Patents Assigned to Sachem, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6217743
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for recovering an onium compound from waste solutions or synthetic solutions containing the onium compound and impurities including the steps: contacting the waste solution or synthetic solution with a metal ion scavenger to remove metal ion impurities, wherein the metal ion scavenger comprises at least one of a chelating compound, a nanoporous material, and a magnetically assisted (MACS) material; charging the waste solution or synthetic solution to an electrochemical cell containing at least two compartments, a cathode, an anode and a divider and passing a current through the cell whereby the onium compound is regenerated or produced; and recovering the onium compound from the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger D. Moulton, Weilian Lang, Allen Tanner
  • Patent number: 6207039
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for recovering one of an onium hydroxide and onium salt from a solution containing an onium compound involving the steps of charging the solution containing the onium compound to an electrochemical cell comprising at least two compartments, a cathode, an anode, and a divider, wherein at least one compartment comprises an ion exchange material; passing a current through the electrochemical cell whereby the onium hydroxide or the onium salt is produced; and recovering the onium hydroxide or the onium salt from the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger D. Moulton, David R. Hulme
  • Patent number: 6165341
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of making a catalytic film comprising: applying an electric current to an electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode and a solution comprising a film forming compound and a nitrate ion source thereby forming the catalytic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Sharifian, Allen J. Bard
  • Patent number: 6087017
    Abstract: I provide an outer anti-corrosion aluminum or aluminum alloy protective coating composition. The composition may be applied directly to the aluminum or aluminum alloy or to an anodized form thereof or to an anodized or non-anodized aluminum or aluminum article which has a non-chromium conversion coating therein. The outer protective coating composition contains as essential ingredients an aqueous emulsion of a polybasic acid, a polyol and a lanolin wax acid which react in-situ on the article. Also, I provide the aluminum or aluminum alloy article having thereon an outer layer of an anti-corrosive lanolin wax polyester coating and a method of forming an anti-corrosion layer on the outer surface of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Bibber
  • Patent number: 6024855
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of preparing a hydroxylammonium salt, involving the steps of: providing an electrochemical cell containing an anode, a cathode, and a divider positioned between the anode and the cathode, to define a catholyte compartment between the cathode and the divider and an anolyte compartment between the anode and the divider; charging the catholyte compartment with a first solution comprising a nitrogen containing compound and a mediator and the anolyte compartment with a second solution comprising an ionic compound; passing a current through the electrochemical cell to produce a hydroxylammonium salt in the catholyte compartment; and recovering the hydroxylammonium salt from the catholyte compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Sharifian, John H. Wagonknecht
  • Patent number: 5968338
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for recovering an onium hydroxide from a solution containing an onium compound, including contacting the solution with a cation exchange material so that at least a portion of onium cations from the onium compound are adsorbed by the cation exchange material; contacting an acid with the cation exchange material to elute an onium salt; charging the onium salt to an electrochemical cell containing at least three compartments, a cathode, an anode, and in order from the anode to the cathode, a bipolar membrane and a cation selective membrane, and passing a current through the cell whereby the onium hydroxide is regenerated; and recovering the onium hydroxide from the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hulme, Roger Moulton, Wilfred W. Wilson, Mark Hellums
  • Patent number: 5951845
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for recovering an organic hydroxide from waste solutions containing the organic hydroxide and impurities including the steps: contacting the waste solution with a metal ion scavenger to remove metal ion impurities; charging the waste solution to an electrochemical cell containing at least two compartments, a cathode, an anode and a divider and passing a current through the cell whereby the organic hydroxide is regenerated; and recovering the organic hydroxide from the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger D. Moulton
  • Patent number: 5910237
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for recovering organic hydroxide from contaminated solutions containing the organic hydroxide and impurities including charging the contaminated solution to a first electrochemical cell containing at least two compartments, a cathode, an anode and a size selective divider and passing a current through the first electrochemical cell whereby impurities migrate through the size selective divider; recovering a second solution containing organic ions from the first electrochemical cell and charging the second solution to a second electrochemical cell containing at least two compartments, a cathode, an anode and a divider and passing a current through the second electrochemical cell whereby the organic hydroxide is purified; and recovering the organic hydroxide from the second electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger D. Moulton, Mark W. Hellums
  • Patent number: 5904823
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of preparing hydroxylamine from a hydroxylammonium salt solution, including providing an electrochemical cell containing an anode, a cathode, a cation selective membrane and an anion selective membrane, wherein the cation selective membrane is positioned between the cathode and the anion selective membrane, and the anion selective membrane is positioned between the cation selective membrane and the anode, thereby defining a feed compartment between the cation selective membrane and the anion selective membrane, a recovery compartment between the cathode and the cation selective membrane, and an acid compartment between the anion selective membrane and the anode; charging a first solution to the acid compartment and a second solution the recovery compartment; charging the hydroxylammonium salt solution to the feed compartment; passing a current through the cell to produce hydroxylamine in the recovery compartment; and recovering hydroxylamine from the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Sharifian, Christopher D. Shay
  • Patent number: 5868916
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for recovering an organic hydroxide from waste solutions containing the organic hydroxide and impurities including the steps of precipitating the organic hydroxide from the waste solution as an insoluble salt; removing the salt from the waste solution and placing the salt in a liquid to form a second solution; charging the second solution to an electrochemical cell containing at least two compartments, a cathode, an anode and a divider and passing a current through the cell whereby the organic hydroxide is regenerated; and recovering the organic hydroxide from the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger D. Moulton
  • Patent number: 5853555
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing onium hydroxide from a corresponding onium salt and for purifying onium hydroxide including providing an electrochemical cell containing a cathode, an anode, a divider and a bipolar membrane, the bipolar membrane having an anion selective side facing the anode and a cation selective side facing the cathode, wherein the divider is positioned between the cathode and the bipolar membrane, and the bipolar membrane is positioned between the divider and the anode, thereby defining a feed compartment between the divider and the bipolar membrane, a recovery compartment between the divider and the cathode, and a water compartment between the bipolar membrane and the anode; charging a solution containing at least one of the onium salt and the onium hydroxide to be purified to the feed compartment; charging a liquid electrolyte to the other compartments; passing a current through the electrochemical cell to produce the onium hydroxide in the recovery compartment; an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Sharifian, David R. Hulme
  • Patent number: 5843318
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of purifying a hydroxylamine solution containing impurities, including contacting the hydroxylamine solution with a semipermeable membrane under pressure so that at least a portion of the hydroxylamine solution passes through the membrane; and recovering the portion of the hydroxylamine solution which passed through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Sharifian, Christopher D. Shay
  • Patent number: 5833832
    Abstract: A process is described for preparing onium hydroxides from the respective onium salts and for purifying onium hydroxides in an electrochemical cell. In one example, the present invention relates to a process for preparing onium hydroxides from the corresponding onium salts which comprises the steps of: (A) providing a cell comprising an anode, a cathode and one or more unit cells assembled for operational positioning between the anode and the cathode, each unit cell comprising: (A-1) four compartments defined by, in sequence beginning at the anode, a bipolar membrane, a first divider and a second divider, said bipolar membrane having an anion selective side facing the anode and a cation selective side facing the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Shay, Hossein Sharifian
  • Patent number: 5753097
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for purifying solutions containing a hydroxide compound, including the steps of: (A) providing an electrochemical cell containing an anode, a cathode, a cation selective membrane and a bipolar membrane, the bipolar membrane having an anion selective side facing the anode and a cation selective side facing the cathode, wherein the cation selective membrane is positioned between the anode and the bipolar membrane, and the bipolar membrane is positioned between the cation selective membrane and the cathode, thereby defining a feed compartment between the cation selective membrane and the anode, a recovery compartment between the bipolar membrane and the cation selective membrane, and a water compartment between the bipolar membrane and the cathode; (B) charging a solution of an ionic compound at a first concentration to the water compartment, and water to the recovery compartment; (C) charging a solution containing the hydroxide compound at a second concentra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Sharifian, John E. Mooney
  • Patent number: 5709789
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing hydroxylamine in an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of: providing an electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, a bipolar membrane positioned between the anode and the cathode, the bipolar membrane having an anion selective side facing the anode and a cation selective side facing the cathode, and a divider positioned between the bipolar membrane and the anode, thereby defining a feed compartment on the cation selective side of the bipolar membrane, a recovery compartment on the anion selective side of the bipolar membrane, and an anolyte compartment between the divider and the anode; charging the feed compartment with an acidic electrolyte and the recovery and anolyte compartments with a solution; introducing nitrogen containing gas into the feed compartment; passing a current through the electrochemical cell thereby producing hydroxylammonium salt in the feed compartment; transferring at least a portion of the hydroxylammonium salt f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Shay, Hossein Sharifian
  • Patent number: 5709790
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for purifying solutions containing a hydroxide compound, including the steps of: (A) providing an electrochemical cell containing an anode, a cathode, a cation selective membrane and an anion selective membrane, wherein the cation selective membrane is positioned between the cathode and the anion selective membrane, and the anion selective membrane is positioned between the cation selective membrane and the anode, thereby defining a feed compartment between the cation selective membrane and the anion selective membrane, a recovery compartment between the cathode and the cation selective membrane, and a water compartment between the anion selective membrane and the anode; (B) charging a solution of an ionic compound at a first concentration to the water compartment, and water to the recovery compartment; (C) charging a solution of the hydroxide compound at a second concentration to the feed compartment; (D) passing a current through the cell to produce the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Sharifian, John E. Mooney
  • Patent number: 5575901
    Abstract: A process is described for preparing organic and inorganic hydroxides or alkoxides, or ammonia or organic amines from the corresponding salts in an electrolysis cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode and an electrolyte solution, a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, and an intermediate compartment containing a liquid wherein said intermediate compartment is separated from the catholyte compartment by an anion selective membrane and from the anolyte compartment by a cation selective membrane, said process comprising the steps of:(A) charging to the catholyte compartment, a mixture comprising an organic or inorganic salt or an amine salt, and a liquid selected from water or organic liquids provided that sufficient water is present in the catholyte mixture to form the desired hydroxide or amine, or sufficient alcohol is present in the catholyte mixture to form the desired alkoxide;(B) passing a current through the electrolysis cell to produce the desired hydroxide, alkoxide or am
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hulme, Hossein Sharifian
  • Patent number: 5576459
    Abstract: An optically-active or chiral compound is described which comprises(A) at least one quaternary nitrogen or phosphorus cation provided that if the cation is a quaternary nitrogen cation containing a hydroxyalkyl group, the hydroxyalkyl group is free of chlorine, and(B) at least one optically-active anion.In one embodiment, the optically-active anion is an optically-active carboxylic acid anion. The process for preparing such optically-active compounds also is described and such compounds may be prepared by reacting(A) at least one quaternary nitrogen or phosphorus salt with(B) at least one optically-active reactant capable of reacting with the salt provided that if the salt is a quaternary nitrogen salt containing a hydroxyalkyl group, the hydroxyalkyl group is free of chlorine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventor: Morey E. Osborn
  • Patent number: 5447610
    Abstract: A process is described for preparing hydroxylamine and hydroxylammonium salts represented by the formulae(NH.sub.3 OH).sup.+.sub.y X.sup.-ywherein X is an anion of an acid and y is a number equal to the valence of X, said process comprising electrolytically reducing a mixture comprising at least one nitrogen oxide and either a neutral electrolyte to form hydroxylamine or an acidic electrolyte such as an organic or inorganic acid H.sub.y X to form a hydroxylammonium salt provided the acid is not perchloric acid or sulfuric acid when the nitrogen oxide is nitric oxide. More particularly, the electrolytic reduction of the present invention is conducted in an electrolysis cell comprising an anolyte compartment containing an anode, a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, and a divider separating said anolyte and catholyte compartments. The mixture of at least one nitrogen oxide and the electrolyte is present in the catholyte compartment, and an acid is present in the anolyte compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventor: Hossein Sharifian
  • Patent number: 5389211
    Abstract: Processes are described for preparing organic and inorganic hydroxides or alkoxides and for improving the purity of organic and inorganic hydroxides or alkoxides utilizing an electrolysis cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Sharifian, David G. Diercks