A piezoelectric and piezocata lytic composite material comprising M0S.sub.2 nanoflowers embedded within a body of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) is provided along with layers, coatings, and sheets comprising such a material. Also disclosed are methods of using such material for generating piezoelectricity and for piezocata lytic removal of contaminants from an aqueous environment. A method of forming such material is also described.

The invention relates to a device for membrane filtration and for the removal of micropollutants from liquids by way of a reactive substance, the device comprising a reaction chamber and at least one port for supplying and/or discharging the reactive substance to and/or from the reaction chamber, such that the micropollutants are able to react with the reactive substance in the reaction chamber and/or may be removed from a liquid, and the reaction chamber comprising a first membrane and a second membrane, the first membrane being designed as an inlet into the reaction chamber and the second membrane being designed as an outlet from the reaction chamber, such that the liquid to be treated is able to be filtered by the first membrane and to flow into the reaction chamber, the liquid treated with the reactive substance in the reaction chamber is able to be filtered by the second membrane and to flow out of the reaction chamber, and the outflow of treated liquid is substantially free from micropollutants.

In an embodiment, a circuit includes: a transformer defining an inductive footprint within a first layer; a grounded shield bounded by the inductive footprint within a second layer separate from the first layer; and a circuit component bounded by the inductive footprint within a third layer separate from the second layer, wherein: the circuit component is coupled with the transformer through the second layer, and the third layer is separated from the first layer by the second layer.

The present invention provides a magnetic Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 nanosphere with PNH surface modification and application thereof in water treatment. First, 2,2-bipyridyl-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid is reacted with thionyl chloride to obtain 2,2-bipyridyl-5,5′-diacid chloride; then 2,2-bipyridyl-5,5′-diacid chloride and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane react in the presence of triethylamine to obtain a polynitrogen heterocyclic polymer; the polynitrogen heterocyclic polymer is added into an aqueous solution with iron salt to obtain a magnetic Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 nanosphere with PNH surface modification which has strong light absorption ability, which improves its ability to catalyze in degradation of tetracycline under visible light, so that the pollutants are removed from water.

The present disclosure relates to a process, a system and a use for removing micropollutants (1) in liquid (2). The process comprises providing liquid (2) to a container (3) adapted to hold a liquid and/or a gas, providing magnetic activated carbon (4), mixing it, separating the magnetic activated carbon (4) using a magnetic separator (5), removing between 1 and 100% of the separated used magnetic activated carbon (4), removing the liquid (2), providing new liquid (2) to the container (3), providing the used magnetic activated carbon (4) to the container (3), adding between 1 and 100% of unused magnetic activated carbon (4), repeating the mixing and separation steps at least one time. The process allows for control of several parameters, such as the flow rate of the liquid, dosage of MAC and ratio used/unused MAC required to remove micropollutants from the liquid.

In an apparatus for treating wastewater, water is screened, biologically treated and coagulated with the addition of chemicals before it is drawn through a membrane filter to produce permeate that is then passed through an electro-chemical cell to coagulate and/or oxidize residual contaminants such as phosphorous, nitrogen, or ammonia, and is then passed through a secondary membrane filter to capture and remove any remaining contaminants.

An integrated device and method for treating toxic and refractory wastewater are provided. The integrated device includes an adjusting pool, a first-stage reactor, a second-stage reactor, a third-stage reactor, a coagulation sedimentation pool, and a biochemical reaction pool that are sequentially connected in series, and further includes an aeration blower. Each of the first-stage reactor and the third-stage reactor is an advanced oxidation reactor, and the second-stage reactor is a Fenton reactor. The coagulation sedimentation pool includes 2 to 4 stages, and each stage of the coagulation sedimentation pool includes a coagulation tank, a primary sedimentation tank, and a secondary sedimentation tank that are connected in series. The biochemical reaction pool includes an anoxic tank, an aerobic tank, a settling tank, and a clean water tank that are connected in series. The wastewater treatment method combines the integrated device for treating toxic and refractory wastewater with reasonable process parameters.

Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a small modular self-contained surface plasma device for decontamination of air and surfaces within enclosed volumes. Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus using the technical process of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) surface plasma generation from ambient atmosphere for decontamination of air and surfaces within enclosed volumes. The primary application mode is for preservation of perishable commodities within industrial shipping containers through reduction of surface spoilage organisms and destruction of evolved gaseous ethylene that causes premature ripening. Additional implementations include deployment for oxidation of surfaces and/or container atmospheres in applications to diminish or eradicate pesticides, toxins, chemical residues, and other natural or introduced contaminants. Other embodiments envisioned include incorporation of device capabilities and or ancillary modules for feedback input (e.g. ozone sensor(s) to maintain steady state levels, self-tuning circuitry to adjust operating frequency), communication (e.g. among modules, RFID data loggers, Wi-Fi output), and programing (e.g. user input of container volume, transit time, ozone level, etc.).

A process for purifying washing waters of a production plant of the cosmetics sector includes subjecting the washing waters to an ultrafiltration treatment that produces an ultrafiltration concentrate and ultrafiltration water, and subjecting ultrafiltration water to a biological treatment with separation of sludges to be disposed of or further treated and treated water to be disposed of or to undergo subsequent treatments.

A pharmaceutical waste system for treating a residual pharmaceutical composition disposed in a pharmaceutical dispenser includes an extraction stage, a pharmaceutical dispenser coupler, and a pharmaceutical waste treatment stage. The extraction stage is in fluid communication with the pharmaceutical dispenser and is configured to extract at least a portion of the residual pharmaceutical composition from the pharmaceutical dispenser. The pharmaceutical dispenser coupler is configured to couple the pharmaceutical dispenser to the extraction stage. The pharmaceutical waste treatment stage is in fluid communication with the extraction stage and is configured to change the residual pharmaceutical waste composition extracted from the pharmaceutical dispenser in one of a chemical and physical manner. The present disclosure also provides a method of disposing of a residual pharmaceutical composition from a pharmaceutical dispenser.