Patents by Inventor Catherine J. Simmons
Catherine J. Simmons has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 4737316Abstract: A liquid containing radioactive ions is purified (decontaminated) by contacting the same with an inorganic ion exchange composition having ion exchange sites which can be occupied by the radioactive ions from the liquid. The ion exchange composition is a mixture of an ion exchange medium and an additive which is relatively inert to the ion exchange process and which is a sintering aid for the ion exchange medium designed to lower the sintering temperature of the ion exchange composition. The ion exchange composition may be disposed within a suitable container (e.g., cannister), e.g., made of 304L stainless steel or Inconel 601 and the ion exchange process may be carried out in such container. Alternatively, the ion exchange medium can be employed without being previously admixed with the additive. The additive, if desired, can be admixed at a later stage with the contaminated medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1986Date of Patent: April 12, 1988Assignees: Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore A. LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. Macedo, Herbert G. Sutter, Robert K. Mohr, Catherine J. Simmons
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Patent number: 4591455Abstract: A liquid containing radioactive ions is purified (decontaminated) by contacting the same with an inorganic ion exchange composition having ion exchange sites which can be occupied by the radioactive ions from the liquid. The ion exchange composition is a mixture of an ion exchange medium and an additive which is relatively inert to the ion exchange process and which is a sintering aid for the ion exchange medium designed to lower the sintering temperature of the ion exchange composition. The ion exchange composition may be disposed within a suitable container (e.g., cannister), e.g., made of 304L stainless steel or Inconel 601 and the ion exchange process may be carried out in such container. Alternatively, the ion exchange medium can be employed without being previously admixed with the additive. The additive, if desired, can be admixed at a later stage with the contaminated medium.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1982Date of Patent: May 27, 1986Assignees: Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore A. LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. Macedo, Herbert G. Sutter, Robert K. Mohr, Catherine J. Simmons
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Patent number: 4544499Abstract: This invention relates to the immobilization of toxic, e.g., radioactive materials, internally in a silicate glass or silica gel matrix for extremely long periods of time. Toxic materials, such as radioactive wastes containing radioactive anions, and in some cases cations, which may be in the form of liquids, or solids dissolved or dispersed in liquids or gases, are internally incorporated into a glass matrix, having hydrous organofunctionalsiloxy groups, e.g., hydrous aminoalkylsiloxy or carboxyorganosiloxy, bonded to silicon atoms of said glass and/or hydrous polyvalent metals bonded to silicon atoms of said glass through divalent oxygen linkages or otherwise immobilized therein, by a process which involves the ion exchange of said toxic, radioactive anions with hydroxyl groups attached to said organofunctionalsiloxy groups or with hydroxyl groups attached to the hydrous polyvalent metal.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1982Date of Patent: October 1, 1985Assignees: Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore A. LitovitzInventors: Danh C. Tran, Pedro B. Macedo, Joseph H. Simmons, Catherine J. Simmons, Nicholas Lagakos
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Patent number: 4528011Abstract: This invention relates to the immobilization of toxic materials, e.g., radioactive materials, in glass for extremely long periods of time. Toxic materials, such as radioactive wastes, which may be in the form of liquids, or solids dissolved or dispersed in liquids or gases, are deposited in a glass container which is heated to evaporate off non-radioactive volatile materials, if present; to decompose salts, such as nitrates, if any, and to drive off volatile non-radioactive decomposition products, and then to collapse the walls of said container on said radwaste and seal the container and immobilize the contained radwaste, and then burying the resulting product underground or at sea. In another embodiment, the glass container also contains glass particles, e.g., spheres or granules, on which the radwaste solids are deposited.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1981Date of Patent: July 9, 1985Assignees: Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore A. LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. Macedo, Catherine J. Simmons, Danh C. Tran, Nicholas Lagakos, Joseph Simmons
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Patent number: 4469628Abstract: This invention relates to the immobilization of toxic, e.g., radioactive, materials in a silicate glass or silica gel matrix for extremely long periods of time. Toxic materials, such as radioactive wastes containing radioactive cations, which may be in the form of liquids, or solids dissolved or dispersed in liquids or gases, are incorporated into a glass or silica gel matrix, having alkali metal, Group Ib metal and/or ammonium cations bonded to silicon atoms of said glass or silica gel through divalent oxygen linkages, by a process which involves the ion exchange of said toxic or radioactive cations with said alkali metal, Group Ib metal and/or ammonium cations to bind said toxic or radioactive cations to silicon atoms of said glass or silica gel through said silicon-bonded divalent oxygen linkages.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1982Date of Patent: September 4, 1984Inventors: Catherine J. Simmons, Joseph H. Simmons, Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore A. Litovitz
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Patent number: 4333847Abstract: This invention relates to the immobilization of toxic, e.g., radioactive materials, internally in a silicate glass or silica gel matrix for extremely long periods of time. Toxic materials, such as radioactive wastes containing radioactive anions, and in some cases cations, which may be in the form of liquids, or solids dissolved or dispersed in liquids or gases, are internally incorporated into a glass matrix, having hydrous organofunctionalsiloxy groups, e.g., hydrous aminoalkylsiloxy or carboxyorganosiloxy, bonded to silicon atoms of said glass and/or hydrous polyvalent metals bonded to silicon atoms of said glass through divalent oxygen linkages or otherwise immobilized therein, by a process which involves the ion exchange of said toxic, radioactive anions with hydroxyl groups attached to said organofunctionalsiloxy groups or with hydroxyl groups attached to the hydrous polyvalent metal.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1979Date of Patent: June 8, 1982Assignees: P. B. Macedo, T. A. LitovitzInventors: Danh C. Tran, Pedro B. Macedo, Joseph H. Simmons, Catherine J. Simmons, Nicholas Lagakos
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Patent number: 4312774Abstract: This invention relates to the immobilization of toxic materials, e.g., radioactive materials, in glass for extremely long periods of time. Toxic materials, such as radioactive wastes, which may be in the form of liquids, or solids dissolved or dispersed in liquids or gases, are deposited in a glass container which is heated to evaporate off non-radioactive volatile materials, if present; to decompose salts, such as nitrates, if any, and to drive off volatile non-radioactive decomposition products, and then to collapse the walls of said container on said radwaste and seal the container and immobilize the contained radwaste, and then burying the resulting product underground or at sea. In another embodiment, the glass container also contains glass particles, e.g., spheres or granules, on which the radwaste solids are deposited.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1979Date of Patent: January 26, 1982Assignees: Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore A. LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. Macedo, Catherine J. Simmons, Danh C. Tran, Nicholas Lagakos, Joseph Simmons