US 2006/0124442 A1 · Device capable of removing contaminants from a fluid

Abstract

A fluid purifying device having various embodiments, each of which is capable of removing airborne molecules, such as contaminants, malodors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pathogens, mold and bacteria, using the combination of visible light and a photocatalyst that has been either treated with a photosensitizer or has been treated in some other manner to lower the energy required to activate the photocatalyst (i.e., by having it generate free radicals) to that emitted by visible light bulbs. Preferably, the device is an air purifying device; however, the device could also be used as a liquid (e.g., water) purifying device.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A fluid purifying device comprising:

a chamber through which a fluid stream can flow;
a photoreactive surface in the chamber comprising a photocatalyst and a photosensitizer, the photosensitizer having a local maximum absorbance in the visible light range at a wavelength (λmax), the photoreactive surface being activatable by visible light having an intensity greater than about 10 mW/cm2 in the wavelength band of λmax±12 nm;
and
a visible light source in the chamber that delivers visible light to the photoreactive surface at an intensity greater than about 10 mW/cm2 in the wavelength band of λmax±12 nm,
wherein the activated photoreactive surface reduces or eliminates contaminants in the fluid stream when the fluid stream flow through the chamber.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device capable of removing contaminants from a fluid

Life of this patent

Device capable of removing contaminants from a fluid

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41