Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a hybrid composite material comprising a polymer matrix and elemental sulfur substantially uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix, wherein the polymer is a branched polymer. Electrochemical devices, which may be fabricated from the hybrid composite material, adsorbents comprising the hybrid composite materials, and methods of using the devices and adsorbents are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments include an artificial soil composition for supporting plant growth and related methods. The artificial soil composition may include a mixture including at least three of the following components: (a) an iron oxide-containing industrial byproduct; (b) a sulfur- containing industrial byproduct; (c) a sand component; (d) a clay component; (e) a water- soluble polymer component; (f) a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) source; and (g) an organic matter component. Embodiments further include a method of making an artificial soil composition, a method of growing plants in an artificial soil composition, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for monitoring fluid flow in a rock formation that include utilizing a tracer fluid containing a homogeneous dispersion of ultrastable magnetic nanoparticles which can be injected into the rock formation. A series of EM signals can be emitted in formation by a transmitter at a first plurality of discrete depths along a first path, that can be recorded by a receiver at a second plurality of locations at a second plurality of discrete depth. The received EM signals can be processed to generate a set of EM permeability data that is indicative of variations in magnetic permeability between the first path and the second path. A magnetic permeability map can be generated that is indicative of a location of the tracer fluid.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a porous diamond having a tridimensional (3D) structure. The process comprises the steps of using a substrate with a pre-defined shape and a plurality of pores of a defined porosity shape and size, heating a reactant hydrocarbon gas and reactant hydrogen in a filament to form a product gas, depositing an activated carbon atom from the product gas onto the substrate, wherein the activated carbon atom reacts with the substrate to form a diamond structure on the substrate, and completely removing the substrate to obtain the 3D pure porous diamond structure, wherein the 3D pure porous diamond structure is formed entirely of diamond and is identical in shape and porosity shape and size of the plurality of pores as that of the substrate. The 3D pure porous diamond structure formed is of a controlled thickness and porosity, and devoid of the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a solar still apparatus for converting contaminated water contained in a contaminated water body into distillate water, the contaminated water body having a water surface, the solar still apparatus comprising a cover in the form of a geometrical projection comprising a wall, an opening and a chamber, wherein the wall is adapted to be in thermal communication with the external environment for capturing solar heat and in optical communication with the opening for allowing passage of solar rays from the external environment to the opening; the opening is adapted to be in optical communication with the wall and the surface of the contaminated water body for allowing passage of the solar rays from the wall to the surface of the contaminated water body for heating the contaminated water to form a vapor, and adapted to be in fluid communication with the surface of the contaminated water body and the chamber for allowing passage of the vapor from the surface of the contaminated water body inside the

Abstract: There is provided a water transportation system comprising evaporation zones for converting water into water vapour; condensation zones for condensing the water vapour into condensed water, the condensation zones being in fluid communication with the evaporation zones; water vapour conduits adapted to enable the fluid communication of the water vapour between the evaporation zones and the condensation zones; condensed water conduits adapted to enable the fluid communication of condensed water between the condensation zones and the evaporation zones; wherein the evaporation zones and the condensation zones alternate in position along a water transportation path between a water source site and a water destination site for enabling the transport of water from the water source site to the water destination site through alternating processes of evaporation-condensation and condensation-evaporation of the water.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a solar driven irrigation apparatus for converting contaminated water contained in a contaminated water body into distilled water and using said distilled water for irrigating the vegetation grown on the said irrigation apparatus, the solar driven irrigation apparatus comprising a cover in the form of a geometrical projection comprising a wall, an opening, a semi-permeable mesh, a soil layer and a chamber. The present invention also related to a process for irrigating natural vegetation using the solar driven irrigation apparatus.

Abstract: A method for the synthesis of molybdenum disulphide foam wherein the porosity of the foam can be controlled. The porosity of the foam is employed to adapt the foam to various processes and specific requirements. The foam molybdenum disulphide structures have internal cavities are interconnected to create a large processing surface area.

Abstract: A device for collecting water from atmospheric moisture comprises water absorbing material, a protection wall and a water container. The protection wall is in a porous form. The water absorbing material is made of the temperature responsive polymer with a phase separation temperature, including Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), Poly(vinylphosphonate) and etc. when its temperature is below phase separation temperature, the temperature responsive polymer is in a swollen hydrated state, forming hydrogen bond with water molecules; so as to absorb water from the air. When its temperature is above said phase separation temperature, the temperature responsive polymer is in a shrunken dehydrated state, forming hydrogen bond with other temperature responsive polymer molecules; so as to expel the water to the water container.

Abstract: A method for the synthesis of molybdenum disulphide foam wherein the porosity of the foam can be controlled. The porosity of the foam is employed to adapt the foam to various processes and specific requirements.

Abstract: There is provided a process for manufacturing a porous diamond having a tridimensional (3D) structure, the process comprising the steps of a) using a porous substrate with a defined porosity size to deposit and grow diamond material having a controlled thickness, thus forming a unit consisting of the 3D porous diamond coated on the porous substrate; and b) removing the porous substrate to obtain a pure synthetic porous 3D diamond.

Abstract: There is provided a water transportation system comprising evaporation zones for converting water into water vapour; condensation zones for condensing the water vapour into condensed water, the condensation zones being in fluid communication with the evaporation zones; water vapour conduits adapted to enable the fluid communication of the water vapour between the evaporation zones and the condensation zones; condensed water conduits adapted to enable the fluid communication of condensed water between the condensation zones and the evaporation zones; wherein the evaporation zones and the condensation zones alternate in position along a water transportation path between a water source site and a water destination site for enabling the transport of water from the water source site to the water destination site through alternating processes of evaporation-condensation and condensation-evaporation of the water.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a solar driven irrigation apparatus for converting contaminated water contained in a contaminated water body into distilled water and using said distilled water for irrigating the vegetation grown on the said irrigation apparatus, the solar driven irrigation apparatus comprising a cover in the form of a geometrical projection comprising a wall, an opening, a semi-permeable mesh, a soil layer and a chamber. The present invention also related to a process for irrigating natural vegetation using the solar driven irrigation apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a solar still apparatus for converting contaminated water contained in a contaminated water body into distillate water, the contaminated water body having a water surface, the solar still apparatus comprising a cover in the form of a geometrical projection comprising a wall, an opening and a chamber, wherein the wall is adapted to be in thermal communication with the external environment for capturing solar heat and in optical communication with the opening for allowing passage of solar rays from the external environment to the opening; the opening is adapted to be in optical communication with the wall and the surface of the contaminated water body for allowing passage of the solar rays from the wall to the surface of the contaminated water body for heating the contaminated water to form a vapor, and adapted to be in fluid communication with the surface of the contaminated water body and the chamber for allowing passage of the vapor from the surface of the contaminated water body inside the

Abstract: A device for collecting water from atmospheric moisture comprises water absorbing material, a protection wall and a water container. The protection wall is in a porous form. The water absorbing material is made of the temperature responsive polymer with a phase separation temperature, including Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), Poly(vinylphosphonate) and etc. when its temperature is below phase separation temperature, the temperature responsive polymer is in a swollen hydrated state, forming hydrogen bond with water molecules; so as to absorb water from the air. When its temperature is above said phase separation temperature, the temperature responsive polymer is in a shrunken dehydrated state, forming hydrogen bond with other temperature responsive polymer molecules; so as to expel the water to the water container.