The invention relates to a filtration system for use in a method of determining the presence and/or amount of cells, for example, viable cells, in a liquid sample, and to methods of using and manufacturing such a filtration system. The filtration system includes a cup with an upper portion and a ring portion, where the ring portion is separably coupled to the upper portion.

A universal, scalable, solvent-free, one-step method for thermal annealing a stainless steel membrane to create a superhydrophilic surface. The superhydrophilic membrane itself, and methods for using it to separate oil and water in an oil and water mixture or for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and other organic contaminants.

A photodialysis device that can desalinate saline streams is described herein. The device can have a desalination rate that is significantly faster than current solar thermal desalination technology. Salt is removed from water by passing ionic current derived from sunlight through this water using dye-sensitized membranes. The device can serve as a distributed, low-cost technology that can efficiently and effectively desalinate low salinity sources of water, which is particularly useful for agriculture and drinking water applications.

The disclosure relates to a container for filtering a suspension which comprises a lid and a vessel. The container comprises a filter that divides an interior space of the container into a first compartment and a second compartment. The lid comprises a first access and a second access. The first access is connected to the first compartment, and the second access is connected to the second compartment.

An interfacial solar membrane includes a substrate with a coating of polypyrrole disposed on a surface of the substrate. The coating of polypyrrole is formed by dipping the substrate in a solution of pyrrole monomer and iron(III) chloride. The interfacial solar membrane can include a coating to improve a hydrophobicity of the interfacial solar membrane, such as a coating of 1H,1H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane. A method of using the interfacial solar membrane includes using the interfacial solar membrane to evaporate a fluid and condensing the evaporated fluid to remove an impurity from the fluid.

A method and system for water injection into an oil and/or gas containing subterranean formation is shown, the method comprising: arranging a submerged water filtration station with a pump feeding inlet seawater through at least one filtering membrane to a water injection pump, subjecting the water to ionizing irradiation at a location between the seawater inlet and the water injection pump, whereby at said location the water is guided past a submerged radiation source which is distributed for penetration of the body of injection water.

A three-dimensional photo/electrodialysis unit includes four compartments. A first compartment holds a three-dimensional electrode and a group of one or more electrochemically active redox species. A first electroactive cation selective membrane couples the first compartment to a second compartment that provides a first feedstock. An electroactive anion selective membrane couples the second compartment to a third compartment that provides a second feedstock. And a second electroactive cation selective membrane couples the third compartment to a fourth compartment that holds a second group of one or more electrochemically active redox species.

Systems and methods to remove carbon from liquids such as seawater and other natural waters are described. The systems and methods utilize photoactive compounds to alter the pH of a fluid, drawing carbon out of the liquid and channeling it into a secondary environment. The carbon can be captured and sequestered or used in the formation of a product.

Dye-sensitized ion-pumping membranes and methods of preparing said membranes are described herein. A regenerative and reversible photoactive dye is covalently-bonded to membrane or separator for ion-pumping. The photoactive dye-functionalized membranes can be arranged with other ion-exchange membranes, which serve as selective contacts to afford photovoltaic action and therefore form a power-producing membrane that pumps ions for use in driving an ion-exchange or ion-transport process, such as desalination and electrodialysis.

The invention relates to a filtration system for use in a method of determining the presence and/or amount of cells, for example, viable cells, in a liquid sample, and to methods of using and manufacturing such a filtration system. The filtration system includes a cup with an upper portion and a ring portion, where the ring portion is separably coupled to the upper portion.