Microbubbles of oxygen

• US 6,689,262 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roy H. Lecy
• Original Assignee: Aqua Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Senkiw, James Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell; Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US10/372,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 205/755,756,757,758,626,628,633,701 204/255,256,263,266,270,272,275.1,278.5
• US Class Current: 204/278.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/042 Introducing gases into the water, e.g. aerators, air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46109 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/68 by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water medicinal water A61K
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/727 using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46138 Electrodes comprising a substrate and a coating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46157 Perforated or foraminous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4612 Controlling or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4615 Time
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/26 using pure oxygen or oxygen-rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 7/00 Aeration of stretches of water
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

An oxygen emitter which is an electrolytic cell is disclosed. When the anode and cathode are separated by a critical distance, very small microbubbles and nanobubbles of oxygen are generated. The hydrogen forms bubbles at the cathode, which bubbles rise to the surface. The very small oxygen bubbles remain in suspension, forming a solution supersaturated in oxygen. The electrodes may be a metal or oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, iridium, nickel, iron, rhodium, rhenium, cobalt, tungsten, manganese, tantalum, molybdenum, lead, titanium, platinum, palladium and osmium or oxides thereof. The electrodes may be formed into open grids or may be closed surfaces. The most preferred cathode is a stainless steel mesh. The most preferred mesh is a {fraction (1/16)} inch grid. The most preferred anode is platinum and iridium oxide on a support. A preferred support is titanium. Models suitable for different uses are disclosed.

Claims

1. An emitter for electrolytic generation of microbubbles of oxygen comprising an anode separated at a critical distance from a cathode and a power source all in electrical communication with each other.

2. The emitter of claim 1 wherein the anode is a metal or a metallic oxide or a combination of a metal and a metallic oxide.

3. The emitter of claim 1 wherein the anode is platinum and iridium oxide on a support.

4. The emitter of claim 1 wherein the cathode is a metal or metallic oxide or a combination of a metal and a metallic oxide.

5. The critical distance of claim 1 which is 0.005 to 0.140 inches.

6. The critical distance of claim 1 which is 0.045 to 0.060 inches.

7. A method for lowering the biologic oxygen demand of polluted water comprising passing the polluted water through a vessel containing the emitter of claim 1.

8. The product of claim 1 wherein the water is supersaturated with oxygen and of an approximately neutral pH.

10. A method for keeping aquatic animals emitter alive comprising inserting the emitter of claim 1 or claim 9 into the aquatic medium of the aquatic animals.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the aquatic animal is a fish.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the aquatic animal is a shrimp.

14. The emitter of claims 1, 9 or 13 further comprising a timer control.

9. An emitter for electrolytic generation of microbubbles of oxygen comprising a plurality of anodes separated at a critical distance from a plurality of cathodes and a power source all in electrical communication with each other.

13. An emitter for electrolytic generation of microbubbles of oxygen comprising a platinum-iridium oxide anode on a titanium support separated at a critical distance of from 0.045 inches to 0.060 inches from a stainless steel screen {fraction (1/16)} inch thick cathode all in electrical communication with a battery.