The present invention relates to a method for production of potable water by removal from water of an aqueous environment selected from a river, a lake, a reservoir, a pond, a stream, groundwater, spring water, surface water, or combinations thereof, organic colloidal particles of biocontaminants. The method comprises applying to the water at least one nanocomposite consisting of a mineral platform, which is denser than water, and at least one polyelectrolyte polymer adsorbed to said mineral platform with charge opposite to the charge of the colloidal particles.

A method of using a nanoporous carbon material for adsorption of one or more PAH and diesel fuel from an aqueous solution is described. The aqueous solution may comprise the one or more PAH at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L-1 g/L, and the diesel fuel at a concentration of 0.1-5 g/L. The nanoporous carbon material may adsorb at least 96 wt % of one or more PAH within 10 minutes. The nanoporous carbon material may be obtained by contacting a carbonized asphalt with a base.

Methods and compositions for the adsorptive removal of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from contaminated water sources and systems. The compositions contain carbon fly ash doped with silver nanoparticles at specific mass ratios. Methods of preparing and characterizing the adsorbents are also provided.

The present disclosure provides cellulose/metal composites and their use in removing impurities from liquids, including water. Carboxylated nanocelluloses are combined with metal ions and the resulting composite may be contacted with a liquid, including water, to remove impurities therefrom.

The invention regards a method for the synthesis of Zero-Valent metal micro- and nanoparticles, in which a first aqueous solution (SOL.sub.1) of a salt of a noble metal (A) is mixed with a third neutral or basic aqueous solution (SOL.sub.3) of an inorganic sulphur-based reducing agent (C), and wherein the mixture thus obtained is added to a second aqueous solution (SOL.sub.2) of a salt of a transition metal (B) and a second aliquot of the inorganic reducing agent; such method provides that the amount of the inorganic reducing agent (C) is in a stoichiometric excess in the reduction reaction to Zero-Valent of both the salt of the noble metal (A) contained in the first solution (SOL.sub.1) and the salt of the transition metal (B) contained in the second solution (SOL.sub.2). The invention also regards Zero-Valent micro and nanoparticles, preferably bimetallic, obtained with the above method. More generally, the invention regards a method for reduction of a transition metal (B) to Zero-Valent metal by an inorganic reducing agent (C), by prior or concurrent reduction of a noble metal (A), wherein the amount of inorganic reducing agent (C) is in stoichiometric excess in the reduction reaction to Zero-Valent of both the noble metal (A) and the transition metal (B). The present invention finds preferred and advantageous application in the remediation and/or the treatment of contaminated water containing at least one polluting substance. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides that the noble metal (A) is silver, that the transition metal (B) is iron and/or manganese, and the inorganic reducing agent (C) is chosen from borohydrides, dithionites and bisulphites.

A water container for purifying water. The water container includes an opening configured to receive water, a container body arranged to enclose the water and a water purifying unit configured to purify the water. The water purifying unit includes an at least partially transparent plate, which includes a coating of metal-oxide nanoparticles on a first side facing the container body, wherein the first side is configured to be in contact with the water, and an ultraviolet light module configured to radiate towards a second side of the at least partially transparent plate such that light from the ultraviolet light module at least partially passes through the at least partially transparent plate. Also, a method for purifying water within a water container.

Disclosed is a preparation method of a nanometer metal oxide supported carrier based on anodic oxidation, comprising: Step 1: adding electrolyte to a reaction pool, and fixing the cathode and the anode oppositely, wherein the cathode is a metal plate that is identical to the nano-metal oxide, and the anode is a carrier metal material; Step 2: stirring the electrolyte at a constant speed, wherein the revolution speed is not lower than 500 rpm; Step 3: switching power on; setting the output voltage between 10 v and 50 v; and subjecting the metal plate of the anode to anodic oxidation reaction, wherein metal oxide nanotubes/nano particles are generated on the surface; under the action of stirring, the metal oxide nanotubes/nano particles on the anode surface are dissolved and shed off into the electrolyte; under the action of the electric field force, the dissolved and shed-off nano fragments migrate towards the cathode and are adhered to the surface of the cathode material, thereby forming a nano-metal oxide film. The film preparation method according to the disclosure offers advantages such as mild condition, simple instrumentation, easy operation, and low cost; the prepared film has a good load effect such that the metal oxide can hardly be shed off.

Production of decontaminated water from contaminated water using a vessel, an inlet to the vessel wherein the contaminated water is introduced into the vessel, an outlet to the vessel wherein the decontaminated water is removed from the vessel, a plasmonic-photocatalyst membrane connected to the vessel, plasmonic nanoparticles or nanostructures connected to the plasmonic-photocatalyst membrane, and a source of ultraviolet light that directs ultraviolet light onto the vessel, the plasmonic-photocatalyst membrane, the plasmonic nanoparticles or nanostructures, and the contaminated water to produce the decontaminated water from the contaminated water.

Smart membranes are integrated into a small, unmanned surface vessel to enable the efficient, automated cleanup of oil spills. Such a vessel has the potential to provide a low-cost, modular solution for day-to-day oil-spill cleanup operations, especially in confined aquatic areas (e.g., under piers or in the small spaces between marine vessels and piers). The membranes are provided on the surface of a conveyor belt that circulates the membranes through the surrounding body of water for oil collection, as well as through an internal reduction chamber of the vessel for oil release. The smart membranes are adapted to attract and repel oil in response to low-voltage commands applied across the conveyor belt, using a process that is repeatable for a number of cycles, offering high efficiency and long durability. Segments of the conveyor belt can be electrically isolated from one another to allow disparate electrical potentials to be imposed thereon.

A method for preparing a porous-polymer-modified metal carbon nanotube membrane includes: preparing an acidified carbon nanotube membrane; preparing a modification solution; heating the acidified carbon nanotube membrane in the modification solution and reacting to obtain a metal carbon nanotube membrane; conducting a polymerization reaction to obtain a crude polymer product; coating the metal carbon nanotube membrane with a polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDEG) solution; coating the metal carbon nanotube membrane with a porous polymer solution; and heating the metal carbon nanotube membrane to obtain the porous-polymer-modified metal carbon nanotube membrane. A porous-polymer-modified metal carbon nanotube membrane is prepared according to this method.