Patent ID: 6685762
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: B01J,B05B,B22F

Abstract:
An aerosol method for making particles, involving recirculation of a precursor liquid that tends to concentrate over time, the method comprising:generating, in an aerosol generation facility, an aerosol stream including droplets, comprising a precursor liquid, dispersed in a carrier gas; the aerosol generation facility including an aerosol generator where the droplets are formed, a carrier gas supply system supplying the carrier gas to the aerosol generator and a precursor liquid supply system supplying the precursor liquid to the aerosol generator, the precursor liquid including a liquid vehicle and a precursor material; after the generating step, removing at least a portion of the liquid vehicle from the droplets and forming the particles in the aerosol stream; during the generating step, the precursor liquid supplied to the aerosol generator being separated into at least two portions, a first portion exiting the aerosol generator in the droplets of the aerosol stream and a second portion exiting the aerosol generator as precursor liquid effluent, at least a portion of which is returned to the precursor liquid supply system and recycled to the aerosol generator; during the generating step, additional liquid vehicle being added to at least one of the carrier gas supply system, the precursor liquid supply system and the aerosol generator, to at least partially compensate for a tendency of the precursor liquid to become more concentrated in the precursor material over time.