Patents Assigned to Energy, Mines & Resources Canada
  • Patent number: 5672146
    Abstract: A process in which a calcining step is used to provide a stable clinker containing the EAF dust. The clinker meets all of the applicable leaching standards. It also appears to be possible to use largely oxidic wastes from other processes, such as zinc electroplating residues, and the largely oxidic residues from refuse fuelled power generators. In this low temperature vitrification process a powder composition containing from 20% to 63% by weight waste material, from 30% to 73% by weight silica, and from 7% to 30% by weight alumina, is wetted to form a homogenous mass. The mass is fired in a furnace for a sufficient time and to a temperature of less than about 1,300.degree. C. to cause vitrification; and the vitrified product is recovered as a fired clinker. The clinker, after crushing, can be used as a road aggregate, in tarmac mixes, or after crushing to a suitably small powder, in the making of bricks and tiles having good abrasion and heat resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Canada
    Inventor: Jay Aota
  • Patent number: 5569314
    Abstract: A thermally stable steelmaking slag is produced which is suitable for use in applications requiring dimensional stability, e.g. as aggregate in road construction. Fine particles of slag obtained from a basic oxygen furnace operation or from an arc furnace operation is firstly subjected to a thermal hydration at a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. to 400.degree. C. Thereafter, the hydrated slag particles are carbonated in the presence of carbon dioxide at a temperature in the range of about 500.degree. to 900.degree. C., whereby substantially all free calcium oxide in the slag particles is converted to calcium carbonate. The product obtained is well suited for road construction and cementitious applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Energy Mines & Resources-Canada
    Inventors: Shaheer Mikhail, Anne-Marie Turcotte
  • Patent number: 5558768
    Abstract: A process is described for removing chlorides from crude oils, including heavy oils and bitumens. The process steps comprise (1) mixing a non-ionic surfactant with the crude oil, (2) bubbling a gas into the crude oil-surfactant mixture to form a froth, (3) centrifuging the frothed mixture to obtain a chloride containing sediment and an oil product of reduced chloride content and (4) collecting the oil product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Energy, Mines and Resources Canada
    Inventors: Michio Ikura, Maria Stanciulescu
  • Patent number: 5538710
    Abstract: A novel siliceous molecular sieve material is described for use as catalyst, along with a process for its production. The sieve material is unique in having a bimodal pore size distribution with micropores having diameters in the range from 5 to 12 .ANG. and uniformly sized mesopores having diameters in the range from 20 to 80 .ANG.. It is prepared by first preparing two reaction solutions, the first solution containing a source of silica and the second solution containing a quaternary ammonium surfactant having a hydrophilic ammonium group and a linear hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain. The two solutions are combined and the solid product obtained at room temperature is subjected to a two-stage heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Energy Mines and Resources-Canada
    Inventors: Chang-Jiey Guo, Craig W. Fairbridge, Jean-Pierre Charland
  • Patent number: 5424262
    Abstract: A method is described for making a fluidized cracking catalyst having in situ highly dispersed metal traps which comprises (a) impregnating particles of a zeolite catalyst by the incipient wetness technique under sub-atmospheric conditions with a mixture of a tin compound and an antimony compound dissolved in an organic solvent, (b) stirring the impregnated catalyst in paste form while still under sub-atmospheric conditions, (c) heating the mixed catalyst in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas until dry, and repeating shops (a), (b) and (c) above until a desired level of said metals in the metal traps is achieved. In the incipient wetness technique, an appropriate amount of solvent is added to achieve proper transport of organometallic components, precursors of the metal traps, providing at the same time complete wetness of a given amount of catalyst without forming a layer of liquid on top of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Energy, Mines and Resources Canada
    Inventors: Hugo I. de Lasa, Hany I. Farag, Siauw Ng
  • Patent number: 5395455
    Abstract: A process is described for the production of anhydrosugars such as levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-.beta.-D-glucopyranose), from liquids obtained by the fast thermal pyrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosics or celluloses. In this process, the pyrolytic liquids containing the anhydrosugars are produced with a substantially reduced amount of lignin-derived components by using as feedstock materials which have been previously delignified and then pretreated, or by preferential oxidation of the lignin fraction of a pretreated biomass during pyrolysis. The preparation from pretreated biomass of pyrolytic liquors from which the lignin derived chemical products of fast pyrolysis are absent or in low concentrations permits simpler and more economical recovery of crystalline levoglucosan and other anhydrosugars, or a more economical preparation of readily fermentable aqueous sugar solutions therefrom. A new procedure for the recovery of crystalline levoglucosan from such solutions is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Energy, Mines and Resources - Canada
    Inventors: Donald S. Scott, Jan Piskorz, Desmond Radlein, Piotr Majerski
  • Patent number: 5374348
    Abstract: A heavy hydrocarbon oil, a substantial portion of which boils above 524.degree. C., is subjected to hydrocracking with a fractionated heavy oil recycle stream containing active additive particles. In the process, a slurry feed of (1) fresh heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock and a heavy hydrocarbon recycle and (2) from about 0.01-4% by weight (based on fresh feedstock) of iron sulphate additive particles having sizes less than 45 .mu.m, is passed upwardly through a confined vertical hydrocracking zone. A mixed effluent is removed from the top of the hydrocracking zone, which is then passed through a hot separator vessel. From the bottom of the separator is withdrawn a liquid heavy hydrocarbon stream comprising heavy hydrocarbons and particles of the iron sulphate additive converted mainly to an iron sulphide phase. This separated liquid heavy hydrocarbon stream is fractionated to obtain a heavy oil which boils above 450.degree. C., containing the additive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Energy Mines & Resources - Canada
    Inventors: Paul L. Sears, Theo J. W. de Bruijn, William H. Dawson, Barry B. Pruden, Anil K. Jain
  • Patent number: 5370789
    Abstract: A process is described for ultrapyrolytic upgrading of a heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock by contacting the feedstock in a confined riser vertical column with finely divided inert solid particles under ultrapyrolysis conditions, the riser forms part of an internally circulating aerated bed reactor with the bottom end of the riser being directly connected to an inlet nozzle feeding the heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock and the upper end of the riser extending above an annular aerated bed of the finely divided solid particles surrounding the riser. The riser also includes a plurality of orifices in a lower region thereof flow connected to a lower region of the aerated bed for controlled delivery of the particles from the aerated bed into the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Energy Mines & Resources Canada
    Inventors: Bruce J. Milne, Franco Berruti, Leo A. Behie
  • Patent number: 5350430
    Abstract: An improved process is described for agglomerating ground coal in which a bridging oil is used as the agglomerating vehicle. This bridging oil is a mixture of a heavy gas oil obtained from coal/oil coprocessing and a heavy hydrocarbon oil, such as bitumen or heavy oil, preferably mixed in the proportion of about 23-40% heavy hydrocarbon oil and 60-77% heavy gas oil. The agglomerated product is mixed with additional heavy oil or bitumen and it becomes the feedstock to a coal/oil coprocessor, with heavy gas oil being formed as one of the product streams. At least part of this heavy gas oil product stream is recycled to the agglomeration stage as the heavy gas oil component of the bridging oil. This agglomeration procedure has the advantage of providing an agglomerate of excellent quality, while carrying out the agglomeration in a short time at ambient temperature and using less than 10% by weight of bridging oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Energy Mines and Resources-Canada
    Inventors: Richard D. Coleman, Floyd N. Toll, Thomas W. McCracken, C. Edward Capes, Michio Ikura
  • Patent number: 5296130
    Abstract: In a process for upgrading heavy asphaltenic oil, a feed slurry of a heavy asphaltenic oil and less than 10 ppm of molybdenum, e.g. molybdenum naphthenate, is contacted with a hydrogen-rich gas in a hydroconversion zone at hydrocracking conditions to convert at least a portion of said heavy oil to lower boiling products. This is achieved with minimum coke formation under moderate processing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Energy Mines and Resources Canada
    Inventors: Jaroslav F. Kriz, Marten Ternan
  • Patent number: 5283217
    Abstract: A novel micro-emulsion is described which is useful as a hydrogenation catalyst. The highly dispersed hydrogenation catalyst is prepared by forming an aqueous solution of a salt of a transition metal and a surfactant, adding this solution to heated petroleum pitch or a mixture thereof with a petroleum distillate, such as heavy gas oil, and mixing vigorously until a stable water-in-oil micro-emulsion is formed having an average diameter of less than about 1500 .ANG., which upon exposure to severe reducing conditions produces catalyst particles having an average size of less than about 500 .ANG.. The micro-emulsion thus formed is highly stable and has a long shelf-life and the catalyst particles formed under hydrogenation conditions are much smaller than previously reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Energy, Mines & Resources - Canada
    Inventors: Michio Ikura, Maria Stanciulescu, James E. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5264623
    Abstract: Calcium salts, such as calcium acetate, calcium formate or calcium proprionate, are obtained from aqueous liquors derived from the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass containing cellulose, hemicelluloses or starch. The above biomass is subjected to rapid pyrolysis to obtain a crude product containing an aqueous phase and an organic phase. The product obtained, preferably as the aqueous phase, is then distilled to produce a distillate containing at least one acid selected from acetic acid, formic acid and propionic acid as well as their esters and formaldehyde. An alkaline source of calcium is added to this distillate to adjust the pH to an alkaline level sufficient to hydrolyze the esters, cause at least partial oxidation of the formaldehyde and prevent volatilization of acetate, formate or propionate ions as acetic acid, formic acid or propionic acid respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Energy Mines & Resources Canada
    Inventors: Klaus H. Oehr, Donald S. Scott, Stefan Czernik
  • Patent number: 5204070
    Abstract: A reactor for processing a catalyst material comprises a reaction chamber including a support for the catalyst material. A laser radiation entry means, a gas inlet and an exhaust are provided, each in communication with the reaction chamber. The gas inlet permits entry in the chamber of an oxidizing gas which assists in processing the catalyst material when exposed to laser radiation entering the chamber. Any resulting exhaust gases are then removed from the chamber through the exhaust. A drive means is provided to move the support in a manner such that the catalyst is moved through the laser radiation. The apparatus is useful in reactivate deactivated catalysts, such as hydroprocessing catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Canada
    Inventors: Michael F. Wilson, Thomas M. Steel, Walter W. Duley
  • Patent number: 5190566
    Abstract: In the present invention, iron sulfate is added in the form of an aqueous wash solution to coal agglomerates after separation of ash from the agglomerated coal. As the agglomerates remain in a continuous water phase, a good dispersion of the iron sulfate solution throughout the agglomerate matrix occurs. At this stage an unexpectedly strong adsorption of Fe ions onto the coal surfaces occurs without any adverse effects on agglomerate integrity and the ability to separate it selectively by floatation. Furthermore, this good dispersion also results in over 94% of the iron sulfate in the wash solution being transferred to the agglomerates. This manner of addition of iron sulphate to coal has been shown to elevate advantageously the lowest temperature at which coke formation occurs during coprocessing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Energy, Mines and Resources Canada
    Inventors: Bryan D. Sparks, Richard D. Coleman, Floyd N. Toll, F. Weldon Meadus, Michio Ikura
  • Patent number: 5143635
    Abstract: Heat exchange fluids have improved flow characteristics at low temperature by incorporation of specific surfactant drag reducing compositions. The drag reducing composition comprises (1) a quaternary ammonium surfactant and (2) a preferably stoichiometric or greater amount of an organic counterion. The counterion is preferably 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate which contains a negatively charged head group substituent and a hydroxyl group in both adjacent positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Energy, Mines & Resources - Canada
    Inventors: John C. O'C. Young, Christopher B. Murray
  • Patent number: 5120428
    Abstract: A process is described for removing mineral or ash constituents from heavy hydrocarbon residues, such as those resulting from coal-oil coprocessing, residue hydrocracking or coal liquifaction. The process comprises the steps of: (a) intimately mixing the ash-containing heavy hydrocarbon oil residue with a surfactant and a pH-conditioned aqueous solution under high shear mixing conditions to disperse the ash-containing residue in the aqueous phase thereby creating a fine oil-in-water emulsion, (b) adding a strong oxidizing agent to the emulsion to thereby break the emulsion and release the ash into the aqueous phase and (c) separating the ash-containing aqueous phase from the oil phase. The HLB method for characterizing the emulsion forming activity of a surface active material is described in M. J. Rosen, Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1989), incorporated herein by reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Energy Mines & Resources Canada
    Inventors: Michio Ikura, Norman E. Cooke, Marc Halevy, Martin E. Weber
  • Patent number: 5084389
    Abstract: A novel bioadsorption composition suitable for removing heavy metal from waster water effluent, the composition comprising a biomass encapsulated sol-gel matrix. A process for preparing the biomass encapsulated sol-gel matrix is also provided. The bioadsorption composition may be suitably used to remove a substantial amount heavy metal (such as uranium) from a waste water effluent, particularly a dilute aqueous stream comprising a waste water effluent (such as mine water). Heavy metal may then be recovered from the bioadsorption composition, thereby rendering the latter as reusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Her Majesty in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Canada
    Inventors: V. I. Lakshmanan, R. G. L. McCready
  • Patent number: 5026944
    Abstract: A process is described in which methane is reacted with acetylene in the presence of a solid acid catalyst containing fluoride to produce isobutene in high yields. The process may take place at room temperature or lower and atmospheric pressure. The conversion of acetylene typically approaches 100% and the methane conversion has been found to surpass stoichiometric requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Energy Mines and Resources Canada
    Inventors: Vincenza Allenger, Raj N. Pandey, Prasad Yarlagadda
  • Patent number: 4973776
    Abstract: A process is described for the gas-phase condensation of natural gas or methane into gasoline-range hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a mixture of methane and acetylene in the presence of a solid superacid catalyst to form isobutene, and (b) converting the isobutene product into gasoline-range hydrocarbons in the presence of a crystalline silicate zeolite catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Energy, Mines & Resources - Canada
    Inventors: Vincenza M. Allenger, Raj N. Pandey
  • Patent number: 4935036
    Abstract: A process is described for the flash pyrolysis of a high rank caking coal in a pyrolysis chamber in which the coal passes through a tacky state during flash pyrolysis. According to the novel feature, before entering the pyrolysis chamber, the particles of high rank caking coal are blended with a diluent comprising a finely ground non-caking coal, whereby agglomeration and caking of the high rank coal is prevented during flash pyrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Energy, Mines and Resources - Canada
    Inventors: Michio Ikura, Anthony J. Last