Ultraviolet photoreactor for the purification of fluids

• Main Authors: THORNE JAMES, SAMMI MANOJ K, OWEN MARK D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.09.2014
• Subjects: CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SEPARATION; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE

In order to disinfect and to detoxify a fluid, a photoreactor contains at least two light sources. One light source activates the catalytic function of a semiconductor material in the fluid to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the fluid, such as by breaking down organic contaminants into non-toxic compounds. A second light source acts directly on living biological entities to sterilize or kill them and thereby disinfect the fluid, and can also serve to activate a semiconductor photocatalyst that in turn causes further damage to biological contaminants. The semiconductor photocatalyst is desirably attached to an optically transmitting fiber substrate in the fluid. The second light source in one embodiment is external to the fluid and illuminates the photocatalyst through transmitting surfaces in a fluid containment vessel. The light sources can comprise respective sets of plural LEDs.