An article Including a support matrix including a plurality of pores, a metal oxide and a clay, wherein the metal oxide and the clay are disposed on the support matrix or within the plurality of pores of the support matrix, and a method of removing a hydrocarbon fluid and microplastics from an aqueous fluid by immersing the article into the aqueous fluid.

A magnetic soil remediation agent for soil heavy metal pollution and a preparation method and application thereof are provided. The magnetic soil remediation agent is prepared by using remediation agent framework material and magnetic core material as raw materials, and heavy metal collector as modifier; said framework material is silicon dioxide activated by strong alkali; said magnetic core material comprises magnetic materials Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 and γ-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3; said modifier comprises ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt (NTA, (S,S)-ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid trisodium salt (EDDS) and mercaptoethylamine. The remediation agent of the present invention can effectively passivate the heavy metals in the soil, reduce their available contents, and inhibit the absorption of heavy metals by plants.

A photovoltaic module comprising: (a) a photovoltaic laminate including: two or more electrically conducting dements extending through the photovoltaic laminate so that power is moved from one photovoltaic module towards another photovoltaic module or towards an inverter; and (b) one or more connectors connected to each of the two or more electrically conducting elements by a connection joint, each of the one or more connectors include: two or more opposing terminals that each are connected to and extend from one of the two or more electrically conducing elements; wherein a dielectric space is located between the two or more opposing terminals and the dielectric space blocks material used to form a connection joint from passing from a first terminal to a second terminal, the material from the connection joint cools before the material passes from one terminal to a second terminal, the material fails to travel from the first terminal to the second terminal, or a combination thereof.

The present invention is related to a catalytic process, which includes catalytic compositions for depolymerisation and deoxygenation of lignin contained in the biomass for obtaining aromatic hydrocarbons. The catalytic composition consists of at least one non-noble element from group VIIIB of the periodic table supported on a mesoporous matrix composed of an inorganic oxide, which can be alumina surface-modified with a second inorganic oxide with the object of inhibiting the interaction between the active component and the support. The process of lignin depolymerisation consists of dissolving lignin in a mixture of protic liquids, reacting it I a reaction system by batch or in continuous flow at inert and/or reducing atmosphere, at a temperature of between 60 to 320° C. and a pressure of from 5 to 90 kg/cm.sup.2. When the reaction is developed into a batch system, oxygenated aromatic hydrocarbons are mainly produced, both by thermal as well as catalytic depolymerisation, whereas in a continuous flow reaction system, deoxygenated aromatic hydrocarbons are produced.

The invention relates to a method for immobilizing nucleic ligands including at least one reactive amine function, by grafting on an activated solid substrate, including a step of coupling said nucleic acids on said activated solid substrate having a pH of less than 6.

A material, such as a flexible sheet, including a metal or metal alloy, wherein the metal or metal alloy has at least one porous metal oxide layer thereon. In some examples, the at least one metal oxide layer has a three-dimensional disordered network of channels in which the pores have non-constant diameters. Methods of preparing the materials are also disclosed.

The invention relates to regenerative, solid sorbent for adsorbing carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, with the sorbent including a modified polyamine and a nano-structured solid support. The modified polyamine is the reaction product of an amine and an aldehyde. The sorbent provides structural integrity, as well as high selectivity and increased capacity for efficiently capturing carbon dioxide from gas mixtures, including the air. The sorbent is regenerative, and can be used through multiple operations of absorption-desorption cycles.

The present invention relates to a sorbent which is suitable for binding metals from solutions, the production of a corresponding sorbent as well as the use of the sorbent for binding metals from solutions.

A catalyst system comprising a combination of: 1) one or more catalyst compounds comprising at least one oxygen linkage, such as a phenoxide transition metal compound; 2) a support comprising an organosilica material, which may be a mesoporous organosilica material; and 3) an optional activator. Useful catalysts include biphenyl phenol catalysts (BPP). The organosilica material may be a polymer of at least one monomer of Formula [Z.sup.1OZ.sup.2SiCH.sub.2].sub.3 (I), where Z.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group, or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer and Z.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl group, or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer. This invention further relates to processes to polymerize olefins comprising contacting one or more olefins with the above catalyst system.

There is disclosed, a desalination apparatus making use of a particles including covalently bonded functionalized magnetic nanoparticles coupled to a complexing agent. For example, the complexing agent may include a crown ether. The particles are optionally used for removing salt from water, for example sea water. The apparatus optionally includes a magnet for magnetic filtering, concentrating and/or removing the particles and/or contaminant (e.g. salt). In some embodiments, the salt is then separated back from the particles using UV light. The remaining unclarified water may be washed out with the contaminant and/or used for salt production and/or disposed of (e.g. dumped back to the sea). Optionally, the particles are regenerated. For example, the regenerated particulars may be reused for further desalination steps (e.g. further salt removal from the clarified water) to clarify new input water.