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).
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Patent number: 11401230Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: VITO NVInventors: Kathy Elst, Helene De Wever
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Publication number: 20200354302Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: November 12, 2020Applicant: VITO NVInventors: Kathy ELST, Helene DE WEVER
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Patent number: 8076498Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 10, 2008Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V. (Vito)Inventors: Kathy Elst, Luc Van Ginneken, Jo Sijben
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Patent number: 8067624Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V. (Vito)Inventors: Kathy Elst, Walter Adriansens, Louis Willems, Luc Van Ginneken
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Publication number: 20100048930Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2008Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: Viaamse Instelling Voor Techmologisch Onderzoek N.V. (VITO)Inventors: Kathy Elst, Luc Van Ginneken, Jo Sijben
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Publication number: 20100010247Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2007Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V.(Vito)Inventors: Kathy Elst, Walter Adriansens, Louis Willems, Luc Van Ginneken
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Patent number: 6737228Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 16, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: AGFA-GevaertInventors: Kathy Elst, Johan Loccufier
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Patent number: 6686142Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 4, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant
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Patent number: 6607876Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant, Ilse Mans
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Patent number: 6558892Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Kathy Elst, Ilse Mans
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Publication number: 20020197569Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERTInventors: Kathy Elst, Johan Loccufier
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Publication number: 20020192607Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant
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Publication number: 20020127503Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant, Ilse Mans
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Patent number: 6403276Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 7, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Kathy Elst, Paul Callant, Ann Verbeeck
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Publication number: 20020037485Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2001Publication date: March 28, 2002Inventors: Kathy Elst, Ilse Mans
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Patent number: 6316176Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 21, 2000Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Kathy Elst, Johan Loccufier
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Patent number: 6300051Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Marc Van den Zegel, Kathy Elst
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Patent number: 6277552Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 8, 2000Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Kathy Elst, Yves Vanmeenen, Dirk Vandenbroucke
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Patent number: 6277550Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 5, 1999Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Kathy Elst, Johan Loccufier
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Patent number: 6214531Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 19, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Kathy Elst, Dirk Vandenbroucke, Gina De Lamper