Abstract: A porous activated asphaltene material is described with a method of making and a method of using for the adsorption of a contaminant from a solution. The porous activated asphaltene material may be made by functionalizing solid asphaltene with nitric acid, and then treating the product with a metal hydroxide. The resulting porous activated asphaltene material exhibits a high porosity, and may be cleaned and reused for adsorbing contaminants.

Abstract: A porous activated asphaltene material is described with a method of making and a method of using for the adsorption of a contaminant from a solution. The porous activated asphaltene material may be made by functionalizing solid asphaltene with nitric acid, and then treating the product with a metal hydroxide. The resulting porous activated asphaltene material exhibits a high porosity, and may be cleaned and reused for adsorbing contaminants.

Abstract: A porous activated asphaltene material is described with a method of making and a method of using for the adsorption of a contaminant from a solution. The porous activated asphaltene material may be made by functionalizing solid asphaltene with nitric acid, and then treating the product with a metal hydroxide. The resulting porous activated asphaltene material exhibits a high porosity, and may be cleaned and reused for adsorbing contaminants.

Abstract: A method of making an antimicrobial poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver nanocomposite comprising PMMA and silver nanoparticles. The method includes reacting at least one silver salt with a methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer in at least one organic solvent free of water and in the presence of at least one organic free radical initiator to polymerize the MMA monomer to form the PMMA by free radical polymerization while reducing in-situ the silver salt to form the silver nanoparticles, wherein the silver nanoparticles have an average particle size of 35-60 nm, and wherein the PMMA forms a matrix that encloses the silver nanoparticles.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst comprising molybdenum disulfide nanosheets with dispersed iron phosphide nanoparticles is described. The molybdenum disulfide nanosheets may have an average length in a range of 300 nm-1 ?m and the iron phosphide nanoparticles may have an average diameter in a range of 5-20 nm. The electrocatalyst may have an electroactive surface area in a range of 10-50 mF·cm?2 when deposited on a working electrode for use in a hydrogen evolution reaction.

Abstract: A method of using a nanoporous carbon material for adsorption of one or more PAH and diesel fuel from an aqueous solution is described. The aqueous solution may comprise the one or more PAH at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L-1 g/L, and the diesel fuel at a concentration of 0.1-5 g/L. The nanoporous carbon material may adsorb at least 96 wt % of one or more PAH within 10 minutes. The nanoporous carbon material may be obtained by contacting a carbonized asphalt with a base.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst comprising molybdenum disulfide nanosheets with dispersed iron phosphide nanoparticles is described. The molybdenum disulfide nanosheets may have an average length in a range of 300 nm-1 ?m and the iron phosphide nanoparticles may have an average diameter in a range of 5-20 nm. The electrocatalyst may have an electroactive surface area in a range of 10-50 mF·cm?2 when deposited on a working electrode for use in a hydrogen evolution reaction.

Abstract: A method of using a nanoporous carbon material for adsorption of one or more PAH and diesel fuel from an aqueous solution is described. The aqueous solution may comprise the one or more PAH at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L-1 g/L, and the diesel fuel at a concentration of 0.1-5 g/L. The nanoporous carbon material may adsorb at least 96 wt % of one or more PAH within 10 minutes. The nanoporous carbon material may be obtained by contacting a carbonized asphalt with a base.

Abstract: A noble metal free nanocomposite of a transition metal phosphide catalyst supported on ultrathin interconnected carbon nanosheets and its use as an efficient low cost electrocatalyst are disclose& An electrochemical cell comprising a working electrode coated with the electrocatalyst for the production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water.

Abstract: A low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition and a method of preparation of the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition, the composition comprising an asphaltene, wherein the asphaltene is extracted from at least one of a heavy atmospheric residue, oil sands, bitumen, and biodegraded oils, and a weight percent of the asphaltene is 0.1%-25% relative to a total weight of the composition; and a low density polyethylene polymer with a density of 0.9 g/cm3-0.95 g/cm3. The asphaltene and the low density polyethylene polymer are uniformly dispersed throughout the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition, the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition has a weight loss onset 4° C.-20° C. higher than an average weight loss onset of the low density polyethylene polymer, and the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition has a degree of crystallinity of 27%-34%.

Abstract: A low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition and a method of preparation of the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition, the composition comprising an asphaltene, wherein the asphaltene is extracted from at least one of a heavy atmospheric residue, oil sands, bitumen, and biodegraded oils, and a weight percent of the asphaltene is 0.1%-25% relative to a total weight of the composition; and a low density polyethylene polymer with a density of 0.9 g/cm3-0.95 g/cm3. The asphaltene and the low density polyethylene polymer are uniformly dispersed throughout the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition, the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition has a weight loss onset 4° C.-20° C. higher than an average weight loss onset of the low density polyethylene polymer, and the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition has a degree of crystallinity of 27%-34%.

Abstract: A high density polyethylene-asphaltene composite that includes 85 to 98 wt. % of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer and 10 wt. % or less of a filler, wherein the filler is an asphaltene, the asphaltene is the only filler present, and the asphaltene is uniformly dispersed within a matrix of the HDPE polymer. The thermal stability of the high density polyethylene-asphaltene composite is improved compared to the high density polyethylene polymer.

Abstract: A high density polyethylene-asphaltene composite that includes 85 to 98 wt. % of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer and 10 wt. % or less of a filler, wherein the filler is an asphaltene, the asphaltene is the only filler present, and the asphaltene is uniformly dispersed within a matrix of the HDPE polymer. The thermal stability of the high density polyethylene-asphaltene composite is improved compared to the high density polyethylene polymer.

Abstract: A functionalized asphaltene, obtained by refluxing with an acid solution. The functionalized asphaltene contains elevated levels of oxygen content due to nitration and oxidation of the refluxing process. The refluxing process also imparts organic functional groups including at least amines, nitro groups carbonyl groups, carboxylic groups and hydroxyl groups to the functionalized asphaltene, and these functional groups are attached to, thereby coating the surface of a functionalized asphaltene particle. A method for removing dye compounds from an aqueous sample with the functionalized asphaltene is also described.

Abstract: A method of making an antimicrobial poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver nanocomposite comprising PMMA and silver nanoparticles. The method includes reacting at least one silver salt with a methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer in at least one organic solvent free of water and in the presence of at least one organic free radical initiator to polymerize the MMA monomer to form the PMMA by free radical polymerization while reducing in-situ the silver salt to form the silver nanoparticles, wherein the silver nanoparticles have an average particle size of 35-60 nm, and wherein the PMMA forms a matrix that encloses the silver nanoparticles.

Abstract: A porous activated asphaltene material is described with a method of making and a method of using for the adsorption of a contaminant from a solution. The porous activated asphaltene material may be made by functionalizing solid asphaltene with nitric acid, and then treating the product with a metal hydroxide. The resulting porous activated asphaltene material exhibits a high porosity, and may be cleaned and reused for adsorbing contaminants.

Abstract: A method of making an antimicrobial poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver nanocomposite comprising PMMA and silver nanoparticles. The method includes reacting at least one silver salt with a methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer in at least one organic solvent free of water and in the presence of at least one organic free radical initiator to polymerize the MMA monomer to form the PMMA by free radical polymerization while reducing in-situ the silver salt to form the silver nanoparticles, wherein the silver nanoparticles have an average particle size of 35-60 nm, and wherein the PMMA forms a matrix that encloses the silver nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of making an antimicrobial poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver nanocomposite comprising PMMA and silver nanoparticles. The method includes reacting at least one silver salt with a methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer in at least one organic solvent free of water and in the presence of at least one organic free radical initiator to polymerize the MMA monomer to form the PMMA by free radical polymerization while reducing in-situ the silver salt to form the silver nanoparticles, wherein the silver nanoparticles have an average particle size of 35-60 nm, and wherein the PMMA forms a matrix that encloses the silver nanoparticles.

Abstract: A low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition and a method of preparation of the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition, the composition comprising an asphaltene, wherein the asphaltene is extracted from at least one of a heavy atmospheric residue, oil sands, bitumen, and biodegraded oils, and a weight percent of the asphaltene is 0.1%-25% relative to a total weight of the composition; and a low density polyethylene polymer with a density of 0.9 g/cm3-0.95 g/cm3. The asphaltene and the low density polyethylene polymer are uniformly dispersed throughout the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition, the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition has a weight loss onset 4° C.-20° C. higher than an average weight loss onset of the low density polyethylene polymer, and the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition has a degree of crystallinity of 27%-34%.

Abstract: A low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition and a method of preparation of the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition, the composition comprising an asphaltene, wherein the asphaltene is extracted from at least one of a heavy atmospheric residue, oil sands, bitumen, and biodegraded oils, and a weight percent of the asphaltene is 0.1%-25% relative to a total weight of the composition; and a low density polyethylene polymer with a density of 0.9 g/cm3-0.95 g/cm3. The asphaltene and the low density polyethylene polymer are uniformly dispersed throughout the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition, the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition has a weight loss onset 4° C.-20° C. higher than an average weight loss onset of the low density polyethylene polymer, and the low density polyethylene-asphaltene composition has a degree of crystallinity of 27%-34%.