Inrad, Inc.

James R Fehlner

Zhenyu Zhang

Warren Ruderman

Nicholas J Turro

Dow Firnberg

Inorganic membranes such as zeolite membranes or other molecular sieve membranes can be provided by using silicone polymer material as starting material. A thin film zeolite membrane or a thin film membrane formed of interlocking zeolite crystals can be provided. Water soluble or water insoluble silicones can be treated in a basic solution under conditions and with an appropriate structure directing template, suitable aluminum content and at a temperature that is appropriate for growing a desired inorganic crystal framework. The membranes can be formed across the perforation of a support, such as a steel screen.

Synthesis of inorganic membranes on supports

Methods for forming membranes of semiconductive material incorporating molecular sieve material therein can involve sol gel techniques and suction techniques. The semiconductors, such as metal oxides, sulfides or carbides have photoactivity and are useful in photocatalytic reactions. An example of such a membrane is titanium oxide including zeolite molecular sieve incorporated therein. The membranes can be used to perform useful chemical reactions such as the mineralization of organic chemicals in the presence of light. For example, many toxic organic chemicals can be converted to useful or benign products by contacting those chemicals with active metal oxide-molecular sieve membranes in accordance with the invention and illuminating the membranes with light of a suitable wavelength.

Molecular sieve--photoactive semiconductor membranes and reactions

Inorganic membranes such as zeolite membranes or other molecular sieve membranes can be provided by using siliconee, polymer material as starting material. A thin film zeolite membrane or a thin film membrane formed of interlocking zeolite crystals can be provided. Water soluble or water insoluble silicones can be treated in a basic solution under conditions and with an appropriate structure directing template, suitable aluminum content and at a temperature that is appropriate for growing a desired inorganic crystal framework. Heteroatoms can be included in the crystalline framework.

Synthesis of inorganic membranes including metals

The photoconversion of steroids is carried out in microreactors to yield desired products, while limiting the formation of undesirable byproducts. The steroid reactant is combined with a microreactor such as solid particles having controlled spaces of appropriate size to provide stereochemical control over the reaction. Appropriate catalyst particles include silica and zeolitic material. The reaction can be conducted in a fluidized bed reactor and the formation of undesirable byproducts can be effectively limited.

Photoconversion of steroids in microreactors

Inorganic membranes such as zeolite membranes or other molecular sieve membranes can be provided by using silicone polymer material as starting material. A thin film zeolite membrane or a thin film membrane formed of interlocking zeolite crystals can be provided. Water soluble or water insoluble silicones can be treated in a basic solution under conditions and with an appropriate structure directing template, suitable aluminum content and at a temperature that is appropriate for growing a desired inorganic crystal framework. The continuous thin film membranes or interlocking crystal membranes can be formed on the sides of a reaction vessel, on the surface of the solution or on the surfaces of substrates introduced into the vessel.

Synthesis of inorganic membranes

Molecular sieve - photoactive semiconductor membranes and reactions

A rotating fluidized bed reactor in which inert solid particles are held in place by centrifugal forces. The reactor includes a rotating porous bed vessel drum within a plenum vessel and the drum rotates to hold the solid particles at the side thereof. Gas is introduced through the walls of the drum and can be drawn off at the top. An electromagnetic radiation source can be included within the drum for promoting photochemical reactions. The solid particles can be inert particles that are loaded with reactant which reacts with the gas stream and/or from the electromagnetic radiation. In other embodiments of the invention, the particles do not contain reactant and reactant is provided within the gas stream only. Such a rotating bed reactor is suitable for use with both batch and continuous flow through processes.

Rotating fluidized bed reactor with electromagnetic radiation source

Fullerenes are selectively functionalized by adsorbing fullerene molecules on molecular sieves such as zeolites as the first step in a desired functionalizing reaction and then adding functional groups or compounds to the fullerenes within the molecular sieves. An improved reactor for fullerene material is thereby available. Selectively functionalized fullerenes formed in accordance with the invention can also serve as precursors for further selectively functionalized products.

Selective functionalization of fullerenes

A terminally chlorinated normal alkane hydrocarbon is produced at high terminal selectivity, by adsorbing a normal alkane into a select zeolite and chlorinating the adsorbed alkane in the zeolite. The zeolite may be of a type having internal channels of diameter slightly larger than that of the alkane, and substantially no internal chambers, and may be selected from the pentasil family of zeolites. The chlorination reaction may be conducted under heating to enhance terminal selectivity even further, in many cases to levels approaching 100%.

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Salem Township, PA, United States of America

James R Fehlner