Patent US4158366A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4265747A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disinfection and purification of fluids using focused laser radiation
Assignee: US Filter Zimpro Inc
•
Filing: 1979-05-22
•
Granted: 1981-05-05
•
Expires: 1999-05-22
Abstract
Abstract Disinfection of aqueous media contaminated with microorganisms is effected by contacting said media with a gas phase in which a plasma is generated by focused laser radiation. Similarly, wastewaters containing organic susbstances are purified by contacting them with an oxygen-containing gas phase in which a plasma is generated by focused laser radiation which promotes oxidation of the organic substances to innocuous products.
Inventors
- 👤 William M. Copa
- 👤 Wayne B. Gitchel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:21
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/30; C02F1/32; A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; A61L2/14; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/121; C02F1/325; C02F1/72; C02F1/727; C02F1/78; C02F2101/00; C02F2101/30; C02F2101/36; C02F2201/00; C02F2201/32; C02F2201/322; C02F2201/3226; C02F2301/00; C02F2301/02; C02F2301/024; C02F2301/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A process for disinfecting an aqueous fluid contaminated with microorganisms, which comprises contacting said fluid with a gas selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, carbon dioxide, and a mixture of two or more of said gases in which a continuous plasma is generated by multiple pulses of focused laser radiation said plasma containing ultraviolet light, ions, X-ray, electrons and neutrons, and rapidly transferring said plasma to said aqueous fluid for a time sufficient to disinfect said aqueous fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A process for disinfecting an aqueous fluid contaminated with microorganisms, which comprises contacting said fluid with a gas selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, carbon dioxide, and a mixture of two or more of said gases in which a continuous plasma is generated by multiple pulses of focused laser radiation said plasma containing ultraviolet light, ions, X-ray, electrons and neutrons, and rapidly transferring said plasma to said aqueous fluid for a time sufficient to disinfect said aqueous fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the gas is an oxygen-containing gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 2 wherein the laser radiation is obtained from a CO 2 laser of 9.2-10.6 μm wavelength.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the laser radiation, before focusing, has a wavelength in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared spectral region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the plasma is generated in a vortex produced by rapidly stirring the fluid in an enclosed reactor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1 which is carried out in an enclosed reactor, and in which the fluid is allowed to trickle by gravity down the side walls of said reactor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 1 which is carried out in a cylindrical reactor into which the fluid is tangentially injected so as to cause a swirling thin film of said fluid on the reactor walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 which is carried out in an enclosed reactor into which reactor the fluid is sprayed so as to pass through the plasma.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A process for reducing the chemical oxygen demand of a wastewater, which comprises contacting said wastewater with an oxygen-containing gas in which a continuous plasma is generated by multiple pulses of focused laser radiation said plasma containing ultraviolet light, ions, x-ray, electrons, neutrons, and ozone, and rapidly transferring said plasma to said waste-water for a time sufficient to reduce said chemical oxygen demand.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A process for reducing the chemical oxygen demand of a wastewater, which comprises contacting said wastewater with an oxygen-containing gas in which a continuous plasma is generated by multiple pulses of focused laser radiation said plasma containing ultraviolet light, ions, x-ray, electrons, neutrons, and ozone, and rapidly transferring said plasma to said waste-water for a time sufficient to reduce said chemical oxygen demand.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the chemical oxygen demand is due to the presence of organic substances resistant to biological degradation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 10 in which the organic substances are halogenated compounds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein the laser radiation, before focusing, has a wavelength in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared spectral region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein the laser radiation is obtained from a CO 2 laser of 9.2-10.6 μm wavelength.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the plasma is generated in a vortex produced by rapidly stirring the fluid in an enclosed reactor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 9 which is carried out in an enclosed reactor, and in which the fluid is allowed to trickle by gravity down the side walls of said reactor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 9 which is carried out in a cylindrical reactor into which the fluid is tangentially injected so as to cause a swirling thin film of said fluid on the reactor walls.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 9 which is carried out in an enclosed reactor into which reactor the fluid is sprayed so as to pass through the plasma.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2271895A
Cited
US3405045A
Cited
US3458140A
Cited
US3659096A
Cited
US3941670A
Cited
US3794299A
Cited
US3843521A
Cited
US3914173A
Cited
US4012321A
Cited
US4028246A
Cited
US4042325A
Cited
DE2636094A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-05-04 | 1984-11-03 | 1985-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-05-04 | 1988-11-03 | 1989-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-05-04 | 1992-11-03 | 1993-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |