Direct polymerization of lipid monomers or polymer scaffolding of non-lipid monomers coupled with irradiation or redox polymerization performed at neutral pH resulted in stabilized lipid assemblies. An initiator-buffer component and NaHS03 redox mixture polymerizes reactive lipid monomers at near neutral pH conditions to preserve functionality of reconstituted membrane proteins. Improved stability of black lipid membranes (BLMs) is attained by chemical cross-linking of polymerizable, hydrophobic and commercially available non-lipid monomers partitioned into the suspended lipid membranes, and by suspending the BLMs across low surface energy apertures. Substrate apertures having low surface energy modifiers with amphiphobic properties facilitated a reproducible formation of BLMs by promoting interactions between the lipid tail and the substrate material. In addition, polymeric lipid bilayer membranes were prepared by photochemical or redox initiated polymerization of polymerizable lipid monomers, and disposed onto supporting substrates for use in chromatography columns.

The present invention relates to a method and/or device for improving the separation behaviors and performance of aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) for the isolation and/or concentration of one or more target analytes from a sample. In one embodiment, the present method and device comprise ATPS components within a porous material and one or more phase separation behavior modifying agents that improve the separation behavior and performance characteristics of ATPS, including but not limited to the increasing the stability or reducing fluctuations of ATPS thought the adjustment of total volume of a sample solution that undergoes phase separation, volume ratio of the two phases of the ATPS, fluid flow rates, and concentrations of ATPS components.

A particulate material for removing an acid gas and/or mercury contaminant from a hydrocarbon gas is disclosed. The particulate material comprises a superabsorbent hydrogel comprising a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer network having from 0.1 mol % to 50 mol % cross-linking agent. The superabsorbent hydrogel has one or more compounds capable of binding the acid gas and/or mercury contaminant incorporated into the hydrophilic polymer network by absorbing said one or more compounds as a liquid phase or an aqueous solution. Methods for preparing the particulate material and using the particulate material to remove one or more acid gas and/or mercury contaminants from a hydrocarbon gas, dehydrating the hydrocarbon gas, and mitigating corrosion in gas flowlines are also disclosed.

Modified chemical structures of cardanol extracted from cashew nut shell oil, and the use of the same to prepare imidazolium ionic liquids (IILs). The IILs can be used to prepare different types of silica, magnetite and calcium carbonate nanoparticles (NPs) as multifunctional oilfield chemicals for use in various oil spill collection, de-emulsification, viscosity improvement, asphaltene dispersant, and enhanced oil recovery applications.

The present invention pertains to a complex comprising micelles of organic cation adsorbed on clay in granulated form, to a method for obtaining an aqueous solution substantially free of organic, inorganic anionic pollutants, or microorganisms present therein, comprising contacting the aqueous solution containing said pollutants with such a complex and to a system for obtaining an aqueous solution substantially free of organic, inorganic anionic pollutants, or microorganisms present therein employing the granulated complex.

The gas adsorbent of one aspect according to the present invention includes is included in the glass panel unit. The gas adsorbent includes: a substrate made of fiber or a porous substance, of inorganic material; and a liquid containing a getter attached to the substrate.

The present invention relates to a method and/or device for improving the separation behaviors and performance of aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) for the isolation and/or concentration of one or more target analytes from a sample. In one embodiment, the present method and device comprise ATPS components within a porous material and one or more phase separation behavior modifying agents that improve the separation behavior and performance characteristics of ATPS, including but not limited to the increasing the stability or reducing fluctuations of ATPS thought the adjustment of total volume of a sample solution that undergoes phase separation, volume ratio of the two phases of the ATPS, fluid flow rates, and concentrations of ATPS components.

A filter for binding constituents of a gas stream includes a supporting member and a filter layer applied to surfaces of the supporting member. The filter layer includes a component for the physisorption of constituents, a component for the chemisorption of constituents, and a component for dissolving oil constituents which comprises ionic liquids.

Coated iron oxide (10) nanocrystal structures, superparamagnetic 10 nanoparticles, methods for synthesizing coated 10 nanocrystal structures, and methods for synthesizing superparamagnetic 10 nanoparticles are described herein. A coated 10 nanocrystal structure may comprise an iron oxide core, a manganese ferrite shell layer surrounding the core, and a bilayer coating surrounding the shell layer. The bilayer coating may include an inner oleic acid layer surrounding the shell layer and an outer layer surrounding the inner oleic acid layer.

Surface-modified silica microparticles that are functionalized with stabilized phospholipid vesicles are described herein. These stabilized vesicles can be functionalized with either transmembrane receptors or membrane associated receptors and used for affinity pull-down assays or other chromatographic separation modalities to provide affinity capture/concentration of low abundance ligands in complex mixtures with minimal sample preparation. Further described are methods and apparatus for forming polymer frits in a fused silica capillary. The capillary containing a monomer solution is placed between one or more heat sources connected to each other via a jig and operatively coupled to a temperature controller. The polymer frits are synthesized via thermal polymerization of the monomer solution using the heat sources, which allows for placement of the polymer frits at a spatially-defined location in the capillary.