Reactor process using metal oxide ceramic membranes

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869271

Anderson, Marc A ^[1]

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1. Madison, WI

A reaction vessel for use in photoelectrochemical reactions includes as its reactive surface a metal oxide porous ceramic membrane of a catalytic metal such as titanium. The reaction vessel includes a light source and a counter electrode. A provision for applying an electrical bias between the membrane and the counter electrode permits the Fermi levels of potential reaction to be favored so that certain reactions may be favored in the vessel. The electrical biasing is also useful for the cleaning of the catalytic membrane. Also disclosed is a method regenerating a porous metal oxide ceramic membrane used in a photoelectrochemical catalytic process by periodically removing the reactants and regenerating the membrane using a variety of chemical, thermal, and electrical techniques.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (Madison, WI)
• Patent Number(s): US 5308454
• OSTI ID: 869271
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

reactor
process
metal
oxide
ceramic
membranes
reaction
vessel
photoelectrochemical
reactions
reactive
surface
porous
membrane
catalytic
titanium
light
source
counter
electrode
provision
applying
electrical
bias
permits
fermi
levels
potential
favored
biasing
useful
cleaning
disclosed
method
regenerating
periodically
removing
reactants
variety
chemical
thermal
techniques
catalytic process
electrical bias
porous metal
catalytic membrane
ceramic membranes
light source
metal oxide
chemical reaction
reaction vessel
active surface
ceramic membrane
counter electrode
oxide ceramic
porous ceramic
chemical reactions
electrochemical reaction
catalytic metal
reactive surface
reactor process
oxide porous
electrochemical reactions
fermi level
electrical biasing
photoelectrochemical reactions
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