(19)

(11)

EP 1 973 840 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 27.12.2007 (43) Date of publication: 01.10.2008 Bulletin 2008/40 (21) Application number: 07718204.6 (22) Date of filing: 17.01.2007

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C01B 3/24(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2007/001197 (87) International publication number: WO 2007/084539 (26.07.2007 Gazette 2007/30)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 17.01.2006 US 759340 P (71) Applicant: MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY CONVERSION INTERNATIONAL, INC. Baltimore, MD 21226 (US)	(72) Inventors: MANSOUR, Momtaz N. Highland, MD 20777 (US) CHANDRAN, Ravi R. Ellicott City, MD 21042 (US) (74) Representative: Bergmeier, Werner  Canzler & Bergmeier Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 84 85055 Ingolstadt 85055 Ingolstadt (DE)