Oxygen generator and method for tuning an oxygen production rate of an oxygen generator

A method for tuning an oxygen production rate of a composition for generating oxygen, the method comprising:

• providing an oxygen source with a peroxide compound;
• providing an ionic liquid that is in the liquid state at least in a temperature range from −10° C. to +50° C.;
• providing a catalyst;
• providing at least one tuner compact having a core shell structure comprising a core and one or more shell layers, the one or more shell layers having a first shell layer completely surrounding the core, and each further shell layer completely surrounding a respectively underlying shell layer;
• at least one of the core and the one or more shell layers consisting of or comprising a compound selected from a peroxide decomposition catalyst, an acidic compound or a basic compound, with mixtures including both an acidic compound and a basic compound or including both an acidic compound and a catalyst within the core or with the same shell layer being excluded;
• and
• the core and the one or more shell layers being configured to decompose or dissolve or disintegrate upon contact with the oxygen source, the ionic liquid and the peroxide decomposition catalyst;
• generating oxygen by contacting the oxygen source, the ionic liquid and the peroxide decomposition catalyst, or
• if the ionic liquid is an acidic liquid, generating oxygen by contacting the oxygen source, the ionic liquid and the peroxide decomposition catalyst with a basic compound;
• and
• contacting the at least one tuner compact with the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, the catalyst and, if present, the basic compound, thereby liberating the compounds contained in the tuner compact, with compounds contained in the outermost shell layer being liberated first and compounds contained in the core being liberated last;
• wherein
• the metal oxide compound is an oxide of a single metal or of two or more different metals, the metal or the two or more metals being selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements;
• and
• the metal salt includes a single metal or two or more different metals, and an organic anion and/or an inorganic anion.

A device for tuned oxygen generation, the device comprising:

• a reaction chamber housing a composition for generating oxygen, the composition including a combination of constituents consisting of an oxygen source, a peroxide decomposition catalyst, an ionic liquid and, if the ionic liquid is an acidic liquid, a basic compound, and said reaction chamber housing at least one tuner compact having a core shell structure with a core and one or more shell layers, wherein:
• a first shell layer completely surrounds the core, and each further shell layer completely surrounds a respectively underlying shell layer;
• at least one of the core and the one or more shell layers consists of or comprises a compound selected from a peroxide decomposition catalyst, an acidic compound or a basic compound, with mixtures comprising both an acidic compound and a basic compound, or comprising both an acidic compound and a catalyst within the core or within the same shell layer being excluded;
• and
• the core and the one or more shell layers are configured to decompose or dissolve or disintegrate upon contact with the composition for generating oxygen;
• means for maintaining at least one of the oxygen source, the peroxide decomposition catalyst, and the ionic liquid physically separated from remaining constituents, or
• if the ionic liquid is an acidic liquid, means for maintaining the basic compound physically separated from the ionic liquid,
• means for establishing physical contact of the oxygen source, the peroxide decomposition catalyst, the ionic liquid, the at least one tuner compact and, if present, the basic compound, and
• means for allowing oxygen to exit the reaction chamber;
• wherein
• the oxygen source comprises a peroxide compound;
• the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least within a temperature range from −10° C. to +50° C.;
• the metal oxide compound is an oxide of a single metal or of two or more different metals selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements, and
• the metal salt comprises one single metal or two or more different metals, and an organic and/or an inorganic anion.