Abstract: Quantifying nanobubbles in solution includes combining an indicator with a fluid comprising nanobubbles to yield a first solution, bursting the nanobubbles in the first solution to yield a second solution, and assessing a difference between the first solution and the second solution to yield a concentration of the nanobubbles in the first solution, a concentration of reactive oxygen species in the first solution or the second solution, or both.

Abstract: A reactor for water splitting or water treatment includes a first electrode, a second electrode electrically coupled to the first electrode, and a proton exchange membrane separating the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first optical fiber coated with a photocatalytic material.

Abstract: A photoreactor including a reservoir configured to hold water, the reservoir defining an inlet and an outlet, and a multiplicity of optical fiber assemblies positioned in the reservoir. Each optical fiber assembly includes one or more optical fibers coated with a composition comprising a photoresponsive polymer and a light source optically coupled to the one or more optical fibers. The photoresponsive polymer undergoes a change from an initial state to an irradiated state when irradiated with light from the light source, and photoresponsive polymer in the irradiated state is adapted to bind an ion from the water.

Abstract: A water-disinfecting apparatus includes a vessel with a cathode, an insert with a photoanode, an ultraviolet light source configured to be positioned in the insert, and a power source. The cathode forms an electrically conductive layer on an inner surface of the vessel. The photoanode is configured to be positioned in the cathode. The power source is configured to be operably coupled to the cathode, the photoanode, and the light source.

Abstract: Quantifying nanobubbles in solution includes combining an indicator with a fluid comprising nanobubbles to yield a first solution, bursting the nanobubbles in the first solution to yield a second solution, and assessing a difference between the first solution and the second solution to yield a concentration of the nanobubbles in the first solution, a concentration of reactive oxygen species in the first solution or the second solution, or both.

Abstract: Functionalized material, methods of producing the functionalized material, and use thereof for separation processes such as for separating and extracting a dissolved organic foulant, charged contaminant or oily matter or any combination thereof from water (e.g., produced water), are provided. The method of making the functionalized material, can include: a) providing a mineral material; b) providing an alkyl chain and/or a perfluorinated species, the alkyl chain or perfluorinated species selected to dissolve organic foulants, charged contaminants or oily matter from water or any combination thereof; c) hydroxylating the material via a concentrated acid solution or a basic solution; and d) grafting the alkyl chain and/or the perfluorinated species onto the material via a silanation reaction.

Abstract: A water-disinfecting apparatus includes a vessel with a cathode, an insert with a photoanode, an ultraviolet light source configured to be positioned in the insert, and a power source. The cathode forms an electrically conductive layer on an inner surface of the vessel. The photoanode is configured to be positioned in the cathode. The power source is configured to be operably coupled to the cathode, the photoanode, and the light source.

Abstract: An electrode includes an electrically conductive substrate with a coating containing boron-doped diamond (BDD) nanoparticles. Fabricating the electrode can include dispersing BDD nanoparticles in a solvent to yield a suspension, coating a conductive substrate with the suspension, and drying the suspension to yield the electrode. In some cases, fabricating the electrode includes combining BDD nanoparticles with a polymeric resin precursor to yield a mixture including a metal oxide, coating a conductive substrate with the mixture to yield a coated substrate, and calcining the coated substrate to yield a metal oxide coating including BDD nanoparticles.

Abstract: A composition for dry reagent colorimetric sensing of nanoparticles in aqueous media, including sodium borohydride (NaBH4), methylene blue (MB), and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) in the form of a powdered mixture. The composition may be formed by combining MB, HEBES, and water to yield an aqueous mixture, removing water from the aqueous mixture to yield a solid mixture, and combining NaBH4 powder with the solid mixture to yield the composition. The composition may be used to detect metallic nanoparticles an aqueous solution by combining the composition with an aqueous solution to yield a test solution, and assessing a concentration of the metallic nanoparticles in the test solution based on absorbance of light by the test solution. The composition may be provided in an assay kit for sensing nanoparticles in aqueous media.

Abstract: A system includes an evacuated tube solar adsorption heat pump (ETSAHP) module. The ETSAHP module includes a transparent or semi-transparent tube configured to receive heat input from solar energy, the tube having a hollow interior, a top section, and a bottom section opposite the top section, an adsorbent bed comprising a plurality of adsorbent beads and positioned at the top section of the tube and configured to absorb solar energy, an adsorbent bed cage configured to contain the adsorbent bed at the top section of the tube, a threshold configured to stabilize the adsorbent container within the tube, and a condenser/evaporator positioned at the bottom section of the tube and spaced apart from the adsorbent bed.

Abstract: A coated optical fiber coupled to a light source for inactivating pathogens on surfaces or in water. The coated optical fiber includes a substantially UV-transparent core, particles optically coupled to the core, and a substantially UV-transparent polymer coating in contact with the particles. Coating the optical fiber includes optically coupling particles to a surface of an optical fiber core to yield a functionalized core, coating the functionalized core with a polymerizable material, and polymerizing the polymerizerable material to yield a substantially UV-transparent polymer coating on the functionalized core.

Abstract: Preparing a porous hybrid media includes contacting porous media (e.g., strong base ion-exchange media) with an aqueous solution including aluminum ions to yield a aluminum-ion-containing porous media, contacting the aluminum-ion containing porous media with a reducing agent to impregnate elemental aluminum in the porous media, and oxidizing the elemental aluminum to yield a porous hybrid media including aluminum hydr(oxide) impregnated in the porous media. In some cases, a pH of an aqueous mixture including the aluminum-ion-containing porous media may be adjusted to form a floc including aluminum hydroxide, and the aluminum hydroxide-containing porous media may be contacted with a reducing agent to yield a porous hybrid media including aluminum hydr(oxide) impregnated in the porous media. The porous hybrid media may advantageously be prepared at low temperature (e.g., room temperature).

Abstract: A reactor for water splitting or water treatment includes a first electrode, a second electrode electrically coupled to the first electrode, and a proton exchange membrane separating the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first optical fiber coated with a photocatalytic material.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a sample inlet for a fluid sample, a degassing chamber having a gas-permeable membrane and defining first and second portions separated by the gas permeable membrane, and a detection chamber. The sample inlet and the detection chamber are fluidly coupled to the first and second portions, respectively of the degassing chamber. The detection chamber is operably coupled to a light source and a detector. Assessing a concentration of chlorine gas in an aqueous sample includes providing an aqueous sample to a microfluidic device, separating gas from the aqueous sample in the microfluidic device, providing the gas to a detector, assessing the absorbance of the gas sample at a known absorption wavelength of chlorine, and based on the assessed absorbance of the gas sample at the known absorption wavelength of chlorine, assessing a concentration of chlorine gas in the aqueous sample.

Abstract: A reactor for water splitting or water treatment includes a first electrode, a second electrode electrically coupled to the first electrode, and a proton exchange membrane separating the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first optical fiber coated with a photocatalytic material.

Abstract: Compositions for bromide removal include a two-dimensional material impregnated with silver. The silver may be impregnated in the two-dimensional material by contacting the two-dimensional material with silver ions in an aqueous solution, allowing the silver ions to adsorb on the two-dimensional material, and drying the two-dimensional material. Removing bromide from an aqueous composition including bromide may include contacting the aqueous composition with a two-dimensional material impregnated with silver, and allowing the bromide to react with the silver to yield silver bromide.

Abstract: A photoreactor including a reservoir configured to hold water, the reservoir defining an inlet and an outlet, and a multiplicity of optical fiber assemblies positioned in the reservoir. Each optical fiber assembly includes one or more optical fibers coated with a composition comprising a photoresponsive polymer and a light source optically coupled to the one or more optical fibers. The photoresponsive polymer undergoes a change from an initial state to an irradiated state when irradiated with light from the light source, and photoresponsive polymer in the irradiated state is adapted to bind an ion from the water.

Abstract: Preparing a porous hybrid media includes contacting porous media (e.g., strong base ion-exchange media) with an aqueous solution including aluminum ions to yield a aluminum-ion-containing porous media, contacting the aluminum-ion containing porous media with a reducing agent to impregnate elemental aluminum in the porous media, and oxidizing the elemental aluminum to yield a porous hybrid media including aluminum hydr(oxide) impregnated in the porous media. In some cases, a pH of an aqueous mixture including the aluminum-ion-containing porous media may be adjusted to form a floc including aluminum hydroxide, and the aluminum hydroxide-containing porous media may be contacted with a reducing agent to yield a porous hybrid media including aluminum hydr(oxide) impregnated in the porous media. The porous hybrid media may advantageously be prepared at low temperature (e.g., room temperature).

Abstract: A system includes an evacuated tube solar adsorption heat pump (ETSAHP) module. The ETSAHP module includes a transparent or semi-transparent tube configured to receive heat input from solar energy, the tube having a hollow interior, a top section, and a bottom section opposite the top section, an adsorbent bed comprising a plurality of adsorbent beads and positioned at the top section of the tube and configured to absorb solar energy, an adsorbent bed cage configured to contain the adsorbent bed at the top section of the tube, a threshold configured to stabilize the adsorbent container within the tube, and a condenser/evaporator positioned at the bottom section of the tube and spaced apart from the adsorbent bed.

Abstract: Preparing a porous hybrid media includes contacting porous media (e.g., strong base ion-exchange media) with an aqueous solution including aluminum ions to yield a aluminum-ion-containing porous media, contacting the aluminum-ion containing porous media with a reducing agent to impregnate elemental aluminum in the porous media, and oxidizing the elemental aluminum to yield a porous hybrid media including aluminum hydr(oxide) impregnated in the porous media. In some cases, a pH of an aqueous mixture including the aluminum-ion-containing porous media may be adjusted to form a floc including aluminum hydroxide, and the aluminum hydroxide-containing porous media may be contacted with a reducing agent to yield a porous hybrid media including aluminum hydr(oxide) impregnated in the porous media. The porous hybrid media may advantageously be prepared at low temperature (e.g., room temperature).