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US 6,267,864 B1Granted
Field assisted transformation of chemical and material compositions
AssigneeNanomaterials Research Corporation
InventorsTapesh K. Yadav, Bijan K. Meramadi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and devices for transforming less desirable chemical species into more desirable or useful chemical forms are disclosed. The specifications can be used to treat pollutants into more benign compositions and to produce useful chemicals from raw materials and wastes. The methods and devices disclosed utilize continuous or temporary pulse of electrical current induced by electromagnetic field and high surface area formulations. The invention can also be applied to improve the performance of existing catalysts and to prepare novel devices.
Claims37
A method of conducting chemical reactions comprising the acts of:
- providing a quantity of a catalyst with interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram on a ceramic substrate;
- exposing a chemical composition to the quantity of catalyst;
- and
- providing a flow of charge in the quantity of catalyst by applying an electromagnetic field across the quantity of catalyst during the exposure to the chemical composition, wherein the flow of charge is provided for a period of time sufficient to initiate a chemical reaction.
1 more element
A method of conducting chemical reactions comprising the acts of:
- providing a quantity of a catalyst with interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram;
- exposing a chemical composition to the quantity of catalyst;
- providing a flow of charge in the quantity of catalyst by applying an electromagnetic field across the quantity of catalyst;
- and
- stopping the flow of charge while a chemical reaction continues.
2 more elements
A method of conducting chemical reactions comprising the acts of:
- providing a quantity of a catalyst with interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram;
- exposing a chemical composition to the quantity of catalyst;
- providing a flow of charge in the quantity of catalyst, wherein the step of providing a flow of charge comprises providing a time varying alternating current flow of charge in the catalyst;
- and
- stopping the flow of charge while a chemical reaction continues.
2 more elements
A method of conducting chemical reactions comprising the acts of:
- providing a quantity of a catalyst with interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram;
- exposing a chemical composition to the quantity of catalyst;
- providing a flow of charge in the quantity of catalyst, wherein the step of providing a flow of charge comprises providing a flow of charge in less than all of the quantity of catalyst;
- and
- stopping the flow of charge while a chemical reaction continues.
2 more elements
A method of chemical transformation of a feed composition into a product composition, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one electrode;
- providing a selected substance with interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram;
- coupling the selected substance electrically to the at least one electrode;
- exposing the selected substance to the feed composition;
- and
- causing charge to flow from the at least one electrode through the selected substance for a period of time sufficient to initiate catalyzation of the chemical transformation;
- and
- stopping the flow of charge through the selected substance while continuing to catalyze the transformation of the feed composition into the product composition.
5 more elements
A device for transforming chemical composition of a stream comprising:
- a ceramic substrate;
- a substance on the substrate, the substance having interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram and a surface exposed to the stream;
- an electrical circuit coupled to the substance and providing a flow of charge in the substance during exposure to the stream for a period of time sufficient to cause the substance to catalyze the chemical transformation of the stream, and
- a control mechanism coupled to the electrical circuit to cause the electrical circuit to reduce the flow of charge in the substance after the substance begins to catalyze the transformation of the stream.
1 more element
A method of treating pollutants comprising the acts of:
- providing a substance with interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram;
- providing at least one electrode coupled to the substance;
- exposing the substance to the pollutants;
- causing a charge to flow in the substance by applying an electromagnetic field across the substance such that the substance catalyzes the pollutants;
- and
- removing the flow of charge in the quantity of catalyst while the substance continues to catalyze the pollutants.
3 more elements
A method of producing a preferred substance from raw substances comprising the acts of:
- providing a catalyzing substance with interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram;
- and,
- placing the catalyzing substance in an electrical circuit;
- and,
- exposing the raw substances to the catalyzing substance;
- and,
- causing a charge to flow in the catalyzing substance by applying an electromagnetic field across the catalyzing substance using said electrical circuit for a period of time sufficient to initiate catalysis of the raw substances into the preferred substance;
- and
- removing the flow of charge while the catalysis of the raw substances continues.
6 more elements
A system for processing chemical compositions comprising:
- an inlet port coupled to receive an external source of a first composition;
- an catalyst material comprising a substance with interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram, wherein the catalyst material is positioned with respect to the inlet port so as to expose the first composition to the catalyst material;
- a control mechanism for selectively applying an electric field across the catalyst material;
- means for providing a charge flow in the catalyst material during application of the electric field at a preselected magnitude for a preselected duration, wherein the control mechanism is configured to apply the electric field in a time varying manner selected to initiate transformation of the first composition into a second composition during exposure to the catalyst material while the charge is flowing;
- and
- an outlet port positioned with respect to the catalyst material to port the second composition away.
3 more elements
A method of producing hydrogen comprising the acts of:
- providing a quantity of a catalyst with interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram;
- exposing a hydrogen containing compound to the quantity of catalyst;
- providing a flow of charge in the quantity of catalyst by applying an electromagnetic field across the quantity of catalyst during the exposure to the hydrogen containing compound for a time period selected to initiate catalysis of the hydrogen containing compound to form hydrogen;
- and
- reducing the flow of charge in the quantity of catalyst while continuing the catalysis of the hydrogen containing compound to form hydrogen.
2 more elements
A method of cleaning comprising the acts of:
- coating a surface with a catalyzing substance having an interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram;
- placing the catalyzing substance in an electrical circuit;
- and
- causing a flow of charge in the catalyzing substance using the electrical circuit for a period of time sufficient to remove a contaminant on the surface.
1 more element
A method of controlling odor comprising the acts of:
- providing a catalyzing substance having an interface area greater than 1 square centimeter per gram;
- placing the catalyzing substance in an electrical circuit;
- and
- causing a flow of charge in the catalyzing substance using the electrical circuit for a period of time sufficient to eliminate the odor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.