U.S. patent application number 11/068994 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for compositions and methods of remediation devices with nanostructured sorbent.
Invention is credited to Alexander Bobarykin, Viktor I. Petrik.
Application Number | 20060191835 11/068994 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36931078 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060191835 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Petrik; Viktor I. ; et
al. |
August 31, 2006 |
Compositions and methods of remediation devices with nanostructured
sorbent
Abstract
Contemplated remediation devices include a substantially
completely hydrophobic, non-porous, and carbonaceous, and most
preferably nanostructured material enclosed in a retaining
structure. In further preferred aspects, the material inside the
retaining structure adsorbs a contaminant from a medium located
outside the retaining structure. Especially preferred
nanostructured materials comprise graphene, while preferred
contaminants include optionally substituted hydrocarbons, organic
solvents, and acids.
Inventors: |
Petrik; Viktor I.; (S.
Petersburg, RU) ; Bobarykin; Alexander; (Orange,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT D. FISH;RUTAN & TUCKER LLP
611 ANTON BLVD 14TH FLOOR
COSTA MESA
CA
92626-1931
US
|
Family ID: |
36931078 |
Appl. No.: |
11/068994 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/242.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02A 20/204 20180101;
B01J 20/20 20130101; Y02W 10/10 20150501; Y02W 10/15 20150501; E02B
15/06 20130101; B01J 20/28033 20130101; B82Y 30/00 20130101; B01J
20/205 20130101; C02F 3/108 20130101; C02F 2305/08 20130101; B01J
20/2805 20130101; C02F 1/283 20130101; E02B 15/101 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/242.4 |
International
Class: |
E02B 15/04 20060101
E02B015/04 |
Claims
1. A remediation device comprising a cavity that at least partially
encloses a non-porous carbonaceous material with a sheet-like
configuration having a smallest dimension of less than 50 nm,
wherein the cavity is fluidly coupled to a medium containing a
contaminant, and wherein the cavity has a volume sufficient to
allow adsorption of the contaminant in an amount that is at least
ten-fold by weight as compared to the weight of the non-porous
carbonaceous material in the cavity.
2. The remediation device of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous
material is substantially completely hydrophobic and comprises
graphene in an amount of at least 1-10 wt %.
3. The remediation device of claim 2 wherein the device is
configured as a boom that at least partially floats on water.
4. The remediation device of claim 3 wherein the boom further
comprises a skirt that is at least partially disposed in the water
when the boom is in operation.
5. The remediation device of claim 3 wherein the non-porous
carbonaceous material is disposed in an envelope that is at least
partially enclosed by the cavity.
6. The remediation device of claim 1 further comprising a
microorganism that utilizes a hydrocarbon as a carbon source,
wherein the microorganism is dispersed in the non-porous
carbonaceous material.
7. The remediation device of claim 1 further comprising a connector
that couples the device to another remediation device.
8. A remediation device comprising a substantially completely
hydrophobic and nanostructured material, wherein the nanostructured
material is a material other than a carbon nanotube and has a
sheet-like configuration having a smallest dimension of less than
50 nm, and wherein the nanostructured material is at least
partially enclosed in a retaining structure that is configured to
allow adsorption of a contaminant to the hydrophobic material from
a medium that is in contact with the device.
9. The remediation device of claim 8 wherein the nanostructured
material is a carbonaceous material.
10. The remediation device of claim 9 wherein the nanostructured
material has a smallest dimension of less than 50 nm.
11. The remediation device of claim 9 wherein the nanostructured
material has a smallest dimension of less than 10 nm.
12. The remediation device of claim 9 wherein the nanostructured
material comprises at least 0.01 wt % graphene.
13. The remediation device of claim 9 wherein the nanostructured
material comprises at least 1.0 wt % graphene.
14. The remediation device of claim 8 wherein the device is
configured as at least one of a floating boom, a pillow, and an
envelope.
15. The remediation device of claim 6 further comprising a
microorganism that utilizes a hydrocarbon as a carbon source,
wherein the microorganism is dispersed in the non-porous
carbonaceous material.
16. The remediation device of claim 8 further comprising a
connector that couples the device to another remediation
device.
17. A floating remediation device comprising graphene having a
sheet-like configuration and a smallest dimension of less than 50
nm and being enclosed in a retaining structure that is configured
to allow adsorption of a contaminant to the graphene from an
aqueous medium that is in contact with the device.
18. The floating remediation device of claim 17 wherein the
contaminant is a hydrocarbon, and wherein the retaining structure
is permeable to the hydrocarbon.
19. The floating remediation device of claim 17 wherein the aqueous
medium is selected from the group consisting of a lake, a bay, an
ocean, and a river.
20. The floating remediation device of claim 17 further comprising
a microorganism that utilizes a hydrocarbon as a carbon source,
wherein the microorganism is dispersed in the non-porous
carbonaceous material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of the invention is remediation devices comprising
non-porous carbonaceous material, and especially carbonaceous
nanostructures as a sorbent.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Activated charcoal is a common sorbent for numerous
compounds and has been used in a large variety of filters,
including potable water and air filtration. Among other advantages,
such charcoal is relatively inexpensive, biologically inert and
non-toxic, and can be easily disposed of. However, despite numerous
desirable properties, activated charcoal has several
disadvantages.
[0003] For example, the sorption capacity of activated charcoal is
relatively limited and typically determined by the pore size and
volume. Moreover, not all compounds are retained by activated
charcoal. Still further, most activated charcoal preparations are
at least somewhat hydrophilic and therefore suffer from loss of
capacity where the activated charcoal is used in a humid or aqueous
environment. Similarly, expanded graphite can be employed as a
sorbent as described, for example, in WO 94/08902, and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,282,975. While at least some of the expanded graphite has a
relatively high sorptive capacity for selected hydrocarbons,
various disadvantages nevertheless remain. Among other things,
expanded graphite has still a relatively high degree of porosity,
which tends to increase retention of the bound contaminant often
resulting in limited re-use. Furthermore, undesirable water binding
remains problematic to the relatively high degree of porosity.
[0004] To circumvent at least some of the above disadvantages,
single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) or multi-wall carbon nanotubes
(MWNT) can be employed as sorbing agents. While SWNT and MWNT often
exhibit superior sorbent characteristics as compared to activated
charcoal, various new disadvantages arise. Most significantly, the
substantial cost of industrial scale production is often
prohibitive for use of such nanotubes in filtration devices.
Furthermore, and especially where the nanotubes need to be
assembled to a filtration element, manufacture of such elements
remains a largely academic endeavor.
[0005] Therefore, while various materials and methods for
remediation devices with carbon-based sorbents are known in the
art, all or almost all of them suffer from various disadvantages.
Consequently, there is still a need to provide improved devices and
methods for manufacture of remediation devices, and especially
those comprising carbon nanostructures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed to remediation devices and
methods that include a substantially completely hydrophobic,
non-porous, and carbonaceous, and most preferably nanostructured
material enclosed in a retaining structure, wherein the material
adsorbs numerous contaminants, and especially optionally
substituted hydrocarbons, organic solvents, and various acids.
[0007] In one aspect of the inventive subject matter, the
remediation device has a cavity that at least partially encloses a
non-porous carbonaceous material, wherein the cavity is fluidly
coupled to a medium containing a contaminant, and wherein the
cavity has a volume sufficient to allow adsorption of the
contaminant in an amount that is at least ten-fold by weight as
compared to the weight of the non-porous carbonaceous material in
the cavity. Most preferably, the carbonaceous material is
substantially completely hydrophobic and comprises graphene.
Additionally, the device may also include a microorganism that
utilizes a hydrocarbon as a carbon source.
[0008] In another aspect of the inventive subject matter, the
remediation device comprises a substantially completely hydrophobic
and nanostructured material, wherein the nanostructured material is
a material other than a carbon nanotube, and wherein the
nanostructured material is at least partially enclosed in a
retaining structure that is configured to allow adsorption of a
contaminant to the hydrophobic material from a medium that is in
contact with the device. In particularly contemplated aspects, the
nanostructured material is a carbonaceous material having a
smallest dimension of less than 50 nm, and even more typically of
less than 10 nm. Therefore, in at least some aspects of the
inventive subject matter, the nanostructured material comprises at
least 0.01 wt %, and more typically at least 1.0 wt % graphene.
[0009] In still further aspects of the inventive subject matter,
the remediation device comprises graphene enclosed in a retaining
structure that is configured to allow adsorption of a contaminant
(e.g., optionally substituted hydrocarbon) to the graphene from an
aqueous medium (e.g., lake, bay, ocean, or river) that is in
contact with the device.
[0010] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the figures and
the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0011] FIG. 1A is an electronmicrograph of exemplary substantially
completely hydrophobic, non-porous, nanostructured carbonaceous
material.
[0012] FIG. 1B is an electronmicrograph of an exemplary activated
charcoal grain.
[0013] FIG. 1C is an electronmicrograph of an exemplary expanded
graphite.
[0014] FIG. 2A is an exemplary remediation device in operation on a
river.
[0015] FIG. 1C is another remediation device comprising a pocket
and skirt for operation on a body of water having wave action.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The inventors have discovered that nanostructured materials,
and especially non-porous carbonaceous materials, and most
preferably graphene-containing materials can be employed as highly
active sorbents for numerous contaminants. It is especially
preferred that the material is employed in the separation of
optionally substituted hydrocarbons from an aqueous medium, and
most preferably while the material is present in a boom.
[0017] Among other advantages, it should be particularly
appreciated that adsorption of various hydrocarbons in and/or on
aqueous media is highly effective due to the substantially
completely hydrophobic nature of the carbonaceous material over
even extended periods of time. Viewed from another perspective,
while heretofore known carbonaceous adsorbents become waterlogged
after a relatively short time (most typically due to the porous
nature of such known materials), the carbonaceous materials
according to the inventive subject matter can remain in/on an
aqueous medium without losing sorption capacity and/or adsorbing
water.
[0018] As used herein, the term "carbonaceous" in conjunction with
a material refers to a material that comprises at least 50 atom %,
more typically at least 70 atom %, and most typically at least 90
atom % carbon. As further used herein, the term "nanostructured" in
conjunction with a material refers to a material with a smallest
dimension of equal or less than 50 nm, more typically less than 10
nm, and most typically less than 2 nm. Most preferably,
nanostructured materials contemplated herein include graphene in an
amount of at least 0.01 wt %, more typically at least 0.1 wt %,
even more typically at least 1-10 wt %, and most more typically at
least 10-95 wt %, and even more.
[0019] As still further used herein, the term "graphene" refers to
a molecule in which a plurality of carbon atoms (e.g., in the form
of five-membered rings, six-membered rings, and/or seven-membered
rings) are covalently bound to each other to form a (typically
sheet-like) polycyclic aromatic molecule. Consequently, and at
least from one perspective, a graphene may be viewed as a single
layer of carbon atoms that are covalently bound to each other (most
typically sp.sup.2 bonded). It should be noted that such sheets may
have various configurations, and that the particular configuration
will depend (among other things) on the amount and position of
five-membered and/or seven-membered rings in the sheet. For
example, an otherwise planar graphene sheet consisting of
six-membered rings will warp into a cone shape if a five-membered
ring is present the plane, or will warp into a saddle shape if a
seven-membered ring is present in the sheet. Furthermore, and
especially where the sheet-like graphene is relatively large, it
should be recognized that the graphene may have the
electron-microscopic appearance of a wrinkled sheet. It should be
further noted that under the scope of this definition, the term
"graphene" also includes molecules in which several (e.g., two,
three, four, five to ten, one to twenty, one to fifty, or one to
hundred) single layers of carbon atoms (supra) are stacked on top
of each other to a maximum thickness of less than 100 nanometers.
Consequently, the term "graphene" as used herein refers to a single
layer of aromatic polycyclic carbon as well as to a plurality of
such layers having a thickness of less than 100 nanometers.
Typically, the dangling bonds on the edge of the graphene are
saturated with a hydrogen atom. FIG. 1A is an electronmicrograph
depicting a typical sample of contemplated carbonaceous materials.
Clearly, the carbonaceous material is non-porous and has nanosized
dimensions. In contrast, FIG. 1B depicts an electronmicrograph of a
micronized grain of activated charcoal with apparent macro- and
mesopores, while FIG. 1C is an electronmicrograph of expanded
graphite with porous vermicular structure.
[0020] As yet further used herein, the term "non-porous" in
conjunction with a material refers to a porosity (i.e., void space
within the material itself as opposed to void space formed by the
material) of the material of less than 1 vol %, and even more
typically of less than 0.5 vol %. For example, a material having a
total volume of 10 cubic micrometer is considered non-porous is
that material has a total pore volume of less than 0.1 cubic
micrometer. It should be noted that the annular space defined by a
carbocyclic ring is not considered a pore under the definition
provided herein. Also, where a material has a contorted shape
(e.g., a graphene in a wrinkled, sheet-like configuration) within a
given volume, the void space between the material in that volume is
not considered a pore under the definition provided herein. The
term "about" where used in conjunction with a numeral refers to a
numeric range of +/-10% of the numeral, inclusive. For example, the
term "about 100" refers to a numerical value of between 90 and 110,
inclusive.
[0021] As further used herein, the term "carbon nanotube" refers to
a cylindrical single- or multi-walled structure in which the
wall(s) is (are) predominantly composed of carbon, wherein the
diameter may be uniform or decreasing over the length of the
nanotube. As still further used herein, the term "substantially
completely hydrophobic" when used in conjunction with a material
refers to the characteristic of the material to adsorb less than
0.5 wt % water, and more typically less than 0.1 wt % water as
measured after mixing in water and subsequent withdrawal of water
from the material via Buechner filter using tap vacuum.
[0022] In one preferred aspect of the inventive subject matter, the
inventors contemplate that a remediation device is configured as a
boom. Most typically, the boom has an elongated cylinder shape with
an outer diameter of between about 2 to about 20 inches and a
length between about 10 inches to about 100 inches. In further
preferred aspects, the boom is fabricated from a textile material
and is filled with the carbonaceous materials contemplated herein.
FIG. 2A depicts an exemplary aspect of use of contemplated devices.
Here remediation device 200A is formed from a plurality of booms
202A, wherein each of the booms 202A includes a snap-type connector
and a hook-and-loop type fastener (not shown) at the longitudinal
ends to facilitate coupling of the booms to form a larger structure
that encircles a spill or that spans a stream into which a
contaminant has been released. The booms are in this case coupled
to a steel wire 210A that spans the stream, and a secondary
structure 200A' is installed downstream to either adsorb residual
contaminant that may not have been adsorbed in the upstream booms,
and/or to allow continuous operation.
[0023] Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 2B, the boom 200B may
include a pocket 202B in which a container, typically
pillow-shaped, containing the carbonaceous material (not shown) is
placed. The boom further includes skirt portion 220B which is
continuous with the top portion 210B in which the pocket is
located. Further coupled to the boom is a chain or other linking
structure 230B that will preferably provide sufficient weight to
maintain the boom in a vertical position in the water. Additional
coupling elements 222B may be provided to coupled two booms
together to form a linear or circular floating barrier. As most of
the pocket of the boom in FIG. 2B will contact the water/air
interface, contaminant that would otherwise escape from a portion
underneath the pocket by wave action will now be retained by the
skirt 220B.
[0024] With respect to the material that retains at least part of
the carbonaceous sorbent within the boom, it is generally preferred
that the material comprises a (most preferably hydrophobic) textile
material that allows penetration of the contaminant (i.e., the
compound that is to be adsorbed by the carbonaceous material)
through the textile material. For example, suitable materials
include rubberized or waxed cotton, synthetic polymers, wire mesh,
and all reasonable combinations thereof. Further contemplated
materials especially include those that are flame resistant or
fireproof. In most preferred aspects, contemplated materials may be
integral with or even form the entire remediation device. However,
in alternative aspects, the materials may also be coupled to the
device via wires, ropes, or other structures.
[0025] Where the material forms most or all of the remediation
device, it should be recognized that the device may be in numerous
forms, and the particular manner of use will at least in part
determine the actual shape of the device. For example, where the
contaminant is disposed on land or on a solid surface, contemplated
forms may include relatively flat forms (where thickness is at
least 10 times less than width and dept), including an envelope,
blanket, pillow, etc. Such relatively flat forms may have a
smallest dimension of between about less than an inch to 5-10
inches, and even more, while the largest dimension may be between
about 2 inches to over 200 inches. Alternatively, and especially
where the contaminant is a relatively small spill, suitable forms
of the remediation device also include small regularly (e.g.,
spherical, flat triangular or square, cubes, etc.) or irregularly
shaped (e.g., worm-shaped, zigzag shaped, etc.) forms having a
largest dimension of preferably less than 5 inches, more preferably
less than 3 inches, and even more preferably less than 1 inch. Such
devices could be manually deployed onto a spill, moved and/or
recovered in a relatively simple manner.
[0026] Alternatively, and especially where the contaminant is
floating on the surface of a body of water (e.g., river, bay, lake,
ocean, etc.), it is preferred that the material and/or remediation
device is configured as a boom that has substantial flexibility to
conform to slight surface waves (typically in the range of less
than an inch to 2-3 inches). Thus, suitable shapes include
cylindrical shapes, and shapes having rectangular cross section.
Where the boom is deployed in a body of water with wave action, the
boom may also be configured as a generally flat barrier that is
substantially vertically disposed in the water (i.e., +/-35 degrees
of the absolute vertical to the water surface) such that a lower
portion of the boom prevents slippage of contaminant underneath an
upper portion containing the carbonaceous adsorbent, while the
upper portion of the device adsorbs the contaminant via the
carbonaceous adsorbent. With respect to further shapes, sizes, and
configurations, it should be appreciated that there are numerous
booms known in the art, and all shapes, forms, and sizes of such
known booms are also deemed suitable herein.
[0027] In yet further alternative aspects of the inventive subject
matter, it is also contemplated that the carbonaceous material may
also be applied as bulk material to the medium that has the
contaminant. Most preferably, such application of the carbonaceous
material is together with a carrier that allows directed
application of the carbonaceous material. For example, suitable
carriers include liquefied carbon dioxide, hydrophilic gelling
agents and binders, and/or water, wherein the carbonaceous material
is admixed with the carrier prior to application. Most typically,
such application is performed as spray application and/or by
pouring the mixture to the contaminated medium.
[0028] Preferred carbonaceous materials are bulk graphene
preparations that are commercially available (e.g., from
SupraCarbonic, 1030 West 17th Street, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627).
Thus, in one aspect of the inventive subject matter, preferred
remediation devices include a boom or other floating structure that
includes graphene enclosed in a retaining structure that is
configured to allow adsorption of a contaminant to the graphene
from an aqueous medium that is in contact with the device.
[0029] Alternatively, contemplated graphene composition may also be
prepared from graphite, coal, tar, etc. as described in our
copending application with the Ser. No. 11/007,614, which is
incorporated by reference herein. Depending on the starting
material, reaction conditions, and other parameters, the non-porous
carbonaceous material will typically have a smallest dimension of
less than 50 nm, more typically less than 20 nm, and most typically
less than 10 nm. It should be noted that (similar to purified
carbon nanotubes) a significant fraction of the graphene material
will aggregate to form a light-weight material in which the
graphene layers typically have a contorted configuration. Where
more disaggregated material or even isolated graphene layers are
desired, it should be recognized that the aggregated material may
be dispersed using chemical and/or physical treatments (e.g., one
or more solvents, heat, microwave radiation, and/or ultrasound
irradiation).
[0030] Still further contemplated alternative suitable materials
include carbon fractals, branched nanotubes, and other irregularly
shaped carbonaceous material so long as such material is non-porous
and has a smallest dimension of less than 100 nm, and more
typically of less than 50 nm. Exemplary materials are disclosed in
our copending application with the Ser. No. 11/007,614 (supra).
Additionally, it should be appreciated that the materials
contemplated herein may be derivatized in numerous manners, and
especially contemplated derivatizations include metal deposition
(and especially with noble metals), derivatization with elements or
compounds that produce semi-conductor characteristics (e.g., boron
doped), and chemical modification of one or more carbon atoms
within the graphene plane and/or edge. Most preferably, metal
deposition is performed in which the metal provided from a gas
phase (e.g., CVD, PVD, etc.), but other forms are also deemed
suitable, including electroless deposition, electrolytic
deposition, etc. Chemical modification of the graphene will
generally follow known procedures for chemical derivatization of
carbon nanotubes, which is well known in the art (e.g., exemplary
covalent derivatization methods are described in J. Mater. Res.,
Vol. 13, No. 9, (1998) p2423-2431; in Chem. Eur. J. 2003, 9,
4000-4008, or in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,187,823, 6,426,134, WO 98/39250,
and WO 00/17101, all of which are incorporated by reference
herein). Non-covalent derivatization may be achieved by adding
derivatized polycyclic aromatic compounds to the graphene
compositions to achieve Van-der-Waals anchoring to the
graphene.
[0031] Depending on the particular use, it should be recognized
that the non-porous carbon composition may be at least partially
disaggregated (e.g., to provide isolated graphene layers via
solvent disaggregation and dilution), at least partially aggregated
(e.g., to increase particle size), compacted, or even compressed to
form a solid material that can be further reshaped if desired.
Where the carbonaceous material is derivatized, it should be
recognized that the derivatization groups may be employed to
crosslink the carbonaceous material, or to covalently or
non-covalently bind the carbonaceous material to another material.
Furthermore, and especially where a relatively low density of the
carbonaceous material is desirable, hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic
fillers may be admixed to the carbonaceous material. For example,
suitable fillers include glass fibers, polymeric fibers,
vermiculite, fumed silica, mineral products (e.g., clay,
carbonates, . . . ), etc. While not limiting to the inventive
concept presented herein, it is typically preferred that the
carbonaceous non-porous material is used in bulk quantities, which
are typically quantities of at least 0.5 gram, more typically at
least 5 gram, even more typically at least 50 gram, and most
typically at least 500 gram.
[0032] In still further preferred aspects, contemplated
carbonaceous materials further include one or more microorganisms
that utilize hydrocarbons as carbon source, wherein the
microorganism is dispersed or otherwise contained in the
carbonaceous material. There are numerous microorganisms known in
the art that degrade numerous contaminants adsorbed by contemplated
sorbents. For example, certain Pseudomonas strains are known to
degrade aromatic halogen-containing wastes and other hydrocarbons
as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,477,570 and 4,508,824. Other
bacterial strains include those from the genera of Achromobacter,
Arthorobacter, Aspergillus, Bacillus, Candida, Cladosporium,
Corynebacterium, Myrothecium, Nocardia, Punicillium, Phialorphora,
Rhodotorula, Streptomyces, and Trichoderma. While not limiting to
the inventive subject matter, such bacteria may be immobilized in
or onto a carrier to avoid or reduce undesired or inadvertent
elution from the boom. Such immobilized cultures are known in the
art (see e.g., Applied and Environmental Microbiology 67:
1675-1681) and commercially available (e.g., TERI, Darbari Seth
Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003, INDIA).
[0033] Regardless of the aggregation and/or optional presence of
fillers and other ingredients, it is preferred that the
carbonaceous material is substantially completely hydrophobic to
reduce, and more typically completely avoid waterlogging of the
sorbent. Therefore, preferred remediation devices will have a
substantially completely hydrophobic and nanostructured material
(most typically a material other than a carbon nanotube), wherein
the nanostructured material is at least partially enclosed in a
retaining structure that is configured to allow adsorption of a
contaminant to the hydrophobic material from a medium that is in
contact with the device.
[0034] With respect to the contaminant or other compound that is
adsorbed to the non-porous carbonaceous material, it is should be
recognized that the nature of the contaminant may vary
considerably, and a person of ordinary skill in the art will
readily be able to determine suitability of a particular compound
(e.g., by determining the wt/wt adsorption). Particularly suitable
contaminants and compounds that can be adsorbed to contemplated
materials include optionally substituted hydrocarbons (e.g.,
linear, branched cyclic, or polycyclic), wherein suitable
substituents include halogens, alkyls, nitrogen containing groups
(e.g., secondary or tertiary amines, amides, imides),
oxygen-containing groups (e.g., ether, alcohol, aldehyde, acid,
ester), and sulfur-containing groups (e.g., thiols, thioesters,
disulfides, etc.). Such hydrocarbons may be saturated, contain one
or more double bonds, and/or may be aromatic. Additionally
contemplated contaminant or other compound include metals (and
especially mercury), organic and inorganic acids, oil-based paint,
and volatile organic compounds (VOC) having a boiling point at or
below room temperature (about 20.degree. C.).
[0035] An exemplary listing of compounds that can be adsorbed by
the non-porous carbonaceous materials presented herein is listed in
Table 1 in comparison with adsorption capacities for the same
compounds using granulated activated carbon. In Table 1 below, NPC
refers to non-porous carbonaceous material, GAC refers to
granulated activated charcoal, and the numerical values given in
the columns refer to gram of contaminant adsorbed per gram of MPC
or GAC. The ratio of adsorption using NPC and GAC are indicated in
the last column as absolute fold difference. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1
CONTAMINANT NPC GAC RATIO NPC:GAC Acetonitrile 32.1 0.244 131.56
Benzene 31.63 0.272 116.28 Chloroform 24.55 0.264 92.99 Crude Oil
74.51 0.19 392 Dichloromethane 32.76 0.204 160.58 Diesel 36.65
0.222 165 Gasoline 29.76 0.28 106.28 Hexane 27.54 0.262 105.11
Isopropyl Alcohol 22.79 0.212 107.5 Kerosene 40.16 0.224 179.28
Mineral Spirits 29.21 0.188 155.37 Naphtha 24.14 0.202 119.5 Nitric
Acid 51.33 0.208 246.77 Phosphoric Acid 60.28 0.232 259.82 Sulfuric
Acid 36.54 0.218 167.61 Tetrachloroethane 38.22 0.282 135.53
Toluene 34.89 0.19 183.63 Turpentine 26.68 0.178 149.88 Xylenes
38.61 0.194 199
[0036] Thus, it should be recognized that the non-porous
carbonaceous material in the boom or other structure can be loaded
at least with 50 wt % of the contaminant or other compound.
However, and more typically, the contaminant or other compound is
adsorbed on the material in an amount of at least the same weight
(with respect to the non-porous carbonaceous material), more
preferably at least five times the weight, even more preferably at
least ten times the weight, and most preferably at least twenty
times the weight of the non-porous carbonaceous material. Of
course, it should be recognized that contemplated non-porous
carbonaceous materials may adsorb more than one type of
compound.
[0037] Consequently, the boom or other structure will have a cavity
that is sufficiently sized to allow volume increase provided by
such large adsorptive capacity. Viewed from another perspective, it
is contemplated that a remediation device will have a cavity that
at least partially encloses the non-porous carbonaceous material
(the cavity is preferably in fluid contact with the medium
containing the contaminant), and wherein the cavity has a volume
sufficient to allow adsorption of the contaminant in an amount that
is at least five-fold, more typically at least ten-fold, and most
typically at least twenty-fold by weight as compared to the weight
of the non-porous carbonaceous material in the cavity.
[0038] Thus, specific embodiments and applications of compositions
and methods for remediation devices with nanostructured materials
have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those
skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those
already described are possible without departing from the inventive
concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to
be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims,
all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner
consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises"
and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements,
components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the
referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or
utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps
that are not expressly referenced. Furthermore, where a definition
or use of a term in a reference, which is incorporated by reference
herein is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term
provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein
applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not
apply.
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