Sarojini A Deevi

US Patent:

6857431, Feb 22, 2005

Filed:

Dec 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/314449

Inventors:

Sarojini Deevi - Midlothian VA, US
Sohini PalDey - Midlothian VA, US

Assignee:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

A24D003/14

US Classification:

131334, 131331, 131341, 131342, 131364, 131365, 131360

Abstract:

Nanocomposite copper-ceria catalysts are provided, which comprise copper oxide nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles, or a mixture thereof combined with ceria nanoparticles. Methods for making such catalysts are also provided, which involve the steps of (i) combining ceria nanoparticles in an aqueous suspension with copper 2,4-pentanedionate to form a slurry; (ii) heating the slurry formed in step (i) under an inert gas atmosphere or an oxygen-argon atmosphere, at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause decomposition of the copper 2,4-pentanedionate to form copper nanoparticles and/or copper oxide nanoparticles that are combined with the ceria nanoparticles; and (iii) optionally, subjecting the product formed in step (ii) to a heat treatment process under conditions effective to convert at least some of the copper nanoparticles to copper oxide nanoparticles. The nanocomposite copper-ceria catalysts are useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis, such as the oxidation of carbon monoxide, the reduction of nitric oxide and the conversion of hydrocarbons. The nanocomposite copper-ceria catalysts have a variety of potential applications, for example, in vehicle exhaust emission systems of automobiles and diesel engines, cold starting of automobile engine, fuel cells, lasers, hydrocarbon conversion reactors, air filters for the conversion of carbon monoxide and/or indoor volatile organic compounds, and smoking articles.

US Patent:

7004993, Feb 28, 2006

Filed:

Jun 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/460318

Inventors:

Yezdi B. Pithawalla - Richmond VA, US
Sarojini Deevi - Midlothian VA, US

Assignee:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B22F 9/24
C01B 31/30

US Classification:

75351, 75365, 423115, 423439

Abstract:

A method of making intermetallic nanoscale particles comprising iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide comprising the steps of preparing a mixture of a solvent, an iron salt and LiAlH, and heating the mixture to form the intermetallic nanoscale particles. The intermetallic nanoscale particles, which can comprise intermetallic nanoscale particles of iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide in an alumina matrix, are capable of reducing the amount of 1,3-butadiene in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette.

US Patent:

7165553, Jan 23, 2007

Filed:

Jun 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/460632

Inventors:

Zhaohua Luan - Midlothian VA, US
Jay A Fournier - Richmond VA, US
Sarojini Deevi - Midlothian VA, US
Ila Skinner - Chester VA, US
Kent B. Koller - Chesterfield VA, US
Diane L. Gee - Richmond VA, US

Assignee:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

A24B 15/18

US Classification:

131334, 131360, 131364, 131365, 162139, 162158, 1621642, 1621644

Abstract:

A smoking article composition and a method of making a smoking article composition comprising tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter material further comprising a catalyst capable of converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, wherein the catalyst comprises nanoscale catalyst particles dispersed within a porous aluminosilicate matrix. The catalyst can be formed by combining nanoscale catalyst particles or a metal precursor solution thereof with an alumina-silica sol mixture to form a slurry, gelling the slurry to form the co-gel, heating the co-gel to form a catalyst comprising nanoscale catalyst particles dispersed within a porous aluminosilicate matrix. The catalyst can be incorporated in tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter material by spraying, dusting and/or immersion.

US Patent:

7243658, Jul 17, 2007

Filed:

Jun 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/460210

Inventors:

Sarojini Deevi - Midlothian VA, US
Kent B. Koller - Chesterfield VA, US

Assignee:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

A24B 15/18

US Classification:

131334, 131364

Abstract:

Cut filler compositions, cigarette paper, cigarette filters, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of nanoscale particle composite catalysts capable of acting as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The nanoscale composite catalyst comprises metal and/or metal oxide particles supported on nanoscale support particles. The nanoscale composite catalyst can be prepared by forming a mixture by combining nanoscale particles with a colloidal solution, a metal precursor solution with nanoscale particles, or a metal precursor solution with a colloidal solution, and then heat-treating the mixture.

US Patent:

7413725, Aug 19, 2008

Filed:

Aug 11, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/915693

Inventors:

M. Samy El-Shall - Richmond VA, US
Sarojini Deevi - Midlothian VA, US
Yezdi B. Pithawalla - Richmond VA, US
Seetharama C. Deevi - Midlothian VA, US

Assignee:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

C01G 9/02
C01G 11/02
C01G 13/02
B01J 23/00
B01J 23/70

US Classification:

42359414, 502343, 502345

Abstract:

A method of making Cu, Zn, and/or Cu/Zn alloy nanoparticles subjects one or more targets to laser energy to form a vapor and condenses the vapor to form nanoparticles having an average particle size of less than 20 nm. The optional application of an electric field results in nanoparticles with aspect ratios greater than 1. The target(s) can be a single target or separate targets comprising a mixture of copper, zinc, and/or copper/zinc. When separate targets are used, the laser beam can be split to form two separate beams each of which is made incident upon one of the targets. The nanoparticles can be formed in a chamber having an inert atmosphere or a reactive atmosphere and a convection current is created in the chamber by maintaining the top plate at a lower temperature than the bottom plate.

US Patent:

7491675, Feb 17, 2009

Filed:

Sep 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/950663

Inventors:

Sarojini Deevi - Midlothian VA, US
Sohini PalDey - Midlothian VA, US

Assignee:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B01J 23/00
B01J 21/00
B01J 20/00

US Classification:

502345, 502 60, 502184, 502244, 502304, 502346, 502349, 502350, 502351, 502355, 502415, 502439

Abstract:

Nanocomposite copper-ceria catalysts are provided, which comprise copper oxide nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles, or a mixture thereof combined with ceria nanoparticles. Methods for making such catalysts are also provided, which involve the steps of (i) combining ceria nanoparticles in an aqueous suspension with copper 2,4-pentanedionate to form a slurry; (ii) heating the slurry formed in step (i) under an inert gas atmosphere or an oxygen-argon atmosphere, at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause decomposition of the copper 2,4-pentanedionate to form copper nanoparticles and/or copper oxide nanoparticles that are combined with the ceria nanoparticles; and (iii) optionally, subjecting the product formed in step (ii) to a heat treatment process under conditions effective to convert at least some of the copper nanoparticles to copper oxide nanoparticles. The nanocomposite copper-ceria catalysts are useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis, such as the oxidation of carbon monoxide, the reduction of nitric oxide and the conversion of hydrocarbons. The nanocomposite copper-ceria catalysts have a variety of potential applications, for example, in vehicle exhaust emission systems of automobiles and diesel engines, cold starting of automobile engine, fuel cells, lasers, hydrocarbon conversion reactors, air filters for the conversion of carbon monoxide and/or indoor volatile organic compounds, and smoking articles.

US Patent:

7560410, Jul 14, 2009

Filed:

Jun 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/452995

Inventors:

Unnikrishnan R. Pillai - Richmond VA, US
Sarojini Deevi - Midlothian VA, US

Assignee:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B01J 23/00
B01J 23/10
B01J 23/02
B01J 23/06
B01J 23/04
C01B 31/18
C10K 1/00
A24B 1/00
B01D 59/26

US Classification:

502304, 502343, 502344, 423247, 131360, 96108

Abstract:

A catalyst comprising gold nanodots on cerium oxide, catalytically active for oxidation of carbon monoxide at room temperature. The catalyst is prepared by deposition-precipitation followed by aging or ultrasound treatment.

US Patent:

7569510, Aug 4, 2009

Filed:

Jan 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/698192

Inventors:

Sarojini Deevi - Midlothian VA, US
Padmanabha Reddy Ettireddy - Richmond VA, US

Assignee:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B01J 21/12

US Classification:

502240, 502180, 502325, 502350, 502355, 502304, 131331, 131360

Abstract:

Catalysts for the conversion, or oxidation, of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Cigarettes with filters containing the catalysts have acceptable resistance to draw. Additionally, the catalysts can be used to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide from a vehicle exhaust emission, a gas used in a COlaser, a gas used in a fuel cell and/or ambient air undergoing air filtration.