Waste Systems Odor Control
Atty Docket No. APB1-PAU03 11 ABSTRACT
Apparatus and methods use graphene for odor control, gas retention and liquid retention in various containers, tubing, and the like. For example, odor control in marine 5 head systems can be achieved by formulating the plumbing tubing and the holding tank with a plastic material incorporating graphene therein. It has been found that the addition of graphene to a plastic, or coating a material with a graphene infused coating, can improve the odor control from within such containers by retaining gases and/or liquids from permeating out of the containers. Such technology may be applied to other systems, 10 including any apparatus configured to hold gases or liquids therein.
Atty Docket No. APB1-PAU03 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for preventing a gas from escaping an enclosure comprising incorporating graphene in a material forming the enclosure; and preventing the inadvertent release of a gas from inside the enclosure. 5 Embodiments of the present invention further provide an odor control apparatus comprising graphene. In some embodiments, the odor control apparatus is sewer equipment. In some embodiments, the sewer equipment is a waste tank of a marine head. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for keeping a liquid or a gas within a chamber comprising including graphene within or upon a material forming the chamber 10 These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
Atty Docket No. APB1-PAU03 4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE OF INVENTION
In Part Extract below
Building on the idea that graphene can be used to reduce or eliminate gas permeability 25 through a membrane or a material, other embodiments of the present invention include the use of graphene to reduce or eliminate the escape of gas from an enclosed space. Examples of such items include air-inflated boats, balloons, laminated sails that have composite material coatings, methane biogas holding bladders, methane digest balloons filled with animal or human waste liquid and allowed, for example, in the sun, for warming to produce usable biogas for cooking 30 and the like. Larger balloons, using graphene to reduce or eliminate escape of gases therefrom, can be used for multi-family use or in third-world countries to produce and safely store methane Atty Docket No. APB1-PAU03 7 gas. Similarly, blimps, hot air balloons, or even simply rubber or mylar balloons, all may benefit through the use of graphene to help reduce or eliminate the escape of gases therefrom. In another embodiment, graphene may be used in various product to not only reduce gas permeability, but also to reduce or eliminate liquid permeability through a membrane. Some 5 exemplary items that could benefit by incorporating graphene therein can include surgical latex gloves, diaper plastics, boat bottom anti-fouling paints, colostomy bags and the like
Comment:
As can be see in the above patent application disclosure, there are many possible Continuation Patent Applications that can be filed from the Odor Control Application that is pending in the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office. One of my favorite is producing Sails using composite materials infused with Graphene. Graphene mixtures used in Polymer and Composite Plastic materials has been tested to prevent gases and liquids from permeating through the container at nearly 100% effective. It is falsely understood that Rubber and Polymer holding containers will not allow gases and liquids to permeate. Toy Rubber Balloons and Inflatable Boats are a good example of gases seeping through the material causing deflating. Auto tires are also a great example of deflating over time as tires need additional air after many months of use. Most likely reinflating you car tire goes unnoticed and it occurs during your oil change services.