IP Library Granted Patent US 8,869,992
Granted Patent B2
US 8,869,992 · App. 13/914,627 · Granted Oct 28, 2014

Lighting apparatus for capturing and stabilizing mercury

Inventors: Robert H. Hurt (Barrington, RI); Steven P. Hamburg (Providence, RI); Love Sarin (Providence, RI); Indrek Kulaots (East Providence, RI)
Assignee: Brown University
H01J61/26B65D85/42C22B7/001C22B3/24B32B5/18B32B7/02B32B1/02C22B43/00B32B7/00Y10S977/773
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,869,992
App. No.
13/914,627
Granted
Oct 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is a method and material for using a sorbent material to capture and stabilize mercury. The method for using sorbent material to capture and stabilize mercury contains the following steps. First, the sorbent material is provided. The sorbent material, in one embodiment, is nano-particles. In a preferred embodiment, the nano-particles are unstabilized nano-Se. Next, the sorbent material is exposed to mercury in an environment. As a result, the sorbent material captures and stabilizes mercury from the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the environment is an indoor space in which a fluorescent has broken.

Claims (19)

1. A lightning apparatus including mercury, comprising:

unstabilized nano-Se particles having high mercury capture situated on the lightning apparatus.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lighting apparatus is selected from a group consisting of: a bulb, a lamp, a fluorescent bulb, a fluorescent lamp, a compact fluorescent lamp, and compact fluorescent bulb.

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the unstabilized nano-Se is disposed on an active layer.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a barrier layer is disposed on a surface of the active layer.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a protective layer is disposed on a surface of the active layer, the protective layer containing a carrier material.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the carrier material is porous.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the carrier material is non-porous.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the carrier material is a combination of porous and non-porous material.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the unstabilized nano-Se is dispersed on the carrier material.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the unstabilized nano-Se is impregnated within the carrier material.

11. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the unstabilized nano-Se is sprayed onto the carrier material.

12. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the unstabilized nano-Se is injected into the carrier material.

13. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the carrier material is dipped into the unstabilized nano-Se.

14. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the carrier material forms a part of the lighting apparatus.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the unstabilized nano-Se is disposed on an inner surface of the lighting apparatus to capture and stabilize the mercury.

16. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the unstabilized nano-Se is disposed on an outer surface of the lighting apparatus to capture and stabilize the mercury.

17. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the unstabilized nano-Se is disposed on an inner and outer surface of the lighting apparatus to capture and stabilize the mercury.

18. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the unstabilized nano-Se is positioned in a location advantageous for capturing and stabilizing released mercury.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Oct 20, 2014
From: BROWN UNIVERSITY
To: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), U.S. GOVERNMENT
Reel/Frame 034016/0218 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2013
From: HURT, ROBERT H.; HAMBURG, STEVEN P.; SARIN, LOVE; KULAOTS, INDREK
To: BROWN UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 031486/0608 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 12919831
Provisional Application 61049848 · May 2, 2008
Provisional Application 61032375 · Feb 28, 2008
Related Publication 20130270995A1 · Oct 17, 2013