A nanobiocatalytic membrane for a filtration system is provided which includes a filtration membrane and a plurality of nanobiocatalyst nanoparticles associated with the membrane, each of the nanobiocatalyst nanoparticles including a core, a coating at least partially surrounding the core, and a plurality of nanobiocatalysts coupled to the coating. Each of the plurality of nanobiocatalysts includes an antibacterial nanoparticle comprising bismuth, and a quorum quenching agent coupled to the antibacterial nanoparticle. A nanobiocatalyst nanoparticle for use with a water purification system is also provided. A method of forming a nanobiocatalytic membrane for a filtration system and a method of using a nanobiocatalytic membrane in a filtration system are also provided.

A desulfurization system has an oxidation process unit, and a multi-stage, liquid-liquid extraction unit in series with the oxidation process unit. The multi-stage, liquid-liquid extraction unit spits a fuel input from the oxidation process unit into a desulfurized fuel that is output for use, and a by-product. A solvent/sulfur/hydrocarbon separation process unit receives the by-product from the multi-stage, liquid-liquid extraction unit.

A system for treatment of a polluted effluent includes an outer chamber and a computerized control system. The system is configured to treat an effluent/catalyst mixture that includes the polluted effluent in admixture with a purification slurry. The slurry includes particles of one or more catalysts and/or organoclays. The treatment of the effluent/catalyst mixture is carried out by contact between the particles of the catalysts and/or organoclays and the polluted effluent to mineralize or degrade pollutants in the polluted effluent.

There is disclosed a method of forming chlorine dioxide comprising passing chlorous acid through a membrane including a catalyst suitable to catalyse the formation of chlorine dioxide from chlorous acid. There is also disclosed a membrane suitable for forming an aqueous solution of chlorine dioxide comprising a catalyst suitable to catalyse the formation of chlorine dioxide from chlorous acid or alkali metal chlorite.

An electrochemical gas conversion device is provided, that includes a flexible membrane formed in a sack-shape, where the membrane includes a gas permeable and liquid-impermeable membrane, where at least a portion of the flexible membrane is surrounded by a liquid electrolyte held by a housing, where the flexible membrane includes a gas interior, an electrically conductive catalyst coating on an exterior surface of the flexible membrane, where the flexible membrane and the electrically conductive catalyst coating are configured as a anode or a cathode, and an inlet/outlet tube configured to flow the gas to the interior, from the interior, or to and from the interior of the flexible membrane.

A system is disclosed for inerting a fuel tank. The system includes a fuel tank and an air separator including an air inlet, a membrane with a permeability differential between oxygen and nitrogen, an oxygen-depleted air outlet, and an oxygen-enriched air outlet. A catalytic reactor is arranged to receive oxygen-depleted air from the oxygen-depleted air outlet and fuel, to react the fuel with oxygen in the oxygen-depleted air, and to discharge an inert gas from a reactor outlet. An inert gas flow path is arranged to receive inert gas from the reactor outlet, or from the air separation module oxygen-depleted air outlet, or from the reactor outlet and from the air separation module oxygen-depleted air outlet, and to direct inert gas to the fuel tank.

A method is described of producing a catalyst-containing composite oxygen ion membrane and a catalyst-containing composite oxygen ion membrane in which a porous fuel oxidation layer and a dense separation layer and optionally, a porous surface exchange layer are formed on a porous support from mixtures of (Ln.sub.1xA.sub.x).sub.wCr.sub.1yB.sub.yO.sub.3 and a doped zirconia. Adding certain catalyst metals into the fuel oxidation layer not only enhances the initial oxygen flux, but also reduces the degradation rate of the oxygen flux over long-term operation. One of the possible reasons for the improved flux and stability is that the addition of the catalyst metal reduces the chemical reaction between the (Ln.sub.1xA.sub.x).sub.wCr.sub.1yB.sub.yO.sub.3 and the zirconia phases during membrane fabrication and operation, as indicated by the X-ray diffraction results.

A molecular separation method can include: passing a deasphalted oil stream through a reactor containing an active substrate, wherein the catalytic active substrate adsorbs heteroatom species from the deasphalted oil stream and produces a pretreated hydrocarbon feed stream essentially free of 4+ ring aromatic molecules (ARC 4+ species), metal species, and heteroatom species; and chromatographically separating with a simulated moving bed apparatus or a true moving bed apparatus (SMB/TMB) the pretreated hydrocarbon feed stream into a saturate fraction and an aromatics fraction.

A drainless reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system provides relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, while recycling brine to a domestic hot water system. The drainless purification system includes a pre-filter catalyst cartridge for removing chlorine-based contaminants from a tap water supply upstream from an RO membrane. The catalyst is regularly refreshed by a high through-flow of water to a conventional cold water dispense faucet, thereby significantly prolonging the service life of the RO membrane. The RO membrane is incorporated into a multi-cartridge unit adapted for facilitated slide-out removal and replacement as needed. A control valve recycles brine from the RO membrane to the hot water system during pure water production, and recirculates tap water through the RO membrane when a pure water reservoir is substantially filled. The multi-cartridge unit may further include an air filtration system for providing a flow of filtered air.

A drainless reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system provides relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, while recycling brine to a domestic hot water system. The drainless purification system includes a pre-filter catalyst cartridge for removing chlorine-based contaminants from a tap water supply upstream from an RO membrane. The catalyst is regularly refreshed by a high through-flow of water to a conventional cold water dispense faucet, thereby significantly prolonging the service life of the RO membrane. The RO membrane is incorporated into a multi-cartridge unit adapted for facilitated slide-out removal and replacement as needed. A control valve recycles brine from the RO membrane to the hot water system during pure water production, and recirculates tap water through the RO membrane when a pure water reservoir is substantially filled. The multi-cartridge unit may further include an air filtration system for providing a flow of filtered air.