Patents Examined by Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 9724671
    Abstract: The present invention describes the process of preparing ceramics for the absorption of ACIDIC gases, which worsen the greenhouse effect, that are released in combustion systems, or that are present in closed environments. In relation to carbon dioxide, principal target of the present invention, the process of absorption, transport, processing and transformation of the gas into other products is described. The process uses ceramic materials prepared through the solid mixture of one or more metallic oxides, with one or more binding agents and an expanding agent. The product generated can be processed and the absorbent system regenerated. The carbon dioxide obtained in the processing can be used as analytic or commercial carbonic gas, various carbamates and ammonium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MINAS GERAIS, AMA SOLUçÕES TECNOLÓGICAS (AMATECH)
    Inventors: Jadson Cláudio Belchior, Geraldo Magela De Lima, Geison Voga Pereira, Rogério De Oliveira, Wellerson Fonseca Ribeiro, Fabrício Vieira De Andrade
  • Patent number: 9724669
    Abstract: Articles are provided for absorbing fluids. In embodiments, the articles of the present disclosure are modified to make them hydrophobic, thereby decreasing their affinity for water and similar liquids, while increasing their affinity for other hydrophobic materials, including oil. After use, the articles, in embodiments sponges, may have their absorbed materials removed therefrom, and the articles may then be re-used to absorb additional materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
    Inventors: Benjamin Chu, Benjamin S. Hsiao, Zhe Wang
  • Patent number: 9728287
    Abstract: A method of decommissioning a nuclear reactor including a vessel defining an inner chamber and reactor internal components positioned within the inner chamber includes removing at least some of the internal components and repackaging at least some of the removed internal components in at least one of the first and second predefined sections of the vessel defining a cutting zone between the at least first and second predefined sections. The method further includes disposing the vessel in a container, and encapsulating the internal components in the vessel and encapsulating the vessel in the container to generate a package. A package including components from a decommissioned and dismantled nuclear reactor includes a vessel and a plurality of components encapsulated in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Areva Inc.
    Inventors: Leo Paul Lessard, Adam Mancini, Richard James Furr, Matthieu P. Lucas, Donald R. LeFrancois
  • Patent number: 9718694
    Abstract: By incorporating an additional TCS and/or DCS redistribution reactor in the TCS recycle loop and/or DCS recycle loop, respectively, of a process and system for silane manufacture, efficiencies in the production of silane are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SiTec GmbH
    Inventor: Mark William Dassel
  • Patent number: 9721689
    Abstract: An object to be decontaminated contaminated with radioactive material, e.g., contaminated soil or water, is introduced into eluting solvent and dissolved, and the radioactive material is separated from the object to be contaminated by elution of the radioactive material into the eluting solvent. The eluting solvent containing the radioactive materials dissolved therein and the object to be decontaminated are separated into solid and liquid. The soil after solid-liquid separation and from which the radioactive material is removed is collected, and the eluting solvent after solid-liquid separation and a separated liquid containing contaminated water are introduced into an electrolysis tank and electrolyzed. Metal ions such as those of the radioactive materials are deposited on the cathode in the electrolysis tank. Hydrogen containing tritium generated in electrolysis is collected in the electrolysis tank. The hydrogen is moved to the outside of the electrolysis tank and trapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Morita Miyata Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshida, Yasuhiro Suyama
  • Patent number: 9719679
    Abstract: A basket for incinerating waste inside an incinerator for a duration longer than fifteen minutes with no need for waste to be molten earlier, particularly when waste is introduced inside the incinerator. The basket includes mainly of a glass fiber envelope: it is preferably stiffened by a lightweight metal structure located inside or outside the envelope or built into it. A gripping handle is installed on top of the assembly that is stiffened at the top by a metal tube to which a lightweight metal structure is fixed and by a base formed from a drip pan fixed to the base of the lightweight metal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AREVA NC
    Inventors: Roger Boen, Patrice Charvin
  • Patent number: 9718699
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of producing alumina trihydrate crystals from an alumina trihydrate recovery process stream wherein an aqueous emulsion comprising an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride is added to the alumina trihydrate recovery process stream, wherein the aqueous emulsion is substantially free of mineral oils. The method provides a decrease in percentage of alumina trihydrate crystals having a volume average diameter of less than about 45 micrometers compared to the percentage of alumina trihydrate crystals produced in the absence of the aqueous emulsion of an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Cytec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Andruszkiewicz, Raymond Salvatore Farinato, Haunn-Lin Tony Chen, Scott Griffin, Marie E Anderson
  • Patent number: 9714175
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for quickly extracting lithium carbonate from saline lake water and a system for the same. The method comprises: first quick-freezing the saline lake water to obtain lithium-rich brine, then evaporating under reduced pressure to enable lithium carbonate to be rapidly precipitated out. The method has advantages of short process flow and less labor consumption, thereby enabling continuous automatic operation, high energy utilization and environment-friendly. Further, the crystallization rate is several times faster than that of the salt-pan process and the grade of lithium carbonate salt mine obtained can reach 95% or more, therefore the method of the present invention is particularly suitable for industrial production in the remote saline lake region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignees: Tibet Jin Hao Investment Co., Ltd., Binyuan Zhu
    Inventors: Danqing Yi, Lihua Xiao, Bin Wang, Zhe Tian, Binyuan Zhu, Hao Yu
  • Patent number: 9701544
    Abstract: A method for calcination includes providing a heated coarse solid particle stream with a carbon dioxide rich sorbent to a reactor having a rotatable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Charles Balfe, Gerhard Heinz, Olaf Stallmann, Christoph Weingärtner
  • Patent number: 9694356
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a method for regenerating a semi-regenerated reforming catalyst. The method comprises adjusting the reaction temperature to 250-480° C., introducing a sulfur-containing naphtha into the reforming reactor, or stopping introducing a feedstock into the reforming reactor, and introducing a sulfur-containing hydrogen into a recycle gas, until the sulfur content in the catalyst is 0.32-0.8 mass %, then the catalyst is subject to coke-burning, oxychlorination and reduction. Alternatively, the method first subjects the spent catalyst to coke-burning followed by introducing sulfate ions thereinto; and then performing oxychlorination and reduction. Disclosed is still another method for regenerating a platinum-rhenium reforming catalyst, which comprises coke-burning the spent catalyst; introducing sulfur and chlorine in the catalyst by impregnation; and then drying, calcinating and reducing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM PROCESSING, SINOPEC
    Inventors: Daqing Zhang, Gaoshan Zang, Yuhong Zhang, Jiaxin Wang, Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 9694344
    Abstract: Provided is a novel continuous single-step method of manufacturing a multilayer sorbent polymeric membrane having superior productivity, properties and performance. At least one layer of the polymeric membrane comprises sorbent materials and a plurality of interconnecting pores. The method includes: (a) coextruding layer-forming compositions to form a multilayer coextrudate; (b) casting the coextrudate into a film; (c) extracting the film with an extractant; and (d) removing the extractant from the extracted film to form the multilayer sorbent polymeric membrane. The sorbent membrane of this disclosure can find a wide range of applications for use in filtration, separation and purification of gases and fluids, CO2 and volatile capture, structural support, vehicle emission control, energy harvesting and storage, device, protection, permeation, packaging, printing, and etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
  • Patent number: 9687831
    Abstract: Methods for generating a purified catalyst are provided. The method includes performing a reaction in a reaction vessel to generate a liquid catalyst and reaction products, purging the reaction products using an inert gas to form a purged catalyst, freezing the purged catalyst in the reaction vessel, and applying a vacuum to the reaction vessel while the purged catalyst thaws, wherein the vacuum removes residual reaction products to form a purified catalyst. Systems for generating a purified catalyst and a purified catalyst are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shahid Azam, Roland Schmidt, Mohammed Al-Hazmi
  • Patent number: 9687815
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a method of regenerating a desiccant in an off-line treater of a polyolefin production process. The method may include a heating phase followed by a cooling phase. The heating phase may involve use of a regenerating gas made from heating a treated a recycle stream of the polyolefin production process to regenerate desiccant in an off-line treater. The cooling phase may involve thermosyphoning the regenerating gas, nitrogen, an olefin-free diluent, or combinations thereof in a closed-convection loop of the off-line treater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Ralph W. Romig, Robert R. McElvain, Steve E. Page
  • Patent number: 9687812
    Abstract: The method for making a carbonaceous sponge-like sorbent includes mixing a volume of carbon-rich fly ash with a binder. The carbon-rich fly ash may be air dried prior to mixing with the binder. For example, the volume of fly ash can be placed in a hopper and a binder can be added to the volume of fly ash by spraying or the like. The binder can be a polyvinyl acetate emulsion. The binder and the volume of fly ash can be mixed in the hopper by a mechanical stirrer or the like to form a carbonaceous mixture. A conveyer can transfer the carbonaceous mixture from the hopper to the press for pressing the carbonaceous mixture into a block of carbonaceous sponge-like sorbent. The produced block of carbonaceous sponge-like sorbent can then be transferred to a dryer for drying and curing the binder therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Sherif Shawki Zaki Hindi, Attieh A. Alghamdy
  • Patent number: 9687662
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed feedthrough for attachment to an active implantable medical device includes a dielectric substrate configured to be hermetically sealed to a ferrule or an AIMD housing. A via hole is disposed through the dielectric substrate from a body fluid side to a device side. A conductive fill is disposed within the via hole forming a filled via electrically conductive between the body fluid side and the device side. A conductive insert is at least partially disposed within the conductive fill. Then, the conductive fill and the conductive insert are co-fired with the dielectric substrate to form a hermetically sealed and electrically conductive pathway through the dielectric substrate between the body fluid side and the device side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Stevenson, Xiaohong Tang, William C. Thiebolt, Christine A. Frysz, Keith W. Seitz, Richard L. Brendel, Thomas Marzano, Jason Woods, Dominick J. Frustaci, Steven W. Winn
  • Patent number: 9687816
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for regenerating ?-cyclodextrin (?-CD) adsorbent after it has been used in a water decontamination process. The regeneration process of the present invention is based on treating ?-CD with ozone gas, i.e., ozonation. In one embodiment, the regeneration process of the present invention comprises the steps of providing a ?-CD adsorbent that has been used in a water decontamination process and removing at least a portion of the contaminants from the ?-CD adsorbent by contacting the contaminants bound to the ?-CD adsorbent with a gas comprising ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Temple University—Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Rominder P. S. Suri
  • Patent number: 9682345
    Abstract: This invention is in the field of systems and methods for controlling contamination in high purity environments. This invention relates generally to particulate filtering and treatment of molecular contamination and process gases in enclosures, such as cleanrooms, contamination controlled manufacturing environments, mini-environments, isolators, glove boxes and restricted air barrier systems (RABS). The invention is capable of chemically transforming molecular contamination and process gases into less reactive or inert reaction products while at the same time decreasing the level of biological and nonbiological particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignees: PARTICLE MEASURING SYSTEMS, INC., PARTICLE MEASURING SYSTEMS, S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gerald Gromala, Ronald W. Adkins, Gilberto Dalmaso, Brian A. Knollenberg, Daniel Rodier
  • Patent number: 9679669
    Abstract: A method for preparing low level radioactive hazardous wastes (LLHZ) for disposal in a landfill. The method includes providing a softsided transportable container at a hazardous debris collection site, where the softsided container has at least three layers of materials, an outer, middle and an inner layer, where the middle layer is a water impervious material. Each layer has a closable opening located on the top of the softsided layer. Hardsided closed containers containing LLHZ located in the interior of the hard container are loaded into the interior of the softsided container. Each layer of the softsided container is then closed, and the package transported and shipped to a disposal site for burial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: PacTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Schilling, Michael Sanchez, Troy Town, William Smart
  • Patent number: 9676633
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a crystalline ammonium sulfate product, which process comprises: a) subjecting in a crystallizer a feed solution of ammonium sulfate to crystallization to form a first slurry of ammonium sulfate crystals; b) subjecting the first slurry of ammonium sulfate crystals to a first size classification to yield a first coarse ammonium sulfate crystal fraction and a first fine ammonium sulfate crystal fraction; c) recycling at least part of the first fine ammonium sulfate crystal fraction to the feed solution of ammonium sulfate; and d) recovering a crystalline ammonium sulfate product from the first coarse ammonium sulfate crystal fraction, characterized in that: e) a second size classification is carried out on a second slurry of ammonium sulfate crystals to yield a second coarse ammonium sulfate crystal fraction and a second fine ammonium sulfate crystal fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: CAP III B.V.
    Inventors: Geert Ekkelenkamp, Johan Thomas Tinge, Pieter Vonk
  • Patent number: 9676943
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing hybrid carbon black particles (12), which comprises the steps: a) production of first carbon black starting particles (16); b) production of second carbon black starting particles (22); c) milling of the second carbon black starting particles (22); d) mixing of the second carbon black starting particles (22) into a particle stream (48) of the first carbon black starting particles (16); and d) pelletization of the first and second carbon black starting particles (16, 22) to form hybrid carbon black particles (12). The invention further relates to an apparatus (10) for producing hybrid carbon black particles (12) and to hybrid carbon black particles (12) produced by means of the process or the apparatus (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Prolyx AG
    Inventors: Fikret Dülger, Niels Raeder, Holger Merz