APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY DISSOCIATING MOLECULES
- Resource Type
- Patent
- Authors
- Source
- Subject
- Language
An apparatus and method for selectively dissociating target molecular species present in a gas mixture is disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention comprises a containment structure for containing a gas mixture having a target molecular species; and a radiation source proximate to the containment structure and configured to apply electromagnetic energy to the gas mixture in the containment structure, the electromagnetic energy having a wavelength that dissociates molecules of the target species. An embodiment of a method of the present invention comprises the steps of containing a gas mixture having a heavy hydrocarbon; and applying to the gas mixture electromagnetic energy having a wavelength that dissociates molecules of the heavy hydrocarbon.