Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC

Headwaters Nanokinetix, Inc.

Headwaters Heavy Oil, LLC

Sukesh Parasher

Bing Zhou

Michael A Rueter

Zhihua Wu

Cheng Zhang

Zhenhua Zhou

Jeffrey J Hare

Stephanie E Black

Kenneth R Johnson

N Stanley Harding

Tobacco products and articles are disclosed that include a nanoparticle catalyst. The nanoparticles are capable of degrading undesirable small molecules in tobacco smoke. The nanoparticle catalyst includes a dispersing agent that inhibits the deactivation of the nanoparticle catalyst. One embodiment disclosed has a dispersing agent that anchors the nanoparticles to a support material thereby preventing agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The dispersed nanoparticles exhibit higher activity and reduce the required loading in the tobacco material.

Tobacco catalyst and methods for reducing the amount of undesirable small molecules in tobacco smoke

Organically complexed nanocatalyst compositions are applied to or mixed with a carbon-containing fuel (e.g., tobacco, coal, briquetted charcoal, biomass, or a liquid hydrocarbon like fuel oils or gasoline) in order to enhance combustion properties of the fuel. Nanocatalyst compositions can be applied to or mixed with a solid fuel substrate in order to reduce the amount of CO, hydrocarbons and soot produced by the fuel during combustion. In addition, coal can be treated with inventive nanocatalyst compositions to reduce the amount of NOproduced during combustion (e.g., by removing coal nitrogen in a low oxygen pre-combustion zone of a low NOx burner). The nanocatalyst compositions include nanocatalyst particles made using a dispersing agent. They can be formed as a stable suspension to facilitate storage, transportation and application of the catalyst nanoparticles to a fuel substrate.

Organically complexed nanocatalysts for improving combustion properties of fuels and fuel compositions incorporating such catalysts

A method for manufacturing stable concentrated colloids containing metal nanoparticles in which the colloid is stabilized by adding a base. This allows the metal particles to be formed in higher concentration without forming larger agglomerates and/or precipitating. The method of manufacturing the stable colloidal metal nanoparticles of the present invention generally includes (i) providing a solution comprising a plurality of metal atoms, (ii) providing a solution comprising a plurality of organic agent molecules, each organic agent molecule comprising at least one functional group capable of bonding to the metal atoms, (iii) reacting the metal atoms in solution with the organic agent molecules in solution to form a mixture comprising a plurality of complexed metal atoms, (iv) reducing the complexed metal atoms in the mixture using a reducing agent to form a plurality of nanoparticles, and (v) adding an amount of a base to the mixture, thereby improving the stability of the nanoparticles in the mixture. The base may be added before or after forming the nanoparticles.

Stable concentrated metal colloids and methods of making same

Multicomponent nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar components selected from different members of the group of noble metals, base transition metals, alkali earth metals, and rare earth metals and/or different groups of the periodic table of elements. The two or more dissimilar components are dispersed using a polyfunctional dispersing agent such that the multicomponent nanoparticles have a substantially uniform distribution of the two or more dissimilar components. The polyfunctional dispersing agent may include organic molecules, polymers, oligomers, or salts of these. The molecules of the dispersing agent bind to the dissimilar components to overcome same-component attraction, thereby allowing the dissimilar components to form multicomponent nanoparticles. Dissimilar components such as iron and platinum can be alloyed together using the dispersing agent to form substantially uniform multicomponent nanoparticles, which can be used alone or with a support. At least a portion of the dispersing agent is removed by reduction and/or oxidation.

Method of manufacturing multicomponent nanoparticles

Supported catalysts include an inorganic solid support such as silica that is functionalized to have inorganic acid functional groups attached thereto. The functionalization of the support material is optimized by (i) limiting the amount of water present during the functionalization reaction, (ii) using a concentrated mineral acid or derivative thereof, and/or (iii) increasing the reaction temperature and/or reaction pressure. The acid-functionalized support material serves as a support for a metal nanoparticle catalyst. The nanocatalyst particles are preferably bonded to the support material through an organic molecule, oligomer, or polymer having functional groups that can bind to both the nanocatalyst particles and to the support material. The supported catalysts can advantageously be used for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen feed streams.

Method for manufacturing supported nanocatalysts having an acid-functionalized support

Disclosed are nanoparticles formed from a plurality of two or more different components. The two or more components are dispersed using a dispersing agent such that the nanoparticles have a substantially uniform distribution of the two or more components. The dispersing agents can be poly functional small organic molecules, polymers, or oligomers, or salts of these. The molecules of the dispersing agent bind to the particle atoms to overcome like-component attractions, thereby allowing different and/or dissimilar components to form heterogeneous nanoparticles. In one embodiment, dissimilar components such as iron and platinum are complexed using the dispersing agent to form substantially uniform heterogeneous nanoparticles. Methods are also disclosed for making the multicomponent nanoparticles. The methods include forming suspensions of two or more components complexed with the dispersing agent molecules. The suspensions can also be deposited on a support material and/or anchored to the support.

Multicomponent nanoparticles formed using a dispersing agent

Metal-containing colloids are manufactured by reacting a plurality of metal ions and a plurality of organic agent molecules to form metal complexes in a mixture having a pH greater than about 4.25. The metal complexes are reduced for at least 0.5 hour to form stable colloidal nanoparticles. The extended reduction time improves the stability of the colloidal particles as compared to shorter reduction times. The stability of the colloidal particles allows for colloids with higher concentrations of metal to be formed. The concentration of metal in the colloid is preferably at least about 150 ppm by weight.

An organically complexed nanocatalyst composition is applied to or mixed with coal prior to or upon introducing the coal into a coal burner in order to catalyze the removal of coal nitrogen from the coal and its conversion into nitrogen gas prior to combustion of the coal. This process leads to reduced NOx production during coal combustion. The nanocatalyst compositions include a nanoparticle catalyst that is made using a dispersing agent that can bond with the catalyst atoms. The dispersing agent forms stable, dispersed, nano-sized catalyst particles. The catalyst composition can be formed as a stable suspension to facilitate storage, transportation and application of the catalyst nanoparticles to a coal material. The catalyst composition can be applied before or after pulverizing the coal material or it may be injected directly into the coal burner together with pulverized coal.

Method for reducing NOx during combustion of coal in a burner

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed using a dispersing agent to form nanoparticles with desired size, shape, and uniformity. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed by reacting an inorganic titanium compound with water or ice to form an aqueous titanium compound. The aqueous titanium compound is reacted or combined with a dispersing agent. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are precipitated to form a suspension. The formation of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles is influenced by the presence of bonding of the dispersing agent. The size of the nanoparticles can be advantageously controlled by selecting the ratio of titanium to dispersing agent. In addition, the titanium dioxide nanoparticles can be used in suspension form or filtered and dried to form a powder.

Stabilized suspension of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and methods of manufacture

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles and nanoparticle suspensions and methods of making the same

A process is disclosed for the direct catalytic production of aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of a small amount of one or more water soluble organic additives (about 0.1&#x2013;10% by weight). Suitable catalysts include nanometer-sized noble metal catalytic crystal particles. The catalyst particles preferably have a controlled surface coordination number of 2 to increase the selectivity of hydrogen peroxide production. The water soluble additive(s) increases catalytic activity causing significant increases in the apparent first order reaction rate constant for the direct production of aqueous hydrogen peroxide.

Process for direct catalytic hydrogen peroxide production

Supported catalysts include a solid support such as silica that is functionalized to have inorganic acid functional groups attached thereto. Active catalyst particles are supported on the functionalized support material. The acid functionalized support material is made by reacting a solid support with an inorganic acid containing agent such as sulfuric acid or para-toluene sulfonic acid. An organic anchoring agent is used to form and anchor catalyst nanoparticles to the acid functionalized support material. The supported catalyst can be sized and shaped for use in any type of reactor, including a fixed bed or fluidized bed reactor. The methods of the present invention also include a process for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide using the supported catalyst.

Nanocatalyst anchored onto acid functionalized solid support and methods of making and using same

Supported reactive catalysts having a controlled coordination structure and methods for their production are disclosed. The supported catalysts of the present invention are useful for the preparation of hydrogen peroxide with high selectivity in addition to other chemical conversion reactions. The supported catalyst comprises catalyst particles having top or outer layer of atoms in which at least a portion of the atoms exhibit a controlled coordination number of 2. The catalyst and methods may be used for the concurrent in situ and ex situ conversion of organic compounds. In addition, a process is provided for catalytically producing hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen feeds by contacting them with the catalysts of the invention and a suitable organic liquid solvent having a Solvent Selection Parameter (SSP) between 0.14&#xd7;10and 5.0&#xd7;10.

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Lawrenceville, NJ, United States of America

Sukesh Parasher