A support nanofunctionalised with photocatalytic nanoparticles made of polymeric material, preferably transparent or translucid, characterised by a nanoroughness, measured by means of an electron microscope, comprised between 10 and 150 nm and a macroroughness, measured by means of an electron microscope, comprised between 100 and 600 m, wherein said nano and macro-roughness are diffused internally and/or superficially. A process for preparing the nanofunctionalised support is also described. Further, an use of the nanofunctionalised support as a photocatalyst activated by UV and/or visible light, for the decontamination of a fluid, preferably air and/or water, from organic contaminants, bacteria, moulds, odours and a combination thereof is described. Finally, a filtration device comprising at least one nanofunctionalised support of the invention associated with at least one source of UV and/or visible light configured to irradiate said at least one nanofunctionalised support is described.

Oleophilic-hydrophobic-magnetic (OHM) porous materials are provided. In embodiments, an OHM porous material comprises a porous substrate having a solid matrix defining a plurality of pores distributed through the solid matrix, the OHM porous material further comprising a coating of a nanocomposite on surfaces of the solid matrix. The nanocomposite comprises a multilayer stack of a plurality of layers of a two-dimensional, layered material having nucleation sites interleaved between a plurality of layers of magnetic nanoparticles, wherein individual layers of magnetic nanoparticles in the plurality of layers of magnetic nanoparticles are each directly anchored on a surface of a layer of the plurality of layers of the two-dimensional, layered material via the nucleation sites, and are each separated by multiple layers of the plurality of layers of the two-dimensional, layered material. Methods of making and using the OHM porous materials are also provided.

A blood treatment material adsorbs and removes blood components such as activated leukocytes and inflammatory cytokines with a high efficiency. The blood treatment material includes a water-insoluble material in the form of fibers or particles, wherein the difference between the maximum value (RaA) and the minimum value (RaB) of the arithmetic average roughness (Ra) of the surface of the water-insoluble material, as calculated using a laser microscope, is from 0.30 to 1.50 m.

A method of preparing hollow metal or metal oxide nano- or microspheres is provided. The method comprises providing a suspension comprising monodispersed polydopamine nano- or microspheres, forming a layer of metal or metal oxide on the monodispersed polydopamine nano- or microspheres, and adding an alkaline solution to the suspension to dissolve the polydopamine thereby forming the hollow metal or metal oxide nano- or microspheres.

A fabric phase sorptive extractor (FPSE) is a sampling device where a flexible fabric is coated with at least one sol-gel derived film that includes at least two of a metal oxide portion, a siloxy portion, and an organic portion, where the gel has at least some amorphous portions. The FPSE is flexible such that it can be used in an extended form or draped over a solid surface to contact a gaseous, liquid, or solid environment and can be manipulated for placement in a container where the absorbed analyte can be removed from the FPSE for instrumental analysis. The FPSE can have specific functionalities that bind to specific analytes or can provide a general sorbent medium for extraction of a wide range of analytes, such that the sampling device can be employed for sampling analytes with biological, environmental, food, pharmaceutical, bio-analytical, clinical, forensic, toxicological, national security, public health, and/or safety implications.

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.

Composite particles and methods for making the same. An absorbent material is formed into a particle. An optional performance-enhancing active is coupled to the absorbent material before, during, or after the particle-forming process, homogeneously and/or in layers. Additionally, the composite absorbent particle may include a core material. Preferred methods for creating the absorbent particles include a pan agglomeration process, a high shear agglomeration process, a low shear agglomeration process, a high pressure agglomeration process, a low pressure agglomeration process, a rotary drum agglomeration process, a mix muller process, a roll press compaction process, a pin mixer process, a batch tumble blending mixer process, an extrusion process, and a fluid bed process.

A supported nanofiber medium useful for segregating chemical species is provided by selecting a polymer, selecting a substrate; and electrospinning the polymer to form a nanofiber medium on the supporting substrate. When the substrate is a planar surface, the nanofiber medium will be a mat suitable for conducting chromatographic separation. When the substrate is a filament, the nanofiber medium is an annular mat suitable for solid phase microextraction. The nanofiber media formed may be selectively cross-linked and at least partially carbonized to carbon nanofibers. The nanofiber medium is supported on the substrate without the use of binder material.

A particulate feeding apparatus for applying particulate, such as super-absorbent materials, to a substrate, such as a fibrous web. A feeder tube for the powder and a rotary gate valve, including one or more holes is provided. This structure may then intermittently feed particulate to an eductor or venturi nozzle. The rotary valve provides an intermittent supply of particulate to a relatively low-pressure zone at the nozzle formed by the venturi action of the passing air stream and the particulate may be distributed precisely where desired. A process for delivering powder to a substrate in precise amounts and distribution patterns is also disclosed.

A smart sand includes raw sand particles, synthetic SiO.sub.2 particles attached to the raw sand particles, a first material attached to a first set of the synthetic SiO.sub.2 particles, a second material attached to a second set of the synthetic SiO.sub.2 particles, and a third material attached to the first material. Each of the first to third materials is different from each other.