Abstract: A filtration membrane includes a polysulfone (PFS) membrane support, and a crosslinked polyamide layer disposed on the PFS membrane support. The crosslinked polyamide layer includes a network formed by polycondensation between diethylenetriamine and trimesoyl chloride, and graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets covalently bonded to the network via a linking spacer. The linking spacer includes a backbone chain having at least 8 backbone atoms. The backbone chain has a plurality of amine groups including —NH— and —NH2, and the linking spacer is bonded to the graphene oxide nanosheets via a —Si—O— bond and bonded to the network via reactions between trimesoyl chloride and the plurality of amine groups. A filtration method includes filtering a mixture including water and an organic molecule through the filtration membrane to generate a water permeate.

Abstract: An aluminum oxide-supported polypyrrole-modified oxidized graphitic carbon nitride (?-Al2O3@PPy/O-g-C3N4) membrane includes two layers: a first layer including alumina and a second layer including an oxidized graphitic carbon nitride and a polymerized pyrrole. The carboxylic groups and hydroxyl groups of the oxidized carbon nitride interact via electrostatic interactions with polar groups in the polymerized pyrrole. The second layer is a nanofibrous mass including entangled nanofibers. The second layer has a thickness in of 1 to 3 ?m.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a fouled reverse osmosis (RO) membrane using a comb-shaped polymer which includes dissolving the comb-shaped polymer and a base in water to form a solution, contacting the fouled RO membrane with the solution to produce a cleaned RO membrane. The comb-shaped polymer includes reacted units of poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride) and an oligoethylene amine where, the oligoethylene amine is triethylenetetramine, tetraethylene pentaamine, or pentaethylenehexamine.

Abstract: A membrane includes a polysulfone-based support, a polydopamine (PDA) layer disposed on a surface of the polysulfone-based support, and a silver/polydopamine (Ag/PDA) composite layer disposed on a surface of the polydopamine layer. The polysulfone-based support has a pore size of up to 600 nanometers (nm). The Ag/PDA composite layer contains core-shell structure particles and spherical particles. The core-shell structure particles have a silver nanoparticle core and a polydopamine shell. The spherical particles are silver-decorated polydopamine particles. The membrane can at least partially separate an Erichrome Black T (EBT) dye from an EBT dye/salt containing mixture by rejecting the EBT dye and allowing the EBT dye/salt containing mixture to pass through the membrane.

Abstract: A membrane includes a polysulfone-based support, a polydopamine (PDA) layer disposed on a surface of the polysulfone-based support, and a silver/polydopamine (Ag/PDA) composite layer disposed on a surface of the polydopamine layer. The polysulfone-based support has a pore size of up to 600 nanometers (nm). The Ag/PDA composite layer contains core-shell structure particles and spherical particles. The core-shell structure particles have a silver nanoparticle core and a polydopamine shell. The spherical particles are silver-decorated polydopamine particles. The membrane can at least partially separate an Erichrome Black T (EBT) dye from an EBT dye/salt containing mixture by rejecting the EBT dye and allowing the EBT dye/salt containing mixture to pass through the membrane.

Abstract: A membrane made of a polymeric support, and an active layer with a polyamide grafted with a copolymer on the polymeric support. The copolymer is reacted units of a diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC), 3-(N,N-diallyl-N-methylammonio)propanesulfonate (DAMAPS), and N,N-diallyldodecane-1,12-diamine (DADA), and the copolymer is grafted to the polyamide with a linking molecule. Further, a method of making the membrane by dissolving an amine and the copolymer in water to form an aqueous solution, dissolving TMC in an organic solvent to form an organic mixture, pouring the aqueous solution onto a polymeric support and then pouring the organic mixture onto the same support for form a coated support, and heating the coated support to form a membrane.

Abstract: A composite material of polyurethane foam having a layer of reduced graphene oxide and polystyrene is described. This composite material may be made by contacting a polyurethane foam with a suspension of reduced graphene oxide, drying, and then irradiating in the presence of styrene vapor. The composite material has a hydrophobic surface that may be exploited for separating a nonpolar phase, such as oil, from an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A composite material of polyurethane foam having a layer of reduced graphene oxide and polystyrene is described. This composite material may be made by contacting a polyurethane foam with a suspension of reduced graphene oxide, drying, and then irradiating in the presence of styrene vapor. The composite material has a hydrophobic surface that may be exploited for separating a nonpolar phase, such as oil, from an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method of making TiO2 nanosheets including heating a titanium (IV) alkoxide in a solvent to a temperature of 70-100° C. for 10-100 minutes to form a heated titanium (IV) alkoxide, reacting the heated titanium (IV) alkoxide in a solvothermal autoclave for 12-60 hours at a temperature of 100-200° C. to form a reaction mixture. The solvothermal autoclave has an air gap of 20-95 vol % relative to a total volume of the solvothermal autoclave. The method further includes separating the TiO2 nanosheets from the reaction mixture. The length and a width of the TiO2 nanosheets are greater than 1 ?m, and the TiO2 nanosheets have a BET surface area of 900-1,000 m2/g.

Abstract: A composite material of polyurethane foam having a layer of reduced graphene oxide and polystyrene is described. This composite material may be made by contacting a polyurethane foam with a suspension of reduced graphene oxide, drying, and then irradiating in the presence of styrene vapor. The composite material has a hydrophobic surface that may be exploited for separating a nonpolar phase, such as oil, from an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A composite material of polyurethane foam having a layer of reduced graphene oxide and polystyrene is described. This composite material may be made by contacting a polyurethane foam with a suspension of reduced graphene oxide, drying, and then irradiating in the presence of styrene vapor. The composite material has a hydrophobic surface that may be exploited for separating a nonpolar phase, such as oil, from an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A composite membrane for desalination includes a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nonwoven layer having a fibrous structure, and has an average thickness of about 30 to 200 micrometers (?m). A polysulfone (PS) layer having an average thickness of about 30 to 100 ?m is disposed on a surface of the PET nonwoven layer. Further, a polyamide layer is disposed on a surface of the PS layer including reacted units of an acyl compound, a phenylenediamine monomer, and a poly-(DADMAC-co-DADA). The polyamide layer has a rough surface including a plurality of irregular-sized ridge-and-valley structures of polyamide. The poly-(DADMAC-co-DADA) has a formula (I), and n is a positive integer.

Abstract: A filtration membrane includes stainless-steel mesh fibers, copper, and silver. The copper and the silver coat the stainless-steel mesh fibers. The silver is the outermost layer, which covers the copper. The silver is in the form of a layer of dendritic growths in the form of branched dendritic leaves. The branched dendritic leaves are 3 to 30 ?m long. A method for oil and water separation using the filtration membrane is also provided.

Abstract: A method of removing an organic micropollutant from a treatment solution including passing the treatment solution through a membrane, and collecting a filtered solution. The filtered solution contains at least 50% less of the organic micropollutant than the treatment solution. The membrane includes a polysulfone support and an active layer containing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles.

Abstract: A sensor for the detection of mercury ions that includes a substrate, a nanocomposite material at least partially covering a surface of the substrate. The nanocomposite material includes naphthalene-modified silica nanoparticles (NSPs) of Formula (I). The NSPs contains a naphthalene moiety, a maleic moiety, and an alkylamine functionalized silica nanoparticle, wherein the naphthalene moiety is covalently linked to the alkylamine functionalized silica nanoparticle via the maleic moiety. The nanocomposite material has a thermal stability up to a temperature of about 200° C. as determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

Abstract: A membrane includes a polysulfone-based support, a polydopamine (PDA) layer disposed on a surface of the polysulfone-based support, and a silver/polydopamine (Ag/PDA) composite layer disposed on a surface of the polydopamine layer. The polysulfone-based support has a pore size of up to 600 nanometers (nm). The Ag/PDA composite layer contains core-shell structure particles and spherical particles. The core-shell structure particles have a silver nanoparticle core and a polydopamine shell. The spherical particles are silver-decorated polydopamine particles. The membrane can at least partially separate an Erichrome Black T (EBT) dye from an EBT dye/salt containing mixture by rejecting the EBT dye and allowing the EBT dye/salt containing mixture to pass through the membrane.

Abstract: The invention is directed to use of polystyrene wastes, such as Styrofoam® wastes, and carbon nanofibers to produce a highly hydrophobic composition or composite that can separate oil and water.

Abstract: Polystyrene waste, such as Styrofoam® waste, and carbon nanofibers may be used to produce highly hydrophobic compositions or composites that can separate oil and water. Methods for purifying an aqueous solution may include: passing the aqueous solution, including a hydrophobic organic substance, over or through a surface including a polystyrene-CNF composition, thereby producing an aqueous product including less of the hydrophobic organic substance; and optionally, passing the aqueous product over or through the surface at least one more time.

Abstract: A hybrid photoactive heterojunction including a copper vanadate, Cu2V2O7 (CVO) and a zinc vanadate, Zn2V2O6 (ZVO). Particles of the ZVO are dispersed in particles of the CVO to form the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. The hybrid photoactive heterojunction in the form of a photoactive film includes a substrate which is at least partially coated with the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. A method of photodegrading a dye includes contacting the photoactive film and the dye in a solution and exposing the solution to light. A method of photoelectrochemically oxidizing water includes contacting the photoactive film with water in a solution and exposing the solution to light.

Abstract: A hybrid photoactive heterojunction including a copper vanadate, Cu2V2O7 (CVO) and a zinc vanadate, Zn2V2O6 (ZVO). Particles of the ZVO are dispersed in particles of the CVO to form the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. The hybrid photoactive heterojunction in the form of a photoactive film includes a substrate which is at least partially coated with the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. A method of photodegrading a dye includes contacting the photoactive film and the dye in a solution and exposing the solution to light. A method of photoelectrochemically oxidizing water includes contacting the photoactive film with water in a solution and exposing the solution to light.