Patents by Inventor Dirk Vanhoutte

Dirk Vanhoutte 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).

  • Patent number: 11401167
    Abstract: This invention relates to an industrial process of manufacturing hydroxide precursor for lithium transition metal oxide used in secondary lithium ion batteries. More particularly, this process utilizes highly concentrated nitrate salts and is designed to mitigate waste production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: UMICORE, UMICORE KOREA, LTD.
    Inventors: Jens Paulsen, Eric Robert, Dirk Vanhoutte, Daniël Nelis, Randy De Palma, Dae-Hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20200031682
    Abstract: This invention relates to an industrial process of manufacturing hydroxide precursor for lithium transition metal oxide used in secondary lithium ion batteries. More particularly, this process utilizes highly concentrated nitrate salts and is designed to mitigate waste production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Jens PAULSEN, Eric ROBERT, Dirk VANHOUTTE, Daniël NELIS, Randy DE PALMA, Dae-Hyun KIM
  • Patent number: 6773487
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for refining silver bullion, i.e. raw silver containing generally more than 90% silver besides Se, Pb, Au, Cu and platinum group metals (PGM) as main impurities. The process comprises: optionally removing Se as gaseous SeO2 from the molten metallic phase by injecting air, which is preferably O2 enriched, into the metallic phase at a preferred bath temperature of 1000-1100° C.; optionally slagging off the Pb by contacting the molten metallic phase with a silica and borax based flux at a preferred bath temperature of 1000-1150° C.; granulating the molten metallic phase in water, thereby forming Ag rich granules; leaching the Ag rich granules with HNO3 at a temperature above 50° C., preferably in an O2 enriched atmosphere, followed by filtration, thereby separating an Au bearing residue from an Ag rich liquor; heating the Ag rich liquor, thereby evaporating H2O and forming an AgNO3 bearing melt; maintaining the AgNO3 bearing melt at a temperature of 220-350° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: UMICORE
    Inventors: Dirk Vanhoutte, Sybolt Brouwer
  • Publication number: 20030154821
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for refining silver bullion, i.e. raw silver containing generally more than 90% silver besides Se, Pb, Au, Cu and platinum group metals (PGM) as main impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Dirk Vanhoutte, Sybolt Brouwer
  • Patent number: 6162346
    Abstract: A process for recovery of zinc from sphalerite containing ores or concentrates, whereby, in a first step, these ores or concentrates are submitted to a thermal treatment consisting essentially of a heating cycle performed under non-oxidizing conditions above 900.degree. C. thereby at least partly transforming the sphalerite to wurtzite, and subsequently the wurtzite is quenched in such conditions as to retain at least partly the wurtzite after quenching. In a second step zinc is leached out of the converted ore or concentrate, and in a third step zinc is recovered from the leaching solution by electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: N.V. Union Miniere S.A.
    Inventors: Sybolt Brouwer, Dirk Vanhoutte