X-ray targeted bond or compound destruction
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9480856-B2
Publication Date
2016-11-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
This document provides methods, systems, and devices for inducing a decomposition reaction by directing x-rays towards a location including a particular compound. The x-rays can have an irradiation energy that corresponds to a bond distance of a bond in the particular compound in order to break that bond and induce a decomposition of that particular compound. In some cases, the particular compound is a hazardous substance or part of a hazardous substance. In some cases, the particular compound is delivered to a desired location in an organism and x-rays induce a decomposition reaction that creates a therapeutic substance (e.g., a toxin that kills cancer cells) in the location of the organism. In some cases, the particular compound decomposes to produce a reactant in a reactor apparatus (e.g., fuel cell or semiconductor fabricator).
Core Innovation
The invention describes directing hard x-rays toward a location that may contain a hazardous substance, with irradiation energy corresponding to a bond distance, to induce decomposition by breaking a bond. For explosive substances, the claim specifies that irradiation does not cause an explosion and describes acatalytic decomposition of an oxidizer. [procedural detail omitted for safety]
The disclosed subject matter identifies hazardous substances, including explosive substances, as targets for decomposition while avoiding an explosion. It describes proposed uses involving toxin neutralization, localized therapeutic-agent release, gas release for neutron moderation, and reactant delivery in fuel-cell and semiconductor-fabrication contexts. The background section is not provided in the source materials, so its stated problem is not detailed.
Claims Coverage
The provided material identifies one independent claim, encompassing one inventive feature directed to decomposing a hazardous substance via bond-targeted irradiation.
Bond-targeted decomposition of a hazardous substance
The claim covers identifying a location that may contain a hazardous substance and directing x-rays toward it to induce decomposition by breaking a bond. For the claimed explosive-substance application, the irradiation does not cause an explosion; the claim also describes acatalytic decomposition of an oxidizer. [procedural detail omitted for safety]
The independent claim centers on bond-targeted x-ray decomposition of a hazardous substance, with the claimed explosive-substance application specified to proceed without an explosion.
Stated Advantages
The claim states that the x-ray irradiation does not cause an explosion in the specified explosive-substance application.
The content describes decomposition potentially involving little heating and operating without catalysts.
Documented Applications
Decomposition of hazardous explosive substances without causing an explosion.
Neutralization of toxins.
Localized release of therapeutic agents.
Gas release for neutron moderation.
Reactant delivery in fuel cells and semiconductor fabrication.
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