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.

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.