Abstract: Disclosed herein is a compound made by copolymerizing a poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate with a first acrylate monomer having a first functional group that interacts with a third functional group having a third functional group type selected from anionic groups, cationic groups, or perfluoroalkyl groups. Optionally, the copolymerization includes a second acrylate monomer having a second functional group that interacts with a fourth functional group having a fourth functional group type selected from anionic groups, cationic groups, and perfluoroalkyl groups. The third functional group type and the fourth functional group type are different. When the compound is porous, as when made by high internal phase emulsion polymerization, it may be used for per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substance decontamination.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and thermoset made by: reacting a di- or tri-functional isocyanate with a silyl-containing compound to form a polyurethane having at least one unreacted isocyanate group, reacting the polyurethane with an aminoalkylalkoxysilane to form an alkoxysilane-terminated polyurethane, and moisture-curing the alkoxysilane-terminated polyurethane to form the thermoset. The silyl-containing compound has the formula: SiR1n[R3—(O—CO—X—R3)m—OH]4-n. Each X is —O— or —NR2—; each R1 is an alkyl group or an aryl group; each R2 is —H, an alkyl group, or an aryl group; each R3 is an alkylene group; n is 0, 1, or 2; and each m is a non-negative integer. The thermoset may be degraded by treatment with a solution of a fluoride salt in an organic solvent.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for decontaminating both contaminated waters and sorbent filter media, either separately or simultaneously, in a single system. Contaminants in a liquid flowing through a reaction chamber are removed by first generating a plasma within the liquid in the chamber, with the contaminants being broken into smaller particles at the interfaces between the generated plasma and the liquid. The combined plasma-liquid solution is then passed through a solid filter, which captures the smaller contaminant particles to decontaminate the liquid. To decontaminate the filter media, plasma flows through the filter material without the presence of liquid, the plasma reacting with the filter material to remove contaminants previously adsorbed by the filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network made by a method of: polymerizing a silyl-containing acrylate or methacrylate monomer, optionally copolymerized with a second acrylate or methacrylate monomer. The silyl-containing monomer has two or more acrylate or methacrylate groups. The second monomer contains no silyl groups. The second monomer comprises a urethane group, an ether group, an ester group, a urea group, an amide group, a thioether group, a hydroxyl group, or is an alkyl acrylate. The copolymerization is via radical-initiated polymerization of the acrylate or methacrylate groups. The network may be degradable upon exposure to a fluoride salt, an acid, or a base.