Method, system, and device for decontaminating polluted combustion gas using volcanic rock

Abstract

The present disclosure encompasses methods and systems for decontaminating polluted gas using heated volcanic rock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for removing at least one pollutant from a combustion gas comprising:
 A combustion chamber having an inside and an outside, said inside including a heat source therein, said heat source generating a combustion gas that includes pollutants therein;   An exhaust passageway having an entrance inside said combustion chamber and an exit outside said combustion chamber and connecting said combustion chamber inside with said combustion chamber outside;   A quantity of volcanic rock inside said combustion chamber, said volcanic rock being positioned between said heat source and said exhaust passageway;   wherein said combustion gas contacts said volcanic rock prior to entering said exhaust passageway thereby removing at least one pollutant from said combustion gas prior to entering said exhaust passageway and exiting the inside of said combustion chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said pollutants are selected from the group consisting of dioxins, styrene gas, polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, hexachlorobenzene, volatile organic compounds, hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur oxides, benzene, hexavalent chromium, lead, hydrocarbons from unburned fuel, nitrogen oxides, nitric acid, ozone, soot, diesel particulate matter, heavy metals, methane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said combustion chamber is located in a device selected from the group consisting of a furnace, stove, incinerator, boiler, automotive exhaust system, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat source uses a fuel selected from the group consisting of liquefied fuel, gaseous fuel, contaminating fuel, wood, charcoal, peat, coal, hexamine fuel tablets, pellets made from wood, corn, wheat, rye, or other plants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said volcanic rock is in a form selected from the group consisting of chunks, blocks, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said quantity of volcanic rocks occupies from about ⅓rd to 1/25th of the volume of said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said quantity of volcanic rocks is positioned in said combustion chamber such that there is an empty space between the top of said quantity of volcanic rocks and the entrance to the exhaust passageway. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning mechanism for cleaning said quantity of volcanic rocks. 
     
     
         9 . A system for removing at least one pollutant from the exhaust of an internal combustion engine comprising:
 An internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber therein, said combustion chamber including a fuel burning area which generates exhaust when a fuel is being burned;   An exhaust port having a first end in proximity to said fuel burning area and a second end in communication with said first end, wherein said second end is in proximity to the environment outside said internal combustion engine;   A quantity of volcanic rock disposed between said fuel burning area and said second end of said exhaust port.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a canister in communication with said exhaust port, said canister having a diameter greater than the diameter of said exhaust port. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said volcanic rock is disposed within said canister. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said volcanic rock is disposed before said first end of said exhaust port. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said pollutant is selected from the group consisting of dioxins, styrene gas, polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, hexachlorobenzene, volatile organic compounds, hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur oxides, benzene, hexavalent chromium, lead, hydrocarbons from unburned fuel, nitrogen oxides, nitric acid, ozone, soot, diesel particulate matter, heavy metals, methane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of liquefied fuel and gaseous fuel. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said volcanic rock is in a form selected from the group consisting of chunks, blocks, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said quantity of volcanic rock occupies from about ⅓rd to 1/25th of the volume of said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A method of decontaminating polluted combustion gas comprising the step of:
 contacting said polluted combustion gas with volcanic rock for a time sufficient to remove at least one pollutant from said polluted combustion gas.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said pollutant is selected from the group consisting of dioxins, styrene gas, polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, hexachlorobenzene, volatile organic compounds, hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur oxides, benzene, hexavalent chromium, lead, hydrocarbons from unburned fuel, nitrogen oxides, nitric acid, ozone, soot, diesel particulate matter, heavy metals, methane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said polluted combustion gas is formed in the combustion chamber of a device selected from the group consisting of a furnace, stove, incinerator, boiler, automotive exhaust system, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said polluted combustion gas is formed from the combustion of a fuel selected from the group consisting of liquefied fuel, gaseous fuel, contaminating fuel, wood, charcoal, peat, coal, hexamine fuel tablets, pellets made from wood, corn, wheat, rye, or other plants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said volcanic rock is in a form selected from the group consisting of chunks, blocks, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said volcanic rock occupies from about ⅓rd to 1/25th of the volume of said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of cleaning said volcanic rock. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said cleaning is effected in said combustion chamber.