The present invention relates to a carbon-nanotube/nano-adsorption-material-based electrode and an electrochemical valuable-metal recovery device using the same, and more particularly to an environmentally friendly carbon-nanotube/nano-adsorption-material-based electrode and an electrochemical valuable-metal recovery device using the same, in which valuable metals selectively adsorbed from e-waste wastewater are oxidized using, as an anode, an electrode including carbon nanotubes and a nano adsorption material capable of selectively adsorbing valuable metals and are simultaneously reduced at a cathode, thereby separating and recovering valuable metals.

Sensor and method for detecting, monitoring and/or removing trace amounts of heavy metal in a liquid. The sensor including magnetic nanoparticle composites of carbon nanotubes intercalated with CoFe.sub.2O.sub.4; the method including contacting a sample of liquid with the magnetic nanoparticle composites and measuring the X-ray diffraction and magnetic properties of the magnetic nanoparticle composite, where a statistical difference in the X-ray diffraction or magnetic properties of the magnetic nanoparticle composite before and after contact between said sample of said liquid and said magnetic nanoparticle composite indicates the presence of a heavy metal in said liquid.

Compositions made of laminate comprised of porous carbon nanotube (CNT) are disclosed. Uses of the Compositions, particularly for reducing a formation of a load of a microorganism or of a biofilm, are also disclosed.

A universal water purification system and method that can desalinate salt water or just filter fresh water. Preferably, the system is portable and relatively lightweight and provides for emergency or recreational safe power and water accessibility. The components of the system can be installed on an aluminum frame and preferably include one or more of a waterproof front control panel, four pre-filters, a reverse osmosis membrane or graphene filter, or electrical process of separating chloride ions from water, ultraviolet (UV) LED lamp, ultrasonic frequency generator, chlorinator or disinfecting gas infusion, a high pressure reverse osmosis (RO) pump, or other desalination process and a low pressure water supplying pump, an electro valve preferably with a manual override in case of power loss and can be activated based on the content of total dissolved solids of incoming water. The system may be removably inserted into a suitcase that can be carried by an individual, or housed in a frame with wheels.

A polymer/activated carbon composite made up of a branched polyethylenimine and magnetic cores involving Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 disposed activated carbon. The magnetic cores have activated carbonyl groups on the surface. A process for removing organic dyes, such as methyl red, as well as heavy metal ions from a polluted aqueous solution or an industrial wastewater utilizing the composite is introduced. A method of synthesizing the polymer/activated carbon composites is also specified.

The present invention provides a multi-stage filter system suitable for the production of drinking water from a wide variety of contaminated water sources. The modular nature of the multi-stage filter system allows for the customization of filter combinations according to the remediation requirements. The multi-stage filter system comprises a coarse filter (S1); an ultrafiltration filter (S2); a graphene-based filter (S3); and a residual nanoparticle filter (S4). The graphene-based filter cartridge comprises few-layer graphene powder; a combination of few-layer graphene powder and pellets comprising a mixture of polyethersulfone, graphene oxide (GO), and dimethylformamide; a composite comprising chitosan, GO, sodium sulfate and ferric chloride; or a combination of few-layer graphene powder, granular activated carbon and a composite comprising chitosan, GO, sodium sulfate and ferric chloride.

A water filtration membrane is provided, capable of removing heavy metal ions, filtering out particulates, filtering out bacteria, as well as removing herbicides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. The membrane is composed of a mat of randomly oriented nanoparticle-coated nanofibers. The nanofibers are covalently bonded to a plurality of substantially uniformly-distributed ceramic nanoparticles embedded in or adhered on the surface of the polymer nanofibers through reactive functional groups. The ceramic nanoparticles have a pattern of deep grooves formed on the nanoparticle surfaces. The bonding of the nanoparticles to the nanofibers is sufficient to retain the nanoparticles on the nanofiber surfaces when water flows through the water filtration membrane. The diameter of the nanofibers is 50-200 nm. The size of the nanoparticles is <40 nm, with a zeta potential of −40 to −45 mV in a dispersion medium. The nanoparticle deep grooves have an average size of approximately 1.2 nm or less.

The invention includes a system and method for delivery and storage of an absorbent for solidification of liquid waste. The system includes a plurality of nestable containers configured to receive aqueous liquid to be solidified and forming a packet safe space when nested one within another. The system also includes a plurality of packets at least partially soluble in the aqueous liquid to be solidified. The containers include at least one packet and each packet contains a solidifier for use as an absorbent composition for the aqueous liquid to be solidified. A packet may be housed within the containers inside a packet safe space. The invention also includes an improved system and method for packaging a solidifier for solidification of liquid medical wastes.

Nanoflocculants are provided that are comprised of nanoparticles of titanomagnetite having anionic surface moieties associated with electrostatically bound polymerized chains of cationic polyacrylamide, further comprising lauryl sulfate moieties adsorbed to the surface of nanoparticles of the titanomagnetite nanoparticles and/or adsorbed to the bound cationic polyacrylamide polymers. These nanoflocculants combine the dual functionalities of the polyacrylamide/lauryl sulfate moieties, as well as the surface activity of titanomagnetite nanomaterials. Process are provided for making and using the disclosed nanoflocculants, including uses for flocculating intimate aqueous dispersions of solids and bitumen.

Provided are nanonets comprising a) a surfactant aggregate having an average aggregate diameter; and b) a polymer having an average particle diameter which average particle diameter is the same or smaller than the average aggregate diameter, wherein the nanonet has a diameter larger than the average particle diameter. Also provided are kits therefor and methods for sequestering non-water moieties from aqueous solutions using nanonets.