A method of fabricating a magnetically-controlled graphene-based micro-/nano-motor includes: (a) mixing FeCl.sub.3 crystal powder with deionized water to obtain a FeCl.sub.3 solution; (b) completely immersing a carbon-based microsphere in the FeCl.sub.3 solution; transferring the carbon-based microsphere from the FeCl.sub.3 solution followed by heating to allow crystallization of FeCl.sub.3 on the surface of the carbon-based microsphere to obtain a FeCl.sub.3-carbon-based microsphere; (c) heating the FeCl.sub.3-carbon-based microsphere in a vacuum chamber until there is no moisture in the vacuum chamber; continuously removing gas in the vacuum chamber and introducing oxygen; and treating the FeCl.sub.3-carbon-based microsphere with a laser in an oxygen-enriched environment to obtain the magnetically controlled graphene-based micro-/nano-motor. A magnetically-controlled graphene-based micro-/nano-motor is further provided.

Solar thermal devices are formed from a block of wood, where the natural cell lumens of the wood form an interconnected network that transports fluid or material therein. The block of wood can be modified to increase absorption of solar radiation. Combining the solar absorption effects with the natural transport network can be used for various applications. In some embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to evaporate a fluid, for example, evaporating water for extraction, distillation, or desalination. In other embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to change transport properties of a material to allow it to be transported in the interconnected network, for example, heating crude oil to adsorb the oil within the block of wood.

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

A waste separator for attachment to a sink drain pipe is provided, the waste separator comprising: a transverse pipe, the transverse pipe including a proximal end, a distal end, a sidewall therebetween, a solid waste outlet at the distal end and a flange on the sidewall, the transverse pipe defining a transverse bore; a motor-driven, non-cutting auger which is housed in the transverse bore; a cylindrical filter around the motor-driven, non-cutting auger; a water collector below the cylindrical filter and terminating in a wastewater outlet; a sink wastewater inlet in a vicinity of the proximal end, the sink wastewater inlet normal to the transverse bore and in fluid communication with the transverse bore; a normally-closed flap valve, the normally-closed flap valve hingedly attached to transverse pipe proximate the distal end; a hinge actuator for the normally-closed flap valve; and a microprocessor, the microprocessor in electronic communication with the hinge actuator.

The present invention covers a novel method for creating an adsorbent and the resulting novel adsorbent. The method may be used to remove pollutants/unwanted chemicals from water, air, other gases, biological fluids (such as blood, urine, lipids, protein fluids), and other fluids (such as fuel). The adsorbent may be used to remove heavy metals (for example, lead), organic pollutants, inorganic non-meal pollutants (for example, nitrates and bromates). Accordingly, the current invention has many applications including but not limited to water treatment, wastewater treatment, biomedical fluid treatments, gas cleanup, and fuel (oil, gas) cleanup.

A solid-liquid separation device performs dehydration or deoiling from a treated object using a substance A that is a gas at normal temperature and pressure and is capable of dissolving water and oil when liquefied. The separation device includes a substance B that circulates while generating phase change in a closed system, a compressor that compresses the substance B, a first heat exchanger that condenses substance B and evaporates of the substance A, an expansion valve that decompresses the condensed substance B, a second heat exchanger that evaporates substance B and condenses substance A, and a treatment tank wherein substance A is mixed with the treated object, substance A is evaporated while separated from the liquid in the first heat exchanger, and condensed in the second heat exchanger. The center of gravity of the first heat exchanger is lower than the second heat exchanger in a vertical direction.

A wastewater recycling system includes a biological reactor having anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic chambers. A lift station including a pump is operatively connected to the biological reactor. The lift station receives biologically treated liquid from the biological reactor and pumps the liquid from the lift station. A filtration subsystem is operatively connected to the lift station. The filtration subsystem receives and filters the liquid pumped by the lift station. The filtration subsystem includes a salt-rejecting membrane filter comprising a concentrate recirculation conduit operatively connected to recirculate salt-rejecting membrane filter concentrate to a point along the wastewater recycling system upstream of the salt-rejecting membrane filter, thereby forming a salt concentration loop between said point along the wastewater recycling system and the salt-rejecting membrane filter. A post-filtration subsystem is operatively connected to receive salt-rejecting membrane filter permeate, and comprises a water disinfection system that disinfects the permeate thereby generating potable water.

A purification device for water has a housing with a longitudinal axis, an upper and a lower end and a substantially round cross section. The device includes a first receptacle, arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, for a first purification medium, and a second receptacle, which is also arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, for a second purification medium. The receptacle for the second purification medium is arranged eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

A preparation method of a bacterial cellulose-defective molybdenum disulfide (BC-MoS.sub.2-x) heterojunction material for treating radioactive wastewater is provided, including: preparing bacterial cellulose by the in situ growth technology of Acetobacter xylinum, and freeze-drying to obtain dried bacterial cellulose; carbonizing the dried bacterial cellulose to obtain carbonized bacterial cellulose; dispersing the carbonized bacterial cellulose into deionized water under an ultrasonic treatment; then adding thiourea and Na.sub.2MoO.sub.4.2H.sub.2O, dissolving under an ultrasonic treatment to obtain a reaction mixture, subjecting the reaction mixture to a hydrothermal reaction to obtain a BC-MoS.sub.2 heterojunction; and calcining the BC-MoS.sub.2 heterojunction in a tube furnace with an Ar/H.sub.2 atmosphere to obtain the BC-MoS.sub.2-x heterojunction.

A hydrogen-enriched water generator and dispenser includes a main casing, a hydrogen water generator supported in the main casing, and a water tank. The hydrogen water generator includes a magnetic field generator and an electrode arrangement supported in the main casing. The water tank is adapted for storing a predetermined amount of regular water. The magnetic field generator is arranged to deliver electromagnetic wave having ultra-long wavelength to the regular water stored in the water tank upon electrolyzing and ionizing by the electrode arrangement, so that the regular water is electrolyzed and ionized to contain a predetermined amount of hydrogen ions for direct consumption.