Spectral catalysts

Abstract

A wide variety of reactions can be advantageously affected and directed by a spectral catalyst which duplicates the electromagnetic energy spectral pattern of a physical catalyst and when applied to a reaction system transfers a quanta of energy in the form of electromagnetic energy to control and/or promote the reaction system. The spectral catalysts utilized in this invention can replace and/or augment the energy normally provided to the reaction system by a physical catalyst. A spectral catalyst may also act as both a positive catalyst to increase the rate of a reaction or as a negative catalyst to decrease the rate of reaction.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method to augment a physical catalyst in a chemical reaction system with a spectral catalyst comprising the steps of: 
 a) determining an electromagnetic spectral pattern of said physical catalyst;    b) duplicating at least one frequency of said electromagnetic spectral pattern of step (a) with at least one electromagnetic energy emitter source;    c) exposing said chemical reaction system to said at least one frequency of said duplicated electromagnetic spectral pattern thereby augmenting said physical catalyst.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said physical catalyst is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides and metal sulfides.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said electromagnetic spectral pattern is determined by spectroscopy methods.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said chemical reaction system is irradiated with said electromagnetic spectral pattern having frequencies ranging from about radio frequency to about ultraviolet frequency.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said frequency is in the visible light range.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said physical catalyst is an enzyme.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said physical catalyst is introduced into said chemical reaction prior to irradiation with said spectral catalyst.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein said spectroscopy is a member selected from the group consisting of x-ray, ultraviolet, microwave, infrared, atomic absorption, flame emissions, atomic emissions, inductively coupled plasma, DC argon plasma, arc-source emission, spark-source emission, high resolution laser and Raman.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said physical catalyst is a member selected from the group consisting of silver, platinum, platinum oxide, nickel, palladium, rhodium, copper, ruthenium and iron.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said electromagnetic energy source is at least one laser.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said physical catalyst is introduced to said chemical reaction system subsequent to irradiating said system with said spectral catalyst.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said physical catalyst is introduced to said chemical reaction system and irradiating said system with said spectral catalyst is substantially simultaneous.  
     
     
         13 . A method for augmenting a physical catalyst in a chemical reaction comprising the following steps of: 
 a) duplicating at least one frequency of an electromagnetic spectral pattern of said physical catalyst; and    b) exposing said chemical reaction system to said at least one frequency of said duplicated electromagnetic spectral pattern in a sufficient amount to augment said physical catalyst.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said at least one frequency of said electromagnetic spectral pattern is a harmonic frequency of said electromagnetic spectral pattern of said augmented physical catalyst.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said at least one frequency copies a mechanism of action of said augmented physical catalyst.