Materials and methods for water purification

• US 6,524,540 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biocatalytica Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biocatalytica Incorporated
• Inventors: Heinig, Charles F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoey, Betsey Morrison
• Application Number:
  US09/612,862
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 502/300, 502/325, 502/330, 502/339, 502/344, 502/347, 422/211, 422/213, 210/764
• US Class Current: 422/211
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/50 Silver
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/04 Mixing B01J37/0009, B01J37/0018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/505 by oligodynamic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection

Abstract

A catalyst for the purification, e.g., disinfection, of water is disclosed. The catalyst of the invention comprises a substrate, a first metal, and at least one additional metal. The metals are codeposited on the substrate to form a unified structure. Methods of using the catalyst to disinfect water and devices for the purification of water are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A catalyst for purifying water comprising a substrate, a first metal, and at least one additional metal, wherein said first metal and said additional metal are codeposited onto said substrate.

2. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said purifying comprises disinfecting said water by killing of microorganisms contained therein.

3. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said substrate is a metal oxide.

4. The catalyst of claim 3, wherein said substrate is alumina.

5. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said first metal is selected from the group consisting of transition metals, platinides, rare earth metals, and oxides of transition metals, platinides, or rare earth metals.

6. The catalyst of claim 5, wherein said first metal is a transition metal.

7. The catalyst of claim 6, wherein said first metal is copper, silver or gold.

8. The catalyst of claim 7, wherein said first metal is silver.

9. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said purification comprises converting harmful, toxic and/or reactive organic compounds contained in the water to less harmful, less toxic and/or less reactive compounds.

10. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said additional metal is selected from the group consisting of transition metals, platinides, rare earth metals, and oxides of transition metals, platinides, or rare earth metals.

11. The catalyst of claim 10, wherein said additional metal is a transition metal.

12. The catalyst of claim 11, wherein said additional metal is platinum, palladium, molybdenum, or vanadium.

13. The catalyst of claim 12, wherein said additional metal is palladium.

14. The catalyst of claim 10, wherein said additional metal is an oxide of a transition metal, a platinide, or a rare earth metal.

15. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said first metal is an oxide of a transition metal, a platinide, or a rare earth metal.

16. The catalyst of claim 15, further comprising one or more additional metal oxides.

17. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said catalyst has a redox potential of 100 mV/mg or greater.

18. The catalyst of claim 17, wherein said catalyst has a redox potential of 120 mV/mg or greater.

19. The catalyst of claim 18, wherein said catalyst has a redox potential of 130 mV/mg or greater.

20. A catalyst for purifying water comprising a substrate, silver, and palladium, wherein palladium and silver are codeposited onto said substrate and wherein said palladium and said silver form a unified structure on the surface of said substrate.

21. The catalyst of claim 20, wherein said substrate is a metal oxide.

22. The catalyst of claim 21, wherein said substrate is alumina.

23. The catalyst of claim 20, wherein silver comprises about 0.1% to about 3.0% of the weight of the catalyst.

24. The catalyst of claim 23 wherein silver comprises about 0.5% to about 3.0% of the weight of the catalyst.

25. The catalyst of claim 24, wherein silver comprises about 0.5% to about 2.0% of the weight of the catalyst.

26. The catalyst of claim 25, wherein silver comprises about 1.2% of the catalyst.

27. The catalyst of claim 20, wherein palladium comprises about 1×

10<sup>−

4</sup> to about 1×

10<sup>−

2</sup>% of the weight of the catalyst.

28. The catalyst of claim 27, wherein palladium comprises about 1×

10<sup>−

4</sup> to about 6×

10<sup>−

3</sup>% of the weight of the catalyst.

29. The catalyst of claim 28, wherein palladium comprises about 1×

10<sup>−

4</sup> to about 5×

10<sup>−

3</sup>% of the weight of the catalyst.

30. The catalyst of claim 29, wherein palladium comprises about 1×

10<sup>−

4</sup> to about 2×

10<sup>−

3</sup>% of the weight of the catalyst.

31. A device for purifying water comprising a catalyst, wherein said catalyst comprises a substrate, a first metal, and at least one additional metal, wherein said first metal and said additional metal are codeposited onto said substrate.

32. The device of claim 31 which further comprises a filter, wherein said filter contains said catalyst.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein said purifying comprises disinfecting said water by killing of microorganisms contained therein.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein said catalyst comprises an alumina substrate, silver, and palladium, wherein said silver and said palladium are codeposited onto said substrate.

35. The device of claim 33, wherein said device is portable.

36. The device of claim 31, which further comprises a housing surrounding said catalyst, a water inlet and a water outlet.

37. A packaged catalyst for the disinfection of water comprising a catalyst, a container for said catalyst, and instructions for using said catalyst for the disinfection water, wherein said catalyst comprises a substrate, a first metal, and at least one additional metal, wherein said first metal and said additional metal are codeposited onto said substrate.