On Demand Carbon Monoxide Generator For Therapeutic and Other Applications

Abstract

A device that can produce carbon monoxide for therapeutic and laboratory applications is disclosed. The device includes and electrochemical cell that converts carbon dioxide or a carbon dioxide containing molecule such as a carbonate or bicarbonate or bicarbonate into carbon monoxide and oxygen. The cell contains additives so pure carbon monoxide is obtained.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 540,044, entitled “On Demand Carbon Monoxide Generator for Therapeutic and Other Applications,” filed Sep.28, 2011. This application is related to U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application US 2011 / 0237830 filed Jul. 4, 2010, entitled “Novel Catalyst Mixtures,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 317,955 filed Mar. 26, 2010, entitled “Novel Catalyst Mixtures,” and the application is also related to international application WO 2011 / 120021, entitled “Novel Catalyst Mixtures,” filed Mar. 25, 2011, which claims the benefit of both of the above applications. This application is also related to international patent application WO201206240, “Novel Catalyst Mixtures,” filed Jul. 1, 2011, which claims the benefit of above applications US 2011 / 0237830 and WO 2011 / 120021, and which also claims the ben...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a new carbon dioxide generator design that can produce carbon monoxide on demand at the mg / min rate needed for clinical applications, at the purities needed for these applications, and does not use any corrosive or toxic starting materials. The system may also include a means to control the rate of production of carbon monoxide. The invention includes a catalyst mixture for the working electrode that produces at least 20 times more CO than hydrogen, and does not produce significant quantities of other impurities. The Helper Catalyst can include, for example salts of choline, or choline derivatives or EMIM and its derivatives. The invention also includes a carbon monoxide generator that includes an Active Element, Helper Catalyst Mixture, in which the addition of the Helper Catalyst improves the rate or yield of CO production, while simultaneously decreasing the rate or yield of the undesired side reactions. The Helper Catalyst can include, for example, cations containing at least one positively charged nitrogen or phosphorus group and at least one polar group selected from the group consisting of —OR, —COR, —COOR, —NR2, —PR2, —SR2, and X, where each R independently can be H or a linear, branched, or cyclic C1-C4 aliphatic group, or carboxylic acid group.

Problems solved by technology

Carbon monoxide is poisonous and if a cylinder leaks it could lead to hazardous conditions.

Further, cylinders are not a convenient delivery mode in a clinical application.

For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,948,352, 7,951,273, and patent application 2005 / 0100478 disclose devices that are able to generate nanograms / hr of carbon monoxide for calibration purposes, but the devices cannot produce the mg / min of carbon monoxide needed for some clinical applications.

Also, the reactions in the devices produce toxic byproducts when they are run at the mg / min scale.

None of the previously disclosed electrochemical methods produce carbon monoxide at purities suitable for clinical applications.

The acetic acid would preclude the use of the device in inhalation therapy, and the high hydrogen concentration would create an explosion hazard when the stream is mixed with oxygen for inhalation therapy.

Images