A process for preparing a copper sulfide of the formula Cu.sub.xS.sub.y, wherein the process comprises the following steps: (i) reacting an aqueous solution of a copper salt with a molar excess of a sulfiding agent so as to precipitate copper sulfide from the solution; (ii) isolating the copper sulfide precipitate from the reaction mixture; and (iii) drying the copper sulfide precipitate at a temperature of less than 100 C., wherein x and y are integer or non-integer values.

Copper sulfide of the formula Cu.sub.xS.sub.y, wherein x and y are integer or non-integer values, wherein (i) the copper sulfide has a sulfur 2p XPS spectrum with peaks at 162.3 eV (1 ev), 163.8 eV (1 ev) and 68.5 eV (1 ev), characterised in that the peak at 168.5 eV has a lower value of counts per second (CPS) than both the peak at 162.3 eV and the peak at 163.8 eV; and (ii) the copper sulfide has a copper 2p XPS spectrum with peaks at 932.0 eV (2ev) and 933.6 eV (3eV) and characterised in that the XPS spectrum does not comprise identifiable satellite peaks at 939.8 eV and 943.1 eV (3 eV).

A short channel ordered mesoporous carbon loaded indium cobalt sulfide and indium nickel sulfide ternary composite photocatalyst, and a preparation method and application thereof. The short channel ordered mesoporous carbon loaded indium cobalt sulfide and indium nickel sulfide ternary composite photocatalyst is prepared by mixing pretreated short channel mesoporous carbon with cobalt salt, nickel salt, indium salt and reducing agent with a hydrothermal reaction. The short channel ordered mesoporous carbon is obtained by calcining a short channel ordered mesoporous silica and a carbon source under the protection of nitrogen, wherein the short channel ordered mesoporous silica is prepared by carrying out reactions of sol-gel-hydrothermal-calcination sequentially using a mixture of a surfactant, a hydrochloric acid solution, ammonium fluoride and tetraethyl orthosilicate. The photocatalyst has strong adsorption and visible light catalytic activity on VOCs, and can effectively adsorb and decompose the enriched VOCs in situ on the surface of the catalyst.

A method is described for preparing a sorbent including the steps of: (i) mixing together a particulate copper sulphide material, a particulate support material and one or more binders, (ii) shaping the mixture, and (iii) drying the shaped mixture to form a dried sorbent.

Herein are disclosed compositions of matter, processes of manufacture and processes of use of solid state admixtures that include an inorganic base and a sulfide selected from the group consisting of an ammonium sulfide, an alkali metal sulfide, an alkali-earth metal sulfide, transition metal sulfide, and a mixture thereof. The composition can include solid state inorganic bases (e.g., calcium hydroxide and sodium sesquicarbonate) and/or gaseous bases (e.g., ammonia) and, optionally, a support material for one or more of the inorganic base and sulfide. The compositions are useful for capturing environmental contaminants, for example, from the flue gas of a coal fired power plant.

A chromatograph is provided for identifying components of a mixture. Components are identified by different rates of adsorption and/or desorption with a material phase. In one embodiment, an electrical lead is connected to the material phase for supplying an electrical charge to the material phase. The electrical charge alters the rate of adsorption/desorption of the components with the material phase. In another embodiment, the material phase is disposed between two conductors with electrical leads connected to each of the conductors. A charge differential between the two conductors alters the rate of adsorption and/or desorption of components with the material phase.

Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and/or combinations thereof.

An emissions control system including a fluidized bed apparatus containing a reactive sorbent material is disclosed for gaseous and non-gaseous contaminated emissions. The reactive sorbent material may be CZTS, CZTS-Alloy, or a carbon-based sorbent material. The fluidized bed apparatus is configured with one or more closed loop sorbent recycling subsystems. The sorbent recycling subsystems include the capability to separate sorbents from each other, separate contaminates from sorbents for disposal and/or recycling, clean and/or rejuvenate sorbents for return to the fluidized bed apparatus, dispose of spent and exhausted sorbents, and replace the spent and exhausted sorbents with new sorbent to maintain consistent sorbent function in the fluidized bed apparatus. Monitoring sensors provide information useful in a method for establishing and maintaining consistent process parameter controls.

A method of preparing a graphene-metal chalcogenide porous material is provided. The method includes providing a dispersion comprising graphene oxide; adding a metal precursor and a chalcogenide precursor to the dispersion to form a mixture; heating the mixture under hydrothermal conditions to form a gel; and freeze drying the gel to obtain the graphene-metal chalcogenide porous material. A graphene-metal chalcogenide porous material prepared by the method, and use of the material in water treatment, energy storage, fire proofing, batteries or supercapacitors are also provided.

The present invention provides a composition of porous mineral nucleus and a shell, wherein the porous mineral nucleus has a porous surface and the shell includes a material selected from the group of: a metal, an organic molecule, or a combination thereof.