Patents Examined by Zulmariam Mendez
  • Patent number: 11746431
    Abstract: The design of a metal inert anode is proposed, it is made in the form of a perforated structure with through-openings, in particular formed by longitudinal and transverse anode elements intersecting each other and limited by the lateral sides of the intersecting anode elements, and contains vertical or inclined fins that protrude from the bath and are integrated with the anode elements or a current conductor. As a result, it ensures a reduction in the voltage drop in the anode and in the bubble layer under the anode, a reduction in the anode overvoltage and anode consumption, an increase in current efficiency and the reliability of the cryolite-alumina crust, which leads to an increase in the anode service life and promotes the formation of a reliable and durable cryolite-alumina crust above the melt surface, which improves process efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOY OTVETSTVENNOSTY YU “OBEDINENNAYA KOMPANIYA RUSAL INZHENERNO-TEKHNOLOGICHESKIY TSENTR”
    Inventors: Dmitrij Aleksandrovich Simakov, Aleksej Gennad'evich Burtsev, Aleksandr Olegovich Gusev
  • Patent number: 11746012
    Abstract: A method for making an aqueous hypochlorous acid (HClO) solution includes electrolyzing a solution of sodium chloride to produce a solution of sodium hypochlorite; and producing the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution by adjusting a pH of the solution of sodium hypochlorite to a value within a range of 3 to 8 by adding a selected weak acid to the solution of sodium hypochlorite to produce a buffer including the selected weak acid and a salt of the selected weak acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: COUGAR CREEK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Liyu Li
  • Patent number: 11739008
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a handheld electronic soap device (1), where pH neutral water is poured in the device through a water inlet (2) into an electrolytic cell (11). The pH neutral water is split into acidic ionized and alkaline ionized water by an electrolysis. The alkaline and acidic water can be used for cleaning and rinsing of skin or hair. More particularly, the alkaline water enables to clean skin or hair, whereas the acid water is important to maintain the acid environment on hairs and skin. According to the present invention a user can select between acidic or alkaline water to be poured out of the device through a water outlet (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mark Johannes Lelieveld, Pieter Jelle Buijs
  • Patent number: 11718922
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a stacked structure including electrodes that can effectively prevent misalignment between units. [Solution] A stacked structure 2 including electrodes 232, 332, 412, 233, 333, 422, wherein multiple units 23, 33, 24, 41, 42 including flat units are stacked and fastened by fasteners 25, the respective units 23, 33, 24, 41, 42 comprising frame-shaped fastening portions 237a, 237b, 337a, 337b, 247a, 247b, 417a, 417b, 427a, 427b on outer peripheral portions on both surfaces thereof, being stacked by the surfaces of the respective fastening portions 237a, 237b, 337a, 337b, 247a, 247b, 417a, 417b, 427a, 427b being pressed against each other, and being formed so that the width of fastening portions 247a, 247b, 337a, 337b, 427a, 427b on one unit is different from the width of fastening portions 237a, 237b, 417a, 417b on another unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: DE NORA PERMELEC LTD
    Inventors: Hideo Otsu, Kota Kuroki
  • Patent number: 11718919
    Abstract: A membrane-free electrochemical reactor and fuel-cell having a collection chamber between a first and second chamber, a mesoporous carbon paper cathode between the first chamber and the collection chamber, a mesoporous carbon paper anode between the second chamber and the collection chamber, the cathode is coated with an oxygen reduction reaction catalyst that imparts a two-electron partial reduction reaction to hydrogen peroxide, the anode is coated with an oxygen evolution reaction coating or a hydrogen oxidation reaction coating, oxygen/air input and output ports connected to the first chamber, KOH/water input and output ports connected to the second chamber that are in an open state under an electrolyzer mode, H2/water input and output ports connected to the second chamber that are in an open state under a fuel-cell mode, a second KOH/water input port connected to the collection chamber, and a hydrogen peroxide/KOH/water output port connected to the collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Thomas Francisco Jaramillo, Zhenan Bao, Jens K. Nørskov, Shucheng Chen, Zhihua Chen
  • Patent number: 11708640
    Abstract: Lead is recovered from lead paste of a lead acid battery in a continuous and electrochemical lead recovery process. In especially preferred aspects, lead paste is processed to remove residual sulfates, and the so treated lead paste is subjected to a thermal treatment step that removes residual moisture and reduces lead dioxide to lead oxide. Advantageously, such pretreatment will avoid lead dioxide accumulation and electrolyte dilution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Aqua Metals Inc.
    Inventors: Samaresh Mohanta, Joshua Hufford
  • Patent number: 11702755
    Abstract: In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: MANGROVE WATER TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Saad Dara, Beniamin Zahiri
  • Patent number: 11702754
    Abstract: In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: MANGROVE WATER TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Saad Dara, Beniamin Zahiri
  • Patent number: 11682783
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for the management and control of electrolyte within confined electrochemical cells or groups (e.g. stacks) of connected electrochemical cells, for example, in an electrolyzer. Various embodiments of systems and methods provide for the elimination of parasitic conductive paths between cells, and/or precise passive control of fluid pressures within cells. In some embodiments, a fixed volume of electrolyte is substantially retained within each cell while efficiently collecting and removing produced gases or other products from the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: AQUAHYDREX, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Seymour, Gregory Kumor, Erik T. Herrera, Byron J. Burkill, David Cox, Sandeep Nijhawan, Cameron Tavener-Smith, Wayne Richard Hemzacek, Nathaniel Martin Schuh
  • Patent number: 11673817
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a carbon-nanotube/nano-adsorption-material-based electrode and an electrochemical valuable-metal recovery device using the same, and more particularly to an environmentally friendly carbon-nanotube/nano-adsorption-material-based electrode and an electrochemical valuable-metal recovery device using the same, in which valuable metals selectively adsorbed from e-waste wastewater are oxidized using, as an anode, an electrode including carbon nanotubes and a nano adsorption material capable of selectively adsorbing valuable metals and are simultaneously reduced at a cathode, thereby separating and recovering valuable metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jong-In Han, Sumin Yoo, Ga Yeong Kim, Seok Hwan Jeon, Jieun Son
  • Patent number: 11673096
    Abstract: An electrochemical separation device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a cell stack including a plurality of sub-blocks each having alternating depleting compartments and concentrating compartments and each including frame and channel portions disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. An internal seal formed of a first material is disposed between and in contact with the channel portions between adjacent sub-blocks in the cell stack and configured to prevent leakage between depleting compartments and concentrating compartments in the adjacent sub-blocks. An external seal formed of a second material having at least one material parameter different from the first material is disposed between and in contact with the frames of the adjacent sub-blocks in the cell stack and configured to prevent leakage from an internal volume of the electrochemical separation device to outside of the electrochemical separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Muse, Joshua Griffis, LI-Shiang Liang, Michael Shaw, Simon P. Dukes
  • Patent number: 11667551
    Abstract: Provided is a water treatment device configured to perform a deionization treatment for the water to be treated, and the water treatment device includes a pressing member, a treatment container configured to store the water to be treated, a first electrode and a second electrode accommodated in the treatment container, a separator arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a pair of collectors, which are accommodated in the treatment container, and are configured to apply a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode. The pressing member is configured to press the first electrode and the second electrode in the treatment container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakayama, Seiji Noda, Tokiko Yamauchi, Nozomu Yasunaga, Kenro Mitsuda
  • Patent number: 11667990
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the recovery of lead from a lead pastel electrolytically, where the pastel contains lead sulfate. The process provides for the leaching of the non-desulfurised pastel and the subsequent removal of the sulfates by precipitation; the leachate containing the lead ions is then subjected to electrolysis for the recovery of metal lead. The present invention further relates to a process for the recovery of lead accumulator components, wherein the lead contained in the pastel of the accumulators is recovered according to the aforesaid process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ENGITEC TECHNOLOGIES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Giuseppe Maccagni, Edoardo Guerrini
  • Patent number: 11661356
    Abstract: A method and device for removing chloride ions in desulfurized wastewater by electrochemical coupling in which the device comprises: an electrolyte tank having a top and a bottom wherein the tank is used as a separator in a separation process and as an electrode regenerator in an electrode regeneration process; two electrodes comprising a hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis function electrode and an electrochemically switched ion exchange (ESIX) function electrode respectively, wherein the electrodes are connected with each other by a wire; two DC circuits having opposite electric field directions and used alternately in the separation process and the electrode regeneration process respectively; the bottom of the electrolyte tank is provided with a purified high-concentration chloride ion wastewater inlet and a flocculation product outlet; the top of the tank is provided with a dechlorination treatment water outlet and a hydrogen collecting port; and, in the electrode regeneration process, the electrolyte tan
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Xiaogang Hao, Xiaoqiong Hao, Xiao Du, Zhonglin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11655164
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell and housing provides for simple, toolless cell installation and removal of the electrolysis cell. The electrolysis cell includes an anode and a cathode and requires periodic removal of the electrolysis cell from the housing for cleaning or replacement due to accumulation of deposits on the anode and the cathode. The electrolysis cell includes three push-in fluid connectors and two push-in electrical connections. A filter may be included serially between a water inlet and the electrolysis cell and may include two push-in fluid connectors. A housing rear cover may hold the electrolysis cell and filter in place in the housing and may be removed and reattached to access the electrolysis cell without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: AYRO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Anthony Tseng
  • Patent number: 11649554
    Abstract: A method for producing metal titanium by carrying out electrolysis using an anode and a cathode in a molten salt bath, the method using an anode containing metal titanium as the anode, the method comprising a titanium deposition step of depositing metal titanium on the cathode, wherein, in the titanium deposition step, a temperature of the molten salt bath is from 250° C. or more and 600° C. or less, and an average current density of the cathode in a period from the start to 30 minutes later of the titanium deposition step is maintained in a range of 0.01 A/cm2 to 0.09 A/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Toho Titanium Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matsuhide Horikawa, Daisuke Suzuki, Haruka Yamamoto, Hideki Fujii
  • Patent number: 11652185
    Abstract: An optical device includes an intermetallic compound of a first metal and a second metal having a lower work function than the first metal, or a solid-solution alloy of the first metal and the second metal and includes an n-type semiconductor in Schottky junction with the intermetallic compound or the solid-solution alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Okamoto, Satoshi Yotsuhashi, Taku Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 11649553
    Abstract: An electrolytic solution generator includes an electrolyzing unit having a stacked structure in which a conductive film is interpose between a cathode and an anode, the electrolyzing unit electrolyzing a liquid, and a housing in which the electrolyzing unit is placed. A channel is disposed in the housing, and a groove is disposed in the electrolyzing unit, as a groove which is open to the channel and to which at least a part of an interface between the conductive film and the cathode and an interface between the conductive film and the anode is exposed. A space is disposed between at least either an outer periphery of the cathode or an outer periphery of the anode and an inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Inagaki, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Osamu Imahori, Shunsuke Mori, Minoru Nagata
  • Patent number: 11649552
    Abstract: In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: MANGROVE WATER TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Saad Dara, Beniamin Zahiri
  • Patent number: 11643739
    Abstract: Provided are an anode for an ion exchange membrane electrolyzer which enables an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chloride to be electrolyzed at a lower voltage than a conventional anode and allows the concentration of an impurity gas included in an anode gas to be reduced and an ion exchange membrane electrolyzer using the same. The anode is an anode for an ion exchange membrane electrolyzer to be used in an ion exchange membrane electrolyzer that is separated by an ion exchange membrane into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber. The anode for an ion exchange membrane electrolyzer comprises at least one perforated flat metal plate 1 (expanded metal 1) and the thickness of the perforated flat metal plate 1 (expanded metal 1) ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 mm and the ratio of the short way SW to the long way LW (SW/LW) ranges from 0.45 to 0.55. The short way SW is preferably not more than 3.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: TOSOH CORPORATION, THYSSENKRUPP NUCERA JAPAN LTD.
    Inventors: Terumi Hashimoto, Koji Kawanishi, Fumio Sadahiro, Shota Shinohara, Sachio Kaneko