Patents Assigned to Solvay SA
  • Patent number: 9638017
    Abstract: Batch initiation and/or exploitation phases of in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite mineral stratum. The initiation phase may comprise a lifting step which employs a lithological displacement (lifting) of this stratum from an underlying non-evaporite stratum with application at the strata interface of a lifting hydraulic pressure greater than overburden pressure by a solvent suitable to dissolve the mineral; a soaking step for dissolution of mineral upon contact with stationary solvent, and a brine extraction step. The method may further comprise one or more exploitation phases carried out after the initiation phase. The exploitation phase may comprise a partial filing or filling step with the same solvent or different solvent than during lifting, another soaking step, and another brine extraction step. The lifting, cavity partial filing/filling, and brine extraction steps are being discontinuous. The evaporite mineral stratum preferably comprises trona.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Solvay SA
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Detournay, Ronald O. Hughes, Herve Cuche, Matteo Paperini, Joseph A. Vendetti, Larry C. Refsdal, David M. Hansen, Todd Brichacek, Justin T. Patterson, John Kolesar, Ryan Schmidt, Beatrice C. Ortego
  • Patent number: 9617153
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing hydrogen peroxide by an anthraquinone autoxidation process (AO-process) comprising two alternate essential steps of: (a) hydrogenation of a working solution in a hydrogenation unit in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the working solution contains at least one alkylanthraquinone dissolved in at least one organic solvent, to obtain at least one corresponding alkylanthrahydroquinone compound; and (b) oxidation of the at least one alkylanthrahydroquinone compound to obtain hydrogen peroxide in an oxidation unit; and further comprising step (c): extracting the hydrogen peroxide formed in the oxidation step in an extraction unit, wherein the hydrogenation, oxidation and extraction steps are performed in an reactor system which is designed as a compact modular system of a hydrogenation, an oxidation and an extraction unit, and wherein the reactor system is configured to operate without a reversion (regeneration) unit for continuous reversion of the working solution as a small to medium
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Alain Vandenbussche, Patrick Markus Dhaese, Stephen Bloomfield, Francine Janssens
  • Patent number: 9610573
    Abstract: A catalyst support comprising a material functionalized with at least one acid group and at least one halogen atom; and a supported catalyst comprising (i) a catalyst and (ii) the catalyst support comprising the functionalized material, as well as their uses in production of hydrogen peroxide. A process for producing hydrogen peroxide, comprising reacting hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of the supported catalyst comprising the functionalized material, optionally with the addition of an inert gas, in a reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Gema Blanco Brieva, Jose Miguel Campos Martin, Jose Luis Garcia Fierro, Manuel Montiel Argaiz, Roberto Garaffa, Francine Janssens
  • Patent number: 9611366
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a fluoropolymer hybrid organic/inorganic composite comprising: (i) partially hydrolyzing and/or polycondensing, in the presence of an aqueous medium, a metal compound of formula (I): X4-mAYim, wherein X is a hydrocarbon group, Y is a hydrolysable group selected from the group consisting of an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group and a hydroxyl group, A is a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti and Zr, and m is an integer from 1 to 4, so as to obtain an aqueous medium comprising a pre-gelled metal compound comprising one or more inorganic domains consisting of ?A-O-A? bonds and one or more residual hydrolysable groups Y [compound (M)], and then (ii) reacting in the molten state at least a fraction of hydroxyl groups of a functional fluoropolymer [polymer (F)] with at least a fraction of hydrolysable groups Y of said pre-gelled metal compound [compound (M)], so as to obtain a fluoropolymer hybrid organic/inorganic composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Alberto Frache, Jennifer Katty Tata, Giovanni Camino, Giambattista Besana, Julio A. Abusleme
  • Patent number: 9593023
    Abstract: A method for treating a purge stream derived from a sodium carbonate, sesquicarbonate, wegsheiderite, or bicarbonate crystallizer, said purge stream comprising sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate and at least 1% by weight of sodium chloride and/or sodium sulfate, the method comprising: causticizing at least 50 mol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Solvay SA
    Inventor: Alain Vandendoren
  • Patent number: 9555343
    Abstract: Process for the purification of a residue containing solids and mother liquor and having a chloride ion content greater than 5000 ppm by weight relative to the weight of the residue which comprises (a) piston washing said residue with a washing fluid and (b) recovering a purified residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Blondel, Cedric Humblot
  • Patent number: 9532553
    Abstract: A process for treating with at least one chemical compound a body of water comprising at least one living organism selected from fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants, such process comprising adding the chemical compound to the body of water and agitating the water with an agitation system comprising a pump and at least one submerged outlet equipped with an eductor nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Solvay SA
    Inventor: Paul Skitt
  • Patent number: 9528361
    Abstract: Process for recovering soda values from first and second soda deposits situated respectively in first and second underground cavities containing respectively first and second soda solutions, the second soda solution containing a higher concentration in sodium chloride and/or sodium sulfate than the first soda solution, the process comprising: extracting a stream of first soda solution from the first cavity; introducing the stream of first soda solution in a first process which produces first soda crystals and a first waste purge stream containing a higher concentration in sodium chloride and/or in sodium sulfate than the first soda solution; introducing at least part of the first waste purge stream in the second cavity; extracting a stream of second soda solution from the second cavity; and introducing the stream of second soda solution in a second process which produces second soda crystals which have a higher concentration in sodium chloride and/or sodium sulfate than the first soda crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Solvay SA
    Inventors: Pierre Gilliard, Alain Vandendoren
  • Patent number: 9528002
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a composite material comprising fibers and at least one vinyl chloride polymer comprising the immersion of the fibers in a hydrosol of said polymer in order to obtain fibers coated with said hydrosol followed by the drying and gelling of said hydrosol coated on the fibers. Composite material and use thereof for forming articles or for manufacturing reinforcing objects. Profiles reinforced by this composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Claudine Bloyaert, Francois Van Loock, Daniel Martinz
  • Publication number: 20160356140
    Abstract: A lithological displacement of an underground evaporite mineral stratum from an underlying non-evaporite stratum comprising the application of a lifting hydraulic pressure of a fluid at a weak interface between the strata, resulting in lifting the overburden above the interface, separating the evaporite stratum from the underlying non-evaporite stratum and thus forming a mineral free-surface. The lifting hydraulic pressure is greater than the overburden pressure. The formed mineral free-surface is accessible for dissolution by a solvent. The fluid used for lifting may comprise a solvent suitable to dissolve the mineral. The evaporite mineral stratum preferably comprises trona, nahcolite, wegscheiderite, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Matteo PAPERINI, Herve CUCHE, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Larry REFSDAL, Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, David HANSEN, Todd BRICHACEK, Justin T. PATTERSON, John KOLESAR, Ryan SCHMIDT, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Publication number: 20160356118
    Abstract: A method for in situ solution mining of trona in which an aqueous solvent dissolves trona and forms a brine, which comprises: applying a hydraulic pressure greater than the overburden pressure at an interface between trona roof and overburden to lithologically displace the overburden from the trona roof and form a gap; flowing a liquid settable and/or sealing composition into such interface gap and allowing such composition to solidify inside such gap to form a water-impermeable and optionally gas-impermeable barrier inside. This technique should limit contamination from the overburden; should seal or plug fractures transversing the trona roof; should prevent water infiltration from overburden; and/or should minimize gas migration into the overburden from the cavity. The lithological displacement whereby the interface gap is formed may be carried out at the same time as the composition is flowed inside the gap being formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Ryan SCHMIDT, Matteo PAPERINI, Ronald O. HUGHES, Herve CUCHE
  • Publication number: 20160356157
    Abstract: A method for in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite stratum using a set of wells in fluid communication with at least one mineral cavity with some wells operated in solvent injection mode and other wells operated in brine production mode and optionally with some inactive wells, comprising switching the operation mode of one or more wells. The evaporite mineral preferably comprises trona. The at least one cavity is preferably formed by lithological displacement of the evaporite stratum at a weak interface with an underlying insoluble stratum by application of a lifting hydraulic pressure. The extracted brine can be processed to make valuable products such as soda ash and/or any derivatives thereof, rock salt, or potash. This method can provide more uniform dissolution of mineral in the cavity, can minimize flow channeling, can minimize sodium bicarbonate blinding for solution mining of incongruent trona ore, and/or may avoid uneven deposit of insolubles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Matteo PAPERINI, Herve CUCHE, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Larry C. REFSDAL, Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, David M. HANSEN, Todd BRICHACEK, Justin T. PATTERSON, John KOLESAR, Ryan SCHMIDT, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Publication number: 20160356139
    Abstract: Batch initiation and/or exploitation phases of in situ solution mining of a mineral from an underground evaporite mineral stratum. The initiation phase may comprise a lifting step which employs a lithological displacement (lifting) of this stratum from an underlying non-evaporite stratum with application at the strata interface of a lifting hydraulic pressure greater than overburden pressure by a solvent suitable to dissolve the mineral; a soaking step for dissolution of mineral upon contact with stationary solvent, and a brine extraction step. The method may further comprise one or more exploitation phases carried out after the initiation phase. The exploitation phase may comprise a partial filing or filling step with the same solvent or different solvent than during lifting, another soaking step, and another brine extraction step. The lifting, cavity partial filing/filling, and brine extraction steps are being discontinuous. The evaporite mineral stratum preferably comprises trona.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Jean-Paul DETOURNAY, Ronald O. HUGHES, Herve CUCHE, Matteo PAPERINI, Joseph A. VENDETTI, Larry C. REFSDAL, David M. HANSEN, Todd BRICHACEK, Justin T. PATTERSON, John KOLESAR, Ryan SCHMIDT, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Publication number: 20160356138
    Abstract: Methods for sealing undesirable transverse fractures enlarged and/or created during lithological displacement of an underground water-soluble evaporite stratum by hydraulic pressure greater than overburden pressure at an evaporite/non-evaporite strata interface, comprising injecting and maintaining a sealing agent into these undesirable fractures to form a solidified matter in situ and ultimately seal them, while forming a main free surface at the interface suitable for initiating solution mining of the evaporite stratum. The solidified matter may be crystallized, precipitated, compacted, agglomerated, cross-linked, coagulated, water-swollen, and/or cemented matter, or may include a wall-building matter with the mineral on fracture faces. The sealing agent may comprise at least one component of the mineral and/or the non-evaporite. The evaporite stratum is preferably a trona stratum overlying an oil shale stratum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Ronald O. HUGHES, Bradley D. CHEESE, Matteo PAPERINI, Beatrice C. ORTEGO
  • Patent number: 9511888
    Abstract: An adapter assembly and a process for supplying a sterilant to a packaging system for cleaning and filling of packages. Specifically, an adapter assembly for directly supplying a sterilant, such as hydrogen peroxide, from a packaging container, such as a blow-molded tight-head plastic packaging container, to the packaging system without using any intermediate carrier, such as a carboy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Solvay SA
    Inventor: Matthew Hearon
  • Publication number: 20160332148
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst comprising a platinum group metal (group 10) on a carrier, said carrier comprising a silica core and a precipitate layer of a metal oxide, sulfate or phosphate on said core; said carrier having at least on the surface of the precipitate, a dispersion of an oxide from a metal chosen from W, Mo, Ta and Nb, the metal in said dispersion being different from the metal in the precipitate. The invention also relates to a process for producing hydrogen peroxide, comprising reacting hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of the catalyst according to the invention in a reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Frédérique DESMEDT, Pierre MIQUEL, Paul DESCHRIJVER, Yves VLASSELAER
  • Patent number: 9458084
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compounds of the formula wherein R2 and A are certain substituents, Y is an ester group, a nitrile group or an amido group and Z is O, S or N+R2, and which compounds are, for example, useful as intermediates for pyrazole fungicides. The compounds of the present disclosure can be prepared by the reaction of a compound of formula R2—C(O)—CH2Y, with an orthoformate HC—(OR3)3 in the presence of a base, especially in the presence of an amine, e.g. triethylamine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SOLVAY SA
    Inventor: Janis Jaunzems
  • Patent number: 9426984
    Abstract: Fire-retardant powder comprising at least 30% by weight of Lewis acid, at least 5% by weight of alkaline bicarbonate, and at least 3% by weight of silica, and method of manufacturing such fire-retardant powder. A building material preferably comprising natural fibers and comprising at least 5% by weight and at most 30% of such powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Pascal, Olivier Patat, Magali Riglet
  • Patent number: 9427750
    Abstract: A device for distributing a fluid in a controlled manner, in particular for distributing a gas loaded with particles, the device comprising a pipe (1) provided with at least one inlet orifice (2) and with a series of outlet orifices (3) spread along the pipe (1) and cut in a side wall of this pipe, wherein at least one section (4) of the side wall, located downstream of at least one outlet orifice and limited by a section (5) of the edge of the outlet orifice (3), has a concave shape such that this section (5) of the edge of such outlet orifice (3) is positioned inside the pipe so that, when the device is in service, the flow direction of a fluid exiting such outlet orifice (3) and travelling along such deformed concave wall section (4) of the edge of this outlet orifice (3) is controlled by the shape of such section (5) of the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Solvay SA
    Inventors: Thierry Cartage, Olivier Jacques F. J. G. Bodson, Marc Thijssen
  • Patent number: 9410087
    Abstract: Fire-retardant powder comprising at least 30% by weight of mono ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and/or di-ammonium monohydrogen phosphate, at least 5% by weight of alkaline bicarbonate, at least 3% by weight of silica, and at least 5% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of: sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium sulfate, magnesium carbonate hydroxide pentahydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, iron(II) sulfate heptahydrate, zinc (II) chloride, and combinations thereof. The invention also relates to building materials preferably comprising natural fibers and comprising at least 5% by weight, and at most 30% of a powder according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Pascal, Olivier Patat, Magali Riglet