Efficient method and apparatus for generating singlet delta oxygen at an elevated pressure

A sinidet delta oxygen generator capable of operating in low gravity comprising:

• an inlet for an aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution, wherein the basic hydrogen peroxide solution comprises aqueous H2O2 and an aqueous hydroxide solution, and wherein the molar flow rate of H2O2 is about 50–110% of the molar flow rate of the hydroxide solution;
• an inlet for chlorine;
• a concave wall over which the basic hydrogen en peroxide solution and chlorine flow and react to produce singlet delta oxygen, byproducts, and a spent reactant solution;
• and
• wherein the chlorine molar flow rate is about 80–95% of the molar flow rate of the hydroxide solution.

A singlet delta oxygen generator capable of operating in low gravity comprising

• an inlet for an aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution;
• a porous wall inlet for chlorine;
• a concave wall over which the basic hydrogen peroxide solution and chlorine flow and react to produce a singlet delta oxygen stream and a spent reactant solution;
• an outlet for the singlet delta oxygen stream wherein the singlet delta oxygen stream at the outlet comprises about 70% yield or greater singlet delta oxygen;
• wherein the pressure in the generator is between about 100 Torr to about 910 Torr.

A singlet delta oxygen generator comprising:

• an inlet for a basic hydrogen peroxide solution;
• an inlet porous wall nozzle to inject chlorine in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of flow of the basic hydrogen peroxide solution;
• a concave wall along which the basic hydrogen peroxide solution and chlorine flow and react to produce singlet delta oxygen and a spent reactant solution;
• a nozzle for feeding the singlet delta oxygen to a laser cavity wherein the nozzle is located substantially opposite from the concave wall;
• and
• wherein the pressure in the generator is between about 100 Torr to about 760 Torr.

A method of producing singlet delta oxygen comprising:

• producing a dilute aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution comprising water, H2O2 and a hydroxide;
• cooling the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution to a temperature not more than about 10° C. above its freezing point;
• injecting the cooled aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution sufficient to create a high-speed fluid layer that flows along a concave wall in a singlet oxygen generator reactor,
• injecting chlorine into the reactor through a porous wall section to mix with the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution;
• producing singlet delta oxygen vapor, byproducts, and spent aqueous reactant solution by reaction of the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution and the chlorine;
• separating the singlet delta oxygen vapor from the aqueous solution by a pressure gradient associated with a centrifugal force;
• removing the singlet delta oxygen and gaseous byproducts from the reactor through an outlet;
• and
• removing the spent aqueous solution through a separate outlet.

A method of producing singlet delta oxygen comprising:

• producing a dilute aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution comprising water, H2O2 and a hydroxide;
• cooling the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution to a temperature not more than about 10° C. above its freezing point;
• injecting the cooled aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution sufficient to create a high-speed fluid layer that flows along a concave wall in a singlet oxygen generator reactor,
• injecting chlorine into the reactor through the concave wall to mix with the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution;
• producing singlet delta oxygen vapor, byproducts, and spent aqueous reactant solution by reaction of the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution and the chlorine;
• separating the singlet delta oxygen vapor from the aqueous solution by a pressure gradient associated with a centrifugal force;
• removing the singlet delta oxygen and gaseous byproducts from the reactor through an outlet, wherein water vapor is one of the byproducts, and wherein the step of removing the singlet delta oxygen does not include passing the singlet delta oxygen through a water vapor trap;
• and
• removing the spent aqueous solution through a separate outlet.

A method of producing singlet delta oxygen comprising:

• producing a dilute aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution comprising water, H2O2 and a hydroxide wherein the H2O2 has a molar flow rate that is about 50% to 110% of the hydroxide molar flow rate;
• cooling the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution to a temperature not more than about 10° C. above its freezing point;
• injecting the cooled a aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution sufficient to create a high-speed fluid layer that flows along a concave wall in a singlet oxygen generator reactor;
• injecting chlorine into the reactor through the concave wall to mix with the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution, wherein the chlorine is injected into the reactor with a molar flow rate between about 80% to about 95% of the hydroxide molar flow rate;
• producing singlet delta oxygen vapor, byproducts, and spent aqueous reactant solution by reaction of the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution and the chlorine;
• separating the singlet delta oxygen vapor from the aqueous solution by a pressure gradient associated with a centrifugal force;
• removing the singlet delta oxygen and gaseous byproducts from the reactor through an outlet;
• and
• removing the spent aqueous solution through a separate outlet.

A singlet delta oxygen generator comprising

• an inlet for an aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution;
• a porous wall inlet for chlorine;
• a concave wall over which the basic hydrogen peroxide solution and chlorine flow and react to produce a singlet delta oxygen stream and a spent reactant solution;
• an exhaust duct for the singlet delta oxygen stream;
• wherein the pressure in the generator is between about 100 Torr to about 910 Torr.

A method for producing singlet delta oxygen comprising:

• mixing water, precooled H2O2 and a precooled hydroxide solution to form a dilute aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution, wherein the H2O2 and hydroxide solution are precooled to temperatures not more than about 10° C. above their freezing points;
• and
• cooling the dilute aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution to a temperature not more than about 10° C. above its freezing point;
• injecting the dilute basic hydrogen peroxide solution into a reactor to create a fluid layer along a concave surface in the reactor wherein the thickness of the fluid layer is about 15 mm or less;
• injecting chlorine into the reactor tbrough a porous wall section;
• passing the basic hydrogen peroxide and chlorine solution through the reactor without the water vapor partial pressure reaching equilibrium;
• and
• reacting the basic hydrogen peroxide with the chlorine to produce singlet delta oxygen, salt byproduct, and water vapor byproduct.

A method for injecting chlorine vapor into a singlet delta oxygen generator comprising:

• providing a high speed flow of an aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution to the generator;
• injecting chlorine vapor into the high speed flow of the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution through a porous wall comprising pores with an average diameter of less than about 100 micron;
• and
• wherein the chlorine vapor bubbles are distorted through shear forces associated with the high speed aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide flow to provide greater contact surface for reaction between the chlorine vapor and the aqueous basic hydrogen peroxide solution.