Patent ID: 6902653
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: A61L,B01J,B33Y,C02F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for photocatalytic conversion of contaminants in a fluid stream, said apparatus comprising: a reactor enclosure having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; at least one semiconductor unit in fluid communication with said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said semiconductor unit including a transparent or semi-transparent, three-dimensional substrate having a semi-transparent semiconductor photocatalytic surface with which the fluid stream comes into contact; and a light emitting device in optical proximity and communication to said at least one semiconductor unit, said light emitting device providing incident light having a wavelength corresponding to a semitransparent region of the absorption spectrum of the semiconductor unit; wherein said photocatalytic surface is of sufficient thickness to pass 60-95% of the incident light directed to said surface; said substrate is of sufficient thickness to pass greater than 80% of the incident light directed to said substrate; and said light emitting device and said semiconductor unit work cooperatively to remove contaminants in the fluid stream by photocatalytic reaction, said reaction having a reaction order, in respect to light intensity, that is less than unity.