The present invention provides a method (100) for removal of metals from aqueous solutions comprising the steps of treating (102) the aqueous solutions with an adsorbent, allowing (104) the aqueous solutions and the adsorbent to be in contact for a predetermined time to obtain treated aqueous solutions, collecting (106) the treated aqueous solutions, filtering (108) the treated aqueous solutions and discharging (110) the filtered aqueous solutions. The adsorbent comprising plurality of natural biomaterials. Further, the plurality of natural biomaterials are capable of adsorbing the metals from the aqueous solutions.

A chromogenic absorbent material for an animal litter includes an oxidizing agent responsive to peroxidatic/pseudoperoxidatic activity in an animal excretion or a first catalytic compound generating the oxidizing agent in situ. The material also includes a chromogenic indicator being chromogenically responsive to the oxidizing activity of the oxidizing agent, and an absorptive material which is porous, for absorbing the animal excretion. The absorptive material includes a water-absorbing polysaccharide providing absorptive properties to the chromogenic absorbent material; and may also include a second polysaccharide and a superabsorbent polymer. The material may be obtained in the form of particles having a low density and a high porosity, and is usable in conjunction with an animal litter for detecting various diseases in animals.

A cellulosic carbon pyrolyzate material is disclosed, having utility as a gas adsorbent for use in gas storage and delivery devices, gas filters, gas purifiers and other applications. The cellulosic carbon pyrolyzate material comprises microporous carbon derived from cellulose precursor material, e.g., microcrystalline cellulose. In adsorbent applications, the cellulosic carbon pyrolyzate may for example be produced in a particulate form or a monolithic form, having high density and high pore volume to maximize gas storage and delivery, with the pore size distribution of the carbon pyrolyzate adsorbent being tunable via activation conditions to optimize storage capacity and delivery for specific gases of interest. The adsorbent composition may include other non-cellulosic pyrolyzate components.

A method of treating a liquid for removal of organic acid anions which comprises contacting a liquid containing organic acid anions with an adsorbent comprising calcium alginate-kaolinite or calcium alginate-quartz and a method of treating a liquid for removal of organic acid anions, heavy metal ions and thermally degraded organic products which comprises contacting a liquid containing organic acid anions, heavy metal ions and thermally degraded organic products with an adsorbent comprising calcium alginate-activated carbon are described.

A hemocompatible adsorber for separating protein-bound uremic toxins contained in the blood of a patient and having a molecular mass of <500 g/mol regarding their carrier proteins, to adsorb the uremic toxins during hemodialysis. The hemocompatible adsorber including a polymer based on a cyclic oligosaccharide or a derivative thereof which is disposed on a solid carrier component. A device for hemodiafiltration including an extracorporeal circuit for receiving blood to be purified and a hemodialyzer connected to the blood circulation of a patient, wherein a hemocompatible adsorber is provided for separating protein-bound uremic toxins contained in the blood of a patient and having a molecular mass of <500 g/mol regarding their carrier proteins. The hemocompatible adsorber, which is disposed on a solid carrier component in at least one layer on the blood side within the hemodialyzer, includes a polymer based on a cyclic oligosaccharide or a derivative thereof.

A chromogenic absorbent material for an animal litter includes an oxidizing agent responsive to peroxidatic/pseudoperoxidatic activity in an animal excretion or a first catalytic compound generating the oxidizing agent in situ. The material also includes a chromogenic indicator being chromogenically responsive to the oxidizing activity of the oxidizing agent, and an absorptive material which is porous, for absorbing the animal excretion. The absorptive material includes a water-absorbing polysaccharide providing absorptive properties to the chromogenic absorbent material; and may also include a second polysaccharide and a superabsorbent polymer. The material may be obtained in the form of particles having a low density and a high porosity, and is usable in conjunction with an animal litter for detecting various diseases in animals.

Carbonaceous material that is activated to form precursor activated carbon is further enhanced by doping with iron and nitrogen and calcining. The resultant sorbent material has excellent catalytic properties which are useful in the field of fluid purification. The further enhancement can be performed in a single stage process or a dual stage process. The carbonaceous material includes those obtained from coal, wood, or coconut shells. The described treatment processes result in a sorbent material that has excellent performance in removing chloramine and similar compounds from fluids such as water that is intended for drinking.

Carbonaceous material that is activated to form precursor activated carbon is further enhanced by doping with copper, iron, and nitrogen and calcining. The carbonaceous material includes those obtained from coal, wood, or coconut shells. Methods of doping the activated carbon are described. The described treatment processes result in a sorbent material that has excellent performance in removing chloramine and similar compounds from fluids such as water that is intended for drinking.

The present invention discloses the Synthesis and application of MOFs/natural polymers composite beads adsorbents. To overcome the drawback of MOFs, in an embodiment, both novel MOFs/sodium alginate (MOFs/SA) and MOFs/chitosan (MOFs/CS) composite beads were prepared and characterized. Each composite beads include one or more of MIL-101 (Cr), MIL-100 (Cr), MIL-53 (Al), MIL-100 (Al), NH.sub.2-MIL-101 (Al), UIO-66, ZIF-8, ZIF-68, ZIF-67, and ZIF-9-67 nanoparticles. Adsorption of anionic contaminants onto the two composite beads was investigated and compared with pristine sodium alginate beads (SA) and chitosan beads (CS). The novel MOFs/SA beads all exhibit much higher adsorption capacity than SA beads; the novel MOFs/CS beads all exhibit much higher adsorption capacity than CS beads, which indicates that MOFs played a key role in the adsorption of anionic contaminants. The porous composite beads disclosed herein and related methods and devices may be used in adsorption technologies.

Disclosed herein are water purifying networks. The networks efficiently absorb water and convert solar irradiation to heat, thereby evaporating absorbed water, which can be collected as purified water.