The present disclosure provides an apparatus for sampling at least one analyte from a sampling fluid. The apparatus includes: a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sampling instrument. A connector is attached to the SPME sampling instrument and is coupleable to an aerial drone. The apparatus includes a protective cover that is sized and shaped to at least partially surround the SPME sampling instrument. The SPME sampling instrument and the protective cover are movable in relation to each other between a protecting configuration and a sampling configuration. The SPME sampling instrument and the protective cover are (i) biased in the protecting configuration when the density of the fluid surrounding the SPME sampling instrument is less than the density of the sampling fluid; and (ii) biased in the sampling configuration when the density of the fluid surrounding the SPME sampling instrument is equal to or greater than the density of the sampling fluid.

Material compositions have multifunctionality in abatement of water pollution: They are capable of removing hydrocarbons along with various types of other pollutants, such as metals and metal oxides, and phosphates and other organic material, from water streams. In certain embodiments, the multifunctional compositions are comprised of biochar particles, activated carbon particles, or metal (or metal oxide) nanoparticles bound to a cellulosic or other organic matrix material, which are adhered to styrene-butadiene-styrene granules embedded in an M-Class rubber matrix. Methods of synthesis of the multifunctional compositions and products, including filter cartridges and filters, that use such compositions are also disclosed.

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.

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.

The present disclosure relates to a method of separating a compound of interest, particularly unsaturated compound(s) of interest, from a mixture. The compound is separated using a column having a chromatographic stationary phase material for various different modes of chromatography containing a first substituent and a second substituent. The first substituent minimizes compound retention variation over time under chromatographic conditions. The second substituent chromatographically and selectively retains the compound by incorporating one or more aromatic, polyaromatic, heterocyclic aromatic, or polyheterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon groups, each group being optionally substituted with an aliphatic group. In some examples, the present disclosure can include a chromatographic system having a chromatographic column having a stationary phase with a chromatographic substrate containing silica, metal oxide, an inorganic-organic hybrid material, a group of block copolymers, or a combination thereof.

Disclosed herein are aggregators that can be cellulosic particles having high oil sorption capacity, high hydrophobicity, high buoyancy in water, and an aggregation quality that can support environmental remediation of hydrocarbon spills (e.g., crude oil spills) by various cleanup strategies including burning, skimming, or bioremediation. Also disclosed are methods of making the materials and methods of using the materials for environmental remediation.

An air filter including a filter support that supports metal-containing sorbent particles, the sorbent particles comprising a precursor that is a porous siliceous material that has been treated with a surface treatment agent, and a divalent metal incorporated into the siliceous precursor material.

The present disclosure pertains to core-shell particles that are superficially porous, polymer-based, and include organic-inorganic materials. In various embodiments, a non-porous polymer core is surface modified. In various embodiments, a non-porous hybrid organic-inorganic material is in contact with the modified surface of the core, and a porous hybrid organic-inorganic material is in contact with the non-porous hybrid organic-inorganic material. The present disclosure pertains to chromatographic separation devices that comprise such core-shell particles.

The present invention relates to a chromatography medium which can be used in affinity chromatography and to a method for the preparation thereof.

A functionalized asphaltene, obtained by refluxing with an acid solution. The functionalized asphaltene contains elevated levels of oxygen content due to nitration and oxidation of the refluxing process. The refluxing process also imparts organic functional groups including at least amines, nitro groups carbonyl groups, carboxylic groups and hydroxyl groups to the functionalized asphaltene, and these functional groups are attached to, thereby coating the surface of a functionalized asphaltene particle. A method for removing dye compounds from an aqueous sample with the functionalized asphaltene is also described.