Methods for controlling crystal growth, crystallization, structures and phases in materials and systems

• US 20060037177A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GR Intellectual Reserve LLC
• Original Assignee: GR Intellectual Reserve LLC
• Inventors: Mortenson, Mark G., Blum, Bentley J., Brooks, Juliana H. J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,972,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 23/296
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 9/005 Selection of auxiliary, e.g. for control of crystallisation nuclei, of crystal growth, of adherence to walls; Arrangements for introduction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 9/0063 Control or regulation control per se G05
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0214 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 5/00 Water
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 3/24 Influencing the crystallisation process
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 13/00 Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/58 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 7/00 Single-crystal growth from solutions using solvents which are liquid at normal temperature, e.g. aqueous solutions from molten solvents C30B9/00; by normal or gradient freezing C30B11/00; under a protective fluid C30B27/00

Abstract

This invention relates to novel methods for affecting, controlling and/or directing various crystal formation, structure formation or phase formation/phase change reaction pathways or systems by exposing one or more components in a holoreaction system to at least one spectral energy pattern. In a first aspect of the invention, at least one spectral energy pattern can be applied to a crystallization reaction system. In a second aspect of the invention, at lest one spectral energy conditioning pattern can be applied to a conditioning reaction system. The spectral energy conditioning pattern can, for example, be applied at a separate location from the reaction vessel (e.g., in a conditioning reaction vessel) or can be applied in (or to) the reaction vessel, but prior to other (or all) crystallization reaction system participants being introduced into the reaction vessel.

Claims

1. A method for growing a crystal in a crystallization reaction system comprising the steps of:

targeting at least one participant in said crystallization reaction system with at least one spectral energy pattern to cause at least one of the formation, stimulation and stabilization of at least one component in said crystallization reaction system.

2. A method for conditioning at least one conditionable participant in a crystallization reaction system comprising:

applying at least one conditioning frequency to at least one conditionable participant to cause at least one of the formation, stimulation and stabilization of at least one conditioned participant, whereby said at least one conditioning frequency comprises at least one frequency selected from the group consisting of direct resonance conditioning frequencies, harmonic resonance conditioning frequencies and non-harmonic heterodyne conditioning resonance frequencies; and

using said conditioned participant in said crystallization reaction system to enhance the rate of at least one reaction in said crystallization reaction system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said conditioned participant resonantly transfers energy with at least one participant in said crystallization reaction system to affect at least one reaction pathway in said crystallization reaction system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising applying at least one spectral energy pattern to said crystallization reaction system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a rate of at least one reaction in said crystallization reaction system is accelerated.

6. A method to affect a particular reaction pathway in a crystallization reaction with a spectral catalyst by augmenting a physical catalyst comprising the steps of:

duplicating at least a portion of a spectral pattern of a physical catalyst with at least one energy emitter source to form a catalytic spectral pattern; and

applying to the crystallization reaction system at least a portion of the catalytic spectral pattern at a sufficient intensity and for a sufficient duration to catalyze at least one reaction in the crystallization reaction system.