Isotope Separation Or Enrichment Patents (Class 204/157.2)
  • Patent number: 10449508
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the infrared-light-induced yield optimization of chemical reactions, wherein an energy input into at least one starting material that is subjected to a chemical reaction takes place by means of infrared light pulses having a mean wavelength in the range of 2000 to 100000 nm. The chemical reaction here is a reaction in which a product, the molecular formula of which does not correspond to the molecular formula of the starting material, is formed and wherein the yield optimization for the most part is not based on a thermal heating of the starting material. The invention is characterized in that the infrared light pulses have a fixed wavelength and in that the energy input into the starting material takes place by means of vibration excitation by a one-photon process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FREIE UNIVERSITAET BERLIN
    Inventors: Karsten Heyne, Florian Kössl, Valeri Kozich
  • Patent number: 9353665
    Abstract: A system including a reductant source storing reductant, an ammonia generation system configured to generate gaseous ammonia via cavitation, and a gaseous ammonia delivery device in fluid communication with the ammonia generation system and an exhaust system. The system may selectively activate the ammonia generation system responsive to a detected temperature of an exhaust gas of an exhaust system being equal to or below a predetermined value. The ammonia generation system may utilize ultrasonic cavitation or laser cavitation to generate gaseous ammonia to be delivered to the exhaust system responsive to the temperature of the exhaust gas of the exhaust system being equal to or below the predetermined value. If the temperature of the exhaust gas of the exhaust system above the predetermined value, a dosing module to dose reductant to the exhaust system may be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Morgan Myer, Stephen M. Holl, Omkar Tendolkar, John D. Crofts, Samuel Johnson, Ambarish D. Khot
  • Patent number: 8672138
    Abstract: A method for separation of isotopes includes vaporizing a sample having two or more isotopes of the same element. A stream of atoms is generated from the vaporized sample. One or more light waves are applied to the stream. The one or more light waves are tuned to prepare one or more specific isotopes in the flowing stream into a set of one or more magnetic states. A magnetic field is applied to the stream, deflecting atoms in the stream based on their magnetic states. Isotopes are collected based on their deflections (or lack of deflection).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Regents The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mark G. Raizen, Bruce G. Klappauf
  • Patent number: 8535492
    Abstract: A system providing selective spin modification and reaction in an electrolytic cell. An electrolytic cell is coupled to a magnet that provides a level-splitting magnetic field in a region of electrolyte adjacent to a working electrode, thus establishing a spin resonance for an unpaired electron associated with a chemical species in the region of electrolyte adjacent to the working electrode. The working electrode carries an excitation current produced by a switching source or amplifier. The excitation current produces an alternating magnetic field adjacent to the working electrode that alters the spin state population density for the unpaired electron associated with a chemical species within the electrolyte, thereby enhancing or inhibiting the reaction of the chemical species during subsequent electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Mehlin Dean Matthews
  • Patent number: 8535493
    Abstract: The Miami Max Hydro consists of a cylinder, with an inlet and outlet, contains two disks at one end, one having a positive charge, the other having a negative charge, as dictated by the electrode it is attached to. They do not touch. One is placed over the other and secured to it via a non-conductive material. The inner disk, herein named DISK B, has bored holes, lined with a non-conductive material, to allow passage of the rods that are attached to the outer disk, herein named Disk A, from touching Disk B and short-circuiting the cell. The number of rods of the two disks is adjustable, from two to infinite. Water passes through the cell while a positive and negative charge is applied to each electrode respectively. The electrical current vibrates the rods at a frequency that breaks the hydrogen-oxygen bond. The hydrogen is then harnessed for energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Adam Stefan Kasprzak, Rima Kasprzak, Shennan Adam Kasprzak, Jenneka Sophia Kasprzak
  • Patent number: 8524080
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing cyanotoxins and excess ions from contaminated water. Contaminated water passes from a storage tank (200), through a sand filter (210), through a reaction chamber (230), and finally through a carbon filter (270). The sand filter removes particulates and some bacteria. Treatment of the water in the reaction chamber first destroys cyanotoxins, algae, and bacteria through the use of high voltage shocks applied between two groups of electrodes (285, 285?), then the voltage on the electrodes is lowered and electrolysis is used to sequester free ions in the water in the region near the electrodes. Partially treated water is removed from the upper portion of the reaction chamber and passed through a carbon filter (270) to remove radiation, and to improve taste and smell. After passage through the carbon filter, the water is potable. The water remaining in the reaction chamber is discarded into a reservoir (265).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Allen John Schuh
  • Patent number: 8491776
    Abstract: A flowcell 2 is constituted of insulating substrates 2a and 2b. The two substrates 2a and 2b have been directly bonded to each other by a bonding method for attaining tenacious bonding, for example, anodic bonding or hydrofluoric acid bonding. A channel 6 has been formed at the interface between the substrates 2a and 2b. Part of the substrate 2a which faces the channel 6 has a carbon electrode 4a formed thereon by sintering a pasty carbon material, the electrode 4a extending along the channel 6. On the other hand, the substrate 2b has a groove 6a serving as the channel 6, and has an electrode 4b made of a metal film formed on a bottom surface of the groove 6a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation, The Ritsumeikan Trust
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nakanishi, Satoshi Konishi, Keisuke Naka
  • Patent number: 8217293
    Abstract: The present invention provides producing method and producing apparatus in which polarized xenon gas of high concentration is obtained without being frozen, and polarized xenon gas can be produced continuously. A glass cell having solid rubidium and solid xenon filled in vacuum is heated to be gas xenon and gas-liquid mixed rubidium, to which a magnetic field is applied to irradiate a laser beam thereby obtaining polarized xenon gas of high concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Toyoko Kagaku Co., Ltd., National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science Technology
    Inventors: Norio Ohtake, Morio Murayama, Takashi Hiraga, Mineyuki Hattori, Kazuhiro Homma
  • Patent number: 8043486
    Abstract: A system providing selective spin modification and reaction in an electrolytic cell. An electrolytic cell is coupled to a magnet that provides a level-splitting magnetic field in a region of electrolyte adjacent to a working electrode, thus establishing a spin resonance for an unpaired electron associated with a chemical species in the region of electrolyte adjacent to the working electrode. The working electrode carries an excitation current produced by a switching source or amplifier. The excitation current produces an alternating magnetic field adjacent to the working electrode that alters the spin state population density for the unpaired electron associated with a chemical species within the electrolyte, thereby enhancing or inhibiting the reaction of the chemical species during subsequent electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventor: Mehlin Dean Matthews
  • Patent number: 7922875
    Abstract: A method of enriching a heavy oxygen isotope by distillation of the present invention includes: a first distillation step of feeding oxygen and ozone generated by an ozonizer 12 into a distillation column 13 filled with a diluent gas, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas; a photodecomposition step of introducing a mixed gas of the ozone and the diluent gas from a bottom of the distillation column into a photoreaction cell 14, and irradiating the mixed gas with a laser light to selectively decompose the ozone containing the heavy oxygen isotope; and a second distillation step of returning non-decomposed ozone and oxygen containing the heavy oxygen isotope to the distillation column, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kambe, Hitoshi Kihara, Norihisa Nara, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7893377
    Abstract: A method of concentrating the stable oxygen isotopes of 17O and 18O by irradiating ozone with light, selectively dissociating an isotopologue of ozone containing an oxygen isotope in its molecule into oxygen, followed by dissociating the ozone and separating the formed oxygen from the non-dissociated ozone. In the ozone photodissociation step, light is radiated onto a rare gas-ozone mixed gas containing ozone and at least one rare gas selected from krypton, xenon and radon is used to selectively dissociate ozone containing a specific oxygen isotope in its molecule into oxygen then the oxygen isotope is separated from non-dissociated ozone and rare gas to concentrate the oxygen isotope present in the separated oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Hayashida
  • Publication number: 20110031104
    Abstract: Isotopically-enriched graphene and isotope junctions are epitaxially grown on a catalyst substrate using a focused carbon ion beam technique. The focused carbon ion beam is filtered to pass substantially a single ion species including a single desired carbon isotope. The ion beam and filtering together provide a means to selectively isotopically-enrich the epitaxially-grown graphene from given carbon precursor and to selectively deposit graphene enriched with different carbon isotopes in different regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens, John Warren Beck
  • Patent number: 7855358
    Abstract: A method of obtaining ions of an analyte is disclosed. The method includes aerosolizing a sample using a thermal liquid jetting device or a piezoelectric liquid jetting device to obtain an aerosol without ionizing the sample. The sample includes the analyte in a solvent. The method further includes drying the aerosol to obtain gas phase solvent and gas phase analyte, and ionizing the gas phase analyte to obtain ions thereof. An ion source using the method for obtaining ions of an analyte is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Schleifer, Steven Michael Fischer
  • Publication number: 20090095615
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of isotope separation of one or more isotopes of a metal having a valence of two or more, comprised of selecting a ligand, such as BH4, BD4, CH3BH3 or CD3BD3, for attachment to one or more isotopes of the metal, ionically attaching the ligand to the one or more isotopes of the metal, and separating the one or more isotopes of the metal by an isotope separation technique. Suitable isotope separation techniques that can be used in the methods of the present invention include centrifuge, gaseous diffusion, gaseous distillation or molecular laser isotope separation techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Edward J. Lahoda, David L. Stucker
  • Patent number: 7323651
    Abstract: A method for isotope separation of thallium using a laser beam comprising the steps of: (a) producing photons of a first frequency by a laser system, wherein a wave length of the first frequency is about 378 nm; (b) producing photons of a second frequency by the laser system, wherein a wave length of the second frequency is about 292 nm; (c) producing photons of a third frequency by the laser system, wherein a wave length of the third frequency is in the range of 700 nm to 1400 nm; (d) applying the photons of the first, second and third frequencies to the vapor of the thallium, wherein the photons of the first frequency pump isotope-selectively a plurality of ground state thallium atoms through an excited state into a metastable state, and wherein the photons of the second frequency excite a plurality of metastable state thallium atoms to an intermediate, resonant state, and wherein the photons of the third frequency ionize a plurality of atoms in the intermediate, resonant state through continuum states; and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Do-Young Jeong, Kwang-Hoon Ko, Gwon Lim, Cheol-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 7307233
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of an isotope separation method, which can effectively prevent, without the use of a second gas, a secondary reaction and the formation of a polymer involved in a multiphoton dissociation reaction in laser isotope separation and, at the same time, can efficiently separate a target isotope with low activation energy, and a working substance for use in the isotope separation. The isotope separation method comprises the step of irradiating a working substance for isotope separation comprising a compound represented by formula SiX3-CY2-CZ3 or SiX3-CY?CZ2, wherein X, Y, and Z, which may be the same or different, represent a halogen atom, H, or an alkyl group; and at least one of Z's represents a halogen atom with the remaining Z's being H or an alkyl group, with a laser beam to dissociate only a molecule containing a particular target isotope atom, whereby the dissociation product or the nondissociation molecule is enriched with the target Si isotope atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Nomaru, Hideki Hattori, Yoshiaki Takatani
  • Patent number: 6800827
    Abstract: A method for laser-assisted separation and enrichment of silicon isotopes such as 28Si, 29Si and 30Si on the basis of infrared multiple-photon dissociation of silicon halides represented by Si2F6, wherein the silicon halides are irradiated synchronously with multiple infrared pulsed laser beams at different wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignees: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Nuclear Development Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Yokoyama, Hironori Ohba, Masashi Hashimoto, Takemasa Shibata, Shigeyoshi Arai, Takeshi Ishii, Akio Ohya
  • Patent number: 6787723
    Abstract: Methods for separating isotopes or chemical species of an element and causing enrichment of a desired isotope or chemical species of an element utilizing laser ablation plasmas to modify or fabricate a material containing such isotopes or chemical species are provided. This invention may be used for a wide variety of materials which contain elements having different isotopes or chemical species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Peter P. Pronko, Paul A. Vanrompay, Zhiyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 6653587
    Abstract: A method of separating isotopes from polyatomic molecules, in particular 13C from trifluoromethane HCF3, by applying to the polyatomic molecules in the gas phase two infrared laser beams of different frequencies. The first laser has a frequency appropriate to excite a low overtone transition of a light atom stretch vibration and produce vibrationally pre-excited molecules enriched in the desired isotopes, for instance 13C. The second laser has a frequency and energy fluence to selectively induce dissociation of the vibrationally pre-excited molecules by infrared multiphoton excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Thomas Rizzo, Oleg Boiarkine
  • Patent number: 6559402
    Abstract: A process of separating low natural concentration protons in an electromagnetic separator having an ion source utilizes X-ray spectral analysis to distinguish areas of separated, increased-content of isotope enriched substance so as to treat them separately from areas of separated, low-content of isotope enriched substance. The overall process includes placing a working substance of a separated element in a crucible of the ion source, heating the working substance up to vapor forming, ionizing the vapors in a gas-discharge chamber of the source under action of hot cathode electron emission, shaping an ionic beam by electrodes of ion-optical system, separating and shaping the ionic beams of isotopes in a magnetic field, catching the ions in boxes of a receiver, identifying areas in the receiver boxes of increased content of isotope enriched substance using X-ray spectral analysis, withdrawing enriched substance initially from these identified areas, and further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Gosudarstvennoe Uhitarnoe Predpriyatie
    Inventors: Leonid Alexeevich Polyakov, Alexei Nikolaevich Tatarinov, Jury Alexandrovich Monastyrev, Luiza Yakovlevna Konoplina
  • Publication number: 20030034243
    Abstract: A method for laser-assisted separation and enrichment of silicon isotopes such as 28Si, 29Si and 30Si on the basis of infrared multiple-photon dissociation of silicon halides represented by Si2F6, wherein the silicon halides are irradiated synchronously with multiple infrared pulsed laser beams at different wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Atsushi Yokoyama, Hironori Ohba, Masashi Hashimoto, Takemasa Shibata, Shigeyoshi Arai, Takeshi Ishii, Akio Ohya
  • Publication number: 20030016926
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to improved systems and methods for inducing infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) of an ion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: Bruker daltonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Hofstadler, Jared J. Drader
  • Publication number: 20030010619
    Abstract: A method of separating and recovering 18F from 18O water at high purity and efficiency while maintaining the purity of the 18O water. By using a solid electrode (1) as an anode and a container (electrodeposition vessel) (2) made of platinum as a cathode, 18F in a solution (4) is electrodeposited on the solid electrode surface by applying a voltage. Then, by using the solid electrode (1) on which 18F is electrodeposited as a cathode and a container (recovery vessel) (5) holding pure water therein as an anode, 18F is recovered in the pure water by applying a voltage of opposite polarity to that of the electrodeposition. In this process, little 18O water is lost. The initial concentration of the 18O water is maintained even after the electrodeposition of 18F, so that the 18O water can be repeatedly used as an irradiation target for production of 18F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Toshio Hyodo, Yoshiko Itoh, Fuminori Saito, Yasuyuki Nagashima, Toshikazu Kurihara, Akira Goto, Masayuki Kase, Yasushige Yano, Katsumi Sendo
  • Publication number: 20020003094
    Abstract: A process of separating low natural concentration protons in an electromagnetic separator having an ion source utilizes X-ray spectral analysis to distinguish areas of separated, increased-content of isotope enriched substance so as to treat them separately from areas of separated, low-content of isotope enriched substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Leonid Alexeevich Polyakov, Alexei Nikolaevich Tatarinov, Jury Alexandrovich Monastyrev, Luiza Yakovlevna Konoplina
  • Patent number: 6267850
    Abstract: Improved processing apparatus and methods are provided which involve the selective ionisation of a feed material and the separation of ionised and non-ionised species. Introduction of a chemical material to cause selective transition to a non-ionised and/or solid or liquid state of part of the feed is provided. The process offers high through puts by virtue of the ionised and non-ionised species being in equilibrium with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: British Nuclear Fuel PLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Horrocks Bailey, Colin Whitehead, Paul Gilchrist, Duncan Alfred Webster
  • Patent number: 6203669
    Abstract: A method and system for separating radioactive waste containing volatiles, into light ions and heavy ions, includes a loader/transporter for transferring the waste into a high vacuum environment in the chamber of a plasma processor. During this transfer, gases of the volatiles are released from the waste, collected in a holding tank, and subsequently ionized in the chamber. As the volatiles are ionized, the ions are directed by a magnetic field into contact with the waste to vaporize the waste. The waste vapors are then ionized in the plasma processor chamber to create a multi-species plasma which includes electrons, light ions and heavy ions. Within the chamber, the density of the multi-species plasma is established to be above its collision density in order to establish a substantially uniform velocity for all ions in the plasma. A nozzle accelerates the multi-species plasma to generate a fluid stream which is directed from the chamber toward an inertial separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Archimedes Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Tihiro Ohkawa