A nitric oxide generator generates nitric oxide from a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen such as air treated by a pulsating electrical discharge. The desired concentration of nitric oxide is obtained by controlling at least one of a frequency of the pulsating electrical discharge and duration of each electrical discharge pulse.

Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties. Various properties of such networks of polyurethane particles (e.g., strength, stiffness, flexibility, thermal conductivity) may be tailored depending on which monomers are provided in the reaction.

An adsorptive cooling system includes: a first highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source, the first highly adsorptive structure including: a first substrate; and a first carbon aerogel adhered to the first substrate, a second highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from the thermal energy source, the second highly adsorptive structure including: a second substrate; and a second carbon aerogel adhered to the second substrate, a cooling unit; and a circulation system adapted for circulating the refrigerant from at least one of the first highly adsorptive structure and the second highly adsorptive structure to the cooling unit to provide cooling from the thermal energy source and to return the refrigerant from the cooling unit to at least one of the first highly adsorptive structure and the second highly adsorptive structure.

A process for gas-phase synthesis of titanium dioxide aerosol gels with controlled monomer size and crystalline phase using a diffusion flame aerosol reactor operated in a buoyancy-opposed configuration is disclosed. The process includes introducing a precursor stream into a diffusion flame aerosol reactor, introducing a fuel stream into the reactor, combusting the precursor stream and the fuel stream in a flame to form at least one nanoparticle, and operating the reactor in a down-fired buoyancy-opposed configuration to produce the aerosol gel.

A suctionable gel for eliminating a contaminating species contained in an organic layer on the surface of a material, consisting of a colloidal solution comprising, preferably consisting of: 1 wt % to 25 wt %, preferably 5 wt % to 20 wt % based on the total weight of the gel, of at least one inorganic viscosifying agent; 13 wt % to 99 wt %, preferably 80 wt % to 95 wt % based on the total weight of the gel, of an organic solvent selected among the terpenes and the mixtures thereof; optionally, 0.01 wt % to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the gel, of at least one dye and/or pigment; optionally 0.1 wt % to 2 wt %, based on the total weight of the gel, of at least one surfactant. The disclosure further relates to a decontamination method using the gel.

A separation medium for use in the separation of analytes from a feed stream containing suspended solids, processes of separation using the separation medium, and the use of the separation medium to separate analytes from a feed stream containing suspended solids. The separation medium is provided as a hydrogel having a structure whose surfaces are defined by a triply periodic minimal surface, the hydrogel comprising at least one ligand that binds at least one target analyte.

Disclosed is an air cleaner filter containing an improved organic gel, wherein an ultra-high efficiency organic gel microbial air (UGMA) filter cartridge has a nano-porous texture on organic gel in spongy carcass diameters of which are randomly distributed, randomly distributed organic gel in spongy carcass as microbial retainer generated by a layer covering inner surfaces of a spongy carcass having randomly distributed pores at the grade selected in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm according to need, air inlet channels that allow air to be passed into sandwich structure UGMA filter cartridge, air flow channels such that microbial loads smaller than 0.1 pm are retained by pores and the air wipes the nano-pores by generating micro turbulence therein. Also disclosed is a production method for manufacturing the UGMA filter.

The present invention provides a method for hydrophobization of a hydrophilic material, the method including introducing a hydrophobic group into a hydroxyl group (—OH group) on a surface of the hydrophilic material. A method for hydrophobization of a hydrophilic material, the method comprising reacting a hydrophilic material to be hydrophobized with a hydrophobic group-containing silylating agent in presence of an amino acid as a reaction accelerator, to introduce a hydrophobic group-containing silyl group to a surface of the hydrophilic material. A hydrophobized silica gel column filler is produced by using the method. Further, a hydrophobized silica gel column is produced by filling a column with the hydrophobized silica gel column filler.

Provided are superabsorbent materials composed of one or more water-soluble polysaccharides, such as gelling polysaccharides and gelling-compatible polysaccharides, and one or more insoluble fibers. The disclosed superabsorbent materials have a porous network structure and highly stable gelling properties as well as high absorption ratio and volume expansion capacity upon hydration or rehydration. Also provided are methods for preparing such superabsorbent materials and uses thereof.

Provided are superabsorbent materials composed of one or more water-soluble polysaccharides, such as gelling polysaccharides and gelling-compatible polysaccharides, and one or more insoluble fibers. The disclosed superabsorbent materials have a porous network structure and highly stable gelling properties as well as high absorption ratio and volume expansion capacity upon hydration or rehydration. Also provided are methods for preparing such superabsorbent materials and uses thereof.