Fresh water contamination by heavy metals results from a variety of sources and can be damaging to wildlife, alter landscapes, and impact human health. metals removal form water sources is desirable for improving water quality and preventing adverse effects, but also for metals collection and recycling. Adsorption is a desirable metals extraction technique due to economic feasibility. Nanoscale materials exhibit high surface-area-to-volume ratio that lends to high adsorption and reactivity, making them ideal candidates for adsorptive metals extraction processes. Despite these properties, nanomaterials have elicited safety concerns. The extraordinarily small dimensions of these materials allow them to maneuver biological systems, tissues, and even cells, and combined with high reactivity, this translocation can result in toxic effects. It is therefore imperative that safety of nanomaterials for metals extraction be evaluated in addition to adsorptive properties. The current invention describes nanoparticles composed of magnetite, coated in hydroxyapatite, and functionalized for adsorption with titanium dioxide (TiHAMNPs). This material is safe, provides significant adsorption of metals, and allows efficient collection in magnetic systems.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can include a method for isolating a contaminate from water comprising: introducing a plurality of aluminum-doped nanoparticles to water, the water comprising the contaminate; contacting the plurality of aluminum-doped nanoparticles with the contaminate to form contaminate-adsorbed nanoparticles; and isolating the contaminate-adsorbed nanoparticles by applying a magnetic field to the water.

Described herein are novel emulsion liquid membranes useful for extracting pollutants from industrial wastewater and water. The emulsion liquid membranes include, in various phases, at least one of nanoparticles, an ionic liquid, and combinations of nanoparticles and ionic liquids. Use of the present emulsion liquid membranes enhances the separation and the stability of the ELM method for pollutant extraction and recovery from wastewater and water.

A method for preparing a core-shell structure polymer magnetic nanosphere with a high Cr (VI) adsorption capacity includes: adding Fe3O4 powder into a mixed solution of water and ethanol, dispersing Fe3O4 powder in the solution evenly by ultrasound, sequentially adding resorcinol and formaldehyde into the suspension to adjust a pH, stirring and reacting to obtain Fe3O4@RF evenly dispersed in a chitosan solution, dropwise adding the prepared suspension into a mixed solution of paraffin and span 80, stirring for a period of time, adding a glutaraldehyde aqueous solution, stirring and reacting to obtain a magnetic chitosan nanosphere. The magnetic chitosan nanosphere prepared may be applied to adsorbing Cr (VI) in a water solution. Not only the magnetic chitosan nanospheres prepared has a high adsorption capacity for Cr (VI), but also can be quickly separated by an external magnetic field after adsorption.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can include a method for isolating a contaminate from water comprising: introducing a plurality of aluminum-doped nanoparticles to water, the water comprising the contaminate; contacting the plurality of aluminum-doped nanoparticles with the contaminate to form contaminate-adsorbed nanoparticles; and isolating the contaminate-adsorbed nanoparticles by applying a magnetic field to the water.

This disclosure relates to red mud compositions. This disclosure also relates to methods of making red mud compositions. This disclosure additionally relates to methods of using red mud compositions.

A belt system for a water treatment system comprising a flocculation tank. The flocculation tank is configured for receiving wastewater having one or more of unwanted waste solids, unwanted particulates, suspended solids via the ingress and for mixing the wastewater with a flocculating agent and magnetite within the flocculation tank. The belt system comprises a looped belt comprising a plurality of rare earth magnets. The first looped belt is mounted within an extraction portion of the flocculation tank. A first portion of the first looped belt is above a water level inside the flocculation tank. A second portion of the first looped belt is submerged in the flocculation tank. A first scraper is positioned proximate to the first looped belt that is above the water level. A container is below the first scraper and the first looped belt and above the water level. An auger is within the container.

A magnetic rod guide for a filter is provided that includes a base for attachment to part of a filter, a through aperture through which a magnetic rod can move, and resilient engagement means. The resilient engagement means includes one or more resilient latches for holding the magnetic rod in one or more fixed positions relative to the guide. Each resilient latch is adapted to allow movement of the magnetic rod through the through aperture in either direction, for insertion into the filter or withdrawal from the filter into one of the fixed positions.

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.

An efficient, cost-effective, and efficacious technique for removing coal ash and other pollutants from waterways, ponds, marshes, holding tanks and other water sources and supplies. An apparatus comprising an open cage including electromagnets and/or permanent magnets and/or electrodes is supplied with electrical power to extract materials such as rare earth elements and/or heavy metals. The materials levitate to the surface, forming a shiny while leaving water substantially free of such materials.