The invention discloses a preparation method of high-absorptivity silica as lutein carrier. The method includes adding sodium silicate into a synthesis kettle, introducing steam for heating while stirring, adding water, stirring for reaction to obtain a reaction substrate A, and adding sulfuric acid to the reaction substrate A to obtain reaction solution B; simultaneously adding sulfuric acid and sodium silicate into the reaction solution B, performing synthesis reaction for a given period of time, stopping feeding of sodium silicate, adding sulfuric acid only for post-acidification, and aging to obtain dilute slurry D; and filtering the dilute slurry D, washing, slurrying, drying and packaging to obtain silica microspheres as lutein carrier. The invention accurately controls each process so that the prepared high-absorptivity silica as lutein carrier has high adsorption and good dispersibility and flowability after adsorbing lutein.

A series of isoreticular metal-organic frameworks composed of metal nodes connected by rigid trigonal prismatic organic linkers and having a 6,12-coordinatled alb network topology are provided. Also provided are methods of synthesizing the metal-organic frameworks and methods of using the metal-organic frameworks to catalyze the hydrolysis of organic molecules, such as nerve agents, having hydrolysable bonds.

Disclosed are embodiments of a filter unit containing a water adsorbent material in the form of water adsorbent particles in a packed bed and a gas adsorbent material in the form of gas adsorbent particles in a packed bed. In embodiments, the gas adsorbent material is downstream from the water adsorbent material in a direction of operation. Further disclosed are methods of preparing and using the filter units.

A functionalized silica sorbent is described. The sorbent comprises mesoporous silica nanoparticles having a surface functionalized with a conjugated system comprising an azole and a phenyl. The surface may be functionalized by a Cu-catalyzed click reaction. The nanoparticles have an average particle size of 10-80 nm, and may be used to adsorb phenolic contaminants from aqueous solutions.

An aminated magnesium oxide adsorbent containing a magnesium oxide matrix having disordered mesopores and a BET surface area of 320 to 380 m.sup.2/g, and a polyamine selected from the group consisting of an ethyleneamine having a molecular weight of up to 450 g/mol and a polyethylene imine having a number average molecular weight of greater than 500 g/mol and up to 20,000 g/mol, wherein the polyamine is impregnated within the disordered mesopores of the magnesium oxide matrix. A method of making the aminated magnesium oxide adsorbent and a method of capturing CO.sub.2 from a gas mixture with the aminated magnesium oxide adsorbent are also described.

A method and reactor are disclosed for separating and removing heavy metals from wastewater using a sulfhydryl-modified nano-magnetized activated carbon. The method includes the steps of preparing a sulfhydryl-modified nano-magnetized activated carbon first; introducing heavy-metal-containing wastewater into a reactor which is equipped with a stirrer and keeping stirring, and then adding the sulfhydryl-modified nano-magnetized activated carbon, continuously stirring for a reaction; after reacting for a period, precipitating under a magnetic field generated by a magnet separator, discharging the resulting supernate, and then discharging the precipitated sludge.

A functionalized silica sorbent is described. The sorbent comprises mesoporous silica nanoparticles having a surface functionalized with a conjugated system comprising an azole and a phenyl. The surface may be functionalized by a Cu-catalyzed click reaction. The nanoparticles have an average particle size of 10-80 nm, and may be used to adsorb phenolic contaminants from aqueous solutions.

This invention relates to a Cu-BTC MOF which is water stable. The Cu-BTC MOF has open coordination sites and has been post synthesis modified by partially occupying the open sites with a ligand such as acetonitrile (CH.sub.3CN). The resultant MOF retains at least 40% of its as synthesized surface area after exposure to liquid water at 60° C. for 6 hours. This is an unexpected result versus the MOF which has not been post treated with ligands such as acetonitrile. This MOF can be used to abate contaminants such as ammonia in gas streams and especially air streams.

A functionalized silica sorbent is described. The sorbent comprises mesoporous silica nanoparticles having a surface functionalized with a conjugated system comprising an azole and a phenyl. The surface may be functionalized by a Cu-catalyzed click reaction. The nanoparticles have an average particle size of 10-80 nm, and may be used to adsorb phenolic contaminants from aqueous solutions.

Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of sorption of H.sub.2O from an environment by associating the environment with a porous material such that the association results in the sorption of H.sub.2O to the porous material. The porous material includes a (M)-2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid coordination polymer, where M is a divalent metal ion selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Mg, and combinations thereof. The coordination polymer has a one-dimensional pore structure and shows reversible soft-crystal behavior. The porous material may be a Mg(II) 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid coordination polymer (i.e., Mg-CUK-1). The methods of the present disclosure may also include one or more steps of releasing the sorbed H.sub.2O from the porous material and reusing the porous material after the releasing step for sorption of additional H.sub.2O from the environment.