A reverse osmosis membrane of the present invention includes a porous support substrate (2) and a separation active layer (3) formed on a surface of the porous support substrate (2) and formed of a carbon film containing organized carbon.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards methods for preparing mixed-metal oxide particles by heating adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles at a reaction temperature of from 400° C. to 800° C. to form mixed-metal oxide particles. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have a general formula [M.sub.1-xAl.sub.x(OH).sub.2](A).sub.x.mH.sub.2O, where x is from 0.14 to 0.33, m is from 0.33 to 0.50, M is chosen from Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn, and A is adamantane carboxylate, and an aspect ratio greater than 100. The aspect ratio is defined by the width of an adamantane-intercalated LDH particle divided by the thickness of the adamantane-intercalated LDH particle. The mixed-metal oxide particles comprise a mixed-metal oxide phase containing M, Al or Fe, and carbon.

Improved reverse osmosis (RO) systems include at least first and second stages wherein each stage has at least one RO membrane, each stage has a feed stream inlet, a permeate stream outlet, and a concentrate stream outlet, the feed stream inlet of the second stage is coupled to the concentrate stream outlet of the first stage, the second pressure is greater than the first pressure, and pressure exchangers associated with each of the first and second stages are configured to recover energy from the second stage concentrate stream. The systems include M reverse osmosis membranes in the first stage and N reverse osmosis membranes in the second stage, wherein M≧N. The first pressure and second pressure are configured so that spatial variance in flux of the first stage permeate stream relative to flux of the second stage permeate stream is minimized.

A composition remediation of soil and groundwater containing halogenated compounds. The remediation composition includes an elemental iron-based composition, which may include activated carbon capable of absorbing the halogenated compounds with numerous pores impregnated with elemental iron. The remediation composition further includes a first bioremediation material including a blend of one-to-many organisms capable of degrading the halogenated compounds. The remediation composition includes an organic compound or polymeric substance and a second bioremediation material including a blend of one-to-many organisms capable of degrading the organic compound or polymeric substance over time (e.g., 20 to 365 or more days to provide a time release substrate-creating material or platform) into smaller molecules or compounds used by the organisms in the first bioremediation material while degrading the halogenated compounds. The organic compound may be a complex carbohydrate such as food grade starch, chitin, or other complex carbohydrate such as one with low water solubility.

According to one embodiment, an electrolytic membrane separation (EMS) subsystem is configured to remove one or more impurities from a contaminated reject solution and to recycle the reusable reject solution for subsequent use in regenerating ion exchange resins. According to another embodiment of the invention, the EMS subsystem is configured to concentrate the impurities recovered from the contaminated brine solution for subsequent disposal or treatment.

Disclosed are magnetic nanoparticles and methods of using magnetic nanoparticles for selectively removing biologics, small molecules, analytes, ions, or other molecules of interest from liquids.

Constructs having membrane proteins stabilized by functionalized beta-sheet peptides are provided. The constructs can be associated with or covalently linked to supports. The support can be a membrane. The membrane can be used to selectively move desired particles from one side of the membrane to the other while impeding passage of undesired particles through the membrane. Methods of making and using such constructs and membranes are provided.

Techniques and systems for neutralizing discharge waters from ballast and/or cooling water biocidal treatment and disinfection systems are provided. The systems utilize oxidation reduction potential control to regulate the dechlorination of a biocidal agent to allowable discharge levels in ship buoyancy systems and ship cooling water systems.

The embodiments described herein include an apparatus for adapting an existing water fountain having a water supply line and an existing bubbler assembly for dispensing water to a filtered water fountain. The system includes an adapter base in fluid communication with the water supply line, a housing assembly secured to the adapter base, and a bubbler head assembly secured to the housing assembly for dispensing water. A filter cartridge assembly is disposed within the housing assembly and is in fluid communication with the adapter base and the bubbler head assembly.

A method, system and composition is described for treating waste generated from manufacturing operations including at least one of Printed Circuit Boards Fabrication (PCB FAB), General Metal Finishing (GMF), semiconductors manufacturing, chemical milling, and Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). The method, system and composition are used to create zero liquid discharge recycling.