Patents by Inventor Richard Philip Zink

Richard Philip Zink 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).

  • Process for separating polyester from other materials
    Patent number: 7070624
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for separating polyester, and particularly polyethylene terephthalate, from various contaminants and impurities. In general, the process includes the steps of mixing materials containing polyester with an alkaline composition in a mixer. The mixer imparts sufficient energy to the slurry to provide substantially complete, even coating of the polyester containing materials with the alkaline composition and cause saponification of the outer surface of the polyester with the alkaline composition. After reaction in the mixer, the mixture is heated causing some of the impurities to be chemically modified into a more separable form. After heating, the mixture can be washed with water and the polyester can be easily separated from the remaining impurities. Through the process of the present invention, polyester can be separated and recovered from waste materials such as those containing polyvinyl chloride and aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: United Resource Recovery Corporation
    Inventors: John Mitchell Holmes, III, Richard Philip Zink
  • Process for separating polyester from other materials
    Publication number: 20030010680
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for separating polyester, and particularly polyethylene terephthalate, from various contaminants and impurities. In general, the process includes the steps of mixing materials containing polyester with an alkaline composition in a mixer. The mixer imparts sufficient energy to the slurry to provide substantially complete, even coating of the polyester containing materials with the alkaline composition and cause saponification of the outer surface of the polyester with the alkaline composition. After reaction in the mixer, the mixture is heated causing some of the impurities to be chemically modified into a more separable form. After heating, the mixture can be washed with water and the polyester can be easily separated from the remaining impurities. Through the process of the present invention, polyester can be separated and recovered from waste materials such as those containing polyvinyl chloride and aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: United Resource Recovery Corporation
    Inventors: John Mitchell Holmes, Richard Philip Zink