# US 2021/0275986 A1 · Systems and methods for increasing reaction yield > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0275986 A1 - Document ID: US20210275986A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/322,339 - Filed: 2021-05-17 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-12 - Assignees: Purdue Research Foundation - Applicants: Purdue Research Foundation - Inventors: Robert Graham Cooks; Michael Stanley Wleklinski; David Logsdon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275986A1 ## CPC - B01J 19/2465: {externally, i.e. the mixture leaving the vessel and subsequently re-entering it} - B01D 5/0069: {with degasification or deaeration} - B01D 19/0031: {by filtration} - B01J 4/002: {Nozzle-type elements (nozzle-type reactors B01J19/26)} - B01J 14/00: Chemical processes in general for reacting liquids with liquids; Apparatus specially adapted therefor (B01J8/00, B01J19/08 take precedence) - B01J 19/087: {employing electric or magnetic energy} - B01J 19/26: Nozzle-type reactors, i.e. the distribution of the initial reactants within the reactor is effected by their introduction or injection through nozzles - B05B 5/03: characterised by the use of gas {, e.g. electrostatically assisted pneumatic spraying (B05B5/04, B05B5/043, B05B5/047 take precedence)} - B01J 2219/00087: with heat exchange elements outside the reactor - B01J 2219/00099: the reactor being immersed in the heat exchange medium - B01J 2219/0803: employing electric or magnetic energy - B01J 2219/0884: Gas-liquid - B05B 5/025: Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns - H01J 49/02: Details - H01J 49/26: Mass spectrometers or separator tubes - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract The invention generally relates to systems and methods for increasing reaction yield. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems for increasing a yield of a chemical reaction that include a pneumatic sprayer configured to generate a liquid spray discharge from a solvent. The solvent includes a plurality of molecules, a portion of which react with each other within the liquid spray discharge to form a reaction product. The system also includes a collector positioned to receive the liquid spray discharge including the unreacted molecules and the reaction product. The system also includes a recirculation loop connected from the collector to the pneumatic sprayer in order to allow the unreacted molecules and the reaction product to be recycled through the pneumatic sprayer, thereby allowing a plurality of the unreacted molecules to react with each other as the unreacted molecules cycle again through the system. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A method for increasing yield of a chemical reaction, the method comprising: generating a liquid spray discharge using a pneumatic sprayer, wherein the liquid spray discharge is generated from a solvent that comprises a plurality of molecules, a portion of which react with each other within the liquid spray discharge to form a reaction product; collecting in a collector the liquid spray discharge comprising unreacted molecules and the reaction product; and recirculating the unreacted molecules and the reaction product through the pneumatic sprayer, in order to allow a plurality of the unreacted molecules in the solvent to react with each other as the unreacted molecules cycle again through the pneumatic sprayer, thereby increasing a yield of the chemical reaction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein a voltage source is operably associated with the pneumatic sprayer in order to generate a charged liquid spray discharge. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, wherein collecting comprises condensing the liquid spray discharge into a reservoir of the collector. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein condensing uses a cryogenic condenser. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein collecting further comprises precipitating liquid droplets from any liquid spray discharge not captured in the condensing step. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, further comprising degassing gas used by the pneumatic sprayer to generate the liquid spray discharge. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein degassing uses a liquid degassing unit comprising a semi-permeable membrane within a vacuum chamber. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, further comprising analyzing the reaction product. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the pneumatic sprayer is an electrosonic spray ionization source. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, further comprising controlling an extent of formation of the reaction product by varying a distance between the pneumatic sprayer and the collector.