Patents by Inventor Marko Lahtinen

Marko Lahtinen 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: 9085020
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting an iron-bearing residue generated in a hydrometallurgical process that contains small amounts of soluble heavy metals into a stable form by means of a neutralizing agent. The residue is elutriated and the elutriated residue is fed into at least one stabilization or homogenization reactor, into which a neutralizing agent is also routed, and the homogenous mixing together of the residue and neutralizing agent takes place by means of a helix mixer, where the ratio of the diameter of the mixer to the diameter of the reactor is 0.75-0.99.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Leena Lehtinen, Marko Lahtinen, Bror Nyman, Timo Haakana, Jari Tiihonen
  • Publication number: 20130060075
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting an iron-bearing residue generated in a hydrometallurgical process that contains small amounts of soluble heavy metals into a stable form by means of a neutralising agent. The residue is elutriated and the elutriated residue is fed into at least one stabilisation or homogenisation reactor, into which a neutralising agent is also routed, and the homogenous mixing together of the residue and neutralising agent takes place by means of a helix mixer, where the ratio of the diameter of the mixer to the diameter of the reactor is 0.75-0.99.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Leena Lehtinen, Marko Lahtinen, Bror Nyman, Timo Haakana, Jari Tiihonen
  • Patent number: 7811357
    Abstract: Sulphidic zinc concentrate usually also includes small amounts of rare metals such as indium and gallium. If the content of these metals in the raw material is sufficiently high, their recovery may be economically worthwhile. In the method according to the invention the recovery of indium and other desirable rare metals takes place in a zinc leaching process, in which at least part of the sulphidic concentrate is leached directly without roasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Marko Lahtinen, Mikko Ruonala, Kurt Svens, Stig-Göran Huldén, Sigmund Fugleberg
  • Patent number: 7682581
    Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to remove copper selectively from a concentrated zinc sulphate solution by ion exchange. The method enables a significant reduction in the use of zinc powder during the solution purification of zinc sulphate solution and makes possible to avoid usage of arsenic or antimony trioxides as a precipitation chemical. The method is to be combined with the chloride removal that occurs as a sub-stage of solution purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Leena Lehtinen, Marko Lahtinen, Marika Jyrälä, Matti Vuokko
  • Patent number: 7517383
    Abstract: The invention relates to method for leaching zinc-containing materials in connection with the electrolytic recovery of zinc. According to this method, the feed materials i.e. zinc calcine and zinc sulphide, are leached in three stages, in which he sulphuric acid content of the stages rises in accordance with the direction in which the solids are moving. The solids and solution formed in the leaching stages are routed throughout the process countercurrently in relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Aimo Järvinen, Marko Lahtinen, Heikki Takala
  • Publication number: 20080271572
    Abstract: Sulphidic zinc concentrate usually also includes small amounts of rare metals such as indium and gallium. If the content of these metals in the raw material is sufficiently high, their recovery may be economically worthwhile. In the method according to the invention the recovery of indium and other desirable rare metals takes place in a zinc leaching process, in which at least part of the sulphidic concentrate is leached directly without roasting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Marko Lahtinen, Mikko Ruonala, Kurt Svens, Stig-Goran Hulden, Sigmund Fugleberg
  • Patent number: 7294319
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the removal of iron as hematite from a zinc sulphate solution in atmospheric conditions during the electrolytic preparation of zinc. According to the method, the pH of the iron-containing solution is adjusted to a value of at least 2.7, oxygen-containing gas is fed into the solution and part of the hematite thus formed is recirculated to the precipitation stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Marko Lahtinen, Leena Lehtinen, Heikki Takala
  • Publication number: 20060213332
    Abstract: The invention relates to method for leaching zinc-containing materials in connection with the electrolytic recovery of zinc. According to this method, the feed materials i.e. zinc calcine and zinc sulphide, are leached in three stages, in which he sulphuric acid content of the stages rises in accordance with the direction in which the solids are moving. The solids and solution formed in the leaching stages are routed throughout the process countercurrently in relation to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: OUTOKUMPU OYJ
    Inventors: Aimo Jarvinen, Marko Lahtinen, Heikki Takala
  • Publication number: 20050069474
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the removal of iron as hematite from a zinc sulphate solution in atmospheric conditions during the electrolytic preparation of zinc. According to the method, the pH of the iron-containing solution is adjusted to a value of at least 2.7, oxygen-containing gas is fed into the solution and part of the hematite thus formed is recirculated to the precipitation stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Marko Lahtinen, Leena Lehtinen, Heikki Takala
  • Patent number: 6492551
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal formate, starting from a formate anion comprises at least the following sequential steps: A) conversion of a solid anion exchanger to formate form by feeding into it a solution containing a formate anion, B) exchanging the formate anion in the anion exchanger for a replacing anion by feeding into it an alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal salt solution of this replacing anion, C) recovering the alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal formate solution eluted from the anion exchanger during the exchange of the formate anion. The anion exchanger is converted to formate form by feeding into it a sodium formate solution, a formic acid solution or a solution which contains both sodium formate and formic acid. The method can be used for production of potassium formate or calcium formate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Kemira Chemicals OY
    Inventors: Erkki Paatero, Marko Lahtinen, Kari Saari, Pekka Vapaaoksa
  • Patent number: 6429333
    Abstract: In a method for preparing formic acid, methyl formate is prepared with methanol as a reactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Kemira Chemicals Oy
    Inventors: Kari Saari, Esko Tirronen, Antti Vuori, Marko Lahtinen