The present invention provides a method for treating a copper-containing waste etching solution, which includes: preparing basic copper chloride nanometer seed crystals and synthesizing basic copper chloride mono-crystals; making an acidic waste etching solution subjected to agglomeration reaction with an ammonium-containing solution and slurry containing the basic copper chloride mono-crystals to obtain basic copper chloride crystal particles and copper-removed waste solution; making an alkaline waste etching solution react with sulfuric acid to obtain a copper sulfate mixed solution; and then evaporating, concentrating, cooling and crystallizing the copper sulfate mixed solution obtained by the reaction of the alkaline waste etching solution and the sulfuric acid in sequence to obtain copper sulfate pentahydrate solids. In a case of low investment, the present invention not only can realize the recycling of copper in the copper-containing waste etching solution, but also can obtain various high-value products, and can achieve both environmental and economic benefits.

A method of separating water from oil includes combining the oil with a magnetite powder to form a mixture and directing the mixture to a closed chamber having a plurality of magnetic field generating elements. The magnetic field generating elements generate a magnetic field sufficient to separate the magnetite powder and oil from water in the mixture, such that the water sinks to the bottom of the chamber. A valve at a lower end of the chamber can be opened to release the water collected at the bottom of the chamber. The method can be used to enhance the quality of crude oil by lowering the Bs &W content in the crude oil.

A method for producing a nanocomposite sorbent comprising carbon nanotube-grafted acrylic acid/acrylamide copolymer which involves copolymerization of acrylic acid and acrylamide in the presence of an aqueous dispersion of carbon nanotubes. The method yields a nanocomposite sorbent material having a reversible adsorption capacity phenol of 5 to 2500 μg of phenol per mg of nanocomposite sorbent. Also disclosed is a method for removing organic pollutants from water using the nanocomposite sorbent.

This invention relates to a carrier for immobilizing a biocatalyst including a Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 yolk-shell structure, to an immobilized enzyme using the carrier, and to realizing an increase in the stability of the enzyme and stability in organic solvents by cross-linking the enzyme. According to this invention, the carrier for immobilizing a biocatalyst and the enzyme immobilized thereon can be reused, have increased stability, facilitate the control of reactivity, pH, and temperature, and can be widely useful in various biochemical engineering industries.

Copper based nanoparticle composite compositions, methods, and systems for purification and sterilization of contaminated water are provided.

Disclosed herein is a method of producing a polyaniline zirconia nanocomposite, and the uses of the thus produced polyaniline zirconia nanocomposite for the treatment of wastewater. The polyaniline zirconia nanocomposite is characterized in having a particle size of about 0.3 to 50 μm in diameter, an isoelectric point at about pH 6.2, and is capable of reducing at least 99% of the pathological microorganism and at least 60% of the phosphate in the wastewater after coming into contact with wastewater for 24 hrs and 12 hrs, respectively.

The present invention relates in part to a filter comprising a tubular housing having a proximal end, a distal end and a housing lumen therethrough; a tubular membrane having a proximal end, a distal end and a membrane lumen therethrough, wherein the tubular membrane is positioned within the housing lumen; a contaminated fluid sample inlet fluidly connected to the proximal end of the membrane, and a contaminated fluid sample outlet fluidly connected to the distal end of the membrane, thereby creating a sample flow-path from the sample inlet through the membrane lumen to the sample outlet; and a purification material inlet fluidly connected to a distal region of the housing lumen, and a purification material outlet fluidly connected to a proximal region of the housing lumen, thereby creating a purification material flow-path from the purification material inlet through the housing lumen to the purification material outlet; wherein the direction of the sample flow-path is in the opposite direction of the purification material flow-path. The invention also relates a method of purifying a contaminated fluid using said filter.

There is disclosed, a desalination apparatus making use of a particles including covalently bonded functionalized magnetic nanoparticles coupled to a complexing agent. For example, the complexing agent may include a crown ether. The particles are optionally used for removing salt from water, for example sea water. The apparatus optionally includes a magnet for magnetic filtering, concentrating and/or removing the particles and/or contaminant (e.g. salt). In some embodiments, the salt is then separated back from the particles using UV light. The remaining unclarified water may be washed out with the contaminant and/or used for salt production and/or disposed of (e.g. dumped back to the sea). Optionally, the particles are regenerated. For example, the regenerated particulars may be reused for further desalination steps (e.g. further salt removal from the clarified water) to clarify new input water.

The present disclosure relates to sulfur-treated zerovalent iron nanoparticles and the use of same for transforming chlorinated solvent pollutants and may therefore be useful as water treatment technology for restoration of groundwater resources contaminated with toxic, chlorinated solvent pollutants.

A surface water mitigation structure suitable for use in the storage and treatment of contaminated surface water runoff. The runoff is processed through a multi-layered filtration and treatment system wherein the first layer is a permeable composite capstone that can support substantial loads yet is pervious enough to allow runoff to pass through it and into a porous storage medium second layer that includes one or more remediating agents, and wherein the effluent from the surface water mitigation structure can be discharged to the ground, the surface, and/or a drainage system reduced or free of contaminants.