A multifunctional hybrid material based on sepiolite for environmental recovery and bio-remediation is described. In particular, the invention describes the design and development of suitably functionalized hybrid nanomaterials starting from sepiolite and the subsequent study of the absorbent and degrading properties in relation to aromatic hydrocarbons, by activating hydrocarbon-clastic bacteria. These nanomaterials have been prepared in order to remove hydrocarbon pollutants (e.g. oil) in natural matrices (marine environment), with potential applications in the field of environmental remediation.

A method for surface treatment of acrylate-based superabsorbents may include preparing a treatment solution including water, an organic solvent, and a silane compound; applying the treatment solution to a plurality of acrylate-based superabsorbents to form a mixture; and fabricating modified acrylate-based superabsorbents by subjecting the mixture to heating or microwave irradiation.

Contaminate-sequestering coatings including a network of hydrolyzed silane compounds including a plurality of thiol functional groups, a plurality of fluorinated functionalities, or both are provided. The contaminate-sequestering coatings may sequester one or more per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals, biological species or any combination thereof. Methods of functionalizing a substrate surface with contaminate-sequestering functionalities that sequester one or more PFAS, heavy metals, or both are also provided. Methods of removing contaminants from contaminate-containing liquids, and devices including the contaminate-sequestering coatings are also provided.

A metal sequestering material can be contacted with a reaction mixture of a metal-catalyzed reaction to remove transition metals or transition metal complexes. The reaction mixture contains transition metals and a reaction product in solution. These transition metals may be, for example, Pd, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pt, Au, or Hg. The concentration of transition metals in the reaction mixture is reduced to less than 100 ppm or even less than 10 ppm.

Contaminant-sequestering coatings include a network of hydrolyzed silane compounds including (i) a plurality of fluorinated functionalities, and (ii) a plurality of thiol functional groups are provided. The network of hydrolyzed silane compounds includes a fluorinated silane including (a) a hydrophilic polar head region. The polar head region includes one or multiple units of ethylene glycol (EG) functionality, (b) a fluorine-containing region, and (c) an anchor region including a silicon atom. The contaminant-sequestering coatings may sequester one or more per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals, biological species, or any combination thereof.

A composition and a method for culturing cells. The composition includes a plurality of buoyant hollow particles, the buoyant hollow particles comprising a siliceous surface; and a plurality of mammalian cells attached to the siliceous surface of the buoyant hollow particles; wherein the buoyant hollow particles are less dense than a media; and wherein the average seeding density is 3-50 adherent cells/buoyant hollow particle.

A method for forming an amine-functionalized solid CO.sub.2 sorbent for carbon capture may include providing a support material and applying at least one cycle of molecular layer deposition (MLD) with an amine precursor onto the surface of the support material. An amine layer formed on the support material contains amine groups/amine-containing ligands to adsorb CO.sub.2 onto the support material in a low temperature operating window for adsorption and desorption without the loss of active sites.

A blood treatment material adsorbs and removes blood components such as activated leukocytes and inflammatory cytokines with a high efficiency. The blood treatment material includes a water-insoluble material in the form of fibers or particles, wherein the difference between the maximum value (RaA) and the minimum value (RaB) of the arithmetic average roughness (Ra) of the surface of the water-insoluble material, as calculated using a laser microscope, is from 0.30 to 1.50 μm.

A smart sand includes raw sand particles, synthetic SiO.sub.2 particles attached to the raw sand particles, a first material attached to a first set of the synthetic SiO.sub.2 particles, a second material attached to a second set of the synthetic SiO.sub.2 particles, and a third material attached to the first material. Each of the first to third materials is different from each other.

A multi-functional hybrid material based on natural clays for environmental bio-remediation and recover), is disclosed. In particular, the invention discloses the design and development of appropriately functionalized nanohybrid materials starting from nanostructured clays and the subsequent study of the absorbent properties in relation to hydrocarbons, heavy metals, chemical pollutants, oils, particulate, and microplastics. These nanomaterials were prepared in order to remove the hydrocarbon pollutants (for example oil) and metal pollutants in natural matrices (marine environment), with potential applications in the field of environmental remediation.