Oxygen generator and method of decelerating or stopping the oxygen production of an oxygen generating composition

Abstract

An oxygen generator uses a composition for generating oxygen and an acidic compound, with the composition for generating oxygen including an oxygen source, an ionic liquid, a metal oxide compound and optionally a basic compound. The oxygen source is a peroxide compound, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in a temperature range from −10° C. to +50° C., the metal oxide compound is an oxide of a single metal or of two or more different metals which are from groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements. There is also described a method for decelerating or stopping the oxygen production from an oxygen generating composition, and a device for generating oxygen in a controlled manner.

1 . An oxygen generator comprising a composition for generating oxygen, the composition including an oxygen source, an ionic liquid, and a metal oxide compound;
 an acidic compound for decelerating or stopping oxygen production, or if the ionic liquid is an acidic compound or contains an acidic compound;   optionally, a composition for generating oxygen, the composition including an oxygen source, an ionic liquid, a metal oxide compound, and a basic compound; and   a further acidic compound for decelerating or stopping an oxygen production;   wherein   said oxygen source comprises a peroxide compound;   said ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in a temperature range from −10° C. to +50° C.; and   said metal oxide compound is an oxide of a single metal or of two or more different metals, and said single metal or two or more different metals are selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements.   
     
     
         2 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 1 , wherein said oxygen source is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal percarbonates, alkali metal perborates, urea hydrogen peroxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said ionic liquid is at least one salt having a cation and an anion;   said cation is selected from the group consisting of imidazolium, pyrrolidinium, ammonium, pyridinium, pyrazolium, piperidinium, phosphonium, and sulfonium cations; and/or said anion is selected from the group consisting of dimethylphosphate, methylsulfate, ethylsulfate, trifluoromethylsulfonate, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, chloride, bromide, iodide, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, acetate, and but-3-enoate.   
     
     
         4 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal oxide compound is selected from the group consisting of MnO 2 , Co 3 O 4 , CrO 3 , Ag 2 O, CuO, Fe 3 O 4  and PbO 2 , or is selected from the group consisting of mixed cobalt iron oxides, mixed copper iron oxides, mixed nickel iron oxides, mixed manganese iron oxides, mixed copper manganese oxides, mixed cobalt manganese oxides, mixed nickel manganese oxides, mixed nickel cobalt oxides, mixed lanthanum iron nickel oxides, mixed lanthanum strontium manganese oxides, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 1 , wherein a pK a -value of the acidic compound and/or of the further acidic compound is below 5, and/or wherein the oxygen generator comprises an amount of the acidic compound and/or the further acidic compound sufficient for completely reducing the metal in the metal oxide by at least one oxidation state. 
     
     
         6 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 5 , wherein a pK a -value of the acidic compound and/or of the further acidic compound is below 4.5 and the oxygen generator comprises an amount of the acidic compound and/or of the further acidic compound sufficient for completely reducing the metal in the metal oxide by at least two oxidation states. 
     
     
         7 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the acidic compound or the further acidic compound is selected from the group consisting of inorganic acids, organic acids, acidic salts and ionic liquids having acidic functionality. 
     
     
         8 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the acidic compound or the further acidic compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, sodium hydrogen sulfate, monopotassium phosphate, 1-ethyl-3-methylim idazolium hydrogen sulfate, trimethylammonium propanesulfonic acid hydrogen sulfate, 1-(4-sulfobutyI)-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate, and diethylmethylammonium methanesulfonate. 
     
     
         9 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 1 , further comprising a basic compound or a further basic compound for accelerating or restarting oxygen production. 
     
     
         10 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 9 , wherein the basic compound or the further basic compound is selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, basic oxides, basic salts, and ionic liquids having basic properties. 
     
     
         11 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 10 , wherein the basic compound or the further basic compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium phosphate, sodium acetate, sodium percarbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, tetrabutylammonium arginine, and tetraethylammonium but-3-enoate. 
     
     
         12 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the acidic compound or the further acidic compound is provided in solid from or in the form of a solution or dispersion or in the form of a pure liquid substance, and/or wherein a basic compound or the further basic compound is provided in solid form or in the form of a solution or dispersion or in the form of a pure liquid substance. 
     
     
         13 . The oxygen generator according to  claim 12 , wherein the acidic compound or the further acidic compound is provided in the form of a tuner compact. 
     
     
         14 . A method of producing oxygen with an oxygen generating composition, the method comprising:
 providing an oxygen source, an ionic liquid, and a metal oxide compound;   generating oxygen by contacting the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, and the metal oxide compound; and   decelerating or stopping the oxygen production by adding an acidic compound to the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, and the metal oxide compound;   or,   if the ionic liquid is an acidic compound or contains an acidic compound:   providing an oxygen source, the ionic liquid, a metal oxide compound, and a basic compound;   generating oxygen by contacting the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, the metal oxide compound, and the basic compound; and   decelerating or stopping the oxygen production by adding a further acidic compound to the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, the metal oxide compound, and the basic compound;   wherein:   said oxygen source comprises a peroxide compound;   said ionic liquid is in a liquid state within a temperature range from −10° C. to +50° C.; and   said metal oxide compound is an oxide of a single metal or of two or more different metals selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , which further comprises accelerating or restarting the oxygen production after a desired time interval by adding a basic compound or a further basic compound, once or multiple times. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein a pK a -value of the acidic compound and/or the further acidic compound is below 5. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the pK a -value is less than 4.5. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein an amount of the acidic compound and/or the further acidic compound is selected such that it is sufficient for completely reducing the metal in the metal oxide by at least one oxidation state. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the amount of the acidic compound and/or the further acidic compound is sufficient for completely reducing the metal in the metal oxide by at least two oxidation states. 
     
     
         20 . A device for generating oxygen in a controlled manner, the device comprising:
 a reaction chamber for housing a composition for generating oxygen, the composition being a combination of an oxygen source, an ionic liquid, and a metal oxide compound;   at least one dosing device housing an acidic compound and, optionally, at least one dosing device housing a basic compound, the dosing device(s) being configured to introduce the acidic compound and, optionally, the basic compound into the reaction chamber;   a device for maintaining at least one of the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, and the metal oxide compound physically separate from the remaining constituents;   a device for establishing physical contact of the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, and the metal oxide compound; and   a device for allowing oxygen to exit the reaction chamber;   wherein   the metal oxide compound is an oxide of a single metal or of two or more different metals selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements;   the oxygen source comprises a peroxide compound;   the ionic liquid is in a liquid state at least in a temperature range from −10° C. to +50° C.; and   an oxygen production rate is controlled by adding the acidic compound or, optionally, the basic compound to the composition for generating oxygen.