1. A process for making maleic acid, its isomer fumaric acid, or maleic anhydride, from levulinic acid, comprising the steps of:
vaporizing levulinic acid in the presence of an insert gas and an oxidizing gas at a first predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure such that the levulinic acid partial pressure is below the vapor pressure of levulinic acid at the predetermined temperature to produce a feed stream;
heating the feed stream to a second predetermined temperature without initiating polymerization to produce a thermally equilibrated gas stream; and
oxidatively cleaving the gas stream to a third predetermined temperature in the presence of a catalyst.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined temperature is less than or equal to 150 degrees Celsius.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second predetermined temperature is between 200 and 500 degrees Celsius.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the third predetermined temperature is above 523 degrees Kelvin.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of oxidatively cleaving the gas stream comprising the step of passing the gas stream over a reducible oxide catalyst in a single packed bed reactor,
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the catalyst is VOxAl2O3.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the levulinic acid partial pressure is 0.0158 bar.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the oxidizing gas is oxygen.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the oxygen is provided at a mole fraction between 0 and 1.
10. An apparatus for producing maleic acid from levulinic acid, comprising:
a vaporization stage having a first input for receiving levulinic acid and a second input for receiving an oxidizing gas, wherein the vaporization stage is configured to heat the levulinic acid and the oxidizing gas to a first predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure such that the levulinic acid partial pressure is below the vapor pressure of levulinic acid at the predetermined temperature to produce an output of vaporized levulinic acid;
a heating stage coupled to the vaporization stage for receiving the vaporized levulinic acid output of the vaporization stage, wherein the preheating stage is configured to preheat the vaporized levulinic acid to a second predetermined temperature without initiating polymerization of levulinic acid and output a preheated gas stream; and
an oxidative cleavage stage coupled to preheating stage for receiving the preheated gas stream and further heating the gas stream to a third predetermined temperature in the presence of a catalyst.
The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined temperature is less than 150 degrees Celsius.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second predetermined temperature is between 200 and 500 degrees Celsius.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third predetermined temperature is above 523 degrees Kelvin.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the catalyst of the oxidative cleavage stage comprises a reducible oxide catalyst in a single packed bed reactor.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the catalyst is VOxAl2O3.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the levulinic acid partial pressure is 0.0158 bar.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the oxidizing gas is oxygen.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the oxygen is provided at a partial pressure of 033 bar.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A copper ion toothpaste for treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising
a toothpaste base material; and
a copper ion-containing solution mixed with said toothpaste base material, said copper ion-containing solution being composed of a biocompatible solution and copper ions contained in said biocompatible solution, said copper ions providing therapeutic effects as a result of the copper ions contacting anatomical tissue and saliva of the oral cavity when said copper ion toothpaste is used for brushing the teeth.
2. The copper ion toothpaste recited in claim 1 wherein said copper ion-containing solution contains an amount of copper ions equal or substantially equal to 46 milligrams in a quantity of biocompatible solution equal or substantially equal to 7.44 ounces.
3. The copper ion toothpaste recited in claim 2 wherein said copper ion-containing solution constitutes in the range of 5 to 30 percent by weight of the copper ion toothpaste.
4. A copper ion mouthwash for treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising
a mouthwash base solution; and
a copper ion-containing solution mixed with said mouthwash base solution, said copper ion-containing solution being composed of a biocompatible solution and copper ions contained in said biocompatible solution, said copper ions providing therapeutic effects as a result of the copper ions contacting anatomical tissue and saliva of the oral cavity when the oral cavity is rinsed with said copper ion mouthwash.
5. The copper ion mouthwash recited in claim 4 wherein said copper ion-containing solution contains an amount of copper ions equal or substantially equal to 46 milligrams in a quantity of biocompatible solution equal or substantially equal to 7.44 ounces.
6. The copper ion mouthwash recited in claim 5 wherein said copper ion-containing solution is in the range of 5 to 30 percent by weight of said copper ion mouthwash.
7. A method of treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising the steps of
spraying a copper ion-containing solution inside the mouth such that copper ions in the copper ion-containing solution contact anatomical tissue and saliva inside the mouth; and
repeating said step of spraying at least every four hours for a number of consecutive days.
8. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein said step of spraying includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution from a spray pump nozzle into the throat.
9. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein said step of spraying includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution from a spray pump nozzle onto a canker sore, mouth sore or mouth ulcer within the oral cavity.
10. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein said step of spraying includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution from a spray pump nozzle onto an area of the gums that is sore, inflamed or infected.
11. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein the conditions treated include bacterial, viral andor fungal conditions.
12. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein said conditions treated include one or more of colds, sore throat, bronchitis, cough, mouth sores, canker sores, mouth ulcers, allergies, tonsillitis, sore gums, periodontal disease, hoarseness, laryngitis, halitosis, streptococcus, staphylococcus, trichomonas, fungal disease, thrush, herpes (I and II), HIV, HPV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
13. A method of treating conditions affecting the respiratory area of the body, comprising the steps of
delivering into each nostril a copper ion-containing solution; and
repeating said step of delivering every four hours for a number of consecutive days to treat conditions including one or more of colds, congestion, nasal discharge, runny nose, allergies, asthma, wheezing, sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, sinus pressure and sneezing.
14. The method of treating recited in claim 13 wherein said step of delivering includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution into each nostril.
15. The method of treating recited in claim 13 wherein said step of delivering includes delivering the copper ion-containing solution by drops into each nostril.
16. A method of treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising the steps of
brushing the teeth with a copper ion toothpaste composed of a toothpaste base material and a copper ion-containing solution mixed with the toothpaste base material; and
repeating said step of brushing at least two times per day every day on a regular basis to treat conditions including one or more of halitosis, sore gums, periodontal disease and tooth decay.
17. The method of treating recited in claim 16 wherein said step of brushing includes brushing the teeth with the copper ion toothpaste in the morning and brushing the teeth with the copper ion toothpaste in the evening before going to sleep.
18. A method of treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising the steps of
rinsing the mouth with a copper ion mouthwash composed of a mouthwash base solution and a copper ion-containing solution mixed with the mouthwash base solution; and
repeating said step of rinsing at least two times per day every day on a regular basis to treat conditions including one or more of halitosis, sore gums, periodontal disease and tooth decay.
19. The method of treating recited in claim 18 wherein said step of rinsing includes rinsing the mouth with the copper ion mouthwash in the morning and rinsing the mouth with the copper ion mouthwash in the evening before going to sleep.
20. A method of treating conditions affecting the otic area, comprising the steps of
delivering a copper ion-containing solution into the ear canal of an affected ear; and
repeating said step of introducing every four hours to treat conditions including one or more of earache, ear infection, stuffy ear and pressure in the ear.
21. The method of treating recited in claim 20 wherein said step of delivering includes delivering the copper ion-containing solution into the ear canal of both ears.
22. The method of treating recited in claim 20 wherein said step of delivering includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution into the ear canal.
23. The method of treating recited in claim 20 wherein said step of delivering includes delivering the copper ion-containing solution by drops into the ear canal.