wastewater is provided. The wastewater to be treated flows through adsorbents after filtration and adjustment of a pH to about 3 to 7 to obtain the adsorbents which have adsorbed corresponding heavy-metal ions, which are then eluted from the corresponding adsorbents using an acidic solution such that eluates containing the corresponding heavy-metal ions are obtained.

A water absorption treatment material includes a first grain and a second grain that absorb a liquid. The first grain includes a first core portion and a first coating portion. The first core portion has a grain-like shape. The first coating portion contains an adhesive material, and entirely covers the first core portion. The second grain includes a second core portion and a second coating portion. The second core portion has a grain-like shape. The second coating portion contains an adhesive material, and partially covers the second core portion.

A material includes a porous particle that includes a metal ion imprinted polymer. The metal ion imprinted polymer is formed from a hydrophilic co-monomer, a metal containing polymerizable compound, and a cross-linking agent. The metal containing polymerizable compound includes at least one metal chelating ligand. The metal ion imprinted polymer includes a plurality of metal ion selective binding sites. A method includes flowing brine containing a metal ion through a reactor that includes the material. The method further includes discharging the brine from the reactor, contacting the porous particles with water, and pressurizing the reactor with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide reacts with the adsorbed metal ions to form a metal carbonate solution. The method further includes depressurizing the reactor to precipitate metal carbonate from the metal carbonate solution and discharging the metal carbonate solution from the reactor.

Disclosed herein is a method of making a polymeric material for selective adsorption of a gas. The method comprises dissolving a monomer comprising a functional group having an affinity for the gas in a solvent with a cross-linker and an initiator; emulsifying the solution in a liquid which is immiscible with the first solvent; and agitating and heating the emulsion to cause polymerization of the monomer into a cross-linked polymer having nanocavities with functional groups covalently-incorporated on walls thereof. Also disclosed are polymeric particles, an apparatus for forming the particles and a method of adsorbing a selected gas.

Disclosed herein is a method of making a polymeric material for selective adsorption of a gas. The method comprises dissolving a monomer comprising a functional group having an affinity for the gas in a solvent with a cross-linker and an initiator; emulsifying the solution in a liquid which is immiscible with the first solvent; and agitating and heating the emulsion to cause polymerization of the monomer into a cross-linked polymer having nanocavities with functional groups covalently-incorporated on walls thereof. Also disclosed are polymeric particles, an apparatus for forming the particles and a method of adsorbing a selected gas.

Caffeine-adsorbing materials, caffeine-adsorbing systems, and decaffeination system suitable for removing caffeine from a solution; methods for removing caffeine from a solution; and methods of making the caffeine-adsorbing materials are described.

A system and method that includes flowing brine containing a metal ion through a reactor that includes porous particles having metal ion imprinted polymer having selective binding sites. The system and method further include discharging the brine from the reactor, contacting the porous particles with water, and pressurizing the reactor with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide reacts with the adsorbed metal ions to form a metal carbonate solution, where the metal carbonate solution can then be continuously purified with ion exchange. The method can include recycling eluent from the ion exchange back into the system for re-use. The method further includes depressurizing the reactor to precipitate metal carbonate from the metal carbonate solution and discharging the metal carbonate solution from the reactor.

Disclosed is a molecularly imprinted polymer for storing a defined value of a numerical code, more particularly a binary code, in the molecular imprints of said polymer, and a method for the production of said polymer. The molecular imprinting process uses suitable templates comprising a defined sequence of at least two different structural units, each having a different chemical functionality.

A polymerization process, preferably a living radical polymerisation process, is carried out in the presence of a template substance, to produce molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). It is controlled so that the products are quite small (500-10.sup.6 Daltons) so that they are soluble or form colloidal suspensions. The template substances are immobilized templates, which can be re-used. Immobilized templates are also useful for purification of MIP solutions/suspensions by affinity chromatography.