Methods for transforming organic compounds using a liquefied metal alloy and related apparatus

Abstract

An organic compound can be transformed by an exposure to a heat flow that passed through a liquefied metal alloy. Provided are methods for transforming organic compounds and related apparatuses.

1 . A method for transforming at least one organic compound, comprising
 (A) initiating a second order phase transition in a melted metal alloy; and   (B) exposing the at least one organic compound to an energy of the second order phase transition, wherein the exposing results in transforming the at least one organic compound.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises one or more metals selected from metals of the 5 th  period of the periodic table and non-radioactive elements having an atomic number higher than 79. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the alloy is an alloy comprising Bi and Sn. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the alloy is Wood's alloy or Rose's alloy. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initiating comprises heating the alloy to a temperature ranging from 80° C. to 175° C. to melt the alloy. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the initiating further comprises stirring the alloy. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic compound comprises at least one alkane. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one organic compound comprises methane. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one organic compound further comprises an aromatic nitrocompound. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the aromatic nitrocompound is ortho-nitrotoluene and wherein the transforming comprises transforming the aromatic nitrocompound into an aromatic aminocompound upon the exposing. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exposing results in decomposing said at least one organic compound into products comprising hydrogen. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic compound and the metal alloy are not in direct physical contact. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein, during the exposing, said metal alloy is separated from said at least one organic compound by a steel wall having a thickness ranging from 0.1 mm to 10 mm. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one organic compound is not exposed to a metal catalyst. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , said at least one organic compound is not subjected to an additional pressure. 
   
   
       18 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A method of transforming at least one organic compound, comprising
 passing a heat flow through a melted metal alloy; and then   exposing the at least one organic compound to the heat flow to transform the at least one organic compound.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the metal alloy comprises one or more metals selected from metals of the 5 th  period of the periodic table and non-radioactive elements having an atomic number higher than 79. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the alloy is an alloy comprising Bi and Sn. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the metal alloy is Wood's alloy or Rose's alloy. 
   
   
       26 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one organic compound comprises at least one alkane. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one organic compound comprises methane. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one organic compound further comprises an aromatic nitrocompound. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the aromatic nitrocompound is ortho-nitrotoluene and the aromatic nitrocompound transforms into an aromatic aminocompound upon the exposing. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the exposing the at least one organic compound results in decomposing the at least one organic compound in products comprising hydrogen. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one organic compound and the metal alloy are not in direct physical contact. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the alloy is separated from the at least one organic compound by a steel wall having a thickness ranging from 0.1 mm to 10 mm. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one or more organic compound material are not exposed to a metal catalyst. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one organic compound is not subjected to an additional pressure. 
   
   
       37 - 38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . An apparatus comprising
 a heat source;   a low melting temperature metal alloy in thermal contact with the heat source; and   a vessel adapted to provide at least one organic compound, wherein in use the at least one organic compound is in thermal contact with the alloy and wherein a heat flow from the heat source passes through the alloy to transform the at least one organic compound.   
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the alloy comprises one or more metals selected from metals of the 5 th  period of the periodic table and non-radioactive elements having an atomic number higher than 79. 
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the alloy is an alloy comprising Bi and Sn. 
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the metal alloy is Wood's alloy or Rose's alloy. 
   
   
       43 - 44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the alloy and the at least one organic compound are not in direct physical contact. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the alloy and the at least one organic material are separated by a wall having a thickness ranging from 0.1 mm to 10 mm. 
   
   
       47 . (canceled) 
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , the vessel is a pipe immersed into the alloy. 
   
   
       49 . (canceled) 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising a stirrer immersed into the alloy. 
   
   
       51 - 79 . (canceled)