Materials and methods for enhanced photocatalyzation of organic compounds with palladium

• US 5,194,161 A
• Filed: 03/05/1992
• Issued: 03/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Gerischer, Heinz, Heller, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Silverman, Stanley S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCARTHY, NEIL
• Application Number:
  US07/846,348
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 210/748, 210/749, 210/758, 210/763, 210/922, 210/925, 210/908, 502/222, 502/223, 502/326, 502/338, 502/339, 502/343, 502/350
• US Class Current: 210/748.09
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/30 characterised by their physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0215 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/288 using composite sorbents, e.g. coated, impregnated, multi-layered
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/30 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/681 by addition of solid materials for removing an oily layer on water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/32 Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/10 Photocatalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/925 using chemical agent

Abstract

A bead having an exterior surface which is at least partially coated with a material that under illumination and in the presence of air is capable of accelerating the oxidation of organic compounds floating on water. The coated bed is water floatable and has an equivalent diameter of less than about 2 mm, preferably on the order of 10-200 microns. These coated beads can be used to accelerate under illumination oxidation of a floating oil film (e.g. from an oil spill) by dispersing the coated beads in the film and allowing them to be exposed to solar illumination and oxygen. Alternate embodiments of the beads may be used with microbes to biodegrade oil, and may be used to aggregate oil.

Claims

1. A method for treating an oil film floating on a body of water, comprising the steps of:

dispersing a plurality of water floatable particles on the oil film, wherein at least part of each particles, exterior surface is coated with a coating material that comprises palladium and an oxidation material that under illumination and in the presence of air is capable of accelerating the oxidation of organic compounds in the oil film; and

allowing the particles to be exposed to solar illumination and ambient air such that the particles accelerate the oxidation of at least one organic compound in the oil film.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxidation material is titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, or iron oxide.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating material comprises approximately 0.001 to 3.0 percent by weight palladium.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating material comprises approximately 0.01 to 0.5 percent by weight palladium.