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.

Disclosed is a reverse flow multi-stage sedimentation rake-free thickening device relating to the field of slime water treatment. The device includes a feed assembly, a guide assembly, and a clean coal collection assembly. The guide assembly also includes a central tank body and coal slurry flows from the upper part of the central tank body to the inner side wall of the central tank body through the feed assembly and the medicament, and then flows to the middle of the central tank body through the guide assembly. After the reaction, the bubbles carry the fine coal slime and move up to the clean coal collection assembly. The clean coal collection assembly is located above the outlet of the guide assembly, and the clean coal collection assembly is sequentially provided with a central collection area, a defoaming area, and a diversion settlement area from the middle to the outside.

Composite materials for the detection of analytes are described herein. The composite material includes a ligand-functionalized monolayer and a support material coupled to the ligand-functionalized monolayer. Methods of fluorescently detecting analytes and removing analytes from a solution are also described.

A method of treating cooling circuit water of industrial plants (2) contaminated with organic substances and inorganic particles, comprises the following steps: a) separating the organic substances and inorganic particles from the cooling circuit water to obtain precleaned cooling circuit water; b) cooling the precleaned cooling circuit water by an open cooling tower (11) to obtain cooled precleaned cooling circuit water; c) desalinating at least a partial volume flow of the cooled precleaned cooling circuit water by an desalination plant (14) to obtain cleaned cooling circuit water; and d) adding bacteria capable of degrading organic substances present in the cooling circuit water. The bacteria are added to the cooling circuit water before the separation in accordance with step a), before the cooling in accordance with step b) and/or before the desalination in accordance with step c), to form a biological cleaning stage.

The present invention includes a method of controlling an oil spill through introduction of a plurality of magnetizable particles into the oil spill in an amount sufficient to form a colloidal mixture. An absorbent is also introduced into the oil spill to form an absorbent mixture. A magnetic field can be applied to the system to move, manipulate, or otherwise control the absorbent mixture in response to movement of the magnetic field.

A process for treating acid mine drainage removes iron ions from the acid mine drainage in the form of zero-valent iron nanoparticles which can be subsequently used for environmental remediation.

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. Covalently bonded functionalized magnetic nanoparticles coupled to a complexing agent are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to the use of a particulate mineral material being functionalized with one or more adsorption enhancing agents for scavenging and removing ionic metal contaminants from an aqueous medium. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding process for scavenging and removing ionic metal contaminants from an aqueous medium as well as to a functionalized particulate mineral material and a process for making such material.

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 slurry while leaving water substantially free of such materials. Rare earth magnets electrically connect electrolysis electrode structures and serve as electrolysis electrode segments.

The present invention includes a method of controlling an oil spill through introduction of a plurality of magnetizable particles into the oil spill in an amount sufficient to form a colloidal mixture. An absorbent is, also introduced into the oil spill to form an absorbent mixture. A magnetic field can be applied to the system to move, manipulate, or otherwise control the absorbent mixture in response to movement of the magnetic field.