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(11)

EP 2 150 493 A1

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(43) Date of publication: 10.02.2010 Bulletin 2010/06 (21) Application number: 08780571.9 (22) Date of filing: 28.04.2008

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C01B 33/12(2006.01) B82B 1/00(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2008/061775 (87) International publication number: WO 2008/134637 (06.11.2008 Gazette 2008/45)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA MK RS (30) Priority: 27.04.2007 US 914358 P 27.04.2007 US 914348 P 08.08.2007 US 836004 (71) Applicants: Board Of Regents Of The University Of Texas Austin, TX 78701 (US) The Ohio State University Research Foundation Columbus, OH 43210 (US) Ferrari, Mauro Houston, TX 77056 (US)

(72) Inventors: FERRARI, Mauro Houston, Texas 77056 (US) LIU, Xuewu Sugar Land, US 77479 (US) CHENG, Ming-cheng Pearland, Texas 77584 (US) (74) Representative: Ahner, Francis et al Cabinet Régimbeau 20, rue de Chazelles 75847 Paris cedex 17 75847 Paris cedex 17 (FR)