Abstract: An air remediation device includes a housing including an internal chamber, an inlet, an outlet, and a potting material dividing said internal chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment. At least one hollow fiber membrane is supported by the potting material and held in the first compartment. Airborne viral particles are directed (a) through the inlet into the first compartment and then (b) through the at least one hollow fiber membrane, where the airborne viral particles are captured to produce treated air, and then the treated air is directed (c) through the second compartment before being exhausted from the housing through the outlet.

Abstract: An antiviral mask and antiviral filter include a thin breathable, microporous polymeric membrane. That membrane may include a plurality of pores functionalized with a proteolytic enzyme, an antibody or a combination thereof. The antiviral mask and antiviral filter may also include a coating of graphene oxide, lignin sulfonate or a combination thereof and/or a fluorescent virus tagging agent.

Abstract: Purification devices and methods remove perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) from PFC-contaminated water using temperature swing adsorption and desorption.

Abstract: Purification devices and methods remove perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) from PFC-contaminated water using temperature swing adsorption and desorption.

Abstract: A water purification device is provided in the form of a hydrogel matrix containing immobilized nanoparticles that are directly synthesized in-situ in the hydrogel matrix. The hydrogel matrix is temperature sensitive, such that swelling draws in pollutants that are captured by the nanoparticles, while deswelling releases purified water. A related method of decontaminating the water supply contaminated with a target pollutant is also disclosed.

Abstract: A nanocomposite membrane includes a macroporous polymer membrane having a plurality of pores. A plurality of metal nanoparticles are synthesized and immobilized within those plurality of pores. The nanoparticles are reduced and capped with a green reducing and capping agent such as green tea extract.

Abstract: A nanocomposite membrane includes a macroporous polymer membrane having a plurality of pores. A plurality of metal nanoparticles are synthesized and immobilized within those plurality of pores. The nanoparticles are reduced and capped with a green reducing and capping agent such as green tea extract.

Abstract: A nanocomposite membrane includes a macroporous polymer membrane having a plurality of pores. A plurality of metal nanoparticles are synthesized and immobilized within those plurality of pores. The nanoparticles are reduced and capped with a green reducing and capping agent such as green tea extract.

Abstract: A chemical processing cell includes an upstream membrane and a downstream membrane. The upstream membrane generates a first reaction product. The downstream membrane converts the first reaction product to a second reaction product.

Abstract: A water purification device is provided in the form of a hydrogel matrix containing immobilized nanoparticles that are directly synthesized in-situ in the hydrogel matrix. A related method of decontaminating the water supply contaminated with a target pollutant is also disclosed.

Abstract: A nanocomposite membrane includes a macroporous polymer membrane having a plurality of pores. A plurality of metal nanoparticles are synthesized and immobilized within those plurality of pores. The nanoparticles are reduced and capped with a green reducing and capping agent such as green tea extract.

Abstract: A chemical processing cell includes an upstream membrane and a downstream membrane. The upstream membrane generates a first reaction product. The downstream membrane converts the first reaction product to a second reaction product.

Abstract: A method for preparing and regenerating a chemically activated or polyamino acid functionalized membrane includes the steps of permeating the silica-based membrane with a solution of silane and a solvent so as to react methoxy groups of the silane with silanol groups of the membrane to incorporate epoxide groups and attaching a polyamino acid to the membrane by reacting a terminal amine group of the polyamino acid with one of the epoxide groups on the membrane. The membrane is regenerated after metal entrapment by utilizing helix-coil properties of polyamino acids.

Abstract: A method for preparing a chemically activated or polyamino acid functionalized membrane includes the steps of permeating a silica-based membrane with a solution of silane and a solvent so as to react methoxy groups of the silane with silanol groups of the membrane to incorporate epoxide groups and attaching a polyamino acid to the membrane by reacting a terminal amine group of the polyamino acid with one of the epoxide groups on the membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus providing for metal ion/nitrate entrapment comprises a chemically activated, microfiltration, composite polymer and silica-based membrane including a polyamino acid attached thereto through reaction of a terminal amine group of the polyamino acid with the membrane. A method for preparing such a chemically activated or polyamino acid functionalized membrane includes the steps of permeating the silica-based membrane with a solution of silane and a solvent so as to react methoxy groups of the silane with silanol groups of the membrane to incorporate epoxide groups and attaching a polyamino acid to the membrane by reacting a terminal amine group of the polyamino acid with one of the epoxide groups on the membrane.

Abstract: A process is provided for making membrane-based sorbents with enhanced binding activity that are particularly useful for heavy metal sequestration. The process includes the step of selectively hydrolyzing a polyacetylated membrane in order to deacetylated a surface layer of said membrane including the pore surfaces and expose free hydroxyl groups. This is followed by the oxidizing of the hydroxyl groups to aldehyde groups. This is then followed by the attaching of a polycarboxylic acid such as a polyamino acid, polyalkenoic acid or polypeptide to the membrane through the aldehyde groups. Preferably, the hydrolyzing step is completed under alkaline conditions and the oxidizing step is completed using an aqueous solution of sodium periodate.

Abstract: A process is provided for making membrane-based sorbents with enhanced binding activity that are particularly useful for heavy metal sequestration. The process includes the step of selectively hydrolyzing a polyacetylated membrane in order to deacetylate a surface layer of said membrane and expose free hydroxyl groups. This is followed by the oxidizing of the hydroxyl groups to aldehyde groups. This is then followed by the attaching of a polycarboxylic acid such as a polyamino acid, polyalkenoic acid or polypeptide to the membrane through the aldehyde groups. Preferably, the hydrolyzing step is completed under alkaline conditions and the oxidizing step is completed using an aqueous solution of sodium periodate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of destroying hazardous vapor phase or aqueous phase organic compound(s) by providing a polymeric siloxane based solvent in a vessel and adding the hazardous organic compound(s) and ozone to the solvent. The solvent may also comprise a mixture of polymeric siloxane based solvent and fluorinated hydrocarbon solvent.