Patents Assigned to Nortru, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5873945
    Abstract: A process for recovering quantities of carbonyl compound material from spent solvent-in-water emulsions derived from paint overspray treatment and capture systems in which the spent solvent-in-water emulsion is removed from the paint overspray treatment and capture system and fed into a reaction vessel. The reaction vessel employed includes an outer housing defining a reaction chamber and a plurality of mixing blades movably positioned in the reaction chamber. The surface area of the mixing blades are maintained at a temperature sufficient to generate volatilized carbonyl compound. The interior of the reaction vessel is maintained under a vacuum. The spent solvent-in-water emulsion is processed in the reaction vessel for an interval sufficient to generate volatilized carbonyl compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Nortru, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Patzelt, Thomas Randazzo
  • Patent number: 5766370
    Abstract: A process for recovering organic solvent material from a hydrophilic liquid derived from paint overspray treatment operations in which the solvent-in-water emulsion initially contains 1-50 weight percent of an organic liquid having a boiling point of at least 150.degree. C., a vapor pressure less than 0.5 Torr at 20.degree. C.; and water, and the spent hydrophilic liquid additionally contains paint solid material derived from the paint overspray treatment system in which the recovery process includes the steps of(a) removing the spent hydrophilic liquid or a portion thereof from the paint spray booth;(b) feeding the spent hydrophilic liquid into a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel operating at a pressure less than about 100 mm/Hg and at a temperature sufficient to volatilize the organic liquid component of the hydrophilic liquid; and(c) separating a portion of said volatilized organic liquid from the spent hydrophilic liquid after introduction of the spent hydrophilic liquid into the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Nortru, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Patzelt, Thomas Randazzo
  • Patent number: 5464556
    Abstract: A composition for treating oversprayed paints that contains an effective amount of alcohol esters and alcohol ester derivatives in water. The carbonyl compound is capable of dissolving paint while remaining non-reactive with water. The alcohol ester employed has the general formula: ##STR1## The alcohol ester derivative employed has the general formula: ##STR2## R' and R" are a substituted or unsubstituted linear alkyl group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R and R"' are linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R and R"' are either identical or different alkyl functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Nortru, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin C. Zuerner, Robert R. Ratzelt, Norman Foster
  • Patent number: 5397496
    Abstract: A composition for treating oversprayed paints that contains an effective amount of a carbonyl compound such as alcohol esters and condensation products of alcohol esters and carboxylic acid in water together with a suitable surfactant. The carbonyl compound is capable of dissolving paint while remaining non-reactive with water. The alcohol ester employed has the general formula: ##STR1## The alcohol ester derivative employed has the general formula: ##STR2## R' and R" are a substituted or unsubstituted linear alkyl group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R and R"' are linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R and R"' are either identical or different alkyl functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Nortru, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin C. Zuerner, Robert A. Patzelt, Norman Foster
  • Patent number: 5328105
    Abstract: A transportable processing unit for producing a pumpable, essentially homogeneous admixed material suitable for use as substitute fuel or for thermal destruction by incineration, the processing unit including a closed mixing vessel mounted on a movable base member the vessel adapted to receive feedstock material from an adjacent on site holding facility through at least one entry port and to receive intermediate process material through at least one inlet port and a process material exit port as well as a mixing device located in the vessel interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Nortru, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald G. Sims, Norman Foster
  • Patent number: 5254256
    Abstract: A process for treating spent aqueous emulsion material formed from a non-volatile hydrocarbon organic portion having a paint solids content greater than about 10% by weight in which the spent emulsion is broken and the organic phase is admixed with sufficient amounts of a hydrocarbon solvent extractant to extract organic portions of the aqueous emulsion. The hydrocarbon solvent extractant and the organic portion/solvent extractant mixture can then be distilled to provide essentially pure hydrocarbon solvent extractant and the hydrocarbon organic portion of the emulsion essentially free from paint solids. The organic portion of the material can then be admixed with quantities of water to reform a reclaimed emulsion. Examples of the paint overspray treatment emulsion on which the process of the present invention is highly effective is one which contains a hydrocarbon such as an alcohol ester, an alcohol ester derivative or mixtures of the two in combination in its organic phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Nortru, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin C. Zuerner, Robert R. Petzeit, Norman Foster
  • Patent number: 5200104
    Abstract: A composition for treating oversprayed paints that contains an effective amount of a carbonyl compound such as alcohol esters and alcohol ester derivatives in water together with a suitable emulsifier. The carbonyl compound is capable of dissolving paint while remaining non-reactive with water. The alcohol ester employed has the general formula: ##STR1## The alcohol ester derivative employed has the general formula: ##STR2## R' and R" are a substituted or unsubstituted linear alkyl group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R and R"' are linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R and R"' are either identical or different alkyl functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Nortru, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin C. Zuerner, Robert R. Patzelt, Norman Foster
  • Patent number: 5198143
    Abstract: A composition for treating oversprayed paints that contains an effective amount of an essentially non-volatile carbonyl compound, an effective amount of an ethoxylated alkyl phenol surfactant in water together with a suitable emulsifier. The carbonyl compound is capable of dissolving paint solids while remaining essentially insoluble in and non-reactive with water. The carbonyl compound can be an alcohol ester having the general formulae ##STR1## an alcohol ester derivative having the general formula: ##STR2## in which R' and R" are a substituted or unsubstituted linear alkyl groups containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and R and R"' are linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. The surfactant has an average ethylene oxide-to-nonyl phenol ratio between 4:1 and 8:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Nortru, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin C. Zuerner, Robert A. Patzelt, Norman Foster