Patents Examined by Zulmariam Mendez
  • Patent number: 11203814
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosed subject matter relates to an electrolytic cell that has: a cell reservoir; a cathode support retained on a bottom of the cell reservoir, wherein the cathode support contacts at least one of: a metal pad and a molten electrolyte bath within the cell reservoir, wherein the cathode support includes: a body having a support bottom, which is configured to be in communication with the bottom of the electrolysis cell; and a support top, opposite the support bottom, having a cathode attachment area configured to retain a at least one cathode plate therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: ALCOA USA CORP.
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Mosser, Lance M. Sworts
  • Patent number: 11180863
    Abstract: A device and a method for preparing pure titanium by electrolysis-chlorination-electrolysis, wherein the device includes a first electrolytic cell, a second electrolytic cell, a chlorination reactor and guide tubes. The Cl2 generated at the anode of the first electrolytic cell is introduced into a chlorination reactor containing the TiCxOy or TiCxOyNz raw materials via a guide tube, and a chlorination is carried out to generate TiCl4 gas at a temperature of 200° C.-600° C. The TiCl4 gas passes through a guide tube into a cathode of the second electrolytic cell, and then an electrolysis is performed to obtain the high-purity titanium in the second electrolytic cell. At the same time, the Cl2 generated at the anode of the second electrolytic cell is recycled into the chlorination reactor in the first electrolytic cell to continue to participate in the chlorination of TiCxOy or TiCxOyNz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BEIJING, BEIJING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shuqiang Jiao, Zhe Wang, Handong Jiao
  • Patent number: 11180862
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an electrolytic cell includes: an one anode module having a plurality of anodes; a one cathode module, opposing the anode module, and comprising a plurality of vertical cathodes, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of vertical cathodes are vertically oriented and spaced one from another; a cell reservoir; and a cell bottom supporting the cathode module, wherein the cell bottom comprise an first upper surface, a second upper surface, and a channel, wherein the plurality of vertical cathodes extends upward from the upper surfaces, wherein at least one cathode block is located below the plurality of vertical cathodes, wherein the first upper surface and the second upper surface are configured to direct substantially all of the liquid aluminum produced in the electrolytic cell to the channel, and wherein the channel is configured to receive liquid aluminum from the upper surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ELYSIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Xinghua Liu
  • Patent number: 11167242
    Abstract: A process for removing hydrogen sulfide from a sour gas stream is presented. The method oxidizes hydrogen sulfide to sulfuric acid by reducing aqueous bromine to hydrobromic acid in solution. The aqueous bromine solution does not react with hydrocarbon components common to natural gas including methane and ethane. This allows the process to both sweeten sour gas and convert its hydrogen sulfide content to sulfuric acid in a single step. In the present process, sulfuric acid is concentrated to eliminate its bromine content prior to being removed from the system, while the remaining hydrobromic acid solution is electrolyzed to regenerate aqueous bromine and produce hydrogen. Hydrobromic acid electrolysis requires less than half the energy required by water electrolysis and is an inherently flexible load that can shed or absorb excess power to balance supply and demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Chemergy, Inc.
    Inventors: Melahn L. Parker, Robin Z. Parker
  • Patent number: 11149356
    Abstract: A method of forming an elemental metal (e.g., a rare-earth element) includes forming a multicomponent solution comprising an ionic liquid, a secondary component, and a metal-containing compound. The multicomponent solution is contacted with at least a first electrode and a second electrode. A current is passed between the first electrode to the second electrode through the multicomponent solution. The metal-containing compound is reduced to deposit the elemental metal therefrom on the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Donna L. Baek, Robert V. Fox, Tedd E. Lister
  • Patent number: 11142834
    Abstract: Provided herein are anode assembly, conductive contact strips, electrochemical cells containing the anode assembly and the conductive contact strips, and methods to use and manufacture the same, where the anode assembly includes a plurality of V-shaped, U-shaped, or Z-shaped elements positioned outside the anode shell and in electrical contact with the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Calera Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H McWaid, Ryan J Gilliam, Hong Zhao, Michael Kostowskyj
  • Patent number: 11136684
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode which can be employed in the cells of plants for the electrolytic extraction of copper and other non-ferrous metals from ionic solutions. The electrode consists of an apparatus comprising at least one anodic panel for the evolution of oxygen or chlorine connected through a plurality of resistors in parallel to at least one distribution structure for electrical current. The panel may optionally exhibit areas of electrical discontinuity. The invention also relates to an electrolyser using the electrode described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIE DE NORA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Fiorucci, Michele Perego, Paolo Perrone, Corrado Mojana
  • Patent number: 11136677
    Abstract: Method for the gastight and liquid-tight installation of oxygen consuming electrodes in an electrolysis apparatus, and electrolysis apparatus for use in chloralkali electrolysis, in which particular regions are covered with an additional film having a composition comparable to the oxygen-consuming electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: Covestro Deutschland AG, Thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers (Italia) S.R.L.
    Inventors: Andreas Bulan, Michael Großholz, Randolf Kiefer, Peter Woltering
  • Patent number: 11130723
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide electrolytic device of an embodiment includes: an anode part including an anode which oxidizes water or hydroxide ions to produce oxygen; a cathode part including a cathode which reduces carbon dioxide to produce a carbon compound, a cathode solution flow path which supplies a cathode solution to the cathode, and a gas flow path which supplies carbon dioxide to the cathode; a separator which separates the anode part and the cathode part; and a differential pressure control unit which controls a differential pressure between a pressure of the cathode solution and a pressure of the carbon dioxide so as to adjust a production amount of the carbon dioxide produced by a reduction reaction in the cathode part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuki Kudo, Akihiko Ono, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Eishi Tsutsumi, Yoshitsune Sugano, Ryota Kitagawa, Jun Tamura, Satoshi Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 11118274
    Abstract: Described herein is a process for the reduction of carbon dioxide comprising: providing an electrochemical device comprising an anode, a cathode, and a polymeric anion exchange membrane therebetween, wherein the polymeric anion exchange membrane comprises an anion exchange polymer, wherein the anion exchange polymer comprises at least one positively charged group selected from a guanidinium, a guanidinium derivative, an N-alkyl conjugated heterocyclic cation, or combinations thereof; introducing a composition comprising carbon dioxide to the cathode; and applying electrical energy to the electrochemical device to effect electrochemical reduction of the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tyler S. Matthews, Steven J. Hamrock, Marina M. Kaplun, Krzysztof A. Lewinski, Sean M. Luopa
  • Patent number: 11111592
    Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a semiconductor device includes a substrate holding unit configured to hold a substrate; a processing liquid supply unit configured to supply a processing liquid onto the substrate held by the substrate holding unit; an electrolytic processing unit disposed to face the substrate holding unit and configured to perform an electrolytic processing on the substrate held by the substrate holding unit; and a terminal configured to apply a voltage to the substrate. The electrolytic processing unit includes a direct electrode configured to be brought into contact with the processing liquid supplied onto the substrate to apply a voltage with respect to the substrate; and an indirect electrode configured to form an electric field in the processing liquid supplied onto the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomohisa Hoshino, Masato Hamada
  • Patent number: 11111160
    Abstract: Asymmetric electrochemical cell apparatus, and methods of operating such apparatus to produce electrolyzed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Doron Aurbach, Eran Avraham, Izaak Cohen
  • Patent number: 11105014
    Abstract: An exemplary distribution system, apparatus and method can be provide for chemical and/or electrolytic surface treatment of a substrate in a process fluid. The distribution system can comprise a distribution body and a control unit. The distribution body can be configured to direct a flow of the process fluid and/or an electrical current to the substrate. The distribution body can comprise at least a first distribution element and a second distribution element. The control unit/device can be configured to control the first distribution element and the second distribution element separately from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SEMSYSCO GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Gleissner, Franz Markut, Herbert Ötzlinger
  • Patent number: 11105005
    Abstract: A product container is provided. The product container includes a first product and an electrochemistry device configured to convert a portion of the first product into a second product, which is an unstable formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Patrik Johansson, Venda Porter Maloney, Kelly Duncan
  • Patent number: 11105006
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide reduction apparatus comprises a first electrochemical compartment provided with a first electrode, a second electrochemical compartment provided with a second electrode, an ion conducting membrane which demarcates the first electrochemical compartment from the second electrochemical compartment, and a first connecting path which connects the first electrochemical compartment with the second electrochemical compartment. The first electrode contains a first catalyst which catalyzes a reduction of carbon dioxide to a reduced product, and the second electrode contains a second catalyst which catalyzes a reaction between the reduced product and a reactant. The first connecting path is a connecting path which allows the reduced product in the first electrochemical compartment to flow out to the second electrochemical compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naohiro Fujinuma
  • Patent number: 11105007
    Abstract: A device for the electrochemical production of a product containing CO, and a method for the electrochemical production of a product containing CO, in which a return of a material stream containing the educt and CO is carried out after the electrochemical production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Linde GMBH
    Inventors: Clara Delhomme-Neudecker, Marc Hanebuth, Andreas Peschel, Günter Schmid, Nicole Schödel, Dan Taroata
  • Patent number: 11098409
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell for carbon dioxide of an embodiment includes: an anode part including an anode to oxidize water or a hydroxide ion and thus produce oxygen and an anode solution flow path to supply an anode solution to the anode; a cathode part including a cathode to reduce carbon dioxide and thus produce a carbon compound, a cathode solution flow path to supply a cathode solution to the cathode, and a liquid passing member disposed between the cathode and the cathode solution flow path and having a pore allowing the cathode solution to pass through while holding the cathode solution; and a separator to separate the anode part and the cathode part from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuki Kudo, Akihiko Ono, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Ryota Kitagawa, Jun Tamura, Yoshitsune Sugano, Asahi Motoshige, Satoshi Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 11097945
    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: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: COUGAR CREEK ELECTROLYSED WATER, LLC
    Inventor: Liyu Li
  • Patent number: 11098410
    Abstract: Provided are a photocatalyst electrode, an artificial photosynthesis module, and an artificial photosynthesis device that have low electrical resistance, even in a case where the area is increased, in a case where a transparent conductive layer is used. The photocatalyst electrode is a photocatalyst electrode that has a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, a photocatalyst layer, and a linear metal electrical conductor, and splits water with light to produce a gas. The substrate, the transparent conductive layer, and the photocatalyst layer are laminated in this order, and the linear metal electrical conductor is in contact with the transparent conductive layer. The artificial photosynthesis module has the oxygen evolution electrode that splits the water with the light to produce oxygen, and a hydrogen evolution electrode that splits the water with the light to produce hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation, JAPAN TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS CHEMICAL PROCESS
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Aburaya, Jiro Tsukahara, Satoshi Yoshida, Hiroshi Nagate, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11098408
    Abstract: An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccating device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Xergy Inc.
    Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, Jacob Zerby, Xhefei Li, William Parmelee