Patents by Inventor Ralph E. Roper, Jr.

Ralph E. Roper, Jr. 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: 20220055931
    Abstract: Method of reducing calcite formation from solubilized calcium forms in aqueous effluent streams, including the reduction or removal of solubilized forms of nickel, selenium, sulfate, and magnesium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Heritage Research Group, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph E. Roper, JR., Anthony Rogers, Carina Vargas, Anthony J. Kriech
  • Publication number: 20210252566
    Abstract: Methods of treating leachates in rock piles. Exemplary leachates include neutral aqueous leachates containing selenates and nitrates, said leachates being found in waste rock piles from coal mining operations. In certain embodiments, the method includes introducing an inert gas to the lower section of the rock pile, and allowing bacteria indigenous to the mining site to reduce the selenates and nitrates to selenium and nitrogen, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Heritage Research Group
    Inventors: Ralph E. Roper, JR., Anthony J. Kriech
  • Publication number: 20160107210
    Abstract: A method of reducing the mobility of metal contaminates in mediums such as soil, groundwater, sludge, etc. that involves contacting the mediums with a reagent that is a ferrous sulfide suspension that contains at least FeS and Al(OH)3. The reagent is produced by reacting a solution that contains at least NaAlO2 and NaOH with a solution that contains FeCl2, HCl and water to form a reaction mixture that contains Fe2+, Cl?, Na+, Al(OH)3 and H2O; and adding NaHS to the reaction mixture. The mobility of the metal contaminates is reduce by adsorption of the metal contaminates in the medium onto the surface of ferrous sulfide or Al(OH)3 in the ferrous sulfide suspension; adsorption of the metal contaminates in the medium onto iron (hydr)-oxides formed in the suspension; and precipitation of the metal contaminates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Gary J. Meyer, Thomas P. McCullough, Anthony J. Kriech, Ralph E. Roper, JR.
  • Patent number: 9073008
    Abstract: A wet gas scrubber liquor and method of using the same to remove mercury from flue gases. The wet gas scrubber liquid is an alkaline liquid suspension of ferrous sulfide particles that can be prepared by combining together a ferrous ion source such as ferrous chloride, a sulfide ion source such as sodium hydrosulfide and an alkalinity source such as sodium hydroxide. When used to scrub flue gases to remove mercury from flue gases the mercury reacts with said alkaline liquid suspension of ferrous sulfide particles and can be removed by at least one of: i) adsorption onto said ferrous sulfide particles; ii) adsorption onto iron (hydr)-oxides that form in said alkaline liquid suspension of ferrous sulfide particles; and iii) absorption by reacting with sulfur formed in alkaline liquid suspension of ferrous sulfide particles and forming mercuric sulfide as a precipitate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Redox Technology Group, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. McCullough, Gary Joel Meyer, Ralph E. Roper, Jr., Anthony J. Kriech
  • Patent number: 9034285
    Abstract: A ferrous sulfide suspension that includes at least FeSm and Al(OH)3 and which can be used to reduce mercury emissions in flue gases. Through a combination of complex chemical reactions, precipitation, co-precipitation, and surface adsorption the ferrous sulfide suspension of the present invention effectively removes mercury from gaseous streams while concurrently preventing mercury re-emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Redox Technology Group LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. McCullough, Gary Joel Meyer, Ralph E. Roper, Jr., Anthony J. Kriech
  • Publication number: 20140255280
    Abstract: A wet gas scrubber liquor and method of using the same to remove mercury from flue gases. The wet gas scrubber liquid is an alkaline liquid suspension of ferrous sulfide particles that can be prepared by combining together a ferrous ion source such as ferrous chloride, a sulfide ion source such as sodium hydrosulfide and an alkalinity source such as sodium hydroxide. When used to scrub flue gases to remove mercury from flue gases the mercury reacts with said alkaline liquid suspension of ferrous sulfide particles and can be removed by at least one of: i) adsorption onto said ferrous sulfide particles; ii) adsorption onto iron (hydr)-oxides that form in said alkaline liquid suspension of ferrous sulfide particles; and iii) absorption by reacting with sulfur formed in alkaline liquid suspension of ferrous sulfide particles and forming mercuric sulfide as a precipitate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas P. McCullough, Gary Joel Meyer, Ralph E. Roper, JR., Anthony J. Kriech
  • Patent number: 7938766
    Abstract: A calcium-sodium polysulfide chemical reagent and methods for producing the reagent. The reagent is a blend of calcium polysulfide and sodium polysulfide that can be prepared using various types, sources and ratios of lime, elemental sulfur and sulfide ion using either virgin or waste materials. The reagent is amenable to inexpensive and high rate production methods at ambient or warmer temperatures. The reagent can be used to precipitate metals from wastewater, stabilize hexavalent chrome in hazardous waste residues, remove mercury from coal fired power plants, and as an electrolyte in large-scale bromide/polysulfide electrical storage batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Heritage Environmental Services, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph E. Roper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7767188
    Abstract: A calcium-sodium polysulfide chemical reagent and methods for producing the reagent. The reagent is a blend of calcium polysulfide and sodium polysulfide that can be prepared using various types, sources and ratios of lime, elemental sulfur and sulfide ion using either virgin or waste materials. The reagent is amenable to inexpensive and high rate production methods at ambient or warmer temperatures. The reagent can be used to precipitate metals from wastewater, stabilize hexavalent chrome in hazardous waste residues, remove mercury from coal fired power plants, and as an electrolyte in large-scale bromide/polysulfide electrical storage batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Heritage Environmental Services, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph E. Roper, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090270671
    Abstract: A calcium-sodium polysulfide chemical reagent and methods for producing the reagent. The reagent is a blend of calcium polysulfide and sodium polysulfide that can be prepared using various types, sources and ratios of lime, elemental sulfur and sulfide ion using either virgin or waste materials. The reagent is amenable to inexpensive and high rate production methods at ambient or warmer temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Heritage Environmental Services, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph E. Roper, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090202424
    Abstract: A calcium-sodium polysulfide chemical reagent and methods for producing the reagent. The reagent is a blend of calcium polysulfide and sodium polysulfide that can be prepared using various types, sources and ratios of lime, elemental sulfur and sulfide ion using either virgin or waste materials. The reagent is amenable to inexpensive and high rate production methods at ambient or warmer temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Heritage Environmental Services, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph E. Roper, JR.
  • Patent number: 7534413
    Abstract: A calcium-sodium polysulfide chemical reagent and methods for producing the reagent. The reagent is a blend of calcium polysulfide and sodium polysulfide that can be prepared using various types, sources and ratios of lime, elemental sulfur and sulfide ion using either virgin or waste materials. The reagent is amenable to inexpensive and high rate production methods at ambient or warmer temperatures. The reagent can be used to precipitate metals from wastewater, stabilize hexavalent chrome in hazardous waste residues, remove mercury from coal fired power plants, and as an electrolyte in large-scale bromide/polysulfide electrical storage batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Heritage Environment Services, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph E. Roper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7144362
    Abstract: A method of chemically stabilizing multivalent oxyanions in residue materials such as wastes from glass manufacturing facilities which method involves adding to the residue material cement, lime and aluminum sulfate to form a clay-like material having a low leachability and permeability to water. Calcium polysulfide or other sulfide bearing materials can also be added to assist in stabilizing multivalent oxyanions by adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential of the stabilized waste matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Heritage Environmental Servicers, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph E. Roper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4738695
    Abstract: A portable gas removal system for withdrawing a flammable gas from a low pressure subterranean formation wherein the gas is aspirated from a well with water, the mixture of gas and water are introduced into a receiving chamber where the aspirated gas is stripped and mixed with air and an air-gas mixture is withdrawn having a gas concentration lower than the explosive limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Dade County Aviation Dept., an Administrative Division of Metropolitan Dade County
    Inventors: Ivan H. Carr, James W. Hayman, Ralph E. Roper, Jr.