Abstract: Disclosed is a swellable, sorbent material formed of a sol-gel derived composition having a porous matrix and a sorbent property modifier intermixed with at least a portion of the porous matrix. The sorbent property modifier modifies a sorbent property of the sorbent material when compared to the same sorbent property of the corresponding, unmodified sol-gel derived composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for extracting metal particulates for an aqueous solution using a sol-gel derived sorbent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a swellable sol-gel composition that involves the use of a bridged silane precursor. The resulting sol-gel includes residual silanols, which are derivatized with a reagent having at least one silanol-reactive group and at least one alkyl group; and the sol-gel is then dried. Sol-gels of the invention are demonstrated to swell up to about 8-10 times their original volume in the presence of a non-polar sorbate. The sol-gel compositions can be used in a sorbate-activated actuator or in a detector for non-polar sorbates. The sol-gel compositions can further be used to take up non-polar sorbates for purposes of chemical remediation, extraction from aqueous systems or vapor, and chemical sensing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sorbent material formed of a sol-gel derived composition having a porous matrix and a sorbate interactive material incorporated into at least a portion of the sol-gel derived composition, as well as a method for using such sorbent materials

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for controlling the flow of an organic liquid by flowing an organic liquid through a pipe having an upstream end with an unconstricted portion and and a downstream end with a constricted portion, the constricted portion having an inner diameter that is at least 10% smaller than the inner diameter of the unconstricted portion, and a porous plug formed of sol-gel derived particles in the pipe, the plug having a length at least two times the diameter of the pipe. Also disclosed is a method and system, the system including a housing having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and containing a sol-gel derived composition and a liquid pressure sensitive control means operatively connected to the liquid inlet for controlling the flow of the organic liquid, contacting the sol-gel derived composition to actuate the liquid pressure sensitive control means and controlling the flow of the organic liquid in response to the actuation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system that includes treating a material by applying a sol-gel derived composition loaded with a first sorbate under conditions effective to treat the material with the first sorbate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for extracting metal particulates for an aqueous solution using a sol-gel derived sorbent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a swellable sol-gel composition that involves the use of a bridged silane precursor. The resulting sol-gel includes residual silanols, which are derivatized with a reagent having at least one silanol-reactive group and at least one alkyl group; and the sol-gel is then dried. Sol-gels of the invention are demonstrated to swell up to about 8-10 times their original volume in the presence of a non-polar sorbate. The sol-gel compositions can be used in a sorbate-activated actuator or in a detector for non-polar sorbates. The sol-gel compositions can further be used to take up non-polar sorbates for purposes of chemical remediation, extraction from aqueous systems or vapor, and chemical sensing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a swellable sol-gel composition that involves the use of a bridged silane precursor. The resulting sol-gel includes residual silanols, which are derivatized with a reagent having at least one silanol-reactive group and at least one alkyl group; and the sol-gel is then dried. Sol-gels of the invention are demonstrated to swell up to about 8-10 times their original volume in the presence of a non-polar sorbate. The sol-gel compositions can be used in a sorbate-activated actuator or in a detector for non-polar sorbates. The sol-gel compositions can further be used to take up non-polar sorbates for purposes of chemical remediation, extraction from aqueous systems or vapor, and chemical sensing.

Abstract: A swellable sol-gel composition includes a plurality of interconnected organosilica nanoparticles. When dried, the swellable sol-gel composition is capable of swelling to at least twice its dried volume when placed in contact with a non-polar or organic sorbate.

Abstract: A swellable sol-gel composition includes a plurality of interconnected organosilica nanoparticles. The swellable sol-gel composition is capable of removing a small molecule organic pharmaceutical having a log Kow of at least about ?0.32 from an aqueous solution.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes a swellable sol-gel composition including a plurality of interconnected organosilica nanoparticles. Another aspect of the present invention includes a swellable composite including a plurality of interconnected organosilica nanoparticles and a particulate material capable of binding to or reacting with a non-polar or organic sorbate. When dried, the sol-gel composition and the swellable composite may be capable of swelling to at least twice their dried volume when placed in contact with a non-polar or organic sorbate.