Patent ID: 7063820
Filing Date: 2006-06-20
Classification: A61L,B01D,B64D,F24F,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method for disinfecting fluids, comprising the steps of: providing a photocatalyst layer comprising a plurality of photocatalyst particles, said photocatalyst layer having a top and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface is secured to a solid surface, and an electrically conductive layer disposed on and in electrical contact said photocatalyst layer; illuminating said photocatalyst layer with a source of photons having a wavelength corresponding to at least a band gap energy of said photocatalyst, wherein incident light from said source of photons is transmitted by said electrically conductive layer to said top surface of said photocatalyst layer to produce photogenerated electrons and holes; removing a portion of said photogenerated electrons via said electrically conductive layer, wherein a lower concentration of photogenerated electrons remain for electron-hole recombination reactions increasing removal efficiency of microorganisms or chemical contaminants from a fluid stream, and contacting said fluid stream with said photocatalyst layer, wherein at least a portion of said microorganisms or chemical contaminants are photocatalytically oxidized.