Patents Assigned to Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
  • Publication number: 20080193368
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing supported catalysts and the use of these catalysts in, e.g., the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide. The nanocatalyst particles are manufactured from catalyst atoms complexed with organic agent molecules (e.g., polyacrylic acid). The complexed catalyst atoms are heated to cause formation of the nanocatalyst particles. The temperature used to cause formation of the particles is typically greater than 30° C., preferably greater than 50° C, and more preferably greater than 70° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Zhihua Wu, Zhenhua Zhou, Michael Rueter, Bing Zhou
  • Publication number: 20080166288
    Abstract: Supported catalysts are manufactured from a pretreated porous support material and a nanocatalyst solution of catalyst nanoparticles. The porous support material is pre-treated with a gaseous solvent (e.g., steam or alcohol) to protect the support material from cracking during impregnation of the nanocatalyst solution. The supported catalysts have more uniform size, lower attrition of metals during manufacturing and use, and improved distributions of metal loading compared to catalysts manufactured using known techniques. Hydrogen peroxide manufactured from such catalysts is less likely to be contaminated with catalyst metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: HEADWATERS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION, LLC
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Zhihua Wu, Bing Zhou
  • Patent number: 7396795
    Abstract: Highly dispersed supported catalyst nanoparticles are manufactured at temperatures below about 95° C. The catalyst nanoparticles are formed on a support using an organic anchoring agent. The anchoring agent molecules include at least two functional groups. One functional group is selected to bond with the catalyst atoms and the other functional group is selected to bond with the support material. The anchoring agent and its interaction with the support provide a template for the catalyst atoms. The catalyst nanoparticles are manufactured by treating the support material with a solution of the anchoring agent. A solution of the catalyst atoms is reacted with the anchoring agent molecules to form an intermediate supported catalyst. The supported intermediate catalyst is dried by heating at a temperature less than about 95° C. In an alternative embodiment, the catalyst atoms are reacted with the anchoring agent molecules prior to treating the support material with the anchoring agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Clementine Reyes, Bing Zhou
  • Publication number: 20080152576
    Abstract: Carbon nanostructures are formed from a carbon precursor and catalytic templating nanoparticles. Methods for manufacturing carbon nanostructures generally include (1) forming a precursor mixture that includes a carbon precursor and a plurality of catalytic templating particles, (2) carbonizing the precursor mixture to form an intermediate carbon material including carbon nanostructures, amorphous carbon, and catalytic metal, (3) purifying the intermediate carbon material by removing at least a portion of the amorphous carbon and optionally at least a portion of the catalytic metal, and (4) heat treating the purified intermediate carbon material and/or treating the purified intermediate carbon material with a base to remove functional groups on the surface thereof. The removal of functional groups increases the graphitic content of the carbon nanomaterial and decreases its; hydrophilicity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: HEADWATERS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION, LLC
    Inventors: Cheng Zhang, Martin Fransson, Bing Zhou
  • Patent number: 7344591
    Abstract: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed using a dispersing agent to form nanoparticles with desired size, shape, and uniformity. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed by reacting an inorganic titanium compound with water or ice to form an aqueous titanium compound. The aqueous titanium compound is reacted or combined with a dispersing agent. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are precipitated to form a suspension. The formation of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles is influenced by the presence of bonding of the dispersing agent. The size of the nanoparticles can be advantageously controlled by selecting the ratio of titanium to dispersing agent. In addition, the titanium dioxide nanoparticles can be used in suspension form or filtered and dried to form a powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Sukesh Parasher, Zhihua Wu, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Publication number: 20080033193
    Abstract: A supported catalyst for hydrogenating nitro groups of halonitro compounds manufactured from a support, a solvent, and one or more types of organometallic complexes. The organometallic complexes have the formula: wherein, R1-R6 are independently an R, OR, OC(?O)R, halogen, or combination thereof, where R stands for an alkyl or aryl group; Y1-Y4 are independently an O, S, N, or P atom; and M is a metal atom. The supported catalysts show much higher selectivity and activity when used to hydrogenate nitro groups on halonitro aromatic compounds than catalyst currently being used for such hydrogenation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Changkun Liu, Bing Zhou
  • Patent number: 7326399
    Abstract: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed using a dispersing agent to form nanoparticles with desired size, shape, and uniformity. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed by reacting an inorganic titanium compound with water or ice to form an aqueous titanium compound. The aqueous titanium compound is reacted or combined with a dispersing agent. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are precipitated to form a suspension. The formation of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles is influenced by the presence of bonding of the dispersing agent. The size of the nanoparticles can be advantageously controlled by selecting the ratio of titanium to dispersing agent. In addition, the titanium dioxide nanoparticles can be used in suspension form or filtered and dried to form a powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Sukesh Parasher, Zhihua Wu, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Patent number: 7288500
    Abstract: A supported catalyst for hydrogenating nitro groups of halonitro compounds manufactured from a support, a solvent, and a plurality of organometallic complexes. The organometallic complexes have the formula: wherein, R1-R6, are independently an R, OR, OC(?O)R, halogen, or combination thereof, where R stands for an alkyl or aryl group; Y1-Y4 are independently an O, S, N, or P atom; and M is a metal atom. The supported catalysts show much higher selectivity and activity when used to hydrogenate nitro groups on halonitro aromatic compounds than catalyst currently being used for such hydrogenation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Changkun Liu, Bing Zhou
  • Publication number: 20070199480
    Abstract: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed using a dispersing agent to form nanoparticles with desired size, shape, and uniformity. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed by reacting an inorganic titanium compound with water or ice to form an aqueous titanium compound. The aqueous titanium compound is reacted or combined with a dispersing agent. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are precipitated to form a suspension. The formation of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles is influenced by the presence of bonding of the dispersing agent. The size of the nanoparticles can be advantageously controlled by selecting the ratio of titanium to dispersing agent. In addition, the titanium dioxide nanoparticles can be used in suspension form or filtered and dried to form a powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Sukesh Parasher, Zhihua Wu, Zhenhua Zhou