Patents by Inventor Douglas Warkentin

Douglas Warkentin 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).

  • Publication number: 20130164810
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the biologically catalyzed, anaerobic generation of sulfide species as sulphide, hydrosulfide or hydrogen sulfide in anaerobic bioreactors from the reduction of tetravalent sulfur derived from one or more sources including sulfur dioxide containing combustion flue gas, or the reduction of divalent or pentavalent sulfur containing liquors such as thiosulfate or dithionate containing liquors. Flue gas sources of sulfur dioxide also contain one or more bio-nutrients or energy sources. The generated sulfide is useful for numerous applications including waste treatment and metals recovery as sulfides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: KEMETCO RESEARCH INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Warkentin, Norman Chow
  • Patent number: 8460631
    Abstract: The process concerns hydrometallurgical processing of manganese sulphate and manganese dithionate containing liquors and recovery of water therefrom. Sodium sulphate and/or sodium dithionate containing liquors are derived from manganese sulphate and manganese dithionate containing liquids, which are then cooled to produce crystals of sodium sulphate decahydrate and sodium dithionate dehydrate. The sodium sulphate decahydrate and sodium dithionate dehydrate crystals are then heated to a temperature sufficient to decompose the sodium sulphate decahydrate crystals to form anhydrous sodium sulphate crystals, sodium dithionate hydrate crystals and water, after which water is removed from the sodium sulphate and sodium dithionate hydrate crystal. The sodium sulphate and sodium dithionate dehydrate crystals are then heated to form anhydrous sodium sulphate, sulfur dioxide and water or steam. The anhydrous sodium sulphate is then separated from the sulfur dioxide and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: American Manganese Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Chow, Anca-Mihaela Nacu, Douglas Warkentin, John Wentworth Fisher
  • Publication number: 20120207666
    Abstract: The process concerns hydrometallurgical processing of manganese sulphate and manganese dithionate containing liquors and recovery of water therefrom. Sodium sulphate and/or sodium dithionate containing liquors are derived from manganese sulphate and manganese dithionate containing liquids, which are then cooled to produce crystals of sodium sulphate decahydrate and sodium dithionate dehydrate. The sodium sulphate decahydrate and sodium dithionate dehydrate crystals are then heated to a temperature sufficient to decompose the sodium sulphate decahydrate crystals to form anhydrous sodium sulphate crystals, sodium dithionate hydrate crystals and water, after which water is removed from the sodium sulphate and sodium dithionate hydrate crystal. The sodium sulphate and sodium dithionate dehydrate crystals are then heated to form anhydrous sodium sulphate, sulfur dioxide and water or steam. The anhydrous sodium sulphate is then separated from the sulfur dioxide and water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: American Manganese, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Chow, Anca-Mihaela Nacu, Douglas Warkentin, John Wentworth Fisher