Abstract: A membrane-based inverted liquid-liquid extraction method for extracting an analyte from an unsupported aqueous liquid sample includes sealing the unsupported aqueous liquid sample in a porous membrane bag, immersing the porous membrane bag in an organic solvent, and extracting the analyte from the unsupported aqueous liquid sample to produce an extract within the organic solvent. The unsupported aqueous liquid sample is immiscible with the organic solvent. The porous membrane bag does not contain a solid sorbent.

Abstract: A membrane including a support and an active layer. The active layer includes reacted units of a functionalized mesoporous silica, a first polyamine compound, and a polyfunctional acid halide compound. The first portion of Si atoms in the functionalized mesoporous silica are replaced by Pr atoms. A second portion of the Si atoms in the functionalized mesoporous silica are functionalized with a second polyamine compound. The Pr atoms, the second portion of Si atoms functionalized with the second polyamine compound, and non-modified Si atoms in the functionalized mesoporous silica are covalently bonded in an alternating sequence. The functionalized mesoporous silica, the first polyamine compound, and the polyfunctional acid halide compound are interfacially polymerized on the support to form the membrane.

Abstract: A filtration membrane including a first layer having a triamine-functionalized polysilicate mesoporous material, a second layer including a polysulfone; and a third layer including a polyester terephthalate is described. An orthosilicate group of the triamine-functionalized polysilicate mesoporous material is bonded to a silicon atom of a silicon-containing triamine to form a triamine-functionalized polysilicate backbone, wherein the silicon-containing triamine and one or more tetramines are covalently crosslinked with terephthaloyl chloride to form a polyamide, and wherein the triamine-functionalized polysilicate mesoporous material has a hierarchical structure of MCM-41. The membrane is adapted for use selected from the use group consisting of oil and water separation, water treatment, desalination, and pharmaceutical filtration.

Abstract: A filtration membrane including a first layer having a triamine-functionalized copper oxide polysilicate mesoporous material, a second layer including a polysulfone, and a third layer including a polyester terephthalate. The triamine-functionalized copper oxide polysilicate mesoporous material includes a copper oxide polysilicate backbone and a silicon atom of a silicon-containing triamine bonded to a silicate group in the copper oxide polysilicate backbone. The copper oxide polysilicate backbone is datively bonded to one or more tetramines, and the silicon-containing triamine and one or more tetramines are covalently cross-linked with terephthaloyl chloride to form a polyamide.

Abstract: A high pressure, high temperature spray cooling system for heat transfer. The system includes: a supply tank having a heater and a high pressure pump; and a spray chamber spaced apart from the supply tank. The spray chamber has a workpiece receiving bed and a nozzle spaced apart from the workpiece receiving bed. The supply line has a first supply line end and a second supply line end. The first supply line end is connected to the supply tank and the second supply line end is connected to the nozzle so that the contents within the supply tank are supplied to the nozzle through the supply line at a high pressure to cool a workpiece on the workpiece receiving bed.

Abstract: An irrigation system is configured with a sprinkler module resting on at least two guide rails supported in a parallel arrangement by a plurality of legs, with the legs forming a rack used to provide a guideway for a sprinkler module along the guide rails, with the guide rails and cross supports arranged to form a plane. An adjustment is provided for positioning the plane of the guide rails and cross supports at tilt or angular adjustment of the plane to provide a selected alignment of the plane with a terrain location of the irrigation system. The sprinkler module is connectable to a water source capable of providing a water supply for discharge through the sprinkler modules; and at least one tracking wheel drive motor, such as a water powered drive motor or an electric motor, is provided for driving the sprinkler module along the guide rails.

Abstract: The solar-powered system for generating steam and distilled water includes a first conduit having an inlet for receiving a feed stream of water and an outlet for dispensing heated water. The first conduit has at least one steam vent for releasing at least a first volume of steam. At least one evacuated tube collector is in fluid communication with the first conduit for solar heating of the feed stream of water to produce the heated water and the at least first volume of steam. At least one boiler is in fluid communication with the first conduit for receiving a portion of the heated water for boiling thereof to produce a second volume of steam. At least one photovoltaic panel is in electrical communication with the at least one boiler for providing power thereto, and a condenser receives the second volume of steam for condensation thereof into distilled water.

Abstract: Urea and amine comprising sol-gel hybrid coatings have been developed for numerous applications, including capillary microextraction-high performance liquid chromatographic analysis from aqueous samples. A fused silica capillary may be coated from the inside with surface bonded coating material and may be created by in-situ sol-gel reaction(s). Urea-functionalized coatings can be immobilized on the inner surface of a capillary by condensing silanol groups of capillary and sol-solution. Urea functionalized, sol-gel coated capillaries may be installed, e.g., in HPLC manual injection ports, and optionally pre-concentrated analytes including phenols, ketones, aldehydes, and/or polyaromatic hydrocarbons, from highly polar to non-polar, maybe analyzed by online extraction and high-performance liquid chromatographic. Such coatings may achieve sensitivities with lower detection limits (S/N=3) of 0.10 ng/mL to 14.29 ng/mL, with reproducibilities of <12.0% RSD (n=3), or <10.

Abstract: Yttria containing hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gels may be used in coatings for capillary microextraction, optionally hyphenated to online HPLC analysis. The sol-gel reaction mixture can use an yttrium trialkoxyalkoxide, such as yttrium trimethoxyethoxide, and a [bis(hydroxyalkyl)-amino-alkyl]-terminated polydialkyl/arylsiloxane, such as [bis(hydroxyethyl)-amine] (BHEA)-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, that can undergo hydrolysis and polycondensation, to form coating materials. Capillaries coated with such sol-gels can have improved extraction efficiency compared, e.g., to pure yttria-based coatings. The CME-HPLC can analyze water samples containing analytes of varied polarity, with excellent extraction of amides, phenols, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons and detection limits ranging from 0.18 to 7.35 ng/mL (S/N=3). Such capillaries can exhibit solvent stability at pH 0 to 14, RSD % between 0.6 to 6.8% (n=3), at a preparative reproducibility RSD between 4.1 and 9.9%.

Abstract: A method for extracting an analyte from a solid sample is described. The sample is sealed in a porous membrane bag, which is sonicated in an organic solvent. An extract of the analyte forms in the bag and diffuses into the organic solvent. The organic solvent containing the extract may then be concentrated and analyzed for an analyte with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method does not the use of a solid sorbent material, and does not require a step of centrifuging or filtering.

Abstract: A device for easy and rapid removal of pollutants from drinking water and other liquids. A method for removing a pollutant from a drink by immersing the device into the drink. A method for constructing the device using polypropylene (PP) membrane sheet and an adsorbent.

Abstract: A sorbent device based on a porous membrane bag (e.g., porous propylene membrane bag) encapsulated alkaline-modified zeolite (e.g., alkaline-treated USY zeolite). A process for removing heavy metals, such as Cd(II), Cr(III), and Pb(II) from an aqueous solution or an industrial wastewater samples with the sorbent device is provided. A method for preparing the alkaline-modified zeolite is also described.

Abstract: Yttria containing hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gels may be used in coatings for capillary microextraction, optionally hyphenated to online HPLC analysis. The sol-gel reaction mixture can use an yttrium trialkoxyalkoxide, such as yttrium trimethoxyethoxide, and a [bis(hydroxyalkyl)-amino-alkyl]-terminated polydialkyl/arylsiloxane, such as [bis(hydroxyethyl)-amine] (BHEA)-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, that can undergo hydrolysis and polycondensation, to form coating materials. Capillaries coated with such sol-gels can have improved extraction efficiency compared, e.g., to pure yttria-based coatings. The CME-HPLC can analyze water samples containing analytes of varied polarity, with excellent extraction of amides, phenols, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons and detection limits ranging from 0.18 to 7.35 ng/mL (S/N=3). Such capillaries can exhibit solvent stability at pH 0 to 14, RSD % between 0.6 to 6.8% (n=3), at a preparative reproducibility RSD between 4.1 and 9.9%.

Abstract: A method for extracting an analyte from a solid sample is described. The sample is sealed in a porous membrane bag, which is sonicated in an organic solvent. An extract of the analyte forms in the bag and diffuses into the organic solvent. The organic solvent containing the extract may then be concentrated and analyzed for an analyte with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method does not the use of a solid sorbent material, and does not require a step of centrifuging or filtering.

Abstract: Urea and amine comprising sol-gel hybrid coatings have been developed for numerous applications, including capillary microextraction-high performance liquid chromatographic analysis from aqueous samples. A fused silica capillary may be coated from the inside with surface bonded coating material and may be created by in-situ sol-gel reaction(s). Urea-functionalized coatings can be immobilized on the inner surface of a capillary by condensing silanol groups of capillary and sol-solution. Urea functionalized, sol-gel coated capillaries may be installed, e.g., in HPLC manual injection ports, and optionally pre-concentrated analytes including phenols, ketones, aldehydes, and/or polyaromatic hydrocarbons, from highly polar to non-polar, maybe analyzed by online extraction and high-performance liquid chromatographic. Such coatings may achieve sensitivities with lower detection limits (S/N=3) of 0.10 ng/mL to 14.29 ng/mL, with reproducibilities of <12.0% RSD (n=3), or <10.

Abstract: A device for easy and rapid removal of pollutants from drinking water and other liquids. A method for removing a pollutant from a drink by immersing the device into the drink. A method for constructing the device using polypropylene (PP) membrane sheet and an adsorbent.

Abstract: A combination protective case and stand for a tablet device and keyboard are disclosed. The case includes a first panel configured to receive a tablet device on a first face of the first panel, a second panel pivotably coupled to the first panel and configured to receive a keyboard on a first face of the second panel, and a cover portion pivotably coupled to the first panel and configured to enclose the first panel and the second panel such that a first face of the cover portion is disposed in facing relation to the first panel and in facing relation to the second panel. In another embodiment, the second panel is pivotably and removably coupled to the first panel. In other embodiments, a keyboard sleeve or a custom keyboard is coupled or removably coupled to the first panel.