In one aspect, the present invention provides a chromatographic stationary phase material for various different modes of chromatography represented by Formula 1: [X](W).sub.a(Q).sub.b(T).sub.c (Formula 1). X can be a high purity chromatographic core composition having a surface comprising a silica core material, metal oxide core material, an inorganic-organic hybrid material or a group of block copolymers thereof. W can be absent and/or can include hydrogen and/or can include a hydroxyl on the surface of X. Q can be a functional group that minimizes retention variation over time (drift) under chromatographic conditions utilizing low water concentrations. T can include one or more hydrophilic, polar, ionizable, and/or charged functional groups that chromatographically interact with the analyte. Additionally, b and c can be positive numbers, with the ratio 0.05(b/c)100, and a0.

Selenium nanomaterials and methods of making and using selenium nanomaterials are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the selenium nanomaterials can advantageously be used, for example, for removing mercury from air and/or water.

A bio-inspired method for detoxifying contaminated water is disclosed. In the method, polydopamine, a mussel-inspired adhesive catecholamine was used as an adsorbent to effectively remove from contaminated water three major classes of toxic agents: heavy metal ions (e.g., Cr, Hg, Pb, Cu, and Cd), toxic organic species (e.g., 4-aminopyridine), and radioisotopes (e.g., Lutetium-177). Furthermore, the polydopamine adsorbent was regenerated by treatment with acid or hydrogen peroxide.

Separation media includes a support substrate and a plurality of separation ligands immobilized on the support substrate. The plurality of separation ligands include an affinity capable of recognizing and binding to a carbohydrate recognizing domain. Methods of making the separation media and methods of using the separation media are disclosed.

This invention relates to modified MOF materials, methods of preparing them and processes using them. A modified MOF of the invention is modified by impregnating a MOF with an inorganic metal salt. The starting MOF contains at least one linker or ligand which contains an aryl amino group as part of its structure. These modified MOFs are able to adsorb either basic or acidic toxic industrial compounds (TIC). The modified MOFs can be used to remove TICs from various gaseous streams such as air.

The invention relates to strong hydrogen-bond acidic sorbents. The sorbents may be provided in a form that limits or eliminates intramolecular bonding of the hydrogen-bond acidic site between neighboring sorbent molecules, for example, by providing steric groups adjacent to the hydrogen-bond acidic site. The hydrogen bond site may be a phenolic structure based on a bisphenol architecture. The sorbents of the invention may be used in methods for trapping or detecting hazardous chemicals or explosives.

Polyamines with lengths carefully tailored to the framework dimensions are appended to metal-organic frameworks such as Mg.sub.2(dobpdc) (dobpdc4-=4,4-dioxidobiphenyl-3,3-dicarboxylate) with the desired loading of one polyamine per two metal sites. The polyamine-appended materials show step-shaped adsorption and desorption profiles due to a cooperative CO.sub.2 adsorption/desorption mechanism. Several disclosed polyamine-appended materials exhibit strong ability to capture CO.sub.2 from various compositions. Increased stability of amines in the framework has been achieved using high molecular weight polyamine molecules that coordinate multiple metal sites in the framework. The preparation of these adsorbents as well as their characterization are provided.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a chromatographic stationary phase material for various different modes of chromatography represented by Formula 1: [X](W).sub.a(Q).sub.b(T).sub.c (Formula 1). X can be a high purity chromatographic core composition having a surface comprising a silica core material, metal oxide core material, an inorganic-organic hybrid material or a group of block copolymers thereof. W can be absent and/or can include hydrogen and/or can include a hydroxyl on the surface of X. Q can be a functional group that minimizes retention variation over time (drift) under chromatographic conditions utilizing low water concentrations. T can include one or more hydrophilic, polar, ionizable, and/or charged functional groups that chromatographically interact with the analyte. Additionally, b and c can be positive numbers, with the ratio 0.05?(b/c)?100, and a?0.

The method of the invention comprises the following steps: (i) cutting the maize stalks so as the less leafy stalk segments, higher than 70 cm, stay on the field; (ii) cutting the less leafy stalk segments as close to the ground as possible; (iii) harvesting the less leafy stalk segments cut in step (ii); (iv) cutting the in step (iii) harvested less leafy stalk segments into 5-50 mm stalk sections; (v) providing a mechanical impact to the stalk sections of step (iv) to obtain a mix containing: f1. said spongy cores forming the superabsorbent pellets fraction, f2. said elongated fiber pieces forming the fibrous matter fraction, f3. and said leaf matter forming the leafy fraction,
(vi) separating the 3 fractions from each other;
(vii) recovering the three fractions f1-f2-f3; The invention also pertains to the so obtained products and to their uses in treatments of liquids or gases.

A method for solid-phase extraction is disclosed. The method includes fabricating a solid-phase extraction medium by incorporating a plurality of modified mesoporous silica particles within pores of a cotton fabric matrix, putting the solid-phase extraction medium in contact with a fluid containing metal ions including one of immersing the solid-phase extraction medium in the fluid containing metal ions or passing the fluid containing metal ions through the solid-phase extraction medium by continuously circulating the fluid through the solid-phase extraction medium, and extracting the metal ions from the fluid by adsorbing the metal ions onto the solid-phase extraction medium responsive to a contact between the solid-phase extraction medium and the fluid containing metal ions.