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AssigneeSony International (Europe) GmbH
InventorsWilliam Ford, Jurina Wessels, Tobias Vossmeyer
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The invention relates to an apparatus for purifying fluids comprising at least one electrochemical cell having a cathode (3), an anode (5) and an electrolyte (7), said cathode (3) comprising a metal complex, ML, where M represents a metal and L represents an organic or inorganic ligand, said complex being capable of forming the hydroxyl radical by a reaction wherein the metal in the complex is oxidised and acquires an additional positive charge, said anode (5) creating positive ions and electrons, said electrolyte (7) allowing the transfer of a positive charges, said cathode being arranged such that the fluid to be purified can come into contact with the metal complex on the cathode. The invention also provides a related electrode and a related electrochemical cell as well as a corresponding method for purifying fluids.
An apparatus for purifying fluids comprising at least one electrochemical cell having a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte between said cathode and anode, said anode creating positive ions and electrons, said electrolyte allowing for the transfer of positive charges, said cell further comprising a catalyst for promoting a reaction creating the hydroxyl radical, said catalyst being immobilized in or at a solid located at the cathode side of the cell, said solid being arranged such that the fluid to be purified can come into contact with the catalyst, wherein said catalyst is a metal complex, ML, wherein M represents a metal and L represents an organic or inorganic ligand, said complex being capable of forming the hydroxyl radical by a reaction wherein the metal in the complex is oxidized and acquires an additional positive charge.
An electrochemical cell for use in an apparatus or method for purifying fluids, comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte between said cathode and anode, wherein a catalyst for promoting a reaction creating the hydroxyl radical is immobilized at or in a solid located at the cathode side of the cell, said anode allowing for a reaction creating positive ions and electrons, said electrolyte allowing the transfer of positive charges, wherein a metal complex, ML, is immobilized at or in a solid at the cathode side of the cell, where L represents an organic or inorganic ligand and M represents a metal, said complex being capable of forming the hydroxyl radical by a reaction wherein the metal in the complex is oxidised and acquires an additional positive charge.
An electrode for use in an electrochemical apparatus for purifying fluids, wherein said electrode comprises a catalyst for promoting a reaction creating the hydroxyl radical, wherein said electrode further comprises a metal complex, ML, where M represents a metal and L represents an organic or inorganic ligand, said complex being capable of forming the hydroxyl radical by a reaction wherein the metal in the complex is oxidised and acquires an additional positive charge.
A method of purifying fluids, comprising the steps of providing a cathode and an anode, said anode and cathode being separated by an electrolyte allowing the transfer of positive charges, and providing a catalyst for promoting a reaction creating the hydroxyl radical immobilized at or in a solid located at the cathode side of the electrolyte, connecting said cathode and anode to an electric power source, conducting fluid to be purified to the catalyst, wherein said method further comprises the steps of providing a metal complex, ML, immobilized at or in a solid located at the cathode side of the electrolyte, where M represents a metal and L represents an organic or inorganic ligand, said complex being capable of forming the hydroxyl radical by a reaction wherein the metal in the complex is oxidised and acquires an additional positive charge, said anode creating positive ions and electrons, and conducting fluid to be purified to the metal complex.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.