Patent ID: 6994837
Filing Date: 2006-02-07
Classification: B01J,B82Y,C01B,C01G,C01P,C09C,C22B

Abstract:
1. A process for the synthesis of a metal oxide nanopowder from a metal compound vapour, comprising: generating an induction plasma jet by passing a working gas through a high frequency electromagnetic field; introducing said metal compound vapour and said induction plasma jet through a first axial end of a reactor; said plasma jet causing the metal compound vapour to reach a reaction temperature and to react with said working gas, yielding nanosized metal oxide particles; rapidly cooling said nanosized metal oxide particles in a quench zone of said reactor located downstream from said first axial end, thereby stopping the growth process of said nanosized metal oxide particles, yielding metal oxide nanopowder; and collecting said metal oxide nanopowder downstream from said quench zone; whereby, the combination of a) reacting the metal oxide compound with said induction plasma; induction plasma allowing for sufficiently large volume discharge and sufficiently long residence time in said reactor, and b) said rapidly cooling said yielded nanosized particles in a quench zone, allows to control said metal oxide particles sizes.