Continuous methods for treating liquids and manufacturing certain constituents (e.g., nanoparticles) in liquids, apparatuses and nanoparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s) resulting therefrom
Inventors
Pierce, David Kyle • Mortenson, Mark G. • Bryce, David A.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10441608-B2
Publication Date
2019-10-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
This invention relates generally to novel methods and novel devices for the continuous manufacture of nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s). The nanoparticles (and/or micron-sized particles) comprise a variety of possible compositions, sizes and shapes. The particles (e.g., nanoparticles) are caused to be present (e.g., created and/or the liquid is predisposed to their presence (e.g., conditioned)) in a liquid (e.g., water) by, for example, preferably utilizing at least one adjustable plasma (e.g., created by at least one AC and/or DC power source), which plasma communicates with at least a portion of a surface of the liquid. At least one subsequent and/or substantially simultaneous adjustable electrochemical processing technique is also preferred. Multiple adjustable plasmas and/or adjustable electrochemical processing techniques are preferred. The continuous process causes at least one liquid to flow into, through and out of at least one trough member, such liquid being processed, conditioned and/or effected in said trough member(s). Results include constituents formed in the liquid including micron-sized particles and/or nanoparticles (e.g., metallic-based nanoparticles) of novel size, shape, composition, zeta potential and properties present in a liquid.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a continuous liquid-processing system and process for creating silver and zinc constituents in water using plasmas generated between plasma-forming electrodes and an upper surface of heated water in trough members. In a first trough member, heated water is flowed with an upper surface and a flow direction while a metallic silver plasma-forming electrode creates at least one plasma adjacent the upper surface, and silver in contact with the heated water is located downstream to conduct at least one electrochemical reaction that produces at least some silver constituents within the heated water.
In a second trough member, second heated water is flowed with an upper surface and a flow direction while a zinc electrode set comprising a zinc plasma-forming electrode and a liquid-contacting electrode creates at least one plasma to produce at least some zinc constituents within the second heated water. The process further combines the outputs by mixing together at least some of the silver constituents within the heated water and at least some of the zinc constituents within the second heated water.
The system is configured for continuous flow through at least one first trough member and at least one second trough member. In some implementations, the first and second trough members form a Y-shaped top portion with mixing occurring at a bottom portion of the Y-shaped trough.
Claims Coverage
Three inventive features are covered across the independent claims: continuous trough-based creation of silver constituents with downstream silver electrochemical reaction, continuous trough-based creation of zinc constituents using a zinc electrode set, and mixing of the resulting silver and zinc constituents.
Continuous trough-based creation of silver constituents with downstream silver electrochemical reaction
Flowing heated water through at least one first trough member having an upper surface and a flow direction; providing at least one plasma-forming electrode comprising metallic silver; creating at least one plasma between the plasma-forming electrode and at least a portion of the upper surface; providing at least one set of electrodes comprising silver in contact with the heated water and located downstream in the flow direction; and conducting at least one electrochemical reaction at the silver electrodes to produce at least some silver constituents within the heated water.
Continuous trough-based creation of zinc constituents using zinc plasma-forming and liquid-contacting zinc electrodes
Providing at least one zinc electrode set comprising a plasma-forming electrode comprising zinc and a liquid-contacting electrode comprising zinc; creating at least one plasma between the zinc plasma-forming electrode and at least a portion of the upper surface of the second heated water to produce at least some zinc constituents in the second heated water from the zinc electrode set.
Mixing together silver and zinc constituents from first and second trough members
Mixing together at least some silver constituents within the heated water and at least some zinc constituents within the second heated water.
The independent claims are directed to producing silver constituents and zinc constituents in respective continuous trough-member water streams by generating plasmas adjacent water upper surfaces, performing a downstream electrochemical reaction at silver electrodes for silver, generating zinc constituents using a zinc electrode set with both plasma-forming and liquid-contacting zinc electrodes, and mixing the resulting silver and zinc constituents.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?