A heterogeneous material (e.g., a metal-organic framework or “MOF”) is useful for removing heavy metals from a liquid (e.g., water). The heterogeneous material may incorporate a group 16-containing heterocycle supported on solid media. Thiophene-containing MOFs, such as ATF-1 and DUT-67, may be used to remove lead from water. It is postulated that the metal is adsorbed via non-covalent interactions. The systems and methods described herein may also be applicable to other heavy metals. Thus, the applications are not limited to drinking water purification. Instead, the systems and methods may be used for a broad variety of other applications, such as nuclear waste remediation.

A method of sequestering anions from a liquid including the anions includes contacting a composition comprising at least one macrocyclic moiety with the liquid. The macrocyclic moiety includes groups including an electropositive E-H bond donor extending into a cavity of the macrocyclic moiety wherein E is selected from the group consisting of C, N, and O, wherein two or more groups including an electropositive E-H donor interact with an anion to form a chelate with the anion.

The present invention discloses a beverage dispenser, having a supply opening adapted for supplying an aqueous liquid from a source of aqueous liquid, wherein the supply opening is couplable to the source of aqueous liquid; a recooling heat exchanger having a heat receiving portion, a recooling inlet and a recooling outlet, wherein the supply opening is coupled with the recooling inlet; a reverse osmosis filter having an inlet for aqueous liquid, a permeate outlet and a concentrate outlet, wherein the recooling outlet of the recooling heat exchanger is connected to the inlet of the reverse osmosis filter; and a cooling device having a cooling portion extracting heat energy from the permeate and a heat dissipation portion dissipating energy to the heat receiving portion of the recooling heat exchanger; wherein the heat dissipation portion of the cooling device is thermally coupled with the heat receiving portion of the recooling heat exchanger; and wherein the cooling portion of the cooling device is thermally coupled with the permeate exiting the permeate outlet of the reverse osmosis filter, wherein the permeate enters the cooling portion by a cooling portion permeate inlet and exits the cooling portion by a cooling portion permeate outlet.

The present invention discloses a beverage dispenser, having a supply opening adapted for supplying an aqueous liquid from a source of aqueous liquid, wherein the supply opening is couplable to the source of aqueous liquid; a recooling heat exchanger having a heat receiving portion, a recooling inlet and a recooling outlet, wherein the supply opening is coupled with the recooling inlet; a reverse osmosis filter having an inlet for aqueous liquid, a permeate outlet and a concentrate outlet, wherein the recooling outlet of the recooling heat exchanger is connected to the inlet of the reverse osmosis filter; and a cooling device having a cooling portion extracting heat energy from the permeate and a heat dissipation portion dissipating energy to the heat receiving portion of the recooling heat exchanger; wherein the heat dissipation portion of the cooling device is thermally coupled with the heat receiving portion of the recooling heat exchanger; and wherein the cooling portion of the cooling device is thermally coupled with the permeate exiting the permeate outlet of the reverse osmosis filter, wherein the permeate enters the cooling portion by a cooling portion permeate inlet and exits the cooling portion by a cooling portion permeate outlet.

One compound (100) according to the present invention contains silicon fine particles having a capability of generating hydrogen or aggregates of the silicon fine particles. The compound that contains the silicon fine particles or the aggregates having a capability of generating hydrogen is capable of generating hydrogen in the body of, for example, an animal that has ingested the compound. For a plant, the compound can be disposed or charged into, for example, moisture (water-containing liquid) or fertilizer to be provided to the plant, to supply the plant with hydrogen generated from the compound.

One compound (100) according to the present invention contains silicon fine particles having a capability of generating hydrogen or aggregates of the silicon fine particles. The compound that contains the silicon fine particles or the aggregates having a capability of generating hydrogen is capable of generating hydrogen in the body of, for example, an animal that has ingested the compound. For a plant, the compound can be disposed or charged into, for example, moisture (water-containing liquid) or fertilizer to be provided to the plant, to supply the plant with hydrogen generated from the compound.

Described herein is a functional graphene composition comprising a graphene scaffold and one or more metal chelating functional groups covalently bonded to the graphene scaffold and a porous substrate that includes the functional graphene composition. Also provided is a method of removing dissolved metals from an aqueous liquid, such as, acid mine drainage.

The present invention discloses a method for the separation of radionuclides from an aqueous radioactive waste solution, the method comprising: receiving of an aqueous radioactive waste solution, adding at least one zirconium salt to the aqueous radioactive waste solution, changing the pH of the radioactive waste solution to obtain a precipitate P, and separating the precipitate P from the radioactive waste solution. The present invention also discloses the use of zirconium salts, preferably zirconium oxychloride, zirconium nitrate or a zirconium oxynitrate or any mixture thereof, for the treatment of aqueous radioactive waste solution, preferably acidic or alkaline intermediate or low level radioactive waste solution, preferably an acidic intermediate and/or low level radioactive waste solution.

The present invention discloses a method for the separation of radionuclides from an aqueous radioactive waste solution, the method comprising: receiving of an aqueous radioactive waste solution, adding at least one zirconium salt to the aqueous radioactive waste solution, changing the pH of the radioactive waste solution to obtain a precipitate P, and separating the precipitate P from the radioactive waste solution. The present invention also discloses the use of zirconium salts, preferably zirconium oxychloride, zirconium nitrate or a zirconium oxynitrate or any mixture thereof, for the treatment of aqueous radioactive waste solution, preferably acidic or alkaline intermediate or low level radioactive waste solution, preferably an acidic intermediate and/or low level radioactive waste solution.

A method of oxygen scavenging, the method (i) providing an oxygen scavenger composition; and (ii) adding the oxygen scavenger composition to an aqueous feed and/or a hydrocarbon feed of a hydrocarbon processing system.