A system for use with contaminated land comprises: a region defined by or within the land, the region having a plurality of locations defined therewithin; at each location, one or more apparatus selected from the group comprising: sensor, well, electrode, cathode, injector and vent; an array of photovoltaic cells for producing DC power; a ground-mounted frame supporting the array, the frame having a boundary substantially contiguous with the region and supporting the photovoltaic cells; a fluid distribution system of conduits supported by the frame; a power system for delivering DC power to each of the locations; and a communication system adapted to provide for remote control of the apparatus.

Provided herein are compositions and methods that can remove, metabolize, or degrade a hydrocarbon in an area that is contaminated by hydrocarbons. Methods for bioremediation of an area such as an area of land, a body of water, or a shoreline that are contaminated by a hydrocarbon, such as from a crude oil spill are also described. The compositions and methods described herein can be used on natural flora and fauna as well as manmade materials that are contaminated by a hydrocarbon.

Smart membranes (14) are integrated into a small, unmanned surface vessel (20) to enable the efficient, automated cleanup of oil spills. Such a vessel (20) has the potential to provide a low-cost, modular solution for day-to-day oil-spill cleanup operations, especially in confined aquatic areas, such as under piers and in the small spaces between marine vessels and piers. The smart membranes (14) are provided on the surface of a conveyor belt (34) that circulates the membranes (14) through the surrounding body of water (10) for oil collection, as well as through an internal reduction chamber (22) of the vessel (20) for oil release. The smart membranes (14) are adapted to attract and repel oil (12) in response to low-voltage commands applied across the conveyor belt (34), using a process that is repeatable for a number of cycles, offering high efficiency and long durability (FIG. 5).

Provided is a composition for interfacial polymerizing polyamide including an amine compound; and one or more types of compounds selected from among a purine-based compound and a pyrimidine-based compound of Chemical Formula 1:

##STR00001## wherein, in Chemical Formula 1: X is N or NH; Y is O or OH; Z is O, OH or NH.sub.2; R1 and R2 are each hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; and is a single bond or a double bond, and a method for manufacturing a water-treatment membrane and a water-treatment membrane using the same.

Biocidal compositions including a phosphonium quaternary surfactant compound and a biopenetrant, wherein the biopenetrant includes an anionic polymer of an anionic unsaturated carboxylic acid or a copolymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid with a sulphonic acid, the polymer or copolymer being either terminated by vinylphosphonic acid (VPA) or vinylidene-1, 1-diphosphonic acid (VDPA) or having such monomers incorporated into the polymer backbone. The compositions preferably further include a quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant. The compositions optionally include a tetrakis(hydroxyalkyl)phosphonium salt biocide, wherein the salt is selected from sulphate, phosphite, bromide, fluoride, chloride, phosphate, carbonate, acetate, formate, citrate, borate, and silicate. Methods of using same are also provided.

The present invention provides improved methods for purifying and/or removing multiply charged cations and suspended solids from water. In particular the process relates to an additive composition that has the appropriate surfactant characteristics for effectively removing multiply charged cations and suspended solids from an aqueous or oil/aqueous mixed phase via foam fractionation. According to the invention, a hydrophobically modified polymer that acts as an associative thickener is used in the presence of a source of alkalinity or anionic reactant as well as surfactant in appropriate ratios to facilitate multiply charged cation and suspended solids removal for water purification in any of a number of commercial, environmental and industrial applications.

The present subject matter illustrates a zero-valent metal suspension in non-aqueous phase. The suspension comprises 41 wt. % of a plurality of zero-valent iron particles; 0.1 wt % of a surfactant; 36 wt. % of an oil; and 23 wt. % of a thickening agent.

A method for producing an additive for reclaiming oil from a fluid product stream and a treated silica with controlled hydrophobicity for use in the method are disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing silica or silicate with a particle size of between 3.0 m to 20 m, the silica or silicates having an agglomerate size of between 10 m to 100 m and being chosen to achieve the desired particle-size range and with a controlled level of hydrophobicity; treating the silica or silicate with a silicone or silane to make it hydrophobic; and controlling the hydrophobicity of the silica or silicate by varying the temperature and treatment time of the silica or silicate, amount of a treating material used to treat the silica or silicate, and the molecular weight of the treating material. The additive and related method improves oil extraction and concentration from a fluid product stream.

Disclosed herein are the methods of using a cationic alkyl polyglycoside in a fouling control composition to reduce microbial and/biofilm growth in a water system. The disclosed methods or compositions are found to be effective than those methods or compositions including commonly used single quaternary compounds for reducing microbial or biofilm growth in water systems.

A system for use with contaminated land comprises: a region defined by or within the land, the region having a plurality of locations defined therewithin; at each location, one or more apparatus selected from the group comprising: sensor, well, electrode, cathode, injector and vent; an array of photovoltaic cells for producing DC power; a ground-mounted frame supporting the array, the frame having a boundary substantially contiguous with the region and supporting the photovoltaic cells; a fluid distribution system of conduits supported by the frame; a power system for delivering DC power to each of the locations; and a communication system adapted to provide for remote control of the apparatus.