Patents by Inventor Kathy Elst

Kathy Elst 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: 11401230
    Abstract: A method of recovering an organic acid from an aqueous solution may include extracting the organic acid dissolved in the aqueous solution into a water immiscible extraction phase. The water immiscible extraction phase has an extractant for the organic acid. The method may also include separating the extraction phase from the aqueous solution, adding an alcohol to the extraction phase separated from the aqueous solution, and forming an ester from the organic acid and the alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: VITO NV
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Helene De Wever
  • Publication number: 20200354302
    Abstract: A method of recovering an organic acid from an aqueous solution may include extracting the organic acid dissolved in the aqueous solution into a water immiscible extraction phase. The water immiscible extraction phase has an extractant for the organic acid. The method may also include separating the extraction phase from the aqueous solution, adding an alcohol to the extraction phase separated from the aqueous solution, and forming an ester from the organic acid and the alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: VITO NV
    Inventors: Kathy ELST, Helene DE WEVER
  • Patent number: 8076498
    Abstract: A method produces fatty acid esters by transesterification of fats and oils with the aid of an alcohol, at a high pressure and temperature. Unreacted alcohol is separated inline from the reaction mixture and continuously recycled into the transesterification process. The separation is performed by obtaining a vapour phase and higher density phases of the reaction mixture and concentrating the alcohol in the vapour phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V. (Vito)
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Luc Van Ginneken, Jo Sijben
  • Patent number: 8067624
    Abstract: A method produces a fatty acid alkylester by transesterification of a fat or oil and an alcohol. The reaction is catalysed by a heterogeneous catalyst immobilized in a tubular reactor at a temperature between 260 and 420° C. and at a pressure higher than 5 bar. A mixture of the fat or oil and the alcohol is led in a continuous flow through the tubular reactor. The catalyst is preferably a metal oxide or a metal carbonate including an alkaline earth metal. The reaction takes place at reduced residence times and contact times compared to the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V. (Vito)
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Walter Adriansens, Louis Willems, Luc Van Ginneken
  • Publication number: 20100048930
    Abstract: A method produces fatty acid esters by transesterification of fats and oils with the aid of an alcohol, at a high pressure and temperature. Unreacted alcohol is separated inline from the reaction mixture and continuously recycled into the transesterification process. The separation is performed by obtaining a vapour phase and higher density phases of the reaction mixture and concentrating the alcohol in the vapour phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Viaamse Instelling Voor Techmologisch Onderzoek N.V. (VITO)
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Luc Van Ginneken, Jo Sijben
  • Publication number: 20100010247
    Abstract: A method produces a fatty acid alkylester by transesterification of a fat or oil and an alcohol. The reaction is catalysed by a heterogeneous catalyst immobilised in a tubular reactor at a temperature between 260 and 420° C. and at a pressure higher than 5 bar. A mixture of the fat or oil and the alcohol is led in a continuous flow through the tubular reactor. The catalyst is preferably a metal oxide or a metal carbonate including an alkaline earth metal. The reaction takes place at reduced residence times and contact times compared to the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V.(Vito)
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Walter Adriansens, Louis Willems, Luc Van Ginneken
  • Patent number: 6737228
    Abstract: A black-and-white silver halide photographic film material has been provided, wherein said material has first and second major surfaces, at least one of which is coated with at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, overcoated with a protective antistress layer, wherein said emulsion layer(s) have chemically and spectrally sensitized {111} tabular hexagonal emulsion grains or crystals rich in silver bromide in an amount covering at least 50% of the total projective grain surface of all grains, wherein said grains further have an average equivalent volume diameter in the range from 0.3 &mgr;m up to 1.5 &mgr;m and an average grain thickness of less than 0.30 &mgr;m, and an average amount of iodide from 0.05 mole % up to 0.5 mole % based on silver over the whole grain volume, characterized in that said material comprises, in an amount of at least 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Johan Loccufier
  • Patent number: 6686142
    Abstract: A chemically and spectrally-sensitized emulsion has been described, wherein said emulsion comprising (100) cubic silver halide grains with an average edge length of from 0.2 up to 1.5 &mgr;m, has been spectrally sensitized by addition at least three trimethine dyes: a main spectral sensitizer added in an amount of at least 85 mole % of all spectral sensitizers added, followed by adding a second spectral sensitizer in an amount of not more than 10 mole % and a third spectral sensitizer in an amount of at most 1 mole % wherein at least said main spectral sensitizer has two benzoxazole rings in its chemical structure, at least said third spectral sensitizer has two benzimidazole rings in its chemical structure and wherein the said second spectral sensitizer has a structure more sterically hindered than the structure of the other spectral sensitizers. A light-sensitive silver halide photographic film material coated with such emulsion and a radiographic screen/film combination has been described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant
  • Patent number: 6607876
    Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film material and a radiographic screen/film combination has been disclosed, said material having in at least one light-sensitive layer thereof an emulsion comprising {111} tabular silver halide grains rich in silver bromide, spectrally sensitive to irradiation in the wavelength range between 540 and 555 nm by the presence of a combination of at least one J-aggregating spectrally sensitizing cyanine dye according to the formula (I) and of at least one additional cyanine dye providing a shift of maximum absorption wavelength of said combination of less than 10 nm versus in the absence thereof, wherein said additional cyanine dye is at least one monomethine cyanine dye according to the formula (II), essentially having a solubilizing group or a latent solubilizing group, said dyes having been given in the description and in the claims of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant, Ilse Mans
  • Patent number: 6558892
    Abstract: A method has been described for preparing an ultrathin tabular grain emulsion rich in silver bromide, having {111} major faces, wherein tabular grains having a thickness of less than 0.08 &mgr;m exhibit an average aspect ratio of more than 5:1 and account for at least 75% by number of hexagonal grains and a coefficient of variation on average equivalent surface area of less than 0.50. The process is characterized in that during formation, (a) pH is maintained from 0.8 to 10; (b) a gelatino-peptizer is present in a concentration of 0 to 50 g per liter of dispersing medium, and (c) pBr having a value of at least 1.8 is maintained during grain nucleation and pBr is maintained at less than 2.4 during growth provided that a gelatin peptizer which is free from calcium ions and has a methionine content of less than 30 micromoles per gram of gelatino-peptizer is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Ilse Mans
  • Publication number: 20020197569
    Abstract: A black-and-white silver halide photographic film material has been provided, wherein said material has first and second major surfaces, at least one of which is coated with at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, overcoated with a protective antistress layer, wherein said emulsion layer(s) have chemically and spectrally sensitized {111} tabular hexagonal emulsion grains or crystals rich in silver bromide in an amount covering at least 50% of the total projective grain surface of all grains, wherein said grains further have an average equivalent volume diameter in the range from 0.3 &mgr;m up to 1.5 &mgr;m and an average grain thickness of less than 0.30 &mgr;m, and an average amount of iodide from 0.05 mole % up to 0.5 mole % based on silver over the whole grain volume, characterized in that said material comprises, in an amount of at least 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Johan Loccufier
  • Publication number: 20020192607
    Abstract: A chemically and spectrally-sensitized emulsion has been described, wherein said emulsion comprising (100) cubic silver halide grains with an average edge length of from 0.2 up to 1.5 &mgr;m, has been spectrally sensitized by addition at least three trimethine dyes: a main spectral sensitizer added in an amount of at least 85 mole % of all spectral sensitizers added, followed by adding a second spectral sensitizer in an amount of not more than 10 mole % and a third spectral sensitizer in an amount of at most 1 mole % wherein at least said main spectral sensitizer has two benzoxazole rings in its chemical structure, at least said third spectral sensitizer has two benzimidazole rings in its chemical structure and wherein the said second spectral sensitizer has a structure more sterically hindered than the structure of the other spectral sensitizers. A light-sensitive silver halide photographic film material coated with such emulsion and a radiographic screen/film combination has been described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant
  • Publication number: 20020127503
    Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film material and a radiographic screen/film combination has been disclosed, said material having in at least one light-sensitive layer thereof an emulsion comprising {111} tabular silver halide grains rich in silver bromide, spectrally sensitive to irradiation in the wavelength range between 540 and 555 nm by the presence of a combination of at least one J-aggregating spectrally sensitizing cyanine dye according to the formula (I) and of at least one additional cyanine dye providing a shift of maximum absorption wavelength of said combination of less than 10 nm versus in the absence thereof, wherein said additional cyanine dye is at least one monomethine cyanine dye according to the formula (II), essentially having a solubilizing group or a latent solubilizing group, said dyes having been given in the description and in the claims of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant, Ilse Mans
  • Patent number: 6403276
    Abstract: A film material has been provided with emulsions comprising {111} tabular silver halide grains rich in silver bromide, spectrally sensitive to irradiation in the wavelength range shorter than 420 nm by the presence of at least one blue spectral sensitizer and of at least one azacyanine dye, the formula of which has been given in the description and in the claims. A radiographic screen/film combination or system has also been provided comprising a duplitized film sandwiched between a pair of supporting or self-supporting X-ray intensifying screens, characterized in that i) said pair of supported or self-supporting X-ray intensifying screens essentially consists of luminescent phosphor particles emitting at least 50% and more preferably at least 80% of their emitted radiation in the wavelength range shorter than 420 nm, ii) said film corresponds with the film material disclosed hereinbefore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant, Ann Verbeeck
  • Publication number: 20020037485
    Abstract: A method has been described of preparing an ultrathin tabular grain emulsion rich in silver bromide, having {111} major faces, wherein tabular grains having a thickness of less than 0.08 &mgr;m exhibit an average aspect ratio of more than 5:1 and account for at least 75%, and more preferably at least 80%, by number of hexagonal grains and a coefficient of variation on average equivalent surface area of less than 0.50, said process comprising: introducing into a temperature-controlled reaction vessel an aqueous dispersing medium and silver, bromide, and, optionally, iodide and/or chloride, and maintaining pBr values within said reaction vessel during grain nucleation and growth that favors the formation and growth of tabular grains, characterized in that at the time said tabular grains are being formed, (a) pH in said reaction vessel is maintained at a value ranging from 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Ilse Mans
  • Patent number: 6316176
    Abstract: A method has been described of chemically sensitizing a silver halide emulsion having silver halide grains and a binder, comprising the steps of adding thereto, besides a chemically sensitizing agent providing sulphur, an organo-tellurium sensitizing compound providing tellurium in a molar ratio amount versus sulphur of less than 0.30. A light-sensitive silver halide photographic element has also been described which has been made highly sensitive by chemically sensitizing a silver halide emulsion which has been made highly sensitive by the method described hereinbefore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Johan Loccufier
  • Patent number: 6300051
    Abstract: A method has been disclosed for preparing a tabular silver halide emulsion wherein tabular silver halide grains having an average aspect ratio of at least 2:1, an average crystal diameter from 0.3 &mgr;m to 3.0 &mgr;m and an average thickness of less than 0.50 &mgr;m account for at least 50% of the total projective surface area of said grains, said method comprising the steps of precipitating, spectrally sensitizing and chemically ripening said grains, characterized by spectrally sensitizing by adding to the emulsion grains before chemically ripening at least one J-band aggregating spectrally sensitizing dye and at least one non-J-band aggregating dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Marc Van den Zegel, Kathy Elst
  • Patent number: 6277552
    Abstract: A light-sensitive silver halide photographic emulsion has been disclosed, said emulsion comprising a binder and core-shell tabular grains, wherein said core is more rich in silver bromide than said shell, characterized in that said grains contain, in the core thereof representing an amount of precipitated silver halide extending up to less than 50% of all precipitated silver halide, a ruthenium complex compound as a sole complex compound providing shallow electron traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Yves Vanmeenen, Dirk Vandenbroucke
  • Patent number: 6277550
    Abstract: A photosensitive silver halide emulsion has been disclosed, containing tabular silver halide grains present in a numerical amount of at least 50%, said tabular grains having an average aspect ratio of at least 1.2, an average equivalent circular grain diameter of at least 0.1 &mgr;m and an average grain thickness of less than 0.3 &mgr;m, characterized in that said grains further include an organic hole trapping dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Johan Loccufier
  • Patent number: 6214531
    Abstract: A light-sensitive silver halide photographic emulsion has been described comprising a binder and tabular grains rich in silver bromide, characterized in that said grains contain as a dopant RhClx(SCN)y, wherein each of x and y are integers having a value of at least 1 and less than 6 so that x+y equals 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Dirk Vandenbroucke, Gina De Lamper