Carbon Filled Pressurized Container and Method of Making Same

• US 20080116228A1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation (Kuraray Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation (Kuraray Company Limited)
• Inventors: Townend, Neil D., Sharrock, Harry, Ryan, Thomas Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 9,981,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/386.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/62 by membrane, bag, or the like containers in which the content is delivered by the contracting forces inherent in the bag B65D83/0061
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/64 by piston
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/663 at least a portion of the propellant being separated from the product and incrementally released by means of a pressure regulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

A container for releasable pressurized gas or other active ingredient is provided. The container is packed with activated carbon loaded with adsorbed propellant. The container provides a replacement for the hydrocarbon or hydrofluorocarbon propellants currently used in aerosols, dusters and foghorns. A method for making such a replacement system is also provided.

Claims

1. A container for releasing pressurized contents comprising:

a first portion,

a second portion defining a release device for the first portion, and

a carbon material contained in the first portion wherein said carbon material comprises activated carbon charged with a propellant to give a pressure of about 1 to 15 barg.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said activated carbon is derived from natural or synthetic sources.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said activated carbon contains micropores having sizes in the range of about 0.5 nm to about 2.5 nm.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein said activated carbon has an adsorption enthalpy of less than about 25 kJ (mole of adsorbate)⁻

1.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein said propellant is a compressed gas.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein said compressed gas is selected from the group consisting of air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, a noble gas and nitrous oxide, or a combination thereof.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein said propellant is introduced in the form of solid carbon dioxide.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein said activated carbon fills or substantially fills said first portion.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein said container is in the general form of a cylinder, cube or rectangular box.

10. The container of claim 1, further comprising a bladder disposed in said first portion.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein said bladder contains a product to be dispensed from said container.

12. The container of claim 10 further comprising an adsorbent positioned in proximity to said bladder.

13. A container for discharging product comprising:

a first chamber;

a second chamber disposed adjacent the first chamber and adapted to receive a product;

a release mechanism designed to fit with the second chamber and selectively discharge product therefrom;

a carbon material disposed in the first chamber, wherein said carbon material is activated carbon charged with a propellant to give a pressure of about 1 to 15 barg; and

a piston positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber and to move toward the release mechanism upon expansion of gas in the first chamber to pressurize the second chamber to release product therefrom.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein the propellant is introduced in the form of solid carbon dioxide or compressed gas.

15. The container of claim 13, wherein said activated carbon contains micropores having sizes in the range of about 0.5 nm to about 2.5 nm.

16. The container of claim 13, wherein said carbon has an adsorption enthalpy of less than about 25 kJ (mole of adsorbate)⁻

1.

17. A method for making a container for releasing pressurized contents, comprising the steps of:

(a) introducing activated carbon into a container;

(b) introducing propellant into the container for adsorption onto the activated carbon; and

(c) sealing the container upon obtaining a sufficient pressure level or a pressure of up to about 15 barg.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step (b) further comprises the step of:

applying a vacuum to a valve in said container to achieve a pressure of about 0.1 bar.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said propellant of step (b) is introduced by applying a stream of compressed gas into said container.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said propellant of step (b) is introduced by adding a sufficient amount of solid carbon dioxide.