Invention Description Over the last century, human activity has profoundly disrupted the natural nitrogen cycle, driven largely by the widespread use of ammonia (NH3) produced via the Haber–Bosch (HB) process. While this method is crucial for sustaining the global population, it is highly energy-intensive, requiring extreme temperatures and pressures,...

Invention Description Conventional fiber optic surface modifications rely on porous silica substrates, which are brittle and optically limited. While polymers such as PMMA and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) offer superior mechanical flexibility and optical clarity, their relatively inert surfaces resist functionalization via traditional methods. ...

Invention Description Drinking water often contains unsafe levels of toxic contaminants including bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Common disinfectants include chlorine and mercury-based UVC lamps. However, chlorine is not widely available in all parts of the world, and mercury-based UVC systems don’t typically provide uniform distribution of...

Invention Description In the global market, polyurethanes (PU) are seeing a surge in popularity, particularly in the form of covalently crosslinked microcellular foams, known as polyurethane foams (PUF). These PUF materials have emerging applications in various crucial sectors such as construction, infrastructure, foam mattresses, and insulation. However,...

Invention Description Heavy metals are non-biodegradable and can contaminate in ecosystems and the food chain, making them one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Certain industrial practices have resulted in an increase in the amount of heavy metals discharged into wastewater which can then leach into or contaminate other water...

Invention Description Freshwater scarcity is a critical global challenge. Desalination and water purification, particularly through solar steam generation, offer promising solutions by converting seawater and polluted water into freshwater using solar energy. Aerogels doped with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) enhance this process by improving water transport...

Background As the range of materials that are compatible with additive manufacturing dimensional (3D) printing has expanded, the technology has gained increasing relevance in the applicability and adoption in fields such as catalysis and adsorption. Traditional monolithic contactors have the advantages of good mass transfer and lower pressure drops....

The Caribbean region is considered a coral disease hotspot, with over 20 documented diseases and syndromes affecting over 20 species of corals. One motile marine pathogen family, Vibrionaceae, which is responsible for 50% of coral diseases, is strongly thermodependent, thus warming sea-surface temperatures, driven by pollution and global climate change,...

Background Polyurethane (PU) is a widely used plastic material that has excellent physical and mechanical properties. However, PU is difficult to recycle due to its complex chemical structure, making the effective disposal of PU waste a pressing issue. Current methods for PU disposal include incineration, which can release harmful toxins into the environment,...

Background Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a wide group of organic compounds that have been extensively used in several applications due to their unique properties, including thermal stability, chemical stability, surfactant applications, and hydrophobicity. However, PFAS have been found to have detrimental effects on environment and...