WO2003055285A1

WO2003055285A1 - Applications for activated fluids

Info

Publication number: WO2003055285A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/041006
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Paskalov; Mark Gorodkin; Viktor Sokolov
Original assignee: Hydro Enterprises, Inc.
Priority date: 2001-12-20
Filing date: 2002-12-20
Publication date: 2003-07-03
Also published as: AU2002357363A1

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods of conducting a commercial process involving a transient extreme pH. A preferred method comprises identifying the commercial process as involving a transient extreme pH; separating a fluid into a high extreme acidity stream and a low extreme acidity stream; and applying an amount of at least one of the fluid streams during the commercial process. Furthermore, substantially all types of commercially important chemical reactions may benefit from the addition of fluids having a transient pH. Those chemical reactions can be classified as follows: buffered reactions; oxidation/reduction reactions; crystallization processes; biological processes; non-biological processes; and all other chemical reactions or processes.

Description

APPLICATIONS FOR ACTIVATED FLUIDS

Priority

This application claims priority to PCT/US01/49310 and 60/389546, both of which are incorporated in their entirety herein.

Field of The Invention

The field of the invention is activated fluids.

Background of The Invention

There are many processes that involve [H+] or [OH-]. Some common processes include nucleophilic reactions, electrophilic reactions, reduction/oxidation reactions, electrolysis reactions, creating ion exchange gradients, solubility reactions, salt formation reactions, buffers, titrations, reactions involving chromatography, electrophoresis, and reactions involving at least one enzyme or catalyst. Those reactions typically involve the use of acidic or basic solutes or solvents.

Other types of reactions exist wherein the kinetics of the reaction are related to ambient pH. In those types of reactions, adding a fluid having a transient pH (i.e. remaining highly acidic or highly basic for a limited time and then changing to a neutral pH) can be helpful. For example, WO 02/058449 to the same inventors, which is incorporated herein by reference, teaches methods and apparatus for continuously producing "activated water". As used in that reference and herein, "activated water" is water having cluster sizes below about 4 molecules per cluster, or water having a pH of below 4 or above 10, or water having ORP of less than -350mN or more than +800 mN. Although other references may define activated water as having a different cluster size or pH, those molecules are not considered "activated" in the present application.

WO 02/058449 teaches some uses of activated water, including cleaning or sanitizing any surface where bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms are considered problematic. For instance, work tables, floors, walls, knives, hospitals, doctor's offices and other medical facilities, rest rooms and other public facilities, areas where blood, feces, or urine may be present can all be treated with "activated water".

However, several other applications of water or other fluids having a transient pH were not disclosed in that application. Various other applications can be categorized into several classes wherein adding a fluid with a transient pH would be beneficial. Those classes include: (1) transportation, handling, and storage; (2) activation energy of a reaction; (3) reactivity of a reaction; (4) kinetics of a reaction; (5) sanitation; (6) pollution; (7) cleaning; (8) extraction; (9) ion exchange; and (10) anti-corrosive effects.

It should be appreciated that other fluids besides activated water may be used to produce desirable products in various reactions, especially hydrophobic reactions or other reactions that take place in non-aqueous environments.

Thus, there is still a need to identify additional applications for activated water, and indeed, activated fluids.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides systems and methods of conducting a commercial process involving a transient extreme pH. A preferred method comprises identifying the commercial process as involving a transient extreme pH; separating a fluid into a high extreme acidity stream and a low extreme acidity stream; and applying an amount of at least one of the fluid streams during the commercial process.

The term "activated fluid" as referred to herein means that the fluid is activated so that it has a transient extreme pH. The term "transient extreme pH" as referred to herein means that the pH level is at least 5 or 6 orders of magnitude away from normal (i.e. pH of 7 for water). It is further contemplated that fluids may be quasi-activated, meaning that the pH level is at least 4 orders of magnitude away from the native state.

Lewis acids are commonly defined as an electron pair acceptor and Lewis bases are commonly defined as electron pair donors. Lewis bases donate an electron pair to a Lewis acid, thus forming what is typically called a coordinate covalent bond. It is contemplated that Lewis acids and bases can be activated. Thus, it is contemplated that the term "activated Lewis acid" or "activated Lewis base" as herein referred to means having an acidity level or basicity level of not less than 5 orders of magnitude away from normal, respectively.

It is presently contemplated that substantially all types of commercially important chemical reactions may benefit from the addition of fluids having a transient pH. Those chemical reactions can be classified as follows: buffered reactions; oxidation/reduction reactions; crystallization processes; biological processes; non-biological processes; and all other chemical reactions or processes.

Viewed from another perspective, contemplated commercial processes can be categorized into classes of applications in which use of a fluid having a transient pH would be beneficial. Those classes include: (1) transportation, handling, and storage; (2) activation energy of a reaction; (3) reactivity of a reaction; (4) kinetics of a reaction; (5) sanitation; (6) pollution; (7) cleaning; (8) extraction; (9) ion exchange; and (10) anti- corrosive effects.

Furthermore, in addition to the focus on water in the WO 02/058449 application, we are presently contemplated other polar and non-polar fluids. It is further contemplated that the activated fluid may lose its extreme acidity within 30 minutes after being applied.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of an activated water generator.

Detailed Description Apparatus and Methods Generally

In Figure 1, an activated fluid generator 1 generally includes a vessel 10 that has an inlet 20 and two outlets 22, 24, and that encloses a high energy source, such as a plasma generator 30. The activated fluid generator 1 separates the fluid into a high extreme acidity and a low extreme acidity.

Plasmas are defined as conductive assemblies of charged particles, neutrals and fields that exhibit collective effects. Hydrogen is typically generated from hydrocarbon fuel by a reforming reaction in a reactor, in which gaseous hydrocarbon and reforming reaction agents are subjected to the formation of a plasma having an electric field strength within the plasma. The field strength may exceed 10,000 volts per centimeter, preferably may exceed at least 20,000 volts/cm, more preferably at least 40,000 volts/cm, and even more preferably at least 80,000 volts/cm.

Plasma generator 30 is preferably a "cold" type plasma device, which term is used herein to mean a gas of ionized atoms cooler than 10,000 °K. A membrane 40 disposed between the vessel 10 and the plasma generator 30 defines an inner space 12 and an outer space 14. With the plasma generator 30 in operation, a first stream 52 of fluid enters the vessel 10 at inlet 20, flows through inner space 12, and exits the vessel at outlet 22. A second stream 54 also enters the vessel 10 at inlet 20, but flows through outer space 14 and exits the vessel at outlet 24.

Vessel 10 can be any suitable size and shape, as long as the fluid being treated is subjected to energy from the plasma under conditions that produce the desired characteristics in the treated fluid. Thus, although the vessel 10 in Figure 1 is substantially cylindrical, with a circular cross-section, other suitable vessels may have a polygonal, oval or other horizontal cross section. Small units are contemplated, for example, where the vessel cavity is only about 200 ml or less. On the other hand large units are contemplated that have an internal volume of at least 10 1, as well as everything in between. Unless otherwise stated, ranges are deemed herein to be inclusive of the stated endpoints. Vessel 10 is preferably constructed of stainless steel 316 to reduce corrosion effects, although any sufficiently strong and resistant material could be used, including for example titanium, tantalum, stainless steel coated with titanium, molybdenum, platinum, indium, and so forth. Multiple fluid generators can process fluid in parallel or series. Fluids can be subjected to the plasma radiation in any suitable manner. For example, this can be advantageously accomplished by flowing fluids past the plasma generator 30.

It is contemplated that the fluid being processed (i.e. activated) can have substantially any practical purity. Preferred fluids may comprise between about 95 % H₂O and 99.99% H₂O, but fluids having less than 95 %, 90 %, 85 %, 80 %, or even 50 % H₂O are also contemplated.

In this particular example, the plasma generator 30 includes a quartz tube 32 that contains a gas 34, an RF electrode 36, and a plurality of external electrodes 38. The tube 32 can be anywhere from about 60 mm to about 500 mm long or longer. The gas 34 is any suitable plasma gas, including for example argon, argon plus helium, argon plus neon, neon plus helium plus argon, mercury vapor, nitrogen, and any mixture thereof, and is held at low pressure, defined herein to mean less than 100 Torr. The gas used in the experimental device of Figure 1 is Argon, and is filled at a pressure of about 10 Torr. Some experimental data are shown in the Table 1.

The plasma generator could alternatively be "open", i.e. working pressure up to 1 atmosphere or enclosed at high working pressure, for instance up to 50 Arm.

The electrodes 36, 38 are preferably fabricated from the same type of material as the vessel 10, but are also contemplated to be fabricated from any other suitable material. A first voltage of 500V is applied across the RF electrode 36 and vessel 10, which is electrically grounded for safety and other reason, to generate waves at a basic frequency of between 0.44 MHz and 40.68 MHz, and the resulting waves stimulate the gas 34 to become plasma. A second voltage of 100V is applied across the RF electrode 36 and external electrode 38 to generate waves that modulate the plasma at between 10 kHz and 34 KHz.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment of Figure 1, while still producing a plasma. For example, the quartz tube can be replaced by pyrex, and the external electrodes 38 can be more or less in number than that shown, and can be spaced differently. External electrode 38 should be perforated to allow radiation to escape to the fluid. Other base and modulation frequencies can be utilized, so long as the resulting plasma is provides energy of sufficient frequency and power to achieve the desired effects on the fluid passing through the vessel 10.

Membrane 40 is permeable to ions, but within that limitation the membrane 40 can be made from many different types of materials. Both high-porous and low-porous materials are contemplated, including ceramic materials based on silica, zirconium oxide, yttrium oxide, and so forth. Some porosity is needed to allow ion exchange to achieve pH gradient. In the experimental version of Figure 1, the membrane was approximately 300 mm long, which as about 20% longer than the plasma chamber.

The membrane 40 is separated from the plasma generator 30 and the vessel 10 by gaps dimensioned in accordance with the power of the plasma generator 30 and the design flow rate of the system. In the experimental version of Figure 1, the gap from membrane 40 to plasma generator 30 is 2.5 mm, and the gap from membrane 40 to vessel 10 is approximately 1.5 m. The flow rate of water through vessel 10 (i.e. through the inlet and exiting either outlet) and is approximately 7 1/min.

The membrane 40 preferably extends substantially the entire length of the external electrodes 38, but can be shorter or longer, and is actually not entirely necessary. The main purpose of the membrane 40 is to separate low pH fluid from high pH fluid, so that they exit from different outlets.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the apparatus of Figure 1 can be scaled up or down. For example, the apparatus of Figure 1 can alternatively be viewed as having an overall length of about 100 cm, with the membrane/plasma generator gap being about 7 mm, and the membrane/vessel gap being about 3 mm. Such a device could continuously produce fluid at a rate of at least 12,000 liters/hour. Moreover, even larger devices are contemplated.

The benefit from having an activated solution as opposed to simply using a strong acid or base, is that activation will revert back to a native state, in a matter of time. The term "native" referred to herein means a non-activated state, which for water is a pH of 7. Fluids other than water may have a native pH of slightly greater or slightly less than 7. Thus, the pH of the activated molecules is transient because the molecules are not stable at a higher or lower pH and will tend to go toward their natural state after some period of time.

The neutralization process of a solution from a transient extreme acidity to a normal acidity stream may occur at any rate. Some solutions may neutralize very quickly, such as in a couple of minutes, while others may neutralize at a much slower rate (i.e. over a period of days or longer). For example, the activated fluid may revert to a native pH in 30 minutes or more. The rate of neutralization often depends on various factors, such as the presence of other molecules or compounds, the temperature, the pressure, the volume, and other characteristics of the solution.

Of particular interest here are commercial processes that will be chemically or physically affected by the addition of an amount of at least one of the fluid streams. For example, the addition of the fluid may affect the structure of a molecule, conformation of a molecule, intermolecular forces between molecules, intramolecular forces between molecules, or in some other way affect that commercial process.

A great many types of fluids may be activated according to the methods and apparatus described herein. Fluids can be classified according to their polarity. Examples of contemplated polar fluids include but are not limited to water, liquid ammonia, alcohols such as ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone and acetic acid. Non- polar fluids that can be activated according to contemplated methods include benzene, hydrocarbons, nonpolar chlorinated hydrocarbons, petroleum ether, hexane, or any other non-polar fluid.

It is now contemplated that substantially all types of chemical reactions may benefit from the addition of activated fluids (i.e. fluids having a transient pH). There are several ways to categorize or describe those types of reactions.

One way to categorize those types of reactions is the following: buffered reactions; oxidation reduction reactions; crystallization processes; biological processes; non-biological processes; precipitation reactions; solubility reactions; ion exchange reactions; salt formations; titrations; reactions involving chromatography; electrophoresis; reactions involving at least one enzyme or catalyst; and any other chemical reactions or processes.

Another way in which to categorize those reactions includes the following: reactions in which an atom forms an ionic bond with either a hydrogen atom and/or a hydroxide molecule, and reactions in which hydrogen and/or hydroxide ions influence a molecule's polarity, electrostatic forces or repulsion, and a molecule's ability to form hydrogen bonds. It should be appreciated that activated fluid is also contemplated to affect coordinate covalent bonds between a Lewis acids and Lewis bases. Moreover, activated fluids may affect reactions in which hydrogen ions and/or hydroxide ions are reactants and/or products of the reaction.

A third way of categorizing those reactions is to categorize them into several classes of applications in which use of a fluid having a transient pH would be beneficial, which are elucidated in greater detail below. Those classes include but are not limited to: (1) transportation, handling, and storage; (2) activation energy of a reaction; (3) reactivity of a reaction; (4) kinetics of a reaction; (5) sanitation; (6) pollution; (7) cleaning; (8) extraction; (9) ion exchange; and (10) anti-corrosive effects. (1) Transportation. Handling, and Storage

Highly acidic and basic compounds are often used in chemical laboratories, pharmaceutical laboratories, and various manufacturing facilities. Those compounds, solutions, or chemicals are often difficult to store, transport, and handle. For example, 16 M hydrochloric acid is extremely combustible and flammable. Also, the fumes emitted from the compounds, as well as the compounds themselves, are harmful to humans and animals. Skin is prone to being severely burned if it is exposed to solutions having an extreme pH. Additionally, nostril membranes are readily burned from the fumes of a very acidic or basic compound.

Using activated fluids in place of highly acidic or basic compounds tends to overcome at least some of the dangers of transporting, storing, and handling such compounds. Activated fluids may be produced on site as needed using the apparatus and methods described in Figure 1. After a period of time, the activated fluid will revert back to a more neutral pH, which can then be transported, stored, and/or handled safely. (2, 3, & 4) Activation Energy, Reactivity, and Kinetics of a Reaction

Activated fluids can be used to overcome the activation energy of a reaction. Activated fluids can also affect the reactivity of a reaction as well as the kinetics of a reaction. Since contemplated fluids have a transient pH, adding that fluid to a pH dependent reaction may drive that reaction either forward or backward.

Viewed from another perspective, adding a fluid having a transient extreme high or low pH to a chemical reaction may be sufficient to overcome the activation energy. After a period of time, the fluid will revert to a more neutral pH. That eliminates the need to add other solutions to dilute or neutralize the reaction after the reaction is driven to completion. For example, if a strong acid is added to a reaction to overcome an activation energy, after the reaction is driven to completion, the solution is often neutralized. Use of activated fluids in this manner eliminates the last step of having to neutralize or dilute the solution because the activated fluid will automatically change, or normalize, to a more neutral pH. (5. 6, & 7) Sanitation, Cleaning, and Pollution

Strong acids and bases are often used for sanitation purposes. For example, hospitals, medical offices, equipment, rest rooms and other public places, floors, tools, instruments, food packaging and manufacturing plants, pharmaceutical research and manufacturing centers etc. may use strong acids and bases to kill bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other germs or pollutants. Additionally, strong acids and bases are often used to clean surfaces to remove dirt and grime. For example, pools and tiles are often cleaned with murionic acid. Additionally, strong bases are often used to un-clog pipes and drains.

However, using strong acids and bases in those ways is dangerous because strong acids and bases are often flammable, combustible, and dangerous to skin. One way to solve this problem is to use activated fluids, which have extremely high or low pHs for a period of time, and then become safer by changing to a more neutral pH.

Another drawback to using strong acids and bases is the problem of disposing those chemicals, which often results in pollution to the environment. Allowing strong acids and bases to run off into drain pipes or seep into the land hurts the environment, including the underground water supply, oceans and rivers, and plant and animal species. Using activated fluids will be safer to the environment by reducing pollution because the fluids revert to a more neutral pH after a specific time.

A further example is using activated fluid to neutralize toxic spills in the environment, such as on land or in the ocean. Typically, strong acids and bases are used to neutralize toxic spills but that is problematic because the excess acid or base is left in the environment. By using activated fluids, the excess fluid will revert to a neutral pH, and thus is less likely to harm the environment.

Moreover, activated fluid maybe especially useful in the field of electronics and computers. Contemplated fluids may be used to clean circuits and other electronic equipment from dust, debris, and any other undesirable contaminants. (8 & 9) Extraction and Ion Exchange

Activated fluids having a transient pH can be used in extraction processes of chemical compounds. For example, activated fluids can be used in place of the strong acids normally used in precipitation reactions, such as the one that is typically used to isolate estrogen (Premarin™) from horse urine.

Activated fluids can also be used in ion exchange processes. For example, electroplating and minerals mining typically requires use of a strong acid. However, problems arise regarding the disposal of those strong acids. Use of activated fluids can eliminate at least some of those problems because the activated fluids will have a neutral pH by the time they are disposed of in the environment. (10) Anti-corrosive Effects Using activated fluids can also have anti-corrosive effects. For example, ships are typically filled with ballast water (ocean water having salt) for balancing purposes. Unfortunately, the salt water often corrodes the metal on the inside of ships. Use of activated water or fluids in place of the salt water will help prevent corrosion. Additional examples As discussed above, activated fluids can be used in ionic reactions, buffered reactions, biological processes and non-biological processes.

Ionic reactions typically involve cations and anions that dissociate in solution. An example of a typical ionic reaction is:

HC1 (aq) + NaOH (aq) → Na⁺ + Cl^" + H₂O (1).

A buffered solution is typically defined as a solution that resists a change in its pH when either hydroxide ions or protons are added. An example of a buffered reaction is:

HC1 + NaHCO₃ -* NaCl + H₂CO₃ and H₂CO₃ + NaOH → NaHCO₃ + H₂O

Many biological processes and reactions require an enzyme catalyst. Enzymes are biological catalysts that generally mediate biochemical reactions. Enzymes differ from ordinary chemical catalysts in the following ways: enzymes tend to produce higher reaction rates, enzymatic reactions require milder reaction conditions, enzymes have vastly greater degrees of specificity with respect to the identities of their substrates and their products; and enzymatic reactions can be regulated by such processes as allosteric control, covalent modification of enzymes, and variation of the amounts of enzymes synthesized. The following illustrates a typical example of an enzymatic reaction. Alpha-D- glucose can convert to beta-D-glucose in the presence of an enzyme catalyst, such as phenol (a weak benzene -soluble acid) together with pyridine (a weak benzene soluble base).

Additionally, activated fluids may be added to commercial processes such as the manufacturing of pharmaceutical compounds. Generally, the solubility of a compound decreases as the compounds reach the isoelectric point. Often, it is desirable to have increased solubility of compounds. Decreasing the pH of the solution will tend increase the solubility of a cationic form of a compound, whereas increasing the pH of a solution will tend to decrease the solubility of the anionic form of a compound.

Activated fluid having a low pH can be employed to increase solubility without forming a corresponding salt. For example, if carboxamidine is placed in acidic conditions, the reaction will be driven to the protonated form of the carboxamidine. Similarly basic activated fluid can be employed to form the free base of an acid. For example, if EDTA (free form) is placed in basic conditions, the reaction will be driven to the deprotonated form of EDTA.

Contemplated non-biological reactions include but are not limited to precipitation reactions, salt formation reactions, blots (i.e. southern blot), ion exchange columns, electroplating and minerals mining.

Precipitation reactions involve two or more solutions that are mixed together to form an insoluble substance that separates from solution. A typical precipitation reaction is AgNO₃ + HC1 → AgCl(s) + HNO₃₎ where AgCl separates out of solution.

Ion exchange resins typically consist of polymers that have many ionic sites. The process of softening water involves the use of an ion exchange resin is in the process of softening water. Residential water supplies often contain excess amounts of calcium and magnesium ions, which can be removed by an ion exchange resin. When hard water is passed through a cation exchange resin, calcium and magnesium cations bind to the resin. Electroplating of metals is typically performed by immersing a conductive surface in a solution containing ions of the metal to be deposited. The surface is electrically connected to an external power supply, and current is passed through the surface into the solution. This causes reaction of the metal ions (Mz-) with electrons (e-) to from metal (M):

Mz- + ze- → M

For example, a silicon wafer may be coated with a thin conductive layer of copper (seed layer) and immersed in a solution containing cupric ions. Electrical contact is made to the seed layer, and current is passed such that the reaction Cu₂ ⁺ + 2e- → Cu occurs at the wafer surface. The wafer, electrically connected so that metal ions are reduced to metal atoms, is referred to as the cathode. The anode (another electrically active surface), is present in the conductive solution to complete the electrical circuit. At the anode, an oxidation reaction occurs that balances the current flow at the cathode, thus maintaining electrical neutrality in the solution. In the case of copper plating, all cupric ions removed from solution at the wafer cathode are replaced by dissolution from a solid copper anode.

The southern blot is a procedure used to identify a specific base sequence of DNA. Typically, this procedure involves gel electrophoresis of double-stranded DNA, followed by soaking the gel containing the double stranded DNA in 0.5 M NaOH solution, which converts the DNA to the single stranded form. A sheet of nitrocellulose paper is then placed over the gel, and the gel is blotted through the nitrocellulose so that the single-stranded DNA binds to it at the same position it had in the gel. Activated fluid having a transient high pH can be used in this procedure to replace the NaOH solution, thus eliminating at least some of •the problems of working with strong bases.

There are several techniques used for materials mining, such as mineral mining, gold mining, silver mining, etc. One method of mineral mining is dredging, which involves mixing large amounts of water with crushed ore to allow the heavier minerals to settle to the bottom (e.g. tin, mineral sands).

Electrolysis can then be used to extract extremely reactive metals, such as sodium and aluminium from the ore by passing an electric current through an ionic solution (e.g. seawater) or a molten liquid (e.g. molten alumina Al₂O₃). For example, sodium chloride in seawater is placed in a container with two carbon electrodes and an electric current is passed through the liquid. The sodium metal ions which are positive are attracted to the negatively-charged electrode (cathode). The negative chlorine ions are attracted to the positively-charged electrode (anode) and chlorine gas bubbles off.

Thus, specific embodiments and applications have been disclosed of activated fluids. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method of conducting a commercial process comprising: identifying the commercial process as involving a transient extreme pH; separating a fluid into a high extreme acidity stream and a low extreme acidity stream; and applying an amount of at least one of the fluid streams during the commercial process.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is substantially a polar fluid.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fluid is substantially water.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is substantially a non-polar fluid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the commercial process affects an ionic structure of a molecule.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the commercial process comprises a buffered reaction.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the commercial process comprises an oxidation/reduction reaction.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the commercial process comprises a biological process.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the biological process comprises an enzymatic reaction.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the biological process comprises a pharmaceutical manufacturing process.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the commercial process comprises a non- biological process.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-biological process comprises a precipitation reaction.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the biological process comprises a blot reaction.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the non-biological process comprises an ion exchange column.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the non-biological process comprises electroplating.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the non-biological process comprises materials mining.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the materials mining comprises mineral mining.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the applied fluid losing its extreme acidity within 30 minutes following the step of applying.

19. The method of claim I, wherein the extreme acidity streams are not less than 5 orders of magnitude away from a normal acidity stream.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extreme acidity streams are not less than 6 orders of magnitude away from a normal acidity stream.