ELECTROCHEMICAL DIGESTION OF ORGANIC MOLECULES

• US 20130087466A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RF Advanced Technology Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: RF Advanced Technology Group, LLC
• Inventors: Dopp, Robert Brian
• Granted Patent: US 10,407,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/698
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46133 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/30 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46175 Electrical pulses
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46185 Recycling the cathodic or anodic feed

Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided for electrochemical digestion of organic molecules. In one example, among others, a method includes providing an electrolyte fluid including organic molecules between the electrodes of a reaction vessel and applying a voltage wave shape to the electrodes of the reaction vessel to digest the organic molecules. No separator exists between the electrodes of the reaction vessel. In another example, a system for digesting organic molecules includes a reaction vessel, an electrolyte fluid including the organic molecules, and a power source. The reaction vessel includes a plurality of electrodes where no separator exists between the electrodes. The electrolyte fluid is provided between the plurality of electrodes of the reaction vessel and the power source can applies a voltage wave shape to the electrodes of the reaction vessel to digest the organic molecules.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing an electrolyte fluid including organic molecules to a reaction vessel, the electrolyte fluid provided between electrodes of the reaction vessel where no separator exists between the electrodes; and

applying a voltage wave shape to the electrodes of the reaction vessel to digest the organic molecules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the electrolyte fluid includes inducing flow of the electrolyte fluid between the electrodes of the reaction vessel.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising adjusting the flow of the electrolyte fluid to improve digestion of the organic molecules.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrolyte fluid recirculates between the electrodes of the reaction vessel and through a fluid reservoir.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising obtaining a sample of electrolyte fluid from the fluid reservoir.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding ozone to the electrolyte fluid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage wave shape is a stepped square wave with a duty cycle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the duty cycle of the voltage wave shape is in the range from 50% to 100%.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the duty cycle of the voltage wave shape is in the range from 80% to 100%.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the duty cycle of the voltage wave shape is 100%.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the voltage wave shape is a stepped square wave with a frequency less than 1 Hz.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the voltage wave shape is a stepped square wave with a frequency less than 1 mHz.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte fluid includes charge-carrying ions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a charge carrier is dissolved sodium chloride (NaCl) with a concentration of 2% or less.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a charge carrier is dissolved potassium hydroxide (KOH) with a concentration of 2% or less.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein a charge carrier is dissolved sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with a concentration of 2% or less.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic molecules include cellulose.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic molecules include polysaccharides.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic molecules include lignin.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic molecules include hemicellulose.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic molecules include proteins.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic molecules include algae.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic molecules include a virus.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic molecules include bacterium.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic molecules are within wastewater.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte fluid is less than 50 degrees Celsius.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte fluid is less than 30 degrees Celsius.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein ozone is added to the electrolyte fluid.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein the voltage wave shape is a stepped square wave with a frequency less than 1 Hz.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein the voltage wave shape is a stepped square wave with a frequency less than 1 mHz

28. A system for digesting organic molecules, comprising:

a reaction vessel including a plurality of electrodes where no separator exists between the electrodes;

an electrolyte fluid including the organic molecules, the electrolyte fluid provided between the plurality of electrodes of the reaction vessel; and

a power source configured to apply a voltage wave shape to the electrodes of the reaction vessel to digest the organic molecules.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising means for inducing flow of the electrolyte fluid between the electrodes of the reaction vessel.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the power source applies a stepped square wave voltage with a duty cycle greater than 50%.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of electrodes include planar electrodes.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of electrodes include two monofunctional electrodes.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the plurality of electrodes further include at least one bifunctional electrode between the two monofunctional electrodes, the plurality of electrodes defining a plurality of cells in the reaction vessel.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the power source applies the voltage wave shape to the two monofunctional electrodes.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the plurality of cells form parallel flow paths for the electrolyte fluid.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the plurality of electrodes includes a first set of electrodes in series with a second set of electrodes.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising a second reaction vessel in series with the first reaction vessel.