A method is for preparing acrylic acid from β-propiolactone and for using β-propiolactone. The process is based on a specific reactivity of β-propiolactone whereby acrylic acid is formed under operating conditions that are mild, especially in terms of temperature.

The present inventive concept relates to a heavy metal adsorbent, and more particularly, to an eco-friendly adsorbent including a biopolymer and being capable of simultaneously adsorbing and recovering lead and copper, and a method of preparing the same. According to the present inventive concept, since the present adsorbent exhibits a property of being insoluble in water due to the ester bond through the esterification reaction between xanthan gum which is one of the biopolymers, and citric acid, it solves the problem that recovery was impossible due to the water solubility of existing biopolymers; lead and copper can be effectively adsorbed and recovered in an aqueous solution; and the biopolymer and citric acid used in the adsorbent are bio-derived and biodegradable and therefore have eco-friendly advantages over existing adsorbents.

Provided herein are coated articles comprising a foam and a coating comprising silanized nanoclay, and methods of preparing the same.

Methods for increasing hydrophobicity of native water-bearing zones or aquifers comprising the step of permanently embedding non-degradable, solid colloidal materials formed to have a particulate size of less than 10 microns. Exemplary materials include activated carbon, zeolites and hydrophobically treated clays. The particulate colloidal materials are coated with an agent to facilitate their distribution, including anionic polymers, chelating agents or combinations thereof. The materials are applied preferably by low pressure injection and are particularly effective at containing the migration of hydrocarbon contaminants, typically present as a plume, for at least several decades.

A fiber comprising a carbon chain backbone and amidoxime, carboxylate, and nitrile pendant groups. The fiber may be used for removing uranium from seawater and toxic metals from drinking water.

Synthesis, fabrication, and application of nanocomposite polymers in different form (as membrane/filter coatings, as beads, or as porous sponges) for the removal of microorganisms, heavy metals, organic, and inorganic chemicals from different contaminated water sources.

A polymer composition for use in the removal and recovery of oil slicks or spills floating on the surfaces of bodies or water or present on land, such as beaches comprising a foam of a blend of polyethylene and an ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymer and a process for using such foams in the selective removal of oil from fresh water or salt water and the recovery of the absorbed oils from the foams is disclosed. The polymer composition is also for use in other applications in which absorption of liquids is desired.

A molded body includes a shape memory material. The molded body has a three-dimensional surface structure which, in a permanent shape, at least in part has a superhydrophobic surface and/or a hydrophobic surface, on which water droplet contact angles of 120° to 150° are found.

A method for the decontamination of water containing one or more PFAS, having the steps of generating colloidal gas aphrons (CGAs) by mixing a gas, water, and one or more surfactants together with high shear forces, introducing the CGAs and a PFAS-containing water in an enclosed space where the CGAs move upwards through the water due to their inherent buoyancy, allowing the plurality of CGAs to extract PFAS from the water, and separating the PFAS-containing CGAs from the surface of the water in the enclosed space for further treatment or disposal, leaving the water with lower PFAS concentrations in the vessel. The aphrons may be anionic or cationic and created by mixing speeds or surfactant concentration, and treatment may be with gas bubbles to remove PFAS from water gas bubbles or destruction of PFAS by plasma reactor or deployed in situ through wells into geologic ground formations.

The present disclosure relates to charge-bearing polymeric materials and methods of their use for purifying fluid samples from micropollutants, such as anionic micropollutants.