Patents Assigned to Theodore Aaron Litovitz
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Patent number: 5678236Abstract: In this invention radioactive or hazardous containing materials are vitrified in a melter having two or more chambers. Glass feed materials are added to the primary chamber of the melter and they are heated to a molten glass which is then transported to one or more secondary chambers where hazardous and/or radioactive containing materials are added and are encapsulated and/or melted. In addition, the non-plutonium part of a glass feed can be melted in a non-radioactive environment which permits contact operations and maintenance; no radioactive shielding; and a conventional off gas system-similar to commercial vitrification plants. The hot molten "clean" glass is directed into a radioactive containment such as a "glove box"; shielded "glove box"; or hot cell, or a combination of these. By delivering hot "clean" glass from a melter including non-radioactive materials, 90% of the off gases will be non-radioactive.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1996Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignees: Pedro Buarque De Macedo, Theodore Aaron LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. Macedo, Ian L. Pegg, Hamid Hojaji, Robert K. Mohr, Marek Brandys
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Patent number: 5405590Abstract: An off-gas quencher and solid recovery scrubber unit includes a wet flue gas scrubber which has the dual responsibilities of lowering the temperature of the inlet hot gas entering through the scrubber and trapping contaminants from the gas stream into the liquid stream. The hot exhaust gases are first cooled by evaporating the liquid scrubber solution. The contaminants of the exhaust gas are neutralized by a suitable reagent such as sodium hydroxide and the product is collected in the scrubbing solution. Since the solution is continuously recycled, the concentration of the scrubbing agent will be diminished as the scrubbing proceeds, while the concentration of the scrubbing product in the solution will rise to the solubility limit of the product. The scrubbing products start to precipitate and are collected at the bottom of the scrubber and are withdrawn. The scrubbing reagents are continuously replenished to the scrubber.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1993Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignees: Pedro Buarque De Macedo, Theodore Aaron LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. D. Macedo, Hamid Hojaji, Marek Brandys, Robert K. Mohr
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Patent number: 5340372Abstract: Material, such as, for example, sealed double bags of asbestos containing waste or ash from infectious waste or toxic material or radioactive waste, is transferred into a glass melt of a furnace. Gas bubbles released into the melt form a gas curtain which causes enhanced mixing of the material to accelerate the dissolution of the components of the added material. The presence of the gas bubbles reduces the cross-section of the molten glass through which current passes, which in turn increases the electrical resistance of the glass melt and therefore increases power generation of the melt or power density at constant current. A highly oxidizing hot region is produced under the location where the material is introduced into the furnace. Drawn off glass is shaped and quenched into at least two sizes of approximate spheres. The spheres are cooled sufficiently fast to be thermally tempered and have a surface compressive strength level above 5000 psi.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1992Date of Patent: August 23, 1994Assignees: Pedro Buarque de Macedo, Theodore Aaron LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. Macedo, Robert K. Mohr
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Patent number: 5188649Abstract: Material, such as, for example, sealed double bags of asbestos containing waste or ash from infectious waste or toxic material or radioactive waste, is transferred into a glass melt of a furnace. Gas bubbles released into the melt form a gas curtain which causes enhanced mixing of the material to accelerate the dissolution of the components of the added material. The presence of the gas bubbles reduces the cross-section of the molten glass through which current passes, which in turn increases the electrical resistance of the glass melt and therefore increases power generation of the melt or power density at constant current. A highly oxidizing hot region is produced under the location where the material is introduced into the furnace. Drawn off glass is shaped and quenched into at least two sizes of approximate spheres. The spheres are cooled sufficiently fast to be thermally tempered and have a surface compressive strength level above 5000 psi.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1991Date of Patent: February 23, 1993Assignees: Pedro Buarque de Macedo, Theodore Aaron LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. Macedo, Robert K. Mohr
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Patent number: 4995984Abstract: Compositions comprising carbon-based supports and containing heteropolycyclic compounds such as bipyridyl, phenanthroline or derivatives thereof are used in separation of dissolved late transition metals such as Fe, Co, Ni and Cu from solutions, in particular when such solutions contain high concentrations of other dissolved metals such as Zr, Hf, La, Al and Ba. Such compositions are also used to separate late transition metals such as Pt group metals from each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1989Date of Patent: February 26, 1991Assignees: Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore Aaron LitovitzInventor: Aaron Barkatt
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Patent number: 4902426Abstract: The present invention comprises a process for separating rare earth ions or actinide ions or mixtures thereof in solution by passing the solution through an ion exchange material to separate the rare earths or actinides or mixtures thereof. The ion exchange material has a surface area of about 5-1500 m.sup.2 /g. The ion exchange material is impregnated with a liquid containing alkali metal cations, Group Ib metal cations, ammonium cations, organic amines or mixtures thereof, at a pH range above about 9. A plurality of fractions of the solution is collected as the solution passes through the ion exchange material, preferably in a column. This process is particularly preferred for separating rare earth ions and especially lanthanum and neodymium. It is particularly preferred to purify lanthanum to contain less than 0.1 ppm, preferably less than 0.01 ppm, of neodymium.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1988Date of Patent: February 20, 1990Assignees: Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore Aaron LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore A. Litovitz, Hamid Hojaj
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Patent number: 4654146Abstract: A process for removing heavy alkali metal cations from solution comprising passing a liquid over a composition including a support such as charcoal having interconnected pores containing a tetra-aryl boron moiety associated with an ion exchangeable cation absorbed on the support capable of forming a stable compound with a heavy alkali metal cation.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1985Date of Patent: March 31, 1987Assignees: Pedro B. Macedo, Theodore Aaron LitovitzInventors: Aaron Barkatt, Pedro B. Macedo
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Patent number: 4430108Abstract: A method of making foam glass by impregnating diatomaceous earth, fly ash or mixtures thereof, and insoluble modifiers, if any, with at least one water soluble glass former in an amount expressed as its oxide of about 2.5 to 20 weight percent of the impregnated diatomaceous earth, fly ash or mixtures thereof; at least one water soluble flux in an amount expressed as its oxide of about 8 to 20 weight percent of the impregnated diatomaceous earth, fly ash or mixtures thereof; and at least one gas generator. The diatomaceous earth, fly ash or mixtures thereof is impregnated by mixing diatomaceous earth, fly ash or mixtures thereof and an impregnating solution comprising at least one water soluble glass former in an amount expressed as its oxide of about 3 to 14 weight percent; at least one water soluble flux in an amount expressed as its oxide of about 10 to 20 weight percent; at least one gas generator, and water in an amount of about 50 to 80 weight percent.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1982Date of Patent: February 7, 1984Assignees: Pedro Buarque de Macedo, Theodore Aaron LitovitzInventors: Hamid Hojaji, Pedro B. de Macedo, Theodore A. Litovitz
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Patent number: 4302231Abstract: A method of producing a glass article having a graded refractive index profile of a parabolic nature is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1979Date of Patent: November 24, 1981Assignees: Pedro Manoel Buarque De Macedo, Theodore Aaron LitovitzInventors: Pedro B. Macedo, Joseph H. Simmons, Shigeo Murai