Abstract: Magnetized hydrochar for the adsorption of cadmium and a method of synthesizing magnetized hydrochar from microalgal biomass are provided. The magnetized hydrochar may be synthesized by subjecting a microalgal biomass to a hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) reaction to produce hydrochar, chemically activating the hydrochar with H2O2, and magnetizing the activated hydrochar through coprecipitation. The microalgal biomass may be selected from Chlorella vulgaris FR751187 or Scenedesmus obliquus GU732418. The resulting mHC may be used to adsorb cadmium ions from an aqueous environment, including but not limited to waste effluent.

Abstract: A process is described for manufacturing white pigment containing products. The white pigment containing products are obtained from at least one white pigment and impurities containing material via froth flotation.

Abstract: A composition and method are disclosed for forming lignin-containing floccules from dissolved lignin, lignin nanoparticles, lignin colloids, or lignin-containing cellulose nanofibers. The floccules may be used to clean oil-contaminated materials such as oil-contaminated plastics or oil-contaminated water. The polymers and oil may then be recovered for further use, without requiring organic solvents.

Abstract: Sponge-like porous polypropylene thin film, and a method for preparing a sponge-like porous polypropylene thin film. The method includes dissolving polypropylene in an organic solvent to form a solution under reflux condition; adding a cavity forming agent to the solution and mixing the solution until the cavity forming agent is well-dispersed therein; applying the well-dispersed solution onto the solid substrate through spin coating to form a thin film on the solid substrate; peeling the thin film off the solid substrate; extracting the cavity forming agent from the peeled thin film by washing the peeled thin film in an aqueous or nonaqueous solvent, thereby obtaining a sponge-like porous polypropylene thin film with cavities, macro-voids, and micropores. The sponge-like porous polypropylene thin film is used as an oil sorbent. The sponge-like porous polypropylene thin film has about 400 to about 700 swellable cavities per cm2.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting silica scale formation which treats aqueous systems containing silica with a bottle brush polymer. The bottle brush polymer includes a repeat unit obtained after polymerization of one or more anionic monomers, and a repeat unit obtained after polymerization of one or more polyoxoalkylene-containing monomers. The bottle brush polymer may further include a repeat unit obtained after polymerization of one or more nonionic monomers. The addition of the bottle brush polymer to the aqueous system results in the inhibition of silica scale.

Abstract: Provided are an extract, which is a fractionated component 1 of a water extract of a plant powder, wherein the fractionated component 1 is a fractionated component having a fractionation molecular weight of 12,000 or greater, wherein an ethanol-undissolved component of the fractionated component 1 exhibits a peak attributable to carboxylic acid in a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) measurement and exhibits a peak attributable to cellulose in a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurement, and wherein an ethanol-dissolved component of the fractionated component 1 exhibits a peak attributable to carboxylic acid in the FT-IR measurement and exhibits a peak attributable to a plant protein in the GC-MS measurement, and a water-purifying agent containing the extract.

Abstract: A method of chromium removal from wastewater comprising providing a copper augmented biochar and contacting the copper augmented biochar with the wastewater to remove chromium from the wastewater. The copper augmented biochar can remove chromium from wastewater with about 99% efficiency in about 1 hour.

Abstract: A method of making a pyranine monomer composition comprises the step of reacting pyranine with a functionalizing agent that functionalizes the pyranine molecule with a polymerizable functional group to provide a composition of functionalized pyranine monomers, said functionalization reaction taking place in an aqueous reaction medium, and in the presence of a molar excess of said functionalizing agent, such that the functionalization reaction product is a monomer composition substantially free of unfunctionalized pyranine compound. The pyranine monomer compositions made by the method can be used to make fluorescent tagged water soluble polymer compositions that advantageously are substantially free of unpolymerized pyranine. The fluorescent tagged water soluble polymer compositions can be used in a method of inhibiting scale in industrial water systems.

Abstract: A method for removing a contaminant from a fluid is provided. A positively charged layered double hydroxide is combined with a negatively charged clay material to form adsorption material. The adsorption material is contacted with an aqueous solution containing the contaminant to adsorb the contaminant onto the adsorption material.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, provided are methods and processes for the removal of cadmium (Cd) from wet-process phosphoric acid that may contain Cd, including excessive amounts of Cd. The process developed is based on the application of commercially available ion exchange resins with the application of Continuous Ion Exchange (CIX) technology. In alternative embodiments, provided are processes and methods for the recovery and/or the removal of cadmium from wet-process phosphoric acid using a continuous ion exchange approach. In alternative embodiments, use of processes and methods as provided herein allows for the reduction of cadmium metal contaminants with minimal phosphate losses and dilution in order to produce a phosphoric acid that is suitable for the production of fertilizers and phosphoric acid products, such as world-class diammonium phosphate fertilizer (DAP), merchant-grade phosphoric acid, super-phosphoric acid, and other phosphoric acid products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enhancing the removal of a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) component from waste water using a cationic polymer (e.g., a cationic polymer flocculant or coagulant). The cationic polymer enables gas that is diffused through the waste water to carry at least a portion of the PFAS component to the surface of water, creating a foam that can then be removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a carbon-based substance for removing saturated and non-saturated fats, petroleum and petroleum products from a water surface and/or water emulsion. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for producing this carbon-based substance. More specifically, the present invention relates to use of this carbon-based substance for removing saturated and non-saturated fats, petroleum and petroleum products from a water surface of open waters, including seas and oceans.

Abstract: Taught herein is a two stage process for removing dissolved and emulsified oil from produced water (PW) from, for example, a hydrocarbon well. The first stage involves microbiological stimulation of indigenous oil degrading methanogenic microbial communities that are adapted to high salinity conditions preferably by supplying carbon dioxide and protein-rich matter (isolated soy protein) under controlled pH conditions. The second stage removes toxic metals using filters made of compressed powdered dolomite of uniform grain size. Increased levels of toxic metals removal are achieved by filtrating PW previously treated for oil. To further increase the removal efficiency of the dolomite filter, calcium and magnesium is removed from PW by the addition of lime and soda ash in a sedimentation tank, and guar gum is supplied to PW to enable the trapping of toxic metals by guar gum in small pore throats of the dolomite filter.

Abstract: A method of making activated carbon particles from hemp includes placing raw hemp within a predefined atmosphere to produce activated carbon particles from the raw hemp and carbonizing the raw hemp to produce the activated carbon particles. Hemp filters including the activated carbon particles from hemp are disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated device and method for treating toxic and refractory wastewater are provided. The integrated device includes an adjusting pool, a first-stage reactor, a second-stage reactor, a third-stage reactor, a coagulation sedimentation pool, and a biochemical reaction pool that are sequentially connected in series, and further includes an aeration blower. Each of the first-stage reactor and the third-stage reactor is an advanced oxidation reactor, and the second-stage reactor is a Fenton reactor. The coagulation sedimentation pool includes 2 to 4 stages, and each stage of the coagulation sedimentation pool includes a coagulation tank, a primary sedimentation tank, and a secondary sedimentation tank that are connected in series. The biochemical reaction pool includes an anoxic tank, an aerobic tank, a settling tank, and a clean water tank that are connected in series.

Abstract: A dewatering system for separating water from solids in dredged slurries in real-time, parallel to the dredging of harbors, stream, and lakes. Water removed from the solids can be returned to the body of water from which it came. After the system removes debris and sand from the slurry, the system removes capillary water the remaining fines and filters out most toxic particles.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing geothermal power using geothermal brines while producing a reduced silica and iron brine having improved injectivity. The resulting compositions include a composition with reduced silica, iron, and lithium having reduced quantity of total suspended solids.

Abstract: A bioelectrochemical reactor (1) has an anode chamber (11) having at least two bioanodes (12, 13), and an anodic electrolyte (14) with an anodic electroactive microorganisms,—a cathode chamber (21) with at least one biocathode (22), and a cathodic electrolyte (24) with a cathodic electroactive microorganisms. The anode chamber (11) is separated from the cathode chamber (21) by, running from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber, a cation exchange membrane (31) and an anion exchange membrane (32). The cation and anion exchange membranes are separated from each other by an inter-membrane chamber (30), and means for applying a potential difference between the interconnected bioanodes and the biocathode/biocathodes. The bioanodes and biocathode/biocathodes have active surfaces such that the total active surface of the biocathode/biocathodes (22) is greater than the total active surface of the two bioanodes (12, 13).

Abstract: Cross-linked polyvinyl polymers comprising charged groups and methods of making are disclosed. The polymers are effective and durable adsorbent of dyes from aqueous solutions. Also, a method of removal of dyes from contaminated water is disclosed.

Abstract: Cross-linked polyvinyl polymers comprising charged groups and methods of making are disclosed. The polymers are effective and durable adsorbent of dyes from aqueous solutions. Also, a method of removal of dyes from contaminated water is disclosed.