Recovery Or Purification Patents (Class 423/461)
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Patent number: 8308955Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to the separation of carbon nanotubes by reversible gelation.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2009Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLCInventor: Seth Adrian Miller
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Publication number: 20120251434Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating bulk material which contains carbon and impurities. According to the invention, bulk material is directly heated inductively inside a reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2010Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: Hubert Jaeger, Johann Daimer
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Publication number: 20120237748Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosure provides a manufacturing method of a porous carbon material, which includes: dissolving a surfactant and a carbon source material in a solvent to form an organic template precursor solution; preparing a silicate aqueous solution; pouring the organic template precursor solution into the silicate aqueous solution to precipitate out an intermediate, wherein the intermediate includes the surfactant, the carbon source material and a silicon oxide template; heating the intermediate to carbonize the intermediate; and removing the silicon oxide template to form a porous carbon material. Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a porous carbon material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Hong-Ping LIN, Yu-Ming Lin, Hsieh-Ho Tsai, Likey Chen
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Patent number: 8257677Abstract: The invention relates to a method of dispersing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a continuous phase, especially in at least one dispersion medium, the carbon nanotubes, especially without prior pretreatment, being dispersed in a continuous phase, especially in at least one dispersion medium, in the presence of at least one dispersant (dispersing agent), with introduction of an energy input sufficient for dispersing, and also to the dispersions that are obtainable in this way, and to their use. With the method of the invention it is possible for the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to be dispersed in high concentrations and with high storage stability.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Inventors: Michael Berkei, Ulrich Nolte, Thomas Sawitowski, Wolfgang Pritschins
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Publication number: 20120204483Abstract: A process for reclaiming food-contaminated solid waste streams from fast food restaurants, casual dining restaurants, cafeterias, schools, colleges and universities, concession stands, arenas, stadiums, movie theaters, large city street trash bins and other entertainment venues, and other places that offer simple food items for dine in or carry-out that are currently sent to a land fill. The inventive process offers total solid waste reclamation with zero waste water discharge, zero landfill and minor source air emissions, resulting in 100% reclamation and a 100% sustainable process. This process can also be used on solid waste from reclamation centers and manufacturers who currently land fill their waste.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: PC Fibre Technology, LLCInventors: Ronald H. Van den Heuvel, Daniel Platkowski
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Patent number: 8231854Abstract: An efficient and cost-effective method for treating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is provided. The method includes comprising: dispersing said carbon nanotubes in a dispersing medium to prepare a dispersion system; mixing said dispersion system with adsorbent so that type-specific carbon nanotubes contained in said dispersion system are absorbed onto the adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent is modified by a chemical/biological modifier so as to have different adsorption selectivity to carbon nanotubes of different types; and separating the adsorbent from the dispersion system, whereby the type-specific carbon nanotubes adsorbed onto the adsorbent is separated from the carbon nanotubes of another type enriched in the dispersion system; carbon nanotubes produced by the treatment method, and CNTs devices comprising thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hisashi Kajiura, Yongming Li, Xianglong Li, Yunqi Liu, Lingchao Cao, Lei Fu, Dacheng Wei, Yu Wang, Daoben Zhu
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Patent number: 8216542Abstract: A method for separating carbon nanotubes is disclosed where nanotubes with specific properties are separated from a mixture of nanotube products, which contains various types of nanotubes and impurities.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2006Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery And MaterialsInventors: Chang-Soo Han, Jin-Won Song, June-Ki Park, Jong-Hong Lee, Hee-Won Seo, Ji-Eun Kim, Dae-Geun Choi
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Patent number: 8216541Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing nano graphene platelets (NGPs) that are both dispersible and electrically conducting. The process comprises: (a) preparing a pristine NGP material from a graphitic material; and (b) subjecting the pristine NGP material to an oxidation treatment to obtain the dispersible NGP material, wherein the NGP material has an oxygen content no greater than 25% by weight. Conductive NGPs can find applications in transparent electrodes for solar cells or flat panel displays, additives for battery and supercapacitor electrodes, conductive nanocomposite for electromagnetic wave interference (EMI) shielding and static charge dissipation, etc.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2008Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Bor Z. Jang, Aruna Zhamu
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Patent number: 8197789Abstract: Metallic carbon nanotubes (“CNTs”) may be selectively eliminated and semiconducting CNTs may be prepared using light-irradiation. The light provided by the light-irradiation may have a wavelength of about 180 nm to about 11 ?m. Further, the light may have an intensity of about 30 mW/cm2 to about 300 mW/cm2. The light-irradiation may be simple and controllable, and may not require any special instruments except a light source.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Peking UniversityInventors: Jin Zhang, Yi Zhang, Yongyi Zhang, Zhongfan Liu
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Patent number: 8182783Abstract: A novel microwave-assisted process is described for the rapid removal of catalytic metal and non-desirable carbon impurities in fullerene, single wall, and multiple wall carbon nanotube preparations. The purification process is carried out at various programmed pressures, power levels and reaction times in a suspension of the nanocarbon moieties in the presence of strong acids (for example, a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid), in weak acids (for example, acetic acid) and in the presence of chelating agents (for example, EDTA—ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). In one embodiment, high metal removal efficiency of 70 to 90% is observed.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2006Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: New Jersey Institute of TechnologyInventors: Somenath Mitra, Yuhong Chen
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Publication number: 20120121489Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing pollutants and greenhouse gases SO2, NOx, and CO2 from a flue gas stream, comprising the steps of: a) contacting natural seawater with a flue gas in a counter flow, co-current flow or cross flow direction for a given period of time to remove SO2 from the flue gas; b) contacting treated alkaline water to the flue gas in a counter flow, co-current flow or cross flow direction to remove CO2 and NOx from the flue gas and generate oxygen and carbon particles; and c) collecting or emitting the flue gas after step b). The invention also relates to a system for removing pollutants and greenhouse gases SO2, NOx, and CO2 from a flue gas stream. The method and the system of the invention are significantly more economical and convenient and do not cause harm to the environments. The invention also exhibits a novel and unique feature that elemental carbon and oxygen are generated as final products and can be recovered as an energy source.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2009Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventor: Hwee Hong Chew
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Patent number: 8153014Abstract: A mixture of single-walled carbon nanotubes (“SWNTs”) is separated into fractions of enriched chirality by preparing an aqueous suspension of a mixture of SWNTs and a surfactant, injecting a portion of the suspension on a column of separation medium having a density gradient, and centrifuging the column. In some embodiments, salt is added prior to centrifugation. In other embodiments, the centrifugation is performed at a temperature below room temperature. Fractions separate as colored bands in the column. The diameter of the separated SWNTs decreases with increasing density along the gradient of the column. The colored bands can be withdrawn separately from the column.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Doorn, Sandip Niyogi
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Patent number: 8153094Abstract: A single step process for degrading plastic waste by converting the plastic waste into carbonaceous products via thermal decomposition of the plastic waste by placing the plastic waste into a reactor, heating the plastic waste under an inert or air atmosphere until the temperature of 700° C. is achieved, allowing the reactor to cool down, and recovering the resulting decomposition products therefrom. The decomposition products that this process yields are carbonaceous materials, and more specifically egg-shaped and spherical-shaped solid carbons. Additionally, in the presence of a transition metal compound, this thermal decomposition process produces multi-walled carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Vilas G. Pol, Pappannan Thiyagarajan
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Patent number: 8128901Abstract: A method of removing metal impurities from carbon nanotubes includes treating carbon nanotubes with distilled bromine in a substantially oxygen- and water-free atmosphere and then removing the distilled bromine from the carbon nanotubes. Purified carbon nanotubes having an iron content from about 2.5 to about 3.5 by weight that are substantially free of derivatization at the ends and defect sites are made available via this method.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Yuri Mackeyev, Lon J. Wilson
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Patent number: 8124045Abstract: The present invention provides a method of selectively extracting metallic armchair carbon nanotubes alone from the mixture of carbon nanotubes of mixed chiralities, wherein vacant lattice defects are removed from armchair carbon nanotubes alone using the fact that the vacant lattice defects of zigzag carbon nanotubes are hard to diffuse in the axial direction of nanotubes compared with those of armchair carbon nanotubes. Since vacant lattice defects remaining on zigzag carbon nanotubes are active, the tube structures are easily destroyed and decomposed by oxidation etc. Thus it is possible to extract armchair carbon nanotubes alone from the mixture of carbon nanotubes of mixed chiralities.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2007Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Takazumi Kawai, Yoshiyuki Miyamoto
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Patent number: 8110125Abstract: The separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), by chirality and/or diameter, using centrifugation of compositions of SWNTs in and surface active components in density gradient media.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Northwestern UniversityInventors: Mark C. Hersam, Samuel I. Stupp, Michael S. Arnold
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Patent number: 8080127Abstract: A carbon foam evaporator is described which can be used in a wide variety of operating conditions. The evaporator utilizes a carbon foam with a bi-model pore distribution. The carbon foam is thermally stable up to temperatures of at least 300° C., is rigid, and has a compressive strength of at least 100 psi. The carbon foam is also resistant to chemical attacks.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2007Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: GrafTech International Holdings Inc.Inventor: Chong Chen
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Patent number: 8066967Abstract: A system and method for the manipulation of nanofibers using electrostatic forces. The nanofibers may be provided in a liquid medium, and the nanofibers may be nano-scale (i.e. measured in nanometers). The process is sensitive to the charge properties of the nanofibers (charge could be inherent to material or the charge can be induced into the material through electrochemical means), and therefore may be used to sort or classify particles. The nanofibers may also be aligned according to electrical fields, and thus anisotropic effect exploited. Devices produced may be conductors, semiconductors, active electronic devices, electron emitters, and the like. The nanofibers may be modified after deposition, for example to remove charge-influencing coatings to further enhance their performance, to enhance their adhesion to polymers for use as composite materials or result in the adhesion of the material at the proper location on a variety of different surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2006Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Electrox CorporationInventors: Dietmar C Eberlein, Robert H Detig
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Patent number: 8057686Abstract: A nanotube separation method includes depositing a tag on a nanotube in a nanotube mixture. The nanotube has a defect and the tag deposits at the defect where a deposition rate is greater than on another nanotube in the mixture lacking the defect. The method includes removing the tagged nanotube from the mixture by using the tag. As one option, the tag may contain a ferromagnetic material and the removing may include applying a magnetic field. As another option, the tag may contain an ionic material and the removing may include applying an electric field. As a further option, the tag may contain an atom having an atomic mass greater than the atomic mass of carbon and the removing may include applying a centrifugal force to the nanotube mixture. Any two or more of the indicated removal techniques may be combined.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Gurtej S. Sandhu
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Patent number: 7993621Abstract: The present invention relates to the physical or chemical specific purification of natural mineral graphite. This purification is preferably applied to the surface of natural graphite in order to allow the formation of a passivation film during the first electrical discharge or the insertion of lithium in the graphite when the latter is used in a lithium-ion cell. The grinding to a small size before purification allows the optimization of the distribution of the particles, resulting in a more uniform electrode. This grinding is carried out in the presence of the natural impurities of the graphite that play the role of a micro-abrasive and result in a hardness of the graphite that increases its mechanical properties.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2007Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Hydro-QuebecInventors: Karim Zaghib, Michel Gauthier, Gabrielle Nadeau, Abdelbast Guerfi, Monique Massé, Fernand Brochu, Michel Armand
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Patent number: 7968073Abstract: Methods of producing stable dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotube structures in solutions are achieved utilizing dispersal agents. The dispersal agents are effective in substantially solubilizing and dispersing single-walled carbon nanotube structures in aqueous solutions by coating the structures and increasing the surface interaction between the structures and water. Exemplary agents suitable for dispersing nanotube structures in aqueous solutions include synthetic and natural detergents having high surfactant properties, deoxycholates, cyclodextrins, chaotropic salts and ion pairing agents. The dispersed nanotube structures may further be deposited on a suitable surface in isolated and individualized form to facilitate easy characterization and further processing of the structures.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2004Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Mark S. F. Clarke, Daniel L. Feeback
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Patent number: 7964173Abstract: The present invention provides feedstock compositions for use of the production of an activated carbon for electric double layer capacitor electrodes or the production of needle coke, comprising a first heavy oil with an initial boiling point of 300° C. or higher, an asphalten content of 12 percent by mass or less, a saturate content of 50 percent by mass or more and a sulfur content of 0.3 percent by mass or less, produced as a residue resulting from vacuum-distillation of a petroleum-based oil and a second heavy oil with an initial boiling point of 150° C. or higher and a sulfur content of 0.5 percent by mass or less, produced by subjecting a hydrocarbon oil to fluidized catalytic cracking.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignees: Nippon Oil Corporation, Nippon Petroleum Refining Company, LimitedInventors: Takashi Oyama, Kazuhisa Nakanishi, Tamotsu Tano, Keiji Higashi, Ippei Fujinaga, Hiromitsu Hashisaka, Kiwamu Takeshita, Masaki Fujii, Hideki Ono
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Patent number: 7959779Abstract: This invention relates generally to cutting single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT). In one embodiment, the present invention provides for preparations of homogeneous populations of short carbon nanotube molecules by cutting and annealing (reclosing) the nanotube pieces followed by fractionation. The cutting and annealing processes may be carried out on a purified nanotube bucky paper, on felts prior to purification of nanotubes or on any material that contains single-wall nanotubes. In one embodiment, oxidative etching with concentrated nitric acid is employed to cut SWNTs into shorter lengths. The annealed nanotubes may be disbursed in an aqueous detergent solution or an organic solvent for the fractionation. Closed tubes can also be derivatized to facilitate fractionation, for example, by adding solubilizing moieties to the end caps.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Daniel T. Colbert, Honglie Dai, Jason H. Hafner, Andrew G. Rinzler, Richard E. Smalley, Jie Liu, Kenneth A. Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
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Patent number: 7959888Abstract: The present invention provides a raw coke having such a structure that the graphitized product resulting from graphitization of the raw coke at a temperature of 2800° C. under an inactive gas atmosphere will have ratios of the crystallite size to the lattice constant of 360 or less in the (002) plane and 1500 or less in the (110) plane, as a raw coke providing active carbon produced by alkali-activating the raw coke, which is reduced in remaining alkali content and can simplify washing operation because washing liquid can easily pass through the activated carbon, or as a raw coke for the production of needle coke.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignees: Nippon Oil Corporation, Nippon Petroleum Refining Company, LimitedInventors: Takashi Oyama, Kazuhisa Nakanishi, Tamotsu Tano, Keiji Higashi, Ippei Fujinaga, Hiromitsu Hashisaka, Toshitaka Fujii, Takashi Noro, Akio Sakamoto, Kiwamu Takeshita, Keizou Ikai, Masaki Fujii, Hideki Ono
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Patent number: 7959890Abstract: The invention relates to recycled rubber produced by a process comprising the steps of: a) shredding cleaned rubber tires into shreds less than 2? long; b) pyrolyzing the shreds in a reaction chamber of a thermal processor in a first anaerobic environment to produce a char; c) drawing off volatile organics from the reaction chamber; c) removing the char from the reaction chamber; d) cooling the char in a second anaerobic environment; e) removing metal and textile components from the char to obtain pyrolytic carbon black; f) milling and sizing the pyrolytic carbon black so obtained into particles of 325 mesh size or smaller; and, g) utilizing the pyrolytic carbon black from the previous step in a polymerization process that produces said recycled rubber. It also relates to the high quality pyrolytic carbon black recovered from this process.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2010Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: RIPP Resource Recovery CorporationInventors: Andrew D. E. MacIntosh, Vincent W. Y. Wong
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Publication number: 20110136971Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the controlled gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock, including: pyrolizing the feedstock to produce a gas product and a solid product, wherein the gas product includes methane and noxious chemicals and the solid product includes carbon; and controlling the pyrolizing step using feedback related to constituents of the gas product. The present invention also provides a system for the controlled gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock, including: a pyrolysis unit including a heater and a conveyor for transporting the feedstock through the heater; a resultant chamber disposed downstream of the pyrolysis unit for separating gas products and solid products; means for adjusting the temperature of the solid products; and a filter for sequestering noxious materials from the gas products, wherein the filter uses at least some of the solid products to filter at least a portion of the gas products.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventor: Richard D. TUCKER
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Patent number: 7955585Abstract: Separation of carbon nanotubes or fullerenes according to diameter through non-covalent pi-pi interaction with molecular clips is provided. Molecular clips are prepared by Diels-Alder reaction of polyacenes with a variety of dienophiles. The pi-pi complexes of carbon nanotubes with molecular clips are also used for selective placement of carbon nanotubes and fullerenes on substrates.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Cherie R. Kagan, Rudolf Tromp
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Patent number: 7939047Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of separating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by their electronic type (e.g., metallic, semi-metallic, and semiconducting). Perhaps most generally, in some embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of separating CNTs by bandgap, wherein such separation is effected by interacting the CNTs with a surface such that the surface interacts differentially with the CNTs on the basis of their bandgap, or lack thereof. In some embodiments, such methods can allow for such separations to be carried out in bulk quantities.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2005Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: James M. Tour, Christopher A. Dyke, Austen K. Flatt
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Patent number: 7931884Abstract: Methods and processes for preparing interconnected carbon single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) are disclosed. The SWNTs soot, synthesized by any one of the art methods, is heated to less than about 1250° C. in flowing dry air using the electrical field (E) component of microwave energy. The tubes of the SWNTs thus treated become welded and interconnected.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Avetik Harutyunyan
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Publication number: 20110092362Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a porous carbon material comprising: heating a cured phenolic resin complex lump, including 150 to 450 parts by weight of sodium hydroxide and/or potassium hydroxide per 100 parts by weight of phenolic resin, at a temperature of 420 to 850° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to obtain carbonized material; and washing and removing sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide included in the carbonized material. According to the present invention, there can be provided a porous carbon material, including large volumes of subnano-pores having a diameter of in a range of 0.45 to 1.0 nm with a sharp distribution, which is particularly useful as a gaseous adsorbent.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: TOKUYAMA CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Furuya, Yoshiki Fukuyama, Shizukuni Yata
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Publication number: 20110085962Abstract: A system for making low volatile carbonaceous material including a digestion vessel in communication with a carbonaceous material feedstock unit for producing a digested carbonaceous material; an extraction vessel in communication with the digestion vessel, the extraction vessel containing supercritical carbon dioxide fluid for extracting hydrocarbons from the digested carbonaceous material to produce an extract solvent and the low volatile carbonaceous material; and at least one separation vessel in communication with the extraction vessel for separating the extract solvent to a carbon dioxide gas and a stream of extracted hydrocarbons.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Inventors: Randall J. Harris, Damian Wales
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Publication number: 20110082024Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to porous carbon of spherical morphology having tuned porosity and to a method of making same, comprising: (a) providing a precursor solution, by combining in an aqueous solution a colloidal silica template material and a water-soluble pyrolyzable carbon source, wherein the particle size of the colloidal silica template and the colloidal silica/carbon source weight ratio are controlled, (b) atomizing the precursor solution into small droplets by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (c) directing the droplets into a high temperature furnace operating at a temperature of 700-1200° C., under an inert gas atmosphere, where the droplets are transformed into solid spherical composite carbon/silica particles, (d) collecting the resulting composite carbon/silica particles exiting from the furnace, and (e) removing the silica from the particles, to provide substantially pure porous carbon of spherical morphology having tuned porosity defined by surface area and pore size.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventors: Hansan Liu, Jiujun Zhang
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Patent number: 7887774Abstract: The present invention is directed toward methods of selectively functionalizing carbon nanotubes of a specific type or range of types, based on their electronic properties, using diazonium chemistry. The present invention is also directed toward methods of separating carbon nanotubes into populations of specific types or range(s) of types via selective functionalization and electrophoresis, and also to the novel compositions generated by such separations.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Michael S. Strano, Monica Usrey, Paul Barone, Christopher A. Dyke, James M. Tour, W. Carter Kittrell, Robert H Hauge, Richard E. Smalley, Irene Marie Marek, legal representative
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Publication number: 20110033366Abstract: A method includes isolating carbon atoms as carbide anions below a surface of a reactant liquid. The carbide anions are then enabled to escape from the reactant liquid to a collection area where carbon nanostructures may form. A carbon structure produced in this fashion includes at least one layer made up of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms. Each carbon atom has three covalent bonds to adjoining carbon atoms and one unbound pi electron.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
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Patent number: 7883685Abstract: Separation of carbon nanotubes or fullerenes according to diameter through non-covalent pi-pi interaction with molecular clips is provided. Molecular clips are prepared by Diels-Alder reaction of polyacenes with a variety of dienophiles. The pi-pi complexes of carbon nanotubes with molecular clips are also used for selective placement of carbon nanotubes and fullerenes on substrates.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Cherie R. Kagan, Rudolf Tromp
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Patent number: 7867469Abstract: Separation of carbon nanotubes or fullerenes according to diameter through non-covalent pi-pi interaction with molecular clips is provided. Molecular clips are prepared by Diels-Alder reaction of polyacenes with a variety of dienophiles. The pi-pi complexes of carbon nanotubes with molecular clips are also used for selective placement of carbon nanotubes and fullerenes on substrates.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2010Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Cherie R. Kagan, Rudolf Tromp
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Patent number: 7868333Abstract: Processes are provided for removing metal-based catalyst residues from carbon nanotubes by contacting the carbon nanotubes with an active metal agent and carbon monoxide.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventor: Steven Dale Ittel
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Patent number: 7833497Abstract: A method of processing fullerenes includes generating a gas stream having suspended soot particles and condensable gases, wherein the condensable gases comprising fullerenes, and separating at least a portion of the condensable gases from the suspended soot particles using a gas/solid separations process. At least a portion of the fullerenes in the condensable gases can be condensed and collected after separation of the condensable gases.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Nano-C, LLC.Inventors: David F. Kronholm, Jack B. Howard
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Patent number: 7812083Abstract: The invention provides a method for the preparation of a suspension of de-agglomerated carbon nanotubes, comprising mixing agglomerated carbon nanotubes with a block copolymer. Further, a powder of de-agglomerated carbon nanotubes is provided, that can be easily redispersed to obtain a suspension of untangled carbon nanotubes. The invention also relates to the use of the provided materials in the preparation of composites, and in electronics.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Ben Gurion University of the Negev Research and Development AuthorityInventor: Rachel Yerushalmi-Rozen
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Patent number: 7803262Abstract: Methods are provided for aligning carbon nanotubes and for making a composite material comprising aligned carbon nanotubes. The method for aligning carbon nanotubes comprises adsorbing magnetic nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes dispersed in a fluid medium to form a magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite in the fluid medium; and exposing the composite to a magnetic field effective to align the nanotubes in the fluid medium. The method for making a composite material comprising aligned carbon nanotubes comprises (1) adsorbing magnetic nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes to form a magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite; (2) dispersing the magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite in a fluid matrix material to form a mixture; (3) exposing the mixture to a magnetic field effective to align the nanotubes in the mixture; and (4) solidifying the fluid matrix material to form a nanotube/matrix material composite comprising the aligned nanotubes which remain aligned in the absence of said magnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Florida State University Research FoundationInventors: Yousef Haik, Jhunu Chatterjee, Ching-Jen Chen
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Patent number: 7803346Abstract: A method for selectively obtaining carbon nanotubes having specific structures by selectively obtaining carbon nanotubes having structures different from the structures of the carbon nanotubes to be vanished by irradiating carbon nanotubes with a light beam of single wavelength so as to have carbon nanotubes in specific electron states in the excited states, and oxidizing and combusting the carbon nanotubes in the excited states by an oxygen or an oxidizing agent so as to vanish the same.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2003Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignees: Japan Science and Technology Agency, NEC CorporationInventors: Sumio Iijima, Masako Yudasaka, Minfang Zhang
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Patent number: 7799246Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing CNTs by bringing a carbon source into contact with a multivalent metal and/or metal-oxide-based catalyst deposited on an inorganic substrate having a BET specific surface area of greater than 50 m2/g. The CNTs obtained may be used as agents for improving the mechanical and electrical conductivity properties in polymeric compositions.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2006Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Arkema FranceInventors: Serge Bordere, Daniel Cochard, Eric Dutilh, Patrice Gaillard, Dominique Plee
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Patent number: 7794682Abstract: A method of extracting fullerenes from a carbon matrix in which they are produced. The method is applicable to both fullerenes that exhibit greater than 0.1 mg/ml solubility in toluene and to fullerenes that are essentially insoluble in toluene, i.e., those exhibiting less than or equal to 0.1 mg/ml solubility. The method disclosed herein extracts more of the soluble fullerenes from the carbon matrix than extraction conducted by solely contacting with solvent. A method is also provided for creating salts of the extracted fullerenes.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: TDA Research, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Diener, James W. Raebiger, Robert D. Bolskar, John M. Alford
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Patent number: 7785472Abstract: A method of separating, concentrating or purifying uniform carbon nanotubes with desired properties (diameter, chiral vector, etc) in a highly sensitive manner by the use of structure-sensitive properties peculiar to carbon nanotubes; and an apparatus therefor. There is provided a method of separating, concentrating, or purifying carbon nanotubes with the desired properties contained in a sample, comprising the steps of (a) irradiating a sample containing carbon nanotubes with light; and (b) selecting carbon nanotubes with desired properties. In a preferred embodiment, the light irradiation of the step (a) can be carried out in the presence of a metal so as to cause specified carbon nanotubes to selectively induce a photocatalytic reaction, resulting in metal deposition. Further, in a preferred embodiment, a given magnetic filed can be applied in the steps (b) so as to attain accumulation or concentration or carbon nanotubes with metal deposited.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Japan Science and Technology AgencyInventor: Kei Murakoshi
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Patent number: 7781635Abstract: A mixture and method of using such mixture is provided for purifying carbon nanotubes. A substituted imidazolium cation is utilized to suspend carbon nanotubes in a nonpolar liquid. A polar solvent immiscible with the nonpolar liquid is mixed in to remove soot from the suspension, allowing recovery of the nanotubes. The relative gentleness of the separation provides nanotubes that are undamaged and unoxidized. The components of the mixture are economically advantageous for this use and the method is simple compared to other nanotube purification methods.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Thomas E. Sutto, Karen A. McGrady
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Patent number: 7776779Abstract: A method of preparing a mesoporous carbon includes mixing a mesophase pitch, a carbon precursor, an acid, and a solvent to obtain a carbon precursor mixture; impregnating an ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) with the carbon precursor mixture; heat-treating and carbonizing the impregnated OMS to form an OMS-carbon composite; and removing the OMS from the OMS-carbon composite. The mesoporous carbon uses the mesophase pitch and the carbon precursor to reduce sheet resistance, and thus can efficiently transfer electric energy. Such mesoporous carbon can be used as a conductive material of electrodes for fuel cells. When the mesoporous carbon is used as a support for catalysts of electrodes, a supported catalyst containing the support can be used to manufacture a fuel cell having high efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sang Hoon Joo, Chan-ho Pak
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Patent number: 7767187Abstract: An apparatus for separating carbon products from used tires includes a decomposing chamber into which used tires are charged, a nitrogen gas supply device that supplies nitrogen gas into the decomposing chamber, one or more magnetrons that generate microwave of predetermined frequency and one or more phase shifters that removes interference between microwaves generated by the magnetrons, a receiving plate that is adapted to receive carbon black and iron cores generated by the decomposing process, a tire support that is adapted to support used tires, an opening and closing device that opens or closes a door on which used tires are placed, conveyor belt that moves carbon black and iron cores to a desired location after decomposition is complete, and a cooling plate that is provided in an upper portion of the apparatus and cools down gaseous oil that is generated by decomposition by microwave into liquid oil.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Inventor: Charlie Hong
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Patent number: 7767186Abstract: A method for treating carbon nanotubes with microwave energy to selective remove metallic-type carbon nanotubes is provided. A sample containing carbon nanotubes is positioned in a microwave cavity at a location corresponding to a maximum in the electric field component of a stationary wave having a microwave frequency. The sample is exposed to the microwave energy for a sufficient period of time to increase the proportion of semiconducting-type carbon nanotubes within the sample. Alternatively, a sample consisting essentially of metallic-type and semiconducting-type carbon nanotubes is exposed to microwave energy for a sufficient period of time to increase the proportion of semiconducting-type carbon nanotubes within the sample.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2006Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Avetik Harutyunyan, Toshio Tokune
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Publication number: 20100189629Abstract: A method of recycling composite material comprising carbon fibres and a resin, the method comprising: providing a furnace comprising at least a heating portion; providing a transporter for transporting the composite material through the furnace; loading the composite material on the transporter and transporting the composite material through the furnace; detecting a percentage of oxygen in an atmosphere in the heating portion when the composite material has entered this portion; and removing resin from the composite material, as it travels through the heating portion of the furnace on the transporter, by means of chemical decomposition at a first temperature, with the resultant generation of fumes; wherein the generated fumes are removed from the heating portion in a controlled manner, such that the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere in the heating portion is controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: RECYCLED CARBON FIBRE LIMITEDInventors: Roy Price, John Davidson
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Patent number: 7727505Abstract: A method for separating carbon nanotubes comprises: providing a mixture of carbon nanotubes; introducing an organic molecule having an end group capable of being chelated by a metal ion to the mixture of carbon nanotubes to covalently bond the organic molecule to at least one of the mixture of carbon nanotubes; and introducing a metal salt to the mixture of carbon nanotubes to chelate the end group of the organic molecule with the metal ion of the metal salt; and centrifuging the mixture of carbon nanotubes to cause the separation of the carbon nanotubes based on a density differential of the carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2008Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ali Afazali-Ardakani, James B. Hannon, Cherie R. Kagan, George S. Tulevski