Abstract:
An apparatus, a system and a method for electrochemical generation of hydrogen are disclosed. The apparatus may include a cathode, a polymer electrolyte membrane surrounding the cathode and a housing surrounding the polymer electrolyte membrane. The housing may include an anode electrically connected to the cathode. The system for electrochemical generation of hydrogen may include a water purifier in fluid communication with a hydrogen generating unit, an electrolyte source in fluid communication with the hydrogen generation unit and a power source electrically connected to the hydrogen generating unit. The method may include passing water and electrolyte into the hydrogen generation unit and applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode to generate hydrogen gas.
Abstract:
A transfer container for transferring an object between environments is described. The transfer container comprises an enclosure; a purifier comprising a purification material, the purifier attached to the enclosure, the purifier configured to purify fluid flowing into the enclosure; and a fluid propelling means, attached to the enclosure, for propelling fluid through the purifier and into the enclosure.
Abstract:
Sensing elements, sensor systems and methods for determining the concentration of oxygen and oxygen-related analytes in a medium are provided. The sensing element comprises a solid polymeric matrix material that is permeable to oxygen or an oxygen related analyte and an indicator that is covalently bonded to the solid polymeric matrix material. The indicator is a luminescent platinum group metal polyaromatic chelate complex capable of having its luminescence quenched by the presence of oxygen. The polyaromatic complex comprises three ligands, at least one of which is a bidentate diphenylphenanthroline. The polyaromatic complex is distributed substantially homogenously throughout the matrix material and is covalently bonded to the matrix material via a linker arm. The linker arm is attached to a phenyl group of a diphenylphenanthroline ligand and to the backbone of the polymeric matrix material. The sensor systems comprise the present sensing element, an excitation assembly, a detector assembly, and a processor assembly.
Abstract:
A method and composition for the removal of contaminants in a gas stream used in the contamination sensitive processes of photolithography and metrology are described. The synergistic effect of a combination of an electropositive metal component, a high silica zeolite, and a late transition metal compound effects removal or reduction of the contaminates in the gas which interfere with light transmittance to the ppb or ppt levels necessary for the gas to be suitable for these uses. The removal of neutral polar molecules, neutral polar aprotic molecules, protic and aprotic alkaline molecules, acidic polar species, and neutral non-polar aprotic molecules is accomplished with the claimed composition. Depending on the type of contaminant, the composition components are each varied from 10 to 80 parts by volume, with the total composition limited to 100 parts by volume.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the monitoring of contaminant concentrations in manufacturing processes that employ fluid purification devices. The invention provides a sensitive method for analyzing contaminant concentrations in a process fluid stream using purification material to adsorb contaminants contained therein over an entire process.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for the decontamination of fluid ammonia are described. Liquid or gaseous ammonia is purified of contaminants by passage through an adsorbent bed, the contaminants accumulating in the bed. A portion of the purified ammonia discharged from the bed is decomposed to hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen is used to regenerate an adsorbent bed which has accumulated sufficient contaminants to reduce its ability to further decontaminate incoming ammonia satisfactorily. Preferably there are a plurality of interconnected adsorbent beds, with some being operated for ammonia decontamination while others are being regenerated, with their operations being reversed as needed to maintain a continual production of decontaminated ammonia from the plurality of beds. Computers or other controllers can be used to control such bed operations and interchanges. Internal production of hydrogen makes the system self-contained and no addition of hydrogen is needed.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses a method for the removal of a number of molecular contaminants from surfaces within a device. A purge gas containing oxygen and/or water is introduced into the interior of the device, contacting at least a portion of the interior surfaces. A contaminated purge gas is produced by transferring a portion of the contamination from the interior surfaces into the purge gas. The contaminated purge gas is removed from the device and the process is continued until the contaminant concentration in the contaminated purge gas is below a predetermined level.
Abstract:
A method and composition for the removal of contaminants in a gas stream used in the contamination sensitive processes of photolithography and metrology are described. The synergistic effect of a combination of an electropositive metal component, a high silica zeolite, and a late transition metal compound effects removal or reduction of the contaminates in the gas which interfere with light transmittance to the ppb or ppt levels necessary for the gas to be suitable for these uses. The removal of neutral polar molecules, neutral polar aprotic molecules, protic and aprotic alkaline molecules, acidic polar species, and neutral non-polar aprotic molecules is accomplished with the claimed composition. Depending on the type of contaminant, the composition components are each varied from 10 to 80 parts by volume, with the total composition limited to 100 parts by volume.
Abstract:
The invention is a method for the decontamination of CO2 to a sufficient level of purity to allow it to be used in the semiconductor industry. The invention comprises the exposure of fluid CO2 to a combination metallic states of at least one metal under the appropriate conditions for removal of contaminants. The adsorbents are then decontaminated/activated to return the adsorbent to a mixed oxidation state and allow further rounds of decontamination. The adsorbents are selected to be complimentary to each other, preferentially adsorbing different contaminants. Additionally, the adsorbents are selected to undergo reduction differently such that upon regeneration only a portion of the metals are reduced and the adsorbent is returned essentially to its original state.
Abstract:
A method for the decontamination of fluid (liquid or supercritical) carbon dioxide fluid, especially of hydrocarbon contaminants, down to ≦100 ppb concentration are described. The critical component is a high silica zeolite, preferably a high silica Y-type zeolite, ZSM-5 or a high silica mordenite, which in a variety of physical forms is capable of decontaminating such fluid CO2 to ≦100 ppb, ≦10-50 ppb, or ˜1 ppb, without being detrimentally affected by the supercritical operating environment. The high silica zeolite may be produced by the removal of alumina from a natural or synthetic zeolite while retaining the desirable zeolite structure, to a silica:alumina ratio of from 20-2000:1. Preferably the zeolite is disposed in separate quantities in at least two vessels, which operate alternately. A portion of the purified product from the operating vessel is directed to the other vessel and there used to remove accumulated contaminants from that vessel's zeolite. The process thus provides self-regeneration, in that regeneration of one vessel occurs while the other vessel decontaminates contaminated fluid carbon dioxide, so that use of the two can be alternated for substantially continual production of purified fluid carbon dioxide. The invention provides purified fluid carbon dioxide used in manufacture of such products as high purity electronic, optical, prosthetic or similar products or polymers or pharmaceuticals or in beverages.