X-ray targeted bond or compound destruction

摘要

This document provides methods, systems, and devices for inducing a decomposition reaction by directing x-rays towards a location including a particular compound. The x-rays can have an irradiation energy that corresponds to a bond distance of a bond in the particular compound in order to break that bond and induce a decomposition of that particular compound. In some cases, the particular compound is a hazardous substance or part of a hazardous substance. In some cases, the particular compound is delivered to a desired location in an organism and x-rays induce a decomposition reaction that creates a therapeutic substance (e.g., a toxin that kills cancer cells) in the location of the organism. In some cases, the particular compound decomposes to produce a reactant in a reactor apparatus (e.g., fuel cell or semiconductor fabricator).

主权项

1. A method of destroying a hazardous substance comprising:
a. identifying a location that potentially comprises a hazardous substance, said hazardous substance comprising at least one bond having a bond distance; and b. directing x-rays towards said location, the x-rays having an irradiation energy that corresponds to said bond distance in order to induce a decomposition of said hazardous substance by breaking said at least one bond; wherein said hazardous substance is an explosive substance and said directing of x-rays towards said location does not cause an explosion; wherein said hazardous substance comprises an oxidizer comprising said at least one bond, wherein said oxidizer is selected from KClO3, KlO3, KBrO3, KClO4, fluorocarbons and combinations thereof, wherein said directing of x-rays towards said location induces an acatalytic decomposition reaction of said oxidizer to produce at least O2, wherein said hazardous substance comprises TATB, and wherein said x-ray has an irradiation energy of about 9 keV and is used to break a C—C bond in said TATB having a bond distance of about 1.4 Å.