Patents Assigned to Solv-Ex Corporation
  • Patent number: 6447738
    Abstract: A process for the extraction of alumina, iron oxide and titanium dioxide from bauxite ore and clays, and other ore bodies and feedstocks. The process starts by sulfuric acid leaching of the feedstocks in pressure autoclaves at about 200° C. and appropriate pressure. A leach liquor of sulfate salts of aluminum, iron and titanium is obtained. Any iron values are converted to a ferrous state. A recycled potassium sulfate helps produce double aluminum alkali sulfate crystals in the reduced leach liquor. The crystals are removed at about 20°-60° C. with the help of SO2 gases that reduce the ferric. Such double salt is hydrolyzed into a basic aluminum alkali precipitated sulfate salt. This is then dried and calcined at about 950° C. Any alkali sulfate is washed out and recycled. The remainder is alumina. The ferrous sulfate is crystallized out at about 10° C. It is dried and calcined at about 450° C. to produce an iron oxide mixed with other sulfate salts that can be washed out and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Jerry V. Fox, Fred A. Aiken
  • Patent number: 6056813
    Abstract: A process for making white pigment directly from constituent materials without byproducts. The process comprises the steps of inputting three material flows comprising a sulphate source, an alkali source, and an aluminum source. And, recycling and mixing into the three material flows a process return from a separation and wash stage and vapors from a pressure let-down stage. This is followed by heating and holding a mixture of recycled process returns and the three material flows at elevated pressure in a reactor for a minimum predetermined residence time. Afterwards, letting down pressure in a flow from the reactor to produce a pre-wash flow. Then, separating, classifying, and delaminating the pre-wash flow into a first and second pigment or filler that are differentiated by their respective average particle distribution sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Jerry V. Fox, Fred A. Aiken, III
  • Patent number: 5895523
    Abstract: A process is provided for making K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4S0.sub.3 +xH.sub.2 O or Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4SO.sub.3 +xH.sub.2 O where x is a number from 4 to 12, which is used as a pigment. Sulfuric acid, one of a sulfate salt or a hydroxide of either potassium or sodium and one of a sulfate of aluminum or a hydroxide of aluminum are inputted into a crystallizer and reacted to form either Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O or Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A fluid flow containing either Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O or Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O is drawn off from the crystallizer and transferred into a pigment reactor where it is subjected to a temperature of about 200.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 120 to 350 pounds per square inch so as to result in the production of either basic potassium aluminum sulfate K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4SO.sub.3 +xH.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Jerry V. Fox
  • Patent number: 5871571
    Abstract: A process for making ink which begins with a leach liquor of Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +Fe.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and other sulfates that are introduced to a surface-cooled crystallizer that drops the Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +18H.sub.2 O which is removed from the leach liquor. The leach liquor is then supplied with a mixture which includes K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 into a simple crystallization and evaporation unit to drop Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A pressure of 250 PSI and a temperature of 200.degree. C. are then applied in a discrete continuous process that yield a basic sodium or sodium/potassium aluminum sulfate and excess sodium sulfate or sodium/potassium. The excess sodium sulfate or sodium/potassium sulfate is returned to the simple crystallization and evaporation unit. The basic potassium aluminum sulfate (BKAS) and/or basic sodium aluminum sulfate (BNaAS) Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 4SO.sub.3, 9H.sub.2 O is used as a filler in the making of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: SOLV-EX Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, David H. Fishman
  • Patent number: 5865952
    Abstract: A process in which a leach liquor of Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +Fe.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and other sulphates is introduced to a surface-cooled crystallizer that drops the Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +18H.sub.2 O. The leach liquor is pumped through a heat exchanger that keeps a temperature of 160.degree. F. and the surface temperature of the surface-cooled crystallizer is maintained at 60.degree. F. The temperature gradient within the leach liquor promotes crystal formation. These crystals are then supplied to mixture which includes K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in a simple crystallization and evaporation step that uses a vacuum of twenty inches of mercury and heat to drop Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A pressure of 250 PSI and a temperature of 200.degree. C. are then applied in a discrete continuous process that yield a basic sodium or potassium aluminum sulphate and excess sodium sulphate or potassium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar
  • Patent number: 5795444
    Abstract: A system and method for immediately separating oil sands into three layers uses a logwasher with paddles that mixes the oil sands with hot water and steam. The three layers of bitumen, clay/sand/water slurry and rock separate effectively and immediately and are not re-mixed in further processing as was conventional, further producing a clay fraction from the fines for mineral processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Stephen J. Lane
  • Patent number: 5783163
    Abstract: A process in which a leach liquor of Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +Fe.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and other sulphates is introduced to a surface-cooled crystallizer that drops the Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +18H.sub.2 O. The leach liquor is pumped through a heat exchanger that keeps a temperature of 160.degree. F. and the surface temperature of the surface-cooled crystallizer is maintained at 60.degree. F. The temperature gradient within the leach liquor promotes crystal formation. These crystals are then supplied to mixture which includes K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in a simple crystallization and evaporation step that uses a vacuum of twenty inches of mercury and heat to drop Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A pressure of 250 PSI and a temperature of 200.degree. C. are then applied in a discrete continuous process that yield a basic sodium or potassium aluminum sulphate and excess sodium sulphate or potassium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar
  • Patent number: 5783280
    Abstract: An insulation material comprising the double salt of aluminum potassium sulphate and method of producing such. Aluminum sulphate materials and potassium sulphate materials are combined to form aluminum potassium sulphate which is then dehydrated to remove the water of hydration. Porous forms are made by mixing the hydrated aluminum potassium sulphate with a binder before dehydration. The resultant dehydrated sulphate expands greatly to provide an insulative material which is of lightweight and inorganic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar
  • Patent number: 5762780
    Abstract: A system and method for immediately separating oil sands into three layers uses a logwasher with paddles that mixes the oil sands with hot water and steam. The three layers of bitumen, clay/sand/water slurry and rock separate effectively and immediately and are not re-mixed in further processing as was conventional, further producing a clay fraction from the fines for mineral processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Stephen J. Lane
  • Patent number: 5746932
    Abstract: A method of making low-density silica-alumina thermal insulation wherein sulfuric acid is used to leach clay fines from processed Athabasca oil sands. The treated fines are dried and roasted to produce a fine buff to white colored powder with particle sizes that range from forty microns to less than a micron. About 80% of these particles are less than twenty microns. The bulk density of this powder is about fifteen to thirty-five pounds to the cubic-foot (lb./ft.sup.3), compared to silica sand which has a bulk density of 150 lb./ft.sup.3, and alumina which is about 200 lb./ft.sup.3, depending on the grade and method of production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar
  • Patent number: 5720868
    Abstract: A method of making activated alumina includes beginning with a leach liquor of potassium and aluminum sulphates that is subjected to a surface-cooled crystallizer with a heat-exchanger input temperature of 160.degree. F. and a surface-chilled temperature of 60.degree. F. Crystals of aluminum sulphate are precipitated and recrystalized by evaporation in a vacuum and at an elevated temperature. Purified crystals of aluminum sulphate are then dried at 50.degree.-60.degree. C. The dried aluminum sulphate crystals are then dehydrated at 400.degree.-450.degree. C. after a rise rate of 50.degree.-60.degree. C. per minute to drive off most of the water. A roasting and recalcination step at 1000.degree. C.-1050.degree. C. after a rise rate of 50.degree.-60.degree. C. per minute is used drive off the sulphate. The remaining alumina is smelted by electrolysis for aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Stephen J. Lane
  • Patent number: 5662880
    Abstract: A method of making activated alumina includes beginning with a leach liquor of potassium and aluminum sulphates that is subjected to a surface-cooled crystallizer with a heat-exchanger input temperature of 160.degree. F. and a surface-chilled temperature of 60.degree. F. to 80.degree. F. Crystals of aluminum sulphate are precipitated and recrystalized by evaporation in a vacuum and at an elevated temperature. Purified crystals of aluminum sulphate are then dried at 50.degree.-60.degree. C. The dried aluminum sulphate crystals are then dehydrated at 400.degree.-450.degree. C. after a rise rate of 10.degree.-20.degree. C. per minute to drive off most of the water. A roasting and recalcination step at 900.degree. C.-950.degree. C. after a rise rate of 10.degree.-20.degree. C. per minute is used drive off the sulphate. The remaining alumina is useful as a high-grade catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Stephen J. Lane
  • Patent number: 5589023
    Abstract: An insulation material comprising the double salt of aluminum potassium sulphate and method of producing such. Aluminum sulphate materials and potassium sulphate materials are combined to form aluminum potassium sulphate which is then dehydrated to remove the water of hydration. Porous forms are made by mixing the hydrated aluminum potassium sulphate with a binder before dehydration. The resultant dehydrated sulphate expands greatly to provide an insulative material which is of lightweight and inorganic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar
  • Patent number: 5505823
    Abstract: A process for smelting aluminum from a mixture of a double salt potassium-aluminum sulfate 2KAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2 and aluminum sulfate Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 with potassium sulfate K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 having a weight ratio of 2KAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2 to K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in the range of 50/50 to 15/85. The mixture is heated to a eutectic temperature that makes it molten and electrolysis is used to precipitate out aluminum at the negative electrode and gases from SO.sub.4 ions at the positive electrode. A critical amount of a feed of 2KAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2 is added to replace that which was consumed in the electrolysis and to maintain the weight ratio which provides for the low eutectic melting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Rendall
  • Patent number: 5498320
    Abstract: In aluminum smelting by electrolysis, a double salt of KAlSO.sub.4, as a feedstock, is heated with a eutectic electrolyte, such as K.sub.2 SO.sub.4, at 800.degree. C. for twenty minutes to produce an out-gas of SO.sub.3 and a liquid electrolyte of K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 with fine-particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 in suspension having a mean size of six to eight microns. This is pumped into a cell with an electrolyte comprised of K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 with fine-particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 in suspension, an anode and a porous cathode of open-cell ceramic foam material. The cell is maintained at 750.degree. C. and four volts of electricity applied between the anode and the cathode causes oxygen to bubble at the anode and liquid aluminum to form in the porous cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Rendall
  • Patent number: 5387276
    Abstract: A method of removal of valuable minerals of oil sand tailings including continuous operation of mixing said tailings with acid, curing the agglomeration and leaching of the cured agglomeration for removal of valuable minerals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Rendall
  • Patent number: 5124008
    Abstract: A method for the extraction of valuable minerals and precious metals from oil sands ore bodies or other related ore bodies that is synergistically unique in the arrangement of processes for production of valuable minerals and precious metals in an economically and environmentally acceptable manner. The oil sands ores from oil sands ore bodies and other related ores from other related ore bodies including overburden and interburden mineral ores are crushed, the hydrocarbons, if any exists in worthwhile quantities, are recovered and the resulting coarse sands, other related ores and fines streams are processed in a definite sequence using known processes to recover the valuable minerals and precious metals values. All reactants and reagents, including water, are recycled in the method and tailings ponds are not required. Heat recovery is used extensively to cogenerate almost all of the process steam and process electrical requirements for the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Valentine W. Vaughn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4875998
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a combined solvent and hot water extraction of bitumen oils from tar-sands ore. The crushed tar-sands ore is conditioned in hot water while excluding air, after which oversized and inert rocks are removed by screening. The bitumen content of the resulting slurry is then extracted with a water immisible hydrocarbon solvent of low density to form a solution of bitumen oils in solvent or bitumen extract phase, a middle water phase and a lower spent wet solids phase. Each of these phases is thereafter processed to produce product bitumen oils and to recover solvent and water for reuse within the process. The product bitumen oils are further processed to separate the fines, and may be refined and separated into synthetic crude oil and asphaltenes residue components. The asphaltenes residue component may be burned in a fluidized bed boiler to provide process heat and electrical power for the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Rendall
  • Patent number: 4424112
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for solvent extraction of bitumen oils from tar-sands and their separation into synthetic crude oil and synthetic fuel oil comprising the operations of mixing the tar-sands with hot water so as to form a slurry in conjunction with solvent, separating that slurry into the solvent and dissolved bitumen oils and the solid materials of the tar-sands, separating the bitumen oils from the solvent, contacting the bitumen oils thus obtained with an extractant in order to separating them into synthetic crude oil and synthetic fuel oil, recovering an reusing again within the process the solvent, the water and the extractant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: Solv-ex Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Rendall