System and method for altering characteristics of materials using an electrohydraulic discharge

Patent · Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 EDT 2003

OSTI ID:1174347

Banerjee, Sujit

System and method for oxidizing contaminants to alter specific properties, such as tack, of contaminants. The present invention reduces the tack of the stickies and pitch by exposing the materials for a short duration to low-energy pulsed electrical discharges between a pair of electrodes that are submerged in a liquid medium, such as a fiber stream, water, a pulp slurry, or whitewater. An electrical discharge in the liquid medium oxidizes materials, which may be dissolved or suspended therein, such as stickies, pitch, sulfide, ink, toner, and other substances, thereby reducing tack, odor, and/or zeta potential, as well as producing other desirable effect.

• Research Organization: Institute of Paper Science And Technology, Inc., Atlanta, GA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC36-99GO10381
• Assignee: Institute of Paper Science And Technology, Inc. (Atlanta, GA)
• Patent Number(s): 6,572,733
• Application Number: 09/964,101
• OSTI ID: 1174347
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE