Patent US4892712A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4892712A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid purification
Assignee: 1025130 ONTARIO Ltd
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Filing: 1987-09-04
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Granted: 1990-01-09
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Expires: 2007-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A purifier for water or air removes, reduces or detoxifies organic pollutants therefrom by causing the fluid to contact a matrix having surfaces with which a fixed anatase (TiO 2 ) or other photoreactive metal semiconductor material is bonded, in the presence of light of a wavelength that will activate the material.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael K. Robertson
- 👤 Robert B. Henderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L9/00; A61L9/16; A61L9/18; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/122; B01J19/123; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/30; C02F1/32; C02F1/325; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/42; C02F2201/00; C02F2201/32; C02F2201/322; C02F2201/3223; C03C2217/00; C03C2217/70; C03C2217/71; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S204/00; Y10S204/902; Y10S204/903; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/42; Y10S422/00; Y10S422/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A matrix for use in a method of removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid, characterized by a porous substrate having a photoreactive metal semiconductor material bonded with, to or into surfaces of said substrate, said substrate comprising a filamentous, fibrous or stranded base material through which the fluid can flow in intimate contact with the photoreactive material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A matrix for use in a method of removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid, characterized by a porous substrate having a photoreactive metal semiconductor material bonded with, to or into surfaces of said substrate, said substrate comprising a filamentous, fibrous or stranded base material through which the fluid can flow in intimate contact with the photoreactive material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A matrix according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is at least partially transparent to light at a wavelength to which the semiconductor material photoreacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A matrix as in claim 2, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of superposed sheets of said base material in the form of a mesh.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A matrix as in claim 2, wherein the substrate comprises a mesh of said base material wound into a cylindrical, multi-convolution sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A matrix as in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the substrate is in the form of a mesh.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A matrix as in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the base material is fiberglass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A matrix as in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the substrate is fiberglass in the form of a mesh.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A matrix as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the photoreactive material is anatase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A matrix as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the photoreactive material is selected from CdS, CdSe, ZnO 2 , WO 3 and SnO 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A matrix as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the photoreactive material includes an enhancing dopant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A matrix as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the photoreactive material includes platinum as a dopant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A matrix for use in a method of removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid, comprising a substrate in the form of a porous mesh of fiberglass wound into a cylindrical multi-convolution sleeve through which the fluid can flow in intimate contact with surface of said substrate, and a photoreactive metal semiconductor material bonded with, to or into said surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
A matrix for use in a method of removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid, comprising a substrate in the form of a porous mesh of fiberglass wound into a cylindrical multi-convolution sleeve through which the fluid can flow in intimate contact with surface of said substrate, and a photoreactive metal semiconductor material bonded with, to or into said surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A matrix for use in a method of removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid, comprising a substrate having a photoreactive metal semiconductor material bonded with, to or into surfaces of said substrate, said substrate comprising at least one porous tube coated with said photoreactive material, said tube being of perforated glass or in the form of a perforated film whereby the fluid can flow through said substrate in intimate contact with the photoreactive material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
A matrix for use in a method of removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid, comprising a substrate having a photoreactive metal semiconductor material bonded with, to or into surfaces of said substrate, said substrate comprising at least one porous tube coated with said photoreactive material, said tube being of perforated glass or in the form of a perforated film whereby the fluid can flow through said substrate in intimate contact with the photoreactive material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A matrix according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the substrate is at least partially transparent to light at a wavelength to which the semiconductor material photoreacts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A matrix according to claim 13, wherein said substrate comprises at least two coaxial tubes of film or glass coated with said photoreactive material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A matrix according to claim 2, wherein said transparency of the substrate is the result of at least one of (a) the base material being substantially transparent to light at said wavelength, and (b) the porous nature of the substrate permitting the transmission of light therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A matrix according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the substrate is at least partially transparent to light at a wavelength to which the semiconductor material photoreacts, and wherein said transparency of the substrate is the result of at least one of (a) the base material being substantially transparent to light at said wavelength, and (b) the porous nature of the substrate permitting the transmission of light therethrough.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A matrix as in claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the photoreactive material is anatase.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of a matrix according to claim 1, 12 or 13, with a source of light for irradiating the matrix, said light being of a wavelength to activate the photoreactive material, and means for flowing a fluid through the matrix during such irradiation.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid comprising (a) a jacket having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a matrix located in the jacket, (c) the matrix comprising a porous substrate having surfaces with, to or into which a photoreactive metal semiconductor material is bonded, whereby in travelling from the inlet to the outlet a fluid flows through the matrix in intimate contact with the photoreactive material, and (d) means for exposing said photoreactive material to light of a wavelength to activate the same.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid comprising (a) a jacket having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a matrix located in the jacket, (c) the matrix comprising a porous substrate having surfaces with, to or into which a photoreactive metal semiconductor material is bonded, whereby in travelling from the inlet to the outlet a fluid flows through the matrix in intimate contact with the photoreactive material, and (d) means for exposing said photoreactive material to light of a wavelength to activate the same.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein said means (d) is a lamp in said jacket.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein said means (d) comprises material transparent to said light for allowing said light to enter the jacket from the exterior thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 22, in combination with a lamp located outside the jacket for generating said light.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid comprising (a) a jacket having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a cylindrical lamp mounted in the jacket for generating light, (c) a matrix comprising a substrate in the form of a multi-convolution sleeve of mesh surrounding the lamp and located in the jacket, (d) the substrate having surfaces with, to or into which photoreactive metal semiconductor material is bonded, whereby in travelling from the inlet to the outlet a fluid flows through the matrix in intimate contact with the photoreactive material, and (e) the light being of a wavelength to activate this photoreactive material.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid comprising (a) a jacket having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a cylindrical lamp mounted in the jacket for generating light, (c) a matrix comprising a substrate in the form of a multi-convolution sleeve of mesh surrounding the lamp and located in the jacket, (d) the substrate having surfaces with, to or into which photoreactive metal semiconductor material is bonded, whereby in travelling from the inlet to the outlet a fluid flows through the matrix in intimate contact with the photoreactive material, and (e) the light being of a wavelength to activate this photoreactive material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 20, 21 or 24 wherein the photoreactive material is anatase.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 20, 21 or 24, wherein the photoreactive material is selected from CdS, CdSe, ZnO 2 , WO 3 and SnO 2 .
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 20, 21 or 24, wherein the photoreactive material includes an enhancing dopant.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 20, 21 or 24, wherein the substrate is formed of fiberglass mesh.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-08 | 1993-07-10 | 1994-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-08 | 1997-07-10 | 1998-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-08 | 2001-07-10 | 2002-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |