University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated

Westinghouse Savannah River Company

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Concept, Inc.

Florida International University

David E Clark

George G Wicks

Rebecca L Schulz

David A Jenkins

William J Dalzell, Jr

Robert H Krabill

Kenneth W Wistrom

Paul F Johnson, Iii

John J Hren

Brenda L Adams

Larry L Hench

Joy M Barrett

Gregory T Chandler

Diane C Folz

Iftikhar Ahmad

Howard E Degler, Jr

Howead E Degler, Jr

The invention discloses a microwave off-gas system in which microwave energy is used to treat gaseous waste. A treatment chamber is used to remediate off-gases from an emission source by passing the off-gases through a susceptor matrix, the matrix being exposed to microwave radiation. The microwave radiation and elevated temperatures within the combustion chamber provide for significant reductions in the qualitative and quantitative emissions of the gas waste stream.

Microwave off-gas treatment apparatus and process

A process and resulting product is provided in which a vulcanized solid particulate, such as vulcanized crumb rubber, has select chemical bonds broken by microwave radiation. The direct application of microwaves in combination with uniform heating of the crumb rubber renders the treated crumb rubber more suitable for use in new rubber formulations. As a result, larger particle sizes and/or loading levels of the treated crumb rubber can be used in new rubber mixtures to produce recycled composite products with good properties.

Microwave treatment of vulcanized rubber

The invention discloses a tandem microwave system consisting of a primary chamber in which hybrid microwave energy is used for the controlled combustion of materials. A second chamber is used to further treat the off-gases from the primary chamber by passage through a susceptor matrix subjected to additional hybrid microwave energy. The direct microwave radiation and elevated temperatures provide for significant reductions in the qualitative and quantitative emissions of the treated off gases. The tandem microwave system can be utilized for disinfecting wastes, sterilizing materials, and/or modifying the form of wastes to solidify organic or inorganic materials. The simple design allows on-site treatment of waste by small volume waste generators.

Medical waste treatment and decontamination system

A method for recovering metals from metals-containing wastes, and vitrifying the remainder of the wastes for disposal. Metals-containing wastes such as circuit boards, cathode ray tubes, vacuum tubes, transistors and so forth, are broken up and placed in a suitable container. The container is heated by microwaves to a first temperature in the range of approximately 300-800.degree. C. to combust organic materials in the waste, then heated further to a second temperature in the range of approximately 1,000-1,550.degree. C. at which temperature glass formers present in the waste will cause it to melt and vitrify. Low-melting-point metals such as tin and aluminum can be recovered after organics combustion is substantially complete. Metals with higher melting points, such as gold, silver and copper, can be recovered from the solidified product or separated from the waste at their respective melting points. Network former-containing materials can be added at the start of the process to assist vitrification.

Method for recovering metals from waste

The invention discloses a tandem microwave system consisting of a primary chamber in which microwave energy is used for the controlled combustion of materials. A second chamber is used to further treat the off-gases from the primary chamber by passage through a susceptor matrix subjected to additional microwave energy. The direct microwave radiation and elevated temperatures provide for significant reductions in the qualitative and quantitative emissions of the treated off gases. The tandem microwave system can be utilized for disinfecting wastes, sterilizing materials, and/or modifying the form of wastes to solidify organic or inorganic materials. The simple design allows on-site treatment of waste by small volume waste generators.

Tandem microwave waste remediation and decontamination system

A method for recovering metals from metals-containing wastes, and vitrifying the remainder of the wastes for disposal. Metals-containing wastes such as circuit boards, cathode ray tubes, vacuum tubes, transistors and so forth, are broken up and placed in a suitable container. The container is heated by microwaves to a first temperature in the range of approximately 300.degree.-800.degree. C. to combust organic materials in the waste, then heated further to a second temperature in the range of approximately 1,000.degree.-1,550.degree. C. at which temperature glass formers present in the waste will cause it to melt and vitrify. Low-melting-point metals such as tin and aluminum can be recovered after organics combustion is substantially complete. Metals with higher melting points, such as gold, silver and copper, can be recovered from the solidified product or separated from the waste at their respective melting points. Network former-containing materials can be added at the start of the process to assist vitrification.

A method of preparing a composite of a metal oxide matrix with reinforcement particles distributed therein in gel form, by preparing a sol of a metal oxide of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, MgO, ZrO.sub.2, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 and mixtures thereof, bringing the sol near the point of gelation, adding reinforcement material consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiC, SiO.sub.2, MgO, ZrO.sub.2, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 and mixtures thereof in particulate form in an amount from about 5% by volume to about 90% by volume, and adding a control gelling agent in the form of an aqueous solution of a metal salt consisting of aluminum nitrate, magnesium nitrate, zirconium nitrate, chromium nitrate, silicon nitrate, neodymium nitrate and mixtures thereof in an amount corresponding to from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the metal salt based on the metal oxide in the sol to promote controlled gelation.

Fabrication of homogenous sol-gel derived multiphase materials using

A process for producing a superconducting ceramic material using microwave energy and the superconducting ceramic material produced thereby. A preferred process comprises the steps of mixing powders of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, CuO and at least one member selected from the group consisting of BaCO.sub.3 and BaO, and then subjecting the resultant powder mixture to heat treatment in microwave energy. In a preferred embodiment, the heat treatment step comprises the steps of calcining, sintering and annealing, at least one of the calcining and annealing steps using microwave energy.

Procesing of superconducting ceramics using microwave energy

A method of repairing a defect in or joining fired or unfired ceramic bodies by using a paste composed of a wet undried metal oxide gel consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, MgO, ZrO.sub.2, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, and mixtures thereof and joining the paste. A reinforcement material consisting of SiC, C, SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, MgO and mixtures thereof may be included in the paste.

Method for joining of prefired or fired ceramics using sol gels

A method of ceramic coating a substrate by thermodeposition from a sol made by hydrolyzing and peptizing organometallic compounds in water. The sol contains colloidal particles having a size between about 0.0005 micron and about 10 microns and the deposited coatings have good packing characteristics as well as smoothness. Composite coatings are also deposited which contain reinforcing materials such as SiC embedded in the coated matrix. These coatings afford the substrate onto which they are coated excellent wear, anti-corrosion and insulating characteristics.

Deposition of ceramic coatings using sol-gel processing with application

A method of repairing or joining a metal oxide, such as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, containing ceramic bodies, fired or unfired by preparing a sol from a precursor of the metal oxide, mixing with a gelling agent, Al(NO.sub.3).sub.3, to form a paste, optionally adding a reinforcement of SiC particulate and heating at an elevated temperature, and a repair kit.

Method of joining metal oxide containing ceramic bodies

A composite made by milling Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 gel to a powder in the size range of from about 20 mesh to about 400 mesh, mixing said Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 gel powder with a reinforcement material consisting of SiC, SiO.sub.2, C, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, Si.sub.2 N.sub.4, BN, B.sub.4 O, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiC, TiB.sub.2, TiN and aluminosilicate, compressing and firing at an elevated temperature.

Method for preparing Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder and products

A novel method for preparing sols from metal oxide precursors by using inorganic salts as the peptizing agent is disclosed herein. Sol-gels prepared from the sols are also disclosed. Ceramic coatings, monoliths, bodies and are formed. These structures have a particle size of down to 0.0001 micron and are endowed with excellent packing characteristics as well as smoothness.

Inorganic salts as peptizing agents in the preparation of metal oxide

An electrosurgical instrument comprising a handle which holds a blade assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes and insulation members positioned between the electrodes. The blade assembly comprises a center electrode of specified thickness, insulation members secured to the center electrode and a plurality of side electrodes secured to the insulation members. The center electrode and insulation members are cut to form a cutting edge having a composite angle of less than 120.degree. thus allowing easier electrosurgical performance. The electrodes are connected inside the nonconductive handle to a circuit whose output consists of a high frequency electrical current which forms a circuit through tissue intervening between and in contact with the electrodes when the instrument is used.

Bipolar electrosurgical knife

An electrosurgical instrument for cutting, spot coagulation and point coagulation comprising a nonconductive handle which holds a blade assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes and an insulation member separating the electrodes. The blade assembly comprises an active center electrode of specified thickness with a recessed tip and is mounted to an extruded insulation member so that it extends outwardly from the insulation member to form a cutting edge. Split side return electrodes are symmetrically mounted to the insulation member and separated from the center electrode by the insulation member. The electrode area ratio of the return electrode area to the active electrode area falls between 0.70 and 2.0 allowing consistent bipolar operation. The electrodes are connected inside the nonconductive handle to a circuit whose output consists of a high frequency electrical current which forms a circuit through tissue intervening between and in contact with the electrodes when the instrument is used.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, FL, United States of America

David E Clark