The present invention relates to a method for modifying the crystalline inorganic framework of an adsorbent with coatings to provide rate selectivity for one gas over others is described. The method described herein narrows the effective pore size of crystalline porous solids with pores less than about 5A for rate selective separations. This method of the invention comprises treating the hydrated or partially hydrated zeolite with a silicone derived binding agent followed by subsequent heat treatment. The additive content and treatment are adjusted to match effective pore size to specific separations. The superior adsorbent has the added convenience of bead forming simultaneously with pore modification as well as having the treatment result in the yielding of high crush strength products.

A method for removing carbon dioxide directly from ambient air, using a sorbent under ambient conditions, to obtain relatively pure CO.sub.2. The CO.sub.2 is removed from the sorbent using process heat, preferably in the form of steam, at a temperature in the range of not greater than about 130 C., to capture the relatively pure CO.sub.2 and to regenerate the sorbent for repeated use. Increased efficiency can be achieved by admixing with the ambient air, prior to contacting the sorbent, a minor amount of a preferably pretreated effluent gas containing a higher concentration of carbon dioxide. The captured carbon dioxide can be stored for further use, or sequestered permanently. The above method provides purified carbon dioxide for further use in agriculture and chemical processes, or for permanent sequestration.

The present invention relates to an average-density-adjustable structure and more specifically provides a structure the average density of which is adjusted by changing the material of the structure and the size of a void formed therein and which can thereby float on the surface of or in a liquid and can easily bond with or change a material present in a gas or liquid by being equipped with a first material, which is one among an organic catalyst, an inorganic catalyst, a microorganism, and a biomolecule.

Methods for regenerating an article for capturing carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from a gas stream include removing a CO.sub.2 capture sorbent from an adsorbent capture honeycomb. Removing the CO.sub.2 capture sorbent from the capture article may include contacting the adsorbent honeycomb and a volume of fluid, wherein the fluid removes the sorbent from the honeycomb, and the honeycomb binder is insoluble in the fluid. Restoring the article may include contacting the honeycomb with a regeneration fluid to deposit a CO.sub.2 capture sorbent on a surface of the honeycomb.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of sensor devices comprising a sensing component able to determine the presence of, detect, and/or quantify detectable species in a variety of environments and applications. The sensing components disclosed herein can comprise MOF materials, plasmonic nanomaterials, or combinations thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, light guides can be coupled with the sensing components described herein to provide sensor devices capable of increased NIR detection sensitivity in determining the presence of detectable species, such as gases and volatile organic compounds. In another exemplary embodiment, optical properties of the plasmonic nanomaterials combined with MOF materials can be monitored directly to detect analyte species through their impact on external conditions surrounding the particle or as a result of charge transfer to and from the plasmonic material as a result of interactions with the plasmonic material and/or the MOF material.

A structure and system for the adsorption of carbon dioxide from air, the system comprising a sorbent structure comprising a porous substrate having a porous alumina coating on the surfaces of said substrate, and the sorbent for carbon dioxide is embedded on the surfaces of said porous alumina coating. The substrate is preferably a porous monolith, formed from silica or mesocellular foam. The sorbent is an amine group-containing material, preferably loaded at 40 to 60 percent by volume relative to the porous alumina coating.

The present invention provides novel chromatographic materials, e.g., for chromatographic separations, processes for their preparation and separations devices containing the chromatographic materials. The chromatographic materials of the invention have controlled porosity and comprise a chromatographic core material and one or more layers of chromatographic surface materials which each independently provide an average pore diameter, an average pore volume, or a specific surface area such that the combined layers form a chromatographic material having a predetermined or desired pattern of porosity from the core material to the outermost surface. The materials are useful for HPLC separations, normal-phase separations, reversed-phase separations, chiral separations, HILIC separations, SFC separations, affinity separations, perfusive separations, partially perfusive separations, and SEC separations.

A method for forming a solid support material and the solid support material are provided. The method includes making a silicate precursor solution (solution A), making a calcium precursor solution (solution B), mixing solution B into solution A while stirring, forming a hydrogel, and heating the hydrogel to form a precursor solid. The precursor solid is calcined to form the solid support material.

Polymer-filled ceramic apatites and their uses are provided.

A metal-organic framework (MOF) structure comprising at least one metal ion and at least one multidentate organic ligand which is coordinately bonded to said metal ion, and a scaffold.