US 5,849,235 A · Catalyst retaining apparatus and method of making and using same

Abstract

The present invention is an improved apparatus and method for using a catalyst to remove contaminants from a fluid stream. Catalytic particles are enmeshed within a highly porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrate. The use of an expanded PTFE substrate provides added strength to the substrate and provides open and uniform porosity, thus, assuring proper exchange of molecules between the exterior surface of the substrate and the catalytic particles held within it. As such, the present invention is particularly suitable for use as a cross-flow filter for use in ozone generating office equipment (e.g., an electrostatic photocopy machine) or similar application requiring minimal pressure drop across the filter unit.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method of producing a chemically reactive substrate which comprises the steps of:

providing a dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE);
providing catalyst particles;
mixing the PTFE dispersion and the catalyst particles to form an slurry;
drying the slurry and forming a powder;
lubricating the powder with a substantially non-combustible lubricant to form a paste;
forming the paste into an element;
heating and expanding the element into a porous expanded PTFE matrix comprising polymeric nodes interconnected by fibrils, the catalyst particles being captivated within the matrix;
forming the expanded PTFE matrix into the substrate, wherein the PTFE matrix is sufficiently porous to allow the catalyst particles to react with the components of a fluid.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/723,409Filed 30 Sep 1996 · division

Priority

2 Mar 1994

Granted

15 Dec 1998

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B01J 35/33
Characterised by their physical properties: electric or magnetic properties
B01D 53/8675
Removing components of defined structure not provided for in B01D53/8603 - B01D53/8668: ozone
B01D 53/885
Handling or mounting catalysts: devices in general for catalytic purification of waste gases
B01J 31/06
Containing organic compounds or metal hydrides: containing polymers

Catalyst retaining apparatus and method of making and using same

Life of this patent

Catalyst retaining apparatus and method of making and using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5