Catalytic Patents (Class 210/762)
  • Patent number: 11878285
    Abstract: There are provided systems and processes that provide a robust ?-alumina supported catalyst for the wet air oxidation or hydrolysis treatment of wastewaters having a pH of 9 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Philip A. Burclaff, Dominic Bush, Bryan J. Kumfer
  • Patent number: 10913658
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide removal using lithium borate is generally described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Takuya Harada, Trevor Alan Hatton
  • Patent number: 9247931
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and process for forming medical devices from an injectable composition. The apparatus includes a supply assembly, a mixing assembly, and at least one source of microwave energy. The supply assembly is configured to maintain and selectively dispense a first precursor functionalized with a first reactive member and a second precursor functionalized with a second reactive member. The mixing assembly is configured to mix the first and second precursors within a mixing cavity defined therein. The microwave energy source is configured and adapted to irradiate the mixed first and second precursors within the mixing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Nadya Belcheva
  • Publication number: 20140202963
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for oxidizing sulfides. The process can include passing an alkaline stream having about 1-about 30%, by weight, of an alkaline material and one or more sulfide compounds to a reaction zone having a metal phthalocyanine catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: UOP, LLC
    Inventors: Luigi Laricchia, Javier Rios
  • Patent number: 8771522
    Abstract: Raw water is made to pass through a raw water supply pipe by opening on-off valves, and by closing on-off valves. Oxygen is supplied to the raw water in the raw water supply pipe by opening an on-off valve of an oxygen supply pipe. The resulting raw water containing organic matter and oxygen passes through the raw water supply pipe and enters a catalyst-packed column, thereby contacting a platinum-group metal catalyst onto which hydrogen is adsorbed. This causes the organic matter in the raw water to contact the platinum-group metal catalyst under the presence of dissolved oxygen and hydrogen which is adsorbed onto the metal catalyst. Accordingly, the organic matter in the water to be treated can be easily removed at high efficiency and with low energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroto Tokoshima
  • Patent number: 8501011
    Abstract: A system and method for the treatment of process streams. A catalyst mediates a wet oxidation process at elevated temperatures and pressures for treating at least one undesirable constituent in an aqueous mixture. The aqueous mixture may be contacted with a catalyst and an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature and a superatmospheric pressure. At least a portion of the catalyst may be precipitated by a pH adjustment and recycled back to contact the aqueous mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Chad L. Felch
  • Patent number: 8262753
    Abstract: An apparatus suitable for generating gaseous hydrocarbon fuel from a carbon based synthesis gas including a reaction chamber having a rotating shaft including a plurality of radial blades mixing and circulating carbon based synthesis gas and particulate catalyst upwardly generating gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, a stripping chamber located above the reaction chamber having a second axial rotating shaft including a plurality of radial blades driving hydrocarbon fuel radially outwardly, a source of hot stripping gas, an annular filter surrounding the stripping chamber and an annular gas collection chamber surrounding the filter. The blades in the stripping chamber are rotated independently at a greater velocity than the blades in the reaction chamber and the reaction is controlled by the temperature of the synthesis gas and the rotational velocity of the mixing blades in the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Bayne Carew
  • Patent number: 8048177
    Abstract: A method for treating drain in hydrogen production includes steps of gasifying in a gasifier (1), reforming in a reformer (2), gas-liquid separation in a gas-liquid separator (4), PSA gas separation in a PSA separator (5) and evaporation in a drain treatment unit (6). In the gasifying, a mixed material containing methanol is heated and gasified. In the reforming, reformed gas containing hydrogen is produced from the mixed material by reforming reaction of methanol. In the gas-liquid separation, a liquid component is separated from the reformed gas and discharged as drain. In the PSA gas separation, hydrogen-rich gas and offgas are extracted from the reformed gas by PSA separation using an adsorption tower. In the gasifying, the offgas is burned, and the mixed material is heated by using the combustion gas as heat source. In the evaporation, drain is evaporated using the combustion gas after heating the mixed material as heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Seiko Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Sumida, Yoshinori Takata, Masanori Miyake, Yoshiaki Imoto
  • Publication number: 20110180491
    Abstract: Raw water is made to pass through a raw water supply pipe 1 by opening on-off valves 1a and 5a, and by closing on-off valves 3a and 12a. Oxygen is supplied to the raw water in the raw water supply pipe 1 by opening an on-off valve 2a of an oxygen supply pipe 2. The resulting raw water containing organic matter and oxygen passes through the raw water supply pipe 1 and enters a catalyst-packed column 4, thereby contacting a platinum-group metal catalyst 4a onto which hydrogen is adsorbed. This causes the organic matter in the raw water to contact the platinum-group metal catalyst 4a under the presence of dissolved oxygen and hydrogen which is adsorbed onto the metal catalyst. Accordingly, the organic matter in the water to be treated can be easily removed at high efficiency and with low energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroto Tokoshima
  • Patent number: 7794606
    Abstract: A modular waste treatment system for substantially liquid waste streams and methods of treating liquid waste streams are disclosed. The modular waste treatment system includes a maceration chamber for initial treatment and homogenization of waste material; a metal ion infusion chamber in fluid flow communication with the maceration chamber for introducing metal ions into the waste material; and an oxidation chamber for wet oxidation of the waste stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Innovation Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph B. Dooley, Jeffrey G. Hubrig, Richard A. Lowden
  • Patent number: 7727377
    Abstract: A system 100 is described for the treatment of multiphase residues having unlimited content of water, oil and solids to obtain hydrocarbons and other products, said system comprising multiphase residue feed system 10, inert gas system 20 and reduced pressure system 30, tubular reactor 40 provided with three heating zones Z-1, Z-2 and Z-3 with a temperature gradient and transportation helicoid 42 to displace the residue mass throughout the reaction zones, the hydrocarbon products and water being collected in a system 60 of condensers 61, 62 and 63 linked to a system 70 of bubbling vessels 71, 72 and 73, reactor 40 being operated in the sealed mode and being provided with a multiphase residue inlet 43 and exit 44 of solid product. The solid product is collected in a system 50 comprising upper valve 51 and lower valve 52, and intermediate silo 53 and then directed to post-treatment system 90 for activation aiming at industrial utilization. The process using the system 100 of the invention is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras, Albrecht Equipamentos Industrials LTDA
    Inventors: Arilza de Castilho Pickler, Luis Fernando Piexoto Gallo, Carlos Alberto Dias da Silva, Waldir Albrecht, Christine Albrecht Althoff
  • Patent number: 7662295
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for removing dissolved organic substances from an oily water obtained as a by-product from an oilfield, characterized in that an oily water obtained as a by-product from an oilfield by separating a crude oil from a crude oil/brine mixture is brought into contact with an adsorbent to adsorptively remove organic substances dissolved in the water containing oil suspended therein and that the adsorbent is regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Arato, Hidehiro Iizuka, Akira Mochizuki, Tomoko Suzuki, Akio Honji, Shigesaburo Komatsu, Hisashi Isogami, Hiroshi Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20090301974
    Abstract: A method for treating effluent containing dissolved or suspended solids includes directing the effluent containing dissolved or suspended solids to a reactor and oxidizing at least a portion of the dissolved or suspended solids in the reactor with an oxidizing agent. Oxidation is carried out at a temperature ranging between approximately 20° C. and approximately 350° C. and at a pressure ranging between approximately 1 bar and approximately 160 bar. A gaseous phase and a liquid phase form within the reactor during oxidation. The method includes separating the gaseous phase from the liquid phase and heating the effluent in the reactor with the heat produced from the oxidation of the dissolved or suspended solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: OTV SA
    Inventors: Merzark Belkhodja, Didier Cretenot
  • Patent number: 7553422
    Abstract: A method of purifying water in a nuclear installation includes an ion exchange mechanism in which the water is purified with an ion exchanger. Before being guided over the ion exchanger, the water is brought into contact with a catalyst in order to decompose hydrogen peroxide that is present in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Areva NP GmbH
    Inventors: Uve Reitzner, Volker Schneider, Waldemar Tischler
  • Patent number: 7465411
    Abstract: A composition capable of expedited in-situ generation of dioxirane and a method of preparing the composition are presented. The composition includes a transition metal catalyst, peracid donor, and carbonyl donor, and forms an effective multi-purpose oxidizing (e.g., bleaching) solution. Methods of using the bleaching solutions and their application are also presented. The composition provides a cost-effective means of producing a dioxirane-based multi-purpose bleaching solution for use on laundries, carpets, hard surfaces, bathroom surfaces, floors and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Truox, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy W. Martin
  • Publication number: 20080078725
    Abstract: A system and method for the treatment of process streams. A catalyst mediates a wet oxidation process at elevated temperatures and pressures for treating at least one undesirable constituent in an aqueous mixture. A catalyst may be selected for its solubility at a detected pH level of the aqueous mixture. Alternatively, a pH level of the aqueous mixture may be adjusted to solubilize a selected catalyst and/or maintain the selected catalyst in a soluble form. A controller in communication with a pH sensor may be configured to generate a control signal to adjust the pH level of the aqueous mixture in response to the pH sensor registering a pH level outside a predetermined pH solubility range for a selected catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Todd Wingers, Timothy Schleusner, Bryan Kumfer, Clayton Maugans
  • Patent number: 7332095
    Abstract: An oxidation process is described which involves subjecting a feedstock which contains oxidizable material to temperature, pressure and contact with an oxidant. Excess water and volatile oxidation products, such as carbon dioxide, formic acid and acetic acid, are removed in the vapor phase. A catalyst may be employed to increase the rate of reaction. Preferred catalysts include the transition metal ions. Advantageously, the process may be operated in a continuous manner wherein the feedstock is continuously introduced into a reactor and a vapor phase containing volatile oxidation products continuously removed. The process is particularly applicable to the treatment of consumer and industrial waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Victoria Link Limited
    Inventors: James Howard Johnston, Peter Thomas Northcote, Michael James Richardson
  • Patent number: 7329359
    Abstract: A method of destroying an organic compound in liquid media comprising: contacting said liquid media with a catalyst of formula: nN/Ce1?xZrcBbB?b?B?b?O2?? wherein n is a percentage from 0 to 25; N is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Re, Os and Ir; x=b+b?+b?+c; b, b?, and b? are each, independently of one another, 0 to 0.99; x?0.7; B, B? and B? are independently selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Au, Ag and Cu; c is between 0 and 0.2; ? is a number which renders the catalyst charge neutral; provided that at least one of b, b? and b? is nonzero; provided that when B is Mn, b? or c or n is nonzero at a temperature and pressure sufficient to destroy an organic compound is provided. Also provided are catalyst compositions for destroying at least one organic compound in liquid media comprising a catalyst and a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Eltron Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Shane E Roark
  • Publication number: 20070210010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for wastewater treatment and a method for wet oxidation treatment of wastewater using the catalyst, in particular, the catalyst of the present invention can suitably be used in wet oxidation treatment of wastewater, under high temperature and high pressure conditions. The present invention provides a catalyst for wastewater treatment containing a catalytic active constituent containing at least one kind of an element selected from the group consisting of manganese, cobalt, nickel, cerium, tungsten, copper, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium, or a compound thereof, and a carrier constituent containing at least one kind of an element selected from the group consisting of iron, titanium, silicon, aluminum and zirconium, or a compound thereof, characterized in that solid acid amount of the carrier constituent is equal to or more than 0.20 mmol/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Miyake, Tohru Ishii
  • Patent number: 7247240
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating waste water wherein organic and inorganic substances in waste water can be treated at high levels regardless of the concentration, and a unit itself can be made compact. The method of the invention is a method for treating waste water, which comprises treating waste water at 100° C. or less in the presence of oxygen and catalyst containing noble metal and active carbon and having pores, wherein the volume of pores having a radius of 40 ? or more and less than 100 ? is 0.05 ml/g or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Hashimoto, Kuninori Miyazaki, Junichi Miyake, Tohru Ishii
  • Patent number: 7247234
    Abstract: The essence of the method is that diesel fuel is heated in the process of periodical circulation in a closed circuit including a heat exchanger and a rotor-disc apparatus of open type in centrifugal force field of which processes of mechanical destruction and dispersion run in environment of sucked air with oxygen saturation, simultaneously with processes of separation and homogenization fine filtration is carried out at a filtering porous partition of hydrophobic material with purification fineness 3÷8 micron as well as filtration at a multilayer filter-reactor at temperature 25÷45° C. which comprises granules of multifunctional catalyst alkylating aromatic compounds and a layer of fill of powder of transitional metals or their oxides. Then the treated fuel is stabilized by adding additives on the basis of surface-active substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventors: Oleg N. Zege, Jury N. Zharchenkov, Tamara N. Mitusova, Alexandr I. Mishin, Andrei S. Popov, Alexandr V. Tsivulin
  • Patent number: 7008473
    Abstract: A system for treating contaminated media is provided. In the process, contaminants are removed from the media using a photocatalytic process operating in an aqueous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Purifics Environmental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Butters, Anthony Leonard Powell
  • Patent number: 6866788
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for purifying aqueous effluents, in particular polluted water, by catalytic oxidation using a three-phase reactor comprising two communicating chambers. The invention is characterised in that it consists in: maintaining the catalyst suspended and continuously circulating it between the two chambers of said reactor, by entrainment under the effect of carrier gas injected into one of said chamber, and in oxidizing the pollutants in contact with the in the other chamber, by injecting a reactive oxidizing gas in said other chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ondeo Degremont
    Inventors: Sylvie Baig, Michel Cordier, Alain Truc
  • Patent number: 6866781
    Abstract: A bioremediation method and system for destroying or reducing the level of contaminants in a contaminated subterranean body of water includes a plurality of spaced injection sites. The injection sites extend below ground and intersect a body of groundwater. Each of the plurality of injection sites are in communication with a supply of concentrated oxygen. The oxygen is conveyed by a delivery mechanism from the supply of oxygen to the injection points to naturally reduce the contaminants in the groundwater. The amount of oxygen delivered to the groundwater is maintained such that the amount of oxygen in the soil gas vapor is between 15% and 25%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: A. Russell Schindler
  • Patent number: 6797184
    Abstract: A method is provided for oxidizing and/or decomposing organic and/or inorganic oxidizable substances in waste water by wet oxidation with a use of a catalyst, wherein the oxidizable substances are oxidized and/or decomposed with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of the catalyst under pressure such that the waste water retains the liquid phase thereof at a temperature of 50° C. to less than 170°C.; the catalyst contains activated carbon; and the oxygen concentration is controlled in an exhaust gas in the range from 0 to 5 vol %. The present inventive method is capable of treating waste water efficiently for a long period in a stable manner at reduced temperatures as compared with the substantially higher temperatures and pressures used in many of the prior art methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Shiota, Kuninori Miyazaki, Takaaki Hashimoto, Tohru Ishii
  • Patent number: 6774262
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of increasing the reaction rate of an organic synthesis reaction by utilizing supply of OH− from water in the absence of catalyst without adding a basic catalyst in supercritical water or subcritical water of at least 350 ° C., and a method of generating alcohol and carboxylic acid with high reaction rate by performing a Cannizzaro reaction in the absence of catalyst without adding a basic catalyst in supercritical water, and to a method of synthesis of alcohol and carboxylic acid from an aldehyde in the absence of catalyst without adding a basic catalyst near the critical point (375 to 380 ° C., 22.5 to 25 MPa) of supercritical water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Japan as represented by Secretary of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yutaka Ikushima, Osamu Sato, Kiyotaka Hatakeda
  • Publication number: 20040104181
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method for oxidizing and/or decomposing organic and/or inorganic oxidizable substances in waste water by wet oxidation with a use of a catalyst, wherein the oxidizable substances are oxidized and/or decomposed with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of the catalyst under pressure such that said waste water retains the liquid phase thereof at temperature of 50 to less than 170° C.; the catalyst contains activated carbon; and controlling an oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas in the range from 0 to 5 vol %. The present inventive method is capable of treating waste water efficiently for a long period in a stable manner at the reduced temperatures and as compared with the substantially higher temperatures and pressures used in many of the prior art method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Yusuke Shiota, Kuninori Miyazaki, Takaaki Hashimoto, Tohru Ishii
  • Patent number: 6632973
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a simple method which can efficiently convert dioxins and/or PCBs contained in liquid into unharmful substances. Such a method according to the present invention is by introducing a liquid containing dioxins and/or PCBs, and oxygen containing gas to a reactor in which catalystexists, and conducting wet-oxidation reaction under liquid phase condition of the introduced liquid. According to the present inventive method, a simple method which can efficiently extract dioxins, PCBs and/or component containing thereof, from soil may be provide by a method comprising of; contacting soil and/or ash containing dioxins and/or PCBs with a liquid. Further, the present invention provides a method for cleaning the unit used for decomposing or oxidizing dioxins and/or PCBs contained in liquid by introducing cleaning solution to the unit and conducting cleaning operation under liquid phase condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Miyake, Tohru Ishii, Kiichiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 6551517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for converting chemical structures, that is to say a process for the conducting of chemical reactions in a fluid under pressure and at temperature in a supercritical fluid in particular, containing a solvent and at least one electrolyte such as a salt, in which reactive species are generated in situ by electrolysis. According to the invention, the fluid flows upwards in a reservoir reactor crossing through a first lower electrolysis zone with high salt solubility and a second upper zone in which the salts precipitate, then the fluid free of salt is evacuated at the upper part of said reservoir reactor and directed into a second tubular reactor to reach the desired stage of advancement of the conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignees: L'Electrolyse
    Inventors: Dominique Sentagnes, Cyril Aymonier, Bernard Berdeu, François Cansell
  • Publication number: 20030034311
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of an aqueous media having contaminants therein, including adding hydrogen peroxide to the aqueous media, exposing the aqueous media to a catalytic environment, removing the aqueous media from the catalytic environment prior to the aqueous media having a five minute residence time within the catalytic environment, thereafter adding ozone to the aqueous media, and allowing the ozone and aqueous media to interact outside of the presence of the catalytic environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher M. Miller
  • Patent number: 6483005
    Abstract: The present invention relates to removal of organic pollutants from aqueous effluent streams. The present invention provides a method of destructively oxidising an organic compound present in an aqueous solution, the method comprising oxidising the organic compound in the presence of a catalyst which contains uranium. The catalyst may comprise a uranium oxide. The reaction may be carried out at low temperature, e.g. ambient temperature. The method may be used to treat aqueous effluent streams to remove organic compounds from the stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: British Nuclear Fuels PLC
    Inventors: Victoria Jane Boyd, Ian David Hudson, Stuart Hamilton Taylor, Shane Rory O'Leary, Graham John Hutchings
  • Patent number: 6423236
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating waste water including the steps of: oxidizing the waste water, and then treating the oxidized waste water with a reverse osmosis membrane having high salt rejection rate. By being treated with the reverse osmosis membrane, the waste water is separated into a impermeated liquid which contains a oxidizable substance, and a permeated liquid which contains almost no oxidizable substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Shiota, Junichi Miyake
  • Patent number: 6372147
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of aqueous waste streams having a pH of 5 to 11 and containing organoboron compounds of the formula R4B−1M+ with hydrogen peroxide in order to convert such organoboron compounds to boric acid and organic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Ronald A. Reimer
  • Patent number: 6300523
    Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a method for producing pinacoline by means of pinacol rearrangement in supercritical water, which affords an extremely high reaction rate without the addition of high concentrations of acid, and this invention is directed to a method for increasing the reaction rate during organic synthesis by utilizing the supply of protons from water under noncatalytic conditions in supercritical water, a method of pinacol rearrangement comprising the production of pinacoline by pinacol rearrangement under noncatalytic conditions without the addition of an acid catalyst in supercritical water, and a method of synthesis comprising the production of cyclic compounds from pinacol under noncatalytic conditions without the addition of an acid catalyst around the critical point (375 to 380° C., 22.5 to 25 MPa) in supercritical water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yutaka Ikushima, Osamu Sato
  • Publication number: 20010022290
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method for oxidizing and/or decomposing organic and/or inorganic oxidizable substances in waste water by wet oxidation with a use of a catalyst, wherein the oxidizable substances are oxidized and/or decomposed with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of the catalyst under pressure such that said waste water retains the liquid phase thereof at temperature of 50 to less than 170° C.; the catalyst contains activated carbon; and controlling an oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas in the range from 0 to 5 vol %. The present inventive method is capable of treating waste water efficiently for a long period in a stable manner at the reduced temperatures and as compared with the substantially higher temperatures and pressures used in many of the prior art method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Yusuke Shiota, Kuninori Miyazaki, Takaaki Hashimoto, Tohru Ishii
  • Patent number: 6221259
    Abstract: A process and catalyst for the conversion of contaminants in an oxygen containing contaminated stream comprises passing the oxygen containing contaminated stream over a photocatalyst comprising titanium, zirconium and silica while irradiating the foregoing catalyst with ultraviolet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: KSE Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Kittrell
  • Patent number: 6139755
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing substances contained in sewage, a nozzle system, and a plant for carrying out this method. The method is characterized in that three radical chain circuits are superimposed, thus producing a continuous reaction chain which is maintained by incorporating a radical starter, a catalyst and oxygen into the sewage flow. The reaction is characterized in that the reaction partners are brought together via a nozzle system which creates unsteady flowing conditions. To reduce operational costs, the sewage is fed by the nozzle system to the autothermic reactor via a heat exchanger which is heated by the treated sewage flow. The method is characterized by its flexibility in treating different kinds of sewage flow of different concentrations. The advantages are, above all, the following: reduced sludge production, high biocompatibility of the residues to be transported, and low consumption of chemical substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventors: Walter Marte, Martin Meyer, Ulrich Meyer
  • Patent number: 6117334
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reactor system for decontaminating a supply of contaminated liquid, comprising a pressurizable reaction vessel having an inlet for introducing a fluid, an outlet for expelling a fluid while retaining a pressure within said reaction vessel, a catalyst, and a granule support plate for retaining said catalyst within said reaction vessel, a pump in fluid connection with the inlet for introducing a fluid into said reaction vessel, and a supply of gas (or other fluid, such as peroxide) in fluid communication with said pump, whereby said pump is operated so that the supplied fluid and the contaminated liquid are intermixed and supplied under pressure to said inlet for introducing a fluid into the reaction vessel and whereby the pressurized gas and liquid mixture is maintained at a sufficient pressure within said reaction vessel to allow the creation of optimally sized bubbles while maintaining the fluid essentially gas free, thereby maximizing the efficacy of the reactor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventors: William S. Coury, Griscom Bettle, III
  • Patent number: 6083409
    Abstract: Organic materials such as raw refuse, waste plastics, waste biomass, sludges, etc. are decomposed by the use of supercritical water to selectively produce hydrogen. A thermochemical reaction is promoted to reduce the supercritical water and selectively produce hydrogen, without substantially adding any oxidizing agent to the supercritical water of a specific temperature and pressure, in the presence of a carbon dioxide-absorbing substance in an amount sufficient to absorb all of the generated carbon dioxide, so that carbon contained in the organic wastes reduces the supercritical water, and hence the organic materials are completely decomposed and also hydrogen gas is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignees: Center for Coal Utilization, Japan, Japan as represented by Director General of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Shi-Ying Lin, Hiroyuki Hatano, Yoshizo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5972226
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of aqueous phase oxidation of effluents, consisting of subjecting said effluents to oxidation in the presence of at least one catalyst and of at least one oxidising agent, at a temperature of between approximately 20.degree. C. and approximately 350.degree. C., under a total pressure of between approximately 1 and approximately 160 bars, in such manner as to mineralise part of the organic matter and total ammoniated nitrogen contained in said effluents, said oxidation being carried out inside a reactor in which a gaseous phase is set up above the liquid phase consisting of said effluents.characterized in that said catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst placed inside said reactor above the interface between said gaseous phase and said liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Omnium de Traitements et de Valorisation
    Inventors: Malik Djafer, Francis Luck, Jacques Sibony
  • Patent number: 5965096
    Abstract: A process of aqueous phase oxidation of effluents, consisting of subjecting the effluents to oxidation in the presence of at least one oxidizing agent inside a reactor having a gaseous phase set up above a liquid phase consisting of the effluents, and subjecting the gaseous phase to catalysis in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst. The oxidation process is carried out at a temperature of between approximately 20.degree. C. and approximately 350.degree. C. under a pressure of between approximately 1 and 160 bars. At least a part of the organic matter and total ammoniated nitrogen contained in the effluents are mineralized. The process includes recycling at least a part of the gaseous phase present in the oxidation reactor after the gaseous phase has passed through the heterogeneous catalyst so as to effectively increase the contact time between the gaseous phase and the heterogeneous catalyst in order to obtain substantial removal of NH.sub.3, COR, and volatile organic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Omnium deTraitements et deValorisation
    Inventors: Malik Djafer, Francis Luck, Jacques Sibony
  • Patent number: 5948275
    Abstract: An integrated method for purifying industrial and/or urban effluents containing a large amount of organic material in solution and/or suspension, wherein said effluents are treated in a wet oxidation reactor. The effluents are oxidized in the presence of at least one oxidizing gas to mineralize a large part of the organic material therein by producing a gas phase and an essentially liquid phase mainly containing soluble residual organic material, as well as an essentially inorganic solid phase in suspension. The essentially liquid phase from the reactor is subjected to liquid/solid separation to separate the solid phase, and at least a fraction of the separated solid phase is recycled in the wet oxidation reactor. Various alternative embodiments of the method include adding a catalyst and/or an agent for acidifying the recycled solid phase fraction. The facility may operate continuously or semi-continuously between interruptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: OTV Omnium de Traltements et de Valorisation S.A.
    Inventors: Malik Djafer, Francis Luck, Jacques Sibony
  • Patent number: 5942127
    Abstract: A fuel oil treatment unit and associated method for removing undesirable contaminants from a fuel oil, such as diesel oil, being delivered to an associated engine, such as a vehicle diesel engine. The invention includes, inter alia, a unit for treating contaminant-containing fuel oil, comprising means for heating the fuel oil to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least some of the contaminants and, also, means for filtering the so-heated fuel oil, to remove therefrom at least some of the remaining, unvolatilized contaminants. Optionally, the previously-heated and filtered fuel oil is passed to a temperature control means for maintaining or returning the temperature of the fuel oil to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventors: Steven Ian Wilcox, James Robert Wilcox
  • Patent number: 5820761
    Abstract: Organic pollutants in wastewaters are wet-oxidized by addition of pure oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas at temperatures of 80.degree. to 330.degree. C., under pressures of 1 bar to 200 bar and at a pH value below 7. For the wet oxidation process, iron ions and digested sludge or surplus sludge from a biological sewage treatment plant are added to the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Holzer, Otto Horak, Thomas Melin
  • Patent number: 5785868
    Abstract: Sodium and borate ions are separated in supercritical water by addition of dissolved CO.sub.2 to cause precipitation of carbonates and the formation of boric acid. Carbonates and boric acid are then recovered as separate products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Board of Regents, Univ. of Texas System
    Inventors: Lixiong Li, Earnest F. Gloyna
  • Patent number: 5777191
    Abstract: A wet oxidizing process for waste soda to attain stable cooling and complete gas-liquid separation of waste soda which is discharged from a wet oxidation reactor for alkali waste liquid, and which process comprises the steps of (1) and (2) and optionally any one of steps (3) to (5), wherein (1) a wet oxidation step in which the alkali waste liquid is brought into contact with excess molecular oxygen, said alkali waste liquid being obtained by bringing an aqueous alkali into contact with a hydrocarbon fluid containing acidic substances of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, (2) a reducing step to reduce the pressure of a mixture of the oxidized alkali waste liquid from said wet oxidation step and a surplus gas, (3) a separation step to separate said mixture into a gas phase and a liquid phase in a gas-liquid separation tank, (4) a cooling step to cool the separated liquid phase and (5) another cooling step to cool the separated gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Petrochemicals Company, Limited
    Inventors: Isoo Shimizu, Jun-ichi Kohhashi
  • Patent number: 5777192
    Abstract: A method of decomposing dioxin compounds, such as polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorodibenzofurans, contained in a waste material into unharmful substances, wherein the waste material is treated with a supercritical water at a temperature higher than the critical temperature of water and a pressure higher than the critical pressure of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Director-General of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Takeshi Sako, Masahito Sato, Tsutomu Sugeta, Katsuto Otake, Masayuki Tsugumi
  • Patent number: 5772898
    Abstract: This invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion processes using a novel crystalline metallo manganese oxides that have the hollandite structure. The composition is represented by the formulaA.sub.y Mn.sub.8-x M.sub.x O.sub.16where A is a templating agent such as potassium, ammonium, and y varies from about 0.5 to about 2.0, M is a metal such as chromium, vanadium, gallium, antimony and x varies from about 0.01 to about 4.0. These oxides have a three-dimensional structure with manganese and the M metals forming the framework. Examples of the processes in which these compositions can be used are oxydehydrogenation and ammoxidation. These compositions are also effective for oxidizing cyanide in aqueous streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Gregory J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5770093
    Abstract: A catalyst for the treatment of a waste water comprises an oxide and/or a composite oxide of manganese, the oxide and/or the composite oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron, titanium, and zirconium, and optionally a precious metal. A method for the production of this catalyst is also disclosed. A method for the treatment of a waste water comprises subjecting the waste water to wet oxidation treatment with an oxygen-containing gas by the use of a catalyst under pressure such that the waste water retains the liquid phase thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Shiota, Tohru Ishii, Kiichiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 5755977
    Abstract: A contaminated fluid such as water or a gas stream containing at least one organic contaminant is contacted in a continuous process with a particulate geothite catalyst in a reactor in the presence of hydrogen peroxide or ozone or both to decompose the organic contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Drexel University
    Inventors: Mirat D. Gurol, Shu-Sung Lin